Slavicuss

SilverWook said:

That’s a tad harsh.

On the shovel … Yes. On the films … No.

These three films amount to a large pile of steaming-hot excrement. It’s the fans that have to shovel this stuff. Christ, what a mess.

They never became cool, they were bad from day one. I haven’t seen them in a long time, they’re too painful an experience to ever watch again.

DuracellEnergizer said:

JFTR, I’m not just referring to McDiarmid in TESB; I’m referring to him in ROTJ, too. Honestly, I detest Palpatine in ROTJ; he’s 1-dimensional, unsubtle, and he’s incapable of making a good argument for why anyone should turn to the dark side. He’s a live-action version of a Saturday morning cartoon supervillain – an incompetent cornball who sits around his secret lair cackling to his underlings – a far cry from the low-key Palpatine Revill played.

Of course, I don’t pin the blame on McDiarmid himself; he’s a good actor, and as even the PT’s shown, he’s capable of conveying subtlety. I blame the shoddy writing and direction of ROTJ.

I never liked the Emperor. I still don’t. I disliked the fake, put-upon voice. It just sounded like he was trying too hard to be/sound evil. I don’t know whether this was an acting choice or the direction he was given, but I think it was a mistake.

Unbelievably he was even more over-the-top in the prequels.

The 1997 version had less damage done to it than the two later revisions.

I haven’t seen the 1997 SE since I binned the VHS tapes years ago, but I remember liking Boba’s new voice, which had a microphone sound effect added to it for EMPIRE.

These SE’s got worse with each revision.

Anybody know whether the scene with the Emperor referencing Yoda was filmed?

musiced921 said:

Slavicuss said:

RayRogers said:

Only have JAWS 1 & 2 on Blu-ray disc. Don’t even have 3D or THE REVENGE on the format though. Carried over all the features from the DVDs too.
Pity the deleted scenes aren’t 1080p.

It’s very noticeable (deleted scenes PQ) after viewing the Blu-ray versions of the first two films. Presented as supplements allows for their poor state. I’d like to see an extended cut of JAWS & JAWS 2. Very probably never happen though.

I didn’t bother with 3 & 4 - truly wretched films.

I actually had started work on a JAWS 2 Extended Edition using the DVD instead of the Blu Ray. It got sidelined, but I’ll have to dig it up and finish it.

I also used the DVD (a better match for the poor quality deleted scenes) but had to painstakingly reframe each shot and then crop the film to fullscreen due to the deleted scenes (exclusive to the TBS cut) being presented fullscreen only.

RayRogers said:

Only have JAWS 1 & 2 on Blu-ray disc. Don’t even have 3D or THE REVENGE on the format though. Carried over all the features from the DVDs too.
Pity the deleted scenes aren’t 1080p.

It’s very noticeable (deleted scenes PQ) after viewing the Blu-ray versions of the first two films. Presented as supplements allows for their poor state. I’d like to see an extended cut of JAWS & JAWS 2. Very probably never happen though.

I didn’t bother with 3 & 4 - truly wretched films.

They can release these films in 20K (exaggeration), for all I care. I won’t be buying it unless it’s the OOT.

I never found the prequels to be “cool”. A crushing disappointment, imo. The only positive (to me) that came from the PHANTOM MENACE, was that it replaced RETURN OF THE JEDI as being the most disappointing chapter - up until that time.

towne32 said:

Bmman said:

Jack of All Trades said:

This already exists. whoflix.wordpress.com

Thats pretty awesome

It’s definitely an ambitious project. It’s a shame their video renders (at least the ones they make available) are extremely low quality. As a big fan of the classic series, the edits are also way, way too heavy for my tastes, but it’s a cool project nonetheless.

Also keep in mind that there are some omnibus edits that were made (officially) decades ago for some serials. On DVD, there are some serials that were made into feature length edits (such as Planet of Fire, Enlightenment, Remembrance of the Daleks, Battlefield), sometimes with remade effects and soundtracks.

One edit I was recently thinking about (maybe even doing) would be some sort of edit of the Trial of a Timelord season. Trying to see if it’s possible to make the first three stories into standalone versions. Haven’t really looked into it yet.

TERROR OF THE VERVOIDS would be a good start. The courtroom scenes are intrusive - as with the other stories.

Will you also update the SFX too?

Fang Zei said:

robertelee said:

I’m really saddened by how little activity there was. I and a couple others were very proactive about trying to spread it, but is seems the world does not care.

There are more important things to worry about in this world, really.

It’s Disney that should be taking the initiative for the sake of film history.

It’s been five years and still nothing. They’re too busy catering to the lightsaber-waving crowd by producing mediocre crap.

Mocata said:

Hey it’s a bonus, what do they need to remaster anything for. They would probably do it.

I’d take it if nothing else was forthcoming. Even in this poor state it beats the SE’s.

Fang Zei said:

Slavicuss said:

Who knows? Perhaps we may get the 1993 laserdisc master on Blu-ray this time?

Don’t even joke about that.

Considering how said master was only even released as “bonus content” in the first place, they might very well dump it to blu-ray (just like so many other blu-ray releases have ported over 4:3 sd extras from dvd) and treat the OOT as an afterthought. 😉

Sadly, that’s all I think we’re ever likely to get.

