Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Shalashaska]

Carrie Fisher's brother says actress is in stable condition after suffering medical emergency aboard plane.

https://twitter.com/AP/status/812447972470517760

That was scary. Let's hope she comes out alright.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Riddler95

The only way a legit 4K Restoration of The Star Wars Trilogy can be possible is if they scan 35MM Prints of the films. As far as I know 35MM Film Elements of the Theatrical Cuts still exist and apparently they are in good condition. I'm sure the 1997 Special Editions can easily be restored in 4K since they are only nineteen years old.

Hopefully it was the Theatrical Cuts that were restored in HD. If they were they should release them on Blu-Ray in time for the 40th Anniversary of the original film.

I'd hope they would go back to the ON.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Probably not, actually. From what I understand (not being much of a tech guy) the 2004 DVD versions onward were created entirely digitally using a scan of the films Lowry had done in 2K. So those versions are pretty much locked in as those 2K digital masters. Unless they went as far as to redo all of those alterations after having done the 4K restorations, but I'd be pretty skeptical about that.

The original film negatives supposedly exist as the 1997 Special Editions, so a 4K restoration would have to be from that at least, if not from a reconstruction version of the originals, which I'm guessing one or both of those things were done for the 4K versions we're hearing about.

I can't believe there's no mention in these articles about which version the 4K Star Wars is. Edwards couldn't have clarified that? For f**** sake.

Also, why the hell did Lucas make the special editions right before the PT? Why didn't he just wait till they were done? Did he really think he was going to be 100% satisfied with the '97 special editions?

[Class316]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

Also, why the hell did Lucas make the special editions right before the PT? Why didn't he just wait till they were done? Did he really think he was going to be 100% satisfied with the '97 special editions?

1997 was the 20th anniversary of Star Wars so he had to do something.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Guydowood

Oops. I shouldn't have drank all that cough syrup this morning.

That post really works with your avatar.

[uther]

You all have been jerked around on this countless times.

Do not believe it until there is an official announcement which would be stating Fox in it. Fox still owns the SW trilogy and still holds the ON. And the first film will be owned by Fox Forever.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by Class316

1997 was the 20th anniversary of Star Wars so he had to do something.

Restoring the films without the digital crap would have been sufficient.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

I can't believe there's no mention in these articles about which version the 4K Star Wars is. Edwards couldn't have clarified that? For f**** sake.

Also, why the hell did Lucas make the special editions right before the PT? Why didn't he just wait till they were done? Did he really think he was going to be 100% satisfied with the '97 special editions?

Lucas basically admitted that the Special Editions were as much test runs for the prequel CG as they were about restoring the films.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by uther

You all have been jerked around on this countless times.

Do not believe it until there is an official announcement which would be stating Fox in it. Fox still owns the SW trilogy and still holds the ON. And the first film will be owned by Fox Forever.

"Fox still owns the SW trilogy..."

Nope.

"...and still holds the ON."

Nope.

"And the first film will be owned by Fox forever."

Nope.

[Geoff D]

Forget it Ernest...it's StarWarsTown.

[Ernest Rister]

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Probably not, actually. From what I understand (not being much of a tech guy) the 2004 DVD versions onward were created entirely digitally using a scan of the films Lowry had done in 2K. So those versions are pretty much locked in as those 2K digital masters. Unless they went as far as to redo all of those alterations after having done the 4K restorations, but I'd be pretty skeptical about that.

The original film negatives supposedly exist as the 1997 Special Editions, so a 4K restoration would have to be from that at least, if not from a reconstruction version of the originals, which I'm guessing one or both of those things were done for the 4K versions we're hearing about.

But don't dupe elements exist of the original unaltered versions that they could use as the basis of a new BD release? Or use the OCN as much as possible, and where changes were made, resort to dupes? It's not optimal but it's better than nothing. I still can't believe that Lucas just destroyed the OCNs of the OT (not saying I don't believe it happened, just flabbergasted that it supposedly did).

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Forget it Ernest...it's StarWarsTown.

This wins the internets for today.

[frogmort]

Doritos is owned by Fox who still holds the rights to the original Flaming Hot Skywalker Ranch flavoring in perpetuity. Unless Fox acquiesces Walt's frozen head back to Disney before 2020 we will never be able to savor the flavor and will be stuck with the generic greasy Exxon nachos.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Lucas basically admitted that the Special Editions were as much test runs for the prequel CG as they were about restoring the films.

And he still went ahead with the special editions and prequels after seeing the results?!

