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Fang Zei

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Join date
14-Oct-2006
Last activity
5-Nov-2025
Posts
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Post
#318141
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/318141/action/topic#318141
Time
I was about to say,

just give us the link and we'll do it ourselves. We're not that lazy.

edit: ummmmm, huh......

that's definitely not the same shot arright. This whole time I thought people were just talking about how the damn car looks. The entire shot looks different!

It's been a long time since I've watched Raiders all the way through, so I don't remember what this shot actually looks like in motion. When people started talking about it, I couldn't even remember there being any effects shots during that scene.
Post
#318046
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/318046/action/topic#318046
Time
The only thing I could still see preventing George from releasing the OOT on blu-ray is the fear that too many people, if given the option, would only play the OOT and not the SE.

We've accepted the fact that the new version will be what plays on tv and in the theaters during the eventual re-releases. Why can't he at least do with Star Wars what happened with the new Blade Runner set? I mean, I'm convinced that if they ever do a re-issue of that blu-ray, it'll only have the final cut and not the archival versions. That's all George would have to do. Just GET IT OUT OF THE WAY IF IT'S BOTHERING YOU THAT MUCH. It's not like he's turned a blind eye to it anyway, see: the GOUT.

Nah, we'll get it eventually.
Post
#318037
Topic
18% of LD owners cite Star Wars as a main reason for keeping obsolete format
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/318037/action/topic#318037
Time
This thread only further convinces me that we'll get what we want eventually. The fact that he released a very nice looking altered version and then a shit looking laserdisc-sourced unaltered version is just another way in which Star Wars is practically unique.

It was just exploiting people's ignorance of how dvd video works. He won't be able to do that with the blu-ray, and we might even get it reverse-ported to dvd in nice anamorphic video.

And before you all say "but Lucas only cares about the PT," I'll tell you "yea, but he knows what people want and are willing to pay for."
Post
#318007
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/318007/action/topic#318007
Time
zombie84 said:

Thing is, it was never expensive to begin with. In fact, restoring it from the original negative might actually be cheaper since 95% of that has already been digitized in 2004. Just scan the missing pieces--what, maybe 300, 400 feet of film? So thats under $1000 dollars. A little bit of digital cleanup to get rid of a few of the scratches, and then the standard telecine color correction--the labor charges for these things are a few grand, I would suppose. So really, we could have a digitally remastered, restored version of the OOT made from the original negative for a few thousand dollars. If everyone in this forum chipped in five bucks we could pay for it ourselves. Cost has never really been a factor.


I'd prefer a well-preserved print from the 80's. Failing that, I'd prefer the Robert A Harris route. Meticulously de-SEing the movies, while a noble effort, will never really be 100% true to the original conformation.
Post
#317893
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317893/action/topic#317893
Time
thecolorsblend2 said:

I realize I'm a day late and a buck short on this discussion, but here goes.

But the OT is so powerful, the majority of people will 'put up' with the SE just to have them on DVD

Some people might but I think the majority of people (ie, Joe Sixpack) would not care which version they get.

Even so, given George's comments on the matter, I wouldn't by any means rule out an eventual real release of the trilogy. When? Your guess is as good as anybody's. If it were coming this year (a stupid choice with the 30th being last year and Indy 4 this year), we would've heard by now, I'd imagine.

As for HD, I can only see a Blu-Ray SE release happening in the next two years if the OOT is included. Lucas, rather obviously, doesn't have faith in the format so I'd imagine he'd want to package in the OOT as "extras" again to make the Blu-Ray thing a killer-app.

If the release happens beyond that window, when Blu-Ray's more established (and until Joe Sixpack has one, it's just a niche), which I estimate to be about two years away, then there'd be no incentive to include the OOT to spike up sales since the format would then be the growing market standard. Sales are assured anyway, right, so why bother?

Incidentally, George's remark about "it'll all come out in the end" was about learning whether people prefer the SE vs. the OOT. Ergo what I think he meant was "the truth will come out". I'd love to be wrong though.


I can't imagine it's more than a couple years away. The 3D re-releases will probably be 2010 because they've been working on them for a while now and how much longer are they just going to sit on them? There isn't really much of an anniversary to tie it in to, so I'd think they would use the 3D release to promote the upcoming live action show in some way. Then, in the fall, the blu-ray hits.

