I don’t remember the movie versions except for Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye. and Trenches of Hell. I have Peacock’s Eye tape only. None of the others. I also don’t have the DVD. Because I was waiting for a blu-ray that never materialized.
The end of an era. I also miss the Tony Daniels Wonder Column does anyone remember that?
They end with a 10th celebration of the Force Awakens,lol. Can’t stick it out two years for Star Wars 50th anniversary can they. And the Last Jedi’s tenth and the Special Edition 30th.
What about Dave’s movie that looks fake too. Not that I want Heir to the Empire.
How many of these things do people like Iger say I’m not giving you a greenlight on that, like the search for Ben Solo. Kinberg trilogy as well.
At least the shakeup at Paramount lets us know that The 4th Kelvin timeline film from Kinberg and JJ Abrams is dead. We get no such assurances from Disney Lucasfilm. Even when they cancel something they never say so publicly, and it’s just shelved. With the exception of Acolyte. Or perhaps they let the fans know in a simple way, like when Indiana Jones failed there was going to be no more shows or films. Same with Willow and the Han Solo movie.
I like that Finn is 2187. This is a reference to Leia’s jail cel number and Arthur Lipsett’s film.
Are there going to juicy details in the Icon’s Unearthed book?
I still haven’t seen the full Kurtz and Dale Pollock interviews from The People VS George Lucas.
The comments on yes men from Kazanjian on the prequels, and that Kurtz did not know he was fired in the documentary was mindboggling. The prequel was that bad.
Rewatching it I was thinking of How Jon Knoll fought for Clone Troopers in suits over cgi and Lucas put his foot down. Was that the sole non yes men moment.
And its always like people want to say something about Rick McCallum, but they never really go there. What was so bad about his producing style. Was he scary or a tyrant what? The guy controlling the production and budget.
There really needs to be a McCallum book from his side. As well as one about Gary Kurtz from his family. They need to correct the record on Gary, the guy who got fired from Star Wars. As if that was his only contribution to film. And no credit given to how important he was to Lucasfilm itself. How he busted his ass to get the first film made, never mind American Graffiti. I think George owes him a debt of gratitude. No matter how he feels like he was betrayed by the English crew, Gil Taylor and let down by John Dykstra. John winning an Oscar but not asked to return for Empire, let go after SW 1977.
George also punishing David Prowse for alleged leaking which I think he was not guilty of. The way he was treated on Return of the Jedi is insane. The lack of crediting all the work Charley Lippincott did on the original film and its marketing. At least Light and Magic exists so Rose Duignan is now getting credit. But Bunny Alsop you wouldn’t even know she existed if not for Skywalking.
Robert Watts practically being unsung on Star Wars and the Indiana Jones series. Thanks to Jamie Benning for highlighting his contributions.
I don’t want to dispute icons unearthed but some of it is opinion, I think. The way Richard Marquand is portrayed is sort of amazing. He was a very capable director, but this doc makes him sound like an imbecile. The film was saved in the editing and reshoots. And I truly did not want to believe the yes men stuff about the prequels. I thought that was concocted by Red Letter media, but Kazanjian is a respectable guy with a long career producing and a friend of Lucas. Why would he lie? Some of the actors did not care for how Richard directed them, Carrie Fisher and Tony Daniels?
Its too bad Gary Kurtz is not around to interview to find out the original story for Return he spoke about. Was that written down? the one where Leia becomes Queen of her people and Luke walks away into the sunset, and Han dies. Everyone ends up either dead or on separate paths. Both Luke and Leia end up alone. Han is toast. I guess George thought that would not sell action figures, kids don’t beg their parents for dead Han toys. In this version Leia was not Luke’s sister.
I liked the Hardware Wars reference with the clothes iron. But it was very goofy humor for SW. TLJ.
Fox paid for the 1990s restoration and cgi redo that was R&D for the prequels unless I’m mistaken. Between 10 and 20 million dollars was spent. Lucas got the rights to the first film back from FOX. FOX got the rights to distribute the prequels. A lucrative thing worth over a billion dollars. Other studios were interested of course, but Lucas brought it to FOX because they were the release studio of the original trilogy.
The Special Edition and Prequel was about money for Lucasfilm and FOX. Changing the films and calling it a special edition made it more marketable than just reissuing the films, no one ever talks about that.
I even remember the trailers and posters. The way the film was meant to be experienced, you’ve only seen it this way on home video, you’ve never seen it at all. They made a big deal about the new cgi. The enhanced visual effects and THX and digital sound.
