Phantom Menace to be released in 3D Next Spring
10-04-10, 07:17 AM
#151
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
http://roswell.fortunecity.com/seanc...idrelease.html
After that came the Special Edition box set, offering fans of the 1997 versions a chance to own them in either Full Screen or Widescreen. The next time they hit the market wasn't until 2004 on DVD..
http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/buyingstarwars.html
[I can't speak to where the Laser Disc editions fit into this scheme, since I never owned a Laser Disc player and paid no heed to their release on that format. But as far as I'm aware, they existed in only two editions; one earlier than 1995, and one in 1995 that replicated the THX-remastered VHS campaign for the LD format.]
http://www.mindspring.com/~laserguru/askjosh.htm
Q: It looks like the "Star Wars" movies have been released on laserdisc a hundred times each. Which releases are the best, and which are worth buying?
A: Since the laserdisc format has been around for such a long time, this is a common source of confusion regarding popular titles with multiple reissues and remasters. For the record, the best laserdisc editions of the Star Wars trilogy are:
1) Star Wars Trilogy Definitive Collection box set. All three movies in CAV format, with terrific THX mastered picture and sound. The box set contains a number of supplements (though far from "definitive") and a hard cover book about George Lucas' career. The original price was a whopping $250, but a used copy may run approximately $100-$150, depending on the condition. Before you buy, be sure to check out the Definitive Collection Flaw List, since early pressings are known to be missing a few unimportant seconds of footage. You should also be warned that some copies of the set are known to suffer from the dreaded laser-rot syndrome (I had to mix and match the discs from two separate copies to get one clean set). Ask plenty of questions from a seller before purchase.
2) For the budget conscious, those same THX picture and sound transfers were released separately, each in CLV format with no supplements other than a brief interview with George Lucas. Originally priced at $60 a piece, these are commonly sold for $20 each these days. The CLV releases obviously have fewer side breaks, and do not have a history of missing footage or laser-rot to my knowledge. These discs are commonly referred to as the "Faces" editions, since the cover art for each movie featured a close-up of one character's face.
3) Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition box set. These are the 1997 versions of the movies with George Lucas' misguided attempt to add lousy new scenes and cheesy CGI special effects. They have new and somehow even better picture and sound transfers, and are the only way to get Star Wars in Dolby Digital surround sound. Previous releases are only in basic Dolby Surround, as their soundtracks were originally mixed and released to theaters prior to the 1997 re-releases. There is also an extensive production featurette on how the movies were reworked to meet George Lucas' revisionist ideas for the series. The American release had a short printing run and has been known to fetch a pretty penny at auction, but the set was later re-released in Japan.
There are many previous editions of the films: CAV, CLV, pan & scan, letterboxed, analog sound, digital sound, imports, etc. From a collectible standpoint, some of these may be interesting to buy for their cover art or packaging, but as a whole they are not worth spending much money on and should not be expected to deliver as high quality a presentation as the releases listed above.
A: Since the laserdisc format has been around for such a long time, this is a common source of confusion regarding popular titles with multiple reissues and remasters. For the record, the best laserdisc editions of the Star Wars trilogy are:
1) Star Wars Trilogy Definitive Collection box set. All three movies in CAV format, with terrific THX mastered picture and sound. The box set contains a number of supplements (though far from "definitive") and a hard cover book about George Lucas' career. The original price was a whopping $250, but a used copy may run approximately $100-$150, depending on the condition. Before you buy, be sure to check out the Definitive Collection Flaw List, since early pressings are known to be missing a few unimportant seconds of footage. You should also be warned that some copies of the set are known to suffer from the dreaded laser-rot syndrome (I had to mix and match the discs from two separate copies to get one clean set). Ask plenty of questions from a seller before purchase.
2) For the budget conscious, those same THX picture and sound transfers were released separately, each in CLV format with no supplements other than a brief interview with George Lucas. Originally priced at $60 a piece, these are commonly sold for $20 each these days. The CLV releases obviously have fewer side breaks, and do not have a history of missing footage or laser-rot to my knowledge. These discs are commonly referred to as the "Faces" editions, since the cover art for each movie featured a close-up of one character's face.
3) Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition box set. These are the 1997 versions of the movies with George Lucas' misguided attempt to add lousy new scenes and cheesy CGI special effects. They have new and somehow even better picture and sound transfers, and are the only way to get Star Wars in Dolby Digital surround sound. Previous releases are only in basic Dolby Surround, as their soundtracks were originally mixed and released to theaters prior to the 1997 re-releases. There is also an extensive production featurette on how the movies were reworked to meet George Lucas' revisionist ideas for the series. The American release had a short printing run and has been known to fetch a pretty penny at auction, but the set was later re-released in Japan.
There are many previous editions of the films: CAV, CLV, pan & scan, letterboxed, analog sound, digital sound, imports, etc. From a collectible standpoint, some of these may be interesting to buy for their cover art or packaging, but as a whole they are not worth spending much money on and should not be expected to deliver as high quality a presentation as the releases listed above.
http://www.ugo.com/the-goods/may-the...video-releases
10-04-10, 07:18 AM
#152
DVD Talk Legend
10-04-10, 07:25 AM
#153
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
And some take it to the next level.
Here's the general reaction over the internet I've seen towards the 3D announcement.
"George Lucas is a greedy bastard!"
"oh yay! Jar Jar in 3D!"
"George Lucas sucks!"
I'm sorry, but that's not giving a opinion, that's bashing for bashing sake., plain and simple.
Here's the general reaction over the internet I've seen towards the 3D announcement.
"George Lucas is a greedy bastard!"
"oh yay! Jar Jar in 3D!"
"George Lucas sucks!"
I'm sorry, but that's not giving a opinion, that's bashing for bashing sake., plain and simple.
Like I said, it's fine to have your own opinion, but we get it. You don't like the prequels. So move on with your lives and watch something you do like instead of focusing on the negitive. I know I will
Last edited by Jay G.; 10-04-10 at 08:21 AM.
10-04-10, 07:46 AM
#154
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Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I'm not saying constructive constructive isn't needed. It is. But it is the ones{and I am not refering to you or anyone in this thread} that cannot look past the negitive aspects and only seem to want to bash Lucas and anyone who does like ALL the movies because the prequels didn't turn out how they wanted them to. I hated Episode 2, but you don't see me here eight years later whining about how Lucas did this and Lucas did that.
Heck, I'm doing that right now.
Heck, I'm doing that right now.
10-04-10, 07:57 AM
#155
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Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
) Star Wars Trilogy Definitive Collection box set. All three movies in CAV format, with terrific THX mastered picture and sound.
10-04-10, 08:14 AM
#156
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
See, I'm not sure why the criticism needs to be constructive in order to be valid. There's plenty of nonconstructive praise of the prequels (i.e. people professing their love of them without explaining why). Certainly constructive criticism is preferred, but I don't see it as necessary.
If your point isn't applicable to this thread, then why are you bringing it up on this thread?
Bashing fans of the prequels just for liking the films isn't called for, but as you point out doesn't apply to people in this thread.
As for the prequels not turning out "how they wanted them to," I feel this is a mis-characterization of many people's feelings on the prequels. Most people didn't want the prequels to be anything other than good. Sure, there's some who probably would've preferred better continuity with the OT, or had a pre-formed story in their head that they wanted realized on the screen. However, most of these issues probably would've been forgiven if the films had actually been good.
As an example, take LOTR. That was an adaptation of a classic fantasy novel. People had literally decades to imagine how a live-action big screen film would play out. In adapting it to the screen, as faithful as they were, Peter Jackson and team made a lot of changes and edits to the story. However, because the films were actually good, the majority of people really liked the films. So quality can trump preconceived notions.
But it is the ones{and I am not refering to you or anyone in this thread}
[There are those] that cannot look past the [negative] aspects and only seem to want to bash Lucas and anyone who does like ALL the movies because the prequels didn't turn out how they wanted them to.
