oojason

User Group: Members
Join date: 5-May-2004
Last activity: 10-Nov-2025
Posts: 8,996

Post History

Post: #1422694
Topic: Help: Looking for... The PAL VHS Archive Collection
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422694/action/topic#1422694
Time: 7-Apr-2021 6:15 PM — Edited 7-Apr-2021 6:16 PM

Mate, if a thread already exists for what you are looking for then please post in that thread - rather than creating new threads.

If everyone created a new thread for projects they are after which already have their own threads… we’d soon sink under the sheer number of threads like this - and the Trash section is already full of similar request threads.

Thank you 👍

Post: #1422620
Topic: Modern SE Revisionism
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422620/action/topic#1422620
Time: 7-Apr-2021 7:06 AM — Edited 7-Apr-2021 7:06 AM

https://twitter.com/StarWarsVisComp/status/1378039662195916801

‘This image was not created between 1977-1983.’

^ From Paul Duncan’s officially licensed ‘The Star Wars Archives - 1977-83’ book.

Post: #1422618
Topic: Random Pictures and Gifs (now with winning!) [NSFW]
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422618/action/topic#1422618
Time: 7-Apr-2021 6:55 AM — Edited 7-Apr-2021 6:55 AM

‘Triangular USB connectors were soon abandoned after some users complained of needing to rotate them up to six times before successful insertion.’

Post: #1422535
Topic: Blu-rays included in 4k release same transfer?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422535/action/topic#1422535
Time: 6-Apr-2021 6:55 PM — Edited 6-Apr-2021 7:13 PM

Hi dg91, please give the Fan Edit / Preservation Forum Rules and FAQ a read, mate.

You’ll need to own the official retail release to adhere to our rules if you are going to do a fan edit or two on here. We are not pirates - nor do we buy or sell rips of the official retail releases on here.

It may be worth checking ebay, charity / pawn shops, CEX, music magpie, and any online sales etc for a good deal on the 2020 AOTC & ROTS blu rays.

As of right now, the 2020 Skywalker Saga blu ray boxset is up on ebay UK for £39.62 - and there may also be deals for the AOTC and ROTS individually on there too (a very quick look has them available for around a £5er each).

Edit: CEX has the 2020 Skywalker Saga blu ray boxset for £35 (and when the physical shops open in the UK on the 12th April your local CEX may well be worth checking for individual discs as well).

Good luck with getting them - and for your edits too. 👍

Post: #1422414
Topic: Star Trek: Picard - SPOILERS
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422414/action/topic#1422414
Time: 6-Apr-2021 8:27 AM — Edited 7-Sep-2021 10:07 PM

‘Star Trek: Picard - Season 2 | Official Teaser’ (coming in 2022):-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=goGKVxJMzFY - a 90 second video at the Amazon Prime youtube channel.

‘Star Trek: Picard - Season 2 New Trailer’

www.dailymotion.com/video/x8202nr - a 60 second trailer at the Pro TV dailymotion channel.

Post: #1422209
Topic: Help with donations for an old member/friend?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422209/action/topic#1422209
Time: 5-Apr-2021 12:00 PM — Edited 5-Apr-2021 10:37 PM

Hi You_Too,

I’m going to move this into ‘Star Wars Preservations’ a little later today - where it may get more traffic and attention (and also where more members likely remember your contributions on here over the years).

If you’d like me to move this thread back to ‘The Cantina’ just let me know.

Having read your and your mother’s plight I can only hope things will turns around for you both soon. All the positive waves coming your way 👍

You’ll always be appreciated on here.

MTFBWY.

Post: #1422196
Topic: Eurospy movie recommendations?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422196/action/topic#1422196
Time: 5-Apr-2021 9:57 AM

‘The Man From Uncle’ films were a pretty fun watch - though a little cheesy in some places?

The Harry Palmer films were a decent watch too - though a little more gritty than the Bond films?

Post: #1422186
Topic: Info & Info Wanted: Burger Chef / Burger King promotions
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422186/action/topic#1422186
Time: 5-Apr-2021 8:28 AM — Edited 5-Apr-2021 8:32 AM

Agreed - some quality artwork for these promotions…

http://www.revengeofthe5th.net/2014/05/the-awesome-burger-chefburger-king-star.html

^ from http://theswca.com/images-store/bcswpostersposter.html

^ from http://www.battlegrip.com/star-wars-posters-at-burger-chef-in-1977/

A nice story on them here - https://craigzablo.com/?p=9708

Post: #1422184
Topic: Worst Edit Ideas
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422184/action/topic#1422184
Time: 5-Apr-2021 8:20 AM

CaptainFaraday said:

Add an H to Luke’s forehead on Crait, to bring TLJ more in line with Red Dwarf canon.

Oi! Take it to the ‘Best Ideas’ thread.

Post: #1422117
Topic: What methods were used in coming up with the choreography of the lightsaber duels?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422117/action/topic#1422117
Time: 4-Apr-2021 9:15 PM

'Dragon Con 2017 Shedding Light on Lightsabers RetroBlasting Panel:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_TB9BgeT04 - a 47 minute video from the RetroBlasting youtube channel

The blurb: ‘RetroBlasting teams up with Star Wars at DragonCon track once again to deliver a presentation about the history of the lightsaber within the Star Wars saga. We’re going across the galaxy to shed light on lightsabers in this DragonCon 2017 panel!’

^ Some quality information and insights into lightsabers in the Star Wars films and tv series (though mainly in the OT).

Post: #1422014
Topic: Help: Looking for... VCD Preservations
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1422014/action/topic#1422014
Time: 4-Apr-2021 8:14 AM — Edited 3-Sep-2021 7:12 AM

The Original Trilogy VCDs (as can be seen here - with some pointers to the Prequel Trilogy VCDs too) are also available to buy on the likes of eBay, flea markets, and also online stores specialising in these types of ‘retro’ format.

