Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[The Fallen Deity]

In regards to the different versions of the OT films:

I can understand why Lucas did what he did for the 1997 special editions, same with the 2004 versions, what I don't understand is why he felt he had to tweak the films again for the BD releases.

The 1997 versions it was to clean up/redo the special effects etc.

The 2004 versions it was to make I-VI all consistent with one another.

For the 2011 versions it felt like he did the tweaks because f**k it why not. It still baffles me to this day.

[Fairfax]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I can understand why Lucas did what he did for the 1997 special editions, same with the 2004 versions, what I don't understand is why he felt he had to tweak the films again for the BD releases.

Because he's rich, has far too much time on his hands, is creatively bankrupt and simply doesn't know when to leave well enough alone; if he painted pictures he'd be that type of person that wouldn't know when to stop and would just end up ruining them from overwork.

[klauswhereareyou]

The only blu-ray out of this set I bought was The Phantom Menace...which looks like kind of like crap on blu-ray (way too much DNR), but the original DVD looks like such garbage now I upgraded. I'm just sticking with my dvds for the rest unless either the whole set goes down to like 20 bucks, or they actually release a original versions of the OT...or a closer to the original versions version.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Fairfax

Because he's rich, has far too much time on his hands and simply doesn't know when to leave well enough alone; if he painted pictures he'd be that type of person that wouldn't know when to stop and would just end up ruining them from overwork.

Seems legit.

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

The only blu-ray out of this set I bought was The Phantom Menace...which looks like kind of like crap on blu-ray (way too much DNR), but the original DVD looks like such garbage now I upgraded. I'm just sticking with my dvds for the rest unless either the whole set goes down to like 20 bucks, or they actually release a original versions of the OT...or a closer to the original versions version.

I watched the DVD of TPM the other week whilst I was watching the DVD cuts of the other films. My god what a horrible transfer. The BD, even though it's DNR'ed absolutely s**ts all over it.

EE, awful colour timing, cropping, print damage...

An absolute disaster.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

The only blu-ray out of this set I bought was The Phantom Menace...which looks like kind of like crap on blu-ray (way too much DNR), but the original DVD looks like such garbage now I upgraded.

If you think Phantom Menace is an upgrade, you should take a look at Revenge of the Sith...

Even Attack of the Clones' BD is a pretty sizable improvement, warts and all.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

If you think Phantom Menace is an upgrade, you should take a look at Revenge of the Sith...

Even Attack of the Clones' BD is a pretty sizable improvement, warts and all.

The BD of Revenge Of The Sith is a thing beauty. Absolutely amazing PQ.

Funnily enough I actually quite like the darker, less vibrant look of the Attack Of The Clones BD. Not sure why they tealed it though.

I'm not a fan of the re-edited scenes though. It affects John William's score and not for the better.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The BD of Revenge Of The Sith is a thing beauty. Absolutely amazing PQ.

Funnily enough I actually quite like the darker, less vibrant look of the Attack Of The Clones BD. Not sure why they tealed it though.

I'm not a fan of the re-edited scenes though. It affects John William's score and not for the better.

I didn't notice anything different about the color scheme, what did they do? Looking at CAH right now the BD is maybe a shade darker, but nothing significant. As for the re-edits, they're minimal enough not to really bother me. TPM had the most drastic changes but at this point I think I'm so used to them that I'd be more upset if the theatrical cut was restored.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I didn't notice anything different about the color scheme, what did they do? Looking at CAH right now the BD is maybe a shade darker, but nothing significant. As for the re-edits, they're minimal enough not to really bother me. TPM had the most drastic changes but at this point I think I'm so used to them that I'd be more upset if the theatrical cut was restored.

The BD transfer of AOTC has teal tint over the entire film. It varies from scene to scene. In some scenes it's not that noticeable but in others it's really noticeable. It's most noticeable during the Kamino and Tatooine scenes.

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As for the TPM, the BD version is actually my favourite version of the film. I'm so glad they got rid of that horrible Yoda puppet.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The BD transfer of AOTC has teal tint over the entire film. It varies from scene to scene. In some scenes it's not that noticeable but in others it's really noticeable. It's most noticeable during the Kamino and Tatooine scenes.

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As for the TPM, the BD version is actually my favourite version of the film. I'm so glad they got rid of that horrible Yoda puppet.

Ah yeah, there's a bit of a tint but I still don't think it's anything too egregious. And yeah, the BD cut of Episode I is the best version of it. So glad to be rid of Meth Yoda.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Ah yeah, there's a bit of a tint but I still don't think it's anything too egregious. And yeah, the BD cut of Episode I is the best version of it. So glad to be rid of Meth Yoda.

I'd take the Yoda puppet if it meant getting the theatrical cut back. Best version of the movie IMO.

And as always with Lucas, he giveth and taketh away. On AOTC as he added Shmi's cries for help during Anakin's sweaty dream which was most welcome, but as TFD said the re-edits during the Coruscant chase and the escape of Dooku on Geonosis are completely useless and do nothing except mess with John Williams' music even more than it was already.

