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Something I don't get....

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Okay, so like a lot of people I've heard about the new releases of the original trilogy, and that they're taken from the laserdisc versions. I have mixed feelings about it, but instead of boring people about it I'll just pose my question/observation:

In the press release for these, they noted that we would be able to see the original Star Wars before it became "Episode IV: A New Hope." Which is pretty cool, but what doesn't make sense is this: if these are essentially the laserdisc versions, why would it be that first version? I have bootlegs ripped from the laserdiscs, and even that says "A New Hope" at the beginning. Is there something I'm missing here?
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Originally posted by: JeremyM
Okay, so like a lot of people I've heard about the new releases of the original trilogy, and that they're taken from the laserdisc versions. I have mixed feelings about it, but instead of boring people about it I'll just pose my question/observation:

In the press release for these, they noted that we would be able to see the original Star Wars before it became "Episode IV: A New Hope." Which is pretty cool, but what doesn't make sense is this: if these are essentially the laserdisc versions, why would it be that first version? I have bootlegs ripped from the laserdiscs, and even that says "A New Hope" at the beginning. Is there something I'm missing here?


The best answer is that they are simply editing the original crawl in. The original crawl can be seen in Empire of Dreams, so that means they must have it on video--i imagine they are just splicing it into the Laserdisk master.

(For the record, the new releases are not the Laserdisk transfers themselves but rather the same master tapes used to create the Laserdisks. Which means that they will presumably be a fair amount better than the Laserdisks, although still poor by todays standards)
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Ah, thanks for that last part. I've been deciding whether to upgrade from my bootlegs when these come out, and I assumed there wouldn't be a quality difference so I didn't know if I should. But if they're at least somewhat better I might consider it it. I guess I'll have to see some comparisons when these come out.

The thought of the original crawl being spliced in crossed my mind, but I'm still just not sure why they would do that and not restore the rest of the film somewhat. I remember seeing "Empire of Dreams" in edited form on television (I never bought the 2004 set), and both the opening crawl and other OT footage (like Sebastion Shaw as Anakin at the end of ROTJ) looked like it had actually been restored somewhat, though I'm not %100 sure. And the ewok song from ROTJ also looked restored on the "Rebel Strike" video game that came out in 2003. Clearly they can at least give the footage some upgrading so I'm not sure why they would put the laserdisc versions on this release.

But again, thanks. That does make some sense at least.
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Originally posted by: JeremyM
Ah, thanks for that last part. I've been deciding whether to upgrade from my bootlegs when these come out, and I assumed there wouldn't be a quality difference so I didn't know if I should. But if they're at least somewhat better I might consider it it. I guess I'll have to see some comparisons when these come out.

The thought of the original crawl being spliced in crossed my mind, but I'm still just not sure why they would do that and not restore the rest of the film somewhat. I remember seeing "Empire of Dreams" in edited form on television (I never bought the 2004 set), and both the opening crawl and other OT footage (like Sebastion Shaw as Anakin at the end of ROTJ) looked like it had actually been restored somewhat, though I'm not %100 sure. And the ewok song from ROTJ also looked restored on the "Rebel Strike" video game that came out in 2003. Clearly they can at least give the footage some upgrading so I'm not sure why they would put the laserdisc versions on this release.

But again, thanks. That does make some sense at least.
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Looks even better then the 2004 DVD's.
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You are passing up on a great opportunity to makes lots of money,
make Lucas lose a lot of his money
and make him look bad to the entire world
and you could be well known and liked

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I have death wishes on Lucas and Macullum.
we could all probably get 10s of thousands of dollars!
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Even if the sheer resolution won't be as high as the 2004 DVDs, at least we will be without the terrible color touch-ups and other "restoration artifacts" of balance and brightness/darkness.

Heck, I may use the OOT DVDs as the base for my fan-combo-edit, if I can avoid the messed up colors.

Hmm... I'm excited about it again!

My stance on revising fan edits.

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Originally posted by: JeremyM Okay, so like a lot of people I've heard about the new releases of the original trilogy, and that they're taken from the laserdisc versions. I have mixed feelings about it


I feel the same way. At this point I am basically going to be forced to buy the DVDs this fall despite my misgivings. I’m on my third set of OOT VHS tapes and my kids have been wearing those out lately.

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“I also thought George could be turned back to the good side. It couldn't be done. He is more CGI now than story. Twisted and evil.”
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