MattMahdi

User Group: Members
Join date: 1-Aug-2007
Last activity: 28-Jun-2025
Posts: 357

Post History

Post: #314560
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/314560/action/topic#314560
Time: 25-Mar-2008 8:06 PM

adywan said:

well the commentary idea has been thrown out. I've just added an extra track with a bitrate that would be used for dolby 2.0 and it pushes it over the 100% capacity mark. I don't want to have to lower the quality of the extras just to have an extra audio track so there won't be one i'm afraid. Plus i have to fit the covers in the DVD-ROM folder yet too.

Well, I'm sure that everyone would understand that the reason we needed to have a fourth PAL and third NTSC single-layer release is to contain the commentary, right?

Ady?

Ady! Ady, put down the disc burner! I was only kidding --- it was only a -----

Post: #314466
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/314466/action/topic#314466
Time: 24-Mar-2008 8:20 PM — Edited 24-Mar-2008 8:27 PM

ron2112 said:

Maybe, but you'll have a lot of down time where you don't have a lot of specifics to offer about a particular scene, and that time can be filled with getting into your process, etc. No detail is too boring. :)

Ron Moses

Two words: "Ben" and "Burtt"

Post: #314448
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/314448/action/topic#314448
Time: 24-Mar-2008 3:33 PM

ron2112 said:

adywan said:

I am toying with the idea of a commentary track now though.

Yes, yes, YES! Will it be a pain in the ass? Yeah, probably. Will it delay the release a couple of weeks? More than likely. Will it be worth it? Yeah, I think you'll be glad you did it.

Really, it's the perfect topper to the project. Heck, just talking about the Great Flipper Debate should fill ten minutes! ;)

While my first reaction to reading Adywan's post was an apathetic "Eh", Ron's opened my eyes to its possibilities.

This is the chance to make an auditory essay, interacting with the video and audio, and I'm looking forward to it. Fascinating as the subtitle commentary is, the audio commentary has the chance to go beyond the "what" and explore the "why" and "how" questions --- and that's too good to miss.

Only suggestion is to outline your intended talking points beforehand, so that in the moment of recording you don't suddenly wonder what might have come next.

My favorite parts of "The Phantom Edit" and "Attack of the Phantom" were the editor's commentaries on what he changed and why, and I already have FAR more of an emotional connection to this project. Wish I didn't have to wait....

Post: #314140
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/314140/action/topic#314140
Time: 20-Mar-2008 12:43 AM

adywan said:

All extra features available on the DVD-5 plus.....

Isolated score track
StarBalls
Multi angle SP-FX breakdown featurette- Tie chases Biggs
Extended "Alderaan Destruction" scene.

What's StarBalls? Sounds either hilarious or frightening.

But what I'm looking forward to is the isolated score. Have been since you mentioned it!

Post: #313669
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313669/action/topic#313669
Time: 14-Mar-2008 2:35 PM

ron2112 said:

[then a whole mess of blah blah blah, some polite, some nasty, almost all of it cautiously defanged by prefacing it with "I love everything you've done with this edit and I have the deepest respect for your work, but that being said..."]

Ron, that's hilarious. Thank you for such a delightful recap.

This July is my tenth wedding anniversary, and I vividly recall the marriage counselor years ago telling me that, whenever I say the word "but," whoever's listening automatically cancels whatever nice thing I just said. That's a nice dress, dear, BUT.... or This is a great salad, sweetheart, BUT.... And all beautifully captured in the quote above!

Post: #312348
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/312348/action/topic#312348
Time: 4-Mar-2008 1:30 PM

Adywan, I am likewise AMAZED.

After I'd watched and paused MANY times to marvel at your changes (most of which I wouldn't have noticed aside from the subtitle track --- thank you for its inclusion) I dug out my copy of "Shrek 3D" (actually its glasses) to watch the Jabba scene.

Overall stunning. Looking forward to the DVD9, of course, but delighted and awed by what you've accomplished.

My only question....the only disappointment....was that I'd hoped to see the cover on the disc. But, all things considered, I can be patient in waiting for it!

Thank you, sir. I'm grateful.

