Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

Yes, very much this. So much content is split up between different services that it's kind of crazy to keep up with. As it is I only have a Netflix and Hulu account. I get HBO through my cable service, so I have no need to get the stand alone service.

But I can't see keeping track of which service has what, especially for purchases, especially when some content is only available through certain services. When going digital, even if you favor one service over another, some services may carry some movies that others don't.

Heck, I was reading the dedicated Star Wars digital release thread in the digital section, and the effect the split between Ep IV being Fox and the rest being Disney/Lucasfilm, and it was giving me a headache. If I understand the case correctly (and I'm not entirely certain that I do, since I don't buy movies digitally), even though the movies can be purchased as a bundle through a few different services, what studio it is released by can effect what other services the movie can also be viewed through. So the limitations on Ep IV are different than the other 5 eps because of the studio split. What a headache.

Then there's the recent issue of Target Ticket shutting down and purchases being converted to CinemaNow. Some titles aren't even carried by it. Apparently anyone effected are getting a credit towards other purchases, but it doesn't help them get back the content that they lost since it's simply not available through this service. And even if it is available through other services out there, they aren't receiving actual money back, but rather a Cinema Now credit. So they can't even transfer that to another service that has the content that they want, if they are impacted in this manner. So now they have to spend money (assuming the content is available elsewhere) that they weren't otherwise planning on spending just to reaquire what they already had.


These kinds of problems and many others are why I just don't trust digital distribution.







Very true. But also, what one considers convenient can vary. Sure, it's convenient not having to swap out discs and being able to easily access and watch a movie while "on the go," but given all of the headaches associated with it as described above, I find discs to be far more convenient in the grand scheme of things.

I dislike the disc argument, people should be forced to start with laserdisc and work up.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

Oh, I agree. And Fox really had no reason to argue with Lucas. It's all money in the bank for them one way or the other. Espeically when it came time for the special editions and prequels. Despite the complaints about them from many people (myself included), by the time they came out, Star Wars was cemented as such a financial powerhouse that they'd have no reason to put up an argument, at least not from a sheer business standpoint.

Likewise, they will probably go along with most anything Disney does in terms of wanting to re-release Ep IV in any form so long as Fox is getting theirs out of the deal. The only thing that I don't see them doing is flat out selling off the rights to Episode IV, at least not without it being for one hell of a huge pay-day.

Post 2020 that day will come. From once having a share of all 6 movies on Blu-ray & DVD Fox will only get 1/6th of the revenues after that point (heck, Fox seem to think they're dead formats anyway), and their perpetual theatrical, digital & TV rights to Ep 4 won't mean squat in terms of any significant revenue either. They don't own the IP so they can't make their own SW movies, so holding on to the distribution of one film in the face of a fat cheque from da Mouse doesn't make sense to me.

[Thequanglewanglequee]

My sources tell me that the theatrical trilogy is coming to Blu-ray.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Thequanglewanglequee

My sources tell me that the theatrical trilogy is coming to Blu-ray.

What sources?

Incidentally, a friend of mine shared this article from 2 years ago, but still relevant:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dadehaye...-anytime-soon/

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Thequanglewanglequee

My sources tell me that the theatrical trilogy is coming to Blu-ray.

I don't know what sources you have, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case sometime this fall.

This is a complete guess on my part, but when you think about it, the timing of the digital release for the Star Wars movies was kind of odd, happening in April, when Episode VII is coming out in December.

It would have almost made more sense to release them closer to that time frame, like roughly October, to fully reap the rewards of the combined hype.

But I'm thinking that they released it now to get as many people to buy it between now and then as possible, and then this fall prior to the release of Ep VII (which of course is a big deal in itself as it has the principle cast from the OT returning for a new movie for the first time in over 30 years), release the unaltered original trilogy in some form or another on Blu-Ray and digital.... whether it be as it's own release or (on Blu-Ray anyway) some kind of huge ass box set that has the UOT, the newer editions, the prequels (possibly more than 1 version of some of the prequels, i.e. Ep 1 with both puppet and CGI Yoda). It would be a perfect and easy cash tie in.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by seannyd

That's where the UV is supposed to solve the problem. Once you have a copy of a movie, you own it and then the corresponding services will link up to your UV locker and boom. You're good. So when you have situations like when Target Ticket shuts down, you should still be able to access your movies on VUDU or as they pushed people to CinemaNow.

That's why UV is effectively a failure, at least in terms of what it set out to do. Like many "by committee" things, it became so complex and so watered down in some areas that while it does somewhat "work", it is way too complicated for the average consumer to navigate. And, in the end, it guarantees nothing (the watered down part) - it's a "locker" that stores your "rights" to stream something, but it's entirely predicated on a participating vendor having that title available at the time.

You should have seen (and can still go look) at the massive confusion at various Star Wars sites over this. You need freakin' flow-charts to figure out what you get from buying at various vendors. Between UV, iTunes, Disney Anywhere, all the various sub-vendors (some of whom are UV compat, some not), and the added wrinkle of the original film having certain differences (mainly, Disney Anywhere). It's insane that you have to work so hard to dump $100, and that folks who make the wrong decision will end up smacking themselves later over wasting the money.

Many seemed to go the iTunes route, simply out of familiarity - which is a shame, because that was the most limited way to purchase it. But folks simply don't think past this moment, this week, right now when it comes to this stuff. I can't imagine making that kind of $ investment in an iTunes library at this point, but then again - I personally can't see spending $100 for inferior copies of something that is widely available via physical media in much higher quality, no Internet required, period.

