Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Early VCRs had simple analog counters like these:

[Show spoiler]

So if you reset the counter to 0000 and started a tape from the very beginning, you'd know about how far to fast-forward to find any programs you had recorded on the tape if you'd marked down the number at which they started. Some of these VCRs even had "remote" controls that were attached with a cable to pause/unpause the tape.

Coincidentally, the VCR in that picture is the exact same one (Panasonic PV-1265) as our family's first in the early-80s. That thing was a beast and lasted well into the mid-90s.

Bet that sucker cost a mint when it came out.

I officially have the last VCR in the house, a nice RCA that probably came from K-Mart and has a digital hour style counter on it. The manual says 2002 so I guess I've got some years left on it if I treat it right... Perfect for playing some of those OT tapes on. I have the Sci-Fi channel uncut marathon recorded from around 94, commercials and all. I should bust that out, have some nice nostalgia.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

Originally Posted by Jakdonark

I always taped off tv because it was basically free, but around 93 my best friend who was also a huge Star Wars fan had just bought Return of the Jedi and took it over to a friend's house to watch it with his boom box hooked up. Man, that bass! And watching the graphic equalizer going up and down! Anyways, Oola starts fighting with Jabba then he drops her in the Rancor pit. Woah! This wasn't on the TV version! I hadn't seen it in theatres since 85 (saw it in 83 also), so I had forgotten about that scene. Then later there is a shootout with Leia and two scout troopers which was edited from the TV version. After that, I was all about buying the tapes. Then the laserdiscs. And so on.

I still taped a few things after that, like the makings of Star Wars, Empire, and Rotj (classic creatures) and the letterbox versions off the sci fi channel. Again another revelation when I saw Snaggletooth for the first time! And little known fact, the early pan and scam (not an auto correct) versions were formatted differently than the 95 THX versions, but I'm pretty sure Snaggletooth still didn't show up in either version.

Yeah, I remember having the Snaggletooth figure but couldn't remember where I saw him in the movie. After the film left theaters it wasn't until the tv premiere could I see it again, and I taped it and watched that version for years. Pan & scan cut so much out, not to mention "edited for time or content" crap too. I know there was a few seconds around the encounter with the Sand People that got cut too and I'd forgot about until the Laserdisc collection.

[ambient_indie]

It's speculation. It's not a definitive yes or no on theatricals. Maybe confirmation that any future versions won't have additional alterations. And they are not contractually obligated to change the old films. But that's about it. "This is not the answer you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along"

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by Jakdonark

Also forgot, I have the whole Ewoks and Droids animated series taped off Sci-Fi as well. Where are those on blu? Let alone complete on DVD?

Finally watched the Clone Wars series over the weekend. Never was interested when they came out, but found vol 2 for $2 at a liquidation store, then got vol 1 off eBay. I was really impressed. They had the feel and slight look of the 80s cartoons, but the direction Tartakovsky took with them was crazy. That's what I was expecting with the prequels, but it took a cartoon to actually do it right. I'm not sure how much Lucas was involved, and obviously they had knowledge of key points for ROTS, but there were some moments that gave me chills. Like when it started to rain during a lightsaber duel and the drops were steaming off the blades, or Anakin's vision in vol 2, no spoilers but it was kind of scary.

Yeah, the 2003-05 Clone Wars is pretty cool visually. I wish there was more to the story though but that would be somewhat difficult because they were originally a bunch of 3-5 minute episodes for the first two seasons and around 15 minutes for the third.

[Chiyo_chichi]

All of you wanting some news on the UOT on bluray...stay tuned very soon for May 4th...

[Show spoiler]

[Jakdonark]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

Yeah, I remember having the Snaggletooth figure but couldn't remember where I saw him in the movie. After the film left theaters it wasn't until the tv premiere could I see it again, and I taped it and watched that version for years. Pan & scan cut so much out, not to mention "edited for time or content" crap too. I know there was a few seconds around the encounter with the Sand People that got cut too and I'd forgot about until the Laserdisc collection.

When Luke says, "There's Sandpeople alright, I can see one of them now." In the PS version you just see the two banthas. In the widescreen version you actually see one walking around. That's how it was in the original framing PS version. Like I said the 95 THX version had a different composition.

When they came out I was at my best friends house and his Mom came home with two sets of the trilogy, one for each of us. We popped in Star Wars, and when the camera first pans down, you can clearly see a moon around Tatooine, whereas earlier you could just see a sliver of it. We were both like, wow! This is stuff we've never seen! And on the Tantive IV some shots were composed differently. In one version you see the three rebel troops running down the hall and stopping to turn and shoot. In the other version the frame is on R2 and 3PO. Again, we were thinking this must be some alternate footage. It wasn't until I saw the letterbox versions later that year that it made sense.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

It's not news. It's "news." And it's only "news" because people are spinning it that way. Kennedy wasn't asked about the original cuts but people are spinning it that way and running with it. She was asked a vague question and said that she'd never touch the original trilogy. She never said she'd never restore it.

