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Mielr

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15-Jun-2006
Last activity
27-Dec-2024
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2,805

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Post
#224561
Topic
Lucas talks about the Sept 12th Release of the O-OT
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224561/action/topic#224561
Time
Originally posted by: buddy-x-wing
surely the new DVD's only need to outsell the 2005 repackaging rather than the original 2004 to send out a clear message as to which version of the movies the public wants, although I'm sure if they do make record sails George will say it's all due to the fact they're being offered individually for the very first time.
personally I think he's bowing to pressure from his Marketing Department who are saying he'll now have 3 trilogies to milk dry with endless reissues.

He may be getting some pressure from 20th Century Fox as well. I'm sure they remember which version of the trilogy saved their collective behinds.

Post
#224525
Topic
Making our own 35mm preservation--my crazy proposal
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224525/action/topic#224525
Time
Originally posted by: zombie84
Owning a 35mm print is legal.


I actually think that owning a 35mm print is illegal. Unless the laws have been changed here in the US, I think consumers are only allowed to own 8mm and 16mm prints. I remember hearing a story about how the actor Roddy McDowell had his home raided, and his collection of 35mm films confiscated. Aside from trailers, I think they're banned from eBay, as well.

EDIT: I've since learned that owning a 35mm print is not automatically illegal. It depends upon the circumstances.

Post
#224517
Topic
Star Wars in High Definition: OT clips from "Science of Star Wars" in HD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224517/action/topic#224517
Time
Originally posted by: Tiptup
A truly new and superior technology is definitely a possibility. Both HD-DVD and Blue-ray are kind of like minor upgrades for DVD.
I agree- DVD is still such a young format, and many people have only just recently bought their first DVD player. The difference in picture quality is really going to have to be spectacular, in order for consumers to accept either HD-DVD or Blu-ray anytime soon.

Originally posted by: Tiptup
As I said earlier, Blu-ray discs cost a bit more to produce, but they are not selling for more than HD-DVDs.

Yes, I've heard that the companies are planning on taking a loss, initially, on their Blu-ray discs to make them comparable price-wise to HD-DVDs, until the Blu-ray format is accepted and the discs become cheaper to produce.

Post
#224492
Topic
Some ludicrously optimistic thoughts...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224492/action/topic#224492
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
Is it even vaguely possible that Lucas, especially given his recent comments in the MTV interview about finding out which version people prefer, is releasing the September release to test the waters to see if there is money in including the OOT in the 30th anniversary boxed set. It would be logical (not that LFL have ever been logical when it comes to the OOT, but...). With Robert A. Harris volunteering, and the mass of complaints about the release (so overwhelming, in fact, that LFL actually answered), is it possible?

I think the OOT will be released properly....eventually. If, for no other reason, than GL will have to keep coming up with new Star Wars material to release on video. He'll make us wait, that's for sure, but I think it will happen. If you'd asked me that question 6 months ago, I would have been skeptical, but with this 9/12 release, it's a sign of things to come.

Post
#224486
Topic
Lucas talks about the Sept 12th Release of the O-OT
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224486/action/topic#224486
Time
Originally posted by: Tiptup
In addition to emails, sending them written/printed, snail mail would help send an even stronger message I think.

Definitely. Emails are too easy to delete. Sending a snail mail message sends a strong, physical message.

Ooooo, I am SO going to send my SE discs back to George Lucas- maybe I'll put them in a giant box with tons of styrofoam peanuts. LOL

So, I guess we're not sending the discs back in one package? We're just each going to send them separately?
Post
#224349
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224349/action/topic#224349
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
Yeah, GWTW was shot in full-frame, as was Casablanca, The Wizard of OZ, etc. If it was shot in academy ratio, that's how it should be seen.

Please don't think me arrogant, but just out of curisity, did widescreen exist prior to the 1950s? Wasn't the first picture filmed in cinemascope The Robe? Understand, I mean no offense! I'm just wondering.
I'm sure there are, aside from the John Wayne film from the 1920s (which I think was the first widescreen movie) there were probably some other attempts at widescreen (I'm not an expert about films from that era, so I don't really know) but I know the great majority of the pre-1950s films were academy ratio.

No offense taken, BTW.

Originally posted by: Red5

The audio and video elements come together on D-2 digital tape which is then converted to analogue in the case of laserdisc and videocassette (but not DVD) images, this is then used to master the final software. The THX test signal remains even in the final software and is again evaluated by LucasFilm engineers (who have the power to reject the entire inventory) at this stage.



http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/swdeflaser/image6.asp
...artifacts of the D2 (Digital videotape) intermediate format.

