Mielr

User Group: Members
Join date: 15-Jun-2006
Last activity: 27-Dec-2024
Posts: 2,805

Post History

Post: #223934
Topic: Lucas may have caved, here is a link to Barnes & Noble early review of the O-OT DVD's:
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223934/action/topic#223934
Time: 2-Jul-2006 5:39 PM

Originally posted by: Tiptup
We can only hope, but I have a great deal of trouble believing it is true.

Interestingly, the list of features for each DVD on B&N says the following:

"Disc 1:; Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Lawrence Kasdan, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher; Easter Egg - Credit Roll; ; Disc 2:; XBox Playable Game Demo; Lego Game Trailer"

Notice how for disk two it doesn't mention anything about a theatrical release? Wasn't Lucasfilm considering the theatrical release to be a bonus feature?

On the Amazon site, the OOT is also listed first, like it's the main feature (which it is, despite what LFL is saying): "Star wars: 1977 and 2004 versions", "The Empire Strikes Back: 1980 and 2004 versions", etc.

BTW, what is the "easter egg- credit roll"?

Post: #223933
Topic: Soundtrack Listing
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223933/action/topic#223933
Time: 2-Jul-2006 5:30 PM

Originally posted by: Davis
Speaking of soundtracks....

Does the release of the OOT this September give Sony an excuse to rerelease their ROTJ album, with Lapti Nek, the end celebration sequence, and Jabba's source music included? Surely Lapti Nek now has a reason to be on the CD, along with the hideous "Jedi Rocks".

LOL I doubt it. I think the boxed-set anthology will probably be the last release for lapti nek and ewok celebration. I'd love to hear the sail barge music released someday, though (the music playing when Artoo is serving drinks). Someone said that piece of music was "lost", though. Who knows.

Post: #223931
Topic: Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223931/action/topic#223931
Time: 2-Jul-2006 5:24 PM

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
How "OK" are we talking about here?

Not great, but OK. I have pretty primative photo-editing software, so it would probably be better with a more sophisticated program.

Are we allowed to post photos here? If not, I can put it up as my signature pic so you can see it.

Post: #223924
Topic: Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223924/action/topic#223924
Time: 2-Jul-2006 5:10 PM

Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle
Thanks for the LucasFilm adresses, Mielr! Do you know what the roles of the three people are?

Ooooh! You have a 70mm print of Star Wars? Is the whole thing going too red, then? Can it be restored or is it done for?

EDIT: Ah, I've just spotted that Jim Ward is the Senior Vice-President! And the other two?

No, unfortunately I don't have a whole 70mm print...I wish!!! I have some strips strips of film from a 70mm theatrical print, that I got on ebay a few years ago. I have about 4 or 5 different scenes, some have 7 or 8 frames, some are 3 or 4 frames, and yes, they're all faded red. They were like that when I bought them, but there were some really great scenes, so I wanted them anyway. I scanned one into my computer (the scene where Luke, Han and Chewie start walking down to receive their medals), and I tried to color-correct it (just for fun) it came out OK.

John Singh is manager of international publicity, Lynne Hale is director of communications (Sorry- I should have mentioned that before. I'll edit that post).

Post: #223834
Topic: Addresses and contacts for various media outlets go in here
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223834/action/topic#223834
Time: 2-Jul-2006 1:20 AM

I put this in another thread, but it should go here, too...

I've just sent an email to 20th Century Fox home video, saying that I "can't imagine" that the original Star Wars trilogy would be presented in a shoddy, non-anamorphic transfer from an old laserdisc master, as the LFL press release stated it would be.

Maybe complaining to Fox will put some additional pressure on LFL to make new transfers for the DVD. Here's the email address:

foxdrop@4icc.com

Post: #223833
Topic: Lucas may have caved, here is a link to Barnes & Noble early review of the O-OT DVD's:
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223833/action/topic#223833
Time: 2-Jul-2006 1:16 AM

I've just sent an email to 20th Century Fox home video, asking them to clear up the confusion. I also added that I "can't imagine" that the original Star Wars trilogy would be presented in a shoddy, non-anamorphic transfer.

Maybe complaining to Fox will put some additional pressure on LFL to make new transfers for the DVD. Here's the email address:

foxdrop@4icc.com

Interestingly, there is no mention of the 9/12 DVD releases on the Fox home video site (foxhomevideo.com), even in the "upcoming releases" section. I find that very odd.