There are also some preservation projects (as they were once only available via import and quite rare) and ‘info & discussion’ threads listed up in…

An Index Of Projects & Help Thread for Star Wars Preservations…

Post: #1421871
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421871/action/topic#1421871
Time: 3-Apr-2021 12:21 PM — Edited 3-Apr-2021 12:22 PM

‘Sealed Super Mario Bros. sells for $660,000, shattering record for most expensive game ever’:-

The previous record was $156,000

https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/2/22364245/super-mario-bros-most-expensive-game-ever-record-sealed-auction

I’m going to have to dig through my collection of old games… 😃

Post: #1421870
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421870/action/topic#1421870
Time: 3-Apr-2021 12:20 PM — Edited 3-Apr-2021 12:23 PM

fmalover said:

I recently watched a retrospective on the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia project, and on the segment dedicated to the SotE videogame they reference the fact that it has a bit of everything, an on-rails shooter, third-person action shooter, starfighter shooter, and they consider this a weakness but I disagree.

I kinda miss games that had a bit of everything. Now it’s strictly a platformer, an action RPG, an open world adventure, but there’s no mix-and-match.

I love that game - and still play it from time to time. Agree with you - the variety of styles is a strength of SOTE, not a weakness - especially considering the length of the game too.

This new OT thread on it may be of some interest fmalover:-

Shadows Of The Empire : Lucasfilm’s mid-to-late 1990’s EU multimedia project

and if anyone is into ‘retro’ games, these OT gaming threads have been updated / created…

LEGO Star Wars - the games!!

Rogue Squadron - N64 / GC / PC video game series thread

Jedi Knight games | Dark Forces, JK: DFII, JK: MOTS, JKII: Jedi Outcast, JK: Jedi Academy

Star Wars Video Games - a general discussion thread

Post: #1421689
Topic: We have X in HD, but we still don't have Star Wars
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421689/action/topic#1421689
Time: 2-Apr-2021 7:17 PM — Edited 2-Apr-2021 8:05 PM

Most, if not all, of the ‘Star Wars: Vintage’ collection is now available in HD on Disney+ (or SD upscales labelled up as being HD?)

• Ewoks: Caravan of Courage
• Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
• The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (animated short from the 1978 Holiday Special)
• Clone Wars (2003 animated series)
• Star Wars: Ewoks
• Star Wars: Droids (coming later this year)

https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-vintage-collection-disney-plus

Yet still no HD or 4K release for the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy available to buy.

Post: #1421682
Topic: Are there any new Star Wars Books coming out soon? a general book discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421682/action/topic#1421682
Time: 2-Apr-2021 6:48 PM — Edited 2-Apr-2021 6:48 PM

'Classic Star Wars books are getting re-released for Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary’:-

https://www.polygon.com/star-wars/22364157/star-wars-essential-legends-books-zahn-thrawn-bane

and at Del Rey’s twitter account too - https://twitter.com/DelReyStarWars/status/1377981111263973379

Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary certainly does seem to be used as a cash-cow more than a celebration of the company and what it has achieved…

Let’s hope the authors receive their royalties for these repackaged books - unlike others.

Post: #1421623
Topic: The 2 Star Wars Ewok Movies now on Disney+; a comparison of quality?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421623/action/topic#1421623
Time: 2-Apr-2021 2:08 PM

Moiisty said:

oojason said:

Nice idea Moiisty 👍

It may also be worth comparing the Disney+ version of the two Ewok films to…

Rancor022’s Project Ewok; 4K Upscales

and

tbird97’s The Ewok movies; TV Preservation

as well?

Would u be able to provide me the 4k/1080p upscale version, i wont compare to the tv version because lq plus its just title screens. Thx

Sorry mate - I don’t have them; though am sure tbird97 & Rancor022 could help with what you are after 😃

Post: #1421610
Topic: LEGO 'Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga' video game thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421610/action/topic#1421610
Time: 2-Apr-2021 1:34 PM

https://twitter.com/TTGames/status/1377984167233744899

‘Thanks to all our fans for your continued patience.’

Post: #1421570
Topic: The 2 Star Wars Ewok Movies now on Disney+; a comparison of quality?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421570/action/topic#1421570
Time: 2-Apr-2021 10:58 AM

Nice idea Moiisty 👍

It may also be worth comparing the Disney+ version of the two Ewok films to…

Rancor022’s Project Ewok; 4K Upscales

and

tbird97’s The Ewok movies; TV Preservation

as well?

Post: #1421534
Topic: The Original Trilogy on Video 2000 (V2000)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421534/action/topic#1421534
Time: 2-Apr-2021 7:59 AM — Edited 23-Jan-2025 7:38 PM

‘Okay grandpa, just what is Video 2000?’ - I hear some of you young whippersnappers ask…

Video 2000 (also known as V2000, with the tape standard Video Compact Cassette, or VCC) is a consumer videocassette system and analogue recording standard developed by Philips and Grundig to compete with JVC’s VHS and Sony’s Betamax video technologies.

Designed for the PAL color television standard (some models additionally handled SECAM), distribution of Video 2000 products began in 1979 exclusively in Europe, South Africa, and Argentina - and ended in 1988.

Unlike Betamax or VHS, Video 2000 cassettes could be recorded on both sides (like an audio cassette) so doubling the capacity of each cassette, and the tape was entirely covered when the cassette was outside the machine to protect it.

The Original Trilogy on V2000…

Continuing on with some of the more obscure and oft-forgotten formats that the Original Trilogy saw releases for… a long time ago… on CED, on VHD, on Betamax, on VCD, on Super 8, and on Video8 formats…

The V2000.

^ As the superb Techmoan put it so succinctly: “the format that finished third in a two-horse race”.

Back in a time where video players were prohibitively expensive for many - and also built like they could rise up and take over the planet in true Skynet style - given the sheer size, heft and build-quality of many a bulky machine in the late 70’s early 80’s… the VHS format eventually won out, unfortunately. The superior Betamax lost the battle of the videotape formats - and the even rarer V2000 is a format that many people today have likely never even heard of.

On the Star Wars front… there is some online formation for a release of Star Wars (1977) on V2000, and some scarce information for the V2000 release for Empire Strikes Back…

Yet given a complete lack of information online about such a release for ROTJ - even on some of the more detailed and knowledgable Star Wars collector / releases sites - coupled with the slow failing of V2000 format by the early-mid 1980’s… I just assumed both Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back saw V2000 releases just in the nick of time… whilst Return Of The Jedi was just too late to the party to see such a release. 😦

Or was it…

On a search for any information on a possible V2000 release of ROTJ… I eventually came across this old & expired Dutch marketplace advert - which does seem to clearly indicate Return Of The Jedi - on the Video2000 format…

https://www.marktplaats.nl/a/verzamelen/star-wars/m1646880663-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-video-2000.html

(just a shame the featured image in the advert is so small and inconclusive)

Digging a little deeper into the search (a long, arduous, and perilous Indiana Jones style adventure / typing words into google)…

I then found this online advert at todocolleccion for a Spanish V2000 set of the Original Trilogy - including Return of The Jedi:-

^ A surprise to be sure 😉

Then OT•com member benduwan confirmed that there was also a Return of The Jedi release on V2000 - in Germany - and very kindly sent me some information and images for his copy of it:-

So Return Of The Jedi was released on Video2000 after all - and was readily available in Europe (or at least in both Spain and Germany).

