Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

zombie84 said:

Puggo you magnificent bastard, I finally got around to downloading this a few days ago and its so much fun! An amazing, unique project. Part of me wishes this was done in HD because I'm sure there is more quality to squeeze out than a DVD can make apparent. Anyway, very cool. Made me nostalgic for the Star Wars 1977 midnight screening I never had, LOL.

Thanks for the high praise, Zombie. Had you actually seen a midnight screening in 1977, the quality would have been considerably better - pristine in fact (I know, because I had one). However, it does indeed remind me of that mid-80s screening (was it 1984? 1985?) of the entire trilogy at the local theater, which lasted well past midnight... that was grunge city but a heck of a lot of fun. Although I remember being a bit sad that the film looked so beat up.

Speaking of film getting beat up... about 10 years ago I saw the newly-restored "2001" in 70mm at the Castro Theater, must have been one of the first stops on a tour that lasted several years. What I saw was razor sharp, and not a speck in sight - the most beautiful image I'd ever seen on screen. Five years later, a friend of mine saw it in Minnesota (I'm guessing the same 70mm print), and said it didn't look that great. That's what life on the road will do to you.

I saw 2001 about 4 months ago, and it looked the best I have ever seen it, even compared to the Blu Ray. Not a speck of dirt, and sharp as a tack. Obviously not an original release print, and in 35mm, but I was aghast at how prestine it looked. Guess that re-issue varied across the continent. The Bloor cinema in Toronto seems to screen that print about twice a year, one of their regular rotations the last while. Sadly, I suppose it will get a tiny bit worse each time they play it.