What is your main way of watching the Original Trilogy? — Page 3

ZkinandBonez said:

I’m assuming then that “grain management” is done on new movies shot on film as well? Could that be why a lot of new movies shot on film end up looking so digital?

I’m sure to some degree it is, some films more than others (heavy post-production modification is a hallmark of modern film since Amelie and O Brother Where Art Thou?), but fine-grained filmstock and large format filmstock can look relatively grain-free compared to the chunky, grainy filmstock of the seventies. Your modern 35mm film will look more like Lawrence of Arabia than 4K83 even without any degraining – much more subtle.

Agreed about color grading. It’s necessary to regrade films for Blu-ray, but people don’t seem to have as much of an interest in color fidelity as they should. It often doesn’t even seem to be a goal at all.

ZkinandBonez said:

Rose Nessa said:

I had no idea that there was 4K versions. Since I don’t have a 4K TV, I only watch the Blu-Ray versions!

FYI, you can get regular 1080p versions of 4K77 & 4K83. I neither have a TV or PC that can play 4k, so I’ve been watching the HD versions of the 4k scans.

That’s really cool! I feel so guilty for not being here regularly. 😦

2004 Special Edition.

Despecialized looks better than I ever dreamed I’d get to see the OOT look. I’m pretty ecstatic about finally having it.

Hal9000’s Custom Special Editions for ANH and ROTJ, D+ Special Edition for ESB because I like the Wampa and Jango’s voice.

I have the Despecialized Editions on Blu-ray, and love watching them as my go-to versions of the films. But I am also very impressed with D+77, and those new versions might replace the Despecialized as my default for future re-watches.

Harmy Descspecailsed for all, though when the 4K xxx series gets finished will switch to those.

Of course, when Harmy’s 3.0 versions of Despecialized are released, those will almost definitely become my definitive versions of the OT films. From what glimpses he’s shown so far, it looks like they’ll be the perfect blend of polish and authenticity.

These days it is nothing but the 1978 ‘Minicinex Projector’ way of watching Star Wars for me… 😉

‘From the Star Wars Home Video Library #372: Italian Minicinex’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shJX9VfPDss - a 13 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

(actual footage from the projector starts 9 minutes into the above video)

That, or watching Harmy’s Despecialized… ⭐
 

I’ve had a few drinks, and now it’s time to bump an ancient thread :p

I think my preferred way to watch the OT these days is on laserdisc. I’ve manage to collect all of the various American releases along with the Japanese Special Collection editions, and I seem to gravitate to a bit of a mix & match approach.

For Star Wars, I definitely prefer the widescreen U.S. Technidisc pressing. I adore the colors… and the lack of any aspect ratio problems or DVNR issues is also a plus.

For Empire, I really like the JSC. Now, don’t get me wrong, Star Wars and Jedi also look great on the JSC releases, but the lack of english subtitles when the aliens speak is a bit of a deal-breaker. Fortunately there isn’t any alien-speak in Empire, so there’s no issues with that one. Basically this just looks like a slightly sharper version of the CBS/FOX Video release.

And finally for Jedi, I actually prefer the Faces / Definitive Collection versions (blasphemy!) The DVNR issues that really plague the first two films of these releases aren’t nearly as evident in Jedi… at least to my eyes. Perhaps there was less video noise to be reduced in the first place?

There’s also the original P&S CAV editions of Star Wars and Empire that I’ll watch from time to time (along with the original P&S CLV version of Jedi, since they never made a CAV version of that).

And of course, I do enjoy and appreciate the various preservations and restorations, like Harmy’s versions and 4K77 (still gotta check the D+/OTD versions)… but I seem to always end up falling back to the old laserdiscs when I’m in the mood to just watch the movies. They just feel right to me.

I watch the original trilogy on my apple watch in 480p

for most of the past year , my main way of watching them has been either the 92 VHS letterbox versions or the full screen "faces " Vhs set , all on CRT televisions linked together with a soundbar hooked up to one , computer speakers to the other with a long aux cord running to the back of the room from those computer speakers, and going to either my Sony boombox ,or , lately , a portable speaker . I created my own thrifty little surround sound system and have gotten a lot of enjoyment from watching this way .

Depends on what I feel like seeing, usually 2011 steelbooks because they’re at least in HD.
I also sometimes watch DeD or Revisited via the Internet Archive.