Originally posted by: ThunderPeel2001
THX: Why would you say that?

All UK (Region 2) based TVs and DVD players output and display a pure NTSC signal, unless you think the electricity conversion alters the image somehow?!?

All DVD players capable of playing PAL DVD's can play NTSC DVD's, and all TV's capable of displaying PAL made within the last 8 years or so can also display PAL-60 and NTSC.

There's no advantage of importing a copy if you're from the UK, except maybe if the import saves you money. I don't understand why so many NTSC/PAL threads have popped up. Both DVD's contain the same detail, the PAL DVD is just ever so slightly softer; but the PAL image will look marginally better because it uses more lines of resolution. Laserman threw his PAL copy at Lucas and ordered an NTSC import... but really I think that was a silly idea. Think about it, a HD movie up-scaled from SD WILL LOOK BETTER then the original SD. So it only goes to reason that the same thing applies to this upscale, just on a smaller scale.

As to why it's up-scaled, who knows... that's just the way it is. As for the overall quality, if you listen to some people here, they're shit. I tend to think the picture quality is quite acceptable - it's not perfect, and there are parts which look worse then others (I swear they shot the out-door tatooine shots with the wrong camera settings, so you shouldn't really read too much into the quality there)... and then again there are parts which almost look better then the 2004 DVD - and even have more fine detail then the 2004 transfer.

American's hate PAL. And PAL-people hate NTSC. It's just a fact of life. PAL is a better system then NTSC for a number of technical reasons, and although every reputable source agrees that the increase in PAL's pitch is unnoticeable to the majority of the population, and that NTSC's jitter is noticed by many more; and the fact that some movies are even filmed not at 24FPS, but 25FPS ... and not just TV movies either, but Hollywood movies as well ... American's and other NTSC-people, but mostly American's still think their system is better. A member here even said that "anyone with a tin ear" can tell that PAL audio is sped up, when the pitch isn't adjusted (which it always is now these days anyway) - even though it only raises a semitone, and still sounds perfectly normal to at least 99% of the population, and probably more.

Progressive scan is the one thing that helps fix the awfulness of NTSC... but it still doesn't make up for the fact that NTSC has 480 lines, and PAL has 576. The only real difference to PAL is that you can watch the entire movie a couple of minutes faster! Whether this is a bad thing is debatable, but for me I like concise movies. I love The Terminator because it's runtime is shorter then 2hrs, yet it is still a complete film.

Star Wars is best enjoyed with the greatest quality DVD you can buy, yes, but it's not so important you would go and import a DVD just because you want it in the other format.