Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 4K UHD (1977-2019)

[rotatingfish]

Originally Posted by happydood

So, I've seen conflicting reports, but can someone answer definitely if the Prequel blu-rays are the same as the previous set?

No, they're not.

[steel_breeze]

Just read Robert Harris' reviews of the original trilogy flicks in his "A Few Words About" segment. Wow, what a pretentious a-hole. I've always admired and respected RAH, but his holier-than-thou cracks about the STAR WARS films not being "serious cinema" are really unexpected and condescending. All cinema that makes an impact of any kind is "serious cinema" -- even HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH. And certainly no single movie has made more of an impact than the original STAR WARS, for better AND for worse. It's such a surprising declaration that honestly makes me write off his future opinions.

[therealjondoe]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Episode 1 was the only one that had its 3D release, still wish I saw that

It wasnt very good

[50strat54]

Originally Posted by rotatingfish

No, they're not.

Yes they are and there are different numbers on the discs. I looked at some 2019 discs for sale on eBay and the numbers are different.

On a few they used the same label art but some have new label art.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Just read Robert Harris' reviews of the original trilogy flicks in his "A Few Words About" segment. Wow, what a pretentious a-hole. I've always admired and respected RAH, but his holier-than-thou cracks about the STAR WARS films not being "serious cinema" are really unexpected and condescending. All cinema that makes an impact of any kind is "serious cinema" -- even HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH. And certainly no single movie has made more of an impact than the original STAR WARS, for better AND for worse. It's such a surprising declaration that honestly makes me write off his future opinions.

You do realize that's part of his entire point. The life and death millisecond by millisecond dissection and microscopic nitpicking of a large mass of Star Wars 'fans' is the target of that statement. It's the reason teh every SW thread (and many what start out as non SW threads) since the inception of USENET Star Wars always devolves into a cesspool.

I think RAH has one of the driest sense of humors of anyone I've ever read and his whole Star Wars thread just reeks of Shatner's SNL "Get A Life" skit.
I strongly get the feeling he rather enjoys intentionally digging the needle into the whole Hysterical Crowd who have taken a series of extremely enjoyable movies and made it a Cult that even the Scientologists envy (except for the money)

He has reviewed movies/disc of some of the most awful slasher movies and Adam Sandler movie and never really made comments like this. I have seen him make similar comments (maybe not quite as obvious) about Top 100 Movie fan groups however.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Yes they are and there are different numbers on the discs. I looked at some 2019 discs for sale on eBay and the numbers are different.

On a few they used the same label art but some have new label art.

rotatingfish answered the original post-ers question correctly: are the prequel blu-rays the same as the previous set? No they are not. You guys are saying the same thing, lol.

In any case... to be clear.. what we're ALL saying is: they are indeed NEW Blu-rays for the prequels. Definitively.

[The Fallen Deity]

Yeah Robert Harris has a really dry sense of humour. I think he's poking fun a bit.

Also the PT BD's are brand new discs.

[happydood]

Huh. So that's two that say they're different and another that says their the same. I don't yet have a 4k player, but am interested in having George's final take on the films since I've got good editions of the unaltered OT...

Edit. Got it. Thanks, steel.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

You do realize that's part of his entire point. The life and death millisecond by millisecond dissection and microscopic nitpicking of a large mass of Star Wars 'fans' is the target of that statement. It's the reason teh every SW thread (and many what start out as non SW threads) since the inception of USENET Star Wars always devolves into a cesspool.

I have RAH has one of the driest sense of humors of anyone I've ever read and his whole Star Wars thread just reeks of Shatner's SNL "Get A Life" skit.
I strongly get the feeling he rather enjoys intentionally digging the needle into the whole Hysterical Crowd who have taken a series of extremely enjoyable movies and made it a Cult that even the Scientologists envy (except for the money)

I don't think ANY of what you've written is implied in his simple statement: "I’m not referencing this as serious cinema" and again, "I don't regard these as serious cinema". You're reading a LOT into it; bringing your own baggage to bear. His words are what they are, nothing more nothing less.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by happydood

Huh. So that's two that say they're different and another that says their the same. I don't yet have a 4k player, but am interested in having George's final take on the films since I've got good editions of the unaltered OT...

Edit. Got it. Thanks, steel.

The OT BD's have the new 4K transfers, whilst the PT BD's have the same transfers as the Fox BD's BUT they're new encodings.

TPM though does have one extra tweak that isn't on the Fox disc.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The OT BD's have the new 4K transfers whilst the PT BD's have the same transfers as the Fox BD BUT they're new encodings with 7.1 audio instead of 6.1.