I think everyone forgot the 1995 one last time campaign, nobody believed that it was only going to be on VHS and Laserdisc for a limited time and never offered again. But that was the plan. Except 2006 bonus DVD, the promise was kept to keep the originals from the fans.
The Special Edition label was dropped in 2000. The VHS, VCD and Laserdisc sets had no such mention of any changes and even reflected the original theatrical release dates and not the 1997 reissues. To Lucas it was the film. He had physically had the negative spliced to the 1997 edit. The Special Edition conformed negative, in the 1990s that was done.
I remember the 2004 DVD set well and the complaints of false advertising calling it the original trilogy and not claiming it was the Special Edition, or the 2.0 version of SE as it were. That Hayden Christensen was in a film he could not have possibly been in, in 1983 when he was 2 years old.
I assume Mangold’s Disney Star Wars is dead. Since it was announced he is doing a Chalamet movie with Paramount. Per Variety. Unless its years down the lime. but there was a rumor a while ago the Dawn of the Jedi was not happening.
And the Rey looks pretty dead as well. Unless somehow they do a complete and unexpected thing like move it into production after Starfighter.
Vader does say in the OT the Emperor is not as forgiving as I am. Don’t you remember. Apology accepted Captain Needa. Admiral Ozzel is as clumsy as he is stupid, You’ve failed me for the last time admiral.
Prequely is flashy twirly lightsaber moves. Style over substance. Not fitting the tone of SW 77 where Vader enters Leia’s ship. Lightsabers are to be held with both hands as if they have weight and heft to them.
Suited Vader is imposing and moves exactly as he does in SW and TESB. The lightsaber combat style in the OT is completely different than the prequels.
Vader’s design looking like Star Wars 1977 or closer than the prequel is completely what I meant as well as how James Earl Jones sounded. Still not the imposing figure of David Prowse though. I don’t like Episode III Vader at all.
I’d like everything to hew and adhere to the OT esthetic. I despise pointed lightsabers for instance. One of the things I dislike the most about the Last Jedi, is Luke trying to kill Ben Solo in his sleep with a pointed lightsaber. And it’s the only time we see his Return of the Jedi saber represented in an attempted murder.
I also hated the shaky cam in Kenobi and rogue one or should I say handheld. I liked the cinematography despite that. It’s like the lens flares in JJ movies why?
Another one I forgot to mention about Rogue One I liked. Original Stormtrooper and X-wing designs and not Disney X-wings and Stormtroopers. The design esthetic mirroring SW 77 and 1980 ESB. I know someone mentioned Mustafar, I could do without a prequel reference there but not a dealbreaker. I don’t usually have a problem repurposing Ralph McQuarrie designs if they look good. Fine for the design of Rey, fine for use in rebels the cartoon.
With the amount of money they’re spending? They’re for sure going to release it beyond the theaters. Unless that was part of George’s agreement that they only show it in Theaters and not release it physically but I don’t even know how George is ok with this since last I heard he was opposed to releasing the “original” version.
Why should he have any say at all, if Disney paid 4 billion dollars?
It would be completely insane for the Original theatrical trilogy to be restored and then not released because of one person. None of this would even be a thing if they had just released the original restored alongside the special edition decades ago. Lucas is the one behind this entire set of circumstances. And he created the restore the original trilogy movement with his stance on the originals. This site and others like it would likely not exist if not for his incredible arrogance. I say that as a huge devotee of Lucas and Lucasfilm, who is fan of everything he did since his student and Zoetrope days. All the way up to the Star Wars Prequels.
His lack of caring about the original director’s cuts of THX 1138 and American Graffiti, I find to be quite ridiculous. As in re-editing the young Indiana Jones Chronicles on VHS and DVD. He just can’t leave well enough alone.
Sensible people would allow people to see the television shows and films as they original were as catalog releases. And I’m not saying he can’t continue to edit his work as long as he preserves the original copies in the same quality.
There is room to argue in favor of his ability to make changes, for the Special Edition of Star Wars. His film. But I don’t think he should have been allowed to change The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. For one Richard Marquand was dead, and Lucas taking over these films as if he was the director is ridiculous. He promised Kersh final cut in 1980. He went back on his word. At least he kept his word to Steven and never recut Raiders.
Disney Lucasfilm should give fans the opportunity to own Theatrical prequels and the 1997 Special Editions too. Though one last OOT set and never needing to buy them again would be great.
Give us THX 1138 and American Graffiti both theatrical cuts, 1971 and 1973, and 1977 and 1978. and the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on Blu-Ray with all the documentaries. Lucas can keep the cgi versions of Graffiti and THX I don’t want them.
