Unaltered Star Wars coming to DVD in Sept

[Shane Martin]

Limited release from Sept 12 to Dec 31

http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html

Dolby 2.0 surround(aka the original sound mix).

[Glen]

Cool. Figured they do that eventually.

I think I'm more excited to hear about the game though. My son has the first one and it's hilarious to watch. :rofl:

[Gordon Moore]

Too little too late....I'll just wait for the HD versions. I can easily wait.

[Brandon B]

Limited time release, buy it while you can.

I will admit this makes me happy. I'm OK with the SEs on Epsiodes V and VI, but I can barely watch Epsiode IV because I saw the movie sooooo many times as a teenager, that the differences clash with my mental (ha) playback of the film and take me right out of the experience. What a geek.

BB

[Burke Strickland]

Sure hope the announcement isn't a hoax! lf it is true, the good news is we will finally have a Star Wars edition on DVD that I will be willing to buy, now that the real movies will be represented on the medium rather than just bowderlized "Special Editions". The bad news is that although I still have over 350 titles on LD that have not yet been duplicated on DVD (that I know of), I will no longer have the most compelling reason to keep my laser disc player hooked up...

Burke

[Chris D]

a-HA! I agree, though, at this point, why not just release all the flicks on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray?

Me too, I'm probably more excited to hear that Lego: Star Wars II is coming out. I really enjoyed the first game, and will buy this one for sure.

[David Meek]

As long as I've waited for this moment, I'm in. Enough said. :dancenana:

[Alloroc]

As long as I've waited for this moment, I'm in. Enough said. :dancenana:

Well y'know what they say..... sith happens..... :W

[Shane Martin]

Sure hope the announcement isn't a hoax!

I doubt it is a hoax. It was posted on the official Star Wars site.

[aud19]

a-HA! I agree, though, at this point, why not just release all the flicks on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray?

Because this is Lucas' M.O. Just before a new video format arrives they release a long-desired version or a "Re-mastered Special Edition" etc on the existing video format to sell a bunch of copies and make money.... again :roll:

[Burke Strickland]

I doubt it is a hoax. It was posted on the official Star Wars site.

And I've received emails asking me to verify my eBay account information at the "official" eBay site. Sure LOOKED official. But I knew it was phony because I've never had an eBay account. In the case of the Star Wars DVD announcement, given George Lucas' history of intransigence on this issue and the existence of satirical / spoof sites, I still hope the promised real Star Wars release is for real.

Burke

[Burke Strickland]

An interesting point in the announcement is the professed purpose of the release in September 2006: to package seperately the 2004 digitally remastered versions of the "original" three Star Wars movie (currently available only in a box set) and as "bonus material", each two disc edition will include the unadulterated original theatrical cut of the movie.

Works for me. That's the way Steven Spielberg allowed release of the theatrical cut of "E.T: The Extraterrestial" -- in a set that featured his politically correct "updated" version with the cops carrying walkie talkies instead of guns and, supposedly, a scene of ET taking a bath (I can't confirm either, since I've never watched the "updated" version in the DVD set I bought).

This will be one of the rare times that I will be purchasing a DVD for the "bonus material" instead of the "main feature". September is four months away, but who's counting? ;>)

Burke

[David Meek]

Uh, I am.

[gostan]

I guess that George must need the $$. I have the original LD version and the new DVD versions. I skipped the VHS versions. Personally, I will probably wait for the HD versions, although, Star Wars in HD might really show off the inadequaciese of the original special effects.

[Burke Strickland]

George needs the extra $$$$$$ like I need extra miles added to my daily commute. :>) But whatever the reason he's relented on this, I'll be glad to be getting the "bonus materials" in September. Hehe, in the meantime, I'll be glad to sell you a fairly pristine VHS box set if you'd like to finish off your multimedia collection of Star Wars home videos.* :>)

As for the possible downside of HD, the "inadequate" special effects in the theatrical originals were quite exciting on the big screen. (At least two of the commercial theaters where I saw all three had 50 foot screens.) I'll put up with the relative crudeness of the effects for the emotional impact and nostalgic appeal of the uncluttered and unadultered originals.

Burke

* This is not an actual sales notice -- those are only posted in "The Pawn Shop".

