ADigitalMan

User Group: Members
Join date: 26-Sep-2004
Last activity: 26-Sep-2023
Posts: 2,944

Post History

Post: #71755
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71755/action/topic#71755
Time: 17-Oct-2004 1:30 AM

Thanks, Bizzle. Though I do think they're best understood in context. Even I get a little lost in my own subtitle file without the points of reference.

Post: #71773
Topic: Holiday Special vs. PT
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71773/action/topic#71773
Time: 16-Oct-2004 8:30 PM

I didn't see all of the SW Holiday Special when it first aired. I was six and my whole life was Star Wars, so either something must have come up, or even I realized how bad it was. I'm not sure which.

I've been painfully watching it here and there this week. Forget the cartoon, I think the single best sequence is learning that Chewbacca's dad is into Wookiee porn.

Post: #71658
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71658/action/topic#71658
Time: 16-Oct-2004 2:00 PM

P.S. We finished watching The Clone War last night and these subtitles are perfect in my eyes. Jar Jar's speech before the Senate, and the words he chose, are just truly inspired. It's good no matter what side of the aisle you're on. I have no plans to mess with the subtitles on TCW at all.

Post: #71657
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71657/action/topic#71657
Time: 16-Oct-2004 1:50 PM

A good portion of the dialogue was edited for brevity to allow for better readability while it was on screen. A lot of the language was in passive voice so I tried to punch it up with active voice. I dialed back a bit of Jar Jar's being an asshole and the characters didn't curse. Some things were changed in the dialogue to match the body language of the character and pacing of the language. Sometimes the general reaction of the characters to what was being said didn't seem right. I changed the confrontation between Padme and Nute Gunray in the climax of the throne room. In my edit, Gunray still thinks Padme is a handmaiden (since she's not in makeup and there is no dialogue to suggest that he knows her real identity). I think this scene plays out really well now.

Here's the file. Thoughts? (Updated to .srt format for all interested in downloading and remuxing. It should open in any text editor).

Post: #71661
Topic: Is General Grievous really Maul??
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71661/action/topic#71661
Time: 16-Oct-2004 8:12 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: jimbo
Quote
Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
If they can clone, it's not implausible that Maul's brain could have been "jump started" with the right technology. Similar to the technology that would, say, resurrect a charred body that fell into a volcano?

If being cut in half didn't kill him then the fall sure as hell would have.

Hence why I used the term "jump started." As in "brought back from the dead." Assuming of course that his brain wasn't turned into a puddle of orange goo. :-D

Post: #71586
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71586/action/topic#71586
Time: 16-Oct-2004 12:34 AM

I'd like to make available the version of Ep1: BOTF that I've done and get some feedback. All it really is is MF's brilliant edit with an alternate set of subtitles (largely based on MF's originals). MF's subtitles are also on the disc, so nothing is missing (except for the menu).

I'll make five copies available to the first five PM's I receive who, in turn, can each pay-it-forward x5 (and hopefully those people will pay it forward, and so on).

After that first five, I'll be happy to arrange trades for more rarities, or blanks/postage, or whatever we can work out. No money. In fact, return postage should be in the form of stamps.

PM me with your address.

Post: #71604
Topic: "Die, Jedi scum!" - SW Episode II
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71604/action/topic#71604
Time: 15-Oct-2004 7:28 PM

Dude, I am SO looking forward to 2.0. BTW, the Yellow saber looked pretty cool even as it was. The fact that it was painted over the red gave it a killer amber glow in the end from the residual light on the halo and the characters.

Would "Die Jedi, Die" work, or is there too much ambient noise to duplicate the first "Die"?

Post: #71463
Topic: "Die, Jedi scum!" - SW Episode II
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71463/action/topic#71463
Time: 15-Oct-2004 2:51 PM

MagnoliaFan,

There's a 2.0 of TCW forthcoming? Bitchin'!!! My wife and I were watching this today for the first time and totally dig what you've done with it. Haven't finished yet, but as soon as the kid is asleep, it's back to Geonosis we go.

One comment to consider (and likely reject, but hopefully not) would be to replace the "pictures on the wall" scene with part of the picnic scene that did seem relevant to me. I liked the beginning part up to where Anakin says (I'm paraphrasing) "Well, then they should be made to agree" ... everything after that line is utter rubbish, but everything leading up through it is actually good character development. Ditching the other forced love scenes for Padme's family scenes and ditching the Yoda/Mace/Obi-Wan hangar scene for the alternate version are the RIGHT editing choices that Lucas should be slapped for deleting. Not to mention so much of the little snips of hammy dialogue you've taken out.

Also, will there be any touch up to the dissolve from Obi-Wan to the shot where Anakin is staring at the sunrise after his nightmare? That one looked a little off to me.

Looking forward to the yellow light saber battle. Don't know if I agree with it, but I'm enjoying the heck out of what you've done regardless, and they'd better give you honors in your film classes.

