Mike O

User Group: Members
Join date: 20-Jun-2006
Last activity: 17-Apr-2024
Posts: 2,323

Post History

Post: #226743
Topic: new book on a new hope coming in september
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226743/action/topic#226743
Time: 16-Jul-2006 10:18 PM

Originally posted by: hairy_hen
I like RotJ fine, mostly. Having Steven S. direct it would have been great, though . . .

I don't like everything he does but there's no doubt he's a fine director who really knows his stuff.

Question: if Lucarse couldn't have Steven S. direct Jedi, how did he keep having him for the other Indy flicks? Because those still have the credits in the beginning? Sheesh, I've never understood why the credits thing is such a big deal, anyway. Who wants to read a bunch of stupid names while the movie's starting? Save it all for the end, when it's just music and no picture. lol

I'd sure like to read a book about the making of SW that didn't have any official Lucarse propaganda. That would be really interesting.

Perhaps in some ways Lucas got angy at Hollywood and took things out on his fans. Spielberg seems to inspire a great deal of debate on both sides of the chasm, both from those who think that he is an overrated, sentimental, manipulative, and overhyped hack, and those like myself who love his unrivaled skills at crafting set pieces, manipulating audiences, creating sheer cinema. Love him or hate him, he's certainly influential and even his weakest films are superbly crafted.

Post: #226738
Topic: $36 pre-order (AR) for all 3 titles...anyone found it cheaper??
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226738/action/topic#226738
Time: 16-Jul-2006 9:20 PM

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
But remember, Lucas isn't doing any remastering, so the X0 project probably WILL end up looking better than the official releases.

Isn't doing any remastering yet. At this point, most things will look better than the official releases. LFL won't be able to stand that for long, and we'll get a great DVD release of the OOT. I hope.

Post: #226707
Topic: Lucas is a businessman - Don't believe what he says
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226707/action/topic#226707
Time: 16-Jul-2006 6:03 PM

Originally posted by: yanksno1

Originally posted by: Patrick Russell
Y'all know as well as I do... they'll eventually release the O-OT in the same crisp, anamorphic widescreen format in which we see the O-OT clips in the Empire Of Dreams documentary.

I agree exactly.

The main thing I'm looking at this as is the timing of it all. It makes no sense to me to release the never to be sold again OOT in september when next year will be the 30th Anniversery. If this is the only version we'll see of the OOT on DVD, wouldn't he wait a few months later and release them on the 30th Anni? I think we could see a new uber box set (I'm hoping the PT and 2004's will be fixed along with the anamorphic widescreen format OOT) next year. One can dream anyway.

God willing. I keep hoping that too. Cross all your fingers. Like I said, money talks.

Post: #226706
Topic: Finally Got Rid of My 2004 DVD's...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226706/action/topic#226706
Time: 16-Jul-2006 6:00 PM

Originally posted by: Mielr

Originally posted by: Tiptup
GL woudn't purposely alienate a large part of his audience.

You're kidding, right? LOL

He just did. He's been doing it for, oh, a decade or two now. But he appears to finally be waking up, albiet slowly.

Post: #226703
Topic: new book on a new hope coming in september
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226703/action/topic#226703
Time: 16-Jul-2006 5:59 PM

Originally posted by: Mielr

Originally posted by: Mike O

Supposedly, GL wanted Spielberg to direct Jedi

Can you image how awesome that would have been?

I'm sure it would have been great, but I'm one of those people who happens to love Jedi the way it is (the 1983 version, that is). I know a lot of people don't care for it, but I've never had any complaints about it.

All right, that makes two of us!

Post: #226688
Topic: Will There be Further Changes to the 09/12 SE Discs?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226688/action/topic#226688
Time: 16-Jul-2006 4:36 PM

And he calls them bonus material and wants us to kiss his ass for releasing them this way.

Outside of his comments about findout whether or not people really wanted these versions (no George, we've just been spending tons of money on LDs instead of buying cheap DVDs for our health), Lucas has hardly said anything about the situation at all. Yet.

