Ady, I think you (and everyone, for that matter) should take a moment to step back from the fandom and poring over minutia that's been going on in here to remember what you've accomplished: you've just made the best version of Star Wars that's ever existed. Period. Regardless of whether you're a die-hard Original Trilogy fan or a fan of the Special Editions, the fact remains that there has never been a version of this film with fewer errors and with such excellent video quality as the one you have put together. Please remember that.
That said, if your edit can still draw criticism (however constructive the intent may be), then take solace in the fact that it's now obvious that NO version of this film will ever satisfy absolutely everybody. So relax, smile, and enjoy what you've accomplished. Despite any niggling comments that have been made, please remember that every single person in this forum by and large loves what you've done, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that, if and when you're ready, we'd love to see what you can do with the rest of the saga.
The fact that so many of us have said that your version will now be THE version of Star Wars watched in our homes is an enormous compliment, especially considering the importance this film holds for all of us. Please don't lose sight of the enormously positive impact you've had on us all, and hopefully we can all try to keep our comments in perspective as we discuss this project in the future.
Ady, I just wanna throw my support behind you (again) in light of recent commentary on here. Ultimately this is YOUR edit and who gives a damn what the rest of us think? The vast majority of us love your edit. If you decide to tweak it a bit more before mastering the DVDs, that would be wonderful, but as has been said numerous times already, YOUR version of ANH is the one that I will be watching most often.
Can't wait to show off the final DVD-9 version to my buddy who is an even bigger SW geek than I am
...also if and when you decide to complete the Saga, I will anxiously await those as well
I have now watched it 5 times and each time I pick up more of the little subtleties that you put into the edit.
One of them was how you actually pulled off giving Chewie the medal. I was always wondering how you were going to do that and it is incredible. I noticed how Chewie moved up, but was too absorbed in everything else to have it sink in.
Each day I "see" more. Thank you for opening my eyes.
Ady, Obviously it all depends on the outcome of the whole "arm" thing, but I was wondering if there was a guesstimate timeframe regarding the DVD-5 and 9s. Just wondering, not pressuring...
I finally got my hands on a copy of this. I feel like I'm going to be the last person here to see it. Back in a couple hours with my comments (probably).
I suppose one could render just three frames of the modeled surface and stitch them together for a map, then place that map onto a simple plane of the right shape, and the "animation" then would take a brief amount of time as it's only rendering a simple textured plane/disk rather than all the details each frame. My problem is just getting that initial rendering of the DS surface set-up. I don't even have LW versions of the tiles!
Hey WXM, good to see your taking this in a very positive manner! Always challenge your self and strive to be better!
The easiest way I think to go about this would be to "normal map" a section of the Death Star surface in Light wave, render it out and dupe in AE. Normal mapping achieves the all the detail you need without having to worry about rendering tons of unwanted poly's . Very fast rendering. Does lightwave feature Normal Mapping? I'm a Maya user so normal mapping is a pretty regular feature I use when modeling.
BTW, I just started work on a TIE attack shot, would love to show you the final when I'm finnished if your ok with it?
Shure no problem, but I'm only doing this for fun. I also just want to let Ady, WXM and the others that physically worked on this to know that I still applaud the brilliant work thay they have done on this. This version by far, has easily exceeded my expectations. I have seen it 3 times allready and like others here, I pic out something new every new time I see it. Cant wait till the DVD-9 comes out.
Just curious, what parts of the movie do you folks like the best. I know alot of you will say everything, but what part in "particular" stood out to be the most impressive. I'm torn between the sabre fight and the space battle at the moment.
Tonight I had some of my friends over to watch the Adywan edit. A few of them have been paying attention to the previously released footage and were greatly looking forward to it. Here was the guest list:
- 2 Emmy winning visual effects supervisors - 1 Production designer - 1 Color timer - 1 primetime TV writer - 2 Star Wars writers (I cannot disclose what project they have worked on)
I took notes during the screening so I could report back everyone's opinons. Here are what people thought, going from bad to mixed to good:
WHAT THEY HATED
- Added screams of Rebel soliders getting shot in opening. - The re-edited scene in Ben's house. They recognized that it was reworked to the original script, but felt the changes made to the original were done for good reason. - The first establishing shot the the Death Star. Too busy, the elements don't match and the Star Destroyer is sliding across the screen. - ALL music that has been added. Especially to the Lightsaber fight. - The added effects to the torture probe needle. Just wasn't neccessary. - New lightsabers are too fat. - The Falcon exiting hyperspace near Yavin. - The big TIE fighter reveal
The items that got the most heated reactions were the Death Star establishing shot, the TIE shot and the added BG music.
