Fang Zei

User Group: Members
Join date: 14-Oct-2006
Last activity: 24-Apr-2024
Posts: 2,768

Post History

Post: #297410
Topic: George Lucas to host showing of Star Wars "1977" for AFI's 40th anniversary.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297410/action/topic#297410
Time: 18-Sep-2007 3:35 AM

for what it's worth, here is what the AFI Silver Theater in Maryland screened back in July of 2005

Post: #297382
Topic: George Lucas to host showing of Star Wars "1977" for AFI's 40th anniversary.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297382/action/topic#297382
Time: 17-Sep-2007 8:41 PM

Originally posted by: COI am watching the list of movies that are coming out in the first two years of HDDVD, and it is almost exactly the list of DVD titles in 1997/98/99.

Yea I noticed that also, Dune and The Thing being the most obvious. This brings up something else I was going to say, and that is Star Wars didn't hit dvd in any form until 2004. The same kind of thing happened back in the vhs/beta days, but that was because home video hadn't nudged theatrical exhibition aside as much. Jedi, for example, was re-released in '85 before it first hit home video in '86. LFL only reissued the SE vhs once and that was 2000, but then again it was getting plenty of revenue from the first two prequels between then and '04. So, as has been said, with no more Star Wars movies on the way LFL will need something special to sell us next time around.

In regards to the AFI thing I think the 121 minute running time may just be them trying to be consistent in their lies, although we've already pointed out the incorrect title of "Episode IV: A New Hope" from 1981 and not 1977, so who knows.

Post: #297379
Topic: George Lucas to host showing of Star Wars "1977" for AFI's 40th anniversary.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297379/action/topic#297379
Time: 17-Sep-2007 7:12 PM

"I've brought a film print of the original release to screen for all of you tonight. There's an anamorphic dvd enhanced for 16:9 television sourced from a high definition restoration that's available, but this particular version I'm showing tonight is only available to buy in a non-anamorphic dvd that is not enhanced for 16:9 television sourced from a transfer done in 1993."

Seriously folks, you know why I'm not ruling out the possibility of the OOT getting nicely remastered someday? The Graduate only just got an anamorphic Region 1 dvd release last week, and in this past year we've seen several other notable films receive anamorphic transfers for the very first time (Dune, Brazil, The Doors). There's even a rumor that The Abyss won't get remastered until it hits blu-ray, and the same probably goes for a lot of the other movies still on dvd without an anamorphic transfer (Conan the Destroyer, I'm looking squarely at you).

Perhaps all the GOUT ultimately boils down to is LFL's desire to make a quick dollar. It's sad and petty, but not impossible.

The big question in my mind is whether LFL and Fox might decide to accelerate their plans, so to speak, now that Paramount has gone hd-dvd exclusive. If Paramount starts releasing some of their really big catalog titles on hd-dvd within the next year and half (after which they are expected to go format neutral again), the blu-ray exclusive studios will need to fire back with their own titles. As some of you people have said, even a high definition disc release of the holy Star Wars trilogy would need more selling points than simply owning a 1080p transfer of the '04 SE. With the original versions of Close Encounters and Blade Runner, films from the OT's very same era, now being faithfully preserved for all eternity in 1080p24, maybe it's time LFL stepped up to the plate and really deliver something amazing. The '06 release gave us absolutely nothing that hadn't already been released. If they're going to release anything worth hyping, they should go all out and wow us.

Post: #297374
Topic: 2007 DVD repackage
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297374/action/topic#297374
Time: 17-Sep-2007 6:35 PM

the amazon link has been updated with a picture

Post: #297316
Topic: George Lucas to host showing of Star Wars "1977" for AFI's 40th anniversary.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297316/action/topic#297316
Time: 15-Sep-2007 1:35 PM

I'm pretty sure Lucas did in fact get the rights to the original film starting in 1995 with the Faces THX-certified "one last time" release although I could be wrong and it may have happened earlier. Looking at my three official copies of ANH right hurr, the '95 vhs reads "Copyright '77 Fox Corporation. All rights reserved. Trademark and copyright '77 Lucasfilm Limited. Reserved (I'm assuming that's what the R with the circle around it means), trademark and copyright 1995 Lucasfilm Limited. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization."

