Originally posted by: seventiesfilmnut
I know the THX faces edition is (currently!) the best way to experience the non-SE trilogy, but even closer to the version we all would have seen at the cinema were the widescreen Fox LD releases in 1989. Fair enough there's loads of dirt and stuff on the print.. but in a way I kind of like that! This is how I remember it at the cinema - dust specs and all! Call me strange, but I'd rather have the dust and scratches but with a pin sharp picture, rather than the THX versions with so much digital dirt concealment that the image loses it's clarity, and you get that weird digital smearing effect on some fast moving objects - yuck!! Also the 1989 LD version has the original 70mm soundtracks (plus C3PO's line of dialogue which was missing from the THX versions). Star Wars on the faces edition LD's was totally remixed by Ben Burtt, with a few new sound effects added in that certainly weren't there when we all saw it in the cinema! The other two films were just cleaned up, but not remixed.
I know the THX faces edition is (currently!) the best way to experience the non-SE trilogy, but even closer to the version we all would have seen at the cinema were the widescreen Fox LD releases in 1989. Fair enough there's loads of dirt and stuff on the print.. but in a way I kind of like that! This is how I remember it at the cinema - dust specs and all! Call me strange, but I'd rather have the dust and scratches but with a pin sharp picture, rather than the THX versions with so much digital dirt concealment that the image loses it's clarity, and you get that weird digital smearing effect on some fast moving objects - yuck!! Also the 1989 LD version has the original 70mm soundtracks (plus C3PO's line of dialogue which was missing from the THX versions). Star Wars on the faces edition LD's was totally remixed by Ben Burtt, with a few new sound effects added in that certainly weren't there when we all saw it in the cinema! The other two films were just cleaned up, but not remixed.
Hey John,
I don't believe the 1989 LD has the 70mm sound mix. I think it's just the 35mm Dolby Stereo mix. I believe the original 70mm sound mix did not have C-3PO's line nor did it have "Close the blast doors." The original mono mix has both and I believe the Dolby Stereo mix has 3PO's line but not the blast door line. Tell me, do you have the '89 LD, and if so, does it have "Close the blast doors?"
Also, there are those who believe, and I'm leaning that way myself, that the so called fourth sound mix done for the THX version is really the original 70mm 6-track mixed down to Dolby 2.0. This would explain different sound effects and missing lines. And if true, this would be the first and only time this sound mix has been available in a home format.
Scott