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Join date
21-Apr-2005
Last activity
11-Dec-2006
Posts
1,263

Post History

Post
#208192
Topic
In defense of George Lucas!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/208192/action/topic#208192
Time
I have to agree with Bomma here. Here is a quote from the petition which we all signed:
Originally posted by: Jay
Those of us who love your movies and even those who are only casual film fans admire your drive to perfect your vision of the Star Wars experience. We know that you constantly push your creative companies to blaze new frontiers of digital filmmaking and that you are also an artist who is never satisfied and strives for perfection. We, the film-going public, benefit from your vision and embrace the ever-growing Star Wars universe.

Furthermore, we understand that you have commercial concerns and that you need to consider the financial viability of any home video product that you release. Perhaps a Limited Edition run of the original films along with a Special Edition release would be in order. This approach would sate niche market demand, while still targeting the general public and no doubt breaking home video sales records. We want it to be known that there is enormous demand for the original theatrical versions of the films. Your devoted fans would more than likely purchase both an Original Trilogy release as well as any Special Edition versions.

Jay put his point clearly but respectfully, which is the best way to acheive results. It now looks like we're getting exactly what we asked for, and I am very happy about it. Whatever quibbles people have after this set is released are massively overshadowed by the fact that it is happening at all.
Post
#207994
Topic
The Official 2006 Discs Will Be No Better Than What We Have!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/207994/action/topic#207994
Time
The most likely scenario, IMHO, is the one painted by zombie84. LFL would want an anamorphic 24p disc, two reasons not to use the D1/D2 master. Given the advances in video technology, they'd want to do a new telecine/digital scan form the best available source, which would be the '93 interpositive. All this is entirely consistent with Jim Ward's comments, both on starwars.com and in the USA today article. The quote about video quality, which is from the journalist, not Ward (although he is presumably paraphrasing Ward) is: The original films' video quality will not match up to that of the restored versions. This seems most likely to refer to the fact that these editions will not have the digital "restoration" as performed by Lowry for the 2004 editions. To me, this is another plus point.

Now, the worst case scenario is that these are just being compressed from the D1/D2 letterbox masters used for the DefCol & "Faces" LDs (and the last VHS release). Even if this is the case, they will still be the best available version of the OOT on DVD: I will be happy to buy them and I strongly urge everyone else to do the same. This is a good example of an opportunity to vote with our wallets. We all want the OOT to live on into future formats and support for this product now is the best way to encourage that. If it is a big hit, LFL (other than Lucas) and Fox will want to keep re-releasing it to make more money - which is great for us. If it is boycotted because 'it should have been better', there will be no future for top quality versions of the OOT on home video.
Post
#207897
Topic
ORIGINAL STAR WARS TRILOGY OUT 09/2006 BY LUCASFILM
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/207897/action/topic#207897
Time
I've been here almost every day since late 2004 (took a while to read everything before joining). I was away the whole of last week (May 2 - today). What a week to miss.

I'm very happy about the news. This is what we've been waiting for. I will be buying all three (probably both PAL and NTSC) on opening day.

I'm a little sad to see that a lot of people are sceptical about the forthcoming release and are already criticising it. The worst case scenario is that it will be made from the 1993 SD video masters. If so, that will still be better than anything we have now (not going through the LD - PC stages). But my guess is that LFL wouldn't release that on quality grounds and there seem to be some indications they may be using a higher quality source - if so, all the better.

As far as the motivation for the release is concerned, I'm with Zion - who cares? My guess is that OT fans within LFL have been petitioning George (and possibly Fox) to do this all along. Thanks in part to this site, they knew there was money to be made and that was the leverage that made it possible. George would never release them on their own, or permanently (for fear they'd outsell the SE) - so the limited release with the 2004 set makes sense and is a more than acceptable compromise to get the OT on DVD. Just think of the '04 disc as the bonus disc. We should all be thanking Jim Ward right now.

As far as this site is concerned, there is obviously a future for it as there are many of us who want it to continue - and Jay's new direction seems eminently sensible. I think Jay and everyone who was involved in the LD preservation projects should feel proud of themselves for having played a significant part in prompting this release - none of that time and energy was wasted.
Post
#205038
Topic
An exact quote from Lucas on Greedo shooting first.
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/205038/action/topic#205038
Time
Originally posted by: George Lucas
Well, I don't have that shot, so I'll just, you know, fudge it editorially.' In my mind [Greedo] shot first or at the same time.


The more you think about this, the more ridiculous it gets:
a) both the novel and the shooting script state that Han shoots first;
b) "In my mind [Greedo] shot first or at the same time" - there was nothing preventing him shooting it that way in 1976;
c) "Well, I don't have that shot" - but he did, as he had plenty of shots of Greedo pointing a blaster at Solo, to which the laser blast could have been added easily in '77, the same way all the other laser blasts were;
d) which is exactly what he used to make Greedo shoot first in '97.
Post
#204691
Topic
Star Wars books and summer sunsets
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/204691/action/topic#204691
Time
If, like me, you're not really into EU stuff that doesn't feature the classic OT characters (and it sounds like that's the case), you might try the Marvel comic books, which continued with their own story after the adaptation of the first movie was over. Okay, so they're not books as such, but they do feature the OT gang in new adventures. Each one is short, so it's not a big time investment, and you get to look at cool pictures into the bargain.
Post
#204137
Topic
Hypothetical: "Let's do it right this time!"
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/204137/action/topic#204137
Time
No amount of tinkering with individual scenes could have saved the prequels - they needed a top-to-bottom rewrite. The whole tone of the films is different from the OT. The OT has a bunch of likeable characters caught up in action/adventure during the course of which story themes emerge. The PT has a bunch of bland/unlikeable characters engaging themselves with story themes, with the occasional insertion of arbitrary action/adventure.

In addition, the OT had a bunch of likeable actors who gave spirited performances.
Post
#203836
Topic
New Star Trek Movie
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/203836/action/topic#203836
Time
This certainly sounds like a bad idea and the wrong direction to go with the franchise. However, the quality of movies usually has little to do with their concept and much to do with the execution of it (something studio executives never seem to learn). So I'll reserve judgement. After all, the SW prequels were good.
Post
#203834
Topic
Hypothetical: "Let's do it right this time!"
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/203834/action/topic#203834
Time
I have been known to bore people to tears at parties with a two-hour speech about how the prequels could have been better. Recently, though I find myself agreeing with Gaff - I don't care anymore and just want to walk away. However, here are a few main points I'd have liked to see different (in no particular order):

1) Anakin in TPM is the same age as Luke was in ANH
2) Yoda is Obi-Wan's master (not Qui-Gon)
3) no midichlorians
4) Anakin does not come from Tatooine
5) In fact, Tatooine doesn't appear but Alderaan is a prominent planet in the series
6) the story begins with the droids, who are already together, we do not see their "origins" and Threepio is NOT built by Anakin!
Post
#203217
Topic
DVD: Return of the Ewok and Other Little Films (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/203217/action/topic#203217
Time
I'm with Skot. The Donny & Marie show is truly awful, but it's from between SW & ESB, it's officially licensed and features some of the original cast as well as authentic wardrobe and music from SW. In these respects it's up there (down there?) with the Holiday Special.

ocp - are you planning a "Return of the Ewok" v2 or something different? It seems to me that this would make a good compilation with the contemporary Muppet Show and Sesame Street episodes.