Director

What will be the audio mix of this preservation?

v2.0 is unlike to ever be released, just for note.

Update: the films will be available on September 12 at 12:00 at the time of Europe/Helsinki, which will still be September 11 on Originaltrilogy.com.

DVD-BOY said:

I was hoping you would speak about the sources you used, and how you created the project, but your previous response said it was too long to mention.

Well done for getting this project over the finishing line and released, because a lot of projects are announced but fail to materialize for one reason or another.

Thank you, this was not easy, and since either the 1997 projects are not finished and will never be, or the announcer is inactive, I spent a lot of money to actually get this done.

DVD-BOY said:

So what resolution are the mp4 files?

Was there anything else you wanted to ask?

G&G-Fan said:

Director said:

You can give me suggestions. I am not sure yet.

If you’re gonna put the Death Star near a planet, I’d recommend something like Coruscant or Geonosis. It’d be cool if it was a rather alien planet and not too Earth-like.

Thank you for the idea, I might as well actually make the Death Star near Coruscant.

DVD-BOY said:

So what resolution are the mp4 files?

They are currently 480p, because the AI and other services constantly mess up any attempt of upscaling.

DVD-BOY said:

So what is the source for this? You mentiom film prints, but the final file is a very small mp4 file.

Could you explain more about your workflow and the technical process?

How does this project compare to the other scans of 35mm Special Edition prints that already exist?

Can you please post some screenshots?

The files were converted to mp4 with resolution lowered since the original files were almost 200 GB each, they were not mp4 originally, but I made them since mp4 is the easiest format. And I have no much to say about it right now, but for example most scans are yellowish, especially during Greedo/Han scene, the frames are extremely yellowish, but for example in my version, it is corrected to look like it was in 1997. The technical process itself is too long to mention right here, but I am likely going to update it in the future, since I have to focus on 2 preservations and 1 fanedit.

If you have more questions that I did not answer here, ask.

G&G-Fan said:

Ok and what are the changes besides logos and a couple you have listed for ANH?

ANH is currently in production, it has changes I have not listed, but when I have time to add the changes to the list, I will add them.

Update: The original trilogy is currently in progress and will be ready soon.

Can I get the subtitle files?

For anyone who already got the files; Should I make a v2.0 in the future?

ImBateman said:

Hi everyone!

As the title suggests this is an HD reconstruction of the 1997 version of ROTJ. This is a project I’ve been intending to do for a while now and I finally have something that I can call watchable. Since there are two very well made reconstructions of the 97 versions of ANH and ESB (thanks to Harmy, Team Blu, and Adywan) I figured ROTJ needed a reconstruction done in some capacity!

**V3 update: V3 is now live, and is finally exactly how I like it, thanks to me switching to Davinci Resolve. Regrained, better color, and video synced up to the audio down to the last frame (v2 seemed to always be slightly out of sync). The “Return of the Jedi Visual Comparison” was used, so there are no post-97 changes in this version at all!

I used 5 sources for this project (updated for v3):

• 2019 Special Edition Blu Ray
• Max DNR version of 4k83 (to undo post 1997 changes)
• ROTJ LD upscale and multi-capture merge (thanks ZigZig and Rancor022/DarthPyro!)
• 2004 HDTV broadcast provided by schorman (for opening logos)
• althor’s LD capture (for reference and DTS audio, LD audio, subtitles, and chapters)

Extra things done:
*added a 35mm grain palette over 2019 BD, 2004 HDTV, and LD footage to blend in better with 4k83 footage
*color corrected a handful of 4k83 clips to blend in with surrounding scenes
*I did leave the color of the 2019 BD alone since it appears that they did use the 1997 versions as a color reference.

Video dimensions: 1920x1080p (cropped to Disney’s 2.39 aspect ratio), 23.976fps
File Size: 19.53gb mkv

PM me for a link and share some feedback here if you’d like. Thanks!

I highly doubt this person gives links anymore but if you want to see this film’s 1997 Special Edition like it was in theatres in 1997, check my preservation of that. The films are all available.

The Special Editions are what most members grew up with, but not all members. The special editions were not that bad, but people insult them because after the release of the VHS/LaserDisc/DVD of the 1997 Special Edition, people realised the original versions will never be re-released again. (forget the 2006 bonus disc). And that is the reason why so many complain about the Special Editions, but sure, there are some who actually hate the special editions.

That guy with no name said:

Haarspalter said:

Hal 9000 said:

Why make this available only for a limited time?

