Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Physical media isn't going to go anywhere, one of 2 reasons:

https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190321...ate-censorship

https://twitter.com/UltraHDBluray/st...88548709773313

Even then, DVD is still outselling Blu-ray (not that that's a bad thing, I'm happy for that).

I mean it’s not like it’s going away next week but it’s getting smaller.

[Jar Jar Stinks]

Originally Posted by badfingerboogie

...Episode 10?

Star Wars: The Force Reloaded

[stvn1974]

Physical media isn't going anywhere. When the cockroaches are the only thing left they will be spinning discs still.

[Panama Jack]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

If Disney doesn't think it's cost-effective now, I can only imagine how little value they'll see in restoring the unaltered OT as the years go by.

I'm not sure it's Disney that thinks it's not cost effective. If I was reading right, the comments about it not being cost effective came from within Lucasfilm when it was still an independent company ran by George, who by all accounts, wanted nothing to do with the originals.

But as others have pointed out, George ain't in charge no more, and Lucasfilm is now a subsidiary of Disney. Even if Lucasfilm itself did not want to front the cost of a restoration of the originals, maybe Disney would have no problem ponying up the dough. And now that Disney owns ANH outright, maybe that clears the way and makes it even easier.

And after seeing the amazing work what "amateurs" have been able to accomplish in the last few years either by retro-fitting the Special Editions or by taking 35mm prints and cleaning them up, there ARE other ways for Disney to "restore" the originals without having to go back to the allegedly decimated negatives. Would a print from the original negatives be ideal? Sure! But at this point, I think most folks would be satisfied with a professionally cleaned up officially sanctioned 4K release of the originals, even if they weren't 100% sourced from the original negatives.

All in all, since Disney may want to placate and assuage the fanbase after The Last Jedi and Solo, and now that they own the entire saga free and clear of any hurdles or bumps from Fox, Disney may have a different view about the original threatricals and what's worth spending time and money on than Lucasfilm had back in 2004 or 2011.

[Jar Jar Stinks]

As a profit center, Fox really dropped the ball on re-releasing the first 6 films. In 8 years, they released the complete set twice, the trilogy sets twice, and the individual steelbooks. No new configurations with additional content or fun, funky packaging. (Who wouldn't want the discs in a life-sized stormtrooper or Darth Vader helmet?)

We will most assuredly see them in 4K soon, but will they be released with new special features and the original theatrical cuts?

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Jar Jar Stinks

Who wouldn't want the discs in a life-sized stormtrooper or Darth Vader helmet?

ugh... where the hell would you store it? It would be like this thing:

[Batman90]

Originally Posted by Panama Jack

I'm not sure it's Disney that thinks it's not cost effective. If I was reading right, the comments about it not being cost effective came from within Lucasfilm when it was still an independent company ran by George, who by all accounts, wanted nothing to do with the originals.

But as others have pointed out, George ain't in charge no more, and Lucasfilm is now a subsidiary of Disney. Even if Lucasfilm itself did not want to front the cost of a restoration of the originals, maybe Disney would have no problem ponying up the dough. And now that Disney owns ANH outright, maybe that clears the way and makes it even easier.

And after seeing the amazing work that "amateurs" have been able to accomplish in the last few years either by retro-fitting the Special Editions or by taking 35mm prints and cleaning them up, there ARE other ways for Disney to "restore" the originals without having to go back to the allegedly decimated negatives. Would a print from the original negatives be ideal? Sure! But at this point, I think most folks would be satisfied with a professionally cleaned up officially sanctioned 4K release of the originals, even if they weren't 100% sourced from the original negatives.

All in all, since Disney may want to placate and assuage the fanbase after The Last Jedi and Solo, and now that they own the entire saga free and clear of any hurdles or bumps from Fox, Disney may have a different view about the original threatricals and what's worth spending time and money on than Lucasfilm had back in 2004 or 2011.

Lucisfilms will do what Disney tells them to do or they will are get fired. I don’t see how if people that work at any place that is owned by someone else or another company can tell their boss that that company is not going to pay for something. That’s basically telling them they are not going to do their jobs but they still have a job. The last person who looked at me and said They was not going to do their he was fired on the spot.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Panama Jack

I'm not sure it's Disney that thinks it's not cost effective. If I was reading right, the comments about it not being cost effective came from within Lucasfilm when it was still an independent company ran by George, who by all accounts, wanted nothing to do with the originals.