The '97 vhs reads "Reserved, Trademark and Copyright 1977 & 1997 Lucasfilm Limited. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization."

The '04 dvd reads "Reserved, Trademark and Copyright 1977, 1997 and 2004 Lucasfilm Limited. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. 'Star Wars' and all associated characters, logos and other elements are the property of Lucasfilm Limited."

Post: #297255
Topic: George Lucas to host showing of Star Wars "1977" for AFI's 40th anniversary.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297255/action/topic#297255
Time: 14-Sep-2007 5:03 AM

Originally posted by: none
Thanks for the heads up. Here's my e-mail:

Hello, you've got on your website (http://www.afi.com/tvevents/40th//) a mention that you will be playing:

"Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)"

This movie never existed. If you are intending to play "Star Wars: Episode IV..." then that would be the rerelease from 1981.

I sincerely hope you don't fraudulently advertise playing the 1977 "Star Wars" but actually play the 1997 Special Editions at your ceremony, that would be tragic.

Very clever of you to point that out, none. I actually didn't know what you meant until I read it a second time and realized it's the combination of the subtitle "Episode IV: A New Hope" with the year 1977 that's fraudulent, not the existence of a version of "Star Wars" in 1977, so props to you.

I also heard about this recently on Access Hollywood or something while flipping between tv channels and asked the exact same self-answering question, "yea, but will it be the '77 version?" Not a chance in hell.

An interesting question is how will this be exhibited? Since this is AFI I would hope they'd at least use the High Def master from '04 if not an actual print from '97.

Post: #297127
Topic: A question about NTSC telecine
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297127/action/topic#297127
Time: 12-Sep-2007 6:28 AM

Well it would technically be 23.976 to 24 or 29.97 to 30 but I think you already get my point. There was an article on wiki about moving image formats and how it is apparently possible to speed up 23.976 fps video to 24, it just didn't say how this could be accomplished.

In regards to the whole refresh rate / frame rate confusion, whenever I watch HD quicktime trailers the info says it's a 23.98 fps file but it's playing at 24.00. So again, I don't quite understand what the computer is doing.

Post: #297046
Topic: A question about NTSC telecine
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297046/action/topic#297046
Time: 11-Sep-2007 7:41 AM

another question,

Does PowerDVD automatically speed up NTSC dvd's to 30 fps? The reason I ask is that whenever I play dvd's in PowerDVD, the configuration says that the framerate is 30.00 per second. That's being pretty precise. Also, computer monitors can't display such a precise framerate as 29.97, so doesn't it have to speed it up to a rounded number like 30? Also, from time to time and depending on the soundscape of the movie, I've noticed a certain distortion in the audio of my dvd's while playing them in PowerDVD that I don't notice while playing them on a tv. Maybe it's just that my ears are noticing the lossy compression but I was wondering if it's actually the sped up audio.

Something I just remembered that might make my assumption incorrect is that my old roommate would hook up his nice 128megabyte video card on his computer to my small as hell sony trinitron tv so we could watch dvd's, and if it was a different framerate it wouldn't have worked on both his computer monitor and my tv at the same time, right?

Post: #297010
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/297010/action/topic#297010
Time: 10-Sep-2007 6:53 PM

Yea I did some further research and it turns out I was wrong. Both formats support 24p, it's just that there aren't any hd-dvd players yet that can output it.

Post: #296872
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296872/action/topic#296872
Time: 7-Sep-2007 5:43 PM

OK, here's the question I'm asking for all you tech heads out there.

Why is it that HD-DVD outputs 30p but Blu-ray outputs 24p?

