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Scruffy

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Join date
29-Nov-2005
Last activity
31-May-2016
Posts
625

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Post
#213379
Topic
Info: the Galactic Trade Federation website
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213379/action/topic#213379
Time
I'll set up a site on my own server where I can keep changes I've made and maybe you can see them live and download them at your convenience. I'm not an HTML Jedi, but I can at least fix the formal problems with the syntax then we can hammer out logical and stylistic problems later. The site will eventually be up at http://www.ofkaiser.com/gtf/.

WRT the banner, it's not perfect, like I said it's a little bit bigger (20-30k) and there are black lines around some of the text. But those won't show up against a starfield, only against a lighter background -- an effect we know very well from the SW Trilogy. I just used the Gimp to add an alpha channel, then select the black regions and cut them away. I posterized the yellow aurebesh text to make the file 12k smaller then cleaned up a few stray pixels with the eraser.

Post
#213377
Topic
What scene in the (O-)OT do you hate/dislike the most?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213377/action/topic#213377
Time
Why would you not buy it? It's spelled out by characters in the film and is all but required for the chain of events to make any sense at all. As for RotJ, they were plenty precise. Especially for an armored scout group that was probably only there to screen the legion at the shield generator's main complex. Essentially lightly-armored REMFs.
Post
#213344
Topic
I just compared my 'Hoosiers' Anamorphic & Non-Anamorphic DVD's
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213344/action/topic#213344
Time
Yeah. Hoosiers was a late generation LD, made in 1995 (possibly with the intention that it would be used on DVD when the format was finalized). The Star Wars LD predates that by several years. I don't know how much (if any) the state of the art changed in the interim, but I wouldn't use the later product to set a lower limit for the earlier product.

Also keep in mind the film elements of ANH and ESB were older at the time of telecine than Hoosier's were when it was scanned; with Lucas's admission that some of the ANH film stock was bad, there's more evidence that the SW laserdisc master was poorer than that of Hoosiers'. The greater image area of the latter may also serve to mask artifacts; any small error in the neg/print, transfer, or encoding will be proportionately larger on a 2.35:1 film than a 1.85:1 film (since we're holding horizontal resolution constant).

I'm just not confident that Hoosiers is the best predictor for the quality of the SW DVDs. If I'm only allowed one data point to predict a trend, I'd prefer it to be as close to SW as possible -- same aspect ratio, same photographic stock and techniques, same age when the transfer was made, same postprocessing, etc.
Post
#213339
Topic
Lucasfilm lunch hour
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213339/action/topic#213339
Time
[quote]People boycotting this DVD release (even though I understand why) is going to hurt us. We need to see these sales do extremely well. Amazingly well. And even though our complaints are logical and founded, how are we going to let Lucas really know that the OOT disks are the ones we want?[/quote]

They're going to have to sell amazingly well, or not at all. Anything in between will send a mixed message that LFL is free to interpret however they want, and in that case, ego may trump greed. I know which way I will be tipping the scale.
Post
#213315
Topic
What scene in the (O-)OT do you hate/dislike the most?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213315/action/topic#213315
Time
Originally posted by: Dug
I don't like seeing through "bat girl's" eyeballs in the cantina scene, otherwise, I love the original cantina scene. I don't like Obi-Wan's line when they discover the destroyed sandcrawler, saying that "only imperials are so accurate," yet none of them can hit a broadside of a barn when they chase after the heroes on the DS.


They're not trying to hit them (with the possible exception of the prison block guards). They're trying to delay them, then herd them onto the Millennium Falcon so they can lead the DS to the rebel base. I'm surprised how many people don't pick up on that, even after Tarkin and Vader discuss the homing beacon, and Leia explicitly says, "They let us go."
Post
#213281
Topic
Info: the Galactic Trade Federation website
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213281/action/topic#213281
Time
Unless there's something going on I don't see, no coding is necessary for a static website like GTF. Only markup. And some good markup and CSS could make it look very nice.

First thing I'd do, is I'd take that banner, cut out all the black space, and make it a transparent PNG. That way, the starfield (or whatever background you use in the future) will be visible behind it, instead of a big black rectangle. Think of it as matte boxes vs. subtle matte lines. I've already done this, if you're interested. The file is slightly larger, but I might be able to trim it down a little by playing with the colors.

Next, I'd consider making the navigation more logical, or at least more readable. I often enlarge text on my monitor to help me see it; because your top frame doesn't have a scroll bar, when I enlarge the text it gets chopped off, or just invisible. This can be fixed by rethinking the frame layout, or ditching the frames altogether and doing something clever with CSS and/or javascript. (Make sure it works with a plain text browser before putting in JS tricks, please; many of us don't have or want JS.) I can come up with some templates that might look better if you'd like.

