Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[AmrlKJaneway]

A question regarding the UOT;

I own it. It's great. Y'all know that. Before the blu was released, I still only watched it a handful of times, compared to the flogging I gave the SE DVD.

Why? Because I could ignore the little updates, and enjoy the surround sound all the way through. The UOT does not have surround sound.

So, is it acceptable to release the UOT WITH surround sound? Or would this be "altered"? There would always be the option to switch it off, which the hardcores might do, and it would be infinitely easier than installing a "skip Greedo's shot and Biggs conversation" button...

[Rainhurt]

I think we will get the originals in a boxset when the new movie comes out with a surround sound mix and the original mix. I bet Disney is eager to please the hardcore fans and it gives people another incentive to re-buy the movies.

I've got a gut feeling that the TRON Legacy director will be directing Episode VII.

[Breather]

Originally Posted by Blu Warrior

I am a fan and no, I wouldn't buy it. I have the originals on LD as well dvd copies and I never feel the urge to watch them. I would rather watch the Special Editions with their better sound and updated effects. It makes the whole saga flow better. Funny, I never hear anyone talking outside the internet about the unaltered versions.

Outside the internet, I never hear anyone talking Star Wars, period. Yet it sells and sells well.

My LD and DVD copies just don't cut it. One is a long dead SD format and the other is still current but SD. Both the Star Wars LDs and the 2006 DVDs are 4:3 letterbox from the same master. 4:3 letterbox in 2012? Not for me. I'd love to see the UOT on Blu-ray with a proper restoration. It's my preferred version by far. I'd bet that most SE fans would still like to own these if they became available. I think your opinion may be in the minority among Star Wars fans, Blu Warrior. On the other hand, this is all academic. We don't even know the details regarding the UOT in this deal.

If the UOT was restored, it would have equivalent picture and sound quality to the SE's. Then it would just come down to which version you prefer, changes or no changes. With respect to fixes like matte lines, matte boxes, the orange glob removal, etc., the effects aren't really updated or replaced with CGI. Many were just digitally recomposited. I think if we see a UOT release, they'll probably just take the SE's and excise the scene changes and character insertions, reinsert the deleted footage and digitally restore it.

Some fans want to see a UOT release without any recomped effects, matte removal, orange glob removal, and the like. I don't see that happening. Either way would be fine with me. I'd prefer them with no recomped effects or fixes other than restoration, but I'm not picky on this point. At this point, I'd be happy just to get it in either form.

[AmrlKJaneway]

Originally Posted by Breather

Outside the internet, I never hear anyone talking Star Wars, period. Yet it sells and sells well.

My LD and DVD copies just don't cut it. One is a long dead SD format and the other is still current but SD. Both the Star Wars LDs and the 2006 DVDs are 4:3 letterbox from the same master. 4:3 letterbox in 2012? Not for me. I'd love to see these on Blu-ray with a proper restoration. I'd bet that most SE fans would still like to own these if they became available. I think your opinion may be in the minority among Star Wars fans, Blu Warrior. On the other hand, this is all academic. We don't even know the details regarding the UOT in this deal.

If the UOT was restored, it would have equivalent picture and sound quality to the SE's. Then it would just come down to which version you prefer, changes or no changes. Besides fixes like matte lines, matte boxes, the orange glob removal, etc., the effects aren't really updated or replaced with CGI. Many were just digitally recomposited. I think if we see a UOT release, they'll probably just take the SE's and excise the scene changes and character insertions, reinsert the deleted footage and digitally restore it.

Some fans want to see a UOT release without any recomped effects, matte removal, orange glob removal, and the like. I don't see that happening. Either way would be fine with me. I'd prefer them with no recomped effects or fixes other than restoration, but I'm not picky on this point. At this point, I'd be happy just to get it in either form.

Anyone I have watched Star Wars with, be it their first time, or casual/medium or hardcore fans, has wished we were watching the UOT. Folks just like to watch a movie the way it was made for the most part.

I'm showing my wife TOS of Star Trek for the first time. She specifically requested we turn the updated effects off.

And read any Flash Gordon review. The fans are happy the blu is presented almost exactly as the film was made.

[Breather]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Anyone I have watched Star Wars with, be it their first time, or casual/medium or hardcore fans, has wished we were watching the UOT. Folks just like to watch a movie the way it was made for the most part.

I'm showing my wife TOS of Star Trek for the first time. She specifically requested we turn the updated effects off.

And read any Flash Gordon review. The fans are happy the blu is presented almost exactly as the film was made.

You'll get no argument from me on that point. If given the choice, I prefer to see something in its original form.

I prefer the UOT myself.

I thought the way they gave us TOS with both versions was a class move.

[AmrlKJaneway]

Originally Posted by Breather

You'll get no argument from me on that point. If given the choice, I prefer to see something in its original form.

I prefer the UOT myself.

I thought the way they gave us TOS with both versions was a class move.

Yep.

JJ asked himself; "What can I learn from Star Wars?" KK can ask herself; "What can I learn from Star Trek?"

[beckmen]

Originally Posted by Beast

You're assuming that everyone cares about the UOT. It's a very vocal minority. The average fan or moviegoer probably couldn't care less.

