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Best version of OT non special editions to download?

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I'm trying to find what the best version of the 93 Definitive Edition Laserdiscs or the GOUT is to download.  Basically looking to have the nicest archival version possible of the non special edition versions.  Preferably looking for .avi format or mp4 so I can play them on a PS3.

Theres just so many out there not sure which has the best definitive feel to it, on myspleen they have Editdroid etc so need to know whats a good one to pick.

Appreciate the suggestions.

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Dark_Jedi's Theatrical DVDs are the best GOUT restorations you'll find.

Harmy's Partially Despecialized editions use multiple sources for the best quality while still getting rid of many of the SE changes.  He's working on a fully Despecialized collection as well; he's already done with ESB and is working on ANH.

 

Other than that, here's a few threads already posted on these boards (and others) that will give you the answers you're looking for:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Which-version-release-of-the-SW-movies-do-you-watch-and-why/topic/12446/

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Best-edits-of-Ep-2-and-3/topic/10378/

http://www.fanedit.org/forums/showthread.php?3638-Star-Wars-Fanedits-Which-ones-to-get


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Thanks, I'll check out the threads.  The Dark_Jedi one looks very impressive. 

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Harmy's STAR WARS Despecialized Edition -HD Theatrical Version Reconstruction gets great reviews but his links no longer work so I cannot verify

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The Hyperspace editions look pretty good, too.

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I prefer pre-93 stuff, personally.

Arnie.d's transfer of Ep IV, Adywan's theatrical reconstruction of Ep V, and Moth3r's Laserdisc transfer of Ep VI (the NTSC "Reinventing the Wheel" version) were what I watched last.

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 (Edited)

All releases of the theatrical versions have their drawbacks. Presuming, you want widescreen, you have three main options.

  1. GOUT upconversion- These are upconverted versions of the DVDs released in 2006, normally with restored theatrical audio. They have better clarity than laserdisc-sourced projects but have DVNR motion smearing. The best of these is Dark_Jedi's V3. Available on myspleen.
  2. Theatrical Reconstruction- These are reconstructions of the theatrical version by combining the 2004 Master and the GOUT using a great many sources (from film cells to upconverted versions of the GOUT) in order to create a reconstruction, with the overall quality of an HD version of the 2004 version. They often have a lot of effort pit into them in order to restore things. The average viewer may like these the best, but the most minor of changes may still exist in these and they have crushed blacks (like the 2004). The best is Harmy's HD Despecialized Editions. Available on myspleen or megaupload (links on tehparadox).
  3. Non-DVNR'ed Laserdisc Transfer- This is the option Asaki mentions. They are transfers of laserdiscs, with none or less DVNR then compared with the GOUT, hence less motion smearing. The picture is usually softer and fewer preservations of these have been made. Arnie.d.'s V8 is the ideal choice for ANH, sourced from a Japanese NTSC laserdisc; Asaki kindly uploaded it to Demonoid. As for ESB and ROTJ, you'll probably want to go from something from the PAL laserdiscs; I would suggest Moth3r's PAL laserdisc transfers (which can easily be converted to NTSC with a program like DGPulldown and luckily still found on tehparadox).
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The Aluminum Falcon said:

  1. Theatrical Reconstruction- These are reconstructions of the theatrical version by combining the 2004 Master and the GOUT. They often have a lot of effort pit into them in order to restore things. The average viewer may like these the best, but the most minor of changes may still exist in these and they have crushed blacks (like the 2004). The best is Harmy's HD Despecialized Editions. Available on myspleen or megaupload (links on tehparadox).

It's too simplistic to say that Harmy's is a combo of the 2004 DVD and the GOUT.  Here's his source list for SW:

SOURCES:

1) Star.Wars.Episode.IV.A.New.Hope.1977.720p.HDTV.x264-DON (2004 SE)

2) Dark Jedi's 720p upscale of the GOUT.

3) Mattman Omega's 720p upscale of the GOUT.

4) 1997 SE DTV captures (Reivax, Flunk, KGar)

5) Ady's SE AVCHD

6) Ady's STAR WARS Revisited

7) 70mm cell scans, Technicolour projection photos  etc. and custom mattes.

8) Puggo Grande

9) Moth3r's PAL LD transfer

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^Frink's right. The despecialized versions really are amazing and culled from so many different sources. Reading through the threads about them is a worthwhile experience. By the most minor of changes may be present, I meant the really unnoticeable one, like alternate cropping, etc.

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The Aluminum Falcon said:

As for ESB and ROTJ, you'll probably want to go from something from the PAL laserdiscs; I would suggest Moth3r's PAL laserdisc transfers (which can easily be converted to NTSC with a program like DGPulldown and luckily still found on tehparadox).

 I don't know if the "Reinventing the Wheel" set is still out there, but it's already been converted to NTSC from Moth3r's PAL.

The GOUT for RotJ isn't half as bad as the other two movies, but it just so happened that I ended up burning Ep IV back when I had the whole RTW set, so I figured it'd be much easier to watch it on a TV that way (either that or the VHS).

The more I see of Puggo Strikes Back, the more I'm wondering if it and Return of the Puggo might become my new "go to" versions.

But like every other great OT transfer, it's not available yet =(

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Asaki said:

But like every other great OT transfer, it's not available yet =(

Um...I guess it depends on your definition of great.

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Asaki said:

The more I see of Puggo Strikes Back, the more I'm wondering if it and Return of the Puggo might become my new "go to" versions.

But like every other great OT transfer, it's not available yet =(

Snail-mail between UK and US is frustratingly slow.  (Adywan is doing the color correction of PSB and he's in the UK).  Progress is slow but sure!

"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars

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Oh, I know. I didn't mean to sound impatient.

TV's Frink said:

Um...I guess it depends on your definition of great.

Well, yes...but when it comes to the OUT...

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