Post: #223830
Topic: Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223830/action/topic#223830
Time: 2-Jul-2006 12:36 AM

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape

Originally posted by: SilverWook
Possibly the best way to frame the argument is to ask how they would feel if another movie they loved was treated so badly. Imagine the outcry if the only version of Gone With the Wind the public could ever see again was this!

Ew! Why are people so stupid?

Yeah, cropping a full-frame movie to make it into a "widescreen" movie is just as stupid as cropping a widescreen movie to make it fit on a 4:3 TV.

You can also see how the Eastmancolor print has faded red, while the Technicolor example underneath (from the DVD) is still beautiful.

My signature pic is also an example of how Eastmancolor prints fade- it's a portion of a strip of a 1977 70mm print of Star Wars that I have......

Post: #223829
Topic: Lucas may have caved, here is a link to Barnes & Noble early review of the O-OT DVD's:
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223829/action/topic#223829
Time: 2-Jul-2006 12:29 AM

Originally posted by: CO

Remember for the longest time in 2002, ET DVD was just going to be the SE, but the week before the release, all of the sudden they did a 180, both versions, anamorphic, DTS sound. They heard the fans bitchin, and then just kinda put the release out there, and everyone bought it.

Yeah, but that's Spielberg, not Lucas. I think SS might actually give a crap about his fans.
I mean IT IS possible for them to have reconsidered and- "WHOA! MAGICALLY 3 USEABLE PRINTS have suddenly appeared out of nowhere!!! How did that happen???" But I doubt it.

I'm highly skeptical about those B&N reviews. Has anyone else sent an email to them to confirm?

Post: #223827
Topic: OK, the DVDs are coming...so how bad are they going to look?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223827/action/topic#223827
Time: 2-Jul-2006 12:22 AM

Boy, news sure do travel fast on this here intah-net.

Post: #223809
Topic: OK, the DVDs are coming...so how bad are they going to look?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223809/action/topic#223809
Time: 1-Jul-2006 10:55 PM

Ok, this is probably a hoax, but someone is claiming that the reviewer on BarnesandNoble.com has advance copies of the new DVDs and supposedly they're 5.1 and anamorphic. Take it for what it's worth:

http://boxofficemojo.com/forums/viewtopic.htm?p=1380471#1380471

Post: #223807
Topic: Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223807/action/topic#223807
Time: 1-Jul-2006 9:48 PM

All good points, Vigo.

BTW, you say the laserdisc masters are analog, while THX says they're digital- who's right??

Anyhow....
What we need to do between now and Sept 12th is just to keep bombarding Lucasfilm with emails, phone calls and faxes. There's 2 months left to go- we may still be able to make a difference.

If you haven't sent your emails out yet, remember to make them brief and polite- yet firm.

I've already sent out my emails to the Lucasfilm group, but I may put in a phone call or two, as well.

lynne.hale@lucasfilm.com
jim.ward@lucasfilm.com
john.singh@lucasfilm.com
publicity@lucasfilm.com

Jim Ward
Senior Vice President
Lucasfilm Ltd.
5858 Lucas Valley Rd.
Nicasio, CA 94946

Phone: 415-662-1800
Fax: 415-448-2495

*Lynne Hale is director of communications at LFL, John Singh is manager of international publicity at LFL.

Post: #223806
Topic: Ages of Luke & Leia
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223806/action/topic#223806
Time: 1-Jul-2006 9:33 PM

Originally posted by: Anchorhead

Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle
I think that what has disappointed me most is that I thought of Lucas as being like Tolkein.

The only similarity Lucas has to Tolkein is from ripping off the basic structure of Lord Of The Rings for Star Wars. Previously uninvolved person follows strange old wizard to go off and fight the evil lord in a battle of good vs evil.

Yeah, but Tolkien probably ripped it off somebody else. That same basic, archetypal structure has existed for centuries.

Post: #223805
Topic: Ages of Luke & Leia
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223805/action/topic#223805
Time: 1-Jul-2006 9:29 PM

Originally posted by: auraloffalwaffle
Well, not here it isn't! Eh, Tiptup?

I aint gonna buy no crappy DVDs in September!

Well, I'm going to buy the DVDs....and I think the best solution for the inconsistencies in the OOT vs. PT plots is just not to watch the PT.