But as for this argument that a 1080p SE will be good enough for most people, well, it won't be good enough for me. I don't care how much detail there is, it's not the version I want. I'm also continuing to disagree with you guys that it'll sell like hotcakes. I'm starting to wonder if that would be true even if he did throw in the OOT. He'll need to do that just so he can get as many people as possible to buy it, 'cause I don't think he's going to wait another five years like he did with dvd. None of what I'm saying really matters at the end of the day because, guess what, they haven't commented on a damn thing regarding the OOT since '06. We don't have the slightest clue what they're up to.

All I'm really trying to say is that I don't think Lucas' ego is that big. Can we all agree that the GOUT resulted from a lack of willingness to spend money, not some incredible issue of pride? Maybe he's just waiting until the blu-ray to remaster it.

Look at it this way:

People, a good number of them anyway, are going to want the OOT in hi-def. For that reason, it would be worth Lucas' while to do some sort of rudimentary restoring/remastering of the OOT and include it in the packaging. The fact that he's lowering it to being "bonus material" doesn't necessarily preclude him from giving it to us in 1080p, even if it doesn't get a meticulous frame by frame job like Lowry did with the SE.
Post
#317697
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317697/action/topic#317697
Time
Even if the Marcia story is true, I don't really see how that would prevent Lucas from remastering the damn thing. All this does is bring us back to the question of why he didn't do exactly that. I mean, if he was going to have to give Marcia money from the '06 release either way, sorry, but his ego shouldn't get in the way. That's why, especially considering his little "it'll all come out in the end" comment, there's nothing really preventing him from eventually giving us what we want.

Guys, I might just be overthinking things what with the economy not doing so well and all, but you can only go back to the Well so many times. Maybe I'm not seeing things the way they are and the franchise is doing fine as ever, but the prequels were not the cinematic equivalent of the second coming the way people were half-joking they were going to be back in 1998.

This is part of the problem when you're not a part of the hollywood system and you're your own system. Maybe we will have to wait another 20 years to finally see it, I'm just hoping not.
Post
#317640
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317640/action/topic#317640
Time
I would hope that the treatment of these high profile catalog releases might make Lucas reconsider only including the final versions of the six films. That's beside the point anyway, since he's already done a release that includes both versions. Granted, the real reason was that they wanted to start selling them individually, but it has happened.

The point I was trying to get across is that I would think by now that enough people wouldn't buy Star Wars on blu-ray unless it has what they really want in it. Maybe I really am deluding myself by thinking that, but I just don't know these days.
Post
#317629
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317629/action/topic#317629
Time
zombie84 said:

I would even disagee with "95% of fans prefer the OOT", I don't think thats even close to being accurate, I would say only about 50% of the fans prefer the OOT because 95% of younger fans like the SE and prequels, and this is LFL's primary demographic right now, that under-20 years old crowd, the one that loves Spiderman 3 and Iron Man and The Matrix. Its sad, but being here, or being amongst friends in the over-20-years-old bracket gives you a warped perspective, just as young fans who only knew the PT-SE and think no one likes the older versions have a warped perspective. So when its just the SE on video, theres backlash but its not huge, and at the end of the day, 95% of the people who DID complain--like, lets face it, most of us, the oldest of oldschool--still buy it.

Who here doesn't have the Lucasfilm DVD's? Maybe 10%? And we are the most stubborn, self-rightous group of fans there is. That says a lot. We'll buy the SE because its still Star Wars, just like most of us will buy the SE on Blu Ray when thats the only version sold and just like most of us will see the SE in theaters in 3D when it comes out in a few years.


This is exactly what I'm getting at, zombie. There are kids into Star Wars today who hadn't even been born in 1997. Unfortunately, as you point out, even if it's an entire 50% of the fans who prefer the OOT, it's the younger, non-OOT exposed group who are forking over the cash, not the people who were around in '77.

In regards to your "who doesn't own the dvd's?" question, well, I don't have the GOUT. I got the '04 set because I'd read so much in articles on the internet about the Lowry restoration, about the additional changes, about the commentaries and documentaries. And even then, I didn't pay for it, my mom did. It's still sitting on the shelf back at home.

