DVD Talk Forum - Star Wars

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fumanstan (Post 10573197)

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/s...cement-at-ces/

This should be interesting.

The 3D versions are being released in theatres 1 per year starting in 2012, so this is definately not going to be anything dealing with that.
I think its just going to be announcing the official release date for the set come 4th qtr.

Look forward to the announcement and getting the movies on BD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBoyd (Post 10573659)

What if the original original films are pack in only in new HD restored transfers . . . but in 3D only! :lol:

My prediction: Lucas will announce brand new HD restorations for all films, but only the 3D conversions. The 2D versions will be relegated to SD on the same discs. Star Wars in 2D is a "bonus feature," not a real movie, now that George Lucas has decided that he always wanted Star Wars in 3D all along.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z (Post 10574883)

Why did he ever make these things in the first place if they were so far from his vision? Poor tormented artist. Are we supposed to feel sorry for him?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimRochester (Post 10574988)

Are we supposed to feel sorry for him?

Yes. Remember, he's an independent filmmaker. That's why he needed to make a $billion prequel merchandise deal with Pepsico. Otherwise, he might have starved to death while duct-taping cardboard spaceships together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay G. (Post 10401432)

I compare quality with the terms "better" or "worse". Whether one film is more "sophisticated" than the other in certain areas is only tangentially related to the actual quality of the film. As I pointed out with the storyline example, something can be more "sophisticated" without actually being better.

It's interesting you left off some pretty important factors that people use to judge a film:

Acting - James Earl Jones is Darth Vader, despite being just a voice over. Add in the stellar performances in Empire, and the original trilogy owns over the wooden perfomances in the prequels (which I mostly blame the director for).
Story/Pacing - Although I described the plots for the prequels as more "sophisticated", the execution of said plots is overly convoluted with uneven pacing. In contrast, the OT have simpler plots, but are well executed with breakneck pacing.

As for the things you did comment on:

visual effects - overdone in the prequels. Lucas likes to fill the frame with stuff, which makes it busy and unfocused. The opening starship dogfight in Ep III left me bored, while the Death Star trench battle in Star Wars is tension-packed. The pod race in ep 1 looks like a video game (which it soon was).
dialog - Empire trumps all others in terms of dialogue, which means OT wins by default. Even then, I think the prequels had more cringe-inducing dialogue in each film than the other two originals combined.
stunts - Does it count as a "stunt" if it's on a green-screen with wires? The stunts were probably more "dynamic" in the prequels, but I'm not sure if they were as realistic or as interesting.
production design - gritty and real in the OT, shiny and fake looking in the prequels.
costuming - I think you're forgetting that in the OT, the aliens and droids count as costuming, versus the CGI creations of the prequels. Plus, the OT has so many iconic outfits, like Leia's "headphone" hairdo, and the aforementioned bikini. I can't even remember any of Amidala's outfits. Also, don't forget Darth Vader's costume, which originated in the OT and beats out any of the other Darth's costumes in the OT.
cinematography - I don't think being "more dynamic" equates to "better." The shot of Luke staring out at two suns on Tatooine is completely static, yet stays burned in your brain.
music - As pointed out, the prequels recycled a lot of themes. However, the original sequels did the same, yet added new themes that are instantly recognizable, like the Imperial March and Love Theme in Empire. Aside from Dual of the Fates, which is excellent, I can't think of any other recognizable themes originating from the prequels.

I agree with you on every single point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingermck (Post 10400218)

Seems so far away. And the fact I will be almost 40 by the time Jedi hits...

Id rather see the energy devoted to 7-9, Dark Empire, Heir to the Empire, anything with the original cast at their current age.

from what I understand, any sequels would be years after Luke and Leia and wouldn't include the original cast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBoyd (Post 10573659)

What if the original original films are pack in only in new HD restored transfers . . . but in 3D only! :lol:

If they were the totally original, as released in the theaters in 77, 80, and 83 versions of the OT, but were only available as a pack-in and 3D...I'd probably buy it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignohippo (Post 10575062)

from what I understand, any sequels would be years after Luke and Leia and wouldn't include the original cast.

Well, considering that Lucas has publicly changed his mind about what any sequels would consist of and whether or not they will ever come to be more times than grains of sand that irritate Anakin's jockey shorts, I will be sure to put some appropriate perspective on what you "understand".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignohippo (Post 10575035)

I agree with you on every single point.

As do I. And it's more than an opinion; it's the truth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprmallet (Post 10575082)

If they were the totally original, as released in the theaters in 77, 80, and 83 versions of the OT, but were only available as a pack-in and 3D...I'd probably buy it.

That might be the only thing that would sway me to 3-D in the home....but I doubt it. I'm likely to be disinterested in 3-D until they can do it sans the glasses.Oh, and it has to be established as the new standard of television, too. That's going to take quite some time, I'm sure....if it ever happens.

But I did see a news report today that said that 3-D sales are down, enough to warrant...a news report. :shrug:

I'm really hoping that there's some catch to these blu-rays that will screw the fans. I'm starting to get entertained by Lucas' sadism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddly6666 (Post 10575137)

I'm really hoping that there's some catch to these blu-rays that will screw the fans. I'm starting to get entertained by Lucas' sadism.

Says the guy who is actively hoping that a 90 minute rant ruins the prequels for the fans content to like 'em. Did George Lucas steal your girlfriend at some point?

The only points in the bullet point post above I disagree with is the one about the battles. I think the podrace is fun, the sonic-bomb sequence in Episode II is kinda neat and the space battle that opens Episode III is legitimately thrilling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimRochester (Post 10574988)

Why did he ever make these things in the first place if they were so far from his vision? Poor tormented artist. Are we supposed to feel sorry for him?

I don't feel sorry for Lucas. The people who have spent the last 15 years going absolutely nuts over what he's done (to his own property, mind you) on the other hand... well they do deserve our pity.

Ultimately I'm all for a "Close Encounters" or "Blade Runner"-style archival presentation in which the viewer is allowed to chose their preferred version but what you and I want are insignificant drops in the bucket compared to what Lucas wants. The sense of entitlement among OT nerds is pretty arrogant in that respect, and you can't really make the case that Lucas is the one being stubborn and hurting the franchise because none of the bitching and moaning has had any real impact on sales or popularity. For every vocal OT purist online there are ten people who don't give a crap who are more than willing to fork over the dough for the altered versions... and then there are the "I'll buy it but I don't have to be happy about it!" people, a portion of the OT purists that I think is a lot bigger than anyone knows.

I can't help it, I'll be buying all the new versions and re-releases :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fok (Post 10575747)

I can't help it, I'll be buying all the new versions and re-releases :(

Fok that.

;)

I hope Lucas has replaced Harrison Ford with Shia LaBeouf in the OT versions.

What time is the announcement today?

I thought I read it was at 3pm pacific time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddarino (Post 10576465)

I thought I read it was at 3pm pacific time.

11:30AM PST IIRC.

I could be there right now, but I'm lazy, wanted sleep this morning and I don't want to deal with the chaos of the first official day of the convention.

Yeah, TFN says 2:30 pm ET.

Almost there!

September. Wow early.

was that it? Just a date announcement?