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captainsolo

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13-Mar-2009
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25-Mar-2024
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3,017

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Post
#367728
Topic
97 Special Edition
Time

If the originals hadn't been locked away in the vault for all time there wouldn't be such hatred for the SE. I enjoy and appreciate both versions but feel that they should be available to all. Instead we are forced to live off VHS and Laserdisc.  I understand people's hatred for the changes, but the 97 SE was how I first encountered the films. If I hear another time that the 04 DVDs are the 1997 Special Edition I will go to the window and shout-"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

Thought about going for the GKar and etc. but saw Max Rebo's superset project and decided to wait it out. Have a really good WS VHS set in the meantime. (no LD player!) BTW do the 97 lasers only have a 5.1 track? I've heard that the theatrical release was DTS, but am not sure. What I'm really looking to do is recreate as closely as possible my orignal experience in 1997.

Post
#367406
Topic
Why can't we have a non Lucas Star Wars film?
Time
JennyS1138 said:
Gaffer Tape said:

Wow, Jenny!  Haven't seen you in forever!  Stop hiding yourself already!

But I don't know.  I'd rather Star Wars just finally be allowed to die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die!  No more sequels, no more prequels, no more spinoffs.  Just let it end already!

Hi! I just kind of got out of the Star Wars mood for a while. I did watch Empire recently though with speakers and it was so awesome! 

 

The prequels, websites, EU novels, and 04 DVDs did it for me.  Only the Empire GOUT on speakers was able to bring me back out of carbon freeze. Instead of ROTS, I would have much rather seen a film version (made by someone else!!) of Shatterpoint-the Mace Windu meets Heart of Darkness Clone Wars story.

However, I still maintain that the best period still remains unexplored. (III-IV) Where is a movie that pits Han and Chewie against the universe? If only our favorite smugglers could have their own film.

Whatever this live action series is will just be another clone wars crapfest. I really have no desire to sit through more prequel-like garbage. "Let go, George!"

 

Post
#366948
Topic
THE STAR WARS SAGA - 1080P AVCHD DVD-9 for PS3 & Blu-Ray players - Episodes 1, 4 & 5 available now
Time
adywan said:
digitalfreaknyc said:
starwarsfan8376 said:

I've just tried burning this twice to play thru VLC and both discs appear empty?   What am I doing wrong?!?

 

 AFAIK, it will only show up in a PS3, no?

no. If you have the UDF 2.50 driver installed you can view the video in windows using VLC, Media player classic amongst other players. Just open the BDMV>STREAM folder and just play the .m2ts file

 

Just a quick question. When I use the test clips, they will play in vlc but with little jumps and lags. The audio has no issues. Things are slightly better when I open the file through the streaming option.  I wanted to make sure what this meant before I tried to download the real thing. I'm referring to the IV sample. The clip with the pre-2004 Emperor works almost flawlessly-just a few little lags. I tried the 14GB sample of ESB and the video was one giant lag. Not sure if I have the UDF 2.50 driver or not (running on Vista).

 

Post
#366880
Topic
Forget about the ridiculous and unnecessary changes...
Time
SilverWook said:

Not every director enjoys as much control as Lucas does, and movie scripts are often rewritten by many others whose names never appear on the final product.

Some of the better dialog between Indy and Marion in Crystal Skull has been attributed to Kasdan.

 

That last bit would not surprise me in the slightest. Some of their retorts were the freshest dialogue in that mess.

Kershner even talks about what he tried to do on Never Say Never Again and all the troubles he ran into because of the control issue.

Post
#366809
Topic
1997 Special Edition Restoration thoughts...
Time

I really do hope the Blu-Ray is "definitive" with every version in a properly treated anamorphic transfer. As it has been said many times, SW deserves a Blade Runner treatment. Ridley Scott's letter in the set reads: "I have included every version restored so that you may enjoy the film however you wish." Why can't GL swallow his pride and do the same? RS has his personal final cut but was happy to restore and release everything down to the unfinished workprint! We deserve one final set with Theatrical, 97, and 04 versions with all soundtracks!

Unfortunately this is likely never to be. Even THX-1138 could not escape GL's CGI paintbrush.  I just wish the 97 SE wouldn't be cast off into the Sarlacc for 1000 years.

I never understood why the 97's weren't released on DVD. They could have easily been put on an early dvd-even a snapper case-and we would have been much more satisfied than we are with the abominations of 2004.

