timdiggerm

Nice to see them explicitly disconnect the hand from the saber immediately.

Charles Threepio said:

Only from the top and bottom. I can understand not wanting any cropping whatever if you’re combining a 4:3 DVD with a 4:3 laser videodisc, but when you’re dealing with VHS, which very often, if not always, has a bit of picture distortion at the bottom of the frame (my VHS copy is, of course, no exception), it just can’t be helped if you’re going for consistency, which I am in this case. Besides, I watched my entire VHS copy cropped to 1.66:1 just to be sure it’d work, and all the titles managed to fit rather well. Plus, the DVD, which I intend to use for most of the restoration process, has some artifacting of its own in a single shot, and cropping to 1.66:1 hid it quite nicely. One key objective of a restoration, after all, is to make the program look good.

Oooh, I understand now. Thanks.

Trailer thoughts, out of order

• Was that the Ghost?
• Was that a Y-wing? I get that there’s probably an old mothballed Imperial fleet coming into play, but why would there be an old Y-Wing? I guess the Rebellion is pretty desperate for ships. But jeez, if you thought TFA was just an OT reboot… Oh also a B-Wing! And old X-Wings? …does this movie have time travel after all?
• First Order base on a big ice crystal in space. That’s cool. And of course Snoke had a giant, ominous throne.
• I’m fine with returning to Endor & DSII, I think, because how else is Kylo going to get closure and understand the truth of Anakin’s redemption? Don’t ask me how going there will accomplish that, but it will.
• I thought the mothballed fleet was in space (see previous trailer), but now it appears to be emerging from the ocean (or possibly ice) while a cell of equestrian rebels gallops across it. Okay?
• Threepio’s going to die? Maybe? That seems fine, really
• aaaaaaaaaand mech-Palpatine

ChainsawAsh said:

All this is EU crap. That line makes Vader seem weak and with no agency in the movie. It’s why Vader kinda sucks in ROTJ compared to ANH/ESB, at least until he brings Luke to the Emperor.

Yeah, it makes him feel like a real person underneath the suit. Let’s look at the script!

Vader and Luke are left standing alone in the oddly tranquil beauty of the place. The sounds of the forest filter in upon them.

VADER: The Emperor has been expecting you.
LUKE: I know, father.
VADER: So, you have accepted the truth.
LUKE: I’ve accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father.
VADER (turning to face him): That name no longer has any meaning for me.

LUKE: It is the name of your true self. You’ve only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn’t driven it from you fully. That is why you couldn’t destroy me. That’s why you won’t bring me to your Emperor now.

Vader is pushing for Luke to join the Sith, because Lucas hasn’t invented the Rule of Two yet. Luke is trying to remind Vader of his past as a good-guy, because he wants him to forsake the Empire and join the Rebellion. Vader doesn’t want to talk about that, so he changes the subject.

Vader looks down from Luke to the lightsaber in his own black- gloved hand. He seems to ponder Luke’s words.

VADER (indicating lightsaber): I see you have constructed a new lightsaber.

Vader ignites the lightsaber and holds it to examine its humming, brilliant blade.

VADER: Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen.

He also takes a moment to talk-up his boss as an all-powerful (and thus irresistible) wizard. How can Luke say no to that?

They stand for a moment, the Vader extinguishes the lightsaber.

LUKE: Come with me.
VADER: Obi-Wan once thought as you do.

Luke steps close to Vader, then stops. Vader is still.

Luke is pretty sure he’s getting through to him - Vader brought up Obi-Wan! His old friend! Remember the good old days when you were a good-guy?

VADER: You don’t know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master.
LUKE: I will not turn…and you’ll be forced to kill me.
VADER: If that is your destiny.
LUKE: Search your feelings, father. You can’t do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate.
VADER: It is too late for me, son. The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now.

Vader, however, wants Luke to understand that, as far as he’s ever seen, there is no other option. He’s very conflicted, but what can he do? The Emperor sees all, can do all, etc. Vader doesn’t want to die, and he doesn’t want Luke to die. The only way to not die is to obey the Emperor.

Vader signals to some distant stormtroopers. He and Luke stand staring at one another for a long moment.

LUKE: Then my father is truly dead.

Anyway, my point is that this line is an essential part of Vader’s journey. It shows that he’s no longer actually committed to the Empire or even the Emperor, he just sees no other option. He is in despair, without hope, particularly since he’s pretty sure his only child (that he knows of) is committing suicide by trying to defy the Emperor. It demonstrates that Luke is right about him, he just doesn’t see a way out.

So are you cutting out stuff from the sides? How is that a preservation?

It is, obviously, a product of its time, as any film must be. In the 80s, it would have been considerably more difficult, perhaps even impossible, to create a climactic lightsabre duel on partially submerged wreckage amidst of the waves in a storm. Similar logic behind a … throne on a giant floating space ice crystal? Whatever that was. This doesn’t mean that Star Wars can’t have those things, but I see what you mean.

Wouldn’t a comparison to ROTJ Yoda be correct?

Broom Kid said:

I love that it’s Father Roderick doing the walk through

Oh my gosh that takes me back. So good to see he’s still around.

…then why not just post tomorrow?

SilverWook said:

People you know at the ASM, or can anyone make inquiries? I wouldn’t be surprised if someone on the film (McQuarrie?) drew inspiration from NASA hardware

Yeah, I just looked up curator’s emails on the museum’s website. I’ve been to a few talks there, so I did have some idea of which people to look for, and their staff bios list their specialties. One of the talks I went to was given by Owen Garriott, seen here at the very controls in question, so remembering which curators were involved with that talk was a good starting point.