Yeah, someone posted an audio clip of that and it seemed like the interviewer was asking if Lucas's special editions would be changed. He said something like "The Star Wars movies have evolved over the years. Is there any possibility of making further changes to them?" That's a pretty weird question in my opinion. What other changes would they make? Add a few more shots of dinosaurs covering the entire screen? He should've asked if there were any plans on releasing the original versions of the OT.

[Mefan101]

I remember having a taped copy of Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. Remember those movies?


I actually liked them when I was a kid. My Grandmother had the first film. I saw Wicket in this film, and in Return Of The Jedi. I hardly came across my mind that it was the same universe as a kid. I knew fully later on. Now it's not canon. Then again, I don't think it was ever canon. There was even a DVD release for both films, and interesting part was that the title on the DVD was Star Wars, and the movie titles served as subtitles

[Michael24]

I have an original VHS recording for the first movie. I do remember watching The Battle For Endor but we didn't record it for some reason, so I think I only ever saw it just that one time. But the first film was another I watched like crazy as a kid.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

Yeah, someone posted an audio clip of that and it seemed like the interviewer was asking if Lucas's special editions would be changed. He said something like "The Star Wars movies have evolved over the years. Is there any possibility of making further changes to them?" That's a pretty weird question in my opinion. What other changes would they make? Add a few more shots of dinosaurs covering the entire screen? He should've asked if there were any plans on releasing the original versions of the OT.

Bingo. This whole thing has exploded in the typical way that things on the internet do, with little regard to truth.

In the end, the only positive that can possibly come from this is if a journalist (and I use that word loudly) asks her a follow-up directly.

[Mefan101]

Originally Posted by Michael24

I have an original VHS recording for the first movie. I do remember watching The Battle For Endor but we didn't record it for some reason, so I think I only ever saw it just that one time. But the first film was another I watched like crazy as a kid.

Too bad they are no longer canon. I guess it's for the best. They expanded the world of Endor, and added even more fantasy elements to the Star Wars universe, especially the sequel. Fun Fact: The giant monster known as the Gorax from the first one, was originally going to be in Return Of The Jedi. There was even concept art by Ralph McQuarrie.

[shinobipopcorn]

Maybe they're canon with Willow now instead. XD

[Mefan101]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

Maybe they're canon with Willow now instead. XD

That's another underrated classic.

[Jakdonark]

Originally Posted by Mefan101

I remember having a taped copy of Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. Remember those movies?

I actually liked them when I was a kid. My Grandmother had the first film. I saw Wicket in this film, and in Return Of The Jedi. I hardly came across my mind that it was the same universe as a kid. I knew fully later on. Now it's not canon. Then again, I don't think it was ever canon. There was even a DVD release for both films, and interesting part was that the title on the DVD was Star Wars, and the movie titles served as subtitles

I saw them each when they first premiered on TV, then I rented them in the early 90s. In the late 90s I bought them both on Laserdisc, then made dvd backups and sold the LDs. I wish I had kept them. I did pick up the dvd, never opened it then sold it for a pretty penny, only to regret that decision again. Funny enough, at the liquidation store where I found Clone Wars vol 2 I found the Ewoks double feature, Droids dvd, and ewoks animated dvd. All like $2 each.

My daughter is really big into Star Wars right now. She has been a fan since she was two, but we just started watching them after she turned 5. Her hair is actually blond and curly. With the right outfit she'd be a ringer for Cindel.

[rickah88]

Absolutely love all VCR and video tape pics....WITH COUNTERS!! I thought I was the only one that wrote counters down.

The only bad news is: now I feel old!

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Coincidentally, the VCR in that picture is the exact same one (Panasonic PV-1265) as our family's first in the early-80s. That thing was a beast and lasted well into the mid-90s.

I checked Google Images, but I can't find the exact one my family had. I don't even remember the brand name, just that the tape went in from above and it had a decal to make it look like wood paneling. And the counter was analogue. And it was HUGE, it had nearly as big of a footprint as a 27" CRT television.

[Rodney-2187]

Here is a pic I found online of the VCR model we had when I was a kid.

mitsubishivhsvcrmodelhs-3161ur_1.jpg

[Rodney-2187]

Here is a pic I just took of the combination VHS/DVD I have now. I can;t remember the last time I used it, but I still have it.

IMG_0703.jpg

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Absolutely love all VCR and video tape pics....WITH COUNTERS!! I thought I was the only one that wrote counters down.

The only bad news is: now I feel old!

How else would you know when to stop fast forwarding

[Ben Reilly]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

How else would you know when to stop fast forwarding

Eyeball it.
None of the VCRs that I had ever had a counter on them.