Smoking or non-smoking?
Good clean, wholesome, family entertainment.
Was Walrus Man’s severed head also filmed?
Almost none of the original deleted material belongs in the films … the CGI junk, even less so.
Fang Zei said:
Maybe just maybe they’re saving the long sought after unaltereds for last.
If nothing happens in 2027, you’ll have your answer.
alter said:
Also wondering… was any video ever released of the royal guards crossing staves in front of Vader? It mirrors/adds foreshadowing to the shot of the Gamorreans barring Luke’s entry. It’s been so many years, I can’t recall where I saw/read about that.
Isn’t that from the deleted scene where Darth Vader almost strangles Moff Jerjerrod? Or is that (crossing staves) from another deleted scene?
It’ll NEVER happen.
The prequel novelisations expand and improve upon the (disappointing) films.
why use a primitive one when you can have a modern one?
Fresh air is nice.
Not a ship but, no votes for the Ewok Hang Glider?
Best performance(s) in the OT? The actors portraying the Imperial Officers.
As a poster already noted, they’re very watchable.
Mark Hamill was earnest in his performances throughout the OT, but imo, never convinced as a Jedi Knight in RETURN OF THE JEDI. He was more believable as a farm boy.
Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor was variable. Very effective in some scenes, but corny in others. Never did enjoy the funny voice or cackling.
Carrie Fisher was effective - even when wasted (drugs).
Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew probably deserve the most praise.
ATMachine said:
One thing that’s to Lucas’ credit IMO is that he’s always been very worried about what sort of things might break audience immersion.
Like bad dialogue and poor acting?
The 2015 Blu-Ray is solid, probably the best one out there and it has both cuts on the disc.
I used to like the extended cut but over time I’ve come to prefer the pacing of the theatrical. One of these days I’d like to do a hybrid cut with just a couple of extended cut scenes restored…
(FYI I’m talking about the primary extended cut; the Easter Egg one has the cheesy alternate ending, I think.)
The second extended cut has the deleted scene in John’s bedroom, with the T-1000, and the Michael Jackson reference/Planet of the Apes make-up for Linda Hamilton alternate ending.
I don’t like the deleted scene where John Conner is trying to teach the Terminator how to smile - Schwarzenegger looks like a horse.
As with STAR WARS’ 40th anniversary celebrations, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is shamefully unavailable (officially) in its original release form.
I see nothing here to celebrate.
Start at the beginning.
Original 1991 theatrical release first. If you enjoyed that, then treat yourself to the 1993 SE, and if you also liked that, spoil yourself with the *extended SE cut (a home video exclusive), that can be accessed by a code. The code (Judgement Day date) should be provided somewhere on the disc packaging.
ATMachine said:
Looks like Leia’s Hoth hairstyle may have been different originally, with two long dangling plaits instead of a crown braid.
I think she also played a background extra (female rebel soldier). A completely different character to Leia - hence the different hairstyle - and costume.
Such sad news.
One thing that I, selfishly, immediately thought about was a conversation I had with him that was, I believe, sent through PM on facebook. He has videotape copies of the SW workprint in his storage. Not sure if it’s B&W or what but he said he had it.
I wonder what is going to happen to his archives now.
And I was selfishly thinking about his upcoming Bob Penn ALIEN book.
By “SW workprint” you mean he has/had videotape copies of “The Lost Cut”?
I just want the OOT. I have no interest in the SEs (1997 / 2004 / 2011 / 2019).
Other good news, I found a cheap copy of the Australian 30th Anniversary JAWS PAL release, so I’ll be able to check the deleted scenes out and compare them to the 30th NTSC.
Hang onto the 30th Anniversary 2-disc set you’ve acquired. There’s some new images in the photo galleries you won’t find in any US release and an interesting interactive feature on GWS anatomy.
It’s a 2006 release … so, it’s OOP. Try Ebay.
hmmm so i should get the UK DVD?
Yes. I have it and I’m very happy with it. I don’t think it has any bonus content, not even the trailer?
The shorter European Cut also has some alternate takes and camera angles in addition to the ‘shotgun scene’.
The trailer has a brief clip from a deleted scene, that can’t be found in any other versions (that I know of). There’s also an alternate take of Barlow coming into frame (the prison cell?).
Maybe the crowd was just more of these guys?
Or else I think it’s just his personal army of Torgos. ;P
Who exactly are those guys? Anyone know?
Perfumed, arse-licking toadies. The Emperor kept them around as advisors, I think. If you’ve read the RETURN OF THE JEDI novelisation, you’ll know Lord Vader had a very low opinion of them.
I actually did read the novelization, but it was a long while ago and I barely remember it.
Time to revisit it then. It’s a well-written novel with plenty of interesting passages (expanded scenes and dialogue).
I don’t know why Snoke couldn’t have made a reappearance in Ep IX. The Snoke in Ep VIII could’ve been a clone, with the original hidden until the next chapter.
I didn’t like the Emperor in the prequels. The acting was OTT. Ian McDiarmid was more subtle in Ep IX. Better make-up too.
SilverWook said:
What was Kenner thinking making one of these guys an action figure when we never even got a Wedge?
Poor chap never even got a proper name at the time.
I remember seeing this ‘peg warmer’ in 1985, along with some other collector coin figures. I thought it was an ugly woman at the time. Bizarre choice for an action figure.
Maybe the crowd was just more of these guys?
Or else I think it’s just his personal army of Torgos. ;P
Who exactly are those guys? Anyone know?
Perfumed, arse-licking toadies. The Emperor kept them around as advisors, I think. If you’ve read the RETURN OF THE JEDI novelisation, you’ll know Lord Vader had a very low opinion of them.
I’ve heard that before, and I think it’s clear that Lucas’s on financing tactics are to blame at least partly; he wanted to test out the CGI and also make money to fund TPM. What makes zero sense are all the later differences over time, particularly when some changes like Luke’s scream in ESB went back to the old version. The sad truth is that he’s probably just an obsessive old control freak, and this is his way of being involved in “his movies” after the other really creative minds have been forced out.
Very sad that he has to keep revisiting the films and ‘improving’ them into failures.
This has to be some sort of age thing - or mental health issue? Crazy, whatever obsesses/drives/compels him to do this.
Apologies if anyone else commented on this previously, but I wonder if LFL/Disney intend to sit on the unreleased footage from Ep. IV etc. and the OT editions until the 50th anniversary of Star Wars?
It’s a horrible thought, but maybe they are already thinking ahead to 2027?
They could be. I was hoping the previously unseen outtakes (alternate Death Star conference scene, etc) unveiled during the 40th anniversary celebrations would be part of the 4K set’s bonus features. Sadly not.
Who knows whether physical media will still be around in 2027? I suspect DISNEY are sitting on and plan on using the wealth of unseen material for their digital services. If the OOT is ever released by them, it’ll be exclusive to the service.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens after Lucas passes. The original versions are simply too important to people for DISNEY not to do anything with them.
Thank you Slavicuss - it sounds like the 30th Anniv NTSC edition is the one to get then. Hopefully I can get it back from my buddy
The thing is, the R4 PAL DVD version appears to have a slightly better looking image for the deleted scenes than the R1 NTSC DVD. I think the PAL image has a bit more resolution and sharpness to it?
