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Lucas may have caved, here is a link to Barnes & Noble early review of the O-OT DVD's:

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http://boxofficemojo.com/forums/viewtopic.htm?p=1380471#1380471


Follow this link, and read an early review of the O-OT on DVD. This reviewer said Lucasfilm has changed his mind and the O-OT are fully restored in Anamorphic Widesceen & 5.1 DD. Now take this with a grain of salt, but you judge for yourself guys.

If this is true, you all have to admit, this website has to get a lot of the credit for this turnaround.

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Grr, I don't know what to say. Somehow, I doubt it's true, because it's just too good to be true. And if it was, you would think it would be announced. Sigh, but then again, this is Lucas. He never admits mistakes nowadays, he just changes things and hopes nobody will notice anything was bad to begin with. But if it is, this is great, and I don't care if he won't admit anything. But I'm going to withhold any further praise or criticism until it can be confirmed.

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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
Grr, I don't know what to say. Somehow, I doubt it's true, because it's just too good to be true. And if it was, you would think it would be announced. Sigh, but then again, this is Lucas. He never admits mistakes nowadays, he just changes things and hopes nobody will notice anything was bad to begin with. But if it is, this is great, and I don't care if he won't admit anything. But I'm going to withhold any further praise or criticism until it can be confirmed.


I agree, and I don't know what to think about it, but if you go by how Lucas does things, I think it may be true. He always throws things out there under the radar so he doesn't have to admit to anything up front.

Remember for the longest time in 2002, ET DVD was just going to be the SE, but the week before the release, all of the sudden they did a 180, both versions, anamorphic, DTS sound. They heard the fans bitchin, and then just kinda put the release out there, and everyone bought it.

I think Lucas's theory is if we read it and its true, then what on earth can we be mad about in SW-ville for us anymore? I mean, if this is true, then we have won the war, and lets all go home and enjoy HIGH QUALITY O-OT DVDS! I mean isn't what this is all about?

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Just because it is anamorphic--which i definitly do NOT believe is even true--it is irrelevant. It would still be based on a non-anamorphic telecine, and more importantly, a non-anamorphic telecine MADE FOR LASERDISK IN 1993. So big woop. Unless they got a 35mm print and scanned a new transfer nothing has changed.
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This "review" lists extra features that are not in any of the announced features lists. And no one has explained how someone got a copy two and a half months before it's released. It's a fake.
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Originally posted by: CO

Remember for the longest time in 2002, ET DVD was just going to be the SE, but the week before the release, all of the sudden they did a 180, both versions, anamorphic, DTS sound. They heard the fans bitchin, and then just kinda put the release out there, and everyone bought it.

Yeah, but that's Spielberg, not Lucas. I think SS might actually give a crap about his fans.
I mean IT IS possible for them to have reconsidered and- "WHOA! MAGICALLY 3 USEABLE PRINTS have suddenly appeared out of nowhere!!! How did that happen???" But I doubt it.

I'm highly skeptical about those B&N reviews. Has anyone else sent an email to them to confirm?

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Uhhh this is a third party review by Joe Punchclock. Sounds like delusions of a Lucas fanboy to me.

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I've just sent an email to 20th Century Fox home video, asking them to clear up the confusion. I also added that I "can't imagine" that the original Star Wars trilogy would be presented in a shoddy, non-anamorphic transfer.

Maybe complaining to Fox will put some additional pressure on LFL to make new transfers for the DVD. Here's the email address:

foxdrop@4icc.com

Interestingly, there is no mention of the 9/12 DVD releases on the Fox home video site (foxhomevideo.com), even in the "upcoming releases" section. I find that very odd.

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Call me silly, but I don't see anything on the Amazon site saying they are "Anamorphic". Widescreen and Anamorphic are not synonymous. Methinks the reviewer is confusing the terms.

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I have emailed Fox. Thanks, Mielr!

I also see no use of the word 'anamorphic' on the B&N site. I don't think this proves much, I'm afraid.
Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
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We can only hope, but I have a great deal of trouble believing it is true.

Interestingly, the list of features for each DVD on B&N says the following:

"Disc 1:; Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Lawrence Kasdan, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher; Easter Egg - Credit Roll; ; Disc 2:; XBox Playable Game Demo; Lego Game Trailer"

Notice how for disk two it doesn't mention anything about a theatrical release? Wasn't Lucasfilm considering the theatrical release to be a bonus feature?

"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: Tiptup
We can only hope, but I have a great deal of trouble believing it is true.

Interestingly, the list of features for each DVD on B&N says the following:

"Disc 1:; Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Lawrence Kasdan, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher; Easter Egg - Credit Roll; ; Disc 2:; XBox Playable Game Demo; Lego Game Trailer"

Notice how for disk two it doesn't mention anything about a theatrical release? Wasn't Lucasfilm considering the theatrical release to be a bonus feature?