The page doesn't validate as HTML 3.2. It's closer to HTML 4 Frameset, but even then, it has a few errors. I'd fix those up. If you're going to declare an HTML DTD, you should conform to it.

It looks like you're using tables for non-tabular data. HTML should be used for markup, and CSS for style. In fact, I'm not sure what's going on here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russdawson/gtf/dvd/OT/tr47.html
There's a couple end tags for tables that were never opened, and many elements put within tables that aren't allowed there. This can be avoided by separating structure from style. And two start tags for your body element.

If you write tag soup, you might be able to get it to work in most of the browsers used today. But it's much better to write to the standards first, and then make tweaks for the special cases that require it. That way you're not forever rewriting things to work in new user agents. It's also more accessible for visually impaired persons that way; I recall we had someone visit OT.com who used the JAWS screen reader, so we know there are people in our community who might benefit from that. (I commend you for using alt elements, btw.)

If you need a markup monkey to fix some of this stuff ... I've got some free time. I'd love to give something back to the O-OT community. Besides my wit and charm, I mean.
Post
#213228
Topic
I just compared my 'Hoosiers' Anamorphic & Non-Anamorphic DVD's
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213228/action/topic#213228
Time
I don't know guys, out of principle we shouldn't buy it, but I am really starting to reconsider....

Then the Emperor has already won.

Can you make some screencaps?


Keep in mind you'd have to blow your screen caps up to 50" to make the same comparison that CO has done. Looking at screen caps on your 17" monitor isn't the same. It's also not a valid scientific test because CO can't control all the variables; telecine techniques, noise reduction, etc.

To me, non-anamorphic widescreen materials look pretty bad over fifty inches. (I'm looking at you, original release of Star Trek Generations.) But that's not the only issue at play here.

By asking for a new, anamorphic transfer, we're looking at a better payoff in the future. If Lucasfilm remasters the O-OT now -- and especially if it pays off for them -- there's a better chance we'll see it again in the HD age, either through video-on-demand or whichever HD disc format dominates. The digital master will be ready, they'll just have to dump it on a disc; it may not even be necessary for them to downrez or re-encode it. High definition is likely to remain a standard for decades, and a HD version of the O-OT will ensure that it remains available.

If, on the other hand, LFL does not create a HD master now, we will just have to fight this fight again in the HD age. Every excuse used by Lucasfilm now will have even more resonance in the future, as film elements continue to degrade and O-OT fans continue to be replaced by SE fans. If we fail then, the next generation of film viewers will have been acclimated to 1080p video, but the only O-OT available to them will be 480(i?). To put it simply, in 30 to 40 years, no one will watch the O-OT(1).

Tactical doctrine demands that we strike with our amassed forces where and when we have the initiative -- that's now, on this issue. Any wavering or doubt could have catastrophic consequences for years, if not decades, to come. So do not doubt. Do not waver. Remember what's at stake, and that you have allies in the film industry, in the press, and the new media. We owe it to them, and to our posterity, to see this thing through.

(1) Interesting side-note. If Lucas sticks to his comments about Star Wars (1977) being a workprint, it will enter the public domain in forty-one years.
Post
#212673
Topic
Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212673/action/topic#212673
Time
Susanne Ault made a few mistakes in her VBO article...

In the wake of extreme fan protests, Lucasfilm is positioning its release of the original ’70s theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars movies as bonus features.

Only one of the films was released in the '70s, and frankly, I think most of us would be happy with the '80s version.

The prints for the Sept. 12 DVDs of Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope,

But as long as we're talking about the '70s version, it's Star Wars ... no "Episode IV," or "A New Hope." In fact, Lucasfilm themselves have advertised it as such.

This means that Episodes IV-V1 will bow in their original film composition, not in the more cinematic anamorphic widescreen transfer.

The Star Wars series were originally composed anamorphically on film. The word "anamorphic" takes on a slightly different meaning when discussing film instead of DVD, but since the home theater enthusiast market values faithful reproduction of the "original film composition" over almost anything else, one should not mistake a low-resolution scan of film with its "original composition."

“We put a lot of time and effort into digitally restoring the negatives for the 2004 DVD releases,” Singh said. “The late ’90s theatrical versions represent George’s vision for Star Wars." ... Both old and new versions of Episodes IV-VI will be included in the Sept. 14 Star Wars sets, to be distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The revamped ’90s theatrical versions will be offered in widescreen.


The late '90s theatrical versions are not available on DVD. The 2004 versions differ signficantly from the 1997 versions, principally in color timing and sound mix, along with some narrative changes.

This release also represents the first time the movies will be available individually.


Surely Ms. Ault means "available for purchase individually on DVD?" They have been available individually on VHS and laserdisc for some number of years, and are available for individual rental at any number of rental outlets.

Fans have threatened to boycott buying the original Star Wars films if they aren’t cleaned up.


