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2020 Blu Rays - are they worth it?

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Apologies if this has been covered ad nauseum elsewhere but I’d appreciate some honest opinions on this.

I have the old prequel DVDs.
I have the 2011 Blu Ray set.
I currently have a subscription to Disney+.
I have TFA, TLJ and ROTS on Blu Ray (I have the 3D Special Edition of TFA) so not interested in the monochrome box set.
I don’t have 4K and while I’m sure I will upgrade at some point it won’t be in the immediate future, so not currently interested in 4K.

So this is about episodes 1-6 Blu Rays

From what I’ve read elsewhere, I wouldn’t see any improvement in PQ on the 2020 prequels v 2011. I probably will notice a slight improvement in PQ on the 2020 originals v 2011, and more importantly I’d notice the colour correction which I believe is generally acknowledged to be an improvement.

As far as bonus features are concerned, I’d get a few extra featurettes I don’t already have, though I wouldn’t be able to ditch my prequel DVDs and 2011 Blu Rays (and some of the “legacy” documentaries are screwed up on the new BDs).

While I’m tempted to take advantage of Amazon’s current offer and get 1-6 for £45, I’m also thinking I should hang fire until I upgrade to 4K and buy them all then rather than risk double dipping, especially as I can watch colour corrected versions of the originals on D+ whenever I want to (though I generally prefer physical media to digital).

Sorry, I know this is a boring post, but some opinions would be appreciated.

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If you are going to buy the blu-rays, you HAVE to buy them as a box set or with the 4k separate versions. If you buy the blu-rays individually, then you end up getting the 2011 versions you already have. If you are going to upgrade to 4k in the future then just go for the 4k versions now, because they include the 2020 versions of the OT and you won’t have to double dip in the future once you upgrade

ANH:REVISITED
ESB:REVISITED

DONATIONS TOWARDS MATERIALS FOR THE REVISITED SAGA

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adywan said:

If you are going to buy the blu-rays, you HAVE to buy them as a box set or with the 4k separate versions. If you buy the blu-rays individually, then you end up getting the 2011 versions you already have. If you are going to upgrade to 4k in the future then just go for the 4k versions now, because they include the 2020 versions of the OT and you won’t have to double dip in the future once you upgrade

I thought the separate BDs recently made available on Amazon and HMV were the 2020 versions, e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08D723MD6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

(Sorry, probably should have said I’m in the UK)

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MikeMatt101 said:

adywan said:

If you are going to buy the blu-rays, you HAVE to buy them as a box set or with the 4k separate versions. If you buy the blu-rays individually, then you end up getting the 2011 versions you already have. If you are going to upgrade to 4k in the future then just go for the 4k versions now, because they include the 2020 versions of the OT and you won’t have to double dip in the future once you upgrade

I thought the separate BDs recently made available on Amazon and HMV were the 2020 versions, e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08D723MD6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

(Sorry, probably should have said I’m in the UK)

If you buy blu-ray only you are going to receive the 2011 masters.

After being beaten and battered by prequel hate, I promise not to be that to the next generation.

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In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

Joe’s Bed-Stuy Editing Bay - We Cut Flicks

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Broom Kid said:

In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

It’s pretty much pot luck if you buy the single blu-rays in the UK. Amazon, you’re not guaranteed to get the 2020 version. At HMV, someone i know purchased the OT as separates. ANH was 2011, ESB was 2020, ROTJ was 2011. HMV refused to take the 2011 discs back as the package was opened. So he ordered ANH & ROTJ from Zavvi. Got ANH 2020 & ROTJ 2011. The packaging is identical too so there’s no way of knowing which version you will get even if you go into a shop and check the covers. So now he is stuck with 2 versions of ROTJ and no way of knowing if he buys another copy if it will be the new version or not. Until all the old stock of the September 2019 releases are sold, its a risk buying them as separates.

ANH:REVISITED
ESB:REVISITED

DONATIONS TOWARDS MATERIALS FOR THE REVISITED SAGA

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Damn, that’s wild!

So basically, the only guaranteed way to get ONLY the 2020 blu-rays is to buy the UK 18-disc blu-ray box-set.

