Star Wars IV-VI on DVD in September

Woodsea · « **on:** 10 Feb 2004, 06:49 pm »

http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/02/news20040210.html

Sweet

nathanm · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 07:16 pm »

Allow me to open myself to ridicule and various RTFF comments and ask this stupid question:

Is there a title distinction between the original 3 movies and the ones where George added all sorts of computer graphics rubbish after the fact? Cause I personally would want to see what I saw back in the olden times, and not the latter day crappola. Has the original cut been henceforth combined with the new scenes or are they separate releases?

byteme · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 07:38 pm »

From everything I've read, despite the petitions around the internet signed by thousands, Lucas has claimed that his "original" vision included the added digital stuff although it was not possibly technically at the time. As such the "added" stuff WILL be part of the movie as well as other technical changes such as Greedo shooting first, etc. There will be NO option to see the film(s) as orginally viewed in theaters when first released.

For more info check this out - http://www.originaltrilogy.com/

scottpretti · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 08:07 pm »

I'm glad I still have my original LD versions. But I'll still buy the DVDs

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 08:47 pm »

Knowing the way Lucas works, though, he'll probably release the originals as a "special edition" 6 months after the initial release. And then he'll cobble up some other edition after that.

Carlman · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 09:18 pm »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

Knowing the way Lucas works, though, he'll probably release the originals as a "special edition" 6 months after the initial release. And then he'll cobble up some other edition after that.

Isn't that how they did the VHS release?

It's too bad they don't offer an either/or option on each DVD. I guess that's also why I'm not rich..

-C

bubba966 · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 09:33 pm »

Some more info on the set from thedigitalbits.com

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The release will be a 4-disc set, encompassing 3 movie discs and a 4th bonus disc of supplemental material. All three films will be digitally-remastered and THX-certified, and will be available in anamorphic widescreen video (there MAY also be a separate full frame edition, but this is still TBD). The audio for the films will be English Dolby Digital 5.1 (they may also be EX, although again this is still TBD), with subtitles in English, French and Spanish. The films will also be closed-captioned. Each film will include new audio commentary with creator George Lucas, along with various members of the cast and crew (the specific participants will be announced at a later date). The highlight of the bonus disc will be an all-new, feature-length documentary about the making of the films, which will include never-before-seen footage and other material. There may also be DVD-ROM weblinks to the official Star Wars website (TBD). There WILL be additional supplemental features, which will be announced at a later date. The films will only be available as a box set, the retail price for which has yet to be decided (despite reports to the contrary). I have officially confirmed that the films will be the 1997 Special Edition versions, as determined by Lucas himself. You should also know that, as with the Indiana Jones DVDs, the folks at Lowry Digital are once again involved in the remastering process. They're doing digital restoration and clean-up work on the new masters.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 09:47 pm »

Better late than never. Lucas really missed the boat with this one- think of the millions he could have sold is he'd have released them in '98 or so. Sure, he'll still sell millions I guess.

It's a shame that he ignored the electronic petition for an unmolested release of the original movies. Again, I wouldn't be surprised if he plans to release the '97 versions just to be able to later milk us out of another $50 when he decides to release the '77 version. I liked the Spec Edition with the extra stuff, for the most part; I certainly don't feel it "ruins" the movies.

Still, I've never seen a director that cares any less about the fans that Lucas.

nathanm · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Feb 2004, 11:55 pm »

Maybe we are going to start seeing movies not with just sequels, but version numbers - like computer software! You know, like Star Wars v2.0, v2.5, v3.0 etc. "Oh look somebody wrote a program to give Yoda a more realistic skin texture - let's release a new version!" "Awesome, we just bought another two dozen render farms - let's add 10,000 more droids into that one scene, that was what I always wanted to do anyway..." Star Wars Episode 7 - A Work In Progress...

FEH! What a sad day that'll be.

Anyway, so am I undertstanding that it was in 1997 that he added the extra bits? So a guy can't get a 1977 version anymore, not even on VHS?

Quote

Still, I've never seen a director that cares any less about the fans that Lucas.

True, but he's just doing what any one of us would probably do if we had that much money, power and influence: Whatever the hell we want!

