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ADigitalMan

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26-Sep-2004
Last activity
4-Nov-2025
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Post History

Post
#110744
Topic
Am I the only one left??
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/110744/action/topic#110744
Time
I can offer one bit of clarity on the TIE fighter issue. As I recall from the technical journal on the armaments of the Imperial forces, Vader's TIE is different from the other TIE fighters. Its look is the first indication to this fact. A prototype for what became the TIE interceptor (seen in ESB and ROTJ), Vader's TIE was the first TIE fighter equipped with light speed engines. This is how he was able to get back to "civilization."

Then again, there was a friggin' planet right there called Yavin. Who's to say he couldn't have landed there and called in a pick-up? The rebel base was one building on the 4th moon of this planet. I think he had plenty of options to get un-stranded.

Point is, Lucas didn't go all Star Trek on us by explaining this stuff in the movie, wasting precious screen time. Supplemental writings were licensed and approved by Lucasfilm to expand on the universe beyond what we're given in the (now six) movies. But, Lucas DID go all Star Trek on us with the Prequels as the originator of this thread laments.

Lucas made Star Wars as a young, hungry artist with something to prove. Lucas made Empire from behind the scenes, trying to build an Empire of his own behind the scenes. He had to prove he wasn't a one-hit wonder still. He made ROTJ more hands-on than the credits suggest, and he had become quite comfortable with himself. He was already getting lazy and it showed. Then he made Temple of Doom, and Howard the Duck. Then Spielberg and Ford made damn sure the next Indiana Jones outing wasn't going to tarnish their reputations. Then ten years passed and Lucas got richer and richer off his old works and ILM. Then he set out to make the prequels as an older, richer, demigod in Hollywood, all while pretending to be the anti-Hollywood.

What we were given, reflects the man he's become.
Quote
In the words of Pink Floyd:
"He's just the same as all the rest / He's not the worst, and he's not the best."
Post
#110618
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/110618/action/topic#110618
Time
When a really good anamorphic transfer (such as X0) arrives, it will be a fairly simple process to just re-insert the original Lapti Nek sequence, soup to nuts. I'm holding out for that. The biggest problem is finding source material of comparable quality to the DVD. A few nice LD caps have appeared in this thread from time to time, including the Shaw footage which I used. If a nice cap like that appears for the Lapti Nek sequence (from the shot of Gonk's feet being sizzled through the appearance of Boussh), it'll be fairly easy to recreate. I always liked the film version of Lapti Nek best, but it's not out on CD. But I actually thought the CD version of the song, with its synth horn flares and all, fit the SE footage better. I was a virgin editor when I did that sequence and I still think it works quite well, for what it is.
Post
#110150
Topic
Which did you prefer, the SE or the 2004 DVD edition?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/110150/action/topic#110150
Time
can't and won't vote. I like the SE's, but mistakes were made in both versions, and improvements were made in both versions.

1997 good:
Inclusion of some Biggs footage.
Better music than Yub Nub to end the saga.
Restoring the Jabba scene in ANH was good in concept, but ...

1997 bad:
CG Jabba wasn't very good looking, and his dialogue was ultimately repetitive.
Luke's wussy scream in ESB

2004 Good:
CG Jabba was much better
getting rid of Luke's wussy scream
vastly improved Rancor compositing.
Ian McD playing the Emperor, but ...

2004 Bad:
Nonsensical dialogue added to Ian's scene in ESB. Couldn't just reshoot the same dialogue could they?
Bad title card in ANH
New Krayt call in ANH
Screwed up surround channels and missing Yavin fanfare in ANH
"Wesa Free" in ROTJ
Hayden Christensen ruining Anakin's redemption. ROTJ

Both versions bad:
Hokey robot/jawa slapstick in the Mos Eisley entrance
Greedo shooting first
Jedi Rocks
Post
#110146
Topic
Kashyyyk question - spoilers
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/110146/action/topic#110146
Time
McCallum did say there was substantially more to the Wookiee subplot that was ultimately cut because it did not advance the central plot and because the movie was running quite long. I imagine, as is usually the case with Lucas' deleted scenes, that they would have actually helped the plot and would have made the Kashyyyk scenes seem less of fan-boy gratification. I suppose me might see on the DVD release, assuming these scenes get included in the supplements. After all, has anybody complained that at 148 minutes, the movie ran too long? Titanic in space my foot!
Post
#109094
Topic
Things you DID NOT like about Episode III
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/109094/action/topic#109094
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: ricarleite
Quote
Originally posted by: Anakin's Mannequin
Only C3PO's memory was wiped. When Organa issues the command, he only mentions it for the "protocol droid". Which also explains why R2D2 was so determined to get to Obi Wan in A New Hope.

