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Complete Comparison of Special Edition Visual Changes — Page 38

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 (Edited)

2004 this Falcon pov shot of the Executor, the Executor is recomp'd.  (look at the back end relationship to window frames)

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/EmpireSpecialEditionChangesHD#5673855333145937506

Another 97 wipe.  Luke's entered the Falcon cockpit but is still mentally chatting with Vader.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/EmpireSpecialEditionChangesHD#5673859175725379522

*EDIT*

Added the slave-1 shot previously discussed.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/EmpireSpecialEditionChangesHD#5673871183667998290

 

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About to tackle the lightsabers in ESB, but want to get a sense of what was discussed before.  So will throw out some example images and if people can vote yes/no on if these are things we want to include.

First example of lightsaber use : Han on Hoth: 

 

Luke vs Dagobah Vader:

(not the greatest pic was noting Luke's uncolored)

 

Luke vs Vader: :

Then there's the issue of the saber clash flashes.  Several from the Luke vs Dagobah Vader have been pointed out as revised.  But here's the first example from the Luke Vader end duel and what are people's opinions:



So vote for Y/N and if Yes what year.  (images are 80 boot, 97TB, GOUT, 2004)

 

My initial response would be most of them are 2004 digital refinements.  But not so certain of the distance shots, they may have been left alone.

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 (Edited)

I think both the Han Solo saber and Vader's saber in the cave look suspect in your caps and are probably fiddled with, but I don't think the sabers were recomped in the carbon freeze chamber. Like I said earlier I think it's just a matter of the clipped white level and DVNR that makes the GOUT blades to appear thicker. You can also see DVNR-artifacts in every saber clash. Here's a couple of screenshots from the SWE LD.

But at the same time, all the optical grain and built in dirt was eliminated in all the lightsaber scenes for the 2004 DVD's, so they are all changed, recomped or not.

EDIT: also, great finds none. Hope I don't come across as some know-it-all-guy, just expressing my opinion.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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 (Edited)

OK guys, you've probably already seen this but I thought I'd repost here, since I think that, although it would be quite inexplicable, it may actually be an intentional change, because it's only the soldiers that are totally blurred and not the AT-ATs:

 

Adywan just posted this:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/93945

It's a comparison between the Blu-Ray and a 35mm scan of the original version. The Blu-Ray fails miserably.

Maybe they were trying to conceal the AT-ATs' feet being hazy by making it appear that there was actually a misty haze on the ground level? Because it does look less like the AT-ATs are floating in the air.

 

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The amount of DNR and black crushing is terrible on the Blu-ray. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

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Watching the ESB lightsaber stuff, coming around to the logic that they're the original composites just digitally altered most likely unintentionally by the color adjustments.  But there seems to be a specific caveat which made the lightsaber hit blasts fade more into the background. 

Maybe this has been pointed out but several of the hit blasts use the same flash:

 

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none said:

But there seems to be a specific caveat which made the lightsaber hit blasts fade more into the background. 

 

That's the DNR. It tends to remove things that only last 1 frame.

none said:

Maybe this has been pointed out but several of the hit blasts use the same flash:

 Cool! nice find!

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 (Edited)

"In 1997, the shot of Luke jumping down following Vader has been extended by two frames.  The next shot of Luke entering the pipe has been shortened by two frames.(1997 Change)"

This is just where a reel change occur, those two frames didn't make it when they produced the GOUT, they are included on the PAL version of the disc however.

EDIT:

"In 2004, blast fire from Ion Cannon is white.(2004 Change)"

"In 2004, blue square above switches is now black.(2004 Change)"

I can definitely see color in the blast fire and blue in the button, this is just how things got their look and appearance when the worst colortiming of all time got applied and approved by George Lucas. It affects everything in the transfers, I seriously doubt they sat down and decided that this blue square should be retimed so it appear dark blue, it's just how everything down to every minor detail gets affected by the new colortiming/fuck up. But if these kinds of things help people on this board when they work on their edits, I can see why you list it.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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g-force said:

none said:

But there seems to be a specific caveat which made the lightsaber hit blasts fade more into the background. 