Post: #296485
Topic: Mr. McGregor hated SW?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296485/action/topic#296485
Time: 31-Aug-2007 6:41 PM

Actually, my big problem with the PT at times is simply too much Coruscant, especially in AOTC and ROTS. It's probably not that big in the grand scheme of all the PT's problems, but it is one of those things that places the PT far below the OT for me as simple backstory and nothing more.

Post: #296412
Topic: The Music of Star Wars: 30 Anniversary Collection
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296412/action/topic#296412
Time: 30-Aug-2007 6:52 PM

It makes me wonder just how strapped for cash the guy is that he can't remaster the originals nor provide a decent release of the soundtracks, because there's really no other reason for him to get as anal as he's been about all of this.

Post: #296370
Topic: The Music of Star Wars: 30 Anniversary Collection
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296370/action/topic#296370
Time: 30-Aug-2007 5:16 AM

It's almost like they're doing the exact same thing for the soundtracks of the OT as they did for the DVD of the OOT. Slap the retro art on the cover to make you really, really want to buy it even though it's nothing new. Ok, correction, technically the GOUT was new in that the laserdisc had never been ported to dvd, I apologize.

I've never bought any release of the OT scores. A couple years back my roomate was lucky enough to find the original LP of Star Wars at the local books and music shop. Needless to say I was quite jealous (I don't even have a working vinyl player!), but on a separate occasion I found a first edition copy of ADF's ghost written Star Wars novelization there, so all is well.

Am I to understand this is the long rumored "complete John Williams scores" or is that still on the way? Also, this is being announced now for a November release. Anyone want to take bets on whether or not LFL will repackage the OT dvd's for a December release just like they did in '05?

Post: #296345
Topic: Would anyone want a Dune remake?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296345/action/topic#296345
Time: 29-Aug-2007 9:30 PM

bump

Post: #296223
Topic: Lightsaber in space...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296223/action/topic#296223
Time: 28-Aug-2007 4:53 PM

Luke's force saber throw in space from the opening chapters of The Truce at Bakura comes to mind. Yet Obi-Wan and Anakin couldn't just nudge those buzz droids off, much less use those crazy powers from Jedi Starfighter. Sorry, I'm getting off topic.

Post: #296185
Topic: Starwars.com survey
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296185/action/topic#296185
Time: 28-Aug-2007 2:54 AM

Heh, I don't think there's any more for me to say. I wrote in something to the effect of "I noticed that Lucasfilm has officially announced their support for blu-ray, blah, blah (my 6 BD-100/ 6 DVD-18 idea)."

Post: #296149
Topic: The Music of Star Wars: 30 Anniversary Collection
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296149/action/topic#296149
Time: 27-Aug-2007 6:44 PM

Originally posted by: Sluggo
We can't get a decent DVD release of the movies and we can't get a decent soundtrack set. Why can't they get it right? Is it that the general public just doesn't know the difference?

At least in regards to the DVD release, I would have to answer with a resounding yes. By the way, was that a rhetorical question?

Post: #296071
Topic: Part VII VIII and IX
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296071/action/topic#296071
Time: 26-Aug-2007 5:47 PM

Heh, big screen movies of "The Alien Chronicles" anyone?

Post: #296070
Topic: The Music of Star Wars: 30 Anniversary Collection
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296070/action/topic#296070
Time: 26-Aug-2007 5:43 PM

Well that's the thing. Who says it won't be just one disc per movie?

Post: #296068
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296068/action/topic#296068
Time: 26-Aug-2007 5:41 PM

Even if downloadable movies take over, that won't make them better in quality than BD or HD-DVD. There's not much higher you can go in home video than 1080p, and it's taking people long enough just to upgrade to HDTV. By any other logic, we'll be turning around and doing that all over again in 15 to 20 years when something better, presumably 2k or 4k televisions, become available. Is there any evidence that it will actually happen?