Post: #71310
Topic: Qui Gon's death.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71310/action/topic#71310
Time: 15-Oct-2004 4:47 AM

I originally figured Vader had to be burned to release Anakin's soul. That's kinda derived from Hindu philosophy, where Lucas' head was during the original trilogy. Then Ep I came along and screwed up everything. I think.

Qui-Gon did give foreshadowing to his death as did Obi-Wan:
Anakin: "Nobody can kill a Jedi."
Qui-Gon: "I wish that were so."

It's not just that Qui-Gon didn't disappear either, anymore. That issue expanded to every one of the Jedi killed in the arena in Ep II. We've now seen lots of Jedi die onscreen in the prequels with no "vaporization death." Perhaps this is something that Yoda and Obi-Wan will learn how to do in Ep III. Or maybe Yoda knows but hasn't taught it to anybody ... yet.

The novelization of Ep II does go further into this. Yoda heard Qui-Gon's voice when Anakin unleashed his anger on the Sandpeople, as we saw in the movie. Then in his subsequent conversation with Mace Windu, he noted that he heard this, but that nobody had come back from the grave before, and he didn't fully understand how Qui-Gon's spirit could have emerged. I don't know if this was in the original script and scrapped or what. If it was a scrapped idea, was it because of time, or was it because Lucas is going to toy with the idea further.

Also, originally in Ep II, Liam Neeson was supposed to appear, but then didn't, blaming a motorcycle accident. (Given the year-and-a-half of post-production, I somehow doubt they couldn't get him in at some point against a blue screen, though).

Ultimately, I think we need Qui-Gon to show up in Episode III to resolve this. Since he hasn't been listed as a cast member, do we assume Liam Neeson is not returning, or is this the kind of secret that can actually be kept until release day? I wonder if we'll see him after all.

Post: #71307
Topic: Is General Grievous really Maul??
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71307/action/topic#71307
Time: 15-Oct-2004 4:30 AM

Oh, and Jimbo, is Grevious's head too small, or is his body actually that big? I don't think we've seen Greivous standing next to a point of reference to get a clear indication of his size.

Post: #71306
Topic: Is General Grievous really Maul??
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71306/action/topic#71306
Time: 15-Oct-2004 4:28 AM

If they can clone, it's not implausible that Maul's brain could have been "jump started" with the right technology. Similar to the technology that would, say, resurrect a charred body that fell into a volcano?

Post: #71007
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/71007/action/topic#71007
Time: 14-Oct-2004 1:14 AM

MagnoliaFan,

I considered keeping this in email, but wanted to open the discussion to the forum in hopes of us all learning more about both your edits and editing in general.

Per an email I sent to you yesterday, I did figure out how to rip the subtitles from your disc, more or less. I got the timecode ripped, and manually re-entered the text. I wanted to use your (brilliant) edit as a springboard for some other ideas, and hope you don't mind. In fact, I hope it flatters you that your edit has inspired me more than Lucas' own mess. Eventually I think I will make my own re-edit of the whole thing, but I liked your version so much that I'm content for now with my 24-hour crash course in subtitle editing.

Anyway, I was wondering something: If you'd be willing to put the subtitles I wrote as an optional subtitle track in your edit? I did successfully re-mux them onto the disc, but a lot of artifacting crept into the video, to my chagrin. I thought the program I was using was going to leave the video alone, but a side-by-side comparison of the source disc vs. my output proves me wrong.

This assumes you're not offended by the changes I made in the subtitles. I tried to stay to the true spirit of your original work, but made some tweaks to have dialogue match body language, time on screen, character reactions, tie up a few more plot points, and, yes, make the subtitles G-rated. (Don't hate me for that).

One more question: What font, size, and treatments did you use for your subtitles? Mine are pretty good, but not quite as elegant as yours despite my best efforts.

Thanks for giving us all "A New Hope" for the prequels.

Post: #70838
Topic: Donny and Marie Osmond spoof?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/70838/action/topic#70838
Time: 12-Oct-2004 10:18 AM

Trying to locate the old Star Wars spoof (that actually had Darth Vader, Chewbacca, the droids and the stormtroopers in guest appearances) that aired on the Donny & Marie (Osmond) show in the '70s. I saw this when it aired some 25 years ago, but not since. I'd love to unearth a copy; it ranks up there with The SW Holiday Special and the Muppets. D&M as Luke & Leia, Kris Kristofferson as Han Solo and Paul Lynde as Tarkin as I recall.

Does anybody have this? Is anybody planning to digitize this?

Post: #70689
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/70689/action/topic#70689
Time: 11-Oct-2004 11:50 AM

Originally posted by: Faid
Why not digitally correct Beru's mustache in Clone War?

No, that was just some blue milk on her upper lip. Got blue milk?