And again, the release of the OUT isn't going to be something that can easily just be cranked out. There's a lot of work to be done.

Plus you have the whole Fox issue, where Disney can't release jack or squat right now anyway. So that's another hurdle.

The hype is already built in. They don't have to do anything. Just look at the nearly 50 page thread here about something we have very few details on.

It's freakin' Star Wars. If they re-release it on Blu-ray, it'll do gangbusters. Throw some new features on there, and people will eat it up, myself included.

[MileHigh AI]

Waits for next headline

"Disney Buys Fox.............distrubution of Star Wars argument no longer a concern and Marvel can now introduce the X-Men & Fantastic Four into the Avengers world. "


LOL

[Sylentwolf]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Well, George, after Red Tails, said he was done. But, still...this?! THIS?! I can't even get my mind around this.

But, you can bet your asses one thing; theatrical cuts of the original trilogy will be released on BD in the near future.

****ing WOW!

I've been out of town the last few days and saw this news on CNN's message board at the bottom of the screen "Disney to Buy Lucasfilm for $4B"

I totally agree with Jumpman, the ONLY thing I'm looking forward to is Disney polishing the Star Wars Original Trilogy for a "Theatrical Edition" Release.

If Blade Runner can have it's 5 DIFFERENT CUTS...

The Final Cut
Theatrical Cut
Director's Cut
International Cut
Workprint Cut

...then why couldn't the Star Wars Original Trilogy have at least two releases

As stated on CNN Money...

October 31, 2012 - ( CNN MONEY )
By Stacy Cowley

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Walt Disney Company agreed Tuesday to buy Lucasfilm in a stock-and-cash deal valued at $4 billion.

The deal will make Lucasfilm owner George Lucas a significant shareholder in Disney, which will pay for the film company with $2 billion cash and around 40 million shares of its stock.

The takeover will give Disney (DIS, Fortune 500) control of Lucasfilm's blockbuster Star Wars franchise, which encompasses both filmed productions and a massive merchandising operation. Disney will also absorb Lucasfilm's special-effects production business, Industrial Light and Magic, and its Skywalker Sound audio production studio.

"It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers," George Lucas said in a written statement. "I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime."

Lucas said he will work as a creative consultant on Star Wars Episode 7, the first of a planned new trilogy of live-action Star Wars movies. It is targeted for release in 2015, Disney said.

"The film is in what I'll call early-stage development right now," Disney CEO Bob Iger said on a conference call with analysts. Lucas did not join him on the call.

Disney hopes to essentially relaunch the Star Wars film franchise, which had its last installment in 2005 with Revenge of the Sith. Following the three planned sequels, the company envisions releasing even more Star Wars movies at a rate of a new film every two to three years.

Future movies may not be sequels but movies that focus on fringe characters. Disney also believes there is potential for a television series.

"Disney respects and understands -- perhaps better than anyone else -- the importance of iconic characters," Iger said.

Disney's Lucasfilm purchase is the culmination of transition plans Lucas began forming several years ago as he "began contemplating a form of retirement," Iger said. "He and I started talking about a year and half ago but only decided pretty recently that this is something we both wanted to do."

Disney executives repeatedly drew parallels between the Lucasfilm deal and the company's 2009 acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, which also cost $4 billion.

Both studios operate entertainment franchises that can support a steady series of tentpole movies and fuel ancillary merchandising, theme park and other revenue streams, executives said.

They also cited the past precedent of Pixar, which Disney purchased in 2006. Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) co-founder Steve Jobs, Pixar's creator, became Disney's largest shareholder, with a stake that dwarfs Lucas' planned share. Steve Jobs' family trust now controls his nearly 8% share of the company.

[Nicky and Sue]

^^

Because it is so? Get over it. Your complaining and bitterness will have nothing to do with if the UOT gets released, and all to do with the company acting on it's own decisions.

Again that will have nothing to do with your or any original trilogy flagwavers opinion or "demand" that it must be made available. It won't be the will of the people, it will be the will of a couple executives suggesting it's star wars and will make money. And none of them would be responding to you.

I'm with the guy who attested that online petitions to do with star wars are meaningless as is 30 pages of UOT talk. Now that GL isn't solely in charge of the property it's likely to come out. But again not because people deserve it or because finally someone understands your desperate wishes. It will simply be because they can make money off of cross promoting a star wars home video release with a new theatrical movie coming up.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Breather

If the UOT was restored, it would have equivalent picture and sound quality to the SE's. Then it would just come down to which version you prefer, changes or no changes. With respect to fixes like matte lines, matte boxes, the orange glob removal, etc., the effects aren't really updated or replaced with CGI. Many were just digitally recomposited. I think if we see a UOT release, they'll probably just take the SE's and excise the scene changes and character insertions, reinsert the deleted footage and digitally restore it.

Never had a problem with him cleaning up the film or replacing certain f/x shots that looked weak. I did however have a problem with him altering the stories and the characters. I don't need the CGI Jabba, or Greedo shooting at all, or the emperor spoon feeding the audience the Vader/Skywalker relationship, or TM voicing Fett, or breaking up the flow of the Cloud City escape (because Lucas thinks I can't figure out Vader got to his ship before the Falcon), or the dumb musical number, or Hayden's ghost, or Jar Jar's "We-sah free!" garbage.

