Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[thegoat]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

So, basically just keep doing what Lucasfilm has been doing already for decades.

Star Wars is often cited as an example of milking home video markets, but in reality, there are just a few reissues of the same discs with different covers, and they were pretty late to the game with both DVD and Blu-ray. If Lucasfilm was milking, they would have put out non-anamorphic DVDs of the SEs back in 1998, remastered two disc editions later, the original cuts, some box sets with unnecessary merchandise/toys thrown in, and then an edition with the 2004 changes plus a few more "complete series" box sets as each of the prequels came out. And then we would have seen an HD-DVD/early Blu-ray of each film/version plus remastered editions and the current box sets. On the whole, Lucasfilm has been pretty conservative compared to other studios (looking at you, Warner).

[PenguinDeluxe]

Originally Posted by thegoat

Star Wars is often cited as an example of milking home video markets, but in reality, there are just a few reissues of the same discs with different covers, and they were pretty late to the game with both DVD and Blu-ray. If Lucasfilm was milking, they would have put out non-anamorphic DVDs of the SEs back in 1998, remastered two disc editions later, the original cuts, some box sets with unnecessary merchandise/toys thrown in, and then an edition with the 2004 changes plus a few more "complete series" box sets as each of the prequels came out. And then we would have seen an HD-DVD/early Blu-ray of each film/version plus remastered editions and the current box sets. On the whole, Lucasfilm has been pretty conservative compared to other studios (looking at you, Warner).

Yeah, while I think they certainly milked franchise and merchandising opportunities, home video is something they haven't really exploited like many other studios. The amount of time it took to get Star Wars on blu-ray is indicative of that.

[Gold Ranger]

I believe the record for "Milking it" belongs to the Evil Dead trilogy, maybe even The Wizard of OZ.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by thegoat

Star Wars is often cited as an example of milking home video markets, but in reality, there are just a few reissues of the same discs with different covers, and they were pretty late to the game with both DVD and Blu-ray.

I disagree. While yes, they were relatively late in adopting new formats, as you state, they just were repackaging the same thing every few years and reselling it many times once they started on a format. Blu-ray has been most conservative thus far, but that's because of the sale of the company.

I get what you are saying about doing every last version (which, actually, I think would lead to happier folks vs. what we got) but just count the number of individual releases, it's pretty staggering.

The reason for my comment was simply there seemed to be this "oh Disney is gonna exploit this" vibe and Lucasfilm has always exploited these films with releases every few years, the difference just may be that with Disney, they actually release the versions that many fans clamor for.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by PenguinDeluxe

Yeah, while I think they certainly milked franchise and merchandising opportunities, home video is something they haven't really exploited like many other studios. The amount of time it took to get Star Wars on blu-ray is indicative of that.

No, that's indicative of Lucas' revisionist versions. What held them up on new formats (including DVD) is that he wanted the move to a new format each time to be a new "final" version of the films.

If you go back earlier in this thread, you'll find lists - the 90's in particular, there were so many VHS/LD releases (both pre- and post-SE) that it's pretty stunning.

If anything, though, Disney is going to be MORE conservative with home video releases - this is the company that invented the term "moratorium" in home video vernacular (which folks now refer to as "The Vault").

I just find it interesting in general that folks tend to paint the Disney sale as "jumping the shark" as in now they are going to over-commercialize, etc. the franchise - when if anything, they are going to take a more measured hand to the whole thing, in home video as well as other aspects of how the Star Wars machine runs.

[Gold Ranger]

DVD:
2004 (First release)
20xx (Second Release, No Bonus Disk)
20xx (Third Release, Individual, with Theatrical Prints)
20xx (Fourth Release, Slim Set, Box matches New Prequel Box)

The Original Trilogy was only released 4 different times on DVD.

Blu-Ray, only once, so far....

It was milked to death on VHS however, the last edition came in 2000, and started the Black/White/Black/White/Black/White series of Spines...

[rammsteinfan]

I just wish their was UV of all 6 films so I can watch them anytime on any device without having to rip them myself.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by rammsteinfan

I just wish their was UV of all 6 films so I can watch them anytime on any device without having to rip them myself.

You'll get your wish sooner than you think...

[rammsteinfan]

Yeah and prob have to pay $19.99 x6

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by rammsteinfan

Yeah and prob have to pay $19.99 x6

if only they would be that cheap...