Great info- thanks! I have the definitive LD set, but I rarely watch it. I hate all the CAV side breaks, and my last disc of ROTJ has laser rot. I much prefer the CLV "faces" editions- those are from the same masters, I believe (?)


Post
#224332
Topic
Are you Going to buy them ?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224332/action/topic#224332
Time
Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle

Do we not have, on this site, an email FROM LUCASFILM detailing the non-anamorphic version of the OOT which will be bundled with the 'bonus material'?

Is there not information on this site and others about the sources used to make these DVDs of the OOT?

Are we, then, to ignore this, let the DVDs be released without saying a word (thereby allowing the LucasFilm / Newscorp publicity and promotions juggernaut to make the release a commercial success) and THEN try to gain support for an argument for a more satisfactory release?

Won't it already be too late?

Yes, the time to complain is now, while there's still a chance to affect the outcome.

Post
#224329
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224329/action/topic#224329
Time
Originally posted by: SW
If we can view Gone with the wind at 16;9 i think ! Then why not Star Wars ?
You don't want to see GWTW in 16:9 - it would require the image to be cropped. Check out this link to see what happened when they tried to do just that:
Originally posted by: SilverWook
Imagine the outcry if the only version of Gone With the Wind the public could ever see again was this!

Originally posted by: Mike O
Wasn't Gone With the Wind filmed in the Academy Ratio of 1.33:1 of 1.37:1, fullscreen? Did widescreen exist back then?

Yeah, GWTW was shot in full-frame, as was Casablanca, The Wizard of OZ, etc. If it was shot in academy ratio, that's how it should be seen.

There was one widescreen film shot in the 1920s- an early John Wayne film, but I think it was seen as just a novelty at that time .

Post
#224328
Topic
Star Wars in High Definition: OT clips from "Science of Star Wars" in HD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224328/action/topic#224328
Time
Originally posted by: boris
Personally, if HD-DVD and Blu-Ray give us hassles, I predict that d-vhs may even over-take the market (and let's not forget how long it's already been out, it has proven reliability). If HD-DVD/Blu-Ray does get regional coding (currently HD-DVD does NOT have it, but apparently they're adapting the format to include it) - and IF they can make it stick (which I doubt) - I for one would much rather buy d-vhs, because at least I know I can import legal copies from anywhere I like, at least I know I can go down to JB HI-FI or other speciality stores and ask them to import foreign releases for me without having to worry about incompatibility. I think D-VHS is dead in the water. I don't think there's any future for tape-based formats- no matter how good the quality is, consumers now view cassette formats as a step back in terms of technology.

Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle

Am I right that Microsoft came out on the HD-DVD side?


Yeah, that's what I hear. That's a major advantage for HD-DVD.

Blu-ray seems to be positioning itself as the "sexier" format, with backers like Apple and Sony.

Post
#224259
Topic
Great MArk Hamill Interview
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224259/action/topic#224259
Time
Originally posted by: Tiptup
Originally posted by: Mielr
I've always loved Mark Hamill, aside from the fact that he's a great family man, he was always the one member of the SW cast who seemed to be a fan of the films, and not just an actor in them. He never tried to distance himself from the films, like Ford and Fisher did.


Hmm, I agree that he's never tried to distance himself, which is cool, but, as for being a fan in general, I saw an interview (on the Conan O'Brian show) where Hamill stated that he doesn't like watching himself act and never fully viewed any of the Star Wars films after their first premiere until the special editions were released in theaters 20 years later. I found that interesting.

A lot of actors don't like to watch themselves on film, what I meant by "fan" is that he was always the one hanging out in the Star Wars FX dept., watching how the visual effects were coming along, collecting memoribilia, and speaking enthusiastically and passionately about the films in public. He's often spoken about how excited he was to be in the Star Wars movies, because of the fact that he was such a fan of adventure movies when he was a kid.

Post
#224247
Topic
Are you Going to buy them ?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224247/action/topic#224247
Time
Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
You're right, but still, Lucas could simply view it as "people wanted the 2004 editions again."

We loved them so much we wore them out and need new ones! LOL!!!
Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
And I would be planning to buy them, but money is a bit of an issue. Plus, I already have had a VHS set, the 2004 dvd set, and a bootleg set. Two out of the three were gifts, and I just don't want to keep spending money on Star Wars. I'll admit that, while Star Wars is a great trilogy of films, there are movies out there a like more, a lot more in some cases, and it seems silly to keep spending money on the same film when it isn't even my favorite. My favorite movies I've only had up to two copies of. (A VHS and DVD version later.)

Why don't you sell your other set(s) on eBay now? I'm sure a lot of people will be selling their SE discs after the Sept. ones come out (the ones who aren't sending them back to GL, that is).