Post: #226687
Topic: new book on a new hope coming in september
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226687/action/topic#226687
Time: 16-Jul-2006 4:34 PM

Supposedly, GL wanted Spielberg to direct Jedi

Can you image how awesome that would have been?

Post: #226686
Topic: OK, the DVDs are coming...so how bad are they going to look?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226686/action/topic#226686
Time: 16-Jul-2006 4:33 PM

Originally posted by: THX
Except maybe more compression artifacts.

I shouldn't lock horns with a guy named THX on AV issues,

but doesn't anamorphic offer a 33% resolution increase regardless? Even on my computer screen the anamorphic picture looks crisper. If I am wrong, which is most likely, then I apologize and will edit my post. Thanks for the corrections! And Thanks for sticking up for me Meler.

I believe the official line was that Fox wanted to make a new transfer of The Abyss, but James Cameron declined and said the current one (presumably from the LD) was fine. Actually, this happened again with the Alien Quadrilogy set. Fox did new transfers of every film except Aliens because Cameron said he was happy with the old, grainy transfer from the first DVD release (which was anamorphic by the way).

Perhaps Cameron simply does not want to take the time. Why not get some other help? Van Ling made the T2 Extreme disc look great. Ah, well. I'm sure that there will be new transfers somewhere down the road, proboably soon given the fact Cameron is finally back in the director's chair. And the Aliens disc doesn't look too bad. It's not up to scratch with reference quality material, but it looks better than many DVDs out there. Did you ever have the misfortune of seeing the abysmal transfer of The Wild Bunch on WBs first disc. I gained whole new appreciation for the film and it masterful cinematography upon see the new disc.

Post: #226684
Topic: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe: 1979 Animated VS. 2005 Live-Action
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226684/action/topic#226684
Time: 16-Jul-2006 4:27 PM

Originally posted by: THX
The movie sucked. Possibly even more than TPM. Flame away.

Do you actually think so, or are you just attempting to make a point? Why do you think that the movie "sucked?" Just curious.

Post: #226526
Topic: Fox France confirms the French OOT release >NOT< to be anamorphic
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226526/action/topic#226526
Time: 15-Jul-2006 1:07 PM

One day, the situation will iron itself out. Hopefully soon.

Post: #226525
Topic: new book on a new hope coming in september
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226525/action/topic#226525
Time: 15-Jul-2006 1:05 PM

Didn't it all also have something to do with the Director's Guild? And there are parts of ROTJ, particularly during the Luke/Vader duel, that look remarkably Kersneresque. It a remarkable coincide, I'm sure, that Lucas had the least amount of input on Empire and it is the best of the sextet. Totally coincidental, I'm sure.

Post: #226524
Topic: STAR WARS - Enhanced HD & O-OT HD Packs... some suggestions...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226524/action/topic#226524
Time: 15-Jul-2006 1:01 PM

Originally posted by: bbbb
If this guy wants to do that, go ahead. Post it on the net when you can and we'll watch it. I think George Lucas is gearing up to 'pass the torch' anyway. He's in his fifties or sixties now and why would he change the original trilogy again? He's only done it what, 2 - maybe 3 times?

I Believe that he is making more changes for the 2007 set.

The CGI Gollum from LOTR looks more realistic than that Yoda. Its funny how Luca$h always wants the SW movies to be the most technologically sophisticated films on the planet, but the PT doesn't even surpass the effects work of a low budget Ray Harryhausen film (which are superb by the way).

I agree wholeheartedly on both counts. Plus, Gollum was an actual character with a complete backstory who interacted with others, developed, and existed to serve the narrative. Harryhausen's work may look dated now, but now only does it have soul and imaginative verve, like original OOT effects did.

Post: #226521
Topic: Spirited Away
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226521/action/topic#226521
Time: 15-Jul-2006 12:52 PM

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
It's a great movie, if you don't watch the dub, which is awful.