Hopefully there is even more information about this release out there online somewhere - and possibly about any other European or UK / English language releases…

If anyone has any more information as to the Original Trilogy releases on V2000 - especially for Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi please let us know - or post it up in here. 👍

A Spanish language poster for a CBS/Fox Video release for Return Of The Jedi:-

(this poster may not be for the Video 2000 format itself - yet it is similar to the image used for the V2000 cover art as seen above)

As can be seen by visiting projectcclarke’s quality website, there were also Video 2000 Star Wars releases for…

The Making Of Star Wars - www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/04/the-making-of-star-wars-uk-1982-v2000.html

and for

Caravan Of Courage - www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/02/caravan-of-courage-ewok-adventure-uk.html

V2000 Cover Art for the Original Trilogy releases…

^ image from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/11/star-wars-uk-video-2000-v2000-1983.html

^ image of a rental copy from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/01/star-wars-uk-v2000-1982-rental.html

^ image from http://www.videocollector.co.uk/empire-strikes-back-the/46257

^ images from benduwan’s German V2000 copy of Return Of The Jedi

^ image from www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/04/the-making-of-star-wars-uk-1982-v2000.html

^ image from www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/02/caravan-of-courage-ewok-adventure-uk.html

A couple of informative videos on the Video 2000 releases for the Original Trilogy…

‘From the Star Wars Home Video Library #302: Early ANH UK Releases on VHS, Beta, and V2000’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUo3_sDX-rU - a 10 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

‘From the Star Wars Home Video Library #374: TESB UK Cassettes (1984)’ (includes V2000):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZROT6Mn3U - a 9 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

Reviews & Information:

• http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/11/star-wars-uk-video-2000-v2000-1983.html
• http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/01/star-wars-uk-v2000-1982-rental.html
• http://www.videocollector.co.uk/empire-strikes-back-the/46257
• https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1982
• https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1983
• https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1984
• https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1986

^ though no information for Return Of The Jedi - and only one page for Empire Strikes Back.

Wookieepedia blurb (see 1982, 1984, & 1986): https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_home_video_releases#1982

About the Video 2000 format as a whole…

‘Video History: V2000 - The format that came third in a two-horse race’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSz6MoX00Q - a 36 minute video from the Techmoan youtube channel

Obligatory Wikipedia Page for the Video 2000 format: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_2000

‘Museum Of Obsolete Media’ Page for info on the Video 2000 format: https://obsoletemedia.org/video-2000

V2000 PalSite for the Video 2000 format: http://v2000.palsite.com/index.html

Total Rewind Page for the Video 2000 format: http://www.totalrewind.org/v2000.htm

As ever, if you see any mistakes or broken links please let us know - or have anything for inclusion to the above info too. 👍

Plus, if anyone has any more information for various releases of Return Of The Jedi on the V2000 format please let us know!

Also, if anyone has a V2000 preservation project of the Original Trilogy please let us know, too - thank you.

Post: #1421529
Topic: Disney+ streaming platform : Star Wars content & various other info
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421529/action/topic#1421529
Time: 2-Apr-2021 6:47 AM — Edited 16-Nov-2021 10:11 AM

‘Watch the Star Wars Vintage Collection | Disney+’ - www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/franchise/star-wars-vintage

The blurb for each release…

Ewoks: Caravan of Courage

The Towani family’s starcruiser crashes on the forest moon of Endor, and the separation of two children from their parents sets into motion an incredible adventure that takes four-year-old Cindel, and her older brother, Mace, into the unfamiliar world of the Ewoks.

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

Marauders raid the Ewok village and steal a power supply they believe to be magical. Wicket helps Cindel escape the evil witch Charal, and they befriend a hermit who may help them save the village.

Star Wars: Clone Wars – Micro-Series

Feel your heart race and your pulse pound as every Chapter of this Emmy® Award-winning animated series envisions the story arc between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Packed with action, this landmark “micro-series” is essential viewing for all fans of the Force!

Star Wars: Ewoks (both seasons 1 & 2)

Journey to the Forest Moon of Endor for an out-of-this world visit with your favorite, furry Star Wars heroes – the small-but-mighty Ewoks – in their own action-packed, animated series! Join Wicket, his friends Princess Kneesaa, Teebo, & Latara, and their entire tribe, as they experience fantastical adventures in Bright Tree Village.

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (animated short from the 1978 Holiday Special)

After Luke Skywalker and Han Solo succumb to a suspicious sleeping virus, Chewbacca hunts a cure with help from an unlikely ally – the bounty hunter Boba Fett. Chewie’s Wookiee instincts warn him that all is not what it seems. This rare animated short features the voices of the original Star Wars cast.

Jedit: ‘In addition, the Star Wars: Droids animated series is slated to join the Star Wars Vintage Collection later this year.’

^ https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-vintage-collection-disney-plus (nice find, Z6PO) 👍

There just seems to be something still missing… not just Droids, Detours or the full version of the 1978 Holiday Special…

https://twitter.com/StarWarsVisComp/status/1377733779964452868

^ If only…

Post: #1421528
Topic: Films that are superior in nearly every way to their sequels
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421528/action/topic#1421528
Time: 2-Apr-2021 6:19 AM — Edited 2-Apr-2021 6:20 AM

~~Debbie Does Dallas~~

The Philadelphia Experiment (IMDB). The PEII (IMDB) was such a disappointment, especially given the concept and draw of the first film.

