Star Wars Discussion Thread v. Rogue One

[Implode]

In 4 it's mostly updated effects, one added scene that's redundant, and one subtle change that arguably has a major impact on how you perceive a main character. This is the change that everyone hates most.

In 5 it's mostly updated effects and scenery.

In 6 there are updated effects, an added musical number, and a few changes in the ending with appearance of certain characters, locations, and the soundtrack.

None of these affect the plot. I'm not sure how specific you want me to be. I don't want to spoil anything. I'm also not sure if it'd be worth it to seek out the theatrical releases. They've never really been released in high quality before.

[hefdaddy42]

If you downloaded the new digital editions, they are the Special Editions with all the changes.  AFAIK, it is not possible at this time to get the original theatrical releases of the original 3 films.

[Calvin6s]

a

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

If you downloaded the new digital editions, they are the Special Editions with all the changes.  AFAIK, it is not possible at this time to get the original theatrical releases of the original 3 films.

Wasn't there talk to release those on blu-ray?

[bosk1]

I've downloaded the first 6 Star Wars films. I'm almost there! Should I start with 4,5, and 6 first?

I know this is nothing new, but:  I remember reading somewhere online that a guy suggested viewing them in the following order:  IV, V, (I), II, III, VI.  With IV and V first, you don't spoil the big reveal, and you then see I - III (possibly omitting I, since it really does not add much to the story that can't be done away with anyway other than just insert a definite "beginning") as a flashback, and preserve the climax of the story with VI.  I have not done it (who has the time?), but it sounds like a cool idea.  Maybe over the holidays to gear up for the release of VII.

[Kotowboy]

if Disney released the Original Trilogy Theatrical versions on Blu Ray - they'd make back the $4bn they paid for Lucasfilm in one week.

[hefdaddy42]

If you downloaded the new digital editions, they are the Special Editions with all the changes.  AFAIK, it is not possible at this time to get the original theatrical releases of the original 3 films.

Wasn't there talk to release those on blu-ray?

There is a fervent desire on the part of a large vocal section of the fanbase.  But there has been no word of it from Fox or Disney of which I'm aware.

However, hope springs eternal now the Disney owns Star Wars.  George Lucas would never, ever have released them, but he is no longer in control.

[bosk1]

If they still exist, Disney will release them eventually.  I can virtually guarantee it.

[JayOctavarium]

I've downloaded the first 6 Star Wars films. I'm almost there! Should I start with 4,5, and 6 first?

I know this is nothing new, but:  I remember reading somewhere online that a guy suggested viewing them in the following order:  IV, V, (I), II, III, VI.  With IV and V first, you don't spoil the big reveal, and you then see I - III (possibly omitting I, since it really does not add much to the story that can't be done away with anyway other than just insert a definite "beginning") as a flashback, and preserve the climax of the story with VI.  I have not done it (who has the time?), but it sounds like a cool idea.  Maybe over the holidays to gear up for the release of VII.

I'm pretty sure I did that (well.. tried too... ran out of time) and it worked out well.

[hefdaddy42]

If they still exist, Disney will release them eventually.  I can virtually guarantee it.

TBH, they may not exist.  I know that the print of Star Wars had to be painstakingly restored before work could even be done on creating the Special Edition released in 1997.

[Sub Luna Vitrea]

The original theatrical cuts have been released before, but I'm in the weird position of having first seen the digitally-remastered VHS releases, prior to the Special Edition releases. They said "Digitally remastered with THX" and began with director's commentary on the making of the films, which you had to fast-forward through. I basically want those on Blu-Ray, with the good sound but without the stupid special edition changes.

[King Postwhore]

I think though nevet in 5.1.  I believe 4,5 & 6 were only released in 2.0.  Which leads me to this....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_JNuIN33Wk

[Calvin6s]

a

[King Postwhore]

I stopped buying them since George will put out every other version but that one.

[Mosh]

If they still exist, Disney will release them eventually.  I can virtually guarantee it.