As for the prequels not turning out "how they wanted them to," I feel this is a mis-characterization of many people's feelings on the prequels. Most people didn't want the prequels to be anything other than good. Sure, there's some who probably would've preferred better continuity with the OT, or had a pre-formed story in their head that they wanted realized on the screen. However, most of these issues probably would've been forgiven if the films had actually been good.
As an example, take LOTR. That was an adaptation of a classic fantasy novel. People had literally decades to imagine how a live-action big screen film would play out. In adapting it to the screen, as faithful as they were, Peter Jackson and team made a lot of changes and edits to the story. However, because the films were actually good, the majority of people really liked the films. So quality can trump preconceived notions.
10-04-10, 08:20 AM
#157
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Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
See, I'm not sure why the criticism needs to be constructive in order to be valid. There's plenty of nonconstructive praise of the prequels (i.e. people professing their love of them without explaining why). Certainly constructive criticism is preferred, but I don't see it as necessary.
If your point isn't applicable to this thread, then why are you bringing it up on this thread?
Bashing fans of the prequels just for liking the films isn't called for, but as you point out doesn't apply to people in this thread.
Anyway, I'm moving on. I, for one, am looking foward to this. Seeing these movies on a big screen is always a good time, 3D or not.
10-04-10, 08:30 AM
#158
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I can't find that quote in this thread. Can you find an actual quote of someone non-constructively "bashing" prequel fans in this thread?
10-04-10, 10:04 AM
#159
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
10-04-10, 11:42 AM
#160
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I have to dispute this. The original CBS/Fox VHS releases were repackaged, and then came the THX remastered VHS releases in 1995 that were supposed to be technically better and offered VHS consumers the chance to own them in widescreen. After that came the Special Edition box set, offering fans of the 1997 versions a chance to own them in either Full Screen or Widescreen. The next time they hit the market wasn't until 2004 on DVD, and those included tweaks made since the 1997 versions. Sorry, but to say he's just kept repackaging the same content simply isn't true. If anything, the complaint is that each time he releases them, there's something different.
[I can't speak to where the Laser Disc editions fit into this scheme, since I never owned a Laser Disc player and paid no heed to their release on that format. But as far as I'm aware, they existed in only two editions; one earlier than 1995, and one in 1995 that replicated the THX-remastered VHS campaign for the LD format.]
[I can't speak to where the Laser Disc editions fit into this scheme, since I never owned a Laser Disc player and paid no heed to their release on that format. But as far as I'm aware, they existed in only two editions; one earlier than 1995, and one in 1995 that replicated the THX-remastered VHS campaign for the LD format.]
The best explanation is that technology stagnated under Palpatine, plus in the prequels we see Coruscant (the heart of the Empire), Naboo (a very advanced civilization) and in the OT we see Tattooine (a dirtball in the armpit of the galaxy), Hoth (an iceball in the armpit of the galaxy) and Endor (a forest-ball populated by meat-eating bear-midgets).
Also, any tech the Rebels had is going to be poorly maintained and either secondhand or stolen. And the tech on the Death Stars and Star Destroyers may simply look "old", but may be an example of function over form (where the Imp designers didn't care how it looked, just that it worked).
10-04-10, 11:59 AM
#161
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I look at how the Bond movies have been handled on home video all these years, and I don't think that Star Wars has been any more offensive on the re-release front. Aside from not tinkering with the actual films, it seems that the main thing they've done consistently well with the Bond movies is, each DVD re-issue has retained previous bonus content, while finding new stuff to add (with the main exception being Die Another Day).
Personally, I'd love to have one Old School Star Wars box set with the original trilogy in anamorphic widescreen accompanied by From "Star Wars" to "Jedi" - The Making of a Saga on DVD. Doesn't even have to be Blu-ray. For that matter, I'd love to just find that "Making Of" title on VHS again. Can't believe I sold mine several years ago!
10-04-10, 12:23 PM
#163
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
but I do remember some interview from someone about how the vehicles look sleeker and "more advanced" in the prequel trilogy, and they said it should be viewed like how the automobiles in the 1920's and 1930's used to look:
with swooping smooth lines, versus vehicles used in the 1940's during WWII:
which actually look LESS advanced despite being 20 years older, but were designed for more function over form, especially in light of a lot of raw material being used up during the war effort.