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

DVD:
2004 (First release)
20xx (Second Release, No Bonus Disk)
20xx (Third Release, Individual, with Theatrical Prints)
20xx (Fourth Release, Slim Set, Box matches New Prequel Box)

The Original Trilogy was only released 4 different times on DVD.

Blu-Ray, only once, so far....

It was milked to death on VHS however, the last edition came in 2000, and started the Black/White/Black/White/Black/White series of Spines...

Considering as you have listed that the DVDs didn't start coming out until 2004, and once they started it was almost every other year, that's still milked to me, LOL. Especially since they were all the same versions over and over with the exceptions of the extras.

I actually count two on Blu-ray, though, as they did re-release the individual trilogies again in 2013 as well.

In any case, if one were to sit down and work it all out on a spreadsheet in a few years, I'm guessing the average release rate is going to go down with Disney, not up.

[octagon]

I don't care what happens to the rate so long as the absolute number goes up by one.

Provided it's the right one, of course.

[HeavyHitter]

I haven't watched EP 4-6 yet projected. I'm going to probably give these a spin soon.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

I just find it interesting in general that folks tend to paint the Disney sale as "jumping the shark" as in now they are going to over-commercialize, etc. the franchise - when if anything, they are going to take a more measured hand to the whole thing, in home video as well as other aspects of how the Star Wars machine runs.

Not sure a new movie every single year is a "measured hand" but I do agree on the home video aspect. If they do release a new theatrical version box set I am sure it will be the last BD release and possibly the last physical media release depending on how 4k blu does.

[thegoat]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Considering as you have listed that the DVDs didn't start coming out until 2004, and once they started it was almost every other year, that's still milked to me, LOL. Especially since they were all the same versions over and over with the exceptions of the extras.

I actually count two on Blu-ray, though, as they did re-release the individual trilogies again in 2013 as well.

In any case, if one were to sit down and work it all out on a spreadsheet in a few years, I'm guessing the average release rate is going to go down with Disney, not up.

Different viewpoints, I guess. I don't count a repackaging of the same discs as milking because there's no incentive to double dip (unless you collect packaging, but that's a minority of buyers). They actually removed content with each DVD release to lower the price (apart from the letterboxed UOT, which seemed like more of an afterthought to counter piracy anyway) No new transfers after a few years or all new special features or special collectors editions to replace a bare bones set.

I do agree that Disney is pretty conservative home video-wise, but they're milking the hell out of the franchise theatrically. I do bet that they'll release the UOT too, but that will probably be it for awhile while they focus on the new movies.

[Richard Graham]

ROTS 3D World Premire at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim:

http://www.starwarscelebration.com/e...sses-Included/

[mjbethancourt]

Gotta say, it's been really funny watching certain people vacillate back and forth between saying the prequels are the worst thing to happen to western civilization, and admitting that 2/3 of them are watchable-to-good. It's even better than people who say they hate the prequels but still own them on Blu-ray, and rationalize it by saying they "had to have" the bonus discs.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

Gotta say, it's been really funny watching certain people vacillate back and forth between saying the prequels are the worst thing to happen to western civilization, and admitting that 2/3 of them are watchable-to-good. It's even better than people who say they hate the prequels but still own them on Blu-ray, and rationalize it by saying they "had to have" the bonus discs.

Maybe people just really like bonus discs?

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

Gotta say, it's been really funny watching certain people vacillate back and forth between saying the prequels are the worst thing to happen to western civilization, and admitting that 2/3 of them are watchable-to-good. It's even better than people who say they hate the prequels but still own them on Blu-ray, and rationalize it by saying they "had to have" the bonus discs.

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Maybe people just really like bonus discs?

I have 2 sets of the Bonus Disks.
One that was "given" to me and the set that came with the free star wars saga set...

[svenge]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

It's even better than people who say they hate the prequels but still own them on Blu-ray, and rationalize it by saying they "had to have" the bonus discs.

Considering that I paid much less for the "Complete Saga" BD set ($60 shipped) than it would normally cost to get the Japanese laserdiscs for the vintage documentaries ("The Making of Star Wars", "SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back", and "Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi"), it's not an unreasonable position to take.

I'd wanted to replace my bootlegged DVDs of those documentaries with legit versions for years before they were released in the "Complete Saga" set. Since buying the 9-disc release was the only to get those documentaries at retail, begrudgingly allowing the PT discs into my house was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

And no, I have never watched the PT discs from the set and most likely never will. It would take extreme measures to make that happen, to wit: