THX WOW Laserdisc Star Wars

Author: EvilSupes
Date: 27-Jul-2010, 7:06 AM

Author: EvilSupes
Time: 27-Jul-2010 7:06 AM (Edited)
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I have recently discovered the THX WOW demo which is made up of several clips featuring Indiana Jones, Willow and Star Wars, all apparently ripped from laserdisc. What surprised me was the sheer beauty of the Star Wars clips - which to me, looked as it should, and as I remember it.

I am curious to know, if anyone knows what Star Wars laserdisc this footage was taken from? It doesn't look the same as the GOUT source and it doesn't look like any other laserdisc rip I have seen.

Here is the THX WOW demo from someone else on youtube, but I should probably warn you that because of youtube this video is a lot more compressed than the mpeg2 version I have:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7so8AL4mai4

Here are some screenshots of the Star Wars footage:

The colour and detail at times from this demo puts the 2004 DVD to shame, where detail is lost in the alteration of the colour timing and contrast.

I'd like to hear some of your thoughts about this.

Author: msycamore
Time: 1-Aug-2010 7:48 AM
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I agree that the small clips looking overall much better than the Gout, even though it's appearing very red in color sometimes, it have also much better detail mostly due to being true anamorphic I guess. I don't know where the footage in this originate from, my guess would be that it's a completely different master than where the video releases come from.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

Author: EvilSupes
Time: 6-Aug-2010 1:41 PM
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Hmm. Through my research, it seems there was a 1995 definitive star wars collection release. Might I be right in guessing it could be from that?

If such a release exists that looks like the THX samples I watched, I would buy the laserdiscs and a laserdisc player almost immediately.

Author: msycamore
Time: 6-Aug-2010 7:58 PM
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The 1993 and '95 LD transfers aren't anamorphic, but the footage on this disc are true anamorphic.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

Author: EvilSupes
Time: 9-Aug-2010 6:08 PM
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I thought most laserdiscs were not true anamorphic anyway or is there an exception with the 1997 SW laserdiscs?

Author: zombie84
Time: 9-Aug-2010 11:15 PM
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Maybe this was a demo disk. They did that back then, didn't they? I always thought this montage was never on any commercial release but was an in-house promotional thing for vendors and the like, maybe something to show at tradeshow. The Empire footage has blue in the Vader fight and a pink tint in the AT-AT shot, which means its not from the GOUT. Wasn't the 1995 release coloured differently? I remember Hoth was bluer. It would also tie in, since it was the "THX" release. Thoughts?

Author: msycamore
Time: 10-Aug-2010 7:59 PM
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What do you mean, EvilSupes? The 1997 SE Laserdiscs was not released in anamorphic. But, that doesn't matter anyway as the footage in this are original & unaltered and anamorphic, which means it's taken from an entirely different film source than the '93/'95/GOUT was from. And zombie is right, this was a demo-disc made for hi-fi stores etc. to demonstrate THX-certifed audio and video and was never intended for sale. I really don't know if any film was ever released with anamorphic transfers on Laserdisc, but this was a special showcase disc so maybe that's why.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

Author: zombie84
Time: 10-Aug-2010 8:14 PM
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I believe they had anamorphic Laserdisc in Japan, but only because it lasted long enough there to see the introduction of 16x9 displays. I don't know why this is anamorphic, as there would be no advantage to it since 16x9 tvs didn't exist in the United States at the time this would have been made, IIRC.

Author: Sluggo
Time: 10-Aug-2010 8:44 PM
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I believe that the original THX WOW laserdisc was not anamorphic (I'd have to dig mine out of storage). I am also pretty sure LFL later released a DVD version as well to be included with purchases of THX equipment.

Author: SilverWook
Time: 10-Aug-2010 9:14 PM
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Anamorphic sets have been on the market in the U.S. since 1993. A small number of "squeeze" LD titles were included with some models, but never sold here separately. The majority of the released titles only came out in Japan.

http://www.lddb.com/search.php?adv_search=*&adv_reference=&video=1&picture=5

It's a safe bet the THX WOW demo was simply remastered for DVD.

Where were you in '77?

Author: Moth3r
Time: 11-Aug-2010 3:24 AM
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The "Wow!" and "Soundtrack!" sequences that were originally created for the THX WOW! laserdisc also appear on the "THX Ultimate Demo Disc" DVD.

I don't have the laserdisc. If it is a "squeeze" (anamorphic) disc, I'm sure it would be mentioned on LDDb - I'd be very surprised if the LD isn't standard 4:3.

I will have to check the DVD again, but although the Wow! sequence is anamorphic, it looked to me like an upscale. The Soundtrack! featurette is non-anamorphic; this is because it comprises a mixture of 4:3 fullscreen and 2.35:1 scope material.

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Author: msycamore
Time: 11-Aug-2010 5:13 AM (Edited)
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It looks like I was wrong then, I really thought it was true anamorphic not an upscale, but I guess that an upscaled video would be the most logical in this case. Sorry for the confusion.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

Author: EvilSupes
Time: 11-Aug-2010 9:28 AM (Edited)
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Heh, it's alright guys.

I was just a little curious about why it looks so good that's all. I didn't mean to kinda stir the confusion by referencing the 1997 SE/anamorphic.

The reason I am curious is because it just seems odd to me that this THX WOW demo would be demonstrating various clips and none of them actually ever be released into laserdisc releases. Surely they must be in reference/promotion of certain laserdiscs, that's what I am saying. If not, then I wouldn't at all be that surprised :-(

Author: Jedi Temple34
Time: 20-Aug-2010 10:52 AM
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“Kill them!” “Shoot them”!

Details on the THX WOW laserdisc

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/19090/THX-WOW/THX-WOW!-(1990)

Its basically a fast paced edited clips to showcase the ability of paned effects over LCR to smoother panned effects moving over to the surrounds or surrounds over to one of the LCR as well as showing off sub bass extension that’s stripped from the main fronts to mealy give tonal body strength in the last 2 octaves.

I saw the laserdisc version demonstrated a few times around early 90’s.

I have it on DVD now with slight new sound effect added in I think this is one of the Willow scenes where Madmartigan flips the sword.

Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.

Author: Jedi Temple34
Time: 20-Aug-2010 11:02 AM (Edited)
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I hope, you, don’t mind the frequency waterfalls that was taken with spectrumlab to record the last 2 octaves of the lower end from the DVD DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 version.

If I recall this 8 minutes x 6 took around 48 minutes to 2 hours after doing the screen captures I should have expanded the screen size on the powerplay DVD so that the blow-ups wouldn’t look so edgy or rough on the picture at least the colour there.

The site here as copped off the edges a few inches.

The way the frequency graph works, is that its read from bottom to top as that is where it’s paused or stopped during the recording of the frequency graph.

So now we have more screen captures and frequency waterfalls that shows the strength of the force in DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 THX.

The LFE.1 only comes in as and when called for and should only support the scene not overwhelm it with boomy sound because that’s just rubbish sound then. If the lows in you’re are reaching around the sofa/seating area uniformly one tone at time after PEQ as been applied, you might need more than one x1 subs to get equal smoothness and the laws still apply it should never be allowed to overwhelm it should mealy accompany the mix.

If you, think you, have weak spots in the sub bass range don’t force it to play any louder that it is. You risk putting strain on the sub you’ll pushing it to the point of possible amplifier clipping, distortion builds up, and its bye-bye sub bass!