That's cool. I missed the "reimagine" concept. I am a die hard fan of the original trilogy, but am totally curious to see what you come up with. I've always wondered how it would look with the comedic fat trimmed and the serious factor notched up. Bravo for the imagination.
Agreed. That's why I answered my own question with "fun". If there is only one word to define the original Star Wars trilogy, it is fun. I am not only happy to see that there are aspring artists out there using Star Wars as their pallate, but am inspired that they're still in love with a 32 year old movie, which is amazing when it's competing with insane technology in today's cinema. A simple argument against the "Well Lucas started this with ANH in '81". True, but it is his movie. That's the devil's advocate argument. In reality I do agree that there is no "definite" version, so I need to ammend my original statement. Let's change that to "don't forget" about the original version. In regards to Lucas, sometimes I feel he didn't actually sit down and watch his movie in the early 90s ...and then again in '04 before he decided on his special edition. He certainly wasn't in on the color timing session! If he does decide to make an archive edition for blueray, I dare him to find anyone better qualified then Adywan to point out the film's technological shortcomings. I am definitely going to check out his PURIST version as I didn't know it existed.
If you haven't heard Adywan, he seems like a real nice dude who may not be aware of his own genius:) In this, he mentions that he's got even BIGGER changes in mind for the prequal trilogy...including Jar Jar changes and a different origin for 3PO.
Now THAT I truly look forward to!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSmjxa-5ujc
Hmmm. Interesting concept. Techically speaking, the opening logo was a little long, and the dialogue is drowned out by the "new" music. Thematically speaking...no Star Wars music? I understand the effort, to consolidate the story into an epic, but really...removing the main theme? It's at a point where some fan edits are simply to modernize, reimagine and remove what makes Star Wars...Star Wars. Battlestar Galactica (the new one) was an awesome show, with a completely different atmosphere then Lucas' saga. Unless we pick up cameras and reshoot everything again, it's going to remain different. I don't want to crush anyone's creativity, but removing the trademark stuff like music just jumped out at me:) What will you do with the swing across the chasm? Good luck with the rest.
I think the question "Can anything else be done to ANH" is a puzzling one. I assume most people on this forum aren't old enough to experience STAR WARS for the first time on the big screen during it's initial run or subsequent re-releases through 1982. Let's be honest. With today's computer technology, it's possible to do anything to ANH. It began production in the middle of the 70s, so there are endless adjustments that could be made in order to "freshen" it up, or modernize it, to bring it closer to the prequal production values.
But...why? Hopefully, just for the fun of it.
STAR WARS is what it is. An amazing piece of entertainment. I was 7 years old in 77, so believe me when I say it literally changed my life...not to mention giving me a tremendous childhood. White sabres can be annoying, but there is a also a certain charm that goes along with grainy film and that original LUCASFILM logo.
Don't get me wrong, what Adywan did was...incredible, and he should be applauded for such a time consuming, creative undertaking. If nothing else, it's a bold statement to Lucas to say this is how you fix a lightsabre...it's really not all that hard to tell the difference between blue and green. If Adywan can make a cinema quality special edition, why can't Lucas fix the blatant errors with his own professional release? I'm all for recompositing fx shots to get rid of matte lines as well as other subtle digital fixes where the original just wasn't good enough. However, if I'm being honest that's where I would draw the line at repairs.
Yes it's fun to hear "Vader's March" in ANH, or find out the limits of a new space battle on home video/computer equipment...but some things should remain the same. When Obi-Wan paused to exchange with a telling smile with Vader befor being cut down, it was that musical cue that brings me back to childhood viewings and embodies the original film. Yes, it was interesting to see how the prequal music fit over the beginning of the scene which wasn't scored...but if the original cue now is substituted or sped up to make room for a prequal cue, to me at least, that's just as bad as Greedo shooting first.
Now I'm not discouraging anyone from using ANH as workparts to see what they can come up with. I think it's great. For some of us though, it's still the original versions we're going to throw up on the video projector when time permits. As an adult and parent, you have less and less time to dedicate to watching movies...so it becomes not a time killer, but an event. The nexst time I invite my cousins over to visit that galaxy far, far away, it will still be the original version...or as close as I can get to it...I may pop in EditDroid's mono mix. Thumbs up to Adywan and everybody's creativeness as we keep the original saga alive for yet another generation, but also try to remember, and make time to experience the charm that the original version still carries.
...also, I wanted Anakin's transformation to Darth Vader to be more clearly defined, and more selfish. I wanted him to make a consious decision to follow the path to the dark side, instead of being "decieved" or "brainwashed" by Palpatine. How rewarding would it have been to see a young Anakin Skywalker...closed off, to himself...perhaps even ostrasized by his friends. Then, when he realzied his gift for the force, relish in the idea of absolute power. And of coarse he develops a real thirst for it along the way.
I have also contemplated rewriting the prequal story simply to prove I can do a better job.
My biggest complaint about the dialogue in the pt is a simple one. Contractions. The lack of which makes everything sound stilted and less real then it already is. You're in an unrealistic environment, the suspension of belief is being pushed as it is. Now I understand it's supposed to be before the Fall of the Republic, so everything is a bit more regal, but I would have much, MUCH rather seen (and heard) an order of grizzled, war battered jedi knights talk closer to the way we do...or at least have Anakin and Obi-Wan go about their adventures with dialogue in the spirit of Han and Luke, as opposed to "Shakespearean".
Just came across these. I used to have BOTH of these on VHS back in the summer of '83, but have since lost the tape. Actually it was borrowed and never returned(!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bShqbzTk_Nc
On a related topic, I’m currently working on a restoration project of STAR WARS TV SPOTS (tv trailers). By using audio I recorded myself (age 8, with a tape recorder against the tv), plus audio I’ve found throughout the years in these forums, I’ve recreated a handful of STAR WARS. I do have PREMIERE PRO 2.0 so the editing is impressive, however the only PAN AND SCAN copy of SW is a laserdisc rip I did several years back. Quality is not great…but then again the project is intended on simply getting a “sense” of how they looked/felt back in the day…essentially having something to look at while listening to classic audio. The only added/manipulated audio is patched work for some beginnings/endings that were clipped.
If anyone has the following:
High quality PAN AND SCAN rip of SW
Any original AUDIO or VIDEO of <span style=“text-decoration: underline;”>original</span> trilogy TV ads (not included in the DVD sets)
<span style=“text-decoration: underline;”>Please</span> send me a message, or direct email wwdarth3@yahoo.com.
Thanks, and I’ll post more when the project is complete!
Wade
Great decision Puggo! I mean after all, this is a preservation, not a restoration. I like to think of it as a time capsule for a home presentation of what once was. Now, if anybody has access to high quality vintage policy trailers for an even better home showing...private ims are very, very welcome!!
I love the "film" sound before the main theme kicks in. Please don't do anything to minimize that wonderful addition...it totally adds to the '77 experience. I literally can not wait to run this through my video projector.