Miyazaki's movies I've seen:

Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke
Kiki's Delivery Service
Howl's Moving Castle

All excellent films, though Mononoke is by far the best. It's a very powerful film. And it's the only one of the four with a good dub. In fact, its the best dub I've ever heard. It's excellent, so you don't have to read subtitles on that one.

I enjoy Disney's dubs to an extent, but what really impresses me is their presentation on the DVDs. The alternate angles present the films not only in the original language, but even with the original text in Japanese on the opening and closing credits! Wow. Both version on a DVD in crisp anamorphic widescreen with superb booming sound interpolated from the original tracks in both languages. High quailty picture and sound on both versions. Take notes George. Miyazaki-san actually made Disney sign an agreement that they would not edit even a single frame.

Post: #226420
Topic: Lucas is a businessman - Don't believe what he says
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226420/action/topic#226420
Time: 15-Jul-2006 12:08 AM

As I said, I know. I was just commenting on Lucas's line of thought, or what I hope is his line of thought. There will be an excellent release of the OOT, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

Post: #226417
Topic: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe: 1979 Animated VS. 2005 Live-Action
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226417/action/topic#226417
Time: 15-Jul-2006 12:03 AM

Ooooh, I've always liked the animated one. Very hard to find. I've watched it maybe 4 times total my entire life. At this point I don't have or know exactly where to find a copy, but would be interested in finding one not too far down the road.

I came out on DVD recently to coincide with the Andrew Adamson/Mark Johnson picture.

Post: #226414
Topic: Spirited Away
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226414/action/topic#226414
Time: 15-Jul-2006 12:01 AM

It is a truly phomenal film, one of a string of masterpieces produced by Miyazaki. It's not for all tastes, to be sure, but if approched with an open mind, it is breathtaking. I still prefer Princess Mononoke though.

Post: #226413
Topic: SUPERMAN RETURNS REVIEW
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226413/action/topic#226413
Time: 14-Jul-2006 11:59 PM

Originally posted by: TheSessler
I've been thinking about buying Smallville on DVD, anyone have anything to say about that show? Good, bad, or just okay?

Well, judging from what I've seen, it tweak the mythology considerably, and messing with continuity is likely to tick of longtimes Supes fans.

Post: #226411
Topic: Finally Got Rid of My 2004 DVD's...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226411/action/topic#226411
Time: 14-Jul-2006 11:57 PM

I believe Darth Maul was a pretty sweet villain despite not being explored as a substantial character (as he should have been).

Looking at the marketing campaign back in 1999, you'd have thought that Mace Windu, Anikan, and Darth Maul were the main characters.

Congratulations to Darth_Evil; that is probably the most generous way to discard a load of tripe that I’ve ever heard of. I hope your cousins enjoy themselves.

Are you sending the discs back to Lucas?

Post: #226263
Topic: Fox France confirms the French OOT release >NOT< to be anamorphic
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226263/action/topic#226263
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:53 PM

I love The Road Warrior too - can you imagine how crappy it would be done with CGI?

Unfortunately, yes I can. Did you see Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay's Bad Boys II? There is an action set piece in which the villians are dropping cars from a carrier onto the good guys who are chasing them. What could, in the hands of Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, John Woo, Peter Jackson, Brian Singer, Sam Raimi, or even someone like Richard Donner or John McTiernan or one of the other virutosos of popcorn filmmaking be an exhilarating sequence instead becomes a mishmash of CG and editing so frenetic that it's almost impossible to tell what's going on.

Post: #226259
Topic: Snakes on a Plane
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226259/action/topic#226259
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:38 PM

Originally posted by: Zion
This film has Razzie Award written all over it.

Interesting title though.

BTW, how did they get the Snakes ON the plane? You'd think that they'd been stopped at customs.

Hollywood.

Post: #226258
Topic: How Star Wars Should Have Ended
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226258/action/topic#226258
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:37 PM

Originally posted by: Han Solo VS Indiana Jones
Shouldn't this be in the general Star Wars discussion forum?

Isn't it there too? Why is it in two forums?

