Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!) — Page 235

R2D2 said:

There is different kind of information on changes depending which site/forum you go to. I am concentrating on the stuff that I couldn't detect in my 1080p versions.

www.starwars-union.de (german site) reports stuff like:

- Blue Filter on Hoth got reduced

- Obi Wan Ghost on Hoth can be seen a lot clearer now

- Lightsabers got fixed and are now shiny red and blue, with white cores

- Leia Hologram is more blue

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/reacted to the official confirm from Lucasfilm on the "Noooo".

On a positive note, it sounds like the A/V quality of these discs is excellent on the whole (at least according to the guys in Europe and China who have apparently gotten their hands on factory-leaked discs. ... As expected, numerous (though not all) picture and sound defects in these films have apparently been corrected. But while it's three steps forward in quality, it may be two and a half back for more changes.

 thedigitalbits.com

 How can this release be of excellent A/V quality if the video is not a bit different than the 2004 hd master? I am talking about the crushed blacks, oversaturation, contrast-boost, color-timing issues, lightsaber colors.

Numerous picture defects have been corrected? No! We got two half-hearted lightsaber shots (not scenes!) fixed.

Three steps forward in quality? Where exactly?

This thing is 95% the 2004 hd master. 3% difference for less compression artefacts in a/v, 2% difference for content changes.

R2D2 said:

How can this release be of excellent A/V quality if the video is not a bit different than the 2004 hd master?

Because for most people it will be a bump in video quality...it's the first official release in HD that people can go out and buy.  So even though the master is the same, the BD encoding will be noticeably sharper on large screens.  We're spoiled here at OT.com because we are used to seeing the OT in hi-def, so to us it's no improvement. That's probably why a lot of people will buy it anyways... they simply don't know there is an HD version floating out there that doesn't have crap in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Asjh-HjRE

Krayt Dragon Dance Remix!!!!

http://youtu.be/aJ-Rlv9EYaQ

Also:

Bill Hunt shares some great opinions on the BDs and SW in general over at thedigitalbits. Here's a small taste:

Predictably, the online geek community is aflame today. Here's the thing: I'm really having a hard time getting worked up about it. We've just been through this too many times now. Every time these films are released, Lucas tweaks and changes them some more. And the tweaks and changes don't really improve the films, they just make them... different. The fact is, Star Wars stopped being what I loved and remembered a very LONG time ago. The combination of the prequels, repeated digital nips and tucks to the originals (Episode IV now reminds me more of Joan Rivers than a beloved classic film), the obvious BS about the original versions "no longer existing", etc, etc - it's all left me feeling fairly ambivalent about Star Wars.

Drunken Jedi Master said:

I just joined this site after a few days of lurking as a guest...

I am at a complete loss when it comes to the NoNoooo! addition. I can live, reluctantly, with all the other changes, as cringe inducing as they may be, but to alter the climax is, IMO, unforgivable. I am happy to find a site where many other share the same opinion.

Lurking around, I have noticed all the different versions of fan edits and I have to say I am mostly relieved that there are better ways to see the unmolested OT than the GOUT. My question is, which version would be considered superior and what is the best way to go about getting them?

 

Thanks in advance and I'm glad to be here.

Welcome Drunken Jedi Master!

005 has made some excellent suggestions. Another preservation to check out is Dark Jedi's GOUT upscales.

There are details on how to obtain each of these in their respective threads.

Drunken Jedi Master said:

doubleofive, thanks for the quick response! How do I find these? Please forgive my ignorance, I haven't really nosed around the other forums yet.

ChainsawAsh said:

Frankly, I don't know why people are so surprised.  This is 2004 all over again.  "Oh, come on, that's ridiculous, it can't be real!  It's someone's idea of a joke!  Wait .... what?  Seriously?  Oh dear God ... "

As soon as I saw the "Nooooo!" I immediately thought, "Well, here we go again."

I'll continue to uphold my pledge of never purchasing another Star Wars-related item after the 2006 GOUT DVDs, until the OOT is properly restored and released.

Now I'm just waiting for the deleted scenes to leak...well, and I guess TPM, cos I kinda want to see the new Yoda, as hypocritical as that sounds...

I only recently started posting here, but elsewhere I've been saying expect the worst for this release. We all knew Lucas could change things and that the same shitty 2004 Lowry transfers would be used as a source for the blu-ray master.