Post
#224233
Topic
Soundtrack Listing
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224233/action/topic#224233
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
How can it be lost if it's in the film?

Well, I guess they meant that the separate music track for that scene (without the dialogue) was lost. I somehow doubt that, though. I have no idea if the person who said that had any idea what they were talking about (I think it was somebody on TF.N) The track must be somewhere. I just don't understand why it's the only piece of source music from the trilogy that's never seen the light of day on LP or CD.
Post
#224230
Topic
Star Wars in High Definition: OT clips from "Science of Star Wars" in HD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224230/action/topic#224230
Time
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Mark my words - HD-DVD will win the war. Why? because of the name. HD = Hi Definition. The average joe on the street can understand that. We already have HBO HD, ESPN HD, etc, and the initials HD are slowly slipping into the public subconscious. So HD will win because of the name. Silly, but true.

Heh- you're probably right about that. 'HD-DVD' is self-explanatory, but 'Blu-ray'? "What is that?" Most people won't know.

Frankly, I think it's a little too soon for both of them. The DVD format is only about 9 years old, and most people just aren't ready for hi-def DVDs yet. I've heard that both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray players and software have bugs, but so far Blu-ray is having bigger problems. Maybe in a few years the 2 camps will have the bugs worked out, and consumers will be ready to make a choice. Hopefully, the companies will be able to hold out that long. I think they really jumped the gun on this one- but they were each so eager to beat the other one to the punch, that they put the players out there before they were really ready.

The Star Wars movies will probably be among the last of Fox's back catalog to be released in HD (the PT and the SE, that is) and I think the DVD sales of the OOT will determine the future of those films in HD.
Post
#224224
Topic
Are you Going to buy them ?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224224/action/topic#224224
Time
Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
Originally posted by: Mike O
Originally posted by: Jobel
Of course if people don't buy them, Lucas will just take that as an indication that nobody wants the OT.


And therein lies the catch 22.


Exactly. However....there's another catch. Lucas is supposedly doing this as an experiment to find out which version people prefer. However, as any fifth grade science teacher will tell you, when you set up an experiment, there are some rules that must be followed, like having the experiment be fare. If you want to find out what food a frog prefers, you give it two different foods at different times. You don't just shove them down its throat at the same time.

If you didn't get my metaphor, to have a fair experiment, Lucas would have to package the OOT and the 2004SE seperately to see which sells better.

So, back to my starting point, catch number two is, even if this set sells better than any DVD ever sold, Lucas will just take it as people just wanted the 2004 edition again, only with new packaging and a second disk.

(That's why sending back SE discs is a good idea.)

Yes, but the SE discs were already released in 2004, and I think it's not a bad assumption that most of the people buying the new DVDs in Sept. are people who already bought the 2004 or 2005 sets, and nobody would do that unless they specifically wanted the OOT. George just can't allow the OOT DVDs to go out without HIS vision accompanying them. LOL

I'm buying them, BTW.

Post
#224216
Topic
Great MArk Hamill Interview
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224216/action/topic#224216
Time
I've always loved Mark Hamill, aside from the fact that he's a great family man, he was always the one member of the SW cast who seemed to be a fan of the films, and not just an actor in them. He never tried to distance himself from the films, like Ford and Fisher did.
Originally posted by: Vigo
One of his statements really helped me to fully realize one fundamental difference between the prequels and the originals:

Well, listen, I would have loved to have looked at that first screenplay, for Episode 1, and I would have said, "Uh oh, see, but we had a Han Solo character," who could sort of cut any potential awkwardness, when we'd get close to maybe being a little corny--whenever things with The Force got a little too heavy and mystical, we had a guy who could just sort of act as the voice of reason, you know, he was a mercenary and cocksure and a smartass and he kept the pictures on sort of an even keel. Han Solo was there as the voice of skepticism. But you look at the new pictures and there's not that character to offset the grave fanaticism of the piece. Everyone's so sincere, there's no release from that archness that comes with highly-stylized fantasy.

When I read this, it suddenly clicked, and now I can articulate exactly one important aspect what has always bothered me with the prequels, but couldn´t really describe.

And I think this is also one interesting aspect he brings up:

You can see a huge difference in the films that he does now and the films that he did when he was married. I know for a fact that Marcia Lucas was responsible for convincing him to keep that little "kiss for luck" before Carrie [Fisher] and I swing across the chasm in the first film: "Oh, I don't like it, people laugh in the previews," and she said, "George, they're laughing because it's so sweet and unexpected"--and her influence was such that if she wanted to keep it, it was in. When the little mouse robot comes up when Harrison and I are delivering Chewbacca to the prison and he roars at it and it screams, sort of, and runs away, George wanted to cut that and Marcia insisted that he keep it. She was really the warmth and the heart of those films, a good person he could talk to, bounce ideas off of, who would tell him when he was wrong. Now he's so exalted that no one tells him anything.




