Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Falaskan]

Originally Posted by Nada

Steelbooks look nice. Love the original poster art on the back.

I still haven't seen the back covers? Where can I see them at?

[Geoff D]

Steelbook thread (scroll down): https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...265460&page=10

[svenge]

They should've used the 1997 SE posters for the backs of the Ep. IV-VI Steelbooks and reserved the original poster art for whenever they get around to releasing the original versions of the OT.

To me, using the original theatrical poster art for the desecrated modified 2011 versions of those films is essentially false advertising.

[imsounoriginal]

Randomly popped into a used media store yesterday and found the OT limited edition DVD trilogy for $40. Being a millenial and all, I've actually never seen the "unaltered" versions of the OT, so just wanted to ask: do these DVDs really have these movies the way they were shown back in 1997-1983? Or do even these have some changes? (On another note, I've now finally seen Han shoot first.)

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Randomly popped into a used media store yesterday and found the OT limited edition DVD trilogy for $40. Being a millenial and all, I've actually never seen the "unaltered" versions of the OT, so just wanted to ask: do these DVDs really have these movies the way they were shown back in 1997-1983? Or do even these have some changes? (On another note, I've now finally seen Han shoot first.)

They're not anamorphic, so when you watch them on a modern HD set they display as noticeably windowboxed (meaning thick black bars around the entire image).

They were directly sourced from the 1993 Laserdisc Master, so they display all the aliasing and interlacing issues inherent to it (four-eyed Stormtrooper, etc.) It's basically a copy of the 1993 Laserdisc, stored on a DVD.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

They're not anamorphic, so when you watch them on a modern HD set they display as noticeably windowboxed (meaning thick black bars around the entire image).

They were directly sourced from the 1993 Laserdisc Master, so they display all the aliasing and interlacing issues inherent to it (four-eyed Stormtrooper, etc.) It's basically a copy of the 1993 Laserdisc, stored on a DVD.

Right, I knew about them being non-anamorphic/generally very basic on the technical side. Not really a problem to me. Just wanted to know if they truly are the original versions as advertised. Thanks for the info

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Right, I knew about them being non-anamorphic/generally very basic on the technical side. Not really a problem to me. Just wanted to know if they truly are the original versions as advertised. Thanks for the info

I find them unwatchable - the PQ is that bad. And I'm talking on a flat panel, let alone front projection.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I find them unwatchable - the PQ is that bad. And I'm talking on a flat panel, let alone front projection.

Yep, the horrendous PQ is bad enough (a 20+ year old master will do that) but most who buy them don't realize the DVD's were authored as 4X3 letterboxed... so when they go to watch them on modern equipment they're taken aback by the huge pillarboxes on the left and right sides. So, to get it to display correct width they have to use zoom functions, which is essentially taking imagery that already looks poor and enlarging it, which makes it look even poorer.

[iamsometal]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Right, I knew about them being non-anamorphic/generally very basic on the technical side. Not really a problem to me. Just wanted to know if they truly are the original versions as advertised. Thanks for the info

They are definitely as presented in theaters originally, but what makes them largely un-watchable are the rampant image smearing, the lack of enhanced anamorphic support and overall lack of detail. Also the sound quality is piss-poor.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Yep, the horrendous PQ is bad enough (a 20+ year old master will do that) but most who buy them don't realize the DVD's were authored as 4X3 letterboxed... so when they go to watch them on modern equipment they're taken aback by the huge pillarboxes on the left and right sides. So, to get it to display correct width they have to use zoom functions, which is essentially taking imagery that already looks poor and enlarging it, which makes it look even poorer.

I only sampled about half of ANH and it really doesn't look great, but it's watchable. There's an annoying sliver of green that hugs the left of the frame, but other than that I knew what I was walking into based on DVD reviews and it's at least watchable. I'm just happy to have the original versions in some capacity now, especially since I don't expect to see them on Blu-ray for a while.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I only sampled about half of ANH and it really doesn't look great, but it's watchable. There's an annoying sliver of green that hugs the left of the frame, but other than that I knew what I was walking into based on DVD reviews and it's at least watchable. I'm just happy to have the original versions in some capacity now, especially since I don't expect to see them on Blu-ray for a while.

There are fan-made preservations available that render the bonus disc DVD releases obsolete. Just something to keep in mind.

[Geoff D]

Most BD players these days have very good non-anamorphic uprezzing to save the TV from doing it, and although you can't get around the baked-in problems (aliasing, DNR smearing etc) of these these creaky old Star Wars masters they do actually hold up very well on my TV.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

these creaky old Star Wars masters they do actually hold up very well on my TV.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

There are fan-made preservations available that render the bonus disc DVD releases obsolete. Just something to keep in mind.

Yeah but between this limited edition set, the 2004 DVD set (which is now obsolete for me aside from Empire of Dreams), and the 1997 Special Edition VHS set, I've spent enough on the OT. I know others have spent far more but I can live with what I have for now. I also have the PT on DVD and Blu-ray. All I'd really ever buy after this is the unaltered OT on Blu-ray and the Clone Wars mini-series on Blu-ray (if that ever happens, which I kinda doubt).

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Most BD players these days have very good non-anamorphic uprezzing to save the TV from doing it, and although you can't get around the baked-in problems (aliasing, DNR smearing etc) of these these creaky old Star Wars masters they do actually hold up very well on my TV.

+1, I played the ANH limited edition disc on my LG BD player hooked up to my LG 21:9 monitor, with the screen set to "cinema" to fill the whole frame (meaning there's still some letterboxing, but not as much), and it looked OK. Not great, but not offensively bad.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I find them unwatchable - the PQ is that bad. And I'm talking on a flat panel, let alone front projection.

yeah, that was a HUGE insult when they came out. One more "take this and LIKE IT!" dick move from Lucas

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Heh. I'm not saying they look like anything other than old Laserdisc masters (minus all the issues of the actual LDs themselves like chroma noise, rolling interference etc) but I really do find them to be quite tolerable for what they are.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Heh. I'm not saying they look like anything other than old Laserdisc masters (minus all the issues of the actual LDs themselves like chroma noise, rolling interference etc) but I really do find them to be quite tolerable for what they are.

That just shows you how careful you have to be. I can use the power of your own avatar against you so fast your head'll spin. That's what makes me so dangerous.

[HeavyHitter]

The last time and only time I tried to watch them was several years back on the 60" display I had at that time. I really, really tried - but after 10 minutes I could not deal with watching the long list of issues they had. Today if I were to watch them, I would likely be even more critical of them.

[calmblueocean81]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

All I'd really ever buy after this is the unaltered OT on Blu-ray and the Clone Wars mini-series on Blu-ray (if that ever happens, which I kinda doubt).

Is there a reason this set is unlikely? They seem to love issuing and re-issuing things on blu, so how come this never saw the light of day? Such an excellent series deserves the HD treatment!

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by calmblueocean81

Is there a reason this set is unlikely? They seem to love issuing and re-issuing things on blu, so how come this never saw the light of day? Such an excellent series deserves the HD treatment!

Lucas most likely held it back from release because it isn't canon anymore, being "replaced" by the later series which he was more involved in. But now with Disney in charge, I'm sure it could come sooner or later. They could just slap that Legends banner on it, which is supposed to signify non-canon status.