This competition between the two formats is so intense because the studios realize that high def is it for home video, at least for quite a long while.

Post: #296018
Topic: Starwars.com survey
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296018/action/topic#296018
Time: 25-Aug-2007 5:55 PM

Originally posted by: Mike O
AND I WILL PURCHASE NOTHNG ELSE.

The cynical part of me begs you to remember, "the happy fan is the fan who has everything he or she needs." You could at least give them the idea that you'll go back to buying something at all Star Wars related after you have the remastered movies.

Post: #295946
Topic: Starwars.com survey
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295946/action/topic#295946
Time: 24-Aug-2007 3:19 PM

Originally posted by: Erikstormtrooper

Originally posted by: Anchorhead
"An anamorphic version of Star Wars - unaltered from its 1977 release - will be the next thing I purchase from Lucasfilm."

I hope I made that clear enough for them.

Unfortunately, I don't think this was specific enough for them.

I know you wouldn't be happy if they made an anamorphic version based on the laserdisc master. Granted, that would be rediculously stupid, but it's possible, and definitely not below them.

I wonder if any studio has ever done that before, cropped a 4:3 letterbox master and blown it up Dr. Gonzo style.

Post: #295941
Topic: Starwars.com survey
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295941/action/topic#295941
Time: 24-Aug-2007 2:21 PM

There, I did it. It took me a while but I did it. It's done. I wrote in my oft repeated idea for a blu-ray release and told them to also release this on dvd in an anamorphic, 16:9-enhanced transfer. Lucasfilm had better get on the ball about this.

Post: #295908
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295908/action/topic#295908
Time: 24-Aug-2007 12:50 AM

Originally posted by: lordjedi

Originally posted by: Fang Zei
Since we're never going to be able to just que up a 35mm reel or install a 2k system in our rooms (ok, I won't say never .... and I won't speak for everyone here), either of these new formats are the next best thing. If I knew for sure that one of them was going to eventually win, I'd stop buying dvd's now and just wait until I can pick up that five-disc Blade Runner set in high def. I think the studios just realize that high def is the future and - to paraphrase that WIRED magazine guy from the GOUT attack of the show interview - now that we're finally at the point where we can have all we'll ever need, they're not giving it to us.

This has got to be a joke. "We've got all we'll ever need" has been said about every new format and every single new format that has come after has proven that they just keep getting better. 8 track was the best for its time until the cassette tape came along. That was great until CDs came along. SACD and DVD-Audio were even better, but they were competing formats so neither one took off (oh, look at that, just like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray).

If one format takes off and wins, that'll be the format we'll have for the next 5 to 10 years until something even better comes along. Then we'll all want that. It's a never ending cycle, so let's not pretend that this will be the last thing we'll ever need.

Actually, my whole point was that it has become a joke and I think the reason this format race is happening is that the studios on either side realize just how much they have to lose by not winning. Whoever wins will control the format that will be around for far longer than ten years because please tell me, what exactly is going to step in to sweep away 1080p?

Post: #295865
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295865/action/topic#295865
Time: 23-Aug-2007 1:24 PM

The interesting thing about this format race is that if one of them wins then that will be all we'll ever need, and yet neither of them might end up winning. And before you start saying "but what about regular ol' dvd?", well, that's what I used to say until I found out about how dvd's compatibility with the existing NTSC and PAL analog systems introduces issues like speedup and jitters.

Since we're never going to be able to just que up a 35mm reel or install a 2k system in our rooms (ok, I won't say never .... and I won't speak for everyone here), either of these new formats are the next best thing. If I knew for sure that one of them was going to eventually win, I'd stop buying dvd's now and just wait until I can pick up that five-disc Blade Runner set in high def. I think the studios just realize that high def is the future and - to paraphrase that WIRED magazine guy from the GOUT attack of the show interview - now that we're finally at the point where we can have all we'll ever need, they're not giving it to us.