Skyranger

User Group: Members
Join date: 4-May-2006
Last activity: 21-Feb-2008
Posts: 71

Post History

Post: #253977
Topic: my memory isn't that bad, is it? (in SW '77 - Luke misses with the grappling hook?)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253977/action/topic#253977
Time: 29-Oct-2006 4:27 PM

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
Here's an idea. Take a CD of the complete score and try to figure out whether the extra time needed to throw the cable twice would be accomodated by the amount of music. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't exist.

Well, I also certainly seem to remember Luke missing when I saw Star Wars in 1977. This certainly does not mean that it really happened. But looking at the music and timing, I can see where it would be possible.

Time from new OOT DVD.

01:26:09 Luke begins to unreel the hook from his utility belt.

01:26:17 Luke looks at his target, as if he's ready to throw, with an immediate cut to Leia shooting.

01:26:23 It now appears that Luke is just starting to unreel the rope for the grappling hook.

01:26:32 Luke starts his successful throw.

So imagine the time between 01:26:17 and 01:26:23 replaced with Luke throwing, missing, and retracting the rope into his utility belt.

That makes 8 seconds to unreel; 6 seconds to throw, miss and reel back in; and 9 seconds before he throws again, rather than taking 22 seconds to unreel the rope. It fits the music beautifully, with no extra time required. And that is the way I seem to remember it.

I saw Star Wars, to the best of my memory, 7 times in the Glenwood Theater in Overland Park, KS in 1977 and 78. I'm just wondering where others that have this memory (false or not) saw the movie.

Post: #249135
Topic: For Those who bought the Sept. 12th Release, Thoughts so far?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/249135/action/topic#249135
Time: 2-Oct-2006 10:12 PM

Originally posted by: Anchorhead

Originally posted by: Skyranger
I can't help but suspect that those who are COMPLETELY satisfied with this DVD version, and claim they will never buy another, never stood in line to see Star Wars in the theater in 1977.

You are incorrect where I'm concerned. I'm completely satisfied with this DVD version and I stood in line a couple of times a week back in the summer of 1977.

When I watch Star Wars, I'm watching, feeling, and being transported into that same adventure - that same story. The same one I stood in line for every week in 1977. Star Wars is emotional for me - not technical. It transcends the medium or the equipment showing it to me. It's bigger than that - much bigger. I don't see the TV screen or the DVD player, or the rest of the room for that matter.

I don't sit down and watch a DVD transfer process.

There are two ways I could handle this release - I could waste time bitching and moaning about what could have been \ should have been - or - I could let my imagination take me on that same far away adventure I went on when I was a kid in 1977.

I chose the latter.

Well, I certainly enjoy the emotional experience, but the limits of the technology that Lucasfilm CHOSE to use makes me feel like I'm being forced to watch through a screen door, or a foggy piece of glass. I'd much rather have a crystal clear view, like I did in that wonderful summer of 1977. DVD is capable of considerably better. The newly introduced HD formats are capable of even more, imo very similar to the quality of a sharply focused pristine 35mm print.

Post: #248979
Topic: For Those who bought the Sept. 12th Release, Thoughts so far?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/248979/action/topic#248979
Time: 1-Oct-2006 9:20 PM

I'm sure hoping for a version that at least equates to the 35mm presentation of Star Wars in 1977, and really hoping for one that visually equates to the opening day 70mm presentation and includes all three original soundtrack versions. ESB and ROTJ should receive the same treatment.

I can't help but suspect that those who are COMPLETELY satisfied with this DVD version, and claim they will never buy another, never stood in line to see Star Wars in the theater in 1977.

Post: #248910
Topic: For Those who bought the Sept. 12th Release, Thoughts so far?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/248910/action/topic#248910
Time: 1-Oct-2006 2:48 PM

-Is the non-anamorphic quality bothering more than you thought?

No. I actually expected it to bother me more.

-Is the quality actually better than you expected?

Yes. Many scenes look quite good, and much better than they ever did on any copies of Laserdisc that I have owned.

-Are you just putting aside any quality issues and just enjoying the movies again pre-97?

Sort of. I'm trying to, but the aliasing problems are VERY apparent on my 70 inch screen.

-Have you put your hands up, and just become disgusted with Lucas and SW in general now?

I still love Star Wars. But I'm not so thrilled with Lucas.

-Has it made you want to watch the PT movies and become a saga fan PT + O-OT, or are now a true O-OT fan and the story ends with ROTJ, and begins with SW.

