I’m cautiously optimistic about the restoration of the Theatrical Cut of Star Trek I, III and IV that are going to be released in September. In the 1-4 4K set, or Blu-Ray sets.
No Star Trek VI though which really needed to be restored.
What about George’s concept that Anakin was the son of Palpatine. He even had a reveal scene like Empire where Palpatine reveals it to Anakin, it was in an earlier script draft of Revenge of the Sith.
I’m not sure if that was the original path to corruption in the script, Palpatine’s appeal to Anakin about the power of the dark side. The dark side is so powerful it allowed Palpatine to create a vergence with midichlorians, the chosen one to destroy the Jedi. Then in the film it became saving Padme from death and the fear of loss.
Honestly i never liked the idea that Palpatine is Luke’s grandfather and created the Skywalker line.
I guess it is still sort of in Revenge of the Sith but implied with the scene at the opera. It doesn’t really come out and make it explicit.
I have no idea what the original concept for the Jedi Knights in the Clone Wars was or what George originally had in the story for the Emperor and Anakin. Because it changed through the years, Palpatine wasn’t even a Sith in the original film or even seen. He was more a corrupt politician, A Nixonian Wizard of OZ. And Vader wasn’t Anakin Skywalker until 1979. So any idea about the old republic and Ben and Anakin was probably very vague or done while writing return of the jedi. And i’m sure the prequels were completely different in 1983 whatever he had down on paper or in his head for the story. Lucas is a genius, but some stuff just came out of nowhere when he resumed working on them in 1994, like Jar Jar or Qui Gon, and yeah midichlorians.
The original Saga is i like to think in its own pocket universe it includes, Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi the original cuts only. And it ends on an upbeat ending with our heroes on Endor.
Then you have Universe B which includes the Special Editions and Prequels which are Lucas So called Canon 1-6 Saga of Darth Vader.
Then you have Universe C which is the Disney canon and its the Rey Saga 1-9, or Palpatine Saga.
Lucas sequels would have likely continued Universe B canon and not the OT canon. They would have indeed been a sequel most likely to those movies.
I would have liked a genuine sequel to Return of the Jedi which was an organic extension of the Original trilogy, which to be honest is kind of hard to imagine with all the EU that is out there but i wanted an original story. Not lets cut and paste the EU, make Luke without a wife or son and a prequel Jedi, and Darth Maul and some midichlorians. And rip off the entire arc of the EU with Han as a leader and a General until he gives up his commission, and Leia as President or Chancellor. And mix in Prequel Yoda training Babies but instead insert Luke. Along with Darth Maul being the Prince Xizor controlling the underworld its not original.
The only positive i think is at least Luke was a wise teacher in those treatments and somewhat recognizable, They actually established a new republic and Luke was successful at reviving the Jedi Order. But with the Sith returning with Maul its undoes Lucas own chosen one prophecy of ending the Sith. Feels like a pretty pathetic and desperate attempt at just winging a third trilogy. I’m sure there are people who would have loved a mix and match of EU, with Filoni Star Wars and prequel for the Star Wars sequels i’m not one of them.
Admittedly the Disney trilogy has its own legion of problems. But at least i can watch and enjoy them. The effects are good, the cinematography isn’t janky and the acting and dialog are excellent while the story and characters might suffer from being half baked at least it has the general flavor of a Star Wars film i.e. the OT. I’ll give Episode I at least an honorable mention it had good cinematography when it wasn’t cgi and felt like a Star Wars film. I’ll also give Hayden an honorable mention he was good in episode III and brought genuine pathos to the role of Anakin. Something a much better actor in Adam Driver isn’t able to do with Kylo Ren.
Luke, Han and Leia didn’t fail as long as Poe, Rey and Finn and their friends continue to value their sacrifice and fight for what they fought for. Like Han told Ben Leia’s beliefs still were worth fighting for even in her death.
Like the Skywalker line ended but it really didn’t since Rey has adopted the name, and she also took the mantle from Luke of restoring the Jedi order. So Luke didn’t die for nothing. She is the daughter Luke never had. His life had purpose he inspired another generation of heroes.
I bought the gatefold CAV Blade Runner Japanese letterbox of the European cut. Its the criterion transfer only in CAV format. The rarest of the laserdiscs. With OBI and Gem mint for only 30 bucks i couldn’t pass it up.
I bought Help! with what is allegedly a Mono Mix but i’m not sure if the theatrical mono mix. US Laserdisc. Not Criterion.
I also added the import Blu Ray of Zack Snyder’s Justice League from the UK which is supposedly region free. Waiting til September in North America to see the film be on Blu Ray is ridiculous. Not subscribing to HBO max.