Post: #311657
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311657/action/topic#311657
Time: 27-Feb-2008 3:13 PM

Originally posted by: MoveAlong
Eventually, discs being copied around are worthless and unable to be played on many devices or missing DVD_ROM and/or JACKET_P contents (EditDroid, anyone?).

If this were a less civil group, I'd grab my flame-retardant umbrella...

MoveAlong, I just learned what a JACKET_P folder is and does. I've noticed a few, and I've probably deleted them because they didn't seem functional. For that I apologize --- it's not my place to modify someone else's work, even for my own collection.

It wasn't until your remark that I bothered to Google "jacket_p" and learn that there's functionality I never dreamed of.

At the very least I've learned something important, and I'll be watching for its effect in different players.

Post: #311637
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311637/action/topic#311637
Time: 27-Feb-2008 10:36 AM

Originally posted by: dark_jedi
GOUT DVD's are not DVD5,they are DVD9's as well.

Just for fun, I went home and took a look at my _other_ Star Wars DVDs. Didn't have a chance to check out the discs themselves, so I'm trusting their packaging, but...

The only one that claims to be DL is the second volume of "Clone Wars." That surprised me since I didn't remember much content on the disc.

The three dual-feature discs --- "Ewok Adventures," the "Ewoks" selections, and "Droids" selections --- are single-layer flip-discs. I can't imagine that it's cheaper to manufacture a single-layer flip than a dual-layer disc, and one thing I've toyed with is recreating each one as half of a dual-layer disc. (The main reasons I haven't are a) not particularly wanting to watch the live-action features again and b) the fact that the animated features are mulched from the original episodes, which I didn't have at the time I bought these discs.)

The first volume of "Clone Wars": single layer, which makes sense given only an hour-plus of content.

As for "R2-D2: Beneath the Dome," it didn't say. But with half an hour of content, I'd be shocked if it weren't single-layer.

Post: #311551
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311551/action/topic#311551
Time: 26-Feb-2008 3:29 PM

Thanks, C3PX, for a great answer!

I interpreted the question differently, and I'm pretty sure that yours is the more useful answer.

BTW, I got a copy of --- I think --- "The Red Planet" from Netflix the other week, and I was shocked to see that it was a single-layer disc. On the other end of the spectrum, the Wookie Groomer DVD-9 of the TESB split-screen was so loaded with data that it kept causing my cheap Norcent player to glitch.

Post: #311545
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311545/action/topic#311545
Time: 26-Feb-2008 2:43 PM

Originally posted by: gavin77
So what format are my store bought Star Wars DVD's in......DVD-5 or DVD-9?

Probably DVD-5.
If they say they're 4.7gb or 120min, then they're DVD-5.
If they say "DL" then they're dual-layer and DVD-9.
The five and the nine are approximations of the number of GB they hold.

Post: #311477
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311477/action/topic#311477
Time: 25-Feb-2008 8:31 PM

Originally posted by: Crygor64I have also done my best to spread DVDs given to me by the glorious Rikter Blksvn. (Miss you Pal.)

I've wondered what happened to Blksvn, a question born of absence and a scattered legacy.

Where has Rikter got to?

(I've only been around since September.)

Post: #311104
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311104/action/topic#311104
Time: 21-Feb-2008 12:50 PM

Originally posted by: discostewart

I have just watched the perfect version of STAR WARS, well done, it really felt like being a kid again when i saw it the first time. I LOVED the dogfight and the overdub of "biggs biggs", and the duel was spectacular in the cargo bay.

I just had a terrific idea!

Don't get me wrong, here, Adywan, the XVID of your edit was, to quote a phrase, "most impressive" (but that's another film), and I was astonished by some of your ideas.

Most stunning of all, even better than the Death Star reveal, was the brilliant idea that Han shoot first instead of Greedo. It must've been a lot of work to remove Greedo's initial shot, but I couldn't detect anything off: well done!

Thanks to your change, Han now acts in self defense. That's a good start, because it allows his character to really GROW in the course of the trilogy. Instead of just drifting through situations, we can watch the films with new eyes and experience his metamorphosis into a relational human being.

It's still pretty subtle, though, and my first time through your edit I missed it.

