The presentation at ComicCon showed the Hans and Greedo scene zoomed in, and I haven't read of any subtitle issues. Perhaps they fixed it for the DVDs.

It's possible that if the original master was taken from an interpositive, that the burned-in subtitles didn't exist on that print, since they're usually added later in the film transfer process. So the original master didn't have subtitles on it, and it was later in the process that they added the subtitles to the final master that was used for the laserdics.

Lucasfilm could either have retro-actively "burned-in" the subtitles to the film image, or they could be using DVD generated subtitles.

Either way, it seems like the zoom feature on WS sets should be usable.

Take the lesser of two evils and just zoom it. But that's assuming you'd buy these in the first place. I for one, know I will not be.

It's been a while since I watched the LD versions... but I do believe that the text is high enough on the bar to still be visible. I think everything is still 16x9 safe and zooming in will not be an issue.

There are enough legtimate reasons to be upset with the non-anamorphic transfers without resorting to making stuff up.

It's also been a while since I've watched them, but I actually think the laserdisc subtitles were not 16:9 safe. I seem to recall them extending all the way down to the bottom of the 4:3 frame whenever there are 2 lines on screen.

However, I'm fairly certain this could be adjusted. The video master used for the American LD was also used for the release in Japan, so they must have prepped the master without any subtitles and then added them in for the language requirements of each market. Whether Lucasfilm will actually go to the trouble of doing this for the new DVDs.... well, probably not.

To stop being theoretical, I just popped in my LDs. The text is still readable, but is hanging VERY low in the frame. You can still make it out, but some letters are being partially cut off. Ideally, they would need to adjust this (which I agree, is trivial and easy). It will be interesting to see if they do.

And of course this all assumes that the "same master that was used for the laserdisc" has the subtitles burned in. If it doesn't, then it is anybody's guess as to what Lucas will do with the subtitles for this DVD release.

Or doing what it takes for him to keep his job. Don't blame Sansweet for anything other than doing his job.

Assuming you aren't watching in 480p or any progessive format... I was at the presentation, and if that was the finished product, they haven't even bothered with removing the 3/2 interlacing.

fitprod

I know my WS set won't allow me to zoom when I'm using progressive scan. It's pretty frustrating try to use something that could improve the image of non-16x9 material, and be stuck watching it in a little square in the middle of the screen.

If this had come out in the early days of DVD, I might have even accepted them digitally converting the LD master to 16x9, just so it would work properly on sets like mine, but now it's just inexecusable.

I think that's the image of the year. It can kinda sum up the entire thread without having to read more than 10 posts and why this releases has lost the potential to being one of the best DVD of '06 - and one of the biggest fan pleasers.

I certainly hope that when the time comes for all the DVD sites like Thedigitalbits and whatnot to do their yearly DVD awards, they remember this release and award it the proper razzies and whatnot. This could have been something to heal a lot of the hurting among Star Wars fans, and it's done nothing but fracture them further.

That should be the new name of this thread, because it is such a true statement.

I was reading Playboy tonight and it says to buy the new Star Wars DVDs if you are interested in the original versions. At Amazon, very little information is given about these "original" versions. I decided to find out here what these newer DVDs are like, and I find a 57 or 58 page thread. I don't want to read all that.

Someone please sum up for me what the problem is with these DVDs and, if I am interested in only the original versions with no updating and changes that that bastard Lucas did over the last 10 years, will I be happy with these new DVDs?

They are sourced from the 1993 laserdisc transfers. Hence, they are non-anamorphic, and do not have the benefit of recent telecine technology (the process by which film is transferred to video). They do not have 5.1 sound, but rather the 2-channel Dolby Surround mix (as in Pro-Logic). Essentially, the quality may not be much better than bootlegs, but we'll have to wait and see.

In addition, they are packaged along with the 2004 DVD editions, which forces people who bought them then to buy them again just to get the original versions.