After nearly a decade of false starts and multiple scripts and pulling our legs, they finally decided to cancel the Kelvin timeline. There won’t be a 4th JJ film.
To me that was the worst part of Rogue One Vader far too prequelly. In fact every appearance of him since the prequel except in Rogue One before the hallway scene has been prequely.I also found the Darth Maul scene in Solo to be lame.
I liked Vader with the red lenses and don’t choke on your aspirations, that was very OT Vader. Rogue One. I liked the unused alternate takes of Red Leader being used in the battle of Scarif from the original 1977 film. Doctor Evazan and Ponda Baba was bit much.
As for Finn I felt like Force Awakens was setting up him and Rey to be a thing, and then last Jedi all of sudden Reylo happens. Which reminds me of Hayden Skywalker/Padme from the prequel. The bad boy psycho romance. Rey is all I can save him I can fix him. There is still good in him.
Why was there a map to Luke if he was just someone who left the fight and wanted to die? that just wanted Rey to get off his island. I feel like JJ made Luke a totally worthless maguffin in the first of the Disney trilogy, and Rian made Luke do what he wanted for his film. And then JJ brought him back, as a Key jangling filler fan service in the third. With far less to do than Trevorrow had. Of the three Luke only had story purpose in TLJ to pass the torch to Rey I suppose, only by astral projecting himself.
Do people forget Yoda was a grouch or curmudgeon in TESB to test Luke. Luke was not doing that though. He really wanted to burn himself and the force tree and the Jedi texts.
It reminds me of the rant of Denethor in the Lord of the Rings Novel, the West has failed. I go to my funeral pyre to burn or something like that.
Then he snaps out of it thanks to Yoda. And says the rebellion is reborn today and I won’t be the last jedi. Rey by the way steals the texts Luke wanted to destroy in his book burning.
Lukes Nihilism did it serve a point. I only know one truth its time for the Jedi to end. Let the past die kill it if you have to. Kylo said. Rey does not find a new path she chooses the light side and the Jedi. The Sith/Jedi dichotomy continues. Luke was not wrong in wanting to restore the Jedi order, He merely was incapable of it. Rey will do it.
Some interesting Info on how the original and Special Edition mixes were done. But very confusing to the layman who does not work in the industry. It’s a good article despite all that.
Burtt explaining the mono mix being redone from scratch, that I had never known. The initial 35mm stereo being the least complete I have heard that, and I’m very familiar with that mix.
I just received my gatefold laserdisc for Never Say Never Again. And damn it looks brand new for a 41 year old videodisc it is awesome. I might watch that tonight, it’s an unauthorized James Bond by none other than Irvin Kershner. Not bad for 10 bucks. When film tickets are like 20-30 dollars. Inventing in old dvds, VHS or Laserdisc seems quite cost effective.
I can’t wait for my Arrow Lost in Space 4K to arrive. I haven’t seen that in well ages, probably since it came out. Or on VHS.
I was referring to how Obi-Wan did not lie in Star Wars because Darth Vader killed Luke’s father. A young Jedi named Darth Vader who was a pupil of mine before he turned to evil. Helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights, he betrayed and murdered your father.
Now it’s just Kenobi lies all the time. Certain point of view. OH I Never owned a droid, and Yoda was my master wink wink. Except for this guy Gui-Gon. In the prequel he has r4. He does own a droid.
And Anakin never said a thing about wanting his kid to have that Lightsaber he did not even know about Luke’s existence. He knew he a child by Padme that died with her in childbirth. Not Twins.
Well The ROS was focused on Rey like Return of the Jedi was focused on Luke. It’s not the prequel trilogy Kylo is not the main character. Vader was not the central character of the OT either.
Lukes story purpose is given to Rey though, restoring the Jedi order. Passing on what he had learned.
We still don’t know why the New Republic failed or was incompetent and had no army to fight the first order. Or what happened to the Empire. Or is the New Republic going to be restored post ROS since it clearly failed. And Luke, Han and Leia were failures.
I suppose some of these things are described by Disney in novels and comics. Goody more homework. They made Star Wars like MCU. You have to watch a bunch of shows to explain their bad movies. If they even fill in any blanks at all.
The Making of Star Trek III. That just recently came out. I hope more making of Star Trek film books can be done. They should have done one on the Kelvin timeline when Bob Orci was still alive to be interviewed.
They will have to rely on archival material if at all like with Leonard Nimoy for Star Trek III. He is not around to be interviewed.
The best book on TMP is unauthorized Return to Tomorrow. No images were allowed as part of its publication. It could have used editing.