But as others have pointed out, George ain't in charge no more, and Lucasfilm is now a subsidiary of Disney. Even if Lucasfilm itself did not want to front the cost of a restoration of the originals, maybe Disney would have no problem ponying up the dough. And now that Disney owns ANH outright, maybe that clears the way and makes it even easier.

And after seeing the amazing work that "amateurs" have been able to accomplish in the last few years either by retro-fitting the Special Editions or by taking 35mm prints and cleaning them up, there ARE other ways for Disney to "restore" the originals without having to go back to the allegedly decimated negatives. Would a print from the original negatives be ideal? Sure! But at this point, I think most folks would be satisfied with a professionally cleaned up officially sanctioned 4K release of the originals, even if they weren't 100% sourced from the original negatives.

All in all, since Disney may want to placate and assuage the fanbase after The Last Jedi and Solo, and now that they own the entire saga free and clear of any hurdles or bumps from Fox, Disney may have a different view about the original threatricals and what's worth spending time and money on than Lucasfilm had back in 2004 or 2011.

If Lucasfilm said that back when George was still the head honcho, where do you think the impetus for brushing off such complaints came from? I don't recall anyone at Lucasfilm saying it anyway, only George himself at some event or other where he literally said that they didn't do it because they would cost millions to restore (that being his 'reason of the week' as to not doing it. Next week: "I released the originals on DVD and people hated them!").

The heck of it is, for all the internet blather about this and that and whatever, the reconstruction of the original versions would be quite straightforward compared to some other restorations. It would still take time, it would still be very expensive, but this isn't some mythical lost film that's contingent on the proper materials being found quite by accident in an archive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lucasfilm have everything that they need, and I do mean everything: negative, dupes, separation masters, IB Tech prints, the trims from the SE, the actual camera negative that was printed but not ultimately used in the movie etc. It's not even about the money when we're talking about a behemoth like Disney, it's having the sheer will to enact it. And as long as that Lucas fella is around - maybe even beyond that - then no-one's making that move.

[Narcissus]

OTC or GTFOH.
No more of my money Disney.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

Not to mention with physical media kinda in its final years if it ain’t done soon it’s gonna be pointless. Restoring the OUT kinda loses its purpose if it’s only for a digital market but that’s just me.

Folks have been screaming the sky is falling for physical media for over a decade. Yet here we are.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Folks have been screaming the sky is falling for physical media for over a decade. Yet here we are.

Blu-ray was still pretty new and had just won the format war. So I don't think too many were calling for imminent demise of physical media in 2009 (let alone before then). Hell, I didn't even start my transition from DVD>blu-ray until 2009.

Seems to me the talk has been more "real" in the last 4 or 5 years - when it was obvious some of the studios were almost giving up on releasing back-catalog. Fortunately blu-ray has had some surprising strength... at least in terms of the licensed catalog deals. I'm sure that can go on for awhile longer, but even as a person still committed to the format (and UHD) it's hard to predict physical will still be going strong in 10 or 20 years. It's really up to those niche companies ability to keep making money off of it.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

it would still be very expensive

If it's too expensive for three of the most profit-generating, perennially-resalable movies in world history to be cleaned up, the rest of the film industry is doomed.

Recall, Mr. Lucas is the same guy who justified his $4 billion Pepsico merchandising deal with a plea to the financial limits, pressures and realities he faces as an independent filmmaker... as if he's out there with the film students, shooting in the street without a permit and it's either $4 billion Pepsico merchandising deal or max out the personal Visa card and subsist on ramen packets.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

Not to mention with physical media kinda in its final years if it ain’t done soon it’s gonna be pointless. Restoring the OUT kinda loses its purpose if it’s only for a digital market but that’s just me.

I don't think the future of physical media is quite that dire, but I do believe that Disney has a vested interest in moving as many people as possible to streaming. Star Wars is a big enough brand to help them do that.

Originally Posted by Panama Jack

I'm not sure it's Disney that thinks it's not cost effective. If I was reading right, the comments about it not being cost effective came from within Lucasfilm when it was still an independent company ran by George, who by all accounts, wanted nothing to do with the originals.

But as others have pointed out, George ain't in charge no more, and Lucasfilm is now a subsidiary of Disney. Even if Lucasfilm itself did not want to front the cost of a restoration of the originals, maybe Disney would have no problem ponying up the dough. And now that Disney owns ANH outright, maybe that clears the way and makes it even easier.