Post: #1421498
Topic: Phil Tippett on the Special Editions: "They're shit" + £2b for George to direct the Prequels
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421498/action/topic#1421498
Time: 1-Apr-2021 9:51 PM — Edited 14-Aug-2025 12:45 PM

‘Brilliant Effects Master Phil Tippett Sheds Some Light on George Lucas’ ‘Star Wars’ - Tinkering Mind’

https://web.archive.org/web/20121223080236/http://www.movies.com/movie-news/phil-tippett-star-wars/4324

In case the above link goes down or breaks, a screenshot of the above 2011 article at Movies•com can be seen here:-

A couple of insightful snippets from the Movies•com interview…

'But since it’s on everyone’s minds this week, we did want to share some of Tippett’s thoughts about what George Lucas is doing to Star Wars. It’s one thing for all us nerds to complain, but how does someone who created the visual effects for the original Star Wars trilogy feel about George’s needless tinkering?

Surprise: He hates it too. It didn’t take long before the topic came up last night in the Q&A, and Tippett’s response was a simple, “They’re shit.” He doesn’t think they’re necessary at all, citing as one example how he loved Lucas’ original, Sergio Leone-like approach to shooting Mos Eisley as this minimal, barren place and how now it’s just “filled with a bunch of… CGI shit.”’

and…

Movies•com: ‘Us fans bitch and moan and gripe whenever George Lucas starts messing with Star Wars again, but is that something effects people who actually worked on the film feel? Are we the only ones who think he’s a crazy person?’

Phil Tippett: 'No, not really. At a certain point, even going back to Return of the Jedi at ILM…they had a little room where you could get chips and drinks and I was getting something. George and Richard Marquand, the director, came in and Richard was saying, “George, I don’t totally get where we need to go with this picture.” And George said, “Well, did you see Benji?” “No George, I didn’t see Benji.” “Well, what we’re doing now is kind of like a cross between Benji and what we did on Empire Strikes Back.”

So even then he was thinking about keeping his company alive and merchandising toys and stuff like that. It’s really hard with franchises. It’s really hard to keep things going. It’s really hard to think of a third movie in a franchise that’s better than the first two, ya know? Whoever it was, Pepsi Cola or whatever, paid him $3 billion to do the next three movies as long as he worked and directed it, so…’

For the opinions of many others who worked on / contributed to the making of the Original Trilogy films - or in and around Star Wars since - on the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy films no longer being available:-

George Lucas: Star Wars Creator, Unreliable Narrator & Time Travelling Revisionist - and then scroll down to Category #28.

This article is a quality read too - Phil Tippett: Following his imagination to the stars and beyond - and the OT’s Mad God thread.

A few articles on the $2 billion deal PepsiCo struck with Lucasfilm prior to the 1997 Special Edition release and the Prequel Trilogy began filming (articles are from 1996):-

www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-16-fi-4728-story.html

www.upi.com/Archives/1996/05/16/PepsiCo-forms-Lucasfilm-alliance/5885832219200

https://web.archive.org/web/20161221183955/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/14/business/media-business-advertising-hype-with-us-lucas-empire-invading-resistance-futile.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0 (NY Times - 1999)

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/19990322monday.html (NY Times - 1999)

www.deseret.com/1996/5/19/19244070/online-document-pepsico-to-feel-force-of-star-wars

www.starwarsaddicted.it/2020/10/pepsi-pago-george-lucas-2-miliardi-di-dollari-per-girare-i-prequels

A very brief mention on the 1997 Special Editions - with a couple of overview and retrospective type videos…

‘Star Wars - Are the Special Editions bad?’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYVEbFXQ2JI - a 9 minute video from the Cinemassacre youtube channel.

‘Star Wars 1997 Special Edition Retrospective’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=obumGmfRHuc - a 26 minute video from the Mr Sunday Movies youtube channel.

'Top 10 Worst Star Wars Special Edition Changes:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p9ozSFOMQY - a 15 minute video from the WatchMojo youtube channel.

'Gary Kurtz on the Star Wars Special Edition:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKpD_w58I30 - a 6 minute video from the gordongecko1975 youtube channel.

The following OT•com ‘info thread’ has a number of in-depth sources, info, and discussions on the 1997 Special Editions…

1997 SE : The changes to the OT films & general 1997 Special Edition discussion thread

‘In anticipation of the Prequel Trilogy films; the hype & publicity, merchandise, fans hopes, beliefs, and expectations’

a video on the merchandise for The Phantom Menace - including the billion+ dollar PepsiCo and Lego deals…

‘The Phantom Menace Marketing Invasion’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiGnf77PCZ4 - a 23 minute video at the Mr Sunday Movies youtube channel

a Pepsi advert for the 1997 OT Special Editions - as part of the billion+ dollar PepsiCo deal…

Pepsi Star Wars commercial (1997):-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZDnaDr0CBg - a 30 second video at the Hello From TV Land youtube channel

A collection of Pepsi / KFC / TacoBell / Pizza Hut tv adverts for the Prequel Trilogy…

Old Star Wars Ads are EPIC…:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hesw2XkfITk & www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZvHIeMZG_g
& www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCW-_R29GVU & www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mq0EPH59J8
& www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXbJcqIYowI & www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjVaIPAXUR0
& www.youtube.com/watch?v=M19PYGAaWJA & www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yCYXKrvONE
& www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1QosmF4oos & www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl2BAcB2Bk4

‘How Hasbro Bet Big on The Phantom Menace and Almost Lost’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhhEFk7NLXo - a 7 minute video, from the IGN youtube channel

‘The Road to The Phantom Menace: Star Wars prequels, fandom, film making, marketing & merchandise’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=awfMg7RxZOU - a 70 minute video at the Dark Corners Reviews youtube channel.

‘Pizza Hut Star Wars Episode 1 Implementation VHS Tape’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSHZpeyCSqU - a 12 minute video at the Drew Stewart youtube channel.

‘The Phantom Menace Had 9 Completely Different Tie-In Games’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bCa-ThoNmQ - a 17 minute video at the Flandrew youtube channel.

‘Star Wars: Episode I Hype! (1 of 5) - Leonard Maltin’s George Lucas Interview, Merchandising, More’

1 of 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoJI020y0ig (70 minutes) - at the Chris Baker youtube channel.
2 of 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WthLdpNSgo (44 minutes) - at the Chris Baker youtube channel.
3 of 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eb1GLK1A1A (53 minutes) - at the Chris Baker youtube channel.
4 of 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnMptwVujc8 (48 minutes) - at the Chris Baker youtube channel.
5 of 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QID2WOsfi0Q (37 minutes) - at the Chris Baker youtube channel.

