Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Gold Ranger]

That was pretty funny

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I really, really need to go this route once and for all.

Just curious. I know they are 720p, but are there some scenes that are 480p instead integrated?

He also uses custom mattes to integrate GOUT footage and film frame scans into certain areas of the image, so there's a little 'pocket' of SD while the rest of it is HD. I still can't believe how well he did to remove the CG ronto from the background when they pull up to the Cantina in Mos Eisley. (Not the infamous 'Vaseline on the lens' shot, the one directly after it.)

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

He also uses custom mattes to integrate GOUT footage and film frame scans into certain areas of the image, so there's a little 'pocket' of SD while the rest of it is HD. I still can't believe how well he did to remove the CG ronto from the background when they pull up to the Cantina in Mos Eisley. (Not the infamous 'Vaseline on the lens' shot, the one directly after it.)

It's an amazing effort. Almost unimaginable really, but he got source material from some pretty surprising places, and he's been working on it for what, 7 years or more? There's a video on Youtube called Despecialized Video Sources that gives some graphic demonstrations of his changes. GOUT, if you don't know, refers to the original, unaltered versions of the movies released on non-anamorphic DVD as a supplement to the 1997 Special Edition.

I'll say it again, the Despecialized Star Wars is worth watching just as a testament to the lengths that we as fans are willing to go to preserve film history. I do have the current blu-ray release of Empire, and in terms of detail, Despecialized is very close, even at 720p. It looks very good projected on my 110" screen.

[StingingVelvet]

Yeah, the descpecialized editions are amazing. Well worth the HDD space.

That said my personal ideal version would be the improved cuts when it comes to general effects, ship shots and cleaning up the errors but with the bullshit added CGI scenes and whatnot removed. I know that's irrational picking and choosing, but that would be my perfect edition.

[alexpeden2000]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

That said my personal ideal version would be the improved cuts when it comes to general effects, ship shots and cleaning up the errors but with the bullshit added CGI scenes and whatnot removed. I know that's irrational picking and choosing, but that would be my perfect edition.

Check out KK650's semi-specialised versions...

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

It's an amazing effort. Almost unimaginable really, but he got source material from some pretty surprising places, and he's been working on it for what, 7 years or more? There's a video on Youtube called Despecialized Video Sources that gives some graphic demonstrations of his changes. GOUT, if you don't know, refers to the original, unaltered versions of the movies released on non-anamorphic DVD as a supplement to the 1997 Special Edition.

I'll say it again, the Despecialized Star Wars is worth watching just as a testament to the lengths that we as fans are willing to go to preserve film history. I do have the current blu-ray release of Empire, and in terms of detail, Despecialized is very close, even at 720p. It looks very good projected on my 110" screen.

I would be okay with losing a tiny bit of detail going from 1080p to 720p in order to get that close to the original version.

So, has he nailed the color timing down, or is that also still being revised over time? That's just such a tricky issue I would imagine because of the home video sources (with inherent flaws) over the years and we know the flaws with older prints, etc. and such.

[Cobra Kai]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I would be okay with losing a tiny bit of detail going from 1080p to 720p in order to get that close to the original version.

So, has he nailed the color timing down, or is that also still being revised over time? That's just such a tricky issue I would imagine because of the home video sources (with inherent flaws) over the years and we know the flaws with older prints, etc. and such.

As far as matching up the color from different sources, he has nailed it. it looks completely seamless.

He is also using 35mm footage that he has been receiving from a couple other separate projects, so he's not just working with 480p for the despecialized parts. He has stated that eventually, as he gets access to more and more 35mm footage. he will most likely release future versions that will be 1080p and sourced entirely from HD elements. That is - if Disney doesn't release their own restoration before then...

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Cobra Kai

As far as matching up the color from different sources, he has nailed it. it looks completely seamless.

He is also using 35mm footage that he has been receiving from a couple other separate projects, so he's not just working with 480p for the despecialized parts. He has stated that eventually, as he gets access to more and more 35mm footage. he will most likely release future versions that will be 1080p and sourced entirely from HD elements. That is - if Disney doesn't release their own restoration before then...

Sounds remarkably cool. If they can high quality scan those 35mm elements for 1080p, then wow!

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I would be okay with losing a tiny bit of detail going from 1080p to 720p in order to get that close to the original version.