What you are describing would be perfectly fine for me.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

I'm still reeling from the fact that this even happened. George "control freak" Lucas sold his company. Holy hell.

Up is down. Left is right. Nothing makes sense anymore.

[beckmen]

Maybe those rumors of GL thinking the world is coming to an end in 2012 are true...

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by beckmen

Maybe those rumors of GL thinking the world is coming to an end in 2012 is true...

I'm tellin' yah, he's packing all that money into the Falcon as we speak. Don't know where he's gonna spend all that Space Cash when we're dead though.

[The Edge]

Originally Posted by The Edge

As for this "Episode VII" thing, why do this in 2015? If you want it done right, why not spend at the most 5 years to develop it? What's the rush? If you put them out quickly, there is a possibility they will just be sloppy. Take the time, do the job right, and all the angry fans (a.k.a the whiny nerds living in their mother's basement) won't have reason to *****.

Originally Posted by Beast

The Edge... it's not like these are being quickly developed. Did you watch the Lucas interviews?

He's been working on treatments for the follow-up Trilogy for years. Even had meetings with Kathleen Kennedy about this long before the sale to Disney. So they have all that work already ready to start moving forward on. They've already been sitting down with other writers and potential directors.

Yes, it seems like things are progressing quickly. But getting the film out by 2015 shouldn't be a problem.

Especially since the other Star Wars films were made on the same schedule of every three years.

JimmyMac from the ForceCast echoed my sentiments on yesterday's episode.

[The Edge]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Every Star Wars fan I know wants a release of the UOT. Not just on the internet - but people I talk to regularly.

We may be a minority. But it's a friggin' big minority.

Original Trilogy or Original Trilogy S.E. -- I don't care either way. I just want Star Wars. Even though George bashing and Prequel Trilogy bashing is the popular way of going about things, I'm able to accept things how they are without questioning or ridiculing everything. I can't say the same for other people. And this is all coming from somebody who has been a fan for just over 30 years.

[BluMagic]

May the force be with those involved in these future movies! I think this is great news and I have faith in it, hope it will be a step in the right direction. I like part I-VI! I am closer to 40 than 30 now and I still enjoy some of the stuff I enjoyed as a kid, Star Wars is one them. I really liked ep III and for me it is even better than Return of the Jedi.

I would like the new trilogy to include the old characters, in one way or the other...

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by BluMagic

May the force be with those involved in these future movies! I think this is great news and I have faith in it, hope it will be a step in the right direction. I like part I-VI! I am closer to 40 than 30 now and I still enjoy some of the stuff I enjoyed as a kid, Star Wars is one them. I really liked ep III and for me it is even better than Return of the Jedi.

I would like the new trilogy to include the old characters, in one way or the other...

Agreed. I think Ep III is much better than VI. Actually, it's my 2nd favorite of the bunch behind Empire.

[Aquel]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Well, I do happen to like a lot of the follow up novels and feel there are some great concepts in there but if they arent using them then so be it. Id like to see:

1) The new films should still have Hamil, Ford, and Fisher play their older selves which means EP 7 will have to start a good 15-20 years after the events of ROTJ. Develop the children and then by 8th and 9th films they can naturally die off.

2) I think the concept of the Emperor having himself cloned back with the Kamino and droid army stuff that happened in EP2 would be cool. The idea of cloning was already part of the SW story and why wouldnt the Emperor have had himself cloned? It'd be a great idea, IMO.

3) It would be cool to have The cloned version of this emperor actually turn out to be GOOD - as in something changed when he was cloned. And, one of Han and Leias offspring turn bad and become a new generational Sith or whatever. There is your conflict.

4) Maybe revisit some of the old Jedi/Sith folklore if possible.

Just so much they could do..... I hope they get it right.

If he could do that he would have cloned Anakin and let that half corpse die .

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Never had a problem with him cleaning up the film or replacing certain f/x shots that looked weak. I did however have a problem with him altering the stories and the characters. I don't need the CGI Jabba, or Greedo shooting at all, or the emperor spoon feeding the audience the Vader/Skywalker relationship, or TM voicing Fett, or breaking up the flow of the Cloud City escape (because Lucas thinks I can't figure out Vader got to his ship before the Falcon), or the dumb musical number, or Hayden's ghost, or Jar Jar's "We-sah free!" garbage.

What you are describing would be perfectly fine for me.

I agree. I actually like the updated effects in the SE versions. I also like how some of CGI additions for backgrounds and scenery make the OT look more like the PT. Nothing wrong with a little modernization and effects clean up.

It's those pesky character edits, stupid moans and noooooooooo, and the insertion of characters that were never even there originally that cause the problems.

Originally Posted by Aquel

If he could do that he would have cloned Anakin and let that half corpse die .

Yeah, I guess they could have just cloned everyone fifty times or something. Just a thought I had about getting the emperor back in the fold. The issue with the new films is that it's gonna be hard to get a good, legitimate villain. After Vader and Sidious, it's hard to top that.