WHAT RECEIVED MIXED REACTIONS
- Redone yellow/red blaster fire. Some liked it, some felt it was too busy. - Suns added to escape pod shot - Second Death Star establisher. Much better than first one, but planet didn't look quite right. - New Death Star wireframes. It was executed well and does match the other films, but some felt it doesn't match the look of A New Hope itself. Everyone liked the transition from the new wireframe to the original trench graphics.
WHAT PEOPLE LOVED
- Muzzle flashes on guns - Camera shake added when Blockade Runner is hit (and extra shake added to Falcon cockpit shots) - Rotation outside window of escape pod - Escape pod re-entry - Changes made to opening of Mos Eisley (thank god the dumb humor is gone) - The floating droids are gone - Cantina sequence - Greedo scene - Escape from Mos Eisley - Alderan moving into place through Death Star viewscreen - All shots of moving stars through Falcon cockpit - Seeing more asteroid remains of Alderan (although some questioned whether a belt could have formed already) - Vader's hand no longer moves, pointing at Tarkin - TIE attack on Falcon escaping Death Star - Falcon now flying in Hyperspace during Han/Leia Han/Luke conversations (this was very clever, they also noticed and liked the blue tint) - Color corrected helmets - The X-wing gear-up and move towards us - Background ships added to battle - Having Yavin in the background of battle - The beam firing as the Death Star Explodes - No more shockwave! - Fixed the shadow on Vader's TIE as it spins away
MOST favorite moments: Cantina & Death Star Escape
No one commented on the desaturation of the Death Star corridors, but people felt a food court and mall stores should be added in the distance during the "waiting for the elevator" shot ;-)
Having tried to redo the lightsabers on ANH myself before, I'd like to point out that the original rotoscoping was absolutely awful - sometimes the blade would be so far away from the hilt it was almost 40% hanging over. Oh, and at wrong angles. When I did it the only way to have a consistent blade was to have it slightly fatter than the ones 'standardised' by the prequel trilogy.
I dont know if this was a problem Ady had though.
Another point though is that the 'original' blades were actually really fat. Think back to Empire, and the closing fight of Jedi - the blades there are humongous!
My first comment (because it’s not something that’s already been touched on) is that the audio is a noticeable fraction of a second ahead of the video for a few minutes around about the escape from Mos Eisley/destruction of Alderaan section. This might just be a problem unique to me, and in any case I doubt it will show up on the DVD.
As for hand/flipper, I vote for the human hand, but I’m not *too* fussed.
The Ben/Vader fight. Oh my FSM. I know you used the existing footage in the same way as they did in ’77 with the Sandperson... and just as skilfully. I never knew it had been done to the Sandperson until it was mentioned in the documentary on the DVD, and the only reason I know you’ve done it is because there’s nothing else you could have done to achieve what you have. The music here and in the Death Star reveal/roundtable is also perfect.
I thought the hyperspace vortex on the journey from the Death Star to Yavin wasn't going to work, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not sure if I myself would have thought of it or chosen to do it, but I approve.
Briefing room graphics: Almost exactly how I envisioned them.
Control room graphics: Better than I envisioned them.
Death Star Battle: Shiiiiit. How the photon did you manage THAT?!
The TIE attack: When I first saw it I could see where Mojo_LA is coming from; oddly enough, the second viewing (ten seconds later — I had my finger on the rewind button the whole time) it didn’t bother me nearly so much. The third time I wondered why it had bothered me at all. Funny that.
And the rest of that sequence simply blew me away. Again, it was a “little thing” that I particularly appreciated, which was being able to see the Y-wings/X-wings and the TIEs chasing them down the trench in the same shot.
C-3PO’s reaction to R2 getting hit: the shot that’s there at present is at least as appropriate as the original.
If the end credits for the DVD aren’t locked yet, might I possibly ask for a space in my name ie. Roccondil Rinon. If not, ‘tis no biggie. I must confess I did feel my ego swelling when I saw it there. This is STAR WARS, after all.
Finally, I have to agree with the majority of people on this forum and say that, unless I feel like watching the GOUT DVD (as I probably will once in a while) or showing someone how (relatively) lousy the 2004 version is, this will be THE version of the film that I will watch. I pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that you will be touched by His Noodly Appendage and inspired again (as you clearly have been with this edit) to Revisit The Empire Strikes Back, my favourite movie of all time, and Return of the Jedi, and perhaps even the Prequels.
My reaction to their reactions on the most hated....