All this means is Kenobi had two students and one of them murdered the other. At this point in time Vader wasn’t Luke Skywalker’s father. Lucas was making Star wars up as he went. The first retcon was Vader being the father. Which he hadn’t planned in advance anymore than Vader being a big deal, he wasn’t he was Tarkin’s henchmen in Star Wars. There was no grand Saga of Darth Vader 1-6. It is hilarious that there are still people who believe Lucas for instance that he always intended Leia to be Luke’s sister.
Lucas doesn’t give a damn about canon. He was always loose and free with it with Star Wars, and even more so with Indiana Jones.
Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fantastic serial style adventure. Loved all the scenes between Marion and Indy. And Indy and Sallah. I also like Marcus Brody in this film but not in Last Crusade.
I also watched Kingdom of the Crystal Skull not as bad as i remember, but also not good either. I don’t think Mutt is all that bad, but Mac is an absolutely worthless character. John Hurt is entirely wasted as Oxley. Spalko is an incompetent villain and isn’t scary at all.
The whole aliens plot is just bizarre and half baked. Its not entirely worthless i like Indy and Marion being reunited in the movie and i like the ending when they get married. Harrison is fantastic and you really believe he is Indiana Jones. You have belief in the character because of him, but the cgi and ridiculous over the top stuff in the jungle chase almost takes you out of the movie that whole part falls flat.
the 70mm is just a blowup of the standard 35mm. Yeah i know it came out first and was missing the Star Trek II tile card on the premiere prints but unlike Empire Strikes Back there are no differences in the film.
Wrath of Khan has been restored in 4k from its original negative. Only Paramount knows when the 4K disc will come out but the Blu Ray is the best the film has ever looked on home video. Even if i’m not sure how theatrically accurate the colors are, they are certainly different than the Lowry version.
It is Star Trek 1, and 3-6 that need 4k restorations.
As for there being a fan scan of Khan i don’t believe so in 35mm, for certain i’m sure none has been done. Some of the other films have. Though i don’t have those preservations myself.
I bought Star Wars Special Widescreen edition with a technidisc gatefold jacket, i hope its that edition and not just the Mitsubishi discs swapped in.
Edit: it was the Mitsubishi pressing in a late issue dustjacket that the Technidisc would have been stored in and i doubt the discs were swapped, so i think that guy on youtube was wrong about how to identify a pressing. The only way you can tell is by the mint marks in the spindle. The dustjacket doesn’t mean anything.
The 1992 pressing is so common i paid twenty dollars too much for it.
Added Japanese Gatefold Back to the Future Laserdisc. 3 sides CLV. No OBI. Analog and Digital soundtracks. Pan and Scan first issue 1986.
Is it HD though. We’ve been waiting years for an affordable blu-ray release. I guess its not a priority for Lucasfilm anymore than releasing the Holiday Special.
I haven’t watched VHS in a long time. But i used to watch the 1995 pan and scan Star Wars trilogy, the audio for the time was great except for the smashing glass in the detention block sequence.
I also had the first 6 Star Trek films letterboxed and Goldeneye letterboxed. And Star Trek First Contact.
I also have a bunch of Laserdiscs all the Star Wars up to phantom menace, all the star treks all the James Bond films up to Tomorrow Never Dies.
I like the Star Trek ones the most the blu ray’s don’t have the 2 channel stereo mixes for any of the movies.
It might seem silly but i love the first analog only release for Wrath of Khan other than being time compressed i love the warm sound, and the soundtrack is great.
Also can’t beat Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rocketeer on Laserdisc. I’m going to give Living Daylights a spin haven’t watched that in a while.
i’m seen so little pre Dolby Surround films. I honestly cannot think of a film that was in stereo not mono from before 1976 that i’ve seen off the top of my head, i’m sure i’ve seen something but i can’t think of it.
I agree the transfer of that Blu-Ray is so bad that when i could have bought it in the 12 dollar bin at Target, i passed on it. Temple and Crusade are also ancient transfers at this point honestly as well. Hopefully the new release isn’t just the same crap in 4K. At least Temple and Crusade will have gotten upgraded transfers. I’ll have to throw raiders in the trash if its the same master and keep this Litemakr release.
Also hopefully the blu’s not the 4k isn’t just the same old ones repackaged if they aren’t the new 4k i’m going to return them/cancel my order.
Addendum: I can indeed confirm the blu ray 4 film collection from 2021 is the same transfers from 2012 with the messed up colors for Raiders. Apparently only the digital 4k and 4k disc are the new transfers. They couldn’t be bothered to master new 1080P copies for digital and blu ray.
The Ghibli catalog and Miyazaki films in general are all over the place in quality. Though most are not DVNR’ed to hell and back like Totoro or Castle of Cagliostro. That was my point. Though the reissue of Nausicaa was grain managed.
