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The Official Release VS. EditDroid

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Naturally I've compared the official release with my bootlegs and here's what I found....

I compared the official Star Wars release with the EditDroid bootleg. Here's my comclusion...

There is a noticable difference between the two, but remarkably, it's not in either's favor. Now realize something first, I am a total LAYMAN when it comes to filmmaking, video or audio production, DVD production, whatever. I know exactly 100% jack shit. But here's what I've noticed.

The official release is sharper and more clear than EditDroid, but there is a TON of grain. It could wake you up from a deep sleep, it's that noticable. Now the EditDroid has a softer picture (meaning less sharp and less clear, but only a little IMHO), but there is VERY, VERY LITTLE grain. So overall, one has what the other doesn't and vice versa. It's six to one and half a dozen to another. What gets me is that I'm completely inexperienced with this stuff and I totally noticed the differences between the two, they were that apparent. So it's not that I'm basing this comparison on miniscule details that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

I don't think one is really better than the other. Each one has weaknesses that are the other's strengths. I would put both on equal ground and the choice would have to be a personal one.

In the final analysis, I think the EditDroid is a better version than the official release. It might not have the clarity of the official, but it's less grainy and is a better overall presentation...for me, that is. I don't see the point in buying these DVDs when I have boots that I believe are better. The only reason I can see for buying this is the legality issue and that's it. They are a legal release and that gives you all the benefits that go with that.

After making the comparison, I have decided to return the unopened tin I have. No sense in wasting money on this. I have my boots and an official release. Until something better comes along, that's all I really need.

With the legal release issue in mind, that's the only reason I can see myself picking this up should I change my mind. And I seriously doubt that cuz there's better things to spend my money on.

That's my two cents.....comments and suggestions.
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Oh, I would like to add one comment though...

It's a sad day when a f***ing bootleg looks as good as an official Lucasfilm release.
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The Editdroid is one of best fan transfers Ive seen,and one thing I like it has the option of selectable crawls for ANH and selectable sound mixes if I am not mistaken as well as extras like a trailer etc, I havent seen the official release yet so I cant compare it, but the Editdroid for a non-anomorphic transfer of the original trilogy takes a lot of beating.....
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I've seen terrible dot crawl on EditDroid. I suspect the GOUT doesn't have it. Doesn't make it worth a purchase, but it may be notable.
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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Apples & oranges there.
That GOUT shot doesn't come from the laserdisc mastertape like the rest of the movie does.
How do we know this ? The starfields are different.

However, in practice you must take into account the “fuckwit factor”. Just talk to Darth Mallwalker…
-Moth3r

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Tatooine also appears to have lost some 'atmostphere glow' to each edge of the planet on the GOUT for some reason?
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Originally posted by: Mr Bungle
The Editdroid is one of best fan transfers Ive seen,and one thing I like it has the option of selectable crawls for ANH and selectable sound mixes if I am not mistaken as well as extras like a trailer etc, I havent seen the official release yet so I cant compare it, but the Editdroid for a non-anomorphic transfer of the original trilogy takes a lot of beating.....


Absolutely...forgot to mention that in my OP. That selectable crawl is what made the difference to me. I like having the choice. I just think the EditDroid offers more than the official release. What the officials lack, the EditDroid more than makes up for.


eros, I'm not seeing the second image so I can't comment on it. Remember I said that differences are so miniscule (to an untrained eye such as mine) that it comes down to a personal choice.
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1
The official release is sharper and more clear than EditDroid, but there is a TON of grain.


I am also confused as to where this pronounced grain has come from. It just doesn't seem to be there on any other transfers derived from the SAME master?

It is especially noticeable to me in ESB, and is really bad in the Hoth scenes!

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No clue where the grain came from. I'll leave that explanation in the capable hands of the more technically literate members here. I know nothing of the subject.

I don't understand how it came out that way either if they were using a LD master....

Just don't listen to that crazy theory that the grain was intentionally added with CGI. That is wacky thinking...
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Originally posted by: eros
http://aptirrelevance.com/otscreenshots/images/GOUT-NTSC-001.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/nacluv/sw.png

err OK!

Just taking a wild guess here- the top one is the official DVD? I think I know which one I'd rather watch.

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The official disk blows away the Editdroid disk. Its many, many times sharper and has tons more colour fidelity. The only thing it has over the ED version thats bad is the grain, but even the ED looks cleaner simply because the detail gets smudged away. The GOUT is abnormally grainey but this versus the ED versions, the GOUT wins without a second thought. A closer comparison is perhaps Moth3r's version, which is practically identical to the GOUT (which is more or less the same sharpness, though less vibrant, but also less grainy as well).
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1
No clue where the grain came from. I'll leave that explanation in the capable hands of the more technically literate members here. I know nothing of the subject.

I don't understand how it came out that way either if they were using a LD master....

Just don't listen to that crazy theory that the grain was intentionally added with CGI. That is wacky thinking...
There's quite a lot of discussion about the film grain issue here.

I'm of the opinion that the film grain is now more evident on the DVDs due to their increased resolution and clarity.

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OK, a couple more comparison shots for you

http://aptirrelevance.com/otscreenshots/images/GOUT-NTSC-003.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/nacluv/sw2.png

http://aptirrelevance.com/otscreenshots/images/GOUT-NTSC-004.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/nacluv/sw3.png
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The grain IS bizarre. If the old lasers and tapes were made from the same source, were was the grain all these years? And some of those were in fullscreen, which I would think would make the grain more noticeable? And since when did Empire have it too? I'm terribly vexed.
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Has anyone thought about combining Moth3r's transfer with the opening crawl from the EditDroid disk? The opening crawl might need some color correction, but at least then you'd get the best of both worlds. The original crawl on a much better transfer.
F Scale score - 3.3333333333333335

You are disciplined but tolerant; a true American.

Pissing off Rob since August 2007.
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Originally posted by: Darth Mallwalker
Apples & oranges there.
That GOUT shot doesn't come from the laserdisc mastertape like the rest of the movie does. So? It's still a valid comparison as it's part of the DVD.
Originally posted by: Cable-X1
The official release is sharper and more clear than EditDroid, but there is a TON of grain.
Did you actuaqlly watch the official release, or are you commenting from screencaps?Originally posted by: zombie84
A closer comparison is perhaps Moth3r's version, which is practically identical to the GOUT (which is more or less the same sharpness, though less vibrant, but also less grainy as well).
There's only a couple of scenes where Moth3r's seems to have the edge on detail... but with it comes it Moth3r's comes with the price of colour and noise and ghosting ... all of which are better on the official version.
Some were not blessed with brains.
<blockquote>Originally posted by: BadAssKeith

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

None of us here like Lucas or Lucasfilm.
I have death wishes on Lucas and Macullum.
we could all probably get 10s of thousands of dollars!
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Did you actuaqlly watch the official release, or are you commenting from screencaps?


Oh yeah...watched them. I don't trust screencaps. Gotta see actual video.
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The EditDroid edition is the best NTSC letterboxed LD transfer without question, and it looks great.

If you haven't seen the GOUT, which is a lot better. Okay, it's surprisingly grainy. But in every other video comparison it outstrips every bootleg.