So yes, it did help that 5 years ago I went to a lecture devoted to, more or less, talking about operating those controls.

SilverWook said:

https://deeplyobsessed.blogspot.com/2018/11/millennium-falcon-nav-console-discovery.html

Wow. That is bizarre. I’m emailing some people at the Air & Space Museum to see if they have any idea.

JEDIT: One of the curators got back to me and basically “Yup that is weird” but he didn’t know anything more. Not sure if any of the others I emailed will reply, but he did suggest talking to, you know, people who built the prop. That’s a good idea, I just have no idea where to start. Or finding out if the prop still exists today.

Tobar said:

ray_afraid said:

Also, is it stated in the movies (OT) that the Empire is drafting people? I kinda figured it was indoctrination and the lure of the darkside.

BIGGS: I know it’s a long shot, but if I don’t find them I’ll do what I can on my own… It’s what we always talked about. Luke, I’m not going to wait for the Empire to draft me into service. The Rebellion is spreading and I want to be on the right side – the side I believe in.
…
LUKE: Well, I’ll be at the Academy next season… after that who knows. I won’t be drafted into the Imperial Starfleet that’s for sure… Take care of yourself, you’ll always be the best friend I’ve got.

As an aside, this convo with Luke completely dispels the EU misconception that Luke was joining an Imperial Academy. Why would Biggs and Luke be worried about being drafted into the Empire if they were already signing up? On the contrary, it points to the Academy either being part of a local municipality or the equivalent of a trucker school. Just one of those things that the EU got wrong that has always bugged me.

On the other hand, you could interpret this about going for officer to avoid being drafted as a grunt.

Telion said:

exitzero said:

*A shot with Tie-Strikers patrolling Endor.

I don’t think ady will add anything not from the original trilogy (even though the striker was in Rogue one before you say)

Plus, what’s the point? The size & density of the trees makes any amount of air support for either side fairly useless.

ray_afraid said:

ZkinandBonez said:

Anybody else think this looks like a photo of action figures?
I dunno if it’s the angle, poses, scale of the background…
That’s not meant to be a criticism though. I’m sure it’ll look great on screen.

I completely agree

I do think there’s plenty of room for a second film with Han & Lando crossing paths again.

Not that that’ll ever get made. But the story leaves room.

SparkySywer said:

I plan on putting the first 22 movies (Iron Man 1 through Endgame) in the fanedit, because they’re the “Infinity Saga”, however my girlfriend and my brother really want me to put Far From Home in the fanedit, saying it’s the real last movie in the Infinity Saga, not Endgame. I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen Far From Home.

They are correct. It is an epilogue.

DavidMDaut said:

SilverWook said:

I’ve long thought AOTC was the worst, but YMMV. 😉

They’re both pretty bad, but there are at least entire sequences I like in Clones. Sequences! There are barely entire scenes I like in Sith. This is the one that had the most it needed to get right, and it just falls flat at every single turn.

I’ve really been enjoying this series, but was surprised you didn’t talk about the Opera scene. Isn’t it…decent?

Yeah, mods, please merge this into the other thread

crissrudd4554 said:

timdiggerm said:

crissrudd4554 said:

Yep I’ve never to to anything as the GOUT except those 2006 DVDs.

Well, except for the thread title

I didn’t make the thread. 😉

Somehow I had read “I’ve never to to anything” as “I’ve never heard of anything” instead of “I’ve never referred to anything” as I now assume you must’ve meant.

crissrudd4554 said:

Yep I’ve never to to anything as the GOUT except those 2006 DVDs.

Well, except for the thread title

Paul Harraway said:

As if by magic I see that there’s been a very recent screening of a 70mm (perhaps a UK) print at the Academy in the last few days. I’m sure if we asked nicely they’d be happy for us to borrow it for a little while, said on-one, ever, ever!

Ah well, perhaps someone is testing the water for a fan reaction or hope, hope, hope, a rerelease?!

https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/07/01/star-wars-special-edition-original-screening-70mm-rare-lucasfilm/

Yes there is a whole thread for that

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/70mm-print-of-GOUT-on-Saturday-in-Academy-Theater-in-CA/id/68191

Even that matte in the DSII hangar hasn’t aged well! What is wrong with ROTJ matte paintings?!

EyeShotFirst said:

I feel there were some missed opportunities with Dooku’s being more of a rogue figure, when it’s instantly squashed at the end of AOTC that he’s pretty much just a follower of Palpatine. If one could make him seem more of a rogue, I think it would interesting to see him with a white blade or at least silver. Colourless, and unaffiliated.

I worry that this would be a little too on-the-nose

DominicCobb said:

NeverarGreat said:

I don’t think the were meant to be heavy or light per se, just difficult to handle due to the energies involved. I imagine that it would be like swinging a gyroscope.

Yeah, that’s the Lucas quote, basically it’s not technically heavy but seems as if it is due to the energy. I suppose his justification for making them twirly weightless lightsticks in the PT is the same reason they’re constantly doing backflips - they’re extra superpowered Jedi or something.

Even though their vision is clouded??

FreezingTNT said:

timdiggerm said:

FreezingTNT said:

2. Have plants disintegrate ONSCREEN. The president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, has confirmed that all life died in the Decimation.

Why do this?

Kevin Feige was asked if animals were killed in the Decimation, and he said that half of ALL LIFE was killed off. This means that plants were killed off too. However, there were no plants disintegrating in Wakanda after Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet, so I’m going to try my best to make plants disintegrate in the film.

Yeah, no, I get that. I guess I just mean: how is that going to make the movie better?