Despite that expectation it's still surprising to see how idiotic these changes are and interesting to wonder what is truly going on in Georgie boy's head (other than wads of cash).

I haven't bought anything SW-related since the 2004 shit dvds and the 2005 ROTS dvd. Hell, my only SW purchases since 2000 or so have been dvds. Before that I might have bought a comic book or two. I swore off the 2006 dvd before it came out because I knew the UOT would have shitty quality and Lucas was just punking the consumers into buying the same discs from 2004 all over again.

Lucas has been milking this cow for so long I'm amazed that there's any milk left or, rather, there are still people willing and able to suckle at the flannel, bearded teet.

I have my 1995 VHS set (P&S) and the 1997 Special Edition VHS (P&S). I wish I had bought widescreen back in the day. I'd love to get my hands on those 1993 Laserdiscs and a widescreen VHS from 1995.

Drunken Jedi Master said:

Lurking around, I have noticed all the different versions of fan edits and I have to say I am mostly relieved that there are better ways to see the unmolested OT than the GOUT. My question is, which version would be considered superior and what is the best way to go about getting them?

georgec said:

 interesting to wonder what is truly going on in Georgie boy's head (other than wads of cash).

Quite simple, actually:  huge ego without capacity for introspection.

SpenceEdit said:

I'm already pre-emptively hiding from this, but are any of these changes really THAT bad? As far as the Nooo! goes, it kind of ties the prequels in nicely to the OT, the Krayt dragon call is incredibly minor, and Adywan made the cantina aliens blink, so why can't the Ewoks? Is any of this as awful as Greedo shooting first? Jabba's Palace dance number? For the first time, I feel like I actually get why he is making these changes. And the CGI TPM Yoda is a huge improvement. That puppet looked like Kermit and Miss Piggy's ugly middle child.

Don't get me wrong, I would generally rather watch the Original Versions. but I find the special editions sort of cool in that Lucas is changing all six movies to gradually make them work together as a cohesive whole. If you look at them that way, they've almost become an interesting fanedit of themselves.

I'm going to go hide behind my ray shield now...

SpenceEdit said:

I'm already pre-emptively hiding from this, but are any of these changes really THAT bad? As far as the Nooo! goes, it kind of ties the prequels in nicely to the OT, the Krayt dragon call is incredibly minor, and Adywan made the cantina aliens blink, so why can't the Ewoks? Is any of this as awful as Greedo shooting first? Jabba's Palace dance number? For the first time, I feel like I actually get why he is making these changes. And the CGI TPM Yoda is a huge improvement. That puppet looked like Kermit and Miss Piggy's ugly middle child.

Don't get me wrong, I would generally rather watch the Original Versions. but I find the special editions sort of cool in that Lucas is changing all six movies to gradually make them work together as a cohesive whole. If you look at them that way, they've almost become an interesting fanedit of themselves.

I'm going to go hide behind my ray shield now...

SpenceEdit said:

I'm already pre-emptively hiding from this, but are any of these changes really THAT bad?

There is nothing wrong with any of the changes.... EXCEPT that he is doing them in the context of there being no decent release of the theatrical versions. The academy-award-winning editing and special effects are being replaced by CGI 30+ years later, which is a travesty of destruction of a major artistic/cultural and historical icon.  If he would also restore the theatrical version, I'd have no complaints if he wants to make a "better" version too.

SpenceEdit said:

Either way, anyone who says they aren't buying the BD set because of the changes is going to miss out. Look at all those special features. The deleted scenes are enough for me. Can't wait!

 I honestly don't feel like I'm very much missing out.  I'd certainly never buy a release just for its bonus features.  Again, it's sending the wrong message.  We have to send George the message that we're not going to put up with this crap, and the only way to do that is to not buy the damn things.  If people are fed up with the changes but still buy them for the additional content, all Lucasfilm sees is, "Oh, it sold well.  We can keep doing what we're doing."  So I understand the desire to "be legit" for fan projects and to finally have access to the deleted scenes.  But my opinion on that, is that if it's really that necessary, buy them off of eBay.  Then you'll still legitimately own the thing, but you won't be lining the bearded one's coffers and making him think that people actually support these ridiculous changes.