[gostan]

George needs the extra $$$$$$ like I need extra miles added to my daily commute. :>) But whatever the reason he's relented on this, I'll be glad to be getting the "bonus materials" in September. Hehe, in the meantime, I'll be glad to sell you a fairly pristine VHS box set if you'd like to finish off your multimedia collection of Star Wars home videos.* :>)

As for the possible downside of HD, the "inadequate" special effects in the theatrical originals were quite exciting on the big screen. (At least two of the commercial theaters where I saw all three had 50 foot screens.) I'll put up with the relative crudeness of the effects for the emotional impact and nostalgic appeal of the uncluttered and unadultered originals.

Burke

* This is not an actual sales notice -- those are only posted in "The Pawn Shop".

Hey Burke,

Enjoy...September is not that far off oke:

[David Meek]

Just FOUR friggety months.... :

[Chris D]

Friggety?

Sounds like something Quagmire would say on "Family Guy".

[David Meek]

Heh, well seeing as this is a family-friendly website.... :angel:

[Brandon B]

One of the guys posting over at AVS who seems to have a decent source of info up to this point is saying the bonus discs with the unaltered trilogy are not only from the lackluster 93 LD master, not only low bitrate DD2.0 not only non-anamorphic, but due to only making one version of the bonus disc containing both P&S and letterbox, will be

SINGLE LAYER!

I am completely stunned.

Been reading the bitch fest/pleading/rally a boycott threads here and there, mostly bemused. Debating whether I would buy all three or maybe just the first movie.

But this really does just tear it. I believe the guy as his info has been correct up to this point. Hope he's wrong. But if not, I honestly just cannot see a reason to buy this release at all. Old master, smeared by poor noise reduction tech, non-anamorphic, crammed into 4.7 GB. I am really just stunned.

BB

[Chris D]

Eh? If that's correct, then that's a HUGE foul on Lucas' part. He's been an industry leader, and at this point to release a non-anamorphic DVD, plus all the other things you mentioned, would just be unexcusable.

[Brandon B]

Oh the non-anamorphic part is absolutely confirmed. The single layer compression is the new and I truly hope false rumor.

BB

[Kevin D]

From what I've read (but can see the confusion), there is only one version of the bonus disc but it only contains the widescreen version. The same disc will be in both widescreen and full-screen versions of the SE single release. So one movie with DD2.0 on a single layer disc won't be too bad.

Kevin D.

[Burke Strickland]

If these disappointing rumors are true, I guess I'll be hanging on to my "lackluster" LDs for a while longer. :>)

Burke

[JonMarsh]

The sound is better on them.... I have three different sets of LD's.

[Brandon B]

So one movie with DD2.0 on a single layer disc won't be too bad.

Lowest quality audio format available. Arguably worst transfer they could have decided to use. Non anamorphic. And compressed to one layer.

Gotta ask. What further could they do to it that WOULD make it "too bad"?

"Whensa youza THINKIN weeza in trouble" is ringing in my brain now. Crap.

BB

oh wait, I just realized, they could flag it as video-sourced material so 3:2 pulldown doesn't work properly on it.

[Burke Strickland]

oh wait, I just realized, they could flag it as video-sourced material so 3:2 pulldown doesn't work properly on it.

When they announce that "feature", we'll know who to thank for giving them that idea. :>) Not that they aren't already coming up with the worst dumbing down (and "cheaping out") features by themselves. :<(

Burke

[Kevin D]

Gotta ask. What further could they do to it that WOULD make it "too bad"?

I was refering to the thought that there could be two versions of the movie on one single sided disc.

Kevin D.

[Brandon B]

OK, you got me there (assume you mean single layer). That's worse than the bad flagging. Hmm. Top ten things LFL could do to further poison this release . . .

BB

[Chris D]

"Whensa youza THINKIN weeza in trouble" is ringing in my brain now. Crap.

Okay, now THAT was funny

[David Meek]

Inexcusable, this is. Cause ripples in the force, it will. :banghead:

[Chris D]

No. Do not non-anamorphic. Either anamorph, or disc not. There is no non-anamorphic.

[Brandon B]

Clouds, everything, single layer compression does.

[P-Dub]

This situation really confuses me.

Who loves Star Wars? Star Wars Fans or the average consumer? I'd say both.