Maybe he wants to pay homage to the 2006 GOUT DVD advertising? 😉

More like the '93 Laserdisc releases. “One Last Time” that was a huge red flag.

Btw, the One Last Time was the 1995 LaserDiscs.

PM me for the links.

The trailer is out now and the films will be fully available soon,

Hi editors and others. First I thought since these editions are so hated, I would release them only for 10 days but now that I have received many complains on PMs and here, I have decided that this will not be limited time only but will be available at all times.

timdiggerm said:

Hal 9000 said:

Why make this available only for a limited time?

This like Disney putting movies “in the vault” just to build hype & demand back in the day, only without the existing demand, reputation for quality, name recognition, etc.

Plus, anyone who receives the files can just distribute them as soon as he says it’s no longer available.

Yes, anyone can, but they should not say “I created this preservation…” , but this is only for a limited time since I could accidentally delete the mp4 files while emptying device space, but if you manage to download the mp4 files, I will not be demanding you to delete it.

That guy with no name said:

why is this in only 480p? and how can something be both stereo and 7.1 surround sound?
I’ve sent you the pm’s btw.

Some parts are stereo and some are surround, and it is 480p since the print is low-resolution and the AI messes up while up-scaling so I have no choice, plus it saves space.

Haarspalter said:

Hal 9000 said:

Why make this available only for a limited time?

Maybe he wants to pay homage to the 2006 GOUT DVD advertising? 😉

This has nothing to do with the 2006 bonus DVDs.

Hal 9000 said:

Why make this available only for a limited time?

Since there are so many preservations of the special edition trilogy, and also around 2 years, the mp4 files will become outdated and easily accidentally deleted.

Trailers below:

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

(click the image to watch)

I started this project in November 2023, and I think there’s even a preservation about it I made on my old account. This project is about restoring the Special Edition (1997). The 3 films have been restored and they are exactly like they were on theatres in 1997. Please note that there is a slight difference in colour between the VHS, LaserDisc and DVD and cinema releases. The home video versions had more purple colours, but mostly they are the same.

HOW DO I GET THE FILMS?

You must know that you should own either Blu-ray, DVD, Disney+, LaserDisc, VHS or digital versions of the films. This preservation has not been edited at all, only the colours have been made exactly like they were on theatres in 1997, (Home video versions had more messed up colours). You can even slightly notice this during the short shot where Millenium Falcon is being pulled to the Death Star. You can compare it to the VHS/LaserDisc/DVD of the Special Edition (or the Behind the Scenes footage) and notice that the colours are the exact same. If you own an official release of these films, PM me for the links to the films.

ABOUT & BACKSTORY

I announced this project in one Thursday in November 2023. I had an older account on Originaltrilogy.com and I even have a post about the project from November, it has no answers but I got so many PMs back then asking for the films, so now I wish that those people are active and they as well, can watch these movies as they were in theatres in 1997. I used some film prints (which were discoloured slightly) to create these. I restored them myself and in September 1, 2023, most prints were restored succesfully. I did some more work to see all possible tapes from 1997 where people are watching the movies from 1997. I found some tapes and changed the colours to match those. I realised the colours were better in the theatrical release than in the home video release. Even after announcing this project, I was still struggling with Empire to get it done. I talked with a user named “2004 star wars fan” and I asked him if he has widescreen VHS tapes of 1997 editions. He had, but the tapes were broken. The budget of this project was already high and was constantly rising, until in December 2023, I finished Empire. I had started this project all the way back in 2022, when I had not even found out about this website. I announced this project again now a few days ago (now it is September 1, 2024 when I am writing this). And that’s really it.

FAQ

Nothing yet.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

STAR WARS (A NEW HOPE/ANH)

Video resolution: 480p
Video fps: 24
Audio: Stereo
File size: 1,32 GB
File format: MP4 video (.mp4)

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Video resolution: 480p
Video fps: 24
Audio: Stereo
File size: 1,21 GB
File format: MP4 video (.mp4)

RETURN OF THE JEDI

Video resolution: 480p
Video fps: 24
Audio: Stereo
File size: 1,29 GB
File format: MP4 video (.mp4)

PRESERVATION NEWS:

August 31 (2024) - You can now get links and download the files.

September 1 (2024) - The official release date of this project.

Copyright C / © 1997 Lucasfilm Ltd & 20th Century Studios.

G&G-Fan said:

Director said:

I am going to make changes mostly to the vfx but I can change some of the canon by example adding a StarWars planet near the Death Star etc.

A what planet?

You can give me suggestions. I am not sure yet.