BTW, how's that cave you've been living in the past few months? :)

Thanks for asking, but I think its been longer than months since I posted in DVD Talk (I post in "Other Talk" often, though). About a year ago, maybe more, I sold off almost all my DVDs and vowed not to buy any more. I wasn't watching most of what I had. I don't even go down DVD aisles anymore. I also was tired of having to buy the bare bones edition, and getting wacked with the collector's, then the special, then the ultimate edition. Another thing too, when DVDs first came out they were fun, with inserts and lots of extras. I was tired of the practice by the studios to push out DVDs of great movies with no extras whatsoever. I was thinking about buying the "new" star wars dvds, but doubt I will based on what you told me. Thanks for saving me roughly $100.

reading eh

$100? Where on earth were you buying DVDs?

So do any of you think there is any possible way Lucas Ltd. could pull through and do the originals in anamorphic and 5.1? Certainly the offices and Lucas have gotten enough pleas/petitions/angry letters/death threats/bombs over this that they realize what the people want. I mean, I don't have access to the Star Wars 'Overdrive' forum, but I would imagine this is a major issue over there (or maybe people who subscribe to Overdrive will buy absolutely anything and everything).

It sounds like pure laziness to me, and even more so, it seems like a chance to re-release in the making. I mean what better way to milk people than to release these, then a few months later, release DVDs of ONLY the original versions, dropping the '04 cuts, and making those DVDs both anamorphic and 5.1? Anyone else consider this a possibility?

Honestly, I don't think this release is any kind of scam, or based on laziness. I think it's just indicative of the lack of respect Lucas has for the original versions of these films. It's actually a minor miracle that we're getting the original versions on DVD at all. The transfer quality is inidicative of the amount of money and effort Lucas is willing to spend on the original versions (read: next to none). Also, the original version will never be released by themselves, since Lucas doesn't view them as viable alternative versions of the film; they are at best curiosities available as a bonus feature.

The whole "Han Shoots First" campaign at Lucasfilm is from the marketing department, which is highlighting the only thing that separates the new releases from the old one, aside from the fact that the movies are now available separately.

No.

I've thought that for a while, but I'll go one further.
I also believe it to be him showing his lack of respect for the fans.
It's his way of saying You want this? Here it is, now go F yourself.

Aren't the DVDs 2 Disc sets priced at about $25 each and you have to buy them individually? If not, I overestimated, of course. I always buy DVDs at teh cheapest I can find them, but I havent' bought a DVD in about 2 years.

To be fair, he could've stuck to his older mantra of, "you want this? Can't have it, now go F yourself." ;)

Seriously though, there's only so much fan demand should affect a filmmaker. Fan demand got us the Prequel Trilogy, and look how well that turned out. Sometimes as fans and consumers we feel that we deserve or are "owed" certain releases or films that the filmmakers in reality are under no obligation to deliver. That Lucas doesn't consider the original versions to be worthy of the highest-quality transfer possible is a difference of opinion, not a total diss to fans.

What is troubling though is not so much Lucas ignoring a small subsection of fans, but that he's ignoring the historical and cultural importance of the original versions of the films. Most other directors recognize that the original theatrical versions of their films have importance, even if it's not their preferred version. Ridley Scott, Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron and others have included the original theatrical versions of their films next to revised director's or extended cuts of their films. It's like Lucas is actively trying to will the original versions out of existence, which is sad.

The MSRP for the DVDs is $29.98. However, that's the MSRP for nearly every new DVD release. I expect these releases will receive the standard new release week discounts from stores and be available for around $15 each, or $45 for all 3. However, even at your estimate of $25 each, the three releases would only cost a total of $75, not $100.

No shit, Holmes, I can do basic math. But by the time you factor in sales tax, gas to take me to Circuit City or shipping which may or may not be free, whatever, it would be pushing $100. Thanks, though, for your insight. Its been a long time since 2nd grade.