The Original Star Wars Trilogy

[outsider]

Whereas what was done with Star Wars was completely new scenes were created for the movie 20 years after its original production and release and these were then added to the movie so as to keep it more modern. They even went so far as to digitally change characters' appearances and delete some of the original actors from the movie and replace them with actors from the modern sequels.

which ultimately makes it a different movie.

 

[Jack Hammer]

which ultimately makes it a different movie.

Exactly...

OK, in the last few days I have watched the first one (ep IV) and The Empire Strikes Back (1st half hour is the best) in the 2004 dvd release. Sunday I'll probably watch Return of the Jedi.

Basically, just the one scene really irritated me in epIV, though they did improve it over the 1997 re-release (in Han Solo shooting second they shortened his response time and made the bounty hunter only miss by a foot at pt blank instead of 4'). In epV I was Ok with most the updates, they really didn't change the movie dramatically for me, from what I recall. Off the top of my head, epVI will probably irritate me only when they delete the original emperor Palpatine and replace him with the current actor. Oh and when they delete the original Darth Vader and replace him with the current actor. Oh oh yeah, and those stupid care bear things (I forget their names*), then again...
...they always irritated me.

Jack

*Don't want to date myself too much, but "Willow" was the main one.

 

[majorloser]

Let me put it this way:

We just want to see what we saw in 1977.

Yeah, all I want is the original widescreen production in stereo. Just like back then. I ain't asking for much

 

[davo]

Let me put it this way:

We just want to see what we saw in 1977.

The movie shown in theatres in 1977 changed the way movies are made. It was revolutionary. It was an enormous cultural experience.

We just want to be able to see the same movie millions saw in the theaters in 1977 in high quality at home. That's all.

When I go buy The Godfather, or Citizen Kane, or E.T., part of the experience and significance of the movie is seeing the movie as it originally was. By watching some altered version of the original movie, it loses its sense of place and importance in the history of filmmaking.

Don't get me wrong, the history of any audio-visual medium shouldn't be disregarded because it looks/sounds old. We are only where we are today because of it. I mean, if George Lucas couldn't be bothered spending the time shooting the scene of the imperial drone at the start of episode V frame by frame as well as a host of other time consuming effects, where would we be at today? And if it takes you back to a memorable time as well thats cool too.
I'm just a bit exited about where it's going.

 

[echo]

I will take my original laserdiscs, of episodes IV,V,VI in both 2.0 and dd 5.1 over the re-release. I don't think lucas needs ordeserves my money

 

[jeffsg4mac]

The fact that these were not released in anamorphic is inexcusable I will not get them until they are. When you get right down to it Lucas is a hack director anyway. Look, the very best of the Starwars movies were not even directed by him anyway. He really should have let Donner, Spielberg, Kirshner, Kasdan, Jackson etc. do the last 3 movies. They would have been so much better. If they release them in HD I will get them, but not the way they are now.

 

[afterlife2]

Watched Star Wars IV A New Hope on DVD today after not seeing it since I was a kid. I bought this set in 2010 new. I watched the newer version instead of the original one(will watch later) and thought the PQ/SQfilm looked beautiful. I overall enjoyed it and was awed how it looked for a almost 40 year old movie. I can't imagine how the BD looks. I know alot of people debate this trilogy and it's other releases, but It's just a movie and overall thought it was well done tranfers. Looking forward to the other 2.

 

[fuzz092888]

I just hate the added CGI stuff. Star Wars and Disney movies both look incredibly stupid with CGI added in IMO.

 

[afterlife2]

I just hate the added CGI stuff. Star Wars and Disney movies both look incredibly stupid with CGI added in IMO.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. You know I didn't even notice the CGI. What part in The New Hope? Was it the Lightsaber that looked a little CGI'd to me. It's weird that they didn't remaster the original SQ/PQ on this set, it looks like an old VHS copy with dirt on top of the print. I guess I respect that he wanted it in a certain way, but couldn't back in the day. I read that he lost the original print of the movie. 3D version of the first 3 is coming...according to wiki.

