I believe the Laserdisc version is still the best version, sadly. The Original movies were only released as non-anamorphic "bonus" content. I haven't watched the DVD version in a while, but I also believe it was only stereo.
Best quality original Star Wars (pre-addons)
I used to have the Laserdiscs for Star Wars and thought those were great on my older tube tv. After moving a few times and getting rid of my LD player+movies I'm now an HDTV set owner and have an HTPC with Blu-Ray drive and looking to get the best quality copies of Star Wars the original movies. I just can't bare the animated sequences added into the newer films.
My question to everyone is what is the best quality copy I can buy as a consumer of the original theatrical releases.
My question to everyone is what is the best quality copy I can buy as a consumer of the original theatrical releases.
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http://www.originaltrilogy.com where people care deeply about this issue.
Like many others, I bought and suffer through the non-anamorphic theatrical versions that came with the most recent release of the DVDs. I use the dreaded zoom mode on my TV to eliminate the pillar box. I just can't stomach the stupidness that Lucas added in the special editions, culminating in that Fraggle Rock-esque musical number in Jabba's Palace in RotJ.
If George thinks he can make a buck doing a re-release of the re-release of the original starwars, he will. His buddy Speilberg did it with the Blu-ray release of 'Close Encounters" and even put both versions of the Special Edition and Original of 'E.T.' on DVD. Unlike others who hated SW special editions I did not mind it too much, I absolutely loathed the E.T. Special Edition that was released as I had close connection to as a 9 year old kit when it first came out. Very glad I can watch the RIGHT version. I would not have watched the special edition again.
If you believe they don't have a copy of the original Star Wars scanned in you're on some drugs I'd like to have. How'd they make the S.E. without the original?
If' they'd put it back out on BD with a two channel PCM of the original Dolby Stereo soundtrack, I'd be more than happy to pick up a copy.
If you believe they don't have a copy of the original Star Wars scanned in you're on some drugs I'd like to have. How'd they make the S.E. without the original?
If' they'd put it back out on BD with a two channel PCM of the original Dolby Stereo soundtrack, I'd be more than happy to pick up a copy.
The SE was made by going back to the original camera negative and separation elements for each of the SFX shots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by biggblukat /forum/post/16888932
If you believe they don't have a copy of the original Star Wars scanned in you're on some drugs I'd like to have. How'd they make the S.E. without the original?
The SE was made by going back to the original camera negative and separation elements for each of the SFX shots.
George Lucas will never release high quality versions of the original films. He has a personal loathing for them that goes beyond business reasons.
and yet, as mentioned by BigZiggyZ, he didn't hesitate to include that ridiculous "song" in RoTJ... And if John Williams is generally a good composer, there is one area where he absolutely sucks: the "songs" of StarWars! I mean they're all beyond bad. Do you remember the ending in RoTJ, with the ewoks celebrating? This is so bad I laugh each time
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertR /forum/post/16890269
George Lucas will never release high quality versions of the original films. He has a personal loathing for them that goes beyond business reasons.
and yet, as mentioned by BigZiggyZ, he didn't hesitate to include that ridiculous "song" in RoTJ... And if John Williams is generally a good composer, there is one area where he absolutely sucks: the "songs" of StarWars! I mean they're all beyond bad. Do you remember the ending in RoTJ, with the ewoks celebrating? This is so bad I laugh each time
If you buy the current 6-disc "Star Wars Trilogy" box set, it has non-anamorphic versions the original versions. These are the best you can buy today. They aren't necessarily any better than good laserdisc versions, but at least you can buy them.
Note that in one minor way, they are even more "original" than the laserdiscs. They have the original "crawl" from Star Wars. None of that A New Hope nonsense.
Note that Lucas puts out new and repackaged DVD sets all the time. Only some have the original bonus versions. The current version does, but that could change. Check before buying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by outspoken /forum/post/16888146
My question to everyone is what is the best quality copy I can buy as a consumer of the original theatrical releases.
If you buy the current 6-disc "Star Wars Trilogy" box set, it has non-anamorphic versions the original versions. These are the best you can buy today. They aren't necessarily any better than good laserdisc versions, but at least you can buy them.
Note that in one minor way, they are even more "original" than the laserdiscs. They have the original "crawl" from Star Wars. None of that A New Hope nonsense.
Note that Lucas puts out new and repackaged DVD sets all the time. Only some have the original bonus versions. The current version does, but that could change. Check before buying.
I had not been over to that site in quite a while. I remember a few years ago being really excited about the 'XO project' - a frame by frame 'enhancement' of the OT using a the LD set as a source...sort of funny that all this time later it is still not done. but it looks like there is some recent traffic on the topic.