Who would be willing to pay extra to buy the original Star Wars movies? Fans or the average consumer? I'd say the Fans. The average consumer would have already purchased the Star Wars DVDs and are quite happy with them.

Are these fans more knowledgable and technologically savy than the average consumer? I'd say yes.

So how soon will the fans protest? As soon as the shoddy treatment of the original trilogy was know.

So how much negative publicity does Lucas want? I guess a lot?

So really this is more a publicity play than a pure "Let's give the fans what they want." DVD is pretty much a mature product. A person at home can author their own DVD's and they will probably look better than the Star Wars transfer, how sad is that?

I'll even say it here, I would like to see a comparison of all those bootleg original Star Wars movies vs the new release this fall. I'm willing to bet that the transfers will be identical.

So I could spend my hard earned money on these 'offical' DVD's (cause I already spent money on the VHS and the DVD's)or I can buy some bootleg copies of the original trilogy for less money and same quality.

[Brandon B]

Reminder for the weak-minded like me. This release is out tomorrow. Best Buy has the three packaged in an exclusive metal tin if you care for about $60.

On a positive note, it does appear the unaltered version is at least dual layer and on par with the LD versions from early reports.

BB

[audioqueso]

I just hate the comercials for it. There isn't a single family in all the US that watches it together and then has their kids make retarded comments like "Oh, I love how Wookie makes that sound", or "Sometimes I pretend to be Princess Leah and put my hair just like her". Fake commercial trying to make it sound like the reviews people use to give on the world premier of a movie. I just hate that commercial!

Ok... I needed to let that out. *sigh*

[Brandon B]

As mentioned, I was not able to forego getting these, especially since my Definitive Collection Japanese laserdisks are hard to play since I don't own an LD player.

Have to say, I am more pleased than not. The PQ is definitely watchable. There is certainly noise, some artifacting and such, but there is detail and color, and it is the CORRECT color. Going to initiate the boy with the REAL Star Wars this weekend.

The sound is a little weak, but I find it no more distracting than in the 2004 SE which was great in places, horrible in others, and had numerous remixing changes that bugged the hell out of me (mostly changing the relative levels of FX vs. music).

The previous comments refer only to Star Wars, as I have not looked at Eps. V or VI yet. I am not really bothered by the SEs on those two, really only bought the whole trilogy reissue because my wife loves the nub nub song.

BB

[Burke Strickland]

Ditto Brandon's remarks on the quality of the "Star Wars" DVD. I'm glad to finally have the real "Star Wars" on DVD -- not "Episode IV: A New Hope", the bowdlerized "special editions", but the original, unaltered what-we-saw-in-the-theater "Star Wars". It looks amazingly good for a non-anamorphic DVD, even projected at 96 inches. (I did back it down from 120 inches, but the image is still large enough to have impact while not showing quite so much "structure".)

The sound is kind of tinny in some spots (especially the dialog, which at times almost sounds like voices over the tin cans on a string we played with as kids). However, overall, the soundtrack sounds pretty good, even if it is "just ProLogic".

Perhaps this DVD presentation could have been better, but then again, it could have been a lot worse. I won't be comparing the "Bonus Disk" to the other disc in the package, because I have no interest in ever watching the revised editions again and I'd just as soon continue to be satisfied with the look and sound of the real movies rather than have any reason (by comparison) to be more upset with George L. for not arranging for the so-called "Bonus material" movies to be anamorphic.

I'm glad I bought these at a reasonable release week price and have had fun watching "Star Wars" the way I enjoyed it nearly 30 years ago. I'm hopeful that the other two will look and sound as good when I get around to viewing them.

Burke

[Chris D]

I'm just buying "Lego Star Wars II", and that's it.

[Brandon B]

Chris - just added one of these to my kid's lineup. Neener neener.

BB

[dyazdani]

I'm just buying "Lego Star Wars II", and that's it.

I just got it for the 360, it's awesome!

[dyazdani]

Chris - just added one of these to my kid's lineup. Neener neener.

BB

I've got one of the originals - at my parent's place...I think...

[Chris D]

Cool! Good to see the old phrase "neener neener" hasn't gone away, too.

It'll take several weeks for LSW II to make it out to me halfway around the world, but I can wait. Got nothing else to do.