Yet ANOTHER DVD boxed set...*sigh* — Page 5

Indiana Jones Box Set review from TheDigitalBits:

Right off the bat, the decision to make these DVDs single-disc releases means that the video is going to be more compressed. Advances in compression, however, mean the picture and sound is actually very comparable to the original DVD release in 2003 (you can read my review of those discs, and the actual films, here). In fact, you could argue that the new anamorphic widescreen video on these discs is actually very slightly better than the original releases. Raiders is still a mixed bag – the original DVD was overly soft, while the new DVD is a little crisper looking. So while you do get more detail, you also see more edge enhancement and compression artifacting. Temple of Doom and Last Crusade however, look a little tighter, with slightly better contrast and perhaps a hair more detail

So it's the same TRANSFER of the movies, it is not the same encoding. Sort of like the opposite of a SuperBit.

Clone Wars: OMG, I did NOT realize Clone Wars was already out and bombed. Then these box sets will just have to be used to push the TV show and/or DVD release.

When are SW fans going to realize George is under no obligation to tell us the truth about anything? He can say he's decided to digitally remove Han Solo from all films and that he had a bon fire burning all prior prints... and then later sell us the same damn DVD again with Solo still there.

Forget buying SW stuff. He will only get my money again when: OOT gets a sparkling clean transfer OR Episodes 7, 8 & 9 hit theaters.

No other reason.  He is dead to me.

Janskeet said:

This is the forth shitty DVD release in 4 years! How many times can he re-release the same thing?

As many times as he wants as long as the retailers keep buying them up and selling them.

My theory why these are not in blu-ray is because GL knows that with blu-ray he'll have plenty of more space on a disk to work with. He'll have plenty of room to store more than one version of a movie on one disk and he knows that he is obligated to give us what we want even more with that format since there is so much more space. So he's keeping it on DVD as long as he can so he doesn't have as much of an onbligation to put more stuff on the disk like the OOT, deleted scenes, vintage documentaries, and behind the scenes footage. He doesn't want you to know too much about what went on behind the scenes. It'll blow his cover that he didn't have as much control or skill as a filmmaker making the movies, and had a lot less knowledge of where to take the films than what he wants us to think.

His cover has already been blown ;)

Seriously, he's not "obligated" to do a damn thing.  He could release the shitty GOUT or even the 04 set on Blu-ray and the worse he'd get is more backlash and lower sales.  I don't think he's that stupid.  This has almost nothing to do with having more space on a Blu-ray disc.  He simply doesn't want to release it yet.

I think, if he ever does release it on Blu-ray it'll be next year or maybe even 2010.  So far, he's given no indication that he even has any plans to release it on Blu-ray.  We'll probably even get the Clone Wars movie and TV show on standard DVD.

All that talk about wanting people to see it with the best picture and sound quality is now nothing more than bullshit.  He simply didn't want to give us the stuff and I don't think he wants to give it to us now either.

I understand the desire for a new OOT transfer... a high-class one.  But it seems too many people are clamoring for differences in these prequel releases, particularly for that new CG Yoda in TPM.  I know I've mentioned this before over the years, but, despite the hatred directed at that TPM puppet, isn't begging for him to be changed the very antithesis of what we're about?  It seems hypocritical and wishy washy of us to complain about more and more changes to the OT and lack of respect given to the theatrical versions when we're constantly hoping for changes to the prequels.

Besides, the first DVD already added in enough shitty, unnecessary material that wasn't in the theatrical version.  Lucas even admits this on the commentary when the boring, extended shots of the podrace are happening:  "Well, when we cut the movie together, I realized that these didn't really flow well with the movie.  But now that we have this DVD, I decided to put them back in."  Yeah, he actually said that...

Gaffer Tape said:

I understand the desire for a new OOT transfer... a high-class one. But it seems too many people are clamoring for differences in these prequel releases, particularly for that new CG Yoda in TPM. I know I've mentioned this before over the years, but, despite the hatred directed at that TPM puppet, isn't begging for him to be changed the very antithesis of what we're about? It seems hypocritical and wishy washy of us to complain about more and more changes to the OT and lack of respect given to the theatrical versions when we're constantly hoping for changes to the prequels.

Besides, the first DVD already added in enough shitty, unnecessary material that wasn't in the theatrical version. Lucas even admits this on the commentary when the boring, extended shots of the podrace are happening: "Well, when we cut the movie together, I realized that these didn't really flow well with the movie. But now that we have this DVD, I decided to put them back in." Yeah, he actually said that...

Ah, but see...

1. It's a prequel. It sucks already, more CG can't hurt.

2. A puppet for Yoda in 1999 wasn't up to the special effects standards of the time. I think it's fair to replace it. Whereas the OT were up to the effects standards of the time, Yoda in TPM was not.