The only way to have the 97s is to preserve them ourselves. I would like to personally track down 35mm prints, but I have a sinking feeling GL destroyed them. Who knows? If they were discovered in Kansas, the world wouldn't hear about it for years.

Post
#366803
Topic
I think I might have a lead to the lost sand storm sequence footage
Time
TheBoost said:
C3PX said:

I love Jambe Davdar; he is greatness. I remember when he used to have popularity somewhat akin to adywan, now he is all but forgotten... Been a while since I have Returning to Jedi, watching that youtube clip of it has me interested in giving it a rewatch.

 

 I've spent all morning watching those films of his on YouTube. I want desperately to by this man a beer... or at least a big hello kitty plush doll, whichever he prefers.

 

I've done the same thing. Youtube can be a very powerful ally.... BTW does anyone know what source Jambe Davdar used for BE and RTJ? I could never tell if it was GOUT or 04. Or is is both? I thought it was GOUT, but fullscreened youtube makes it look anamorphic-I think. My favorite parts are the comments from 1993-are these from the Definitive Collection LDs?

Post
#366534
Topic
Forget about the ridiculous and unnecessary changes...
Time

I went through the commentaries back in 04-and have not watched one of those discs since. Tempted to do so now. Kershner was the only commentator of note, and although I have respect for Burtt-he seemed to be the only one talking much. The commentaries on Jambe Davdar's Building Empire/Returning to Jedi are fantastic and informative-are those from the 93 Definitive LD set? I wish I could listen to Ken Ralston talk about the flying potato in the ESB asteroid chase instead of GL: "oh, and here is another little thing I did so there you go.". No effort was made to make these interesting or informative in the slightest. Most fans already know exactly what they are saying anyway. I got much more mileage out of the bonus disc with Empire of Dreams. (only reason to have original box set!)

And I agree with GL not liking loss of control on ESB. Kershner was his former teacher (weird!) and did things his way. Marquand seemed to be attempting to do so, and in behind the scenes footage GL is right there over the shoulder "advising".

Post
#365802
Topic
Goodbye Prequels FOREVER
Time
Vaderisnothayden said:
Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
LexX said:

Raiders is bland. I find it boring,

I wonder if this is a generational thing.  In the past, movies had their ups and downs - it was called pacing.  Nowadays if something isn't exploding or someone screaming every 5 seconds, it's considered slow.

Hardly a generational thing. I was around when Raiders came out. I was around when ANH came out. I have no problem with a movie that isn't all frantic energy. But Raiders is trying to be an energetic film and it fails. And Raiders' problem isn't a matter of slowness. Things happen pretty fast in Raiders. It's a matter of force and intensity, which isn't all about speed. Things in Raiders are just bland. Bland villains, bland portrayal of locations, bland situations. When I look back over Raiders, there just isn't that much that's INTERESTING. Whereas the other two films have plenty.

I never got that impression. To me, Last Crusade always felt bland. I love the interaction between the Joneses, but otherwise the plot and villains just seem flat. Raiders has not only the fast pace, but the camerawork to match it.

When I think Indy-I think of the bar scene in Raiders. Our archeologist is drowning his sorrows-and if you wanna talk to god you can go see him right now-Indy's got nothing better to do. "It would only take a push to make you like me-to take you out of the light." "Now you're getting nasty." Belloq is such a strong presence that is never matched in the other films.  (Well, Mola Ram is a good villain but sadly underdeveloped as is much of Temple.)

Marion can kinda get annoying, but not as much as Willie. Sallah and Marcus are not the travesties they were in Crusade. This is not saying that I dislike Crusade or Temple. In fact I only dislike KOTCS (The horror.) I enjoy the trilogy, (what is this 4th film we speak of?) but find Raiders a phenominal film to this day-one that stands on its own in theme, tone, pace, and style much like the original Godfather film.

I don't know-I'm making this up as I go.

 

Post
#363336
Topic
Max_Rebo's '97 SE superset' preservation (* unfinished project *)
Time

Wow. No wonder this project is taking so long to finish. I always thought the 97 of Jedi looked a bit different (sharpness, etc.) than ESB. When this project is finished I can finally say goodbye to my VCR and well worn VHS tapes. This looks absolutely fantastic. I can hardly contain my excitement-especially over the 5.1!! Beautiful work!

Why would Jedi be filtered like this?

