vtpeters

User Group: Members
Join date: 20-Apr-2003
Last activity: 22-Dec-2006
Posts: 45

Post History

Post: #257886
Topic: A New Hope HDTV screenshots
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/257886/action/topic#257886
Time: 21-Nov-2006 2:01 PM

Originally posted by: Vigo

Originally posted by: vtpeters
Can someone please tell me why everyone here is so thrilled to see these 1997 SE versions in HD? They're by general knowledge the worst-of-all Star Wars versions ever, so why bother?

If you would have read the whole thread, you would have seen how I was talking about that the added cgi effects in the SE scenes look even more crap in HDTV. Apart from the 2004 "colour treatment" (although it seems that it has been corrected again), the restauration effort is awesome. This is how the OOT *COULD* look.
True, except for the 'enhancements' made to the SE releases.

And as far as adapting new standards goes. Personally I'd first have to see the electronics and entertainment industry together support only ONE system. I'm not going to invest (heavily) into a system that could become the next Video2000 or Betamax (for all you youngsters: these were rival and some may say technically superior video tape systems to VHS in the late 80's and early 90's).

Yup, I´ll sign that!

I'm affraid the HD format 'war' will rage on for a while. When the smoke clears and one format remains still standing on its feet, I'll concider buying into HD. Until then, DVD on SD (Standard Definition) will do ...

Post: #257883
Topic: A New Hope HDTV screenshots
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/257883/action/topic#257883
Time: 21-Nov-2006 1:47 PM

Originally posted by: yanksno1

Actually it's the 2004 dvd released versions that are running on Cinemax in HD. Watching them is still awesome in HD even with all the changes. I just try to ignore those when I see them.

Okay, now I'm lost! The HD screenshots of the restored Jabba-Solo Hangar scene from Episode IV seems to be taken from the 1997 SE version. The 2004 SE Jabba looks bad, the 1997 SE Jabba looks even worse and I believe the screenshots are from the worst looking Jabba (aka, the 1997 SE version). But, I could be mistaking.

If either of these two versions receive the HD treatment, it makes one seriously wonder if the OOT will ever see a DVD or HD (on Blu-ray and/or HD-DVD) release ...

Post: #257725
Topic: A New Hope HDTV screenshots
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/257725/action/topic#257725
Time: 20-Nov-2006 5:57 PM

Can someone please tell me why everyone here is so thrilled to see these 1997 SE versions in HD? They're by general knowledge the worst-of-all Star Wars versions ever, so why bother?

And as far as adapting new standards goes. Personally I'd first have to see the electronics and entertainment industry together support only ONE system. I'm not going to invest (heavily) into a system that could become the next Video2000 or Betamax (for all you youngsters: these were rival and some may say technically superior video tape systems to VHS in the late 80's and early 90's).

Post: #248151
Topic: Greedo subtitles outside the 16:9 frame
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/248151/action/topic#248151
Time: 26-Sep-2006 7:20 PM

OK, I found the answer to your and my (for Dutch subtitles) problem.

There is a program called DVDSubEdit which is able to go into the copied VOB files on your hard drive (you'll need DVDDecrypter or DVDFab Decrypter for that), go into the VOB files and justify the placement of the subtitles. Unfortunately there isn't an option (yet) to downscale the size of the fonts, so the subtitles remain as large as they are now.

Go to http://www.videohelp.com/~DVDSubEdit/ for more info and to download the program.

Good luck

Post: #247511
Topic: 2007 Star Wars calendar - with DVD (?)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/247511/action/topic#247511
Time: 23-Sep-2006 4:55 PM

Originally posted by: ESHBG
I ran into this tonight by dumb luck:

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/TRNCAL/971019~Star-Wars-Posters.jpg

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Star-Wars-Posters_i1675215_.htm

Notice how it says "The Complete Saga"?

Weren't there supposed to be 9 Episodes?

He keeps changing his mind, isn't he (if you're looking at it from the positive side) ...

Post: #245529
Topic: Greedo subtitles outside the 16:9 frame
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/245529/action/topic#245529
Time: 18-Sep-2006 3:38 PM

About subtitle placement ...

I know from firmware upgrades to my Philips DVD player that, when flashed, the player settings are reverted to factory defaults. This includes the option to define which TV type is attached to the player (choices are 4:3 or 16:9). The default is 4:3.