Hmm. Is this proven anywhere? Why would they put the new logos on the old transfer? I don't buy it. If the new logos are there (and they are), I assume it's a whole new transfer.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Hmm. Is this proven anywhere? Why would they put the new logos on the old transfer? I don't buy it. If the new logos are there (and they are), I assume it's a whole new transfer.

It's been confirmed for a while that Disney used the 2011 transfers for both the UHD's and the new BD's of the PT.

Only the OT have new transfers.

But like I've said already. Lucas did make one more small alteration to TPM's transfer after the Fox discs came out.

It was done for the 3D release. Also logos can easily be replaced on an existing transfer.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The OT BD's have the new 4K transfers, whilst the PT BD's have the same transfers as the Fox BD's BUT they're new encodings.

TPM though does have one extra tweak that isn't on the Fox disc.

The new PT BD's are new transfers. Not the same as the 2011 discs. ROTS is noticeably darker and contrast has been slightly altered on TPM. AOTC looks more or less the same to my eyes.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

The new PT BD's are new transfers. Not the same as the 2011 discs. ROTS is noticeably darker and contrast has been slightly altered on TPM. AOTC looks more or less the same to my eyes.

Is it possible that Disney tweaked the old transfers? TPM has the same level of DNR as the 2011 disc.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

It's been confirmed for a while that Disney used the 2011 masters for both the UHD's and the new BD's of the PT.

Only the OT have new transfers.

But like I've said already. Lucas did make one more small alteration to TPM's transfer after the Fox discs came out.

It was done for the 3D release. Also logos can easily be replaced on an existing transfer.

Rrrright... I understand it's the same root files, but the subtle color grading differences AND the one change you're referencing (plus the new logos, which I've personally confirmed) means the new Blu-rays ARE containing the "new" remasters. I'm not saying they're not incredibly similar to the old BDs, but they are literally NOT the same release repackaged. So the answer to the question is: no they are not the same as the old Blu-rays; they have been altered to match the 4K discs.

EDIT: I see I was beaten to the punch by CreasyBear. :-)

[Nothing371]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I don't think ANY of what you've written is implied in his simple statement: "I’m not referencing this as serious cinema" and again, "I don't regard these as serious cinema". You're reading a LOT into it; bringing your own baggage to bear. His words are what they are, nothing more nothing less.

Yeah movie snobs are annoying. Other people universally find them despicable as well. I will never get the "I would never like anything mainstream" mentality when it comes to any of the arts or pop culture. Just awkward people reaching for credibility through obscure means, I suppose. But those people are super cynical misanthropes that nobody wants to be around anyways.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Rrrright... I understand it's the same root files, but the subtle color grading differences AND the one change you're referencing (plus the new logos, which I've personally confirmed) means the new Blu-rays ARE containing the "new" remasters. I'm not saying they're not incredibly similar to the old BDs, but they are literally NOT the same release repackaged. So the answer to the question is: no they are not the same as the old Blu-rays; they have been altered to match the 4K discs.

EDIT: I see I was beaten to the punch by CreasyBear. :-)

Aye this looks to be the case. I didn't realize that the BD's also have the colour, contrast etc. differences as well.

All I knew is that they were newly encoded and that TPM has that one extra tweak that's also on the UHD and the Disney+ stream.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Yeah Robert Harris has a really dry sense of humour. I think he's poking fun a bit.

Also the PT BD's are brand new discs.

I read through a little bit of that, and his comments seemed to be based on Star Wars as a whole at this point (and probably for many years) with the prequels, sequels, digital manipulations, etc. Basically a way of saying the original films are now just another piece of the "Star Wars juggernaut franchise" and in that regard, the new release is fine-- he wasn't expecting Star Wars to be treated or restored with the same headspace as a classic film restoration because "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [2012 Edition] isn't that film anymore. He went on to compare it to Disney restorations like Snow White, which lose the cinematic look and then "look like postcards."

As far as his thoughts on the transfers, he admitted that he just spot-checked them when people were confused how he didn't notice the DNR and frozen-grain, so I'd take his PQ assessment with a grain of salt until he takes a closer look at them.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Aye this looks to be the case. I didn't realize that the BD's also have the colour, contrast etc. differences as well.

All I knew is that they were newly encoded and that TPM has that one extra tweak that's also on the UHD and the Disney+ stream.

Thanks everybody for your insights. Going all-in on 4k is cost-prohibitive to me for a while, but I do want to see George's final passes on these. I might make an offer to one of these folks on ebay selling the blu-rays only.

[USAngel]

I think these have to be new transfers. I've been checking them out on bluray, and unless there's some placebo effect, the images look different and sharper. For example, at the end of The Phantom Menace I noticed more detail on Anakin's shirt when he's at the funeral pyre. I can't really do good screen captures, but it's noticeably better in my eyes.