OK so why didn't R2 tell him everything later? He promised not to?

C-3PO is pretty irresponsible and has diarreah of the mouth, willing to surrender at any turn. R2, on the other hand, can be trusted with the friggin plans to the Death Star. I always wondered if Lucas would not wipe R2's memory and I'm glad he didn't. I've always figured that the story we know was preserved by R2. The threat of his memory being wiped by Owen threatens to do more than lose the Death Star plans.
Post
#109088
Topic
The Emperor in ESB
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/109088/action/topic#109088
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Cable-X1
Quote
I've addressed this in my forthcoming IV and V. The whole thing makes better sense with what I did. Trust me


What did you do?


You'll all find out in the coming weeks. Not going to spoil it though. Not that big a deal, really, but I thought it was fun, creative, and respectful all at the same time. Dunno if you'll all agree but we'll see.

Post
#108957
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/108957/action/topic#108957
Time
I thought all 5.1 mixes had this screw-up, and that the reason so many foreign tracks sounded correct was because they were all 2.0 being (correctly) processed by Pro-Logic.

Grisan, are you around and can you confirm this?

MBJ (or anybody), if any dialog gets sent to the rears (I'm unsure if it does or not) that would be in a foreign language, which could make the mix that much more fun to dork around with.

I'm muxing now. I went with a hybid option of the existing 2004 rear stereo, rear dual mono AND 1997 rear stereo. Brought the levels down to a pretty close match.

For the DL version (which I'll probably knock out in the next week or so), I intend to make this custom mix, the pure 1997 mix, the pure 2004 crap mix, the 2004 stereo mix, AND another custom mix (I'm calling the heresy mix) available. I haven't done the latter yet, but I intend to.

I found something quite interesting while working on these. the 1997 mix and the two 2004 mixes don't quite synch up right. If you align them at the beginning, they're off by a couple of frames by the end. It's not noticible, even when you watch it, obviously, but I did find it curious.
Post
#108774
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/108774/action/topic#108774
Time
I'm wrapping up the sound mix and am trying to figure out what to do with the rear surround. I have both the 1997 and 2004 mixes, but it doesn't seem quite as simple as just plugging in the 97 rear. The mixes are quite different. Very little music is present in the The '97 mix. It is also lower in volume and has a good bit of analogue hiss present when you raise the volume to 2004 levels. Much more music is present in the 2004 channels, which, as we know, is screwed up.

Here are the options that I've considered, but wonder what others of you think:

1) Just put both mixes in together. This does very little to fix the swapped music problem so it's a crappy option to me.

2) Simply plug '97 rear where 2004 rear is. Not a great option because a lot more mixing is present in the 2004 version.

3) Run 2004 rear in dual mono (send both channels to both rear speakers). You lose the panning effect of the rear, but you still have an effective rear separate from center, right and left.

4) Run regular rear-stereo 2004 simultaneously with a copy of the same tracks, but with lowered volume and dual mono. This will normalize the music somewhat, but not all the way. Some of the instrumentation will balance out, but it will still be stronger in the wrong place. However, this will help preserve the FX somewhat as well. May be the best compromise.

5) The pain-in-the-ass method I was trying for a while where music-only cues were flip-flopped (to correct them), but cues with FX present were run as they were presented. Too damn much work for a half-baked solution.

I have mixed the old Krayt sound with a smidgeon of the new, restored the 1997 echoes in the chasm, the fanfare, and restored the "he's on your tail" line before Red 5 bites it.
Post
#108964
Topic
Things you DID NOT like about Episode III
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/108964/action/topic#108964
Time
In order of how much they bothered me:

#1) The incongruity between Padme's death and Leia remembering her in ROTJ.

#2) Anakin saying "What have I done?" after allowing Mace to get killed. This weakens his transformation to Vader a hundred-fold.