If I don't change it back to 16:9 and play an anamorphic disc using this 4:3 setting on my 16:9 TV, I see a letterboxed movie with subtitles way down in the black bars. If I zoom in to take full advantage of the entire wide screen, these subtitles drop below and out of the frame. This resembles the viewing experience of these newly release sub-quality 4:3 letterboxed editions when trying to watch them on a 16:9 screen (zoomed in to use the full width of the wide screen).

But I believe there is a way around this problem ...
According to my knowledge the subtitle's font type, size, colour and position in the frame (amongst other things) are controlled from the IFO files that go with the VOB files that contain the video and audio data ('stream'). If you copy the movies on the extra discs to your hard drive, you could use some editing tool to try altering some of the values for the subtitles and get them somewhat higher in frame. I'm not sure if IfoEdit enables you to do so, maybe some other tool.

Post: #245503
Topic: "BUT ANAMORPHIC ENHANCEMENT ALTERS THE MOVIES!!!"
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/245503/action/topic#245503
Time: 18-Sep-2006 2:53 PM

Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic
Still people who don't understand what Anamorphic means are not extremists, if anything they are lazy.

You guys have had Lucas all figured out for years now, and yet we still buy every version he puts out.

I hope you guys are right about Lucas just trying to get us to buy all the versions, because it would really suck if this was the last chance ("no really this time I -really- mean it"), and we missed it -again-.

It's sorta like the sheep that cried wolf. What if it actually WAS the truth this time around?

I'm actually thying hard NOT to buy this release, hoping for an anamorphic widescreen restored version that I feel is worth the € 19,95 a movie they're charging for this re-release of the 2004 SE. And back then they told us this would be the only version of the Star Wars Original Trilogy that would ever see the light of day. Now we know this was a lie. But do we dare to call their bluff?

I decided to follow a different route. Our local library also rents movies. They have the 2004 SE on DVD.
I know the guy who is responsible for maintaining and enhancing their catalogue prety well and I've urged them to consider the purchase of this new release, because "it has the original theatrical version on a second disc". And I added that it is "their duty to make these historic original theatrical versions available to the public".
I sure hope he will actually add them to the catalogue. I for one will rent them and make a copy for home use (I'm allowed to, I have the original on VHS too).

In the mean time I'll be searhing the web for DVD-Rips of all discs two of the newly released set...
Victor Peters

Post: #237556
Topic: Tell imdb.com to separate their rating system for theatrical and altered versions of movies.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/237556/action/topic#237556
Time: 22-Aug-2006 7:37 PM

Originally posted by: vote_for_palpatine

Originally posted by: JediRandy
While you're at it ask for one for Apocolypse Now/Redux.... the Extended Lord of the Rings flicks.... The Godfather Saga.... E.T. (Cops with guns and now with Radios!) Close Encounters of the Third Kind... Bladerunner..... any movie with "Directors Cut" on the box....

Why? This is a Star Wars site.

I agree with vote_for_palpatine. If one would ask for a seperate rating for the original theatrical version and any altered version (whether it's a theatrical re-release or a home video release) it should be for all movies, not just for the Star Wars movies. There are numerous movies that have received the "Director's cut", "Special Edition", "Ultimate Edition" or "Anniversary Edition" treatment and were altered in the process. Even to such a degree that seperate ratings or even seperate listings would be in order.

Actually, the changes made to the Original Trilogy are documented on IMDB, under Funn Stuff - Alternate Versions. Everyone who's interested can read what was altered through the years. Also, the Full Credits section clearly states if actors has appeared in the Special Edition version only (take a look at the Full Credits for Epsiode VI, you'll see what I mean). Funny though that Hayden Christensen's name isn't on the Full Credits list for Episode VI. He's only mentioned in the Altered Versions section.

Post: #235050
Topic: Audience reaction to the reveal?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/235050/action/topic#235050
Time: 14-Aug-2006 11:32 AM

In 1980, when I saw TESB in the theater at age 17, my first reaction to Vader's line "I am your father" was one of major disappointment. I feltit sounded to much like something out of a soap opera (like Dallas at the time). These kind of reveals or cliffhangers are common in soap opera's and Star Wars was starting to look like one. Well, in ROTJ it got even worse when we learned that Leia, Luke's love interest in TESB, was in fact his sister!

