OG Star Wars

[halon]

I have the original versions of Star Wars on VHS. I'm talking from back when Hi-fi stereo was the big thing. One of the tapes is somewhat messed up and the tracking button doesn't help fix the picture. Does anyone know a way to get these restored?

[SpaceDog]

You ought to check out the 3rd party sellers here:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used


I picked this up for $10 when it came out. Not great by HD or even DVD standards, but as far as I know, the best representation of the unaltered films.

[halon]

I think I used to have those? It's nice, but the VHS versions are the best.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by halon

I think I used to have those? It's nice, but the VHS versions are the best.

weird attempt at late april fools?

[halon]

nope

[Lucy Diamond]

Dude,

Ebay or the Amazon marketplace.

The Amazon marketplace seems to be a hotbed of people from forgotten lands in middle America who have new old stock that just NEVER sold. So you can conceivably find one like new in the box. Not impossible...just expensive at worst.

If this IS an April fools thing then may the crabs of 1,000 wh@res infect your crotch for all of your days.

Thank you,

~LD

[halon]

I don't get it? April fools as in I think the VHS versions of Star Wars are better? Or that I actually have them? I bought them from a video store that was closing down in my hometown. I don't remember how long ago it was?

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by halon

Does anyone know a way to get these restored?

They are decades old VHS tapes. They're going to naturally degrade with time.

Your best bet is to find a replacement set in good condition on eBay and then immediately record it onto DVD.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by halon

I don't get it? April fools as in I think the VHS versions of Star Wars are better? Or that I actually have them? I bought them from a video store that was closing down in my hometown. I don't remember how long ago it was?

I can't conceive of any way VHS would be superior to the DVDs mentioned. The VHS tapes you've referenced:

1) Have a modified aspect ratio, removing much of the picture area
2) Have 250 lines of resolution
3) Have low-def audio

I have/had several versions of Star Wars on VHS, but the release I referenced makes them unnecessary at best.

[halon]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I can't conceive of any way VHS would be superior to the DVDs mentioned. The VHS tapes you've referenced:

1) Have a modified aspect ratio, removing much of the picture area
2) Have 250 lines of resolution
3) Have low-def audio

I have/had several versions of Star Wars on VHS, but the release I referenced makes them unnecessary at best.

Nostalgia. They take you back to when you were a kid. Not everything has to the latest and greatest with the best picture and sound.

[Beast]

You do realize that the 2-Disc DVDs that came out a few years ago have the same versions of the films on the bonus discs, right? I mean, I have copies of the VHS versions also in my collection, but not for watching. If I want to watch the original cuts (which I never really do), the DVDs are pretty good quality. Since they're the laserdisc encodes that were created for the Star Wars Definitive Collection Laserdisc boxset back in the day.

[halon]

Originally Posted by Beast

You do realize that the 2-Disc DVDs that came out a few years ago have the same versions of the films on the bonus discs, right? I mean, I have copies of the VHS versions also in my collection, but not for watching. If I want to watch the original cuts (which I never really do), the DVDs are pretty good quality. Since they're the laserdisc encodes that were created for the Star Wars Definitive Collection Laserdisc boxset back in the day.

Here's your answer.

Originally Posted by halon

Nostalgia. They take you back to when you were a kid. Not everything has to the latest and greatest with the best picture and sound.

If the video can't be repaired, fine. I don't see why people need to keep throwing the dvd version in my face. I know about the dvd's.

[SpaceDog]

I've never been nostalgic for VHS, so it's something I simply don't understand. I've been nostalgic for films I first watched on VHS, but Blu-ray and DVD satisfy that for me perfectly.

More power to you though. I doubt you'll find some way to repair. You may find some ebay copies somewhere, but all VHS will wear out eventually.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by halon

Here's your answer.



If the video can't be repaired, fine. I don't see why people need to keep throwing the dvd version in my face. I know about the dvd's.

Nostalgia is fine. You own the VHS versions for Nostalgia reasons. That's cool. I have them on VHS, Betamax, and LD for those reasons.

But by watching them... you're basically destroying them. Since everytime you watch a VHS tape it degrades more and more.

Plus VHS tapes can degrade overtime without even needing to be watched. So replacing them won't end that process entirely.

You'll just start the process over again. You're better off watching the DVDs and just displaying the VHS as kinda a cool collectible.

[Lucy Diamond]

OP should track down the special edition DvDs that were released a few years ago with the original theatrical releases as supplemental discs.

[Exist2Inspire]

If you are able to, track down the LaserDisc versions, specifically the THX Faces versions. If I recall, those are the best ones on the market.

[AmrlKJaneway]

Just watch the Blu-ray and close your eyes every now and again.

I have a story;
I needed some bookends for the BD's on top of my shelf the other day. I wanted something film related and eventually decided to use two different copies I have of the Star Wars Trilogy on VHS. I went through some boxes and found most of them, except for the unaltered Empire Strike Back. So I rummaged through all the boxes in the house searching for it. It felt like searching for the holy grail or something...