You've already changed Lucas' intention for the character, and IMHO you've changed it much for the better, but consider the implications if Han fired AGAIN. And AGAIN. And AGAIN. And then stood to fire THREE shots rapidly into the smoking puddle that moments ago was Greedo's corpse.

NOW we have a character who truly gets to transform in the course of the trilogy, and it's also impossible to miss.

I know it's late, Adywan, but surely --- for the sake of character growth --- you can fit this tiny improvement in?

Post: #310916
Topic: STAR WARS: EP V "REVISITED EDITION"ADYWAN - 12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/310916/action/topic#310916
Time: 19-Feb-2008 11:51 PM

Originally posted by: Molly
The source for the line about the script rewrite is The Annotated Screenplays, iirc. And certainly SOMEONE rewrote the dialogue (compare the prior scripts).

True enough. The editor credited the Huycks for their dialogue rewrites, and used an asterisk to indicate lines that they had enhanced. I didn't notice the asterisks until my last browse through the book, and it was eye-opening to see the huge effect they had on the film.

Post: #310633
Topic: Requiem for a Clone War dream... (2003 series) (* unfinished project * - lots of info)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/310633/action/topic#310633
Time: 17-Feb-2008 11:18 PM

Originally posted by: Johnny Ringo

First off I do love the series but I do feel they butchered it a bit for the DVD release - I'm not crazy about 'preservation' but I was a little annoyed to see some favourite scenes altered.

I feel like a noob in asking this question, but most of my Clone Wars exposure comes from the two DVD releases (my Internet access was feeble when they debuted, and our cable TV package remains similarly feeble).

I know that the individual episodes were concatenated, but I never dreamed that scenes were changed.

Is there a quick answer to the question of what was changed and why?

Post: #310616
Topic: STAR WARS: EP V "REVISITED EDITION"ADYWAN - 12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/310616/action/topic#310616
Time: 17-Feb-2008 7:54 PM

My single objection to the ADM edition of Empire was his deletion of Luke & Leia's kiss. It was part of the story, it was part of the tension, and I can remember at that moment (I was almost twelve when it was in theatres) wanting to BE Luke for that moment in particular. I also remember shuddering three years later when I learned from a friend --- before I was able to see Jedi in the theatre --- that they were now apparently siblings. Now, of course, twenty-odd years later, I understand that there was the need to bring resolution to the story, and from "The Secret History of Star Wars" I've learned that there were contractual realities that for the story's closure. The entire Expanded Universe aside, though, it still doesn't feel right. It was too neat a wrap-up.

Which is to say, I plead for the keeping of the kiss.

And I'd also plead for the keeping of most of the SE material. It feels like Empire is the least-harmed of the trilogy by the special editions. ANH, for all the wonder of the final battle, also had the appearance of Jabba and Greedo's shooting first. Jedi, even for the beauty of the closing celebrations around the galaxy, gave us the chance to almost examine the tonsils of several singers in the new music video. Empire, though, demonstrated restraint: the wampa footage worked, and worked well (obviously IMHO), and the windows on Cloud City added to its sense of scale --- which before had only been notable from the approach, where the floating city was obviously enormous, but once inside it felt like a cramped and sterile labyrinth.

(Of course, don't get me started about the Emperor on the official DVD. All of Empire's emerging relatively unscathed came crashing down in that moment. Much as I like Ian McDiarmid in the role, and definitely hope that he's kept, the changes in dialogue felt like a slap in the face.)

These being my thoughts. Looking forward to the DVD editions of ANH, Adywan, and already starting to dream about seeing Empire....

As that 1997 trailer put it, you've given us the chance "to see them again...for the FIRST TIME." I'm grateful.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot! Please _scrap_ the new scenes with Vader's shuttle and Jerjerrod!

Post: #309321
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309321/action/topic#309321
Time: 6-Feb-2008 12:57 PM

Originally posted by: Jonno
MattMahdi, I'm intrigued - what kind of class do you teach where the subject matter is alternate versions of Star Wars?