#3) Padme being medically fine but losing the will to live. No offense, but this line was clearly written by a man who has no biological children of his own. Those children would have given her a will to live. Cutting this line would have made it true that Anakin killed Padme.

#4) Palpatine's cheesy "Yes!" during the fight with Tyrannus.

#5) The voices of the battle droids and the Nemoidian in on Greivous' ship. Could they have been any less frightening?

#6) Lack of Qui-Gon. Dagobah really isn't necessary when you get right down to it.

There are other things I'd change too, but these really did detract from an otherwise awesome film (in my humble opinion).
Post
#108960
Topic
The Emperor in ESB
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/108960/action/topic#108960
Time
I've addressed this in my forthcoming IV and V. The whole thing makes better sense with what I did. Trust me.

Edit: The official 2004 ESB is not only at odds with the scroll, but also with Vaders line that goes to the effect "That is the system. Skywalker is with them."

Now that Ep III is out and there is no plot twist to justify the change in dialogue, it's just a dumbass continuity error on Lucas' part. I've fixed it.
Post
#107873
Topic
Episode 3: Fan Editing Ideas Discussion
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107873/action/topic#107873
Time
I always figured that he was, like Boba Fett, somebody simply who wasn't afraid to talk straight to Vader. Fett clearly has no power or authority over Vader, but he showed no fear of him either. Tarkin is much the same way. He has his turf, as does Vader. He's simply not afraid to let Vader know when he's going a little too far. And I think Vader respected those who had the balls to stand up to him but weren't idiots. Ozzel was an idiot and was killed for it. Same thing for Needa. Of course, they were responsible for Vader not getting his son back, not just regular back-talk.

By the way, in ANH, Tarkin is the Governor of the Outer Rim territories. I thought Motti was actually in charge of Death Star construction. Or was that Tagge? I get them mixed up.

Anyway, I do agree that the story could have benefitted more from additional exposition of Tarkin. I noticed the dialogue about the deleted scene where Palpatine gave more authority to the Governors and thought this directly addressed the Tarkin situation. Of course, Lucas is notorious for cutting info that advances plot and character development. But we got buzz droids! Lots and lots of buzz droids.
Post
#107993
Topic
ROTS: Palpatine's Master
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107993/action/topic#107993
Time
This, like the possible "parenthood" of Anakin are definitely left up for interpretation. However, I agree that Ian played this so that you'd think Palpatine was the killer. That said, some earlier objections were raised about why the Jedi would keep this from Anakin, if the Jedi didn't know the Sith were around at that time or know the story. Overanalysis at its finest. Palpatine is using all types of deceit throughout this movie to lure Anakin to the Dark Side and pit him against the Jedi. The Jedi aren't hiding anything from him. They're actually quite upfront about their motives for putting him on the council. "Lies, deceit, creating mistrust" are the ways of the Sith.

For that matter, it's possible the story of Darth Plagueis creating life can be a total B.S. story Palpatine is throwing at Anakin, knowing Anakin's desire to keep those dear to him from dying. His mother (whom he told the story to) and now Padme, to whom he now senses Anakin's connection.
Post
#107885
Topic
Stages Of Accepting the Prequel Trilogy
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107885/action/topic#107885
Time
Mark my words, the Lucas kids WILL make 7-9. It'll happen in 15-20 years, when most of us are crotchety old farts ourselves. I am more curious if they'll re-make the prequels, but I doubt it. I do think they will craft 7-9, and I have this inkling of hope that they'll be pretty decent movies, better than the prequels, but not as good as the OT.

If Lucas doesn't do it, they'll also release the unaltered OT onto the format of the day. Why am I so certain of this? Because they, too, will have a lifestyle to which they've become accustomed, and that lifestyle must be buoyed by income.
Post
#107881
Topic
RotS is Anti-Bush?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107881/action/topic#107881
Time
If Bush manages to amend or override the constitution so that he stays in office past noon on January 20, 2009, then this is a discussion worth having. Until then, I think we do have a pretty good constitution that gives the populace the power to keep one person from weilding all the power or from staying in office past his term. I don't even think the Patriot Act granted Bush that kind of authority.

For the record, I do not support President Bush on 90% of his agenda. But a tyrant he isn't.