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

But don't dupe elements exist of the original unaltered versions that they could use as the basis of a new BD release? Or use the OCN as much as possible, and where changes were made, resort to dupes? It's not optimal but it's better than nothing. I still can't believe that Lucas just destroyed the OCNs of the OT (not saying I don't believe it happened, just flabbergasted that it supposedly did).

They have the lifts from the original camera negative, there's no way in hell LucasFilm destroyed them. When LucasFilm PR said the original negative "no longer exists", what they meant was that it no longer exists assembled in the manner of original release, the lifts were replaced with the SE changes. Like a jigsaw puzzle, they'd have to put it all back together again (and boy, howdy, the nerd OCD fan community would be watching like hawks). When Lucas was pressured to release the unaltered version of Star Wars, he said it would cost $5 million to put everything back together and he wasn't going to spend that money...but today, using digital tools, it would be rather simple to scan in the lifts and re-insert them and nowhere near as expensive. They have the lifts, the outtakes, unused takes. They have all of that stuff. It's just another example of a simple sentence not being explained and understood.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

They have the lifts from the original camera negative, there's no way in hell LucasFilm destroyed them. When LucasFilm PR said the original negative "no longer exists", what they meant was that it no longer exists assembled in the manner of original release, the lifts were replaced with the SE changes. Like a jigsaw puzzle, they'd have to put it all back together again (and boy, howdy, the nerd OCD fan community would be watching like hawks). When Lucas was pressured to release the unaltered version of Star Wars, he said it would cost $5 million to put everything back together and he wasn't going to spend that money...but today, using digital tools, it would be rather simple to scan in the lifts and re-insert them and nowhere near as expensive. They have the lifts, the outtakes, unused takes. They have all of that stuff. It's just another example of a simple sentence not being explained and understood.

$5 million? Isn't that piggy bank change from Lucas's perspective?

I don't really believe Lucas destroyed the lifts from the original camera negative, but I wouldn't put it past him. He seems to hate the original versions. Actually I think he has pretty bad taste when it comes to his own movies. I get the feeling he likes the prequels more than the originals and he seems to love CGI Yoda more than the original. And if I remember correctly, he stated Return of the Jedi was closer to what he wanted than the first two films, which most likely means Jedi is his favorite entry of the OT.

I also can't believe people went along with all his wishes to ruin the original versions. Was there anyone who was working on the changes who actually preferred them to the originals? I find that hard to believe.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

I can't believe there's no mention in these articles about which version the 4K Star Wars is. Edwards couldn't have clarified that? For f**** sake.

Also, why the hell did Lucas make the special editions right before the PT? Why didn't he just wait till they were done? Did he really think he was going to be 100% satisfied with the '97 special editions?

Well, like Geoff said, it was the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars-- plus Lucas was a pretty savvy businessman. Even if he knew at the time in 1997 that more changes were likely to come, it was still a good opportunity to re-release the films in theaters and on home video. Not to mention that it was a good way to get the public consciousness back on Star Wars in those couple of years leading up to the new one.

And no, I don't think Lucas has ever been satisfied with the films. I'm willing to bet if he didn't sell the property to Disney, we wouldn't have seen the last of his tinkering to both the originals and prequels. He was always finding something to tweak or modify, even if by the Blu-Ray release it was starting to get really weird (like the rocks and the bigger door of Jabba's Palace).

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

$5 million? Isn't that piggy bank change from Lucas's perspective?

It's still a chunk of change he didn't want to spend. In 1997 dollars, at least.

I don't really believe Lucas destroyed the lifts from the original camera negative, but I wouldn't put it past him. He seems to hate the original versions. Actually I think he has pretty bad taste when it comes to his own movies. I get the feeling he likes the prequels more than the originals and he seems to love CGI Yoda more than the original. And if I remember correctly, he stated Return of the Jedi was closer to what he wanted than the first two films, which most likely means Jedi is his favorite entry of the OT.

Could be...but didn't they use digitally tweaked outtakes from the original Star Wars film for certain rebel pilots for the space battle in Rogue One? Don't know...but if they did, that means they have all of that stuff, and I didn't see any Fox copyright tags in the End Credits. LucasFilm owns that material, not Fox.

I also can't believe people went along with all his wishes to ruin the original versions. Was there anyone who was working on the changes who actually preferred them to the originals? I find that hard to believe.

That's no different than any job you're ever going to have...you aren't hired for your feelings, you're hired to deliver shots, and who in their right mind would tell Lucas, "This is what you asked for - I think it's a mistake, but here you go." No, you do what you're hired to do, you keep quiet, then go home and tell your spouse, "I just had to animate Han Solo stepping on Jabba's tail. Hold me."

[crissrudd4554]

How much is Rick McCallum to blame??