 

That's the DNR. It tends to remove things that only last 1 frame.

It looks to me like the same reason the star fields, glow of engines and lasers got eaten up by whatever Lowry or Lucasfilm used to artificially enhance/clean up the films with.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Harmy said:

OK guys, you've probably already seen this but I thought I'd repost here, since I think that, although it would be quite inexplicable, it may actually be an intentional change, because it's only the soldiers that are totally blurred and not the AT-ATs:

 

Adywan just posted this:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/93945

It's a comparison between the Blu-Ray and a 35mm scan of the original version. The Blu-Ray fails miserably.

Maybe they were trying to conceal the AT-ATs' feet being hazy by making it appear that there was actually a misty haze on the ground level? Because it does look less like the AT-ATs are floating in the air.

 

That's an ugly one, it's like that on the 2004 DVD as well, the same blurry mess and loss of detail is also seen on other sequences in the battle, here's a few examples before that one. I don't have a 35mm scan to show the difference but even the motion-smeared '97SE TB demonstrate the difference.

top: '97SE TB / bottom: '04 DVD

The detail doesn't matter, as long as we get rid of all the grain. ;)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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RotJ

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684529709621191122

In 1997, the skiff was recompositioned and the laser fire redone.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684530641509285810

In 2004, this shot was colorized as previously it was just shades of tan.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684531097601603570

In 1997, the right skiff was relocated and a heavy shadow added to hide it's extension.  Also Sarlacc tentacles were added.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684531558799349554

In 1997, shot is reframed left to hide shadow above far right skiff.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684532094620055186

In 2004, Obi-Wan was recompositioned.  There is an odd vertical light element thru Obi-Wan's head, which previously was a branch.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684532452813010994

In 2004, This shot originally contained heavy effects artifacting on Luke Skywalker, a side-effect of the composite that made Obi-Wan transparent and luminous. The newer version gets rid of the jitter and outlines.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684532594293686610

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684532798193100738

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684532994895067026

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684533228246332450

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684533448200962962

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684533595590167938

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684533713175239554

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684533843110115234

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534009685478482

In 1997, the starfield seen thru windows was recomp'd.

[this is the same shot, which is already in the guide, the shot pans right to Vader standing in front of the screen]

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534265355899570

In 1997, the Emperor falling was recompositioned.  Also the shaft was extended and the steam clouds rotated.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534731675682018

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534769520916450

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534796539467314

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534818494895362

In 1997, the explosion after the Emperor's plunge down the shaft has been enhanced.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534838036241362

In 1997, the Emperor's shaft explosion has been redone.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534865854306146

In 1997, the shaft explosion continues past the bridges, while using some of the previous elements recompositioned.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102542760950977079734/JediSpecialEditionChangesHD#5684534928706497570

In 1997, this one frame shot of Wicket's hand has been removed.

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Has there been a discussion of the wipes and fades in RotJ?  The ones unaffected by SE changes seem extremely close to the originals.  So my first impression is they were not redone.  Then the question becomes why?  If the 83 fades are a one level down in quality, would make sense to redo them for the 97.  (especially as all the others in the two prior movies were redone)  Had technology improved so that the wipes created in 82 didn't loose much quality (many of the other SFX shots were untouched) or did the company reproducing the wipes in 97 figure out the correct settings and timing?

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Simple, the 97SE was originally supposed to be SW only and when it was decided that they'd do ESB and ROTJ as well, they were just a little side project and a lot less work went into them. Also it's quite likely that the printing machines got better between 77 and 83, so the original wipes were higher quality in Jedi than in SW, so they didn't feel they needed to be redone.

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I haven't looked at none's additions in a while, afraid of the re-organization I thought I had to do. I'M SO GLAD YOU CAN ORGANIZE THE PICTURES. Saved me 100 years of work!

And Harmy's is the conclusion we came to previous RE the wipes in RotJ.

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 (Edited)

doubleofive wrote: I'M SO GLAD YOU CAN ORGANIZE THE PICTURES. Saved me 100 years of work!

