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I say forget the OOT on DVD, lets target HD-DVD/Blue Ray Now

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With several announcements last week of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (3 versions of the film), BladeRunner (5 versions of the film) on HD-DVD and BlueRay, I say we forget the release of the OOT on DVD, and target HD on DVD because the trend of multiple versions I believe will be the huge selling point to this product.

DVD really took off cause of superior quality to VHS/Laserdisk, plus many friends of mine loved all the bonus material that each disk could hold (Documentaries, Trailers, Deleted Scenes, etc.), so I think the main selling point of HD-DVD/Blue Ray will be of course the superior quality to DVD plus the amount of space each release can contain without the company putting out 4-5 disks, instead of holding all information on 1-2 disks, which is more economical for them too.

I was always hestitant about HD cause they haven't settled the format war yet, but I think if we focus on the release of the OOT on THAT format, and kinda wave the white flag for DVD, it will be benefit us greatly in the future. I know this requires more patience from us fans, which I am not too happy about, and a greater fear that we will be let down by Lucas again, but this a perfect format for the release of multiple versions of a film, and to be able to watch the OOT on High Definition will mean these versions will live on for future generations.
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I agree- the DVD ship has sailed. It's gotta be hi-def now.

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Yup--but I would also think pretty much any release is a DVD/HD simul-release now. But an HD release really would be a practically archival version that would suit all of home viewing needs for the rest of our lives--provided of course that its a quality transfer which actually makes use of HD res and not another GOUT debacle.

Perhaps now that this saga boxset is a no-go it will be simultaneously released on Blu-Ray next Christmas--and you know what I've always said, they would have to include a new OOT to make the DVD sell so it would logical that if the OOT is part of it and there is an HD simul-release that it would be included in the HD package as well.
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Originally posted by: zombie84--provided of course that its a quality transfer which actually makes use of HD res and not another GOUT debacle.

LOL! Are you ready for the world's first letterboxed, non-anamorphic blu-ray discs?!

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What zombie said.

The single biggest reason for eventually upgrading to a high def video format is that it bypasses the existing television signals (NTSC and PAL) and allows us all to actually watch movies at their normal 24 fps speed. I'm considering not ever buying a dvd again and just saving my money for trips to the theater until I can get an hdtv and whatever format has (hopefully) won the battle by then.
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It's just tough to get a read on Lucasfilm, and if they are really being diabolically calculating about all this, or just lame. The "we only present George's vision" thing seemed absolute for awhile, and was understandable, if frustrating. But now, they ARE available everywhere, and in the most unflattering presentation possible at that. So all that went out the window.
It WOULD be so simple to put individual BluRay versions out now, acknowlegde that the original versions are now a separate thing and then be done with them forever. They would just be three more basic Bluray discs of 80s movies, sitting next to Dune and Lethal Weapon in the store. Why does everything have to be such a fucking "event"? (And then "ultimate Saga sets" starting in 09 for the rest of time). Just have your cake an eat it too, LFL!
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A DVD/HD simultaneous release would be an interesting development, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'll a sign a petition for Star Wars on HD and that's all of the care I'm going to invest. Lucas strangled any extra fun I used to have with the series.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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Originally posted by: Guy Caballero
It's just tough to get a read on Lucasfilm, and if they are really being diabolically calculating about all this, or just lame. The "we only present George's vision" thing seemed absolute for awhile, and was understandable, if frustrating. But now, they ARE available everywhere, and in the most unflattering presentation possible at that. So all that went out the window.
It WOULD be so simple to put individual BluRay versions out now, acknowlegde that the original versions are now a separate thing and then be done with them forever. They would just be three more basic Bluray discs of 80s movies, sitting next to Dune and Lethal Weapon in the store. Why does everything have to be such a fucking "event"? (And then "ultimate Saga sets" starting in 09 for the rest of time). Just have your cake an eat it too, LFL!