It has absolutely NOT made me want to watch the PT. In fact I haven't looked at the PT at all since I got these. In watching the O-OT I continue to see all the great possibilities of what the PT could have been, but wasn't.

-Have you pushed others to buy it who were on the fence?

No.

-If a remastered O-OT never comes out again, will you be content with this set?

No. I'm not content with it now. The O-OT deserves to be released in a version as true to the original theatrical experience(s) as possible. This release does not completely accomplish that. However, I am THRILLED that the 1977 version of the opening of STAR WARS has finally been included.

What really needs to come in the next few years is a high quality HD release of the OT, including ALL the original soundtrack versions (70mm Six Track, 35mm Dolby Stereo, and 35mm Monaural as appropriate). If it's really done right, I will be content with that.

Post: #248888
Topic: Help Wanted: an MP3 of the 1.0 mono mix from the pre-ANH projects?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/248888/action/topic#248888
Time: 1-Oct-2006 11:34 AM

Finally found a way to play this. Thanks for posting. One difference that I noted that I have not seen documented is that the mono mix seems to lack the clanking sounds of the medals during the awards ceremony that is apparent on the 35mm Dolby matrixed version (version on the OOT "bonus" DVD.)

Post: #240260
Topic: What it was like to experience Star Wars for the first time in 1977.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/240260/action/topic#240260
Time: 1-Sep-2006 12:33 AM

Originally posted by: rennervision
I can honestly say the experience was a pretty defining moment for me. It's why I have such an appreciation for film today. It's why I'm very much into home theater. It's why I love movie soundtracks and equate them with modern day classical music. The first soundtrack I ever owned was, of course, Star Wars - on 8-track tape no less!

Very similar to my experience. I saw it for the first time during the summer of 1977. My first soundtrack was purchased later that year... Star Wars, on LP (20th Century Records). During my first viewing I was so involved with the movie that for long periods of time I would forget all my surroundings other than the movie itself. The theater I saw it in was amazing. The Dickinson Glenwood Theater of Kansas City. I am now unsure if I saw the movie in 35 or 70mm, but seeing it on a 70 foot wide screen was an amazing experience. I'm also very much a home theater nut now striving for perfection in both audio and video.

Post: #235551
Topic: Remember what Lucas said about the OOT not existing....?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/235551/action/topic#235551
Time: 15-Aug-2006 11:33 PM

Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
It's probably true that everything on his harddrives has been modified. Maybe he's forgotten that video stored on computers was only in fiction the time the originals were made and thinks that everything was always digital.

Yes. Jim Ward's exhaustive search for source material to present on DVD was apparently of only video sources. I wonder how long it will be before GL and RM start claiming that "Star Wars" never existed on film, but only on digital video.

Post: #232499
Topic: Poll: Who is more annoying, Lucas or McCallum?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/232499/action/topic#232499
Time: 5-Aug-2006 3:20 AM

McCallum, for his maniacal ego.

The really annoying thing that Lucas did, was hire McCallum.

Post: #232496
Topic: Original Trilogy DVD Article in Total Film
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/232496/action/topic#232496
Time: 5-Aug-2006 3:08 AM

Unfortunately this is typical McCallum. Nothing really new here.

Yes, I find McCallum signifigantly more annoying than Lucas. I have ever since I've seen his interviews that are included in the Episode I DVD.

McCallum's position is simple. It's unbelieveable that anyone would want to see a version of "Star Wars" that doesn't have his name on it as producer. Anyone who does is strange in a delightfully damaged way. (You're especially damaged if you like Gary Kurtz.) Really, you have to be strange if you don't prefer the new versions that have Rick as the pilot in all computer generated x-wings, and as the model for the digitally created stormtrooper, etc. Also, don't forget that George is infallible as long as Rick is nearby, so George's original vision is only represented when Rick is involved.

In other words, it's ridiculous to believe that Rick McCallum will ever support anything "Star Wars" that does not bear his name, and does not contain work that he can lay claim to.

Post: #231101
Topic: Do you think they'll fix the sound issues?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231101/action/topic#231101
Time: 31-Jul-2006 11:16 PM

Mistakes? MISTAKES? George Lucas doesn't make mistakes. Just ask Rick McCallum.