WHAT THEY HATED
- Added screams of Rebel soliders getting shot in opening. - I cant believe they hated that?! I'd scream if I got shot by a lazer. - The re-edited scene in Ben's house. They recognized that it was reworked to the original script, but felt the changes made to the original were done for good reason.- Ady's edit still gets the same point across. - The first establishing shot of the Death Star. Too busy, the elements don't match and the Star Destroyer is sliding across the screen.-It was pretty evident that the elements were different, but it still looked professional. - ALL music that has been added. Especially to the Lightsaber fight. -Thats debateable, alot are going to like it, and alot wont. It's there to give energy to the fight. - The added effects to the torture probe needle. Just wasn't neccessary. - it works either way. - New lightsabers are too fat.- Now thats BS, look at the prequel sabers ( episode3 in particular ) they are fat at the base and taper off to a point at the end, and the gradients don't fade off very well either. Nothing like the classics. - The Falcon exiting hyperspace near Yavin.- I don't get it, it's such a short shot, and it still looked good IMO. - The big TIE fighter reveal.It doesn't really bother me, but I didn't hate it by any means.
Don't get me started on the torture probe needle. I would replace the whole probe if I knew how or had time to learn how (maybe someday ). Ady's needle is an improvement for me. But again, it is a matter of personal taste.
I mentioned the sabers being a tad bit fat in a few shots earlier, but it didn't bother me because I knew Ady had to put them over top of the original sabers. The sabers being a teency bit chubby is a small price to pay for making them look as good as they do now. And they do look lovely. The sabers originally were so inconsistent. It was alright for movie made in '77, but I can't believe they didn't redo those in the Special Editions...
One thing I haven't seen mentioned (although I admittedly haven't read ALL of the last 10 pages or so) that didn't necessarily need to be done and that I never would have thought to do, but absolutely LOVED when I saw it was the little trail the escape pod leaves as it enters Tatooine's atmosphere. It's the little touches like that which truly make this edit remarkable.
There is a big difference between viewing an effects shot in the eyes of Joe Six Pack and in the eyes of a professional trained to see the smallest flaws.
If there is one thing that Ady undoubtedly did is set the bar higher.
Ok, i've tweaked a few things in the past couple of days but i will be doing no more work on this edit. The majority of fans like what i have done and that is all that matters to me. I want to put this edit to rest so i can have a break and then concentrate on ESB. I don't care if some of the FX aren't great or that elements don't match. the vision i had for the edit is now on screen and i had to do this using whatever footage i possibly could. I'd never done FX before and i am proud of what i have accomplished so this will be my last word on any changes happening for the DVD versions of ANH. Here's the changes:
Removed the ILM crew member from the droid sale Removed the wire and batteries seen up Luke's sleeve in Ben's hut Removed the remaining wires from Ben's sleeve during the sabre fight Ponad Baba's arm will be swapped for Dr. Evazan' s arm & hand Slight tweak to the TIE approach. The background & camera is no longer static at the beginning & a new Death Star surface Fixed the gunport shot during the TIE battle where the gun remains static when Han swings the chair and the gun can clearly be seen over the top of the chair instead of behind it Credits fixed
As for the sabers being too fat then just have a look at the state of the originals. the width is all over the place throughout. When rotoscoping i had to make them slightly fatter in a lot of shots because the blade is all over the place and has really jagged edges and as was mentioned by Fuser the blades are never the same thickness during ESB & ROTJ an actually get fatter than the ones i did at times too.
Oh and if i sounded a bit cranky yesterday then i appologise. I'm in total agony at the moment. Not only are my health problems worse due to the cold weather but half my back tooth cracked off and there is no NHS dentist that will fix it , i just can't afford to go private, so i have to wait for the hospital to send me an appointment to fix it which could take up to 4 months for me to get in. Isn't the UK a great country. you can pay you national insurance contributions for all your working life and when you need the help you can't get it , especially if you live up north. If i was a criminal, drug addict, binge drinker or an immigrant i would receive immediate treatment from the NHS. But i'm a law abiding citizen who worked all his life until my health problems and contributed to this country, so i can go to hell as far as this government is concerned.
Adywan, this is great news. See people, Adywan tweaked what he thought needed to be tweaked, as I said he would. Now put this baby to rest. I am glad you know when to stop! You have my support all the way. Maybe Mojo and other FX experts can help you on the next edit, but this one is sealed.
Good news Ady - cant wait for the DVD! You must be breathing a huuuuuge sigh of relief that it is all done with Again - thanks for the amazing effort you have put into this: its been the highlight of the year so far and will undoubtedly remain so