Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Starpower67]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

For all of you that hate the Revisited editions why don't you just put on your beloved blu-rays instead of complaining about them in here?

I don't understand the point of this post.. Isn't the whole point that people want the option of the original version on blu-ray?

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Agreed, but have you watched the Blus on a properly ISF calibrated display? The color issues have been discussed ad nauseam. The skintones in those shots look far better than similar scenes on the blus...and not too mention the blue tint on the blu-rays.

It's a ridiculous analysis. There is absolutely no control whatsoever in attempting to shoot a movie screen projection with a digital camera and then reproducing those photographs in a web browser and then viewing on an uncalibrated monitor. And the majority of monitors people have at home (especially if it's a Dell or some other cheap brand) are complete garbage anyway. I'm always shocked and disappointed when I see my own photographs displayed on such a monitor.

The only way this would possibly make any sense is if the theatre first projected a color chart that was photographed and then the resulting photos were calibrated by calibrating to the color chart. And even that wouldn't be a fair analysis because the color capabilities of our eyes far exceed the color capabilities of most digital cameras.

I would have thought that someone who went to the trouble of having their home theatre screen ISF calibrated would understand that. And you take two different ISF trained calibrators and they're going to calibrate slightly differently anyway and that very slight difference can make all the difference in the world regarding skin tones.

And I'll go a step further: while there are many aspects of very old films that I do indeed remember and I'm always surprised when I can see a split second of a film I saw 40 years ago and recognize what movie it's from, I find it very hard to believe that anyone, even people who worked on the film, can remember the exact color timing of each scene in a movie they saw 37 years ago. And I would also contend that the 70mm prints were slightly different than the 35mm prints and that the 35mm prints didn't even necessarily match each other exactly, especially prints made later when the film expanded to additional theatres. The labs were never that good and consistent which is why the best prints for some films were frequently sent to New York and Los Angeles premiere theatres.

My personal opinion is that the Blus look pretty damned spectacular. IMO, they look crisper and with better color than the films ever looked in the theatre, even the 70mm prints. I suppose you can argue that if they're "better", then they're different and therefore wrong, but I won't buy that argument.

[Geoff D]

It's not that the Blu-rays are disliked in some quarters because they're different, it's because they're creaky transfers designed to look good on DVD with all of the tricks therein, like wildly oversaturated colour, boosted contrast, grain reduction, sharpening etc. Everything's geared towards making them 'pop' (the smaller the screen the better) and that's fine if that's what people dig, but the underlying transfers are into their second decade and Star Wars deserves better. Hopefully we'll see the fruits of Reliance's labours when the restored 4K versions are finally released.

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by Starpower67

I don't understand the point of this post.. Isn't the whole point that people want the option of the original version on blu-ray?

I don't. I just want the special editions remastered with a better transfer.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's not that the Blu-rays are disliked in some quarters because they're different, it's because they're creaky transfers designed to look good on DVD with all of the tricks therein, like wildly oversaturated colour, boosted contrast, grain reduction, sharpening etc. Everything's geared towards making them 'pop' (the smaller the screen the better) and that's fine if that's what people dig, but the underlying transfers are into their second decade and Star Wars deserves better. Hopefully we'll see the fruits of Reliance's labours when the restored 4K versions are finally released.

Fingers crossed they've restored the Theatrical Cuts.

Heck I'd even settle for new transfers of the Special Editions as well.

All we need now is BD transfers of TPM without any DNR and all the existing special features for all 6 movies complied together and you've got yourself a nice box set to tie in with the new movie.

Disney are you listening?

82287-Starsky-Hutch-DO-IT-meme-PQXx.jpeg

[Geoff D]

Same here, I'd settle for the SE's at this point. (But it'd be nice if they undid the last round of changes for the Blu-rays though. )

[Starpower67]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Same here, I'd settle for the SE's at this point. (But it'd be nice if they undid the last round of changes for the Blu-rays though. )

While I dislike most all of the changes the Nooo and Anakin's ghost need to be restored back to the original for me to enjoy Jedi again.

[stvn1974]

As much complaining as I do about the Special Editions I would be happy at this point for the original ending of Jedi being put back with the Ewok song and older Anakin so there won't be any link to the prequels. I would be able to stomach the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO", blinking Ewoks magical appearing and disappearing rocks/windows and Han ducking as a trade off. I would even watch the new Jedi Rocks and like it.

[JackKnightStarman]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

As much complaining as I do about the Special Editions I would be happy at this point for the original ending of Jedi being put back with the Ewok song and older Anakin so there won't be any link to the prequels. I would be able to stomach the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO", blinking Ewoks magical appearing and disappearing rocks/windows and Han ducking as a trade off. I would even watch the new Jedi Rocks and like it.

I'll take old Anakin. But No on that stupid yub yub song. That change in the special edition was a welcome one. Hated that song when I first saw Jedi back in '83. Hate really isn't a strong enough word. Loathe is more like it. But I hated the ewoks, and was mad that it wasn't the Wookies. Wookies I could understand beating the Empire. Not what we got instead. Death to Endor and it's inhabitants.

[stvn1974]

These last few posts just shows that Disney needs to have Lucasfilm release all of the versions in one set since everyone has a favorite. Maybe a bonus disc where you can make your own version by seemless branching?

[MechaGodzilla]

While I'd be satisfied enough with theatrical cuts plus the latest version of the special editions, I'd like it if we got all versions. When watching the special editions I could go to the '04 versions of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi.

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Now, I am not sure about the original released 1997 Special Edition movies that were in the theaters at that time.

I remember the SE for Star Wars being quite red. Don't really remember for the other two.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

These last few posts just shows that Disney needs to have Lucasfilm release all of the versions in one set since everyone has a favorite. Maybe a bonus disc where you can make your own version by seemless branching?

