The Despecialized Editions remain my go-to versions for rewatching, as I prefer the negative-scanned modern Blu-ray look, especially for watching with the Prequel and Sequel Trilogies.
Thank you for the update Harmy. Take your time on this project - overworking isn’t good. The 2.x versions still hold up and will tide us over for now.
I’m 100% hyped for 3.0 but I’d rather wait for a perfected product. Maybe somebody on The Star Wars Trilogy Forums could be of assistance - I’ve seen some impressive reconstruction work using the 4K BDs, including HDR tonemapping like you mentioned.
Thank you again for all of your hard work, time and artistry you’ve already put into these preservations. I eagerly await the day I can watch your 3.0 versions.
I’m biased because I grew up with the Special Editions but I definitely agree, I prefer the SE cut for Empire. Since the most recent versions don’t include Luke’s '97 scream, none of the changes ruin the experience for me and most of them enhance it.
Thanks so much for your hard work on this project schorman. The 2001-05 DVDs made up much of my adolescence and teenage years so these preservations mean a lot to me.
This sounds excellent! I grew up with the '97SE and have lamented the lack of a good HD reconstruction. Count me in as excited to see the results.
I honestly hope this will have a subsequent color correction done like 4K77 v1.4. 4K83 needs it more than 4K77 did IMHO. The colors just seem too desaturated, and the black levels far too elevated. A lot of scenes just look off.
The Blu-ray .iso version has shot-by-shot contrast adjustment and is a noticeable improvement over the original mkv.
This looks fantastic! I’ve wanted to see a project like this done for a while now, and I’m excited to see the results. Thanks so much for your work.
I definitely noticed a strong tint right away on the Blu-ray that I don’t remember from my theatrical viewings. I saw it four times in three different theaters and the yellow/green wasn’t nearly as strong. It really dulls the picture for me.
(accidental post)
IV - Team Blu 1977
V, VI - Despecialized
I-III - Official Blu-Ray
Tier 1: G-canon
Episodes I-VI and their screenplays, deleted scenes, novelizations and radio dramas (when not contradicting the final film) and official reference guides (Visual Dictionaries, Incredible Cross-Sections, etc)
Everything else comes from this and bends before it.
Tier 2.1:
Sequel Trilogy and Anthology films, The Clone Wars and Rebels television series, post-Legends novels and comics, official reference material
Current Lucasfilm canon since 2014.
Tier 2.2:
2003 Clone Wars microseries, Bantam-era novels, pre-Legacy Del Rey novels, '70s-'80s Marvel and newspaper comics, Dark Horse comics, Droids animated series, Essential Guides.
Most of the Expanded Universe, separate continuity.
Tier 3:
Legacy-era novels and comics, Junior Jedi Knights, Ewoks movies and animated series, KOTOR comics, Dawn of the Jedi, The Old Republic.
I won’t outright reject their existence as part of the EU but I don’t much care for them and don’t really think of them as part of the GFFA’s history. My personal S-canon.
Non-canon:
Jedi Prince novels, The Force Unleashed (both), 2013 Star Wars comic book,
I don’t like these and don’t consider them canon.
Despite awaiting it eagerly since it was first announced here, I have only recently gotten around to acquiring v1.0.
It’s gorgeous. Fantastic clarity and detail, color feels right - I actually prefer the slightly desaturated filmic look even to Despecialized. If Lucasfilm released this on Blu-ray, I wouldn’t complain.
I honestly feel it’s the most correct-looking version of the film I’ve ever seen.
I’d love to see v1.6 but I don’t see a Spleen invite in my near future, and I’m more than happy. hopefully the ISO or at least an MKV will show up somewhere else in the future.
Paradox.
I found it. Thanks for the tip.
Despite awaiting it eagerly since it was first announced here, I have only recently gotten around to acquiring v1.0.
It’s gorgeous. Fantastic clarity and detail, color feels right - I actually prefer the slightly desaturated filmic look even to Despecialized. If Lucasfilm released this on Blu-ray, I wouldn’t complain.
I honestly feel it’s the most correct-looking version of the film I’ve ever seen.
I’d love to see v1.6 but I don’t see a Spleen invite in my near future, and I’m more than happy. hopefully the ISO or at least an MKV will show up somewhere else in the future.