I do wonder if the same thing will start happening here in the US - when stores finally burn through all their 2011 repackages, will Disney start issuing the new discs for restock? Or will they bother to even press up new discs at all and just steer folks to Disney+

Joe’s Bed-Stuy Editing Bay - We Cut Flicks

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adywan said:

Broom Kid said:

In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

It’s pretty much pot luck if you buy the single blu-rays in the UK. Amazon, you’re not guaranteed to get the 2020 version. At HMV, someone i know purchased the OT as separates. ANH was 2011, ESB was 2020, ROTJ was 2011. HMV refused to take the 2011 discs back as the package was opened. So he ordered ANH & ROTJ from Zavvi. Got ANH 2020 & ROTJ 2011. The packaging is identical too so there’s no way of knowing which version you will get even if you go into a shop and check the covers. So now he is stuck with 2 versions of ROTJ and no way of knowing if he buys another copy if it will be the new version or not. Until all the old stock of the September 2019 releases are sold, its a risk buying them as separates.

That is bonkers. I was actually on the verge of ordering I-VI on Amazon based on comments on blu-ray.com and the screen caps I’ve seen, but now I think I’ll hang fire until I can justify getting the 4Ks. But even then it seems pot luck whether you get the slips.

I played the first few minutes of ROTJ on D+ last night and even though it’s only supposed to be SD through my NowTV Box 2 it actually looked more like HD to me - I was sat right in front of the screen and looked pretty damn good.

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Wait till you get a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Then consider buying them.

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adywan said:

Broom Kid said:

In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

It’s pretty much pot luck if you buy the single blu-rays in the UK. Amazon, you’re not guaranteed to get the 2020 version. At HMV, someone i know purchased the OT as separates. ANH was 2011, ESB was 2020, ROTJ was 2011. HMV refused to take the 2011 discs back as the package was opened. So he ordered ANH & ROTJ from Zavvi. Got ANH 2020 & ROTJ 2011. The packaging is identical too so there’s no way of knowing which version you will get even if you go into a shop and check the covers. So now he is stuck with 2 versions of ROTJ and no way of knowing if he buys another copy if it will be the new version or not. Until all the old stock of the September 2019 releases are sold, its a risk buying them as separates.

I’m surprised this hasn’t received more attention online - especially given the seemingly endless and inane ‘unboxing’ and ‘review’ channels out there on youtube.

 

This is discart for the September 2019 blu ray releases of the individual Star Wars films (the 2011 Special Edition version):-

 
This is discart for the August 2020 blu ray releases of the individual Star Wars films (the 2019 Special Edition / Maclunkey version):-

^ Nice of Lucasfilm to use the same art… if the Star Wars logo is at the top of the disc art it is the August 2020 release (the 2019 Special Edition / Maclunkey version).

 

Cover-wise…

The September 2019 blu ray release (the 2011 Special Edition version):-

 

The August 2020 blu ray release (the 2019 Special Edition / Maclunkey version):-

 

It is no wonder stores or warehouses are making mistakes and mixing up peoples’ orders - if they there are even aware there is a difference at all.

Just how lazy and cheap do Lucasfilm have to be with these releases… a cynic [cough] may go as far as saying it seems they are willfully confusing people as to the content of their releases.

 

There is a little more info on the September 2019 releases of the individual Star Wars blu rays for sale, here:-

The 2019 re-release of the Original Trilogy films on blu ray & DVD (2011 SE version)
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com - includes info on how to ask for a fan project and how to search for projects and threads on OT•com.

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

Take your time to look around this site before posting… Do NOT just lazily make yet another ‘link request’ post - or a new thread asking for projects.

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oojason said:

adywan said:

Broom Kid said:

In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

It’s pretty much pot luck if you buy the single blu-rays in the UK. Amazon, you’re not guaranteed to get the 2020 version. At HMV, someone i know purchased the OT as separates. ANH was 2011, ESB was 2020, ROTJ was 2011. HMV refused to take the 2011 discs back as the package was opened. So he ordered ANH & ROTJ from Zavvi. Got ANH 2020 & ROTJ 2011. The packaging is identical too so there’s no way of knowing which version you will get even if you go into a shop and check the covers. So now he is stuck with 2 versions of ROTJ and no way of knowing if he buys another copy if it will be the new version or not. Until all the old stock of the September 2019 releases are sold, its a risk buying them as separates.