Post: #223588
Topic: What scene in the (O-)OT do you hate/dislike the most?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223588/action/topic#223588
Time: 1-Jul-2006 12:57 AM

There really aren't any scenes in the OOT that I dislike. The only thing that I would ever change in them would be to erase some of the matte lines- but that's it.

EDIT: I take it back- the scene in Jedi where they show the ewok getting killed- I hate that part.

However, I still wouldn't change it. They HAD to show at least ONE ewok getting killed, I guess! LOL

Post: #223587
Topic: What Special Edition changes (if any) did people like?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223587/action/topic#223587
Time: 1-Jul-2006 12:49 AM

Originally posted by: andy_k_250

The cell block on the Death Star, when shown in a straight-down-the-barrel shot, has a slightly different perspective angle and vanishing point, making it more realistic. Very subtle.
Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
Yeah, in previous versions, there had been a matte painting back there that didn't quite line up with the perspective presented by the actual practical corridor. It's extremely hard to notice. I never did before. It's not that bad, and that's why its correction is so easy to miss.

I guess that's why I never noticed it then.

Thanks for the info- I'll have to check that out.

Post: #223586
Topic: John Williams' Music
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223586/action/topic#223586
Time: 1-Jul-2006 12:37 AM

Originally posted by: hairy_hen

I have that Skywalker Symphony cd as well--it's interesting to hear the various concert arrangements of things that weren't recorded in full for the films. I think the group was only put together for the one recording, wasn't it?

I don't know- somehow I was under the impression that they had been assembled to replace the London Symphony Orchestra when the prequel soundtracks were to be recorded. That didn't happen obviously, but maybe I just misunderstood. I was quite disappointed with that CD- I thought their version of the "Jabba the Hutt" theme was pretty poor compared to the Utah Symphony's version, and the other tracks were no match for the London Symphony's versions, IMO, so I returned the CD.

The Utah Symphony CD is quite good, actually. Their versions of the Star Wars tracks are excellent, although some of them seem a bit slower than the original versions. Their album was the first to feature the 20th Century Fox fanfare before the main Star Wars theme, which was very cool.

They were also the first to record some previously-unreleased tracks like 'Darth Vader's Death', and the 'Jabba' theme- which I don't think the London Symphony ever recorded in full.

Post: #223566
Topic: Soundtrack Listing
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223566/action/topic#223566
Time: 30-Jun-2006 9:13 PM

Originally posted by: Mike O
Is there perchance a listing of the Star Wars sountracks that have been availible like the Davis DVD lising of the video releases? I am a John Williams fan, so I just wondered. Thanks

Gosh, I don't know.

The only ones I'm aware of are the original LP releases of the OT, then there were some 'edited' CD editions that came out in the mid-1980s which I didn't buy. Then there was the boxed-set anthology that came out in the early 1990s which is fantastic. There's also the 'Star Wars Trilogy' LP and CD that was performed by the Utah Symphony. That one is great because it has the full "Jabba the Hutt" theme. There's a 'foreward' on that one, written by John Williams, praising the Utah Symphony and the conductor. There was another "trilogy" release in the mid-1990s that was John Williams conducting the 'Skywalker Symphony'. I was unhappy with the performances on that one, so I returned it to the store. Then, of course, the 1997 Special Edition releases on RCA (the first versions were limited edition 'laser etched' discs) and the 2004 Sony re-releases which have the exact same track listings as the RCA ones. Then the PT soundtrack CDs on the Sony label.

I don't have any info about a comprehensive CD listing. There probably is one, though, but you may have to dig around on the web to find it. Are you also interested in his other soundtrack recordings, or just the Star Wars movies?

Post: #223564
Topic: What are you going to do with your SE discs?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223564/action/topic#223564
Time: 30-Jun-2006 9:00 PM

Someone the other day said they saw a huge, cardboard stand-up in Suncoast video, announcing the DVD release. But, I imagine that the real heavy marketing will start in August, and they'll probably get a big push right after Thanksgiving.

Post: #223562
Topic: Ages of Luke & Leia
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223562/action/topic#223562
Time: 30-Jun-2006 8:44 PM

I have the original 5th chapter from 1938- is was included in a treasury called 'Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural' that was published in 1985.