‘Star Wars Episode I TV News Archive 1999’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Uj4p4-Btw - a 20 minute video, from The Blue Snaggletooth youtube channel.

‘CNN - Star Wars Episode 1 - Hours before premiere’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBKfFycVjeI - a 7 minute video, from the Tohoscope youtube channel.

‘Star Wars Episode 1 Midnight Madness Toy Grab’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj7n3YzDA3g - a 4 minute video, from the ScottsEditReel youtube channel.

‘Star Wars or Bust (1999) documentary about Star Wars fans’ (commissioned by the UK’s Channel 4 TV station)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O0WG6lriwE - 15 minute documentary, on the wishnow youtube channel.

‘Exploring The Phantom Menace Marketing, Merchandise, and Hype! | The Bombadcast’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XzCg8bsyPE - a 2 hour podcast video, from the Beyond The Blast Doors youtube channel.

‘Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Merchandise Is Literally Worthless’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGG9DP9RSyc - a 16 minute video, from the Fact Fiend youube channel.

The Merchandise…

• Phantom Menace merchandise puts toy shops on alert - 1999 pre-film article, from The Guardian

• Return of the Jedi shoppers - 1999 article, at CNN Money

• 80 Billion Tons Of Jar Jar Merchandise Now 70 Percent Off - 1999 article, at The Onion (yes, I know!)

• Lucas admits Star Wars [TPM] ‘let down’ - April 2002 article, from the BBC

• “The toys for the film were ‘over-licensed,’ ‘over-shipped’ & ‘over-saturated,’” - George Lucas - 2014 article, at Scripps

• Trouble in Toyland (‘$150 million worth of merchandise remains unsold’ - TPM) - 2001 article. at Forbes

• Star Wars flop burns UK publisher - 2000 article, at IOL

• ‘Star Wars’ - Attack of the Toys - 2002 article, at CBS News

• ‘Star Wars’ merchandise scaled back - 2002 article, at The Washington Times

• New Crop of Toys Feels the Force - 2002 article, at Fox News (I am so sorry!)

• Movie products falter (merchandisers across the board skittish after TPM flop) - 2002 article, at Tampa Bay Times

• Will the empire strike again? Merchandise sales for unlikely to hit Episode I’s $2 billion - 2002 article, at CNN

• For marketers, risky bets on ‘Spider-Man’ tie-ins look promising (‘That is a direct result of several recent movie marketing flops and failures, most notably The Phantom Menace’ in 1999. Those debacles left sponsors and licensees with warehouses overflowing with unsold toys, games, food and other products.') - 2002 article, at NY Times

• 'The Phantom Menace’ was a smash—and a mediocre buzz kill. For ‘Attack of the Clones,’ a wiser George Lucas has been wooing back fans and building a better blockbuster (‘As for Hasbro, Lucasfilm’s marketing pitch conceded that the toy line was “over-licensed,” “over-shipped” and “over-saturated.”’) - 2002 Newsweek article.

• Where did it all go wrong for George Lucas’s Star Wars prequel? [TPM] - 2019 article, at The Independent

• Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - overview on TPM merchandise, from The Toy Collectors Guide

The Hype and Publicity…

• How The Phantom Menace Teaser Trailer Became a Cinematic Event - 2019 article, at Den Of Geek

• The Phantom Menace: Star Wars prepares to strike back - April 1999 article, at The Guardian

• The triumvirate of Star Wars fans - April 1999 article, at The Minnesota Daily

• The ‘Phantom’ front lines - May 1999 article, at EW

• ‘Phantom Menace’ madness Anticipation, hype for ‘Star Wars’ prequel are out of this world - 1999 article, at Deseret News

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - 1999 article, at Rob’s Movie Vault

• Dark Side Lite - 1999 article, at Slate

• Millennium’s End: The Fandom Menace - 2000 documentary, at IMDB

• Episode 1 Hype - a 10 video playlist (from at the time of release) - 2022 youtube playlist, at ch3rri

• The Phantom Menace Was The Most Hyped Movie Ever - Not Infinity War - 2015 article, at Comics Vine

• Which film was more hyped/anticipate prior to release? TPM or TFA? - 2019 query, at ResetEra

• ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’ Was The Prequel To Today’s Fan Culture - 2019 article, at Huff Post

• Here’s What It Felt Like to See The Phantom Menace For the First Time - 2019 article, at TOR

• The Phantom Menace anticipation and backlash - 2022 article, at All The Right Movies

• Hollywood sends in the “Clones” - 2002 article, at CBS News

• Master of the universe (AOTC preview; “The movie [TPM] didn’t match expectations” - George Lucas) - 2002 article, at The Guardian

• Christensen talks up Star Wars showdown (“I will say, on the record, the final fight sequence in this film will, in my opinion and not having seen any of it cut together, surpass any fight sequence that has been put on film so far.” - Hayden Christensen) - 2003 article, at The Guardian

• Star Wars Fans Flock To ‘Sith’ - May 2005 article, at CBS News

• Hasbro’s hyping ‘Star Wars’ - 2005 article, at CNN Money

Who Made the Trailer for The Phantom Menace? (w/ David West Reynolds) | TRASH COMPACTOR 43:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkQ4FOSpITo - a 64 minute video at the superb Trash Compactor youtube channel (and podcast)

^ The blurb: 'In this episode, Josh interviews Dr. David West Reynolds about his unbelievable journey from archaeologist to editing the hugely-anticipated teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). Learn how Dr. Reynolds went from earning his PhD researching ancient sites to launching an expedition in Tunisia to uncover forgotten Star Wars filming locations from the first movie.

Hear the serendipitous story behind producer Rick McCallum connecting with Dr. Reynolds’ work and bringing him on board to help scout new desert planets for the prequels. Get a peek inside Skywalker Ranch and Lucasfilm during the production of The Phantom Menace leading up to the trailer’s debut. Find out what it was like collaborating with “the best trailer editor in Hollywood” to shape two minutes that would preview this new era of Star Wars to anxious fans everywhere.

Listen as Dr. Reynolds details the conversations and debates that determined which Phantom Menace scenes and surprises to tease or preserve for theaters. Discover why choices for the trailer were so complex given filmmaker George Lucas’ wildly different vision for the prequels compared to what adult fans may have hoped for.’