In the mass market, which is the only thing that counts, I really have doubts that anyone cares about any of this. This is really something that only the anal-retentive fans care about. And people have complained incessantly about the price of the existing Star Wars boxes and if they release one with a zillion different version, it's going to be even more expensive.

So while everyone here "thinks" that Disney is going to release some semblance of the OT in it's supposedly original form, I still have great doubts. And even if they do, you can be assured that people will find things to complain about anyway.

You have posters above claiming that they made the image pop too much on the BDs. If they dial that down, people will complain that they've lost the contrast and lost the blacks. Or they'll complain that the sound mix is slightly different. Or whatever... Peoples' lives will be ruined if they don't find something to complain about.

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by JackKnightStarman

I'll take old Anakin. But No on that stupid yub yub song. That change in the special edition was a welcome one. Hated that song when I first saw Jedi back in '83. Hate really isn't a strong enough word. Loathe is more like it. But I hated the ewoks, and was mad that it wasn't the Wookies. Wookies I could understand beating the Empire. Not what we got instead. Death to Endor and it's inhabitants.

Agreed with this. The new music was a huge improvement for the end of the trilogy.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

In the mass market, which is the only thing that counts, I really have doubts that anyone cares about any of this. This is really something that only the anal-retentive fans care about. And people have complained incessantly about the price of the existing Star Wars boxes and if they release one with a zillion different version, it's going to be even more expensive.

So while everyone here "thinks" that Disney is going to release some semblance of the OT in it's supposedly original form, I still have great doubts. And even if they do, you can be assured that people will find things to complain about anyway.

You have posters above claiming that they made the image pop too much on the BDs. If they dial that down, people will complain that they've lost the contrast and lost the blacks. Or they'll complain that the sound mix is slightly different. Or whatever... Peoples' lives will be ruined if they don't find something to complain about.

Well there's definitely an wide interest in the UOT being restored and released-- that's definitely not an "anal retentive fan" thing. Pretty much everybody who likes Star Wars wants those released, except for maybe some kids that don't even know they exist. Even most of the people I read here who stick up for the later versions usually say they'd like to see it released, even if they aren't personally attached to those versions. They're considered culturally important films and they deserve to be restored and preserved for people to watch just as they were originally shown for a good 20 YEARS before the Special Editions were released.

And I don't care what your opinion on the alterations are, whether you like them or not-- they are significantly changed movies. To argue otherwise is the one opinion I find to be absurd. Entire sequences have a different tone and visual aesthetic to them.

As far as the "anal-retentive fans" go, there's always some. They might complain that the original film didn't include the mono mix, or this one ship-engine didn't sound right or something, I don't know. But I guarantee 99% the complaints will cease once we get those restored originals. At this point I'm positive we'll get them, as I believe that virtually anybody who was in a a position to restore and release them would, save George Lucas himself.

[Vlad Draculi]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

As much complaining as I do about the Special Editions I would be happy at this point for the original ending of Jedi being put back with the Ewok song and older Anakin so there won't be any link to the prequels. I would be able to stomach the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO", blinking Ewoks magical appearing and disappearing rocks/windows and Han ducking as a trade off. I would even watch the new Jedi Rocks and like it.

NO!!!!!!!!

The last thing we need is that god awful crappy ass Ewok song. The empire was just taken down, it deserves a true celebration theme.

[StingingVelvet]

Seamless branching. Both versions, same disc. Why is this even a debate? This thread truly baffles me.

[motorheadache95]

Honestly I'd like Disney to restore the complete originals and then give a budget for Lucas and Lucasfilm to go balls out redoing the Special Editions from scratch. All new added special effects, edits, fixes, and content changes per Lucas' desires and specifications. Hayden? Check. Liam Neeson showing up and talking to Obi Wan? Check. Boba Fett fighting his way out of the Sarlaac, showing Jimmy Smitts on Alderaan before he gets blown up-- double check!

I'm kind of joking but I'd totally watch it.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Seamless branching. Both versions, same disc. Why is this even a debate? This thread truly baffles me.

I'm not sure you can reasonably do seamless branching of the two. I'm sure you could for the Special Editions/DVD editions/Blu-Ray editions though.

But they're making it too complicated-- The 1983 movie has the Ewok song. End of story. Unless Disney makes some kind of crazy "create your version of Star Wars" thing like going to a Build-A-Bear, that's what they went with and thats what the film has. If you want the new John Williams music, maybe they'll also remaster the 1997 Special Editions, or else you just have to watch the Complete Saga edition.

Personally, the new music is one of the few things I liked in the Special Editions (I also like a few shots here and there of the ships in the original movie). But overall I'd rather watch the original '83 film any day.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Seamless branching. Both versions, same disc. Why is this even a debate? This thread truly baffles me.

If you mean branching the originals and the special editions, you'd need so much new footage across the two versions (esp. the original Star Wars) that you'd run out of disc space if you were branching the two of them, so they might as well be on 2 discs anyway. Remember, they didn't just add in CG creatures and set extensions and space battles, but there were additional scenes, lots of new digitally-extended zooms and other camera moves, and then there's the recomp'ed original VFX shots to consider.

I still say that LFL should do one disc for the restored original version so they've got enough room to include the different audio mixes, and then do a branching disc for the SEs as motorheadache said, using the 1997 version as the base and branching in the 2004/2011 changes as needed. Put all the archival extras like trailers, deleted scenes, vintage featurettes and so on on a third disc. Repeat for all three movies, and include a bonus disc which has Empire of Dreams on it and other trilogy-specific extras. I'd buy that for (a lot more than) a dollar!