Post: #230723
Topic: I got a response from Leonard Maltin.....
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230723/action/topic#230723
Time: 30-Jul-2006 8:25 PM

Originally posted by: Mike O

Robert A. Harris wants to do this very much, so if anyone is a member of the Home Theater Forum and knows how to contact him, then by all means do, and post it in the "contacts" thread. The more people that we can have leaning on Lucas, the better. Ideally, Criterion would do a breathtaking restoration full of awesome extras, LFL would get the money, and everyone would be happy. While I'm at it ...

I think herein lies the problem for LFL. Once proper anamorphic widescreen OOT DVD's have been released and sold to fans around the world, there'll be no more money to be made off these OOT movies untill a new medium/format like HD-DVD or BlueRay has become main stream enough to start all over again.

Post: #229904
Topic: Ok, straight up... is this the last time we will ever see the OOT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229904/action/topic#229904
Time: 27-Jul-2006 4:00 PM

Originally posted by: Jobel
Did Lucas not say though, that this was some kind of test? To see if there is any interest in the OT?

If that's the case surely it does imply this may not be the last release of the OT. However people have to buy it to show their interest.

And thus end up with two sets of the 2004 Special Edition? I think not!

I'll wait and see, as I did when Episode I was released on VHS only.

Post: #224018
Topic: Remember when everyone hated Return of the Jedi?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/224018/action/topic#224018
Time: 3-Jul-2006 10:28 AM

Well, my point was, that GL made everything up while writing the screenplay for each movie. Things he claims now that were part of a bigger, wider back story were in fact NOT.

Back to the original topic...
I saw all OOT movies when they were released in theater and have found ROTJ to be the one I liked most.
The space battles and mass scenes didn't look as good as they did in ROTJ. I also didn't like the cliffhanger end of ESB ("To Be Continued ..." at the end might have been nice) and the down beat feel it had. In ROTJ George wnet over the top in the creatures department, but all in all stiull a very entertaining movie.

Post: #223545
Topic: Remember when everyone hated Return of the Jedi?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223545/action/topic#223545
Time: 30-Jun-2006 7:10 PM

I remember Lucas explaining in some ROTJ Making Of documentary that the Ewoks were at one point in the development of the script supposed to be Wookies. In Episode III we finally get to see an Empire vs. Wookies battle...

Post: #223170
Topic: Remember when everyone hated Return of the Jedi?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/223170/action/topic#223170
Time: 29-Jun-2006 4:28 PM

Originally posted by: Anchorhead

Originally posted by: Neil S. Bulk
I still maintain Lucas hasn't done anything good with Star Wars starting with the release of ROTJ. Hell, I'd almost go so far as to say ESB was the real fluke and the future of Star Wars was presented to us on CBS in November 1978. Everything since that time, with the exception of Empire has been junk.
Neil

I agree fully. The Empire Strikes Back was already showing that Lucas had no real story to tell after Star Wars. I saw Return Of The Jedi at theaters on opening day and again about 14 years later. I disliked it both times. Lucas way over-thinks things and continues to provide answers to questions no one has asked. To me, the real fluke in all of this is the 1977 version of Star Wars. Look at what a mess he's made of it now that he's really put his mind to it.

It all makes perfect sense if you consider the possibility that there never was a larger Star Wars back story to begin with. Just a draft of screenplay for ANH.
There is an (unwritten?) Hollywood rule that a succesfull movie 'must' have a sequel. When ANH was released and broke box office records around the globe, THAT was the moment where a new script had to be developed for a sequel we now know as ESB.

Besides, Lucas' admits to having serious doubts about the father-son releationship between Vader and Luke at the time of writing the screenplay for ROTJ in an official 1983 "Making Of ..." documentary I have on VHS. This exposes his version of The Making Of A Saga for what it is: a lie.

But, as always, if you repeat or re-hash your version of the story often and loud enough, everybody is going to believe it to be the truth. Even the person who made it up ...

Post: #218303
Topic: The Chronology of How My love for Lucas has fallen
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218303/action/topic#218303
Time: 13-Jun-2006 6:25 PM

It's a well known fact that George Lucas took it a little bit too far in ROTJ, like the Jabba court sequence that looked like an over-the-top episode of The Muppet Show and the horrible dancing number with contemporary big band show music. The 'enhancements' to the 1997 and 2004 SE didn't remedy that. Instead they made it worse, considering that I had grown accustomed to the original version of the movies with all their glitches and little defects.