Fan Expectations, Hopes and Beliefs - on the basis of lore and previously featured material in the OT & EU…

• Pre-PT era lore | an OT & EU scrapbook resource | additional info & sources welcome - a 2024 OT•com info thread

^ as part of the pre-PT era lore category of 'The Star Wars Universe: OT & EU - archetypal Life & Lore before the release of the Prequels (the PT ushering in George’s ‘nu-SW rules’ + more retcons)’ section in ‘An Index Thread for General Star Wars Discussion’

Some reviews of 1999’s The Phantom Menace - from around the time of release…

IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915
LetterBoxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace
RottenTomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace
MetaCritic: www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-i---the-phantom-menace
ICheckMovies: https://icheckmovies.com/movies/star+wars+episode+i+-+the+phantom+menace

Some reviews of 2002’s Attack Of The Clones - from around the time of release…

IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0121765
LetterBoxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones
RottenTomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_ii_attack_of_the_clones
MetaCritic: www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-ii---attack-of-the-clones
ICheckMovies: https://icheckmovies.com/movies/star+wars+episode+ii+-+attack+of+the+clones

Some reviews of 2005’s Revenge Of The Sith - from around the time of release…

IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0121766
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith
RottenTomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_iii_revenge_of_the_sith
MetaCritic: www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iii---revenge-of-the-sith
ICheckMovies: https://icheckmovies.com/movies/star+wars+episode+iii+-+revenge+of+the+sith

There are a number of OT•com member reviews for ROTS on here - at the time of release - in the ‘Beyond the Original Trilogy’ forum.

Some of the ‘early’ and noted youtube video reviews on The Prequel Trilogy…

(Note: youtube premiered in Dec 2005; yet easily accessible & free online video hosting in general… wasn’t really ‘a thing’ before that)

The Phantom Menace…

Confused Matthew : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=pobw4VL8DhI - original airdate of June 2008

Plinkett / RLM : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZmQgxrI - original airdate of December 2009

MovieNight / JPMN : TPM Review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCgmHoD7hQ - original airdate of March 2012

Belated Media : ‘What If EPISODE I was good?’ - www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgICnbC2-_Y - original airdate of Feb 2012

Chris Stuckmann : The Phantom Menace Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXx-A5khOw - from May 2015

Star Wars Spaced Moments : inc many TPM takes - www.dailymotion.com/video/x2nxe74 - 6 minute video; from 1999-2001

Peter Serafinowicz : disappointing experience TPM - www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0wHqNi3x5M - 20 min audio; from 2017

Jeremy Jahns : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyisFK6dHnk - original airdate of Feb 2012

HelloGreedo : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa2R374Y1Zw - original airdate of Nov 2015

HelloGreedo : Critic & Fan Reactions on TPM | 20th Anniversary - www.youtube.com/watch?v=onGF58ee0vI (from 2019)

Sam’s Reviews : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJM5Citn3rY - original airdate of Oct 2013

Pitch Meeting : TPM Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAvprzqwbo8 - originally airdate of May 2018

Honest Trailers : TPM - www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKRRY5tQz8 - original airdate of Feb 2012

How It Should Have Ended : TPM - www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4hvUvBmoaA - original airdate of Feb 2014

Seagulls Gather : TPM 25 years on - www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Y1uoTlngE - original airdate of May 2024

Attack Of The Clones…

Confused Matthew : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMYp8pek0zk - original airdate of June 2008

Plinkett / RLM : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPt1am18lR4 - original airdate of April 2010

MovieNight / JPMN : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHbESd7h0V8 - original airdate of May 2013

Belated Media : ‘What If EPISODE II was good?’ - www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAbug3AhYmw - original airdate of Aug 2013

Chris Stuckmann : Attack of the Clones Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHdcd8BHsnw - from 2015

The Unusual Suspect : Prequels Review (compilation) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjTp65UNQUs - originally aired in 2015

Jeremy Jahns : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkwbJvgPdSY - original airdate of March 2015

HelloGreedo : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=msgtEkTH6d8 - original airdate of Nov 2015

Sam’s Reviews : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DHzDWIAlxA - original airdate of Nov 2013

Pitch Meeting : AOTC Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw4YSikZlqY - originally airdate of March 2019

Honest Trailers : AOTC - www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nJS-LPcFfw - original airdate of May 2014

How It Should Have Ended : AOTC - www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cxjlN9e9-c - original airdate of Nov 2015

Prime’s Theater ‘Star Wars Retrospective (Part 2)’ : AOTC / PT - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QtddvR5ZVs - 2024

Mr Sunday Movies / Caravan Of Garbage : AOTC / PT - www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSo4nh6C0pU - original airdate of 2024

The Gold Man Retrospective : AOTC (21 Years Later) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=16P1_RoRP_s - original airdate of 2023

Revenge Of The Sith…

Confused Matthew : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9a2Ior6xLQ - original airdate of July 2008

Plinkett / RLM : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYWAHuFbLoc - original airdate of December 2010

MovieNight / JPMN : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLVN1QUpbA - original airdate of May 2013

Belated Media : ‘What If EPISODE III was good?’ - www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wKqH6vlGHU - original airdate of Dec 2015

Chris Stuckmann : Revenge Of The Sith Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHvoWFUCbio - from August 2015

Mark Kermode : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki1qiUrMENs - original airdate of 2005; video uploaded in 2009

Jeremy Jahns : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYm9TprRBUk - original airdate of April 2015

HelloGreedo : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFjK3N1rxMA - original airdate of Dec 2015

Sam’s Reviews : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Bw4J_8Bvs - original airdate of Aug 2014

Pitch Meeting : ROTS Review - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyiVPbVj9A - original airdate of April 2019

Honest Trailers : ROTS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l5eZp8Ae9c - original airdate of Dec 2015

How It Should Have Ended : ROTS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ScVx4mRDE - original airdate of Dec 2015

Pitch Meeting / Screen Rant / Ryan George : ROTS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyiVPbVj9A - original airdate of 2019

Mr Sunday Movies / Caravan Of Garbage - ROTS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3TwO9_FAnQ - original airdate of 2022

The Gold Man Retrospective : ROTS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aokcJMlbGA - original airdate of 2023

none’s ‘Thee Backslacpkping With Media’ project on Revenge Of The Sith may certainly be of some interest.