I'm using the original trilogy, and parts of the prequels (especially "The Phantom Menace" (for its cultural significance) and "Revenge of the Sith") to explore ideas of philosophy, theology, and storytelling in this world that Lucas created. That I'm using alternate versions, where possible, is to maintain a sense of surprise and newness even in those students who can quote every line of the movies. Today we're using the second edition of Wookie Groomer's "The Empire Strikes Back" split-screen so we can see the the changes wrought in the special edition and the DVD.

Sadly it's just a limited E-Term class. After this week, it's back to teaching mathematics. Not that math is a bad thing at all, but I have to re-submerge my inner geek.

Post: #309119
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309119/action/topic#309119
Time: 4-Feb-2008 8:04 PM

I have an interesting group of students for the week. Most of them have seen "A New Hope," but are obviously not what one might call _devoted_ fans. The latter were obvious at the moment of the Death Star reveal when there were audible gasps. I was sitting back, curious about what people would notice.

One person noticed that Beru Lars' voice was different from what he was used to.

Several noticed the needle on the interrogation droid.

The same group that gasped when the DS was revealed also marveled at the fact that Greedo could blink and had other facial features. They also liked the music during the light saber fight, and were again stunned by the graphics in the battle briefing and on the hologram table in the situation room.

I'm interpreting here, but their message to Adywan seems to be a heartfelt "Well done!" When I told one guy that this was actually the next-to-final version, that it was still a work in progress, he was amazed.

More for myself, and speaking for those of us in this thread, we're all [except for the occasional unwashed heathen] excited by your work, Adywan, and eager to see the DVDs.

Post: #309108
Topic: WOOKIE GROOMER PRESENTS: ADDICTED TO STAR WARS (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309108/action/topic#309108
Time: 4-Feb-2008 6:37 PM

As someone who hasn't touched the newsgroups in a few years ... fifteen or so ... it's certainly interesting to see how things have changed. The very idea of a graphical interface to usenet just seems odd to someone who was once a code monkey.

I'm not sure what I think, but I've got four weeks left with Giganews to make up my mind. Overall the sense of transience of data doesn't seem any different. Usenet was and is a terrific resource --- but one on which one must stay nearly current.

That's probably why ThrowgnCpr and I are interested in seeing the DVDs on RapidShare: direct access, and a change in the status of the data from ephemeral to slightly more solid. As communities such as fanedit.org grow, that seems to be the direction they're heading.

Of course, that said, I've never seen a download go as smoothly as did the RotJ 10p splitscreen through NewsBin. Clean, smooth, and painless. Of course, once I had it, I discovered how pathetically underpowered I am to view it!

Which means, for right now, I'll stick with DVDs. If they are recirculated I'll be grateful. And, if not, I may keep a toe in the water occasionally to see what does come.

Post: #309091
Topic: WOOKIE GROOMER PRESENTS: ADDICTED TO STAR WARS (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309091/action/topic#309091
Time: 4-Feb-2008 3:39 PM

However, for portability, is there any chance of seeing the DVD version again?

I'm seriously underpowered for the 1080p files, and will be trying to convert to a DVD anyway. I think that Wookie Groomer mentioned it back in March?

Post: #309086
Topic: WOOKIE GROOMER PRESENTS: ADDICTED TO STAR WARS (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309086/action/topic#309086
Time: 4-Feb-2008 2:38 PM

Thanks, Adywan. I've been looking at _size_ instead of _date_.

Based on your recommendation, I'll give it a try.

(Was seriously hesitant because of my unfortunate results last week downloading the split screen DVD of Empire; even with the PARs, it ended up being ever so slightly short of what it needed to be. Sadness.)

Post: #309074
Topic: WOOKIE GROOMER PRESENTS: ADDICTED TO STAR WARS (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/309074/action/topic#309074
Time: 4-Feb-2008 12:33 PM

Well, I finally managed to get an account through GigaNews. I've downloaded all the headers. And, unfortunately, I'm just a little bit too late. The ~20gb version of "Addicted to Star Wars" is listed as incomplete, and no DVD version is listed at all (this being with a search on the word "addict").

And of the DVDs of the three split-screen second editions, only Empire remains and it's also incomplete.

Is there anyone on this thread who would be willing to re-release the DVD of "Addicted," and possibly also the split-screens 2.0, to alt.binaries.starwars?

