Do we need it? Don’t know, I’m here to hear your opinions…

Well, it seems that the HDTV has, somehow, a better quality than the DVNR’ed Blu-ray, so it could be interesting to use it as source for a project.

My idea is to try to recreate the Theatrical cuts of EP I, II (DLP) and III, and 1997 SE versions of EP IV, V and VI; using two HDTV broadcast sources for each movie, merged (to average compression and noise), deblocked, slight noise reduction and color correction, 35mm real grain added.

EP I will use two AVC source - because I was not able to find an MPEG-2 version, while for all the others I’ll use one AVC and one MPEG-2 - this is because different encoders gives different result, and should merge better - at least, according to the tests I made.

TB DVB (eventually LD) and a 1080P trailer will be used to insert missing parts of EP I; EP II should need not more footage - mechanical hand scene reconstruction seems impossible to do, and AFAIK no 35mm scan is available, that’s why I thought to do the DLP version, where the scene is the same of the DVD/HDTV; EP III does need just a wipe replacement from BD.

TB, G’Kar and Flunk will be used to replace the parts in EP IV; TB and G’Kar for EP V and VI - the problem is, they have a 2.25:1 aspect ratio, so, taller vertical image: I must decide if release a variable ratio version, stretch them horizontally, or add black borders to the sides… ideas?

SD parts will be upscaled using a mix of conventional and Super Resolution techniques; audio will be DTS Theatrical for all, LD DD for EP I, IV, V, VI, plus others to be decided.

This will not be a meticolous reconstruction, just a “simple” cut&paste from different sources; I’m aware there are other projects around similar to these but, as I was away for a long time, I wonder if this could be an interesting project, or simply a waste of time…