Any update on this project? Super curious!
Seconded. I donated to this one quite a bit and it’s easily the project I’m most eager to see completed due to us not yet having a non-cam version of theatrical Episode II.
Would love to hear how it’s going.
Well we kind of do, from everything I’ve been able to gather the digital theatrical version is 100% identical to the DVD/HDTV captures. The problem with that is that it was actually the least common version you’d see in theaters in 2002.
The most common versions were the IMAX cut and the 35mm theatrical cut. The only differences between the digital theatrical version and the 35mm theatrical version is a voice line when Padme falls out of the gunship, some removed speeders in the chase at the beginning, “To be angry is to be human” wasn’t in the 35mm version and Anakin’s robot hand didn’t hold Padme’s hand during their wedding.
With that being said I’d still love to see a proper 35mm scan of this film for those very minor changes alone in a relatively high quality. Unfortunately there isn’t much interest in preserving the worst Star Wars movie right now. I’m sure it’ll happen someday.
I know I’m quoting a post that’s almost two years old now, but there are a couple common misconceptions here.
I’m 99% sure that the “to be angry is to be human line” wasn’t added at all until the dvd. The only difference I remember reading about between the 35mm and digital versions while the film was still playing in theaters that summer twenty years ago (yup) was Padme taking Anakin by his robotic hand at the end. In the 35mm version it just hangs there lifeless.
That was the only noticeable difference, mind you. George probably tweaked dozens of shots in those extra few days he had to work on the digital version before sending it to the hundred or so theaters in the entire world capable of digital projection at the time.
The Imax prints would’ve been even rarer, and weren’t released until within a week or so of the dvd (which always seemed like a weird business strategy to me, but whatever).
I didn’t know that. Honestly I don’t even remember making this post lol. Again, still holding out hope someone takes this on someday.