No, I don't see.  It's basically saying, "We're about film preservation, but only when it comes to films we like.  The ones we don't like deserve to be screwed around with because, let's face it, we don't like them."  Besides, there were plenty of special effect flubs in the original trilogy as well that we got all up in arms over when they were changed, only to hear the exact same excuses from people over in the TF.n camp over why they should be changed.

Well, anyway, as lukewarm as I was about the puppet they used in TPM, I think TPM was the only prequel that had the right idea about how to use Yoda.  They actually used the puppet in conjunction with a couple of shots of CG where it was needed.  It was used in a wide shot of Yoda pacing, so it actually looked like he was there walking.  Then when it closed in, it was the puppet again.  That's how I thought it should have been done.  Rather than the complete CG Yoda used in the other prequels, they should have used a puppet except where necessary.

Gaffer Tape said:

Well, anyway, as lukewarm as I was about the puppet they used in TPM, I think TPM was the only prequel that had the right idea about how to use Yoda.  They actually used the puppet in conjunction with a couple of shots of CG where it was needed.  It was used in a wide shot of Yoda pacing, so it actually looked like he was there walking.  Then when it closed in, it was the puppet again.  That's how I thought it should have been done.  Rather than the complete CG Yoda used in the other prequels, they should have used a puppet except where necessary.

I agree- even though the puppet was butt-ugly and looked angry (?) I prefer it over CGI Yoda.

I think the reason why some people want the CG Yoda is that they just want something different on these disc than what is already out there. Also, as much as I hate CG, that puppet just never looked right. I extreme difference in Yoda's look between Phantom and Clones is almost as jarring as the difference between his look from ROTJ and TPM. I still don't understand how that puppet went so wrong...

The bottom line is, the version of TPM with the puppet is and always will still be out there. I have said it many times, I have no problem with special editions or director's cuts, but I really want to be able to see it the way it was originally seen. As long as that original version is out there for me to enjoy, I have no complaints (which brings us to the fact that the original, and to me much preferred version, of The Phantom Menace is not out there on DVD, which, as much as I hate the PT, I still find unfortunate). So I do not think it is at all wishy washy of some people here to wish for this change.

What about when the blu-ray comes out? If Lucas changes it to CG Yoda for blu-ray, and there's no "original" blu-ray release, I think a lot of TPM fans are going to be pissed.

ESHBG said:

Puppet Yoda looked angry because he could foresee what Luca$ was going to do to the PT and the series as a whole! :)

lol


I agree with Gaffer Tape and C3PX about Phantom Menace. I want the original version of the film since it's not as tedious. It's currently only available on VHS though. :(

Mielr said:

What about when the blu-ray comes out? If Lucas changes it to CG Yoda for blu-ray, and there's no "original" blu-ray release, I think a lot of TPM fans are going to be pissed.

The DVD version is not the original either. It contains considerably more than just a few minor changes from the theatrical version. The original only exists on VHS. And I am fully expecting there never to be a puppet Yoda on any Blu-ray TPM release. I wonder what the PT guys who tell us OOT guys to shut up, stop complaining and move on will be saying then. Wonder if they will bend over and take it (probably), or if they will protest at all.

I can already imagine a Blu-ray release several years down the road that features the original version of The Phantom Menace in plain old anamorphic DVD quality on a second disc as a bonus feature.

Correction the theatrical Phantom Menace is available on Laserdisc not Just vhs.

I hate that fucking movie yet i own the Laserdisc, lol.

I'm sure someone already has.

Johnboy3434 said:

Maybe the X0 crew wouldn't mind doing that as a bonus after their masterpiece version of the OOT is available.

Sorry, but that made my day....laughter is the best medicine...about busted a rib on that one.

I am not buying another two trilogy sets.  I broke down and bought the "limited edition" 2 disc with the original versions because they were super cheap at Costco even though I swore I wouldn't.  I'm done.  But...

If ADYWAN decides to revisit all of the films, then I will definitely obtain those.  I just finished SW Episode IV: Revisited and it blew me away.  It's perfect. 

Hmm, I should look into finding one then.  Not that I'm a huge TPM fan (or prequel fan), but I still enjoy watching them on occasion, but the changes on the DVD version are just so... bleh.  I mean, the podrace bordered on boring at its original length.  It really didn't need another 5-10 minutes added to it.

And as for the Rebellion in ROTS, I never really missed those scenes too much.  I don't even think they were that important.  We know the Rebellion eventually gets started.  I didn't really feel the need to have ROTS explain it to me.  Not that I didn't enjoy watching those scenes as bonus material.  I just don't see how they would have fit well into the movie.  Plus, it's another one of those universe-shrinking things because Padme helps begin it.  I mean, how many more of these more-amazing-than-coincidence connections did we need?  The only thing that saddened me about losing them in the movie is that I felt bad for the woman playing Mon Mothma having all of her material cut from the film.