Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Roy_Batty]

Originally Posted by taymo016

Interesting.. The '97 special edition of Star Wars will be shown at this year's TCM Film Festival.

Basically all public screenings of the original trilogy are presented as the special edition versions. Just recently up here in toronto they were presenting the star Wars trilogy live with the Toronto Symphony orchestra, on Facebook I asked whether they were using the GOUT, or the Awful Special editions. The spokesman got really pissy with me for asking that question!.

[SarahS]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Basically all public screenings of the original trilogy are presented as the special edition versions. Just recently up here in toronto they were presenting the star Wars trilogy live with the Toronto Symphony orchestra, on Facebook I asked whether they were using the GOUT, or the Awful Special editions. The spokesman got really pissy with me for asking that question!.

Not sure why he would do that. Everyone knows the theatrical ones are the best. Wonder when we are going to get the wonderful originals with new 4k mastering?

[stvn1974]

Originally Posted by SarahS

Not sure why he would do that. Everyone knows the theatrical ones are the best. Wonder when we are going to get the wonderful originals with new 4k mastering?

[Gacivory]

At this point I would be more surprised if we get the originals in an official release. For now B**tlegs is the way to go for those.

[Krypton_Son]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

At this point I would be more surprised if we get the originals in an official release. For now B**tlegs is the way to go for those.

Unfortunately. But there are some great ones out there.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Correction.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

Apart from the bonus disc with the Empire of Dreams documentary, that 2004 STAR WARS original trilogy DVD set was worthless.

Not quite. ROTJ doesn't have Vader's horrible, "No. No!!!!!!!!" bit.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

Anything other than mono is a gimmick, in my opinion. I don't like 3D either.

Perhaps you should just go back to the 19th century - then you could enjoy early, out-of-focus silent movies - sounds like your cuppa tea.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Perhaps you should just go back to the 19th century - then you could enjoy early, out-of-focus silent movies - sounds like your cuppa tea.

I think he was speaking in regards to films that weren’t originally in surround, not surround in general.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

I think he was speaking in regards to films that weren’t originally in surround, not surround in general.

Didn't sound that way to me, but … I guess anything's possible …

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Didn't sound that way to me, but … I guess anything's possible …

Well there was the discussion of why some would watch Jaws with the mono instead of the surround mix and that’s when that comment surfaced so yeah definitely possible.

[myway]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Basically all public screenings of the original trilogy are presented as the special edition versions. Just recently up here in toronto they were presenting the star Wars trilogy live with the Toronto Symphony orchestra, on Facebook I asked whether they were using the GOUT, or the Awful Special editions. The spokesman got really pissy with me for asking that question!.

Because the GOUT is not really available outside of bootleg sources (unless you would expect them to use the LD sourced, non-anamorphic bonus dvd from 10 years ago).

[Falaskan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Not quite. ROTJ doesn't have Vader's horrible, "No. No!!!!!!!!" bit.

I kind of like the first No.

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Perhaps you should just go back to the 19th century - then you could enjoy early, out-of-focus silent movies - sounds like your cuppa tea.

What a stupid post.

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

I think he was speaking in regards to films that weren’t originally in surround, not surround in general.

Actually, I was speaking about surround (or stereo) in general.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

Actually, I was speaking about surround (or stereo) in general.

Fair enough.

[Gold Ranger]

A little over two months and we'll be at the 20th anniversary of The Phantom Menace!

[Brutalizer79]

Can anyone comment on the quality of the Despecialized Blu Rays of the OT that I keep seeing on Ebay? I know they are unofficial boots, but if this is the only way to get the OT with out all the added stuff, I may take the plunge.

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

Anything other than mono is a gimmick, in my opinion. I don't like 3D either.

Anything other than a 4:3 CRT is a gimmick too.

[captainsolo]

The continual degradation of the original films on home video is absolutely inexcusable.

The irony is really biting as Star Wars and the OT not only: set new technical benchmarks for the industry, ushered in Dolby Stereo to a wider audience and helped to end the long reign of mono in conventional 35mm theaters, popularized the re-energized 70mm blowup format for years with Dolby included, instigated the THX quality control program on ROTJ-but also led the way in setting new video standards at least for a brief while. While the Definitive Collection master is riddled with awful problems-they were at least trying to do the best they knew how to in 1993 and using all of the best new technologies available that no one else was at the time.

I still don't own the Blu-rays. All I want is the bonus materials disc. I've seen the Saga set and examined them from friend's copies and quickly said not again. I remember waiting in line back in 2004 for the DVD set, coming home only to unbox the horror. I'd argue that those were among the worst studio releases ever on the format and while the BD set isn't so catastrophically bad in technical terms as the DVDs were, the further alterations are putrid on both artistic and technical levels.

And all that beautiful sound work is just gone. Gone on the outdated 6.1 remix of an error ridden 5.1 EX remix of a truly great and respectful 5.1 remix done for the 97 SE.
Listen to any version of the 97 SE mix and compare it to the BD audio. It's so night and day you'll never be able to go back.

Topping that off is what they did to the prequels. Why in the world do the prequels have issues? There is no reason why they've messed with and yet TPM has an appalling DNR riddled transfer and is again without its thunderous Dolby EX track or theatrical cut.

Any time I even think of SW on video I get extremely depressed. Yes, I know all the reasons why but it still doesn't make it feel any better.

I will admit to some pleasure in people's reactions when I tell them the best release of the film is still the limited 1992/1993 Technidisc CLV letterboxed reissue LD. It's absolutely insane but 100% true in terms of official releases. (ESB and ROTJ is down to JSC or US Fox copies I'd argue. This is the cliffs notes version as I made an entire video on the subject.) TPM's only choice is the Japanese exclusive LD which has the theatrical cut and correct audio but a not so good transfer.


Lastly, I'll also admit to becoming a full mono convert for SW. This happened a few years ago, and in spite of being used to the other mixes and their historical importance-I quickly fell in love with the mono mix and haven't been able to go back.