It wasn't an issue until LFL decided to hang a carrot out in front of us with that stupid GOUT release. It would've been better had he just not released it, unless of course he really does plan on that being the last time he ever does it. But, at the end of the day, I just have to remind myself that it's coming, eventually, and that the guy from wired magazine was true in his words "they're not going to make the fans happy because the happy fan has everything that he or she needs."

If Lucas hadn't done anything with the OOT on dvd, I wouldn't mind an SE-only blu-ray. But now that I know better, guess what, I won't be buying it if the OOT isn't in there also.
Post
#317617
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317617/action/topic#317617
Time
Baronlando said:

It just seems to me they could have it all. Release the original versions on dvd and blu-ray NOW (call it the "Star Wars archive" or whatever). Then the final version saga set when more people can swing a 200 dollar blu-ray purchase. The people who want that full saga are going to buy it either way. Why not make a few bucks (and do the right thing) in the meantime?


This is exactly my point. If there apparently aren't THAT MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE who would like the OOT in good quality, what's to stop LFL from doing exactly what you're describing? Just put it out in a small, limited run (and then watch it run out really quickly since there actually are a lot of people out there who wanted it!!!!).

zombie84 said:

and it was the highest rated airings on the networks history.


Actually, I didn't know that. No wonder it was such a big deal when they got the broadcast rights several years back.

What Lucas generally seems to be saying is "Look, it's my movie, take it or leave it. If you want to keep giving me your money, well, I didn't ask for it, and the more you give me, the more millions I can donate to USC. If you want to go out there and make your own movies, go right ahead, maybe I'll even help you out in that department. But as for the Star Wars saga, it's my movie, mine."

That's why he didn't bother remastering the OOT in '06, it's because as far as he's concerned, no one is forcing us to go out and buy it. If we shell out for it now and get burned later, it's our asses. Unfortunately, the problem exists of having to vote with our wallets. If we don't go out and buy it, how is he suppossed to know that we really wanted it after all? But if we do go out and buy it, we're pretty much throwing away money unless a) we didn't already get the set in 2004 and/or b) we want to get just one of the movies individually.

All I'm saying is that the numbers seem to have spoken. I don't think the originally rumored '07 saga set was pushed back for any particular reason, I think it's just that we were reading too much into what happened with the 2006 release. I mean, they sold pretty well didn't they? all things considered?
Post
#317611
Topic
State of the Trilogy/ annual SW depression
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/317611/action/topic#317611
Time
yea, but look at it this way

Sure, they might make Episode VII SOME DAY, but for now, the movies are finished. People, I would think, are starting to move on. When the dvd hit in '04, ROTS hadn't even been released yet!!! Now, with this blu-ray, I would think that what they'd do is release the movies individually in really nice editions. Because, after all, there isn't another movie on the way. The saga is finished, the '04 set was just a giant advertisement for Episode III. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on whether or not the Special Jedi Rocks Edition in 1080p will be enough to get people to buy it again.

Ok, what I'm really trying to say here is that Lucas doesn't have that much of a reason to not go back on everything he's been saying these years. Heck, he's already done that by releasing the OOT on dvd when he said it would never happen!

You say that most people regard the SE as the definitive Star Wars. There's a world of a difference between the OOT and the SE.

So, let me ask you guys, how would you put together an ultimate Star Wars blu-ray and/or dvd set (remember that we're debating content, not quality)

Just to keep things simple, let's just take Star Wars from 1977.

You have,

the '77 35mm and 70mm versions, with at least three different soundtracks between them
the '81 re-release with ANH at the front (are there any other differences in the actual picture in this particular release?)
the '97 SE

and that's pretty much it as far as theatrical releases go, unless I'm forgetting something. I'm not counting the 2004 version, since that hasn't been released theatrically yet (and when it does, it will probably have even more alterations than what we saw in 2004, heh).

So, I don't think they'd bother to include the 70mm version as it is PRETTY MUCH the same as the 35mm once you get past the laundry list of minor differences, most of which are soundtrack differences that they could include on an alternate track anyway. I think most of us would settle for a 2.35:1 1080p transfer of the 35mm version so far as the picture is concerned, though. You could seamlessly branch the '77 and '81 cuts together on one disc, but you would have to put the '97 version on another disc and the final version on yet another disc. So, I think that's why they probably wouldn't bother including the '97 version. It's a historical curiosity, and it would be nice if they did include it for that sake, but it's nowhere near a necessity when compared to OO Star Wars.