Sorry, but I cannot organize the picture, just add photos and insert captions.  (but if the order is an issue, i've got the pics as links in the shot guide, backup reference)

Harmy wrote: Simple, the 97SE was originally supposed to be SW only and when it was decided that they'd do ESB and ROTJ as well, they were just a little side project and a lot less work went into them.

I think the SW only idea was quickly thrown out the window.  Judging from the amount of work, represented by the number of pics in the original SW.com guides (122, 151, 97) and the doubleofive guides (353, 345, 159), and the modified shot guide (315, 351, 220).  Consistently RotJ had a lighter touch, but all the movies were significantly altered and I don't see what they've done to one movie much lesser then the others.  SW seems in the middle, ESB got more clean up then new material while RotJ was primarily new additions.

There was talk in the 2011 BD thread of one of the reels of Jedi looking 'soft', wondering if this is related.

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[quote=none]


doubleofive wrote: I'M SO GLAD YOU CAN ORGANIZE THE PICTURES. Saved me 100 years of work!
Sorry, but I cannot organize the picture, just add photos and insert captions.  (but if the order is an issue, i've got the pics as links in the shot guide, backup reference)
Oh, it was my imagination. Dang it.

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I'm afraid I can't make a screengrab right now, but I've never seen this mentioned:

In ESB when the probe droid blows up, there's a quick shot, perhaps 4 frames, just before the explosion, that has a vertical scratch through the frame. It starts and stops with the edits on either side of the shot. Why a dupe of a scratched positive ended up in this, I have no idea, as ASAIK there aren't even any opticals in the shot.

Anyway, for Blu-Ray the scratch was finally fixed. IIRC it was still there in 2004.

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Can anyone confirm? Sounds like something that should show up on the DIFF.

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Treadwell said:

I'm afraid I can't make a screengrab right now, but I've never seen this mentioned:

In ESB when the probe droid blows up, there's a quick shot, perhaps 4 frames, just before the explosion, that has a vertical scratch through the frame. It starts and stops with the edits on either side of the shot. Why a dupe of a scratched positive ended up in this, I have no idea, as ASAIK there aren't even any opticals in the shot.

Anyway, for Blu-Ray the scratch was finally fixed. IIRC it was still there in 2004.

i've gone through the scene frame by frame and i can only find one vertical scratch. It appears only in the GOUT. It isn't there in the 1997 SE or the 2004 DVD

ANH:REVISITED
ESB:REVISITED

DONATIONS TOWARDS MATERIALS FOR THE REVISITED SAGA

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Thanks for the research adywan. I thought it went beyond GOUT but obviously not.

It was strange that the scratch didn't overlap the edit points of the shot, so I'll forever wonder why. Anyway, if cleanup counts, then it might be considered for a 97 SE change entry. Or maybe not, since a lot of dirt and damage was repaired throughout.

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And again, the fact that some dirt artefact appears in the GOUT doesn't necessarily mean it was always in the film, so I wouldn't really count clean-up. A proper remaster would probably get rid of these things even if it wasn't SE.

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My friends, we made the big time. It was a few months ago, but still!

http://redlettermedia.com/half-in-the-bag/the-people-vs-george-lucas-and-star-wars-discussion/

These are the guys that did the incredible Prequel reviews. They have a (slightly) more normal show where they talk movies, but a few months ago they had the director of People Vs George Lucas. I just got around to watching it and thinking "man, I wish they had seen the Visual Comparisons" when this pops up:
http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a9rSX4BhTps/Tv-ZasdjIkI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/3t0gZUEvrd8/s640/HalfintheBag.jpg
I immediately paused because I know that frame...
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CZwePOJN69U/Tla7qxq2haI/AAAAAAAAIS4/WY_Nr53_Xsg/s640/Jabba03.jpg

We were included in a half-legitimate complaint-fest on the SE changes!

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perfectlovehere said:

OMG these are awesome! It must've taken a long time to put these images together. I really enjoyed browsing it thanks. I had no idea the differences between the HD and the original were this intense.

It's a neverending story (at least while Lucas is alive).