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I don't know what sources you have, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case sometime this fall.

This is a complete guess on my part, but when you think about it, the timing of the digital release for the Star Wars movies was kind of odd, happening in April, when Episode VII is coming out in December.

It would have almost made more sense to release them closer to that time frame, like roughly October, to fully reap the rewards of the combined hype.

Thing is, as folks have been saying for awhile - the hype isn't going to include the prequels. This was a shout out to the whole package, a good way to drum up some news for Star Wars in the week or two leading up to Celebration, but once the Episode 7 train really starts, pretty much tomorrow - the prequels are going to be back-seated for the foreseeable future.

When/if the UOT Blu-rays are announced, they will be just the UOT.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Post 2020 that day will come. From once having a share of all 6 movies on Blu-ray & DVD Fox will only get 1/6th of the revenues after that point (heck, Fox seem to think they're dead formats anyway), and their perpetual theatrical, digital & TV rights to Ep 4 won't mean squat in terms of any significant revenue either. They don't own the IP so they can't make their own SW movies, so holding on to the distribution of one film in the face of a fat cheque from da Mouse doesn't make sense to me.

That's my thinking as well. For now Fox still has disc rights to the full OT & PT, and those aren't quite dead yet; they've used Disney's push for the digital versions to get their existing OT, PT & Complete Saga BD sets back on the front shelves at the biggest stores. After 2020, though, they will be limited to 1/9 of the franchise (including Eps VII-IX but not the spinoffs), and with Disney basically in George Lucas' shoes even that probably can't be exploited by Fox without Disney's OK; that's when the big fat check from Darth Iger will start looking good to Darth Murdoch (or their successors).

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Merlinpants

Worrying news from Fox :

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/column...ts/040915_1430

If they are moving to kill physical media, where does A New Hope UOT blu ray fit in with Fox controlling the film? Is this why they supported the digital release? Also, if Hunt is right, will the 4K master ever see the light of day if no studio is currently looking to support the format?

Worth noting that 90% of this article is Bill Hunt hysterically assuming things and then asking you for money to help fight the evil corporations trying to kill discs. Fox seem more willing to stop releasing BDs that don't sell well, sure, but they still release a ton of BDs and aren't going to drop the format anytime soon.

As it gets more and more niche some stuff is going to skip physical media because of lack of interest. Cartoon shows 20 years past their prime with 30 seasons minimum were likely candidates for the first time this happened. Middling drama shows on CBS and stuff like that will follow suit, and already skip BD. That's the kind of stuff you're not gonna be able to get for long on a disc.

Star Wars though? Star Wars will get disc releases as long as players are sold to play them on.

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Worth noting that 90% of this article is Bill Hunt hysterically assuming things and then asking you for money to help fight the evil corporations trying to kill discs. Fox seem more willing to stop releasing BDs that don't sell well, sure, but they still release a ton of BDs and aren't going to drop the format anytime soon.

As it gets more and more niche some stuff is going to skip physical media because of lack of interest. Cartoon shows 20 years past their prime with 30 seasons minimum were likely candidates for the first time this happened. Middling drama shows on CBS and stuff like that will follow suit, and already skip BD. That's the kind of stuff you're not gonna be able to get for long on a disc.

Star Wars though? Star Wars will get disc releases as long as players are sold to play them on.

The problem is it's not just bluray. They are dropping the dvd versions as well.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

The problem is it's not just bluray. They are dropping the dvd versions as well.

I know, and didn't say otherwise. I said "physical media."

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I know, and didn't say otherwise. I said "physical media."

I thought this was the Star Wars Thread

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I thought this was the Star Wars Thread

It's directly relevant, responding to a post linking to a hysterical article about Fox ditching physical media as soon as possible. Fox have at least some control over Star Wars on disc, hence the conversation being in this thread.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I thought this was the Star Wars Thread

Funny you raised that point to the one who was not wrongly extrapolating the news about The Simpsons into a Star Wars issue. Simple: Fox cannot abandon physical media for Star Wars till around 2020 because they do not own the streaming rights except for Ep IV. (Edit: If they were abandoning physical media, they might as well sign everything over to Disney now.) End of discussion.

[Angel Eyes]

I have a feeling this is going to be a day long remembered! 12:00 noon bring out the news that the UOT will be released in the fall!!!!

[dvdmike]

This thread will be full of that I reckon

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

I have a feeling this is going to be a day long remembered! 12:00 noon bring out the news that the UOT will be released in the fall!!!!

What is so special about today, that this "will" be announced?

My source hasn't said anything about it, there hasn't even been any rumblings...

[Dubstar]

Ep II in 3D premiers tonight, Ep III tomorrow night at the Stars Celebration 2015 - I want to know from those who saw them, what they thought of the conversions.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Ep II in 3D premiers tonight, Ep III tomorrow night at the Stars Celebration 2015 - I want to know from those who saw them, what they thought of the conversions.

People that saw The Phantom Menace enjoyed it. It wasn't eye-popping, but they said it worked. Clones and Sith were done by the same group, so I expect the results to be roughly the same.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

People that saw The Phantom Menace enjoyed it. It wasn't eye-popping, but they said it worked. Clones and Sith were done by the same group, so I expect the results to be roughly the same.

so Phantom Menace was a redo? - I remember my impression was of complete disappointment - why bother, so pointless. Who is the 3D conversion group that did these projects?

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

so Phantom Menace was a redo? - I remember my impression was of complete disappointment - why bother, so pointless. Who is the 3D conversion group that did these projects?

ILM did Phantom