They only need to make a book on Star Trek IV, V already exists in Lizbeth Shatner’s book on the making of that film but could use updating. VI is a combination of articles and not a book proper by Mark Altman they should redo that one or expand it. There is no making of Generations, There is one on First Contact. None on Insurrection or Nemesis. There is one on the art and making of 2009 from JJ Abrams but no making of Into Darkness. No making of Beyond.
When watching some of the visions I was thinking of Captain Future and Ulysses and Star Blazers and stuff like that. None of this stuff comes close to that. I thought the first Ronin Episode of Visions was better than the second.
I watched this short. BUT I don’t know what to think of it. The 9th Jedi has decent animation I suppose.
Lots of different styles from different studios. Reminds me of animatrix or that Batman project where they had different submissions from different animation houses.
I’m not saying I hate Legends aka Visions. But I’m more likely to dip back into Leijiverse and watch Galaxy Express 999, Captain Harlock. Space Battleship Yamato.
I will say an actual series with a dedicated budget, like if it’s actually supported and not done on the cheap could be good.
Seeing how Disney is slashing the budget of Ahsoka season 2 what can animation hope for. The days of Clone Wars level budgets is likely gone. I wonder if they give Dave Filoni peanuts to make Darth Maul Shadow Lord.
I got The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi Evergreen Japanese releases Sample copies laserdisc with OBI. One is sealed. I got Mamoru Oshii Complete Works laserdisc with OBI primarily for the Urusei Yatsura films. I got Fairy Tale Dragon Cry region 2 DVD. Star Trek III region 2 dvd Lowry 2009 DVD. Maclunky Star Wars the original trilogy, The Disney trilogy both are region 2 used. Mary Poppins Returns region 2 used. Seller did not have the prequel trilogy. Star Wars was ten bucks for the entire OT 2020 Disney DVD. Of course, it’s the 4th special edition and not the original.
I also got Never Say Never Again Japanese Gatefold with no OBI. All of these were items on discount or I haggled on the price. Except for Mamoru Oshii complete works that was super expensive. But I now have Beautiful Dreamer and Only You in Letterbox and I won’t need the reissue of The Perfect collection I own already in 4:3 format. Just for the reissue of those.
Yeah on the Seven Dogs war they are in CLV instead of CAV but that late issue 1997 set goes for hundreds of dollars. This with Patlabor 1 and 2 and Angels Egg and such is a better value.
Well the Phantom Menace certainly could be restored from the camera negative. But going back to that instead of the filmout tape, will never be done. 2000 or more shots? and nearly every shot altered digitally in some way. You are talking about remaking the movie from the camera raw.
There would be diminishing returns to redo II and III. They have digital masters. They could certainly bring back the theatrical color timing for Episode II, and remove the DNR they applied to both II and III.
Re-rendering already 2k resolution images for 4K would make little sense.
There are cheaper solutions for Phantom Menace go back to the filmout tape before the DNR processing for the 3D conversion or use an interpositive/internegative.
Also why not restore the theatrical cut with Creepy Puppet Yoda. And the same timed edit as 1999.
You’d be surprised just how many shows have vanished audio or video masters, or they simply were junked and thrown away. If they aren’t just lost somewhere and or mislabeled.
I’m speaking of anime in general I don’t have any idea about Toei in general. It does disgust me, that they continue to upscale videotape if they do have film sources to scan and restore.
R.I.P. June Lockhart. Lost in Space and Lassie.
I was not alive in the 60s. I watched reruns decades later on television of Lost in Space.
If we can get the original Star Wars trilogy in 4K why stop there. Restore American Graffiti and THX 1138. From the techniscope negatives.
Yeah, that will never happen but It would be a nice thing. We could just pretend the existing 1998 cut in 4K slathered with DNR for American Graffiti does not exist.
What was the story? he returns as a light side Jedi for Reylo. Is that it. Rey has a bunch of Skywalker kids. They all live happily ever after.
Meanwhile the ghosts of Luke, Han and Leia do what. Time to party.
The entire Disney trilogy is a disaster. Follow through on your decision and make that Rey movie or don’t.
The only one I’ve used frequently is Paramount plus and the quality is less than desired for old shows like Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Voyager.
The compression issues and the problems watching videos over a Wi-Fi connection. I can’t speak to a wired connection.
When there is not issues TNG remastered, TOS remastered, Enterprise in HD are all excellent. Frasier the old version in HD is a blast.
I hated Strange New Worlds season 3 I never finished it, I also never finished the second season of the Frasier continuation It was lame.