The cleanliness of the transfer elements used is an incidental issue. Fans are primarily interested in receiving a good, anamorphic transfer. If existing film elements are unsuitable for a DVD-quality transfer, then clean them. If not, use them as they are. Other great films of the period, like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and even "Let Me Die a Woman" get good anamorphic transfers ; why should Star Wars fans settle for a laserdisc master?
Post
#212418
Topic
Original Trilogy Novelizations
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212418/action/topic#212418
Time
[quote]Believe what you want though - if you think there are ducks in the star wars galaxy, cool. There's a 50s diner, so why not a duck?[/quote]

There's also homo sapiens and Sequoiadendron giganteum, along with various other grasses, flowering plants, trees, etc. There's no particular reason to believe that anatidae (or a similar family with enough morphological similarity that "duck" adequately translates whatever name they bear in Galactic Basic) don't exist anywhere in the known Star Wars galaxy. I'd certainly expect them to have evolved on at least one of the thousand-thousand worlds that make up the Empire, along with one of everything else that we know here on Earth. (Except the platypus. That bizarre thing doesn't even belong in sci-fi.)

It could be worse. Lucas/Foster could've gone the Hubbard route and called them "water-swimming birds" or "oil-feather birds."
Post
#212416
Topic
The Holiday Special: Was it Anikian or Palpatine who....
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212416/action/topic#212416
Time
[quote]
Which brings me to: How the hell did Tarkin out rank Vader! I mean come on!
[/quote]

Well, Tarkin was older, and was probably working the organs of power when Vader was still writing love poetry (in rhyming couplets, naturally) on the verdant moors of Naboo. Tarkin also never got carved up by a Jedi or fell into a depression over the death of his wife. He didn't go around killing Imperial officers, and needed no one to hold his leash. That's the difference between a career military/political officer and a thug.
Post
#212349
Topic
The Holiday Special: Was it Anikian or Palpatine who....
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212349/action/topic#212349
Time
It worked for Data and Bender. Oops, wrong skiffy franchises. And Bender's head was in a hole, not a cave. But I digress.

Back on topic ... C3PX, you have no idea how dumb training videos can be. I can totally see some Moff decreeing that his Systems Army of conscripts and leftover clones needs some education and getting the Imperial equivalent of Children's Television Workshop to produce it.

According to Lucasfilm's canon policy, every element of the Holiday Special that does not contradict higher canon is in continuity. That includes Itchy, Lumpy, Life Day, etc; but probably excludes the Boba Fett cartoon, since that contradicts the filmic characterization of the Rebel Alliance as a secretive organization. Bast's survival is in question. I would argue that the canon policy only applies to Lucasfilm writers and that each and every fan can enjoy their personal continuity, free of corporate policy, but lots of fans are devoted to the "real" story according to whatever Lucasfilm is wearing this season.
Post
#212344
Topic
Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212344/action/topic#212344
Time
Originally posted by: Shimraa
dont talk about boot legs they are illegal, you broke the law when you bought them you know.


I've never bought a bootleg. And I double checked the guidelines in the Important Announcements forums, and it doesn't say I can't talk about bootlegs, except "bootlegs of current or recent theatrical releases, screeners, (or) pre-retail/retail DVDs." If you like, I can call them "fan preservation effots," "samizdat reconstructions," or perhaps "personal media-shifted backup copies." But it call comes down to the same thing in the end.

I'm still waiting for the announcement that George Lucas is personally cancelling this fall's DVD product line out of spite for a few tens of thousands of fans. It'll be neat watching all those distributors and retailers who have already placed orders scramble to issue refunds and find something else to fill their shelves. And those dumb t-shirts will become instant collectors' items.

wmgan, pirates steal things off ships and bootleggers manufactured and distributed alcohol during Prohibition.
Post
#212245
Topic
The Holiday Special: Was it Anikian or Palpatine who....
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212245/action/topic#212245
Time
Well, the troopers who viewed Life on Tattooine were part of the task force searching for the Rebels on Kashyyk, right? Vader was more concerned with strategic matters by that point, and it's unlikely either him or Palpatine involved themselves in minor matters like cultural lessons for the troops. (Besides, Vader was so unsettled by his return to Tattooine that he never set foot on the planet. The last thing he'd do is try to get more people interested in it.) It's more likely a subordinate commander gave the order. That raises the question: Why?

The cordon and search of Kashyyk was a huge operation against a hostile population and, frankly, likely to fail. The Imperials had to know that any Rebel activity on Kashyyk would reach its zenith during Life Day, then the Rebs would move on to more far-flung cells. It's possible that Tattooine was the next stopover for that particular task force if the Rebels weren't caught among the Wookiees. In that case, a cultural briefing would be required before redeployment. Such educational films or briefings are really common in the armed forces, although usually they aren't briefed in the middle of cordon and search operations.