There is still hope that 2007 will see a OOT release that does credit to these movies. They deserve it!

Post: #217821
Topic: Shatner sings to Lucas
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/217821/action/topic#217821
Time: 11-Jun-2006 5:37 PM

Noticed how, everytime shortly before Shatner says "You did it your way", Lucas looks in horror and after the words are spoken breathes a sigh of relief?

Affraid someone was going to critisize the alterations to the OOT?

Post: #216945
Topic: We have to buy this set atleast to preserve it for the next generation of fans
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/216945/action/topic#216945
Time: 7-Jun-2006 3:45 PM

Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
While I agree with the OP on the fact that we need to preserve the OOT, and think he's absolutely right, it just seems out of the question to buy another set. I don't have the money to spend just to preserve the OOT. If I had the money, I'd do it in a second, but I don't, and I think that's the case with a lot of us.

Isn't it Lucas' or Fox' job to preserve the OOT the way they were originally? Why should all fans invest into this preservation project? I sure as hell don't feel responsible to the degree that I 'have' to buy a 2nd set of the 2004 SE just to obtain the OOT in sub-standard, below-par quality that even George himself wouldn't stick his THX quality mark on?

Remember the Episode 1 VHS-release?
According to Lucas at the time, the DVD format had it's quality issues and he didn't want to release it on DVD but instead wait until a better, higher quality format would come along.
But something changed his mind. Some 6-12 mounths later Episode I finally did see a DVD release.

With this in mind I'd like to say: Don't buy the september DVD release! No matter how nuch you'd like to own the OOT on DVD!

Sales figures and disapponted or even angree reactions of fans from all over the world, sendign messages and mail to Lucasfilm Ltd., should give him enough feedback as to why fans didn't buy this september DVD release. He cannot deny it. He KNOWS!

Post: #214963
Topic: Time to accept what we are given and be grateful?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/214963/action/topic#214963
Time: 30-May-2006 8:38 PM

I have two major concerns with a letterboxed version of the OOT:

After being suckered into buying the 2004 version (publications from Lucasfilm clearly stated that this would be the only version that would ever see a DVD release) I'll have to buy the same 2004 Special Edition again just to obtain the OOT. I'd rather be able to buy the OOT seperately. No such luck.

The location of the subtitles. Subtitles in local language are added for foreign language releases. Furthermore, for scenes where the characters speak in an alien tongue (like Han talking to Greedo in Ep. 4) English subtitles are displayed. Since the master is a LaserDisc I think those English subtitles, instead of being a sub-picture streams, they will be part of the videostream content (and thus cannot be hidden). If the subtitles are placed too low in the frame (in the bottom half of the lower black bar), zooming in on the picture with my 16 : 9 TV causes the subtitles to fall out of frame. I hope those responsible for mastering the DVD take this into account and place the subtitles in such a position, that they are still visible when zoomed in.

On the other hand, because I already own two VHS versions (OOT and 1997 SE), a VideoCD version of the 1997 SE and the 2004 SE on DVD, I might as well rent the newly released Star Wars september version and make 1:1 copies of the extra's on DVD+R DL ...

Post: #214949
Topic: Try to take it easy with the Lucas bashing.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/214949/action/topic#214949
Time: 30-May-2006 7:45 PM

Off course we don't want George Lucas to die. Especially since we don't have a proper version of the OOT yet.

I think most of us here want him to stop tampering with the OOT before he does even more damage to the movies than he has already done with the 1997 and 2004 Special Editions!

It surpises me that George Lucas, being the 'quality freak' that he is, has finally agreed to have the OOT included on the september 2006 release in such (even for extra material) sub-standard quality.

With the 30th Anniversary (and yet another DVD release) just around the corner, GL would have been welel adviced to waite a while longer and REALLY make an effort or the OOT on DVD. This means investing money into the project, but I'm sure it will generate enough money to earn the investment back (and then some)....

Post: #213043
Topic: We start the war from right here
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213043/action/topic#213043
Time: 24-May-2006 3:01 PM

As I stated before in other threads, money seems to be the driving force (pun intended) in LFL's ways. To loosely quote Princess Leia: "If money is all they love, then that is NOT what they'll receive (from me).