The book explains: "It is a little-known fact that when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his masterpiece, 'Lord of the Rings,' he rewrote part ot his earlier book, 'The Hobbit', so it would conform with the plot of the 'ring' epic. The major change was in the 5th chapter, 'Riddles In the Dark', in which the titular hero, Bilbo Baggins, meets a nasty critter named Gollum in a goblin cave. Few readers recall the first U.S. version of 'The Hobbit', published by Houghton Mifflin in 1938, yet Tolkien mentions the rewritten chapter in a prefatory note appearing in later editions. Bilbo, he explained, was normally honest, but the evil ring made him lie about what happened in the cave and Bilbo even set down the false version in his own diary, the alleged source of The Hobbit. Completist that I am, I have long sought the 1938 variant of the Gollum chapter. Thanks to my friend, Faith Lancereau, I finally obtained a copy. With the permission of the publishers and the Tolkien Estate, I am proud to present this obscure footnote to hobbit-lore in its first reprinting in many decades..." (Marvin Kaye, editor)

Post: #223555
Topic: Remember when everyone hated Return of the Jedi?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223555/action/topic#223555
Time: 30-Jun-2006 8:30 PM

Originally posted by: vtpeters
I remember Lucas explaining in some ROTJ Making Of documentary that the Ewoks were at one point in the development of the script supposed to be Wookies. In Episode III we finally get to see an Empire vs. Wookies battle...

I've heard/read him say that a bunch of times. He said that Ewoks were just shrunk-down versions of Wookies (it's funny- they practically have the same letters in them) and that the tree-house habitat was exactly the same as what he had planned for the Wookies (there's some of that in the Holiday Special).

Post: #223534
Topic: What Special Edition changes (if any) did people like?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223534/action/topic#223534
Time: 30-Jun-2006 6:33 PM

Originally posted by: RepDetect
- The inclusion of Jabba--at all--in ANH. Despite the fact that, yes, this Jabba looks and sounds better than any other, and sometimes I waver in my opinion that he's okay showing up there, I always wake up and realize that seeing Jabba at this point is a huge pacing mistake as far as the movie is concerned, and it kills the suspense of the 'price on my head' sub-plot that paid off in ROTJ when we finally get to see Jabba. (The resolution of that plotline was actually one of the more enjoyable things about that movie; well, that and the speeder-bikes.)

Yeah, I always thought waiting to see Jabba created suspense- we always hear about this guy, but who is he? What does he look like? Seeing him in ANH is anti-climactic.

What were the changes in the cell-block perspective??

Post: #223532
Topic: What is meant by 'Special Edition'?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223532/action/topic#223532
Time: 30-Jun-2006 6:28 PM

Yeah I thought it was really sneaky of them to make no mention on the 2004 boxed set, that they were the Special Editions (or this week's version of the Special Editions, anyway).

Post: #223525
Topic: Remember when everyone hated Return of the Jedi?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223525/action/topic#223525
Time: 30-Jun-2006 5:49 PM

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
While I found that scene entertaining, I've always thought that it clashed with 3POs previous statement that he wasn't very good at making interesting stories.

I love the 'bedtime story' scene, too. I think it's one of the sweetest moments in the OT. I also always think of the scene in SW where 3P0 says he's not a good storyteller. Maybe he was just being modest.

Post: #223522
Topic: What are you going to do with your SE discs?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223522/action/topic#223522
Time: 30-Jun-2006 5:46 PM

Originally posted by: Mike O

Since it is "bonus material," they technically don't have to list anything about, or at least that is what it looks like. I wonder how much of the general population will buy this release; in other words, I wonder if it's just us who are interested in the OOT, or whether others are as well. I hope against hope that this release will sell well and send a clear message to LFL, but who knows? If the 30th Anniversary boxed set did contain high-quality releases of the OOT, I would buy it without question. But at this point, it looks like everything is up in the air.

Whatever became of the plan to mail back the SE discs? Is it still going on? And how many people are doing it. Just idol curiosity.

I think they will sell very well. I'm sure they're going to be marketing them heavily, especially since they are a "limited edition" to go out of print right after Christmas. I think they will use nostalgia as a marketing tool, and aim them at those who were old enough to have seen them in the theaters originally (baby boomers and gen-Xers).

I'm planning on sending my discs back to Lucasfilm. I was considering selling them on eBay, but I doubt I will get very much for them.

Who else is planning on sending their SE discs back to GL???