Post
#363174
Topic
Max_Rebo's '97 SE superset' preservation (* unfinished project *)
Time
vbangle said:
captainsolo said:

Any updates?

was wondering the same thing. just curious

 

Is this project still ongoing?

This would set me up for life. I cannot bear to watch the 04 versions, and I bought the GOUT out of sheer desperation. My attempt at converting a VHS set of the 97's did not go so well. An anamorphic transfer with the laserdisc 5.1 would finally help me relive my original childhood experience. The best thing I've been able to manage was finally obtaining a widescreen VHS set, but that is simply way below par nowadays-the resolution is almost unbearable and the wonderful restored 97 mix is down-converted to some weird 2 channel THX mix that sounds tinny. (at least this is how I describe it-I may be wrong on some of the technical details.)

 

Post
#360399
Topic
Info: Other region DVD's & Blu-ray's with Special content NOT available in the US.
Time

The one that's really driving me nuts is The Ipcress File. It's not available at all in the US, and the Se in the UK has bonus features and the soundtrack. There's a new ITC blu-ray with fantastic image but no special features and its also not available in the US! Why can't we get the great Michael Caine films over here?

Post
#360390
Topic
Do you think George Lucas will correct the colors for the blu-ray release?
Time

The 97 SEs were completely redone effects and color wise and as much was done as possible for the time. I also think that some things were left untouched because there are beloved mistakes (stormtrooper with a sore head) What needs to be done is a Blade Runner type 5 disc set where versions are on seperate discs when there are numerous differences and seamlessly branched when the versions are nearly identical (ex. Theatrical cut and international theatrical cut of BR). I honestly think all we're going to get is an eventual HD version of the screwed up 04 dvds. If only someone else could take control of the new release. SW has never been right on any DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, or any other release you can think of. There is always some tinkering or problem. Why can't we have a definitive release with every version properly restored with every soundtrack and extra like we've been waiting for since 1977? (i hate the bloody "definitive collection" with all of its artifacts on the ships!)   I'd better go clean my VCR heads.

Post
#360207
Topic
what character is this?
Time
vote_for_palpatine said:

That's Associate Chief Fnelthr Plux of the Kalkmaar tribe. He and a faction loyal to him broke away from Chief Onf over the mistreatment of a captured Tusken from another tribe. The whole story was told in a SW short story collection, Tales of the Dune Sea, for everyone who wondered what Tuskens, Jawas, Krayt Dragons, and womp rats really did. Another pearl of modern EU, naturally.

 

At first glance I thought-are you kidding me? They actually wrote about that? Great joke. I thought it might've been the weird Tusken/Jedi dude in some of the comics. (I did not make it up!) I am a fan of the EU when it doesn't go too overboard. Most of the stuff nowadays is just so off the deep end that it isn't even enjoyable anymore. The Thrawn Trilogy, Shatterpoint, and of course the adventures of Han Solo are still my defining EU moments. Can we persuade Lucasbooks to get back to "classic SW"? (hate that term) The only good thing I've read recently has been the Last of the Jedi young reader series. I know that they're for kids, but the stories are actually well defined. Reading all 10 is about the equivalent of a full EU novel.

Post
#358935
Topic
TPM: A Decade Later
Time

I agree that TPM works as a film on its own, but as a SW movie it falls well short. the difference between this and AOTC/ROTS is that TPM was shot and made as a film. There were digital elements, but not the bluescreen extravaganzas we were exposed to-it still has the feel of a real swashbuckler. In essence TPM is a serial much like Flash Gordon which was Lucas's inspiration. I am still able to watch TPM once in a blue moon. For AOTC and ROTS I would much rather read the novelizations.

Has it really been 10 years?

Post
#358550
Topic
97 Special Edition
Time

I wish I could help out, but the 97's seem to be the hardest versions to find. I have old VHS tapes that can't convert to DVD due to "Lucasvision" copy protection. I know that there are several broadcast etc. versions floating around, and I suggest you check the galactic trade federation site for more info on those. Other than that, I 'm waiting for the Max Rebo 97 superset. Hope this helps.

Post
#358549
Topic
If you could interview George Lucas, what would you say?
Time
AxiaEuxine said:

I would thank George for giving me Star wars and entertaining me all my life.

I would have to agree. However, I would mention the numerous edits to his films, and ask why the 04 DVDs are so changed, and if there will ever be a restoration of the OT and THX-1138 (original version) And if we could get another theatrical rerelease!