Post: #70688
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/70688/action/topic#70688
Time: 11-Oct-2004 11:48 AM

Though I'll probably have both versions in a day or so and will have the answer for myself, I felt it was worth asking in the open forum so we all could have the answer published for posterity:

Do MF's edits of Ep I and Ep II work together, with the Neimoidian and Gungan languages altered in both films? Are Jar Jar's and Nute Gunray's dialogue similarly scrambled in Ep II? Or are they cut out altogether?

Post: #68976
Topic: Lucas listens to us...and ruins things further (Boba Fett)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/68976/action/topic#68976
Time: 30-Sep-2004 6:49 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: ricarleite
Maybe he did realise how terrible it is, but he can't change it back now, because he would be called a hypocrite or something.

Ironically, he did reverse what was, in my opinion, the second worst decision of the SEs -- Luke's wailing at the end of ESB. Dump all you want to on Jabba's CG insertion, it didn't affect plot nearly as badly as Luke willingly falling to his doom, but crying out like a bitch on the way down. Lucas realized this was stupid, and he reverted back to Luke's silent plummet.

So why ignore the Greedo shooting first issue? He didn't want Han to appear cold-blooded? I never got that impression. Han was held at gunpoint, and Greedo announces that he was looking forward to shooting him right now, so boom, Han shoots before Greedo can get off the shot. Any good person who isn't afraid to use a pistol would have the same reaction in the same situation. And they WOULDN'T wait for the other party to hit and hope they'd miss at point-blank range.

Post: #68611
Topic: Changes in 2004 DVDs
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/68611/action/topic#68611
Time: 29-Sep-2004 5:18 PM

I find it interesting that GL says that he's finally released the versions he always envisioned. So, uh, did he envision Hayden Christensen at the end of ROTJ back in 1983? Damn, we all talk about how GL had foresight, but this is on a whole new level.

Post: #68219
Topic: A laserdisc to DVD forum?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/68219/action/topic#68219
Time: 28-Sep-2004 3:07 PM

As a newbie (to editing anyway) I'd love to hear what you all have to say about setups, software recommendations, techniques, etc. I've been wanting to edit Ep 1 since it debuted on DVD but I haven't had the patience to figure it out totally for myself, and the tools I've worked with would do a pretty hackey job of it anyway. This forum would be VERY beneficial, not only for the experts to talk amongst themselves, but for fledgelings to learn as well.

Post: #67460
Topic: The DVD's........Man!!!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/67460/action/topic#67460
Time: 25-Sep-2004 7:48 PM

There are some legitimate problems with ANH, but there are also some reported problems that chalk up to user error. Not to throw stones in my house of glass, I am guilty of some of these too, but I've spent some time troubleshooting rather than bitching and resolved some of the issues myself.

I watched ANH the first time through the day it came out and noticed what I thought was a number of audio and video errors. I went online and found other people complaining about the same issues. But then I went back and checked my setup and found my tuner had been F-ed with (I have a 16-month-old son, so go figure). I straightened out my tuner and speakers, and ran the THX setup both for sound and picture and re-watched. Most of the problems went away upon viewing after these steps. Among other key problematic areas, I watched the Tarkin dialogue scene that everybody harps on again (I even turned my tuner down to -60dB) and had no trouble making out the dialogue clearly.

The Subtitles issue that some complain about has more to do with how individual players handle subtitles by default. I always set up my subtitle options on the menu because my player always defaults to a subtitle stream if I don't. Really annoying when you don't want to see subtitles, or if the subtitle order was screwed up in the mastering process. A previous user posted to set the "none" option in the setup menu. I concur. Always run your setup before watching a DVD.

Also, be sure that you select the correct mix for your setup. Many people with a stereo or even a (gasp!) mono TV configuration may select the 5.1 track (it's the default stream, proving that the masses aren't considered in the usability of this disc), and send a generous portion of the mix to speakers that don't exist. If you don't have 5.1, or if it isn't configured correctly, there will be numerous problems. Case in point: In my configuration, I was running the 5.1 into a PCM stereo setting on my tuner, cutting out the center and rears. To top it off, my subwoofer had been plugged into the sub input, not output.

<soapbox>
Frankly, if I ran Hollywood, all DVDs would force a setup menu upon loading, and it would be handled in a much more userfriendly manner. My dad doesn't know what the f a Dolby EX is, but I bet he'd select it because it sounds cool, even though he has a 20-year old RCA television with mono sound.
</soapbox>

I'm guessing some of the audiophiles with correct setups are still noticing some legitimate problems, but I think a LOT of the problems are coming from trying to run the 5.1 mix into a stereo setup.

That said, Lukes saber in the Falcon is undoubtedly green, there are still matte boxes around a few TIE fighter shots in the dogfight, and when Luke says "What good is it if he gets himself killed" the dialogue seems to have jumped up a few dB as if a studio loop wasn't mixed in quite right. Lucasfilm does have some issues to fix and I hope they do a replacement run like they did on the ESB laserdisc a decade ago.