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What is the current best way to watch the PT in theatrical cut?

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Have not checked this forum in a while. Was wanting to do an entire rewatch of the saga, I see that 4K80 came out a while ago. So that is the OT covered. But what is the best version of the prequel trilogy to watch in their original cuts at the moment? I recall some attempts at scanning 35mm prints but none of them seem to have yet gotten released to my knowledge. So I wanna ask what the current state of affairs is with those movies and what the current best way is to watch them.

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I’d say phantom menace cuz puppet yoda, attack of the clones is missing a thing or two in it’s first cut like context of jango’s jetpack malfunctioning, and revenge of the sith for a decent part seems a decent part the same besides some additions.

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I think a scan of TPM does exist, but I remember the crawl and alien subtitles being in a different language. For me, the HDTV versions (dvd cuts but high quality) are close enough to the theatrical. TPM probably has the largest differences between that and theatrical, but with the hdtv you do still get puppet Yoda as well as the film not having been over-DNRd like the bluray.

So yea, not sure how “pure” you’re looking the versions to be, but schorman’s HDTV gets my endorsement

reylo?

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For me personally if it doesn’t have to be HD the laserdisc. For Phantom Menace.

If I have to watch it in 35mm that exists also.

For II its either the SVCD or 35mm.

III maybe the 35mm but one wipe transition difference isn’t a deal breaker I could always watch the 4K.

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JadedSkywalker said:

For me personally if it doesn’t have to be HD the laserdisc. For Phantom Menace.

If I have to watch it in 35mm that exists also.

For II its either the SVCD or 35mm.

III maybe the 35mm but one wipe transition difference isn’t a deal breaker I could always watch the 4K.

Which 35mm scans are you specifically referring to?

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The ones available I guess they are called grindhouse or preview versions. for all 3 prequels.

The 1080P flavor not 4K I can’t do 4K on my laptop.

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Decent scans of all three prequel films can be found on the Star Wars Trilogy dot com.

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As for Phantom Menace, I alternate between the official Video CD release (Sadly I accidently bought the Hong Kong version instead of the Malaysian release, which means I am stuck with hardcoded Chinese subtitles) and the “TB” Digital Broadcast preservation. Video CD is low quality and Pan and Scan, but I appreciate it being an official release. TB is just excellent. It is the real DVD version to me. Pretty much flawless.

I do have that Chzech (?) 35mm print scan, but those are not really my thing. Color correction can always be finnicky, the image might not be completely stable, etc. Many variables where the one scanning it has to make certain choices.

Watching digital versions just gives me peace of mind. Even if the quality is bantha poo, I can rest assured that the bantha poo is not tampered with (In case of the VCD. TB looks really good).

I cannot really speak of Clones and Sith, as the changes are really too small for me to bother with non-DVD versions.

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A collection of preservation projects for the Theatrical Cuts of the Prequel Trilogy can be found in the…

Prequel Trilogy | Sequel Trilogy | Star Wars Saga

…category of ❕ An Index Of Projects for Star Wars Preservations… ❕

 

Projects range from VHS ‘Cam’ bootlegs of the Theatrical Cut - all the way through to HD preservations and reconstructions.

^ There are even a couple of completed ‘IMAX reconstruction’ projects for Attack Of The Clones.
 

It is probably worth going through the above Index to see which projects appeal to you more. Good luck with it. 👍
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com - includes info on how to ask for a fan project and how to search for projects and threads on OT•com.

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

Take your time to look around this site before posting… Do NOT just lazily make yet another ‘link request’ post - or a new thread asking for projects.