See, that's where this whole thing becomes a clusterfuck, pardon my language. It was George's vision and he wasn't going to yield. That sucked, but he did stand by it...for about three years. Now they exist, but "it will all come out in the end." Of course, there's now the unfortunately probably correct conspiracy theory about this being done to justify not ever releasing them again. Yet, simultaneously, LFL know that the OOT DID sell, and if it wasn't as well as they wanted it to, they also know why, even if they won't admit it. As I've said again and again, the whole situation is now totally fucked up because LFL could release a high-priced boxed-set and get a lot of money and know that money can come from the OOT, but also want to bury. The whole thing is just screwed up in the extreme and makes no sense whatsoever.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

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That pretty much sums it up perfectly, Mike O.

I won't say that Lucasfilm should just make up its damn mind to keep the originals buried. Finally having a high def release of the OOT, even finding out that they planned to do this all along, would be the lesser of two evils (though not by a whole lot). I love how Lucas has been pushing the whole saga ethic on us and even then releases the OT on dvd as one single box set. Well, the exploitation of people's nostalgia continues....

If Blade Runner and CE3K can get simultaneous HD releases with all of the bonus features intact, to say nothing of including multiple versions of the film, why can't Lucas just come to his senses and release two versions of each movie? That's all we're really asking for. Give us a special edition of the prequels so we can finally enjoy those and give us the original version of the OT so we can finally enjoy that again.
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I think we are going to have a new SE set that is actually good quality and doesn't screw up the films long before we get the OOT on HD. I would actually be happy with a SE set with corrected colors, lightsbers, and SFX updates.


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I don't care if its DVD OR HD i just want the original versions in watchable quality. I will not watch any of the prequels or special editions again they are pure shit and hype.

They are not the milestones that changed film history and sci fi forever like the 1977-1983 trilogy. Lucas is a real jerk for not releasing these classic
films in beautiful pristine anamorphic on DVD or having them restored so they can be watched on the big screen again someday.

He can spend all the time and money further tinkering with cgi to create a better yoda or jar jar, but i wont buy any of his later versions. I think he knows where the real fans will tell him to go stuff it.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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I'll NEVER buy the Special Editions of the OT ever again, in ANY format- even HD. It's the 77/80/83 versions or nothing.

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Originally posted by: Mielr
I'll NEVER buy the Special Editions of the OT ever....


+1


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Originally posted by: Mielr
I'll NEVER buy the Special Editions of the OT ever again, in ANY format- even HD. It's the 77/80/83 versions or nothing.


I think I honestly agree with you. Since the GOUT was released, I've never once watched the SE, nor have I had any inclination to. It might be fun to see the film in any form in HD, but I don't think I will ever pay money for a non-OOT release ever again.
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I would...but only if I could get the OOT with it. I would by the HD remastered OOT with SEs. I will but it with the PT. It would but it in a boxed set. I would but it in a tin. I will buy it with a fox. I will buy it in a box. I will buy it here or there. I will buy it anywhere. If the OOT were to come out, properly restored, I'd pretty much pay any price.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

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just an observation:

There wasn't a home video release of Star Wars until 1982 and by that point vhs/betamax had been around for a good six years. Based on those numbers, we won't be seeing a high def release until 2012.
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Well thats kind of a different situation in that there was no such thing as home video before that period. A lot of movies didn't see video release until the same time. A better indicator is DVD--the format was released in 1997, by 1999 it was clear that it was going to be a new format in a short while and in 2001 the first Star Wars film was released (the OT was held off until later not due to market reasons but because it was felt that it should only be released once the saga was complete--but these plans dried up when VHS went the way of the dodo around 2003). So based on that 1997>2001=4 years, which translates to 2006>2010, but given how different the home video market has changed since 2001 and given that all six films are already available in HD on television, I wouldn't be surprised if it came out a year or two earlier. But this would be the SE of course. Given the previous discussion here of the saga boxset being simul-released in HD that times out pretty good--although I am suspicious of 2008, given that its "The Year of Indiana Jones."
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2008: The Year of Indiana Jones and HDDVD Boxsets to advertise for Indy IV
2009: The Year of SW and HDDVD boxsets to advertise for the TV show

That's just my guess, as Lucas is always 'tying' something in with something new coming out.
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Originally posted by: zombie84
Well thats kind of a different situation in that there was no such thing as home video before that period.