Princess Mononoke looks absolutely fantastic and flawless on G-kids Blu-Ray and so does Howl’s Moving Castle.
I don’t want to speak for the Blu Ray for spirited away because i do own it but haven’t had the chance to watch it yet.
I also saw that listing too it seems he wants 2000 for each reel. Which is insane. It would be insane for a complete print.
Is it at all possible it is up to Lucas whether they are released or not? Does he legally maintain final cut on episodes 1-6 even if Disney owns Lucasfilm?
Its always been a question if there is a contractual reason it hasn’t happened, everyone thought it was because of the 20th Century Fox situation. But Disney bought that studio.
I always wanted to see Jaws III 3D just for kicks but i could never get a hold of the VHD, a player and the equipment. I’m only seen the standard 35mm version.
I understood the reference, Final Fantasy VII. One winged angel is only like the most famous piece of music off the soundtrack. Other than say Aerith’s theme. I also thought it was a funny comment.
The 5 Star Bootleg DVD is Laserdisc sourced. I’m just making an educated guess on that since i’m not the one who made that chart. But that was the popular bootleg before better fan preservations came along.
Unless i’m completely dense and there was a cam telesync of the 97 version.
Were these films ever really super grainy? I know they were shot on Super35. But what was the reason PJ had to degrain them to hell and back.
I don’t remember them being overly grainy at all. I do remember the image being not incredibly sharp and kind of soft on the prints i saw in the cinema. But they looked plenty lifelike and filmic in non cgi scenes. Unlike the Hobbit which looked like it was shot on a video camera, and everything looked flat and fake like a pre-rendered videogame cutscene.
Yup that is correct the 93 is itself a new mix and not theatrical either. It is the best mix sonically for home video too bad about that smashing glass sound in the detention block shootout.
I’m surprised there isn’t a fanfix that replaces that with sound effects from the 35mm mix to patch out the awful glass sound for the fan preservations.
The 35mm is on the first issue 1982 and 1983 Laserdiscs, the 1985 laserdisc in the US all analog. Its time compressed on the CLV discs and not on the CAV 1985. I think every VHS in the US after 1985 is the digital 85 mix for Star Wars, before DC and Faces. The reissue of the Star Wars CLV disc on laserdisc in pan in scan in the 1990s Us release was the same master as the original but for some reason the mix was the 85 mix.
The first Japanese release in 1983 is the 35mm mix on Laserdisc in analog and not time compressed. the 1986 and 1991 releases have the 35mm mix in digital. These are pan and scan CLV discs.
One oddity is that the 1982 and 83 pan and scan US release for Star Wars is an entirely different transfer from the 1985 CAV release, even if they all have the same theatrical stereo 35mm mix. And then like i said they reused the 82 version again in 1992. but with the 85 mix.
Godzilla Vs Kong. not a very good kaiju movie and the story was non existent.The human characters were just kind of there, you could have easily taken them out of the movie and had Kong and Gojira slugging it out for 2 hours. The rest of the film was like watching a two hour video game. The worst of the bunch of new films 2 out of 4 stars.
Its an insult to see a fully realized and secondary world like the original Star Wars as a rough draft the way Lucas does. He is entitled to his very wrong opinion. Along with convincing himself Han always shot second.
Its kind of insane that he never liked the movie, the one that shattered box office records, made him a multi millionaire before the age of 40. Put Lucasfilm and ILM on the map. Changed the entire focus and direction of the film industry towards blockbusters.
You can quantify things like quality screenwriting, acting, and cinematography versus poorly done hackwork. If you cannot tell the difference then what good is criticism in art. Of course there is some subjectivity in ones own background, experience likes and dislikes and personal views.
Is there one worldwide objective value for art i don’t think so but there are accepted standards, but every culture has differences.
Its never gonna happen these versions don’t exist anymore to George. Disney has followed his wishes on this matter. They’ve also made a business decision that Lucas already spent money on the 2020 special edition which they had to spend no money on, and they released that on Disney plus and 4K disc and made a ton of money doing so.
Also petitions never work, with few exceptions. I signed the original petition years ago it didn’t move the needle one bit.
Unless you think it was this site’s petition that got the GOUT released, which at best was a slap in the face and a way to kill the pirate DVD market.
This petition is so old its for a Blu-Ray HD release and doesn’t mention 4K.
It would have been fairly simple and easy for them years ago to do a 2k scan, grain managed but not heavily degrained, like a Criterion blu ray. And released it on just old Blu-Ray. It wouldn’t have needed to have come from the original negative. It would probably have cost no more than a few million dollars or less. Now that we are in the 4K era they aren’t going to get off so easily.