I’m surprised this hasn’t received more attention online - especially given the seemingly endless and inane ‘unboxing’ and ‘review’ channels out there on youtube.

Ah, so it’s not the case that 2011 discs are being put in 2020 packaging, but that the retailers are getting confused by the 2019 and 2020 releases.

The 2019 releases don’t appear to be listed separately on Amazon, which I guess is why it’s pot luck which version you get.

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Do the new Blurays have the 20th Century Fox opening? Also, do they add the opening to 7,8, and 9?

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MikeMatt101 said:

oojason said:

adywan said:

Broom Kid said:

In the UK, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the new masters on that blu-ray.

in the US, if you buy a blu-ray only disc, you get the 2011 discs repackaged. The only way to get new masters on blu-ray in the US is to buy a 4K disc that comes with the new masters on the pack-in blu-ray.

It’s pretty much pot luck if you buy the single blu-rays in the UK. Amazon, you’re not guaranteed to get the 2020 version. At HMV, someone i know purchased the OT as separates. ANH was 2011, ESB was 2020, ROTJ was 2011. HMV refused to take the 2011 discs back as the package was opened. So he ordered ANH & ROTJ from Zavvi. Got ANH 2020 & ROTJ 2011. The packaging is identical too so there’s no way of knowing which version you will get even if you go into a shop and check the covers. So now he is stuck with 2 versions of ROTJ and no way of knowing if he buys another copy if it will be the new version or not. Until all the old stock of the September 2019 releases are sold, its a risk buying them as separates.

I’m surprised this hasn’t received more attention online - especially given the seemingly endless and inane ‘unboxing’ and ‘review’ channels out there on youtube.

Ah, so it’s not the case that 2011 discs are being put in 2020 packaging, but that the retailers are getting confused by the 2019 and 2020 releases.

It could be that as well mate (I remember at Woolworths… the staff putting the discs in the boxes themselves when you were at the DVD counter - and sometimes getting that wrong - though that maybe have been some time ago now 😉)

I imagine many are shrink-wrapped these days - but you never know…
 

The 2019 releases don’t appear to be listed separately on Amazon, which I guess is why it’s pot luck which version you get.

Unfortunately, both are…

September 2019 release (2011 Special Edition) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/STAR-WARS-NEW-HOPE-Blu-ray/dp/B07TNVWQCZ (Edit: imported)

August 2020 release (2019 Special Edition / Maclunkey version) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Episode-IV-Blu-ray/dp/B08D7234D9

^ and I’d doubt the staff at some places knowing the difference - or being aware there is a difference…
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com - includes info on how to ask for a fan project and how to search for projects and threads on OT•com.

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

Take your time to look around this site before posting… Do NOT just lazily make yet another ‘link request’ post - or a new thread asking for projects.

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Unfortunately, both are…

September 2019 release (2011 Special Edition) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/STAR-WARS-NEW-HOPE-Blu-ray/dp/B07TNVWQCZ

August 2020 release (2019 Special Edition / Maclunkey version) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Episode-IV-Blu-ray/dp/B08D7234D9

^ and I’d doubt the staff at some places knowing the difference - or being aware there is a difference…
 

I’m getting increasingly confused. The 2019 releases are US not UK. So why would people buying from Amazon UK or HMV be getting US stock?

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I cannot speak to the what is happening on Amazon UK but import releases make their way to Amazon US all the time. Even region B releases incapable of being played on a player in the US.
I think the Star Wars discs are region free or something, The Zavvi discs. Or why would people in North America be importing them? I’m speaking of the 4K steelbook releases.

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If you like collecting the star wars blu rays and dvds then yes they are worth it. But if you arent into collecting them then they arent worth it. its really up to you! 😃

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If you believe in owning the source before getting ROTJ:Revisited, yes.