As much as I hate the prequels, I buy that excuse.
10-04-10, 01:29 PM
#164
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
Personally, I'd love to have one Old School Star Wars box set with the original trilogy in anamorphic widescreen accompanied by From "Star Wars" to "Jedi" - The Making of a Saga on DVD. Doesn't even have to be Blu-ray. For that matter, I'd love to just find that "Making Of" title on VHS again. Can't believe I sold mine several years ago!
Which brings me back to your question (bolded).
Yeah, I was gonna respond to that thorough rebuttal when I saw this remark. I stand corrected--obviously--but this brings up the question: Is there any way to please the fans with regards to re-releases? It seems either there aren't enough bells and whistles to justify a double-dip, or there are too many of the "wrong" bells and whistles.
I look at how the Bond movies have been handled on home video all these years, and I don't think that Star Wars has been any more offensive on the re-release front. Aside from not tinkering with the actual films, it seems that the main thing they've done consistently well with the Bond movies is, each DVD re-issue has retained previous bonus content, while finding new stuff to add (with the main exception being Die Another Day).
I look at how the Bond movies have been handled on home video all these years, and I don't think that Star Wars has been any more offensive on the re-release front. Aside from not tinkering with the actual films, it seems that the main thing they've done consistently well with the Bond movies is, each DVD re-issue has retained previous bonus content, while finding new stuff to add (with the main exception being Die Another Day).
I think one of the biggest issues that fans have with Lucas' double dipping is that he only had the three movies to do for so long. So it felt like he just kept repackaging those three over and over just to keep his revenue stream going, while many folks (like myself) just wondered why he didn't make the other six movies and use those to make money.
To be clear, I don't begrudge him making money. I begrudge him being a dick about the original editions and the poor way he's marketed the few movies he has. Even when the first announcement of the originals being released on DVD came out, and we learned we'd have to rebuy the SE's to get them, I kinda gritted my teeth and said to myself "that's our George", but I would have bought them had they been 16x9.
Someone will always complain about something, but that doesn't mean folks can't put a little more effort into their product.
---------------------------------
Awesome example with the cars TallGuyMe.
10-04-10, 01:44 PM
#165
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
Thanks milo bloom and TallGuyMe, those reasons make perfect sense. The difference in cars is a great example.
10-04-10, 01:46 PM
#166
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
Which is bashing, but going the other direction, so apparently Jedi Master 33 thinks it's ok.
10-04-10, 04:06 PM
#167
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I love when the arguments in Star Wars threads break down into complaining about complaining. Such compelling reading...
Anyway, as an OT guy I will say that all Lucas would have to do to shut me up is to release the unaltered originals in an acceptable form and I would happily move on with my life. I imagine that is the case for many other people as well. The reason every new re-release brings with it anger is that there's always the hope that we'll get what we want, but it never comes. Then Lucas makes ridiculous statements about how cost probitive restoring the originals would be as I'm sitting at home watching my dvd copy of The Grand Illusion which probably sold no more than a few thousand copies and was restored by some print found in a Nazi bunker dug up by the Russians after they captured Berlin in WWII (or something like that).
And by the way, I will stand by the other posters that say TPM was the best of the prequels. It was bad, but it at least had some memorable scenes. AOTC is terrible and was the movie that broke Star Wars for me. And I think people have been tricked by ROTS because it has all of the moments people were waiting for when they first decided to make the prequels, but no one bothers to recognize that all of those "big moments" were completely botched in their execution.
Anyway, as an OT guy I will say that all Lucas would have to do to shut me up is to release the unaltered originals in an acceptable form and I would happily move on with my life. I imagine that is the case for many other people as well. The reason every new re-release brings with it anger is that there's always the hope that we'll get what we want, but it never comes. Then Lucas makes ridiculous statements about how cost probitive restoring the originals would be as I'm sitting at home watching my dvd copy of The Grand Illusion which probably sold no more than a few thousand copies and was restored by some print found in a Nazi bunker dug up by the Russians after they captured Berlin in WWII (or something like that).