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:35 am »

Hell, why stop there? What if he always wanted to change a few of Han Solo's lines- just hire Ford to reshoot them! Never mind that Solo will have one scene where he's 30 years older, it's the dialog he'd always wanted for the movie.

Of course, that would be as out of place as a giant CG Jabba the Hut alongside 2 hrs of FX done with models & sets 25 years ago...oh, wait. That's how they DID do it.

The version # is just the problem I have with it- special editions are okay, but at what point is a movie 'finished'? Will we reshoot the effects for Casablanca just because we can do the bluescreen shots better? Maybe Lucas should look forward instead of back- if he has any good ideas left he might try using them in the last prequel. That'd be a welcome change.

BTW, Nathan, my understanding is that the only way to get the originals will be to find an old copy. Looks like he's trying to pretend the '77 version doesn't exist anymore. (Until he decides to resell it!).

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 01:17 am »

Quote from: byteme

From everything I've read, despite the petitions around the internet signed by thousands, Lucas has claimed that his "original" vision included the added digital stuff although it was not possibly technically at the time. As such the "added" stuff WILL be part of the movie as well as other technical changes such as Greedo shooting first, etc. There will be NO option to see the film(s) as orginally viewed in theaters when first released.

For more info check this out - http://www.originaltrilogy.com/

That's really sad. The originals are so much better!

Lucas is really not getting the fact his newer version drags the movie down. I cringe at some of the silly scenes he added (i.e. Han stepping on Jabbas tail; cartoony slapstick scene involving an ewok falling off of a one of the dino creatures).

nathanm · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 02:03 am »

Hmmm...Maybe if George HAD done everything he wanted to do back in the 70s perhaps the film would not have caught the popular imagination and today we'd remember it as "that dumb 'ol space movie"???

At some point you've gotta let it go. I can completely understand him not being able to do the things he wanted, but uh, after TWENTY YEARS of it being in the can don't ya think the grandfather clause kicks in? Sheesh!

I haven't seen the entire '97 versions myself, but I do recall a very rubbery looking CG Jabba bit with Han Solo - that was WRETCHED. Ugh.

Maybe it's not too late for Pink Floyd to do some editing on that old crusty Dark Side Of The Moon album of theirs...I bet they didn't really get to do what they actually WANTED on that one. (well, personally I could do without the tune with the woman wailing bombastically - where's my special edition!?

)

bubba966 · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 02:06 am »

If you want the original versions, you gotta get 1995 releases. That was when they put out the THX editions on VHS & LD. Those are the best copies of the original versions.

That's one good reason for owning an LD player...

byteme · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 04:40 am »

Quote from: bubba966

If you want the original versions, you gotta get 1995 releases. That was when they put out the THX editions on VHS & LD. Those are the best copies of the original versions.

That's one good reason for owning an LD player...

I do know people who still own a laserdisc player for exactly that reason. Although with the release of the Indy movies and Schindler's List upcoming - those reasons are getting fewer and fewer. Too bad f'ing Lucas can't listen to the goddam fan base and do what the people want rather than continuing to stroke his freakin' ego.

TG · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:46 pm »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

The version # is just the problem I have with it- special editions are okay, but at what point is a movie 'finished'? Will we reshoot the effects for Casablanca just because we can do the bluescreen shots better?

Unfortunately, yes - since we are moving inexorably to the point where "movies" will sooner or later become immersive programs rather than 2D projections, then once the copyright runs out and the great films become public domain they'll be free fodder for computer game designers - "Everyone comes to Ricks, and you ARE Rick". Sigh.

TG · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 01:00 pm »

Quote from: nathanm

Hmmm...Maybe if George HAD done everything he wanted to do back in the 70s perhaps the film would not have caught the popular imagination and today we'd remember it as "that dumb 'ol space movie"???

Phooey on Lucas - he's been rewriting the history of his great money spinning saga ever since "Episode IV: A New Hope" was a success. The irony is that with all its so called "limitations" the original version of the first film is so patently superior in every way to all the sequels put together.

Quote

Maybe it's not too late for Pink Floyd to do some editing on that old crusty Dark Side Of The Moon album of theirs...I bet they didn't really get to do what they actually WANTED on that one. (well, personally I could do without the tune with the woman wailing bombastically - where's my special edition!? )

Bombastic? - nah, best simulated orgasm ever recorded