This confirms my suspicions that George Lucas has no sense of humor. I remember seeing an interview with Steven Spielberg, talking about a few funny things that he wanted to put in the Indiana Jones movies and he said that George wouldn't let him put them in.

God bless Marcia for saving those scenes- she deserves her Academy Award.

Thanks for showing that interview to us, Vigo.
Post
#224215
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224215/action/topic#224215
Time
Originally posted by: Vigo...But there is a frightening large group of people out there, who honestly think that Star Wars was released in shoddy video quality in theaters, and have absolutely no technical knowledge about video and film formats. Those people keep repeating "But they are in the same quality as seen in theatres back then, so stop whining!". I´m always trying to restrain myself from getting too emotional when i´m confronted with such a large degree of ignorance.
It IS scary how many people think that silent B&W movies always looked scratchy and washed-out, and that color movies from the 30s-70s look "dusty" (as one of the imdb posters put it) and faded. The only reason older films sometimes look bad now is because they have been neglected. When they were new, they were beautiful and pristine- just like any new film we see today.

It's just a lack of knowledge about film history, I guess. Pretty sad.
Post
#224214
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224214/action/topic#224214
Time
Originally posted by: Vigo
Do you have higher resolution scans of this without jpeg compression? I was able to restore the colour completely back again in the ceremony pic (by directly working with the CMYK layers). If you view the CMY layers directly, you can clearly see what layers to how much degree have faded, and try to bring back each layer by hand adjusting brightness/contast in each layer.

Yes I do, do you want me to post it here, or email it to you so that you can play around with it? All I've got on my computer is Adobe Photodeluxe, which allows you to mess with the color balance, saturation and contrast, etc., but not much else. I'd be curious to see what results you can get.

I wish I had a scanner that I could put the piece of 70mm film directly into. The only way I could scan the cel was to hold it up to a window, photograph it, then scan the print (I don't have a digital camera). The cel that's in my signature, I put directly on my flatbed scanner, and you can see how badly that one turned out (way too dark- and blurry).

Post
#223958
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223958/action/topic#223958
Time
Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
That's pretty awesome. It seems that your before pic this time wasn't in nearly as bad a shape as the one you have shown in your sig. Have you tried working on that bit of film?

No not yet. There seems to be much less color left in that one, maybe because it's a lighter scene (it's actually a lot lighter than in looks in my signature pic).
Post
#223953
Topic
Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223953/action/topic#223953
Time
Originally posted by: Tiptup
Originally posted by: Zion

This doesn't make any sense to me. The answer seems to go off on a tangent about HDTV when the claim makes no allusions to it at all. Of course the film looked better in the theater than on home video. To ask for an HD transfer of it is justified, but to me the claim is only referring to the version of the film, not its resolution.


Technically, since the original film version is analog, wouldn't even an HD transfer incorrectly represent some of the details?

Still, I think Vigo's point answers its attached question in the sense that an HDTV version would probably be the ultimate visual way to represent the original film quality at home.

Yes, unless you have a 35mm film projector and a print of the movie, a blu-ray or hd-dvd transfer of the film would be the best way to see a film at home. Only an HD source would come close to capturing all the resolution of 35mm film.

There probably would be some digitally-introduced artifacting, but there's not a lot that can be done about that. Film is analog, and doesn't have pixels, so whenever you're making something digital that didn't start out that way, there's going to be some distortion.

Here's my "experiment" with my piece of 70mm film, BTW. I can see now that I've added way too much cyan and green to cancel out the magenta, but it still looks a lot better than the "before" pic (top).

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/queen1970/rebelceremony.jpg

Post
#223935
Topic
Ages of Luke & Leia
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223935/action/topic#223935
Time
Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle
Originally posted by: Mielr - Well, I'm going to buy the DVDs....


If the DVDs are just going to be the same quality as the hundreds of other copies from Laserdisc then I don't think anyone should waste their money on them. I'm not going to pay LucasFilm or 20th Century Fox a premium price for a pristine copy of the SE and a basic Laserdisc transfer of the OOT! I haven't waited this long for that!

I understand your logic, but I think the DVDs will be better quality than the laserdiscs. Remember, they're coming from the laserdisc masters, not the laserdiscs themselves. Laserdiscs were limited in their picture quality (albeit way better than VHS) so I'm sure there was some picture quality lost in the process of transferring the information from the laserdisc masters onto the actual laserdiscs.

That's why I'm buying them, also because after all this talk about how good/bad they're going to look, my curiosity is just too strong not to buy them.