And by the way, I will stand by the other posters that say TPM was the best of the prequels. It was bad, but it at least had some memorable scenes. AOTC is terrible and was the movie that broke Star Wars for me. And I think people have been tricked by ROTS because it has all of the moments people were waiting for when they first decided to make the prequels, but no one bothers to recognize that all of those "big moments" were completely botched in their execution.
10-04-10, 04:19 PM
#168
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Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
As an example, take LOTR. That was an adaptation of a classic fantasy novel. People had literally decades to imagine how a live-action big screen film would play out. In adapting it to the screen, as faithful as they were, Peter Jackson and team made a lot of changes and edits to the story. However, because the films were actually good, the majority of people really liked the films. So quality can trump preconceived notions.
10-04-10, 05:22 PM
#170
En vacance
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
The first LOTR was good with the dark feel and when it was about characters, the other two were World of Warcraft games with stupid things like the archer elf surfing on platforms.
10-04-10, 05:30 PM
#171
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
I do agree they could have done a better job illustrating this, and they did go a little overboard with the tech in the PT. One of the charms of the original Star Wars is that it takes place in an analog universe where things are actually used rather than just being pretty blinking lights.
10-04-10, 09:05 PM
#173
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10-04-10, 09:10 PM
#174
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Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
See, I'm not sure why the criticism needs to be constructive in order to be valid. There's plenty of nonconstructive praise of the prequels (i.e. people professing their love of them without explaining why). Certainly constructive criticism is preferred, but I don't see it as necessary.
If your point isn't applicable to this thread, then why are you bringing it up on this thread?
Bashing fans of the prequels just for liking the films isn't called for, but as you point out doesn't apply to people in this thread.
As for the prequels not turning out "how they wanted them to," I feel this is a mis-characterization of many people's feelings on the prequels. Most people didn't want the prequels to be anything other than good. Sure, there's some who probably would've preferred better continuity with the OT, or had a pre-formed story in their head that they wanted realized on the screen. However, most of these issues probably would've been forgiven if the films had actually been good.
As an example, take LOTR. That was an adaptation of a classic fantasy novel. People had literally decades to imagine how a live-action big screen film would play out. In adapting it to the screen, as faithful as they were, Peter Jackson and team made a lot of changes and edits to the story. However, because the films were actually good, the majority of people really liked the films. So quality can trump preconceived notions.
If your point isn't applicable to this thread, then why are you bringing it up on this thread?
Bashing fans of the prequels just for liking the films isn't called for, but as you point out doesn't apply to people in this thread.
As for the prequels not turning out "how they wanted them to," I feel this is a mis-characterization of many people's feelings on the prequels. Most people didn't want the prequels to be anything other than good. Sure, there's some who probably would've preferred better continuity with the OT, or had a pre-formed story in their head that they wanted realized on the screen. However, most of these issues probably would've been forgiven if the films had actually been good.
As an example, take LOTR. That was an adaptation of a classic fantasy novel. People had literally decades to imagine how a live-action big screen film would play out. In adapting it to the screen, as faithful as they were, Peter Jackson and team made a lot of changes and edits to the story. However, because the films were actually good, the majority of people really liked the films. So quality can trump preconceived notions.
And God help him if The Hobbit sucks. He will be branded a hack and everything good he's done will be forgotten. Some turned on him after King Kong and don't even want him to do The Hobbit. Fanboys just annoy me.
10-04-10, 10:56 PM
#175
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...in 3-D for 2012
For anyone who hated King Kong or The Lovely Bones, the original theatrical and extended versions of LOTR are available on DVD, sometimes on the same DVD, and will both be on Blu-ray eventually (it's been stated that the EEs will be released on Blu-ray).
And as for the apprehensiveness about PJ directing the Hobbit, there probably is some legitimate reasons to be concerned. If you disliked his two most recent films, one has to wonder if this is a temporary slump, or a more permanent shift. A lot of people started worrying about the quality of the Star Wars prequels after the SEs, and their worries turned out to be justified.
Fanboys just annoy me.