I was also pretty interested to read about a german hdtv broadcast of the OT that is apparently of very high quality. As far as I have been able to tell, it seems like this version is the bastardized SE version, but it looks like this is being used as a source for quite a few 'fan edits'.....
anyway, I find that site to be really confusing....looks like a lot of the faq/reference posts are out of date and it is sort of hard to tell what the goal of all the various versions are - either hd SE versions, fan edits, LD captures, combinations of all the above. This topic is likely skirting the bounds of what is allowed here, but if anyone has any first hand experience from navigating around that site, some info (even in a PM) would be appreciated.
when the SEs were released on dvd, I had big plans to edit my own Original version together, but never really made any significant progress....seems like a merge of a broadcast HD version with the original elements replaced from the non-anamorphic dvd version or LD captures would be the holy grail...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimProuty /forum/post/16888727
http://www.originaltrilogy.com where people care deeply about this issue.
I had not been over to that site in quite a while. I remember a few years ago being really excited about the 'XO project' - a frame by frame 'enhancement' of the OT using a the LD set as a source...sort of funny that all this time later it is still not done. but it looks like there is some recent traffic on the topic.
I was also pretty interested to read about a german hdtv broadcast of the OT that is apparently of very high quality. As far as I have been able to tell, it seems like this version is the bastardized SE version, but it looks like this is being used as a source for quite a few 'fan edits'.....
anyway, I find that site to be really confusing....looks like a lot of the faq/reference posts are out of date and it is sort of hard to tell what the goal of all the various versions are - either hd SE versions, fan edits, LD captures, combinations of all the above. This topic is likely skirting the bounds of what is allowed here, but if anyone has any first hand experience from navigating around that site, some info (even in a PM) would be appreciated.
when the SEs were released on dvd, I had big plans to edit my own Original version together, but never really made any significant progress....seems like a merge of a broadcast HD version with the original elements replaced from the non-anamorphic dvd version or LD captures would be the holy grail...
There are nice versions of all three movies sourced from the GOUT dvds out there. They've been cleaned up using a script and been made anamorphic. They also have the PCM sound from the 93 LDs with added lfe channel and IV have the long lost mono mix. Worth checking out. IMHO
Sometimes I think the only place where a truly great copy of the unaltered OT exists is in the memories of fans old enough to have seen the first film in a theater during summer 1977.
That said - if/when SW gets the Bluray treatment, it's conceivable that all the archived material - esp the OT deleted scenes yet to get a real DVD release - will be part of a saga set. Who knows - those HD copies of the O-OT may still happen (notice however that I am not holding my breath) if GL decides on a "completist" set for what will likley be the last SW film issued on traditional physical media.
That said - if/when SW gets the Bluray treatment, it's conceivable that all the archived material - esp the OT deleted scenes yet to get a real DVD release - will be part of a saga set. Who knows - those HD copies of the O-OT may still happen (notice however that I am not holding my breath) if GL decides on a "completist" set for what will likley be the last SW film issued on traditional physical media.
Truthfully, I don't think any of the versions rise above "Average to Good" SF movie.
What Star Wars had and continues to have going for it is that pretty much all installments have represented new high water marks for one or another aspect of modern special effects technology.
But as far as scripts, acting, continuity, casting, photography, etc. go - these are decidedly ordinary movies. Speaking as one who saw the first film as an adult (age 27) and therefore without the artificial enhancement of adolescent hormones, they are all six entertaining films, some better than others. None are classics.
What Star Wars had and continues to have going for it is that pretty much all installments have represented new high water marks for one or another aspect of modern special effects technology.
But as far as scripts, acting, continuity, casting, photography, etc. go - these are decidedly ordinary movies. Speaking as one who saw the first film as an adult (age 27) and therefore without the artificial enhancement of adolescent hormones, they are all six entertaining films, some better than others. None are classics.
Except The Empire Strikes Back, surely! I can still watch and enjoy this one when all I do is skip through parts of all the others. The music alone makes this movie worth returning to again and again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary McCoy /forum/post/16935040
None are classics.
Except The Empire Strikes Back, surely! I can still watch and enjoy this one when all I do is skip through parts of all the others. The music alone makes this movie worth returning to again and again.
I agree. I was 7 when it came out, but I still watch it to this day. I think it's an excellent movie. Any bit of nostalgia that may have drawn me to it at one time is surely gone. I just think it's worth watching over and over again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malcolm_B /forum/post/16935372
Except The Empire Strikes Back, surely! I can still watch and enjoy this one when all I do is skip through parts of all the others. The music alone makes this movie worth returning to again and again.
I agree. I was 7 when it came out, but I still watch it to this day. I think it's an excellent movie. Any bit of nostalgia that may have drawn me to it at one time is surely gone. I just think it's worth watching over and over again.