[Show spoiler]
So, has he nailed the color timing down, or is that also still being revised over time? That's just such a tricky issue I would imagine because of the home video sources (with inherent flaws) over the years and we know the flaws with older prints, etc. and such.

Even Team Adywan said that there is barely any noticeable difference between the 1080p and 720p versions.
That's how bad the Blu-Rays are.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Cobra Kai

he will most likely release future versions that will be 1080p and sourced entirely from HD elements. That is - if Disney doesn't release their own restoration before then...

I wonder if an official release would have the level of care that the fans put into theirs, in terms of accuracy to the original colors. I hope so, but it's interesting that the digital age gives us this power of choice.

Harmy himself reminded me that in his view, anyone who downloads the HD Despecialized should own the official blu-ray release, so out of respect to him, I have finally purchased the Original Trilogy box set, a used copy, naturally.

[HeavyHitter]

If Disney does release the originals, the color timing (IMO) is going to be the biggest question mark.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

If Disney does release the originals, the color timing (IMO) is going to be the biggest question mark.

Also the errors...
the errors...
won't someone think of the errors!

[chip75]

Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi £10.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Fantastic book!

[Cook]

Originally Posted by chip75

Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi £10.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Fantastic book!

Ordered! What a great price!

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by chip75

Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi £10.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Fantastic book!

If there were only one series of Star Wars books to recommend, it would be Rinzler's extraordinary Making of books.

[Jar Jar Stinks]

Originally Posted by chip75

Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi £10.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Fantastic book!

This book really reveals how Lucas missed the mark on ROTJ. Great book.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

If there were only one series of Star Wars books to recommend, it would be Rinzler's extraordinary Making of books.

They are good...albeit extremely biased. Would be nice to get something from all sides.

[DCW]

Out of stock.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by DCW

Out of stock.

It is OOS but if you order you get it at that price but just have to wait for the restocking. It's worth the wait in my opinion (I pre-ordered the book for it's initial release for more than twice the price). It's $52.91 on Amazon.com.

[Gold Ranger]

I've been saying it for months now and no one believed me...
Well, finally I have proof that I can share:

George Lucas Says His Treatments for the New STAR WARS Films Were Discarded.

We knew this new era of Star Wars would be different, but we now have confirmation that these films will be unique for one major reason: for the first time in the franchise’s history, the Star Wars films will not be based on original ideas by George Lucas. When Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm, to Disney along with the rights to one of the most significant franchises of all time, Lucas was to remain involved in the new films as a consultant. Kathleen Kennedy was spearheading these new films as the producer, but it was made clear that Lucas was handing over all of his story treatments and ideas for the continuing saga, specifically installments 7, 8, and 9 which he’d been touting for decades.

However, Lucas now says two years later that, somewhat unsurprisingly, none of his treatments are being used for the new Star Wars films. More after the jump, and click here to watch Perri’s own recent interview with Lucas.


In a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Lucas revealed that his ideas for the new Star Wars trilogy have been discarded:

“The ones that I sold to Disney, they came up to the decision that they didn’t really want to do those. So they made up their own. So it’s not the ones that I originally wrote [for Star Wars: The Force Awakens].”

Now, this isn’t altogether surprising. Shortly after the sale to Disney, it was announced that Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) had been hired to pen the screenplay for the then-untitled Star Wars: Episode VII. We subsequently learned that Arndt had actually been working on the screenplay since before Lucas sold his company to Disney, fleshing out a treatment originally conceived by Lucas himself.
When J.J. Abrams was hired on as the director, he and Arndt worked extensively on the script for a year. Then, somewhat abruptly, Arndt was removed from the project and Abrams took over screenwriting duties himself with Lawrence Kasdan acting as co-writers. Apparently Abrams and Arndt didn’t see eye-to-eye on how to proceed with this first installment in a new Star Wars trilogy, with Arndt wanting to focus on new characters and Abrams wanting to beef up the roles of the Original Trilogy actors (ie. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher) and make them a more central part of the story.
With Lucas’ recent comments, it seems pretty clear that Arndt and Abrams were working from a story that was originally put together by Lucas in his treatment for Episode VII, but Abrams and Kennedy (and possibly Rian Johnson, who’s writing Episodes 8 and 9) subsequently decided they had come up with a better, different take altogether.
This is certainly interesting and, again, significant. Lucas admitted years ago that he wouldn’t have much to do with the new Star Wars films, but now we know that these will be the first Star Wars films in history that are essentially devoid of Lucas’ creative input—for better or worse.