Post: #231100
Topic: More changes ?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231100/action/topic#231100
Time: 31-Jul-2006 11:13 PM

I figure at some point we'll have a digtally aged Ewan McGregor replacing Sir Alec Guinness. It will also give Lucas the opportunity to change Ben Kenobi's lines to whatever he considers to be his "original vision" by then.

Post: #231099
Topic: The "original crawl" on the new DVD is NOT the original crawl! Screenshot inside!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231099/action/topic#231099
Time: 31-Jul-2006 11:04 PM

Originally posted by: THX
It's not a cropping issue - the trailer crawl is clearly altered for the trailer (hence the turbo SW logo). The question is "was the trailer crawl altered from an original source rather than remade completely?" And it looks like it was.

I also have not actually seen the trailer. And I HATE the turbo SW logo on A New Hope. It looks horribly out of place, and goes faster than Empire and ROTJ.

Post: #231095
Topic: The "original crawl" on the new DVD is NOT the original crawl! Screenshot inside!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231095/action/topic#231095
Time: 31-Jul-2006 10:59 PM

Well, I guess the force is weak with me.

I forgot to look at one very important aspect, and that is the position of the text crawl compared to certain stars in the starfield. Based on this and by comparing Zombie's scan, and the scan of the DVD trailer frame, and viewing the EOD crawl frame by frame, the difference between the two scans in the original post could not be more than 2 frames (probably no more than one). The "Star Wars" logo on EOD has clearly disappeared at least 20 frames before this, but is still visible on the DVD trailer frame. Even with the age of the film, and a possibly incorrect black level for the video transfer, I doubt this would account for a difference in fade of more than 20 frames.

Post: #231081
Topic: The "original crawl" on the new DVD is NOT the original crawl! Screenshot inside!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231081/action/topic#231081
Time: 31-Jul-2006 10:05 PM

Wow, this has really taken off. I've been absent for several days and missed out on 5 pages.

Anyway, my point way back on page one was that the exact portion of which line of text is visible as the "Star Wars" logo fades from view is probably a poor way to judge if the title crawl is the original 1977 version or a digitally remade version. Does anyone know exactly what source EOD used, and how much the EOD version is cropped from the original negative? 1%, 10%, or more? Variances in cropping would cause this difference.

Post: #228877
Topic: The "original crawl" on the new DVD is NOT the original crawl! Screenshot inside!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228877/action/topic#228877
Time: 24-Jul-2006 11:47 PM

I have "Empire of Dreams" on the screen in front of me still framed on the original crawl. "Star Wars" dissappears just as the line "Rebel spaceships, striking" scrolls onto the screen. This is the second line of text, and the the "Star Wars" logo fades completely out just as this line is about 3/4 visible at the bottom of the screen.

It appears from your screenshot that the trailer may simply be less cropped than the "Empire of Dreams" version, which would actually be a good thing. This would explain why the "Rebel spaceships, striking" line is fully visible while the "Star Wars" logo has not yet faded out.

I have not yet seen the trailer, so I'm going strictly on the screenshot here, versus my "Empire of Dreams" DVD.

Post: #227798
Topic: 20 years ago, would anyone believe...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/227798/action/topic#227798
Time: 20-Jul-2006 11:50 PM

Originally posted by: JennyS1138

-Cloud City was actually a shopping mall (when Lando makes the announcement to evacuate in the SE, it looks like the people listening were shopping there!)

LOL. Maybe it was a Bespin Blue Light Special.

Post: #224557
Topic: John Williams' Music
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224557/action/topic#224557
Time: 5-Jul-2006 10:39 PM

With the Sony re-issues indicating that the masters are now in DSD, I'm dissapointed that there is no SACD release of the original trilogy soundtracks.

Post: #224553
Topic: Star Wars in High Definition: OT clips from "Science of Star Wars" in HD
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224553/action/topic#224553
Time: 5-Jul-2006 10:31 PM

For those of you that have access to HDTV, Discovery HD Theater is showing "Science of Star Wars" again. This consists of various one hour long shows. The shows include various clips from all the Star Wars movies, including the OT. It gives a good sampling of what Star Wars will look like in High Definition. The OT clips look quite superior to the 2004 DVDs on my 70 inch Sony in color and detail.

Post: #222500
Topic: John Williams' Music
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/222500/action/topic#222500
Time: 27-Jun-2006 4:56 PM

I'm certainly no music expert. I'm just someone who's love of orchestral music started with seeing "Star Wars" in 1977. I'm listening to "The Battle of Hoth" from ESB as I write this. I don't know if it's worthy of a college course in music theory, but even after all these years, I still love listening to it.

