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wmgan

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Join date
9-May-2006
Last activity
7-May-2011
Posts
282

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Post
#213478
Topic
The Producers (2005) - Extended Edition (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/213478/action/topic#213478
Time
Arghh I've been having a hard time trying to get the subtitles to sync up. Might just do without them since most people who would be interested in this speak English anyway...

I've edited Susan Stroman's commentary to fit the extended cut (with the original, non-commentary audio for the deleted scenes, of course), and I still have to do the menus. And perhaps I'll cobble together a trailer or something as a bonus feature. I should be done by this weekend, and I'll try to release a torrent soon after...

Oh by the way the audio is 2.0 -- because the deleted scenes only have 2.0 audio, and also because Adobe Premiere doesn't allow the exporting of 5.1 audio (unless you purchase the SurCode plugin -- what I don't understand is why it doesn't allow you to just export a 6-channel WAV file, or 6 mono WAV files, to be encoded with an external encoder like BeSweet).
Post
#212889
Topic
Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212889/action/topic#212889
Time
From the official response:

"As you may know, an enormous amount of effort was put into digitally restoring the negatives for the Special Editions. In one scene alone, nearly 1 million pieces of dirt had to be removed, and the Special Editions were created through a frame-by-frame digital restoration."

A frame-by-frame digital restoration that gave Luke a color-changing lightsaber. That's right, that was a deliberate creative decision!
Post
#212001
Topic
End of SE ROTJ...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212001/action/topic#212001
Time
Originally posted by: ShiftyEyes Screw that logic. Anakin doesn't need to learn how to retain his identity in the Force. He was conceived by the Force. He IS the Force.


Unless you go with the theory (which was in an earlier version of the screenplay and possibly in the novel, I don't quite remember) that Anakin was conceived by ol' Palpy . . .
Post
#211014
Topic
Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/211014/action/topic#211014
Time
This is my letter to Jim Ward:


Dear Mr. Ward,

Star Wars original trilogy not anamorphic?

When it was announced that the original (pre-Special Edition) version of the Star Wars classic trilogy would be released on DVD this September, I was one among many who rejoiced. Unlike many fans of the classic trilogy, I actually like most of the changes made for the 1997 Special Edition and for the DVDs. I do, however, believe that audiences should have a choice. Besides, by having both versions of the films to make a comparison, one can better appreciate the improvements made to the film. The original versions of the films were the ones that started it all, and belong in the collection of every Star Wars fan.

Unfortunately, I have read various reports on the Internet that the original version of the trilogy would be presented in letterboxed format, not anamorphic widescreen as many fans hoped for. Can you confirm if this rumor is true? If it is, I will not be alone in disappointment that the films are not given the red carpet treatment they deserve.

If this is indeed the studio’s decision – or George Lucas’ decision – I strongly urge everyone involved in the production of this DVD to consider the consequences. Fans of the trilogy have been asking for these gems for a long time, but that does not mean we are desperate enough to shell out cash for an inferior release, especially since most of us already own the 2004 DVDs. Many fans will hold out on this release in the hope of getting a better one eventually, and the unimpressive sales will not in any way be indicative of a lack of interest in the original classic trilogy.

If the original version of the Star Wars classic trilogy is to be released on DVD, please give it the best release possible. We, the fans, can wait.

Sincerely,
(signed)
Ming.
Post
#210987
Topic
ORIGINAL STAR WARS TRILOGY OUT 09/2006 BY LUCASFILM
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210987/action/topic#210987
Time
I don't think anyone has posted this quote yet, so:

Lucas claims he's not re-releasing the originals to appease fans, but rather to bate them. "Now we'll find out whether they really wanted the original or whether they wanted the improved versions," he said. "It'll all come out in the end."

That's from MTV Movies news <http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1531527/story.jhtml>.

So that's it, isn't it? Release an inferior release and gloat when no-one buys them.
Post
#210921
Topic
Info Wanted: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone NTSC - anyone doing this?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210921/action/topic#210921
Time
I'm not sure "truer to the book" is the thing to say, because the US edition of the book is titled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". But I know what you're getting at -- J. K. Rowling titled it "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" for good reason (the Philosopher's Stone is the holy grail for alchemists), so the title should never have been changed in the first place.
Post
#210814
Topic
The Lord of the Rings - Special Abridged Edition (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210814/action/topic#210814
Time
I guess the 3D cube effect isn't so appropriate and effective there... the thing is, I wanted to show that they were going in opposite directions from the same place, and I tried various transitions and was most satisfied (though not entirely so) with this one. Before that I tried to get the maps to line up but it was just impossible. Maybe I'll try a fade after all. We'll see. I'll experiment further with it.

I'm really annoyed about the picture quality when I zoom in. Urghh. And Premiere doesn't have different zoom options so I don't know what resizing algorithm it uses. Hopefully it won't be so bad when I use the original DVD sources (though I suspect the pixellation won't improve much). I wonder if the picture quality would be better if I used AviSynth to double or triple the resolution of the image, and then scaling everything down in Premiere... though I'm not sure how well Premiere would handle downsizing.

It's true that a dissolve would be more consistent with the rest of the credits. I just wanted to have something a little different between the producers' and actors' credits, but I'll try it the other way and see how it looks. I should also change the font of my added credits so that its consistent with the rest. Do you know if the font used in the movie is available on the 'net (or something very similar) and what it's called?

Sorry, but the Missing signs are staying in. =P I would consider changing the way its done, or the wording, but I'm not taking it out. (Apart from being clever, there is also a technical reason for it -- I can't just cut out those credits because of the long fades from each still to the next, each of which is non-static -- notice that the camera actually zooms in as each still is on screen.) Anyway, this version isn't only aimed at newbies -- it's also for fans of LOTR (like myself) who want to enjoy the whole story on screen in a (relatively) short period of time. In fact, in a way I think this version is more faithful to the spirit of the novel in a way -- the novel is very plot-driven (or at least that's the impression I got each time I read it), while the movies often flounder about and make storms out of drizzles -- especially in TTT, which was my least favorite of the three movies, where much of the movie serves no purpose whatsoever to the plot (though ironically it was also the movie that benefitted the most from the extra and extended scenes). The Helm's Deep battle was a brief skirmish in the book -- one of many battles that were raging all over Middle Earth.
Post
#210508
Topic
The Lord of the Rings - Special Abridged Edition (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210508/action/topic#210508
Time
Thanks, dasjr!

Hmmm... I wonder why the bars are white. I've never heard of that happening before... I wonder if it has something to do with how DVDLabPro encodes it. I'll see if I can fix it.

My problem with the Gandalf-Saruman fight was the absence of *magic* -- here we have two powerful wizards fighting and all they do is fling each other around like rag dolls. Perhaps I'll reintegrate some of it back in -- however, I think it's important not to let Saruman take Gandalf's staff because it leaves the plot hole -- how did Gandalf get it back? Also, by having Saruman win so easily now, it shows how much more powerful Gandalf becomes after his "resurrection".

I thought the wide shot of the Balrog falling slowly fading into the shot of the Fellowship leaving Moria looked kinda cool, and it's one of the things I'd planned to do from the beginning, when I first envisioned what my cut would be like. But maybe it's just me.

Thanks for your comments! I look forward to reading what you have to say after you've seen the rest of it.