On the Amazon site, the OOT is also listed first, like it's the main feature (which it is, despite what LFL is saying): "Star wars: 1977 and 2004 versions", "The Empire Strikes Back: 1980 and 2004 versions", etc.

BTW, what is the "easter egg- credit roll"?

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I think this guy doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. I think he's full of it, that's what I think. He probably thinks "restoring" the OOT is slapping it on a DVD. And he most likely doesn't know the difference between widescreen and anamorphic. And let's face it, he most likely hasn't even got those DVD to begin with. My guess it's just an attention grabber. And it seems like he has succeded. Kudos to him!
peace,

Rebelscum
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Maybe he's a crazy dude who thinks there is still a pocket of goodness to be found in Lucas. He believes that simply stating his wishful thinking will influence Lucasfilm to do the right thing.

"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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I hope no one actually believed that. After all, anyone can post a review on B&N.COM. Hell, I could go and post a review that the special edition will never again be released and the OOT is getting a high-def remastering with five discs of bonus features, but that doesn't make it true.
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I like how saying "Star Wars will get a normal dvd" is now hoax-worthy. Get me off this bizarro world!!
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Maybe someone should post a real review...
Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
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Here is the full text of the "review" (with variations for each film/DVD in brackets):
Frank Ford, A reviewer, June 25, 2006
The Best DVD
This is a one of a kind, it really is. It has the 2004 DVD release and also the original (1977/1980/1983) theatrical version of ('A New Hope'/'The Empire Strikes Back'/'Return Of The Jedi'). It has been cleaned up and restored, and is in 5.1 surround sound, both versions have this. Even the original. It seems Lucasfilm have changed their mind and cleaned up the originals and gave them the best DVD treatment. Also, there are a few more extra extra's. Each "review" then details the extra extra's [sic] for each of the movies. Here are those details:[SW]: The extra's include a new photo gallery, and a two hour extensive documentary on the original version, clean up footage and new interviews on the original version. Also, a new commentary!
[ESB]:The extra's include a new (and very large) photo gallery, and a one hour (and 34 minutes) documentary on the original version. Also, a new commentary!
[ROTJ]: The extra's include a new photo gallery, and a one hour documentary on the original version. Also, a new commentary.!
Okay, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that it would defeat the object if an anamorphic transfer was released with a (2-hour/1hr34min/1hour) documentary on the same disc as the movie. This is wishful thinking, no more. Why he bothered to make the documentaries different lengths (and ESB's photo gallery very large), I don't know.
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It's not wishful thinking. The "reviewer" is simply out to poke fun at guys like us who want a great presentation of the OOT.
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Hmm. Is the joke how we are stooges for expecting better from Lucas?

"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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Looks like "Frank Ford" has been put in this place with new comments at B&N for EP4 and EP6. Was only a matter of time before someone shut him up.

EP4

EP6
peace,

Rebelscum
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Thanks for the kick in the butt, Mielr. I emailed Jim Ward a while back about the non-anamorphic thing but haven't made multiple attempts until tonight. All we can do is make our voices heard, now with correspondence or later by withholding our money. Like a lot of us fans are, I'm pretty burned out on worrying about what Lucas will or won't do, so my email was pretty much just polite brass tacks. I can't get that emotionally involved any more.

We should probably keep up the contact. Here's what I wrote to Lynne Hayle, Jim Ward, Fox Studios and the others that Mielr provided the addresses for:

"Dear Lucasfilm and Fox Studios,

Please, reconsider the plans for the upcoming September DVD release of the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy, three of the most popular and beloved movies in film history.

It would be wonderful if they could be enjoyed in the industry-standard anamorphic format that maximizes the presentation regardless of the final screen on which the DVDs are displayed.

Sincerely,
Michael Banks,
Star Wars Fan"

Nothing flowery; just facts and disappointment.
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Originally posted by: darkhelmet
Thanks for the kick in the butt, Mielr. I emailed Jim Ward a while back about the non-anamorphic thing but haven't made multiple attempts until tonight. All we can do is make our voices heard, now with correspondence or later by withholding our money. Like a lot of us fans are, I'm pretty burned out on worrying about what Lucas will or won't do, so my email was pretty much just polite brass tacks. I can't get that emotionally involved any more.
I understand, it's easy to get burned out and frustrated, especially when you feel like you don't have a voice. I get very angry when I think about George Lucas, and the fact that he might be allowing the original film elements of the OOT to deteriorate, when he could & should be saving them. I think what he's doing is nothing short of criminal.