You guys are not alone, many who first saw the various Star Wars films when they were children or teenagers remain lifelong fans. Just as many of us obsessed over the hidden meanings of 2001: A Space Odyssey a decade before that. But what few realize (or refuse to acknowledge) is that the more mature viewer has higher standards. I thought the first two films were above average, but there were five freeking sequels, enough already.
I couldn't disagree with you more. If that were the case, these movies would have no appeal to today's kids (for whom the special effects are primitive.) And yet, in any toy store there's an entire aisle dedicated to star wars toys. Kids who weren't even born when III was released have "light saber" battles with their friends making "vrooom vrooom" noises. The movies continue to resonate with kids today because they truly are great movies.
The stories within Star Wars are as basic and universal as it gets. Small town boy believes he is destined for greatness. Rescuing a princess from a dungeon. Battling an evil wizard. Those stories have been told on film thousands of time - I'd argue none better than in Star Wars.
The themes in Empire are equally universal. Friendship, betrayal, love, romance and family. Again, they are as well done here than anywhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary McCoy /forum/post/16935040
What Star Wars had and continues to have going for it is that pretty much all installments have represented new high water marks for one or another aspect of modern special effects technology.
But as far as scripts, acting, continuity, casting, photography, etc. go - these are decidedly ordinary movies.
I couldn't disagree with you more. If that were the case, these movies would have no appeal to today's kids (for whom the special effects are primitive.) And yet, in any toy store there's an entire aisle dedicated to star wars toys. Kids who weren't even born when III was released have "light saber" battles with their friends making "vrooom vrooom" noises. The movies continue to resonate with kids today because they truly are great movies.
The stories within Star Wars are as basic and universal as it gets. Small town boy believes he is destined for greatness. Rescuing a princess from a dungeon. Battling an evil wizard. Those stories have been told on film thousands of time - I'd argue none better than in Star Wars.
The themes in Empire are equally universal. Friendship, betrayal, love, romance and family. Again, they are as well done here than anywhere.
2
+1. but I disagree with you.
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Grown-up eyes see the mistakes kids are missing, that's all. Sometimes these movies (the 6 chapters) are so poorly acted it's not even funny. When I was a kid, I was fascinated by the SW universe. But frankly, puppets, visuals, or the best CGI in the galaxy simply can't make up for bad moviemaking. Kids don't care about bad moviemaking, otherwise I wouldn't have had to endure those damm Barbie abominations when my daughter was 4!
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Overall acting is better in Tranformers 1 & 2 than it is in Star Wars!
One is sci-fi, the other is fantasy, but those themes are so better told in LOTR... Since the stories are as basic and universal as it gets, it takes more than a good story to have a great film, because as you said, they've been told thousands of times. Good vs. Evil is a neverending theme. The "idea" of Star Wars is great, the characters are great, the universe is great, but the movies are not. It takes someone capable of telling, assembling, [cough] d-i-r-e-c-t-i-n-g, those stories. I'm afraid GL is not that guy. He proved it with the prequels. We all wanted to see Vader and his suit in ep.3, we all wanted to hear that theme once again when ep.1 came out, we were all pleased to see Boba Fett in ep.2, I also wanted to see a good movie. Still waiting for that one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Salmoneous /forum/post/16935980
I couldn't disagree with you more.
+1. but I disagree with you.
Quote:
The stories within Star Wars are as basic and universal as it gets. Small town boy believes he is destined for greatness. Rescuing a princess from a dungeon. Battling an evil wizard. Those stories have been told on film thousands of time - I'd argue none better than in Star Wars.
One is sci-fi, the other is fantasy, but those themes are so better told in LOTR... Since the stories are as basic and universal as it gets, it takes more than a good story to have a great film, because as you said, they've been told thousands of times. Good vs. Evil is a neverending theme. The "idea" of Star Wars is great, the characters are great, the universe is great, but the movies are not. It takes someone capable of telling, assembling, [cough] d-i-r-e-c-t-i-n-g, those stories. I'm afraid GL is not that guy. He proved it with the prequels. We all wanted to see Vader and his suit in ep.3, we all wanted to hear that theme once again when ep.1 came out, we were all pleased to see Boba Fett in ep.2, I also wanted to see a good movie. Still waiting for that one.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my post. I was talking about Star Wars and Empire. I didn't mean to include the prequels, clone wars, holiday special, ewok movies, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morpheo /forum/post/16936368
I'm afraid GL is not that guy. He proved it with the prequels.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my post. I was talking about Star Wars and Empire. I didn't mean to include the prequels, clone wars, holiday special, ewok movies, etc.
OMG, don't mention LOTR or I'll fall asleep!
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