Post: #222379
Topic: John Williams' Music
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/222379/action/topic#222379
Time: 27-Jun-2006 8:59 AM

I do like the music for ROTJ, but just not quite as much as SW and ESB. Jabba's theme just doesn't demand repeated listening for me, but it is much more memorable than the themes in the PT. The music in some instances seems less detailed (seems to me to be fewer harmonizing instruments, more emphasis on the melody only) but nowhere near so as the PT music. When I saw ROTS I was surprised that the 20th Century Fox fanfare, and the opening title music were so quiet and had so little dynamic range. Based on my DVD, and seeing it on HBO-HD, it seems that this was the way it was intended to be.

Post: #222083
Topic: John Williams' Music
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/222083/action/topic#222083
Time: 26-Jun-2006 11:00 PM

Is it just me, or has the quality of John Williams' music for Star Wars paralleled the quality of the films themselves?

The music for "Star Wars" (1977) and for ESB are brilliant, original, and alot of fun to listen to. Return of the Jedi is still good, but includes some some earlier music just played in a slightly different fashion, and themes that I just don't find as interesting for repeated listening.

The PT seems to have very few noteworthy or memorable themes. ROTS seems a bit more exciting, but it's basically because many of the themes from the OT are being used.

Even the playing of the opening theme seems to be more and more muted and less detailed. In the PT the theme seems to sound more like ROTJ. I had hoped that Williams would use some variation to make the themes for the PT sound more like an earlier version of the one used in Star Wars (1977).

Post: #221810
Topic: George ruined the drama in his own stories.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/221810/action/topic#221810
Time: 26-Jun-2006 12:40 AM

Thanks for posting the Gary Kurtz interview. Very very good stuff. I do remember soon after ESB was released seeing the Time magazine article that layed out the 9 movie line, which of course George Lucas and Rick McCallum now claim never existed, as there were only ever 6 movies planned.

Very sad that we'll never see what might have been. GL took the quick and easy path.

As far as the complaints about ROTJ posted earlier, I don't have the same problems with Jedi. Jabba allowing Leia to rescue Han could have been explained by Jabba finding more value in the entertainment to his guests than in keeping Han as a trophy. Leia responding that somehow she had always known about Luke being her brother, could be just some sense or feeling that something was different about Luke, but that now being told, that feeling made sense. Of course there are elements of Jedi that are weak, and there is the move towards being cute and softening the depth of the story. Even after seeing Ewoks though, who would have ever imagined Jar Jar? At least the Ewoks were cute and sometimes funny.

It definetely would have been interesting to see the ROTJ that would have resulted if Gary Kurtz had been retained as Producer.

Post: #221461
Topic: George ruined the drama in his own stories.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/221461/action/topic#221461
Time: 24-Jun-2006 1:13 PM

In the throne room on the Death Star II:

Emperor: I thought I told you to wait on the command ship.

Vader: WHAT? You never let me do what I want. You don't trust me. You underestimate my powers. I HATE you. (Stomps back to elevator, kicks Imperial guard in knee as he passes.)

Post: #221356
Topic: Yoda slices first.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/221356/action/topic#221356
Time: 23-Jun-2006 10:11 PM

I just noted on ROTS that when Commander (Captain, Colonel, or whatever) Cody gets the message from the Emperor to execute "General Order 66", and somehow telepathically communicates this to the other Cody, that Yoda slices them in half. Yoda didn't even give them the chance to fire at point blank range and miss.... I guess Yoda is just cold hearted, unlike the warm hearted Han Solo.

Post: #221354
Topic: George ruined the drama in his own stories.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/221354/action/topic#221354
Time: 23-Jun-2006 9:58 PM

Another problem I have with the PT, specifically ROTS, is that Vader's talent with the force is used to fight "younglings" (I still hate that term), and the seperatist leaders. The clone army (5 milllion Cody's) are used to kill the Jedi Knights in short order. What happened to Vader helping the Emperor hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights? Vader didn't destroy one full fledged Jedi Knight that I saw (not counting Count Dooku, the used to be Jedi). "You underestimate my power." "My power has more than doubled." If he is so powerful, why was the clone army used to destroy the strongest enemy, and Vader was sent to destroy the weak ones?

Also, I feel no betrayal when brat boy Anakin turns to the dark side. All of his whiny, childish behavior makes me wonder why any Jedi trusted him.