RachelZ3

Oh and I cannot find "Dark Jedi Capture".

Puggo wrote:

"Just suggesting that if you're chasing down laserdisks, laserdisk players, etc., just to experience the original unaltered trilogy, there are easier avenues with less work, less cost, and likely much better end quality."

Well... its a lot more work, I can't even do it, granted it cost me nothing and I am left to imagine what I am missing in terms of quality :(

Went back and tried to find Team Blu's "Star Wars OT".  I started going cross eyed (Austin Powers) and I think I'd have to be able to get into myspleen to see them as well?

One good thing, harmy's post says "Fanedits and preservations are an artform and to be shared among legal owners of the officially available releases only."

So now I own the officially available releases, and my friend also has the LD SE trilogy, so we own them twice over at least (I think I also bought the stupid DVDs).I see they are using the same versions that I have (or will have) on LD.

Somehow they remastered into HD, and I am sure its quite great.

I read that the bonus dvd from the uh... 2004? 2006? whatever, the one time that Lucas did include the original theatrical versions, but they are said to be poor quality (assumed to be intentional, to make the SE's more desirable).

Well it would be nice to see what fans were able to do, but I can't.

Should I post here when I get around to viewing and digitizng my LDs, or do you folks already know what there is and have enough already?

I went to OT.com, read Harmy's post, and the follow ups and really want to follow and see the despecialized versions (I have used torrent once before, some years ago, not really sure how I did it) but the youtube videos are no longer there (not surprising) and directions to myspleen to get an invite lead to another post about how they aren't sending invites any more and how I'd have to hope that someone would take mercy on me to send me an invite, and more likely if I could somehow contribute to the videos, productions, fan efforts... and I do understand why they would want to restrict access, I am just not going to pass muster.  I tried tehparadox but i can't figure out even where to find a search box to search for "harmy" as instructed.

So this is probably why I went back to laserdiscs.

Wish I could see the despecialized versions, really happy they exist.

I did read that the despecialized version is pretty much what Lucas could have/should have done.  I don't have a blu ray player. I'll have to google DarkJedi capture to find out what that is.  In the end I want to watch it on our living room TV, and I wonder what the format is.

I'd be delighted to contribute to the ongoing efforts, I just assumed they already had better source video.  I know less than they do.

Since I didn't pay for the player or the first Star Wars, that's no cost, and I just picked up ROTJ for $20 if it arrives and it is in good shape.  I also already had these digitizers, and they are non-customizable for the most part, so I imagine there are better digitized versions than what I will have, as best as I can do.

I'm off to google DarkJedi... thanks again

Hi- just a quick post to say thank you - that lddb site is a huge help and good info about pre-'97, I really appreciate everyone's help.  I am trying to get back to working on the LDs but you know, life and all that...

I did a lot of reading about the Star Wars edits and formats and issues and had to learn a lot about the LD world, I didn't absorb it all.  I had heard about editing but hadn't been paying attention, I didn't realize how bad it was.  I know, there are people who like the special editing after the fact, but I am not one of them.

It started when I wanted to show these movies to my 6 year old son.  I wanted him to see the movies I saw, and share that experience.  I also sorted out the original of E.T.- with the government carrying guns, not walkie talkies. 

I am also unhappy about the Mac world since Steve Jobs died.  I keep my old equipment, wont upgrade my iOS' or OS'.  Additional to remembering these old movies I also remember what privacy used to be.  And I remember how we could make compilation tapes of music we liked- now you have to buy an app just to hear your own music, or play your own video, and then if you buy the video, its not the video you wanted to see...

So I just wanted my son to see the freaking movies.  You know, the ones that set the world on fire, a shared consciousness, a reality check.  I was in somewhat of a rush, so I didn't take it all in.  I did read gorgeous things about the unspecialized edition, how great that is, and I got to that web page but I didn't get into what was involved to watch the video.  I wanted my son to see it on our living room TV.

That led me to my friend who has the LD and the original first Star Wars, and then I wanted the second and the third.

My first attempt to digitize from LD had problems with the copyright protection, at least that's what I think was the problem, with a white band swirling up through the picture.  Then I digitized a modulated signal, since I already have that set up in my house.  No white band, and fair quality.  Then I whipped out an older digitizer I have, and got the best quality, except for 2 bumps in disc 2.

Now I have that Empire Strikes Back, and just ordered again Return of the Jedi according to the LDDB site.  I dont remember if this means I will have black bars not only on top and bottom but also on both sides.  Every report says this is a big problem but I am hoping it will not be.  Its the new 16:9 ratio at issue. 

About Lucas... I thought this was a Van Gogh quote (slightly different) but found it here:

"It takes two to paint. One to paint, the other to stand by with an axe to kill him before he spoils it." (William Merritt Chase)

More when I have it.  Thank you again.

Thank you for quick reply Jetrell, OK so it's not "Special Edition" and that is a YAY.

But is it still stepped on?  Is it the earliest I could get?  What the heck is this?  from 35mm?  Edited? 2:1? What changes should I expect on this version?

Not sure if I understand what you wrote about getting a seller that isn't as easy to work with (? must be a typo?) but I did, indeed, do a LOT of research.

I looked everywhere, I am sorry if I missed a cover art or release FAQ...

I have my friend's Laserdisc player, and his discs. 

He had the first Star Wars (Han shoots first) and managed to digitize it (although i need to check some spots on disc 2).

I've since bought a Laserdisc of Empire Strikes Back on Amazon, so I can return it if its not a pre-CGI and other "edits", but before I break the seal, can anyone tell me if this is early enough?  Amazon now aggregates all movies (and books) regardless of edition or even format, so even if the information is there in the 512 reviews, I can't find it.

My link icon is grayed out here so I can't link to the artwork on the cover of my laserdisc or the Amazon ad page to show you... the page says: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back, Laserdisc (1980)
Format: Laser Disc

and has 512 reviews at the moment.  

The cover looks like that Amazon page, it's mostly blue with Darth Vader's mask as background, and left to right on top is Yoda, hands resting on his cane, below and to the right Chewbacca, R2, C3, then Luke riding (forgot the name of the creature he is riding) And finally and largest, Hans with Leia in his arms as if he was about to kiss her.

At the top is a nearly 3 inch banner of gold-grey with "Special Wide Screen Edition"

at the bottom is a black 1/2 banner that says Laser Videodisc CBS/Fox Extended Play"

on back cover:

"The film contained on this laserdisc is being presented for your enjoyment in the wide screen format, or 'letterbox,' allowing you to experience the film at home as closely to the original version as possible."

"This LaserVision disc is encoded with Stereo Digital Sound in addition to the high fidelity picture and analog stereo tracks of conventional Laser Vision discs."

Catalog information 24 minutes, Stereo, Color, 1980, number 1425-85

copyright 1980, 1989

Needless to say, I am trying to get the same version I saw in the theater when it came out.  How can I tell what I have here, and is it early enough to escape the "improvements" I don't want? 

Many thanks for any help.