Post: #212667
Topic: Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212667/action/topic#212667
Time: 23-May-2006 5:57 PM

Originally posted by: skye_solo
For years I've hated all these so-called special editions of everything under the sun that have come out. Just release the damn movie. And call it that. The 80s were cool cause at least if you bought a movie on tape, you were getting the movie and not all this bullshit.

I'm not that much bothered by Special Editions, Director's Cuts and what have you. I even prefer 2-disc editions with the extra's because I love movies and they tell you something about how it was made. If a movie is going to be released as a movie-only as well as an enhanced, extended or special edition, than I would like to know this up front.
Just like they did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They first released the theatrical version, but at the same time notify you of the upcoming Extended Edition with added material. Then it's up to you if you want to wait for the Extended Edition, buy the theatrical edition or both. Freedom of choice.

The fans of the OOT still don't know what to make of the september 2006 release of the OOT. N'or do they know if 2007 will see yet another release of the OOT on DVD (and in the way they deserve, like anamorphic widescreen). I even doubt if LFL will inform its fan base what to expect for a possible 2007 release before or during the period when the september 2006 release will be available for sale. Not much of a choice there, more of a gamble.

Post: #212630
Topic: Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212630/action/topic#212630
Time: 23-May-2006 3:46 PM

Besides from LFL trying to rip us off for the n-th time, I feel that the movie industry in general is not doing movie fans a favor by constantly releasing yet another improved Special Edition of (classic) movies they have released before. I've seen at least two releases of Ben-Hur and three of The Ten Commandments, where the producers had found additional footage or documentaries, silent versions, etcetara in some hidden vault.

Soon we'll see a second (and in 2007 the 3rd) release, re-release or re-issue of the OT (either the enhanced or the original version).

Do these movie industry shakers actually think movie fans are going buy EVERY new version they throw at them?

Talking about giving movie pirates and bootleggers yet another excuse to steal from the movie industry. How about just one decent release of a movie and than stick with that! Sometimes I wonder if the movie industry isn't implicitely asking for it ...

Post: #212325
Topic: Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212325/action/topic#212325
Time: 22-May-2006 1:53 PM

A delayed release of the OOT on DVD seems like a more sensable thing to do. Give it the treatment it deserves (anamorphic widescreen, image enhancement, sort'a like the treatment they gave the Indiana Jones Trilogy). Better still, release it as a seperate boxed set and maybe put in some extra's like the original "The Making Of Star Wars", "SP-FX" and "From Star Wars To Jedi - The Making Of A Saga" documentaries. And than see which version sells best ...

However, I think this is what will happen...
September 2006 will bring us the re-release of the 2004 version of Episodes IV to VI with the OOT as extra material.
In may 2007 the 30th Anniversary Edition box set will be released, which will include altered/enhanced versions of Episodes I to III and the september 2006 release of Episodes IV to VI.

But who knows, GL may surprise us and:
a) include anamorphic widescreen enhanced version of the OOT in the 30the Anniversary Edition box set, or
b) release an anamorphic widescreen enhanced version of the OOT in a seperate box set.

I'm hoping for b), but I'm not going to hold my breath ...

Post: #212105
Topic: Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212105/action/topic#212105
Time: 21-May-2006 6:36 PM

To Shimraa,

In order to obtain the OOT you'll have to purchase the 2004 version too since they are in one boxed set. For most of us here this would mean buying something we already have.

If the OOT were to be released in a seperate box, George might be surprised as to how many people actually prefer the original unaltered versions. Even if they were just presented in letterbox format ...

Post: #211865
Topic: Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/211865/action/topic#211865
Time: 20-May-2006 8:26 PM

I'm going to respond on the upcoming non-anamorphic LaserDisc-2-DVD copy of the OOT in much the same way I did in 2000 when Episode I was released on VHS: I'm not going to buy it.

When Episode I was announced for home video, George Lucas decided he wasn't going to release it on DVD. He felt that the DVD format lacked (image) quality and wasn't suited for showing his movies. Instead he releases the movie on the far inferior VHS format. This stroke me as odd, to say the least. Some year and a half later he came back on his decision and released Epispode I on DVD.

I just hope that other fans will decide not to buy the announced/rumoured september 2006 re-release of both the OOT and 2004 version. Most likely, less than a year later, I expect that yet another release will be announced to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the 1977 Star Wars movie. Maybe then we will finally get an anamorphic and digitally restored but otherwise unaltered versionn of the OOT. Untill then, I'll just wait and see ...