And after seeing the amazing work what "amateurs" have been able to accomplish in the last few years either by retro-fitting the Special Editions or by taking 35mm prints and cleaning them up, there ARE other ways for Disney to "restore" the originals without having to go back to the allegedly decimated negatives. Would a print from the original negatives be ideal? Sure! But at this point, I think most folks would be satisfied with a professionally cleaned up officially sanctioned 4K release of the originals, even if they weren't 100% sourced from the original negatives.

All in all, since Disney may want to placate and assuage the fanbase after The Last Jedi and Solo, and now that they own the entire saga free and clear of any hurdles or bumps from Fox, Disney may have a different view about the original threatricals and what's worth spending time and money on than Lucasfilm had back in 2004 or 2011.

Have said it before and I see no reason why it would change: as the years go by, most existing fans become accustomed to the Special Editions, and the new fans know ONLY the SEs. At a certain point, the passionate but relative minority of us that want the unaltered OT will dwindle to the point that Disney won't see it as worth their time/money to restore it. (And even if they do, I wouldn't put it past them to make it a Disney+ exclusive to get people onto streaming.) Obviously there's an incentive to restore them for the sake of posterity, so hopefully that type of thinking prevails. But I'm close to giving up. If we don't get some sort of announcement next year when Ep. IX comes out on UHD/BD, I'll throw in the towel.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Folks have been screaming the sky is falling for physical media for over a decade. Yet here we are.

Dude I was in three stores in one day literally two days ago and the video sections of all three just seemed like they were getting smaller. One of them was literally an aisle for just movies yet less than a year ago the same place had at least 2-3 more aisles devoted to movies. Again I didn’t say it’s all gonna go away at once like next week but in like 5 years no offense I will be quite surprised to see aisles in stores devoted to films, at least where I’m at. If that one aisle I was in hasn’t been reduced to just one little section of one aisle or less I’ll be surprised but hey in 2011 people thought within 2-3 years Blu-Ray was gonna fully overtake DVD yet here we are. I hope I’m wrong.

PS the laughing GIF was unnecessary.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

Dude I was in three stores in one day literally two days ago and the video sections of all three just seemed like they were getting smaller. One of them was literally an aisle for just movies yet less than a year ago the same place have at least 2-3 more aisles devoted to movies. Again I didn’t say it’s all gonna go away at once like next week but in like 5 years no offense I will be quite surprised to see aisles in stores devoted to films, at least where I’m at. If that one aisle I was in hasn’t been reduced to just one little section of one aisle or less I’ll be surprised but hey in 2011 people thought within 2-3 years Blu-Ray was gonna fully overtake DVD yet here we are. I hope I’m wrong.

PS the laughing GIF was unnecessary.

Dude...a lot of stores are moving units online. B&M costs money. Big warehouse is much cheaper. Plus I could counter with all my area stores are increasing their media sections. So where are we now?
All markets go through changes, over time. History shows us this. But to say physical media will be gone in X amount of time is a completely unfounded statement. Why does one format have to overtake the other? Why can’t they coexist? It’s all physical media.
Just save this post and revisit 5yrs from now. Then 10. Then 20.
We will see who was more on point.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Why does one format have to overtake the other? Why can’t they coexist? It’s all physical media.

Never said they shouldn’t. The DVD vs BD example was just something people I talked to at the time had mentioned. I’m actually glad they are for the moment still coexisting. And again I do hope I’m wrong on all this. Frankly I wouldn’t wanna rely on streaming as a form for owning movies. Renting perhaps but not to own. Only time will tell.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

If it's too expensive for three of the most profit-generating, perennially-resalable movies in world history to be cleaned up, the rest of the film industry is doomed.

Recall, Mr. Lucas is the same guy who justified his $4 billion Pepsico merchandising deal with a plea to the financial limits, pressures and realities he faces as an independent filmmaker... as if he's out there with the film students, shooting in the street without a permit and it's either $4 billion Pepsico merchandising deal or max out the personal Visa card and subsist on ramen packets.

Cost isn't the issue, and never has been.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Cost isn't the issue, and never has been.

Right. It was only the issue when Lucas had to answer a question about it.

[Geoff D]

I really can't tell if you're sassing me or not (dontcha hate it when that happens? ) but I said it would be very expensive because it would be, not that it would be too expensive for a person and/or company whose farts are worth more than what I'll earn in a lifetime. Lucas didn't want to do it because he didn't want to do it, those original versions are an anathema to him.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I really can't tell if you're sassing me or not

No sass- I was using your comment as a launch pad for my own agenda, not trying to counter your assertions. I'm really just having a kvetch about Lucas' transparent excuses and you're stuck in the crossfire, my friend.