I'd love to see them, and would immediately pass the discs on to ThrowgnCpr for RapidShare distribution.

Thanks very much,

Post: #308040
Topic: Wookie Groomer's 1080p Star Wars Saga project (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/308040/action/topic#308040
Time: 24-Jan-2008 8:48 PM

I really hate to post a "me too!" message, and at the same time my Internet access has serious limits.

If someone could help me acquire the version two splitscreen DVDs, I'd be grateful.

Will happily defray media, postage, and packing costs!

Post: #308018
Topic: STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 REVISITED ADYWAN *1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/308018/action/topic#308018
Time: 24-Jan-2008 3:13 PM

Beautiful work, sir. Simply beautiful.

I created a quick DVD for convenience, and I'm experiencing the same sense of wonder and delight that I did as a child, on my tenth or twentieth theatre viewing. There's a sense of reality to the film, an emotional reaction that I didn't expect.

In a week and a half I get to teach a one-week class, three hours a day, on "God and a Galaxy Far, Far Away." We'll be exploring many aspects of the Trilogy, as you might imagine, and until last week I was going to use the Darth Editous version of "A New Hope." I'd even created a clumsy editing-in (all I have to work with at the moment is Nero) of the lost scenes from MoveAlong's disc. No longer, though.

I look forward to seeing my students' reactions to the film.

And, for those who worry, I'll be using "The Lost Scenes" as a supplement. I can't _imagine_ trying to edit Adywan's work.

Thank you, Adywan. I'm eager to see the final disc, but will wait with all patience. Well done.

Post: #307630
Topic: The Vaultbreakers Collection - Disney Preservations
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307630/action/topic#307630
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:27 PM

Molly:

I wish that I could offer something more substantial than my encouragement and gratitude.

Will be watching this thread, and look forward to seeing up with what you come.

(And it's the minister's _knee_ we see people, his _knee_ !)

Post: #303906
Topic: Help Wanted: Holiday Special Resources and Dreams
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/303906/action/topic#303906
Time: 15-Dec-2007 1:15 AM — Edited 30-Jun-2020 12:14 PM

It’s fascinating to see so many people interested in the Star Wars Holiday Special.

I’m reminded of my drive home this evening, and seeing the flashing lights in the darkness ahead: I moved to the left lane of highway 167, trying to give space to the situation on the right, and was amazed to find that, even there, everyone was slowing down to see what sort of damage there might be.

Not that I’m all that different. I can tell you that there was no visible carnage, just a police car and an unladen tow truck, and I admit that I did spend the summer trying to create an SE disc of the SWHS. At some point I hope to be able to finish that disc.

In light of that hope, and also because of others’ interest (two fanedits of the Special are currently underway, and I think I read about a third), I decided to begin this thread on Holiday Special RESOURCES and DREAMS.

The SWHS web site that SKot runs has some good-quality video of the Fox News and TVLand mentions of the Special, and both play well when converted to DVD. However, is there better available?

Conan O’Brien surprised Harrison Ford when he was shilling for “Firewall”: I’ve only found a terrible copy of that, overcompressed and all but unwatchable, and would dearly love to find it in better condition.

It would be great to have an archival disc, a “final word” in special editions. My own dream would be to have a dual-layer disc with both the KCCI (great video quality) and WMAR (I think that’s the one with the commercials included) transfers playable, the commercials playable separately, the four “musical moments” bookmarked, and (as an Easter egg) the Bill Murray musical moment from Saturday Night Live. [The Bill Murray moment, BTW, was played as part of the AFI salute to George Lucas for Life Achievement.]

Of course, only the truly obsessed would take the script and subtitle the program. [Hands, those of us who’d do it in a heartbeat!]

And the frightfully manic could create a featurette on the evolution of Kashyyyk: initial concepts in the pre-ANH screenplays and treatments, the SWHS, The Wookiee Storybook, various comic strips and comic books, the Tyrant’s Test novels, and finally RotS.

While I’d love to create this disc, right now it’s not a possibility. Perhaps someone will, or perhaps it’ll be a team effort. Who’s interested?