[The Fallen Deity]

I've noticed that even Revenge Of The Sith has been tweaked.

There's two alterations I've spotted on the BD: The clone troopers now speak when they arrive Utapau and the roofs of the Wookiee huts on Kashyyyk have been redone.

Also interestingly an optical wipe from the original theatrical release was restored back into the film, it's a hard cut on the DVD. It's the transition from when Obi-Wan and co. leave Mustafar to Anakin crawling away from the lava.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'd take the Yoda puppet if it meant getting the theatrical cut back. Best version of the movie IMO.

And as always with Lucas, he giveth and taketh away. On AOTC as he added Shmi's cries for help during Anakin's sweaty dream which was most welcome, but as TFD said the re-edits during the Coruscant chase and the escape of Dooku on Geonosis are completely useless and do nothing except mess with John Williams' music even more than it was already.

I barely even noticed the Clone changes, honestly. And as for what they do to Williams' work -- it was already hacked to pieces anyway, this doesn't exactly make it all that different. Shame, cuz it's a hell of a good score on the CD. The Across the Stars theme is one of my favorites.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I barely even noticed the Clone changes, honestly. And as for what they do to Williams' work -- it was already hacked to pieces anyway, this doesn't exactly make it all that different. Shame, cuz it's a hell of a good score on the CD. The Across the Stars theme is one of my favorites.

I hope we get expanded editions of the PT scores someday.

[ElvisForever]

Isn't the Phantom Menace 2011 bluray the first time that there is a digital version over that ugly puppet thing? That is an upgrade for sure.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'd take the Yoda puppet if it meant getting the theatrical cut back. Best version of the movie IMO.

And as always with Lucas, he giveth and taketh away. On AOTC as he added Shmi's cries for help during Anakin's sweaty dream which was most welcome, but as TFD said the re-edits during the Coruscant chase and the escape of Dooku on Geonosis are completely useless and do nothing except mess with John Williams' music even more than it was already.

Yup, I dislike the expanded version of Episode I because for the most part it expands more scenes in the podrace, which I was never a fan of in the first place. Give me the tighter editing of the original theatrical cut with wonky Yoda puppet any day.

I didn't even know about the re-edits done to Episode II. Interesting.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by ElvisForever

Isn't the Phantom Menace 2011 bluray the first time that there is a digital version over that ugly puppet thing? That is an upgrade for sure.

Yup.

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Yup, I dislike the expanded version of Episode I because for the most part it expands more scenes in the podrace, which I was never a fan of in the first place. Give me the tighter editing of the original theatrical cut with wonky Yoda puppet any day.

I didn't even know about the re-edits done to Episode II. Interesting.

There was also another version of AOTC released theatrically alongside the more commonly available version that was released on DVD. The difference weren't huge but they were there.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Caseyscott

Of course I can. What's good and bad about the saga is fun to discuss but there's nothing legally binding about how I enjoy them. I watch them as if the PT never happened (just like I did before the PT). Just as you can watch them and pretend that Leia having force imprints is intersting at all.

I always tell people I look at Star Wars as a series in 2 ways (not factoring in the new era of films): There is the original Star Wars trilogy in it's original version, and there is the George Lucas "Star Wars Saga."

The original trilogy (unaltered) exists on its own as it had for years until 1997 when Lucas released the Special Editions and went on to do the prequels and further revisions.

The "Saga" consists of all 6 films in Lucas' intended order of I-VI (or machete order if you want to get fancy), with the original trilogy being the modified versions started on DVD and continued on Blu-Ray (which we now know are the last versions Lucas will have his hand in) Alterations done to the originals don't make sense from a storytelling point of view if you watch them by themselves or in release order, particularly the Hayden ghost that closes out Jedi.

[rickah88]

PT/OT/ST(when completed)

That's how I will come to know them. Been working great so far for me.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I always tell people I look at Star Wars as a series in 2 ways (not factoring in the new era of films): There is the original Star Wars trilogy in it's original version, and there is the George Lucas "Star Wars Saga."

The original trilogy (unaltered) exists on its own as it had for years until 1997 when Lucas released the Special Editions and went on to do the prequels and further revisions.

The "Saga" consists of all 6 films in Lucas' intended order of I-VI (or machete order if you want to get fancy), with the original trilogy being the modified versions started on DVD and continued on Blu-Ray (which we now know are the last versions Lucas will have his hand in) Alterations done to the originals don't make sense from a storytelling point of view if you watch them by themselves or in release order, particularly the Hayden ghost that closes out Jedi.

I was watching the 1997 editions a few months ago and I think they stand really well on their own as well.

[Geoff D]

I would LOVE to get the 1997 cuts on Blu-ray.

And yes, I also see it the same way as motorheadache: the original originals can be viewed as their own thing, whereas the tweaked versions (from 2004 onwards) are very much in service of the wider 'Saga'. On one rewatch a few years ago I did the unaltered OT, the PT, then the rejigged OT and it worked pretty well.