Found this in the Star Wars discussion in Movies over at the HTF.


here's the link

Would make sense from a marketing standpoint. Get some more buzz going for Ep 3.

Also, the fact that they were able to "squeeze out" the Indy trilogy while both Lucas and Spielberg have all kinds of projects going may mean they could have done something for Star Wars. Hopefully they took my suggestion to heart and are releasing the original versions with a handful of extras, then doing the SEs in the monster set in 3 years.

What do you think?

But they did NOTHING for those Indy DVDs. Nothing at all like on the two Star Wars DVDs we've gotten so far.

I don't want the original and SEs seperate. Give us seemless branching...

Doubtful. I don't know why, as I don't really have a counterpoint, but I just don't see seamless branching happening.

I'll tell you why I don't see it happening, too many DVD players bug out on it, plus the fact that there are a lot of little changes between the originals and the SEs. It would be far easier from an authoring standpoint to just do them separately.

As for doing nothing on the Indy DVDs, if you follow that link, just above the SW bit is a bit on Indy 4, where it is mentioned that a lot is planned for the eventual DVD. Sounds like this upcoming release is just a taste of things to come and they will be double dipping them. They could be doing the same for SW. There are a lot of extras already out there for the OT. It would be very easy to create a SW set similar to the upcoming Indy set.

Lucas has already stated that the OT ain't gonna happen.

He's said a lot of things. I don't believe him anymore till it happens.

The Star Wars movies deserve much better treatment than what the Indiana Jones movies are getting. For that matter, so do the Indiana Jones movies. I can't see Lucas releasing Episode I, II, and most likely III as incredibly rich special editions while relegating the classics (even if they are the SEs) to a 1998 level release.

If they're going to release the OT before Episode III, I see them releasing them individually throughout 2004 (May, August, November). They'll most likely be further enhanced versions of the SEs with features that would be comparable with the first three movies. This would be an excellent way to build excitement for the "last star wars movie ever". They're not going to dump all three movies out at once when Episode III comes out on DVD in fall 2005, and waiting till 2006 would be a mistake.

I would love to see a complete box set of the original versions, with original making of specials from the 70's, but I somehow don't see that as coming anytime soon. I think this will come much later, after franchise dies down again.

with Episode III, Indy and other duties around the ranch, I doubt we will see the Originals till after episode III is complete.

Sweet...

George Lucas is ultimately going to give you what he wants you to have, not what you would like to have.
If he puts it out, they will buy it.

All I know is, I'm gonna be 75 years old before I'll be able to get the original trilogy, and by then, I won't even remember why I wanted it.

Seamless branching wouldn't really be good for the OT since not only were new scenes added but almost all of the space footage with ships has been altered to remove matte box's, strings and other things so at least a an extra 45 minutes of original footage would have to be on the disc in addition to the 2 hour long SE version and that would compromise video quality.

Here's what would be best:

DISC 1:
Theatrical version (2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen)
DD 5.1 (original mix)

Perhaps have Lowry Digital Images do digital restoration at 2K...the dirty opticals, matte boxes, and any print damage isn't supposed to be there. The editorial aspect of the film is unchanged, however. Down to the omission of the "A New Hope" subtitle.

DISC 2:
Definitive version (2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen)
DD 5.1 (new mix)

This would be the version Lucas has tweaked.

The other disc or two (I honestly think two discs would be fine since there is so much on the films) would house extras. Perhaps commentaries for the films would happen such as the original version having a commentary with the surviving cast, another commentary with the visual effects supervisors, and then one with George Lucas.

The definitive edition would have a George Lucas and Rick McCallum commentary.

I'm doubtful, but I could see the Original Trilogy out next year. Maybe they'll make fans happy and release the original versions. A four disc set similar to Indy. The three films on the first three discs and a bonus disc with minimal extras, probably just the old "making of" documentaries and trailers. Lucas could even make it a Limited Edition and pull them from the market after a few months. It'd make sense. Episode III isn't out yet so it wouldn't really ruin the point of a seamless story. And by the end, Lucas would make cash, fans would get the original versions, and they'd be off shelves before you know it. It'd be like a farewell party for the original versions.

Then Lucas can put out a huge 7 or 8 disc edition for the 30th Anniversary with all the tweaks he wants with a buttload of extras.

Please check page 2 paragraph 3 in your DVDTalk manual. Star Wars release rumors are banned and your in danger of having started a Lucas bashing thread. Please refrain from any commentary on SW except for reviews. Thank You

How about this plan?

Release the original trilogy, in its original form, as a three-disc set. No special features, unless it's just stuff they already have lying around the office like old documentaries. Release it in the best video possible (as it is unclear just how many original elements are available, I would settle for the LD transfers at this point) as soon as possible.

Do that, and then release the original trilogy as revamped special editions, in packages that match the prequel trilogy packages.

Since Lucas is so concerned about the original trilogy meshing with the prequel trilogy or whatever, this is a move that should satisfy both camps: The OT three-disc set could easily stand on its own as its own trilogy, while the revamped OT would then mesh better with the prequels.

He also told McCallum to tell everyone no OT character cameos in Ep3. I really hope we get the OT. Even if it's not next year.

The original version is not avaible in 5.1. Only the special edition has 5.1 the original version is in DD2.0


The films were restored and those prints were used to make the SE so trying to locate decent looking prints is not an issue.

As for the Indy trilogy I believe Lucas and Speilberg were all set to do some nice Ultimate Editions, sold individually, maybe 1 a year. Paramount wanted the box set instead, so that is what we are getting.

I just want the mega six film set with the SEs.

On some older players it sucks, I guess... but no big deal.

Seemless branching is pretty amazing. It's not called seemless for nothing. If they didn't bother with retroing the minor changes they made like the black matte lines, there would still be PLENTY of room. Would it be easy? maybe not.... but it's not impossible. There are minor changes throughout, but most are minor and last a couple seconds.

He's also said maybe. Don't "fans" consider Lucas a liar anyways

Hate to rain on the parade, but I posted this same info elsewhere and was quickly reminded that Fox, not UNIVERSAL, owns the distribution rights to SW. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to get the OT on DVD next year. I would kill for it. I am afraid though that when we finally do get it, it will be some Ultra -Super-Duper - CGI'd "No This Really Was My Original Vision" version of the trilogy. Oh well. Give me the real original trilogy and I will be ALL OVER IT!!!

[Eternal Optimism]Hey, you never know. Good 'ol George may give the fans what we want.... It could happen.[/ETERNAL OPTIMISM]

what ever made you think Universal had any distribution rights to SW?

Because, the link referenced in the original post says the information was posted on a website run by Universal. Here is the text:

Zack

Even if you leave in the FX 'cleanup' (removing matte lines, etc.), how do you handle things like all of the dialog changes in ESB? There are a ton of 1-2 second changes throughout that film. If you leave them alone, you are essentially creating a THIRD version of that movie, one that isn't quite the original, but isn't quite the SE. That doesn't solve anything, in my opinion.