Post: #226246
Topic: Fox France confirms the French OOT release >NOT< to be anamorphic
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226246/action/topic#226246
Time: 14-Jul-2006 11:31 AM

Originally posted by: Tiptup

Originally posted by: Mike O
She proably said what the "official LFL response" said. Again, we must remember, that Lucas is still contemptuous of these versions. He wants to test the waters, and as we all know, he'll be surprised by the results. "Now we'll find out whether people wanted the original or the improved versions. It will all come out in the end." What is the end? The 30th anniversary? Everybody cross their fingers.

Heh, I envision a complicated, evil-mastermind setup with a timer ticking down to the 30th anniversary: one side of the contraption holds the theatrical releases while the other side holds the special editions and a great sword threatens to fall from above. As fans support one version more than the other, one is more in danger of being cut to pieces.

Not a sword-a lightsaber! And Yoda would be standing and watching and say "Prefer the original, the public does. Remaster them, we must." I think that it a case of a couple of things. I don't want to Lucas bash, so I must choose my words carefully, but some of it might have to do with his ego (i.e. his preference for the SEs vs. much of the public's preference for the originals). And, of course, money. As I've said in another thread, it would be a devious marketing trick to test the waters with this release and then include a high-quality release in the 30th anniversay boxed set (anamorphic with 5.1/2.0/and mono) when the set will of course be very high priced. Lucas knows full well that someone like me would pay a lot of money for the set just to get the three version of the films which I love so much. Let us hope that we are correct.

Post: #226197
Topic: Lucas may have caved, here is a link to Barnes & Noble early review of the O-OT DVD's:
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226197/action/topic#226197
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:35 AM

I do feel that there is some sort of movement swelling (regarding the sendback idea), and would like to find out from Jay if he's interested in shifting the function of this site in that direction.

I have not seen Mr. Sylvester much lately. I wonder if he has any ideas. We are gaining groud! We must continue the battle!

Post: #226195
Topic: Lucas is a businessman - Don't believe what he says
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226195/action/topic#226195
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:28 AM

Originally posted by: THX
I don't think Lucas did say that, actually. I believe that was interpretational editorial content inserted by the "journalist".

OK, but he did say that "it will all come out in the end." MTV. The root of all evil today.

Well, the point is, I would not be willing to buy a huge boxset even if the OOT were on it and pristine to the point of pants-crapping perfection. I love the movies, but I'm not willing to shell out a couple hundred dollars when I only want about 1/3 to 1/4 of the content I'm paying for, and the rest is useless to me. If I hated chocolate with coconut in it, I wouldn't buy a huge sampler box that had 25 coconut candies just so I could have 6 butter creams, would you? Hopefully nobody's that insane unless they just have an exorbitant amount of money. And I happen to not have that kind of money, and I refuse to be screwed around with anymore.

I was just commenting on the way that Lucas thinks. That would depend on how much I like butter creams

. DVDs would also last quite a bit longer.

. I get what you are saying. I was just trying to make a point.

Post: #226193
Topic: Finally Got Rid of My 2004 DVD's...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/226193/action/topic#226193
Time: 14-Jul-2006 12:26 AM

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
Yeah, I know about the campaign. I was going to send back the discs of the spetember releases though.

Anyway, you're right that many of the sequences in the OT are very exciting. Sadly, most children are impressed by Jar-Jar fighting robots, which is apparently the new kind of action.

And I think a true fan of Star War would say that Luke VS. Vader in ESB is much more exciting than Anakin VS ObiWan in ROTS, right? That was so over the top it was laughable.

I thought that sequence was reasonably well thought out, it was just that they kept talking ("From point of the view the Jedi are evil!" Will you just shut up and fight?). The idea for the big, climactic duel was impressive (as comared to Luke and Vader's more intimate battles), but, as with the rest of the PT, the execution left something to be desired, and Anikan's jump and Obi-wan's slice struck me as incredibly anti-climactic. Again, I apologize if seem like I was attacking you or something. I meant to no offense! It's good that you're sending the discs back. The battle with Lucas isn't over yet, apparently.