I think the shorter version is the more effective. I doubt DISNEY folk have the time or inclination to peruse a wall of text. Still, an admirable effort. Who knows? Perhaps we may get the 1993 laserdisc master on Blu-ray this time?

I can just see the 50th passing by with the same results - no restoration of the OOT, and another generation of kids discovering the SE’s.

I can’t believe this is happening or being allowed to happen. Crazy!

The two part 1977 WONDER WOMAN season 2 serial - “MIND STEALERS FROM OUTER SPACE”, uses footage from THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955).

PHANTASM IV : OBLIVION (1998) uses deleted footage from the original PHANTASM (1979), for flashback sequences.

SilverWook said:

Some of the shots of troopers and Tie Pilots in the corridors of the second Death Star in ROTJ may also be unused Star Wars footage.

I suspect the shots of Darth Vader in his meditation chamber, as seen in the deleted lightsaber build scene from RETURN OF THE JEDI could be outtake footage from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. What do you think?

The opening B/W montage from MAD MAX 2 (1981) contains a deleted shot of Max from MAD MAX (1979).

Footage of Tie-fighter pilots from STAR WARS (1977) are used in RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983).

Not sure about this one? I read somewhere that the quick insert shot of the MILLENIUM FALCON’S hidden gun blasting away the Imperial Snow troopers, was originally an outtake from STAR WARS (1977)?

The DOCTOR WHO 20th anniversary special - THE FIVE DOCTORS (1983) - used footage from the abandoned 1979 fourth Doctor serial - SHADA.

Fang Zei said:

The more I think about it, the more it becomes obvious that people simply do not care about seeing the OOT restored. Or at least there aren’t enough people who actually care as much about it as we do.

If the next several years came and went and Lucasfilm continued to say nothing on the subject, that many more people will simply say “I give up, it’s never going to happen.” Over a long enough timeline there simply won’t be anyone left who actually gives enough of a damn to complain about it. Sure, maybe someone at Lucasfilm will see the money-making potential of a release that includes the original versions, but man, they really seem to need a lot of convincing for something that’s guaranteed to rake in the cash.

The biggest imperative is preserving the movies, because one way or another the films elements will eventually disintegrate. Maybe we really should forget about dangling that carrot of “we’re waiting for you to take our money on this,” a strategy that’s failed to get their attention, and appeal to them on the grounds of preserving our cultural heritage.

In other words, we need to shame them into restoring the OOT.

The only way the OOT will ever be released is over a certain person’s dead body. I think 2020 will pass by without result. It’s up to the fans to keep these original versions from fading away. Just my opinion.

The 40th anniversary of the original film and they focus on the 20th anniversary of the SE’s instead? F**k off!

I’d scan every page of that issue then get a refund. The cheek!

Anybody here still think the OOT will get a release this year or ever?

Fang Zei said:

Man, I got so sidetracked bringing up the '97/'04/'11 versions that I forgot all about how I want the theatrical prequels as well!

Oh, and the 120-minute Imax cut of AotC I never got to see, just for curiosity’s sake.

I know it will probably never happen and those versions will most likely be lost to history, but I could just as easily see LFL putting together multi-disc deluxe sets for each individual movie and charging a premium for them.

If a huge multi-disc monstrosity of a box set, covering all the films and versions (and all previous extras) were ever released, I would buy it instantly. Stuff the price.

Fang Zei said:

Slavicuss said:

Except in the example of Blade Runner the workprint actually was the first version shown to the public. Granted, it was only for test audiences before the wide release, but even then it’s more relevant to Blade Runner since its accidental discovery years later is what led to the director’s cut.

Fox didn’t meddle with Star Wars the way Perenchio and Yorkin did with Blade Runner. George hated the “lost cut” and fired his original editor. His only “enemy” was the technological limitations of the time, although he can’t really use that as an excuse for stuff like Greedo shooting first.

I meant that to mirror the BLADE RUNNER box set (in content) the work print could be included.

Not that I think the ‘lost cut’ would ever see a commercial release.

pittrek said:

Fang Zei said:

Just an idea, but do we think it’s worth telling them exactly what we would want to see included in an ideal release?

What I’m picturing would mirror the Blade Runner set rather closely, with the final version (plus a few “final” surprises if that rumor about Han shooting first again has any weight) on disc one and the unaltered version on disc three. For ANH, the '81 crawl should be branched in as an option on the unaltered disc.

The middle disc could be the '97 version (timed to how it actually looked in '97) with the '04 and '11 edits branched in. The '04/'11 changes are few and far enough between that I feel like they could be easily branched if the disc is primarily the '97 version. It would provide interesting historical context like the three different versions of the Krayt dragon call, Boba Fett’s voice, different Emperor hologram and cgi Jabba, and Luke’s scream in ESB.

I’d settle for just the '97 version’s inclusion without '04 and '11 but I really do think '97 should be there. It’s the version that started this whole debate in the first place and it was shown in theaters in a major re-release.

Disc 1 - 1977/1981 versions via seamless branching + trailers and TV spots
Disc 2 - 1997 SE + 1997 trailers and TV spots, plus all 1997 TV specials/promos
Disc 3 - 2004/2011 versions via seamless branching
Disc 4 - deleted and alternate scenes, Making of, Holiday special, maybe a new docu?

Disc 5 - The ‘lost cut’ work print, to truly mirror the BLADE RUNNER set.