Post: #223400
Topic: Just Saw The Unaltered Trilogy For The First Time...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223400/action/topic#223400
Time: 30-Jun-2006 3:31 AM

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
I'd heard the unaltered trilogy was coming to DVD, and I looked into it, and began to wonder what all the fuss was about. I thought my 2004 editions were great, but I read all about the unaltered versions and decided to check it out. I scoured eBay and found a set of DVD's that were the laserdisc transfers. I bought them and watched them.

They were so much better without all that crap added in in the special editions! I was instantly transformed into an original fan. I doubt if I'll ever watch the special editions again. ANH was so much better without crappy CGI Jabba, Greedo shooting first, and other various changes. ROTJ was so much better with the original Ewok song in the end, and no CGI dancers at Jabba's hut. The Saarlac finally made sense to me without a mouth....

So I looked into getting the September DVD releases, thinking it would be cool to have a better transfer and an anamporphic version. (I don't know if my bootlegs are anamorphic or not) Then I saw the news. No remastering. No anamorphic.

I'll stick with my bootlegs, thank you.

I think anyone who sees the original versinos on DVD will like them better than the special editions. Why does George Lucas remain so adament against them? It's just silly! I don't get it.....

Anyway, in short, I just joined this site, and wanted to show that I too am now an orginal fan...
That's great to hear!

The only thing I disagree with you about is your not buying the new DVDs. BUY THEM! Yes, it will be more $$$ in Darth Lucas' pocket- but the quality will be better than your bootleg DVDs, and you'll enjoy them more that way (even if they're non-anamorphic).

In 1977 or 1978 a friend of mine said "wanna watch Star Wars?" I said "OK" not really knowing much about it. His Father had a VCR which was pretty rare back then, and also (apparently) had a bootleg video of Star Wars. I remember watching the first part of Artoo and Threepio in the corridor, and about that time my Mom came in and said it was time to go home.

My love for Star Wars would have to wait.... I also had the opportunity to see Empire in a drive-in movie theater in 1980. My sister asked me to go with her but since I wasn't a Star Wars fan yet I said no (stupid!)

Then, I finally saw Star Wars and Empire in the theater in 1982- it was a pre-Jedi re-release for both of them. I was hooked.

When Star Wars first aired on TV (on HBO) in February 1983(?) I took a tape recorder and hung the microphone over my TV's speaker and recorded the audio for the whole film on 2 or 3 tapes (LOL- that's what we did before we had VCRs, people!). Back then, when HBO had the rights to a movie, they would show it at least 2 or 3 times a day. I'm not exaggerating when I say I think I watched nearly EVERY HBO airing of Star Wars that month. I would even sneak downstairs in the middle of the night if it was on. My Mom wanted to kill me.

You cannot imagine how exciting is was, waiting for ROTJ to come out. The anticipation was unbearable. I saw Mark Hamill in an interview shortly before the release, and he said something like "when you see what happens in the film, you'll understand why it has to be the last one." I was convinced that meant Luke was going to die. I remember seeing the movie trailers in the theater, teasing us with little bits and pieces. I vividly recall seeing one trailer with the shot of Luke with his hands on the bars of the Rancor pit, straining to get out (I don't think I've seen that trailer since...) My Mom let me skip school on May 25th 1983, and took me to see Jedi. The audience was completely full. I thought it was a fantastic movie and I can't tell you how happy I was that Luke didn't die. LOL!

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
Now I have a question for all of YOU who grew up with the OOT. What was it like seeing the special editions for the first time after growing up with the OOT? Were you excited to see them, only to be slapped in the face by the changes? What was it like?

I felt (and still feel) betrayed by the Special Editions, especially when I found out they were meant to "replace" the originals. Initially, I was glad to see them in the movie theater again. I sort of tolerated the changes....until Jedi. The "jedi rocks" scene made me sick to my stomach, as well as the removal of the ewok song. I left the theater disgusted and depressed. A few days later, I had a discussion with a friend of mine at a coffee house, where he was working at the time. He had also seen the SE of Jedi, and he said the "jedi rocks" scene made him feel like he was watching a Disney cartoon. He said "thank God I've still got my THX laserdiscs." My sentiments exactly.

I plan on buying the DVDs in September. Some may see that as allowing George Lucas to win- but he'll never truly win. He'll NEVER win the hearts and minds of those who love the ORIGINAL trilogy!!!