This is also something I was considering. We weren't going to see an anamorphic OOT any earlier than 2008 anyway. There's no way LFL would bring it out the very next year and piss off everyone who bought the GOUT. 2009, on the other hand, seems totally in the safe zone for LFL and as it has been said many times on this board people won't even want another standard dvd release unless there's the anamorphic OOT or there are some substantial new extras.

Look at what's happening with Blade Runner. It's only one of thousands of films in WB's library and yet they're giving it a five disc treatment. Why, that's more than Gone With The Wind! Star Wars is one of, what, only several dozen LFL movies at the most? How long do they really think they can hold out on us?
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Originally posted by: Fang Zei
just an observation:

There wasn't a home video release of Star Wars until 1982 and by that point vhs/betamax had been around for a good six years. Based on those numbers, we won't be seeing a high def release until 2012.

And we'll probably see the OOT in HD on the twelfth of never.

Well thats kind of a different situation in that there was no such thing as home video before that period. A lot of movies didn't see video release until the same time. A better indicator is DVD--the format was released in 1997, by 1999 it was clear that it was going to be a new format in a short while and in 2001 the first Star Wars film was released (the OT was held off until later not due to market reasons but because it was felt that it should only be released once the saga was complete--but these plans dried up when VHS went the way of the dodo around 2003). So based on that 1997>2001=4 years, which translates to 2006>2010, but given how different the home video market has changed since 2001 and given that all six films are already available in HD on television, I wouldn't be surprised if it came out a year or two earlier. But this would be the SE of course. Given the previous discussion here of the saga boxset being simul-released in HD that times out pretty good--although I am suspicious of 2008, given that its "The Year of Indiana Jones."


Since the market is over-saturated, it would make sense to do nothing this year, but it is the 30th anniversary, and they would need something to milk...

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

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I for one will admit that i'd by the SE versions if they were released in HD but only under one main condition. There is no goddamn way I'd buy them if they are sourced from the shitty (well, not shitty in terms of clarity but inaccurate and sloppy colors/brightness/some sound) 04 DVD transfer. It was a rush job by Lowrey. If they goddamn insist that no better source can be found then it'd be wrong of them to not fix the glaring mistakes at the very least. I don't see the point of George chasing his definitive vision for story and effects when what comes out looks worse than even the 97 SEs.

Fix this shit and you have a customer LFL. If not, blow me. Although....somewhere deep inside of me knows that in 3-4 years when this will probably happen I'll just fuckin get them anyway. I....am not worthy.

BTW, hasn't GL and/or LFL already stated they support Bluray. That'd be nice because I already have one and have chosen my side for the time being...and I hope they win.

Hey look, a bear!

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Originally posted by: JarHead413
BTW, hasn't GL and/or LFL already stated they support Bluray. That'd be nice because I already have one and have chosen my side for the time being...and I hope they win.


I'm pretty sure that it's just Fox, but I'm figuring they'll try to bring the Star Wars movies to Blu-ray.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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Fox went Blu-Ray but since Fox is the distributer of Star Wars that means Star Wars is Blu Ray. But the way things have gone there won't be an HD format war by this time next year anyway so its ultimately irrelevant.
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Originally posted by: zombie84
Fox went Blu-Ray but since Fox is the distributer of Star Wars that means Star Wars is Blu Ray. But the way things have gone there won't be an HD format war by this time next year anyway so its ultimately irrelevant.


No, that doesn't mean anything. It means that if Blu-Ray does ultimately win out, Star Wars is Blu-Ray. According to McCallum, Star Wars is nothing until the format war ends.

I hope the war ends this Christmas as well. This will most likely be the Christmas that decides who will win. And if there is no clear winner, be ready for lots and lots of multi-format players to start coming out next year.
F Scale score - 3.3333333333333335

You are disciplined but tolerant; a true American.

Pissing off Rob since August 2007.
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Multiformat players are only really good for the people buying multiformat players. What if you want to take your hddvd to another person's place and show it to them but they only have a blu-ray player or vice versa? It's either going to be one format or the other and right now all signs point to blu-ray.