^ ‘An analytical narrative of the media coverage of the movie Star Wars Episode III “Revenge of the Sith”’…

After all that; a brief overview of the Prequel Trilogy - and the response by Star Wars at the time - in under 10 minutes…

How George Lucas Pissed Off The Star Wars Fanbase

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oLl-h9h9EQ - a 9 minute video from the Bullets & Blockbusters youtube channel.

The blurb: ‘Taking a look at how George Lucas angered Star Wars fans, this video explores the backlash surrounding The Phantom Menace and its controversial decisions. From CGI changes in the Special Editions and the introduction of midichlorians to Jar Jar Binks and trade disputes, we break down why Star Wars: Episode I disappointed so many fans. Was it the writing, directing, or character choices that caused the outrage? Find out in this deep dive into one of the most debated moments in Star Wars history.’

As an aside…

Some still-live articles, from around the time of PT’s release, covering the issue of racial stereotypes in The Phantom Menace…

Star Wars accused of race stereotypes - at The Independent, 1999.
A Galaxy Far, Far Off Racial Mark? - at The LA Times, 1999.
Our Inner Child Meets Young Darth Vader - at Wall Street Journal, 1999. (available in full here: https://archive.is/LImc6)
The Merchant of Menace (Racial stereotypes in a galaxy far, far away?) - at Slate, 1999.
George Lucas’ Jedi mind trick - at Salon, 2000.
All Droid Up - at Village Voice, 1999.
Racial Ventriloquism - at The Nation, 1999.
Jar Jar Binks: A Cultural Rorschach Test - at Chicago Tribune, 1999.
Shuffling Through the Star Wars - at NY Times, 1999. (article in full here: https://archive.is/60lyu)
Some things just aren’t funny - either in Notting Hill or a galaxy far, far away - at The Observer, 1999.
The Tao of “Star Wars”, Or, Cultural Appropriation in a Galaxy Far, Far Away - at JSTOR, 1999.
All The Tropes - Space Jews - at All The Tropes, 2004.
Portrait of the artist as an antimsemite - at New Internationalist, 2004.
Voice of Neimoidians - at TFn, 1999. (“Thai people trying to speak the lines as best they could in their best English” and then hired “English actors interpreting a Thai person trying to speak English” - Matthew Wood, (on the process for the sound of the Neimoidians).

George Lucas’ response and quotes can be found in the following articles…

Star Wars: Lucas strikes back - at BBC, 1999.
Lucas derides accusations of racial stereotyping - at The Guardian, 1999.
George Lucas’ Jedi mind trick - at Salon, 2000. (listed above, but here too, with more of George Lucas quotes in response).

^ Why nobody told George some of the people criticising the use of those stereotypes in TPM were actually Jamaican, or from the West Indies, and some of the critics themselves were black, Jewish, Asian… from all over the world… was likely lost on him.

As well as George Lucas’ outré claim (in the BBC article linked above) that people didn’t like Jar Jar and wanted rid of him so…

“…they came in and they started calling the film racist.”

A handful of more recently written articles covering the issue of racial stereotypes in The Phantom Menace…

Star Wars: A Tale of Racism - at Globe, 2021.
The Phantom Menace was Racist and Here is Why That Matters - at Contemporary Racism, 2019.
Things We (Still) Kinda Hate About The Phantom Menace - Uncomfortable Ethnic Stereotypes - at Time, 2012.
Neimoidians with stereotypical and disappointing Japanese villain accents - at Jimmy Won twitter, 2019.
Racial Stereotypes In The Phantom Menace - at ScreenRant, 2019
Racism in a Galaxy Far, Far Away - at Asian American Popular Culture, 2017.
If You Prick Watto, Does He Not Bleed? - at Jewish Currents, 2019
How Watto is a hurtful stereotype (+ Toydarians wearing Kippahs in 2008 Clone Wars series) - at Consumed by SW Feelings, 2022.
Times Star Wars Went Too Far - at Looper, 2021.
Star Wars stereotypes: Not a force for good - at AlJazeera, 2014.
Racism and Ethnic Stereotypes in ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’ - at David Chen, 2014.
Racist trolls may think they own Star Wars, but the saga’s diversity issues are not cut and dried - at The Guardian, 2021.
Star Wars: Five Most Horrible Mistakes Of ‘The Phantom Menace’ - at Bell Of Souls, 2023.
Diversity in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Star Wars’ Poor History and New Hope in Representation - at The Mary Sue, 2015.

Coincidentally: In TPM, Boss Nass gifts the Jedi a bongo. Obi-Wan: “Master, what’s a bongo?” - Qui-Gon: “A transport, I hope”.

^ A ‘bongo’ is a Caribbean word for a type of canoe. It is short and fat in shape, and is used for river transport and sea fishing.

Some articles on racial stereotyping in Lucas’ and Spielberg’s 1984 ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ film…

We need to talk about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom… - at Little White Lies, 2020.
Why Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom Wasn’t Filmed In India - at ScreenRant, in 2023.
Why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Was Banned in India - at MovieWeb, 2023.
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom Was Banned In India – For Obvious Reasons - at SlashFilm, in 2023.
Indiana Jones Star Says it is Unfair to Label Temple of Doom as Racist - at MovieWeb, 2022.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Notes from watching its most racist moments - at FirstPost, 2019
“Anything Goes!” The Curious, Qualified Appeal of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”… - at The M0vie Blog, 2021.
‘Temple of Doom’ is the Indiana Jones movie that Indians won’t forget in a hurry - at ScrollIn, 2023.
Indiana Jones and the Dangers of White Superiority - at Student Film Reviews (academic paper), 2020.
“I just thought it was horrible”: Indiana Jones Original Writer Left Franchise After Overly Racist Plotline Forced India to Ban $333M Movie - at FandomWire, 2023.
This Is the Indiana Jones Movie Steven Spielberg Called “Horrific” - at Collider, 2023.
The racist literary origins of Indiana Jones - at Washington Post, 2023. (article in full, here)

Info on Gunga Din; the 1939 film which serves as a template for the Indiana Jones adventures: TheRaider.net | Force Material X

^ An analysis of Rudyard Kipling’s 1892 ‘Gunga Din’ poem - the basis for the above 1939 film, from poemanalysis•com

INDIANA JONES - A Primer On Racist Film Tropes - a 37 minute youtube video from ‘FOCAL - Filmmakers Of Colour And Lustre’.