TBH, they may not exist.  I know that the print of Star Wars had to be painstakingly restored before work could even be done on creating the Special Edition released in 1997.

At this point, I wouldn't even mind getting the 97 versions on blu ray if that's the best they can do. There's some bad CGI there but iirc the really awful edits were made on later versions.

[Phoenix87x]

I would gladly take the 97 version on blu ray over the jango fett voice, shoe horned in Hayden Christensen, vader going no no at the end of Jedi non sense. No thank you. And besides that I much prefer the original emperor in Empire.

You don't know what you have till its gone 



Even stupid little stuff like this makes no sense. Just leave it alone

[Mosh]

I would gladly take the 97 version on blu ray over the jango fett voice, shoe horned in Hayden Christensen, vader going no no at the end of Jedi non sense. No thank you. And besides that I much prefer the original emperor in Empire.

Oh yea, I forgot about that. People give the special editions shit but putting Ian McDiarmid in Empire was a good call. I also don't mind the restored lightsabers in the first movie.

[orcus116]

I stopped buying them since George will put out every other version but that one.

But those are his "true" vision, completely not motived by money or the incessant need to tinker with things.

[Dark Castle]

If it was posted before, then I apologize.. but the Matthew McConaughey reaction video is pretty darn spot on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYHdQUyOunA

Yeah, I'm way too excited for this movie, like I think something really special is coming.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

If you downloaded the new digital editions, they are the Special Editions with all the changes.  AFAIK, it is not possible at this time to get the original theatrical releases of the original 3 films.

Wasn't there talk to release those on blu-ray?

There is a fervent desire on the part of a large vocal section of the fanbase.  But there has been no word of it from Fox or Disney of which I'm aware.

However, hope springs eternal now the Disney owns Star Wars.  George Lucas would never, ever have released them, but he is no longer in control.

The rumor is debunked but I clearly remembered reading about it some time ago.

Yep here it is:

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/139125-Disney-Star-Wars-Original-Unaltered-Theatrical-Release-Blu-ray

[hefdaddy42]

The original version has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.  It was released on VHS.

[Sub Luna Vitrea]

I specifically remember there having been a DVD release with the original theatrical cuts on a "bonus disc."

[hefdaddy42]

I specifically remember there having been a DVD release with the original theatrical cuts on a "bonus disc."

I think you are mistaken.  The final release of the original versions was on VHS in 1995.  The Special Editions were released theatrically in 1997, and everything since then has been the Special Edition.

Star Wars didn't debut on DVD until 2004; by that time, the original versions were already gone, baby, gone.

This is the release that I have.  I fully intend to acquire them on Blu-ray.

[BlobVanDam]

The original theatrical versions were released on DVD as bonus discs to a re-release of the special editions, but they were bad letterboxed transfers from the same master as the laserdisc version. So the original versions have been released on DVD, but it was half-assed at best.

[King Postwhore]

The original theatrical versions were released on DVD as bonus discs to a re-release of the special editions, but they were bad letterboxed transfers from the same master as the laserdisc version. So the original versions have been released on DVD, but it was half-assed at best.

Yeah, I stayed away from them.

[Sub Luna Vitrea]

As a new member, I should have you all know that I keep score of every argument I win and lose. The score so far:

SLV: 1
h42: 0

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

[Sub Luna Vitrea]

[hefdaddy42]

The original theatrical versions were released on DVD as bonus discs to a re-release of the special editions, but they were bad letterboxed transfers from the same master as the laserdisc version. So the original versions have been released on DVD, but it was half-assed at best.

Ah, that rings a bell now.  That's right, from the Laserdisc transfer.

OK, they haven't been released in a vaguely good viewable version on DVD.

And frankly, the fact that it was the Laserdisc transfer that was used in the first place doesn't speak well of the current status of the original print, especially given what we know of the headaches involved in producing the Special Editions.