 

[fuzz092888]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. You know I didn't even notice the CGI. What part in The New Hope? Was it the Lightsaber that looked a little CGI'd to me. It's weird that they didn't remaster the original SQ/PQ on this set, it looks like an old VHS copy with dirt on top of the print. I guess I respect that he wanted it in a certain way, but couldn't back in the day. I read that he lost the original print of the movie. 3D version of the first 3 is coming...according to wiki.

I'd have to rewatch the remastered version I have on DVD to remember exactly what was different. I know they definitely changed the lightsabers to make them "pop" more in all 3 of them. There was a singer in Jabba's lounge that was totally CGI'ed, but that might be in the 3rd IIRC. Of course the worst offense was having Greedo shoot first in the bar scene with Han.

Personally, I went with torrent downloads of the remastered, but original versions of the movies to replace those DVD's I had. The look great, they sound great, and Han shoots first

 

[j_garcia]

Other than maybe the entire Cantina scene, I didn't really have issues with the remastered versions. Granted, I DO prefer the originals, the changes didn't really bug me.

 

[afterlife2]

Look what this is going for. I should sell my copy: New Star Wars DVD 2006 2 Disc Limited Edition Widescreen Episode IV Original 024543263739 | eBay

 

[afterlife2]

<figure id="attachment_127720" class="alignnone">

<figcaption style="width:630px;">Lucasfilm</figcaption></figure> A ‘Star Wars: Episode 7‘ trailer this early in the game (filming isn’t scheduled to begin until early 2014) might seem strange, but there is some solid speculation that the first teaser trailer could be in theaters with ‘Thor 2‘ and online next week.
An eagle-eyed Redditor noticed the following updates to the ‘Star Wars’ YouTube channel. On October 9, they posted the first trailer for Episode IV. One week later, on October 16, the first teaser for ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’ A week after that, the trailer for ‘Return of the Jedi.’ One week after that day would be October 30; the exact date last year when ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ was announced. Coincidence? Maybe.
But, it also matches with rumors we have heard that there would be a big ‘Star Wars’ announcement this month, finally confirming the return of the original cast as well as new actors joining the franchise. The reason it’s be held to this point was reportedly at the request of star Harrison Ford, who wanted to avoid an endless series of ‘Star Wars’ questions while he was out promoting ‘Ender’s Game’ (which opens in theaters on November 1). And, with ‘Thor 2′ opening on November 8, it’d be an easy way for Disney (who distribute both Marvel and ‘Star Wars’ movies) to sneak the trailer into theaters.
Obviously, with filming still a few months away, there will be no actual filmed footage to show in a ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ trailer, but that hasn’t stopped J.J. Abrams before. The master of the tease could already be working on a fun way to announce the new ‘Star Wars’ film while revealing the logo/title of the new adventure.
Either way, it’s probably a good idea to circle October 30 on your calendar to see if there’s a big ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ announcement.

 

[Pyrrho]

I dont know why people get all nostalgic about 'original re-release' products, saying it is the way it should be viewed. If George Lucas had the CGI capabilities then as what he has know, what do you think he would have prefered to use???

If CGI were available at that time, he would have made different films. And those different films may or may not have been loved the way the films were that he actually made back then.

Also, other films would have been full of CGI back then, if it had been available. So the special effects of his movies may not have been very special or memorable at all.

Indeed, if CGI had always been available, then it would have been a part of quite a few other films as well. Do you think that all old movies should have added CGI for their release on BD? If not, why not?


I might also add that his new ideas are almost certainly not what he had in mind so many decades ago, so that adding CGI now is almost certain to give you something different from what it would have been then had CGI been available when it was originally made.


Furthermore, when you buy a movie, do you think you have a right to expect that the movie on the disc will be the movie that is advertised? If he changed every frame of the movie, would that be okay with you?

It is fine if you don't care about any of these issues. But that does not mean that others are wrong to care about them.