George Lucas in a 1989 New York Times article ‘on the racism that swirled around Temple of Doom film’ (article in full, here)':-

“There are so many special interest groups now that no matter what you make a film about someone is going to be offended.”

^ ‘special interest groups’ being the Indian Government, and many other people raising concerns on how a real-world religion, gods, or belief system - as well as Indians themselves - are being portrayed onscreen in such a wilfully derogatory and specious manner.

It is also important to recognise that Star Wars, like many Western-made films and TV series, has and still does, have issues with using racial stereotypes in its content. This is improving, increasingly so in recent Star Wars content, yet it is still present…

^ Chapter 4 of ‘One Way Out: Andor Season 1’, a 13 minute section of a much longer youtube video, by Ladyknightthebrave, highlights just this - especially regarding Latine actors in Star Wars - amongst other topics of discussion in the GFFA such as politics, military history, the prison complex, police state, freedom fighting, and fascism (the whole video is worth a watch too).

Post: #1421321
Topic: The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421321/action/topic#1421321
Time: 1-Apr-2021 8:56 AM — Edited 1-Apr-2021 9:00 AM

Neerb said:

Now that Disney has officially released the full deleted scenes for TROS, do we have plans to integrate the Eye of Webbish Bog into the Mustafar sequence?

Long have we waited…

Excellent scenes 👍

Part Two of the Deleted Scenes for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now out!

Post: #1421304
Topic: Info & Help: looking for... W/O/C Prequel Trilogy TV Broadcasts Preservations
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421304/action/topic#1421304
Time: 1-Apr-2021 7:18 AM

It may be worth sending a polite PM to Rikter and none to see what they know about these broadcasts mate (IMHO they know a LOT about this sort of content).

Good luck with it 👍

Post: #1421191
Topic: The Original Trilogy on VCD (Video Compact Disc) - albeit the 1997 Special Edition
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1421191/action/topic#1421191
Time: 31-Mar-2021 10:14 PM — Edited 5-Mar-2025 7:16 AM

An introduction…

This set was the first official release of the Star Wars Original Trilogy on a digital video format - and was released in Malaysia and Singapore in 2000.

Despite this set being the 1997 Special Edition version… for many enthusiasts this was the closest they could get to a DVD release of the Original Trilogy at the time. (Although the DVD format has been around since 1997… it wouldn’t be until 2004 when the Original Trilogy would see finally see a DVD release.)

For fans who didn’t have relatively expensive laserdisc players (or somewhat obscure CED, VHD, Super8, and Video8 formats), the official VCD release was a cheap way to be able to watch, navigate and re-watch the Original Trilogy films - without worrying about wearing out their video tapes or being chewed up by their video players!

The VCD release came with 6 discs in total - 2 discs for each film in the trilogy.

Video was presented in full frame (1.33:1) ‘pan and scan’, in MPEG1 standard, and was available in NTSC or PAL formats.

The artwork for this VCD set was similar to the more widely available VHS boxset release in 2000 - seen here at Wookieepedia.

Such was the popularity of this release (and other then-unavailable films on DVD)… that some far-east Asian retailers set up English language websites exporting the Original Trilogy VCD sets to the US, Canada, UK & Europe, Australia & New Zealand.

(a few on here got their VCD sets this way… cough… as well as from the likes of allvcd.com - and other popular based in Hong Kong)

Note: There were also a few ‘unofficial’ releases of the Original Trilogy available on VCD and DVD around 2000 too.

‘Okay grandpa, just what is a VCD?’ - I hear some of you young whippersnappers ask…

Video CD (abbreviated as VCD, and also known as Compact Disc Digital Video) is a home video format and the first format for distributing films on standard 120mm (4.7") optical discs. The format was widely adopted in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, superseding the VHS and Betamax systems in the regions until DVD-Video finally became affordable in the late 2000s.

Image quality for the PAL sets were often at ‘a then reasonable’ (for the year 2000) 352 x 288 pixels.

The format is a standard digital data format for storing video on a compact disc. VCDs are playable in dedicated VCD players and widely playable in most DVD players, personal computers and some video game consoles. The Video CD standard was created in 1993 by Sony, Philips, Matsushita and JVC.

^ all 3 images are taken from Video Collector’s superb SWonVideo.com site - well worth checking out for various OT release formats…

A couple of informative videos on the 2000 Original Trilogy VCD release…

‘From the Star Wars Home Video Library #13: The VCD Trilogy (2000)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYY_GO3HMLk - a 9 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

‘Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition 1997 PAL Video VCD’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFEfjHV0v8w - a 3 minute video from the mp4podcastDOTcom youtube channel

Reviews & Information:

• http://www.scifimoviepage.com/dvd/starwars-vcd.html
• https://stvivona.tripod.com/stevedvd/id107.html
• http://www.theforce.net/rouser/reviews/vcdtrilogy.asp
• https://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk-archive/334267-star-wars-trilogy-vcd-box.html
• https://web.archive.org/web/20010207231645/http://coolvcd.com/starwars-trilogy.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/26/technology/versatile-video-cd-s-get-a-foothold-in-us.html
• https://www.laweekly.com/star-whores

Wookieepedia blurb: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_home_video_releases#Original_trilogy_reprints

A few more images of the VCD set…

^ a VCD boxset from Taiwan - with local language text on the box.

The Prequel Trilogy on VCD…

As can be seen on Video Collector’s informative SWonVideo.com website the Prequel Trilogy was also available on VCD…

^ https://www.swonvideo.com/vcd/vvcdep1hk2000box.htm

^ https://www.swonvideo.com/vcd/vvcdep2offsleeve.htm

^ https://www.swonvideo.com/vcd/vvcdep3malay2005slipcase.htm

About the VCD format as a whole…

‘VCD vs UHD (Oldest & Newest active video disc formats)’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7PbQTlv5ig - a 10 minute video from the Techmoan youtube channel

Obligatory Wikipedia Page for the VCD format: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_CD

VideoHelp Page for info on the VCD format: www.videohelp.com/vcd

CDRInfo Page for the VCD format: www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/videocd-format

As ever, if you see any mistakes or broken links please let us know - or have anything for inclusion to the above info too. 👍