[Phoenix87x]

I have the bonus disc versions. Its great to at least have an original version available, but oh my god, is the quality bad. Still happy to have them though.

[BlobVanDam]

And frankly, the fact that it was the Laserdisc transfer that was used in the first place doesn't speak well of the current status of the original print, especially given what we know of the headaches involved in producing the Special Editions.

Absolutely.
Hopefully Lucas's contract with Disney didn't have any clause about releasing the original editions. It appears that releasing the theatrical versions in HD would involve quite a bit of work and money.

[Kotowboy]

Money which i'm sure that they would make back tenfold 

Also - 6 new SW films over the next 6 years. - The Force Awakens is bound to make at least $1.5bn. Easily.

If the other 5 all make at least half of that - Disney will have made a good profit after Merchandise and Home Cinema.

[MetalJunkie]

The original theatrical versions were released on DVD as bonus discs to a re-release of the special editions, but they were bad letterboxed transfers from the same master as the laserdisc version. So the original versions have been released on DVD, but it was half-assed at best.

Ah, that rings a bell now.  That's right, from the Laserdisc transfer.

OK, they haven't been released in a vaguely good viewable version on DVD.

And frankly, the fact that it was the Laserdisc transfer that was used in the first place doesn't speak well of the current status of the original print, especially given what we know of the headaches involved in producing the Special Editions.

Do we really need the originals, though? They should just release a "Shittiness Reduced" version. Put a CGI Shaw back in RotJ's ending, edit out the godawful dance scene in Hutt's palace, mute Vader's "NOoooOOOoo", put the original Krayt Dragon scream back in ANH and you have a decent version again.

I don't think I'm missing anything.

Edit: How could I forget one of the biggest ones? Have Han pew-pew Greedo first.

[BlackInk]

Four unfinished Clone Wars episodes are released online. I started watching them, but when I realized just how unfinished they were, I lost interest.

[BlobVanDam]

The original theatrical versions were released on DVD as bonus discs to a re-release of the special editions, but they were bad letterboxed transfers from the same master as the laserdisc version. So the original versions have been released on DVD, but it was half-assed at best.

Ah, that rings a bell now.  That's right, from the Laserdisc transfer.

OK, they haven't been released in a vaguely good viewable version on DVD.

And frankly, the fact that it was the Laserdisc transfer that was used in the first place doesn't speak well of the current status of the original print, especially given what we know of the headaches involved in producing the Special Editions.

Do we really need the originals, though? They should just release a "Shittiness Reduced" version. Put a CGI Shaw back in RotJ's ending, edit out the godawful dance scene in Hutt's palace, mute Vader's "NOoooOOOoo", put the original Krayt Dragon scream back in ANH and you have a decent version again.

I don't think I'm missing anything.

Edit: How could I forget one of the biggest ones? Have Han pew-pew Greedo first.

You're missing quite a bit, ranging from minor to major. Lots of replaced background mattes or entirely new establishing shots, tweaked colouring, the infamous Greedo shooting first (and obviously ditch the awful Jabba scene from ANH), replacing many of the space shots with new CG ones, replacing all of Boba Fett's dialogue with that NZ guy, new creatures and characters added to many shots, badly changing the lightsaber colours, removing Vader's eyebrows, adding rocks to hide R2, so many other random CG elements added for no reason, replacing the emperor.
A lot of the changes are just fine or an improvement, but there are just as many that were unnecessary and silly, and don't match the original film.

While I don't have a problem with them mixing and matching in theory, a lot of people just want to see the original theatrical cut as they grew up with pre-SE, not to mention it would be a travesty not to preserve the original unaltered version of such a huge film for posterity. Keep "Ep IV: A New Hope" in the opening crawl, keep the fixes to the blue screen effects and matte box problems, but otherwise just release a clean version of the movie. Then they can still release their new version as Lucas says he always intended without people complaining. Two versions of the movie is fine. Then if fans want some kind of inbetween hybrid, they can sort it out.