posted
So, has anyone out there picked up the new DVD set of the classic trilogy, complete with the original versions? I'm wondering if there is a complete review of them out yet, of both the original and SE versions of the movies.
Personally, I've got no problem with most of the SE versions, and I like them just as much as the original. But when they last went to DVD, the big disappointment for me was the music. Not only was the music way too quiet, but the fanfare at the beginning of the attack on the Death Star was practically nonexistent! Does anybody know if this was fixed in the newest release?
posted
I got them too. I'm very confident that this will be the last time I ever give money to George Lucas. Now that I've got a digital version of the original releases, there's no need to buy more copies.
(My family currently has the original releases in the THX-boosted versions, plus the 1997 special edition. Both on VHS. We haven't bought anything since... either the 2004 DVDs or the prequels.)
Although I generally don't mind the updates in the special editions, George Lucas has let the whole damn thing go to his head. The SE is the actual manifestation of his "original vision," my ass. The man had no fucking clue how his story would take off, and despite being limited by some of the technology, that's absolutely nothing unique to his project.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged
posted
Well they say that the Star Wars disc is the movie as it aired back in '77 (and Han does shoot first) but I'm sure I remember a bit of dialoguefrom back then that isn't on the disc - as Han and Chewie are being chased through the Death Star there was a line "Close the blast doors", followed closely by "Open the blast doors. Open the blast doors". On the disc the "Close the blast doors" line has gone...
Maybe I'm mis-remembering. Or just plain anal to remember something trivial like that from close to 30 years ago.
Cheers!
-------------------- It's life Jim, but not as we know it...
Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged
posted
Oh god, not that damn "close the blast doors" myth again. I've got the original VHS version of the movie (not even the THX-enhanced pre-SE version, the ORIGINAL version), and I guarantee you that that line is NOT in the movie. Not until the Special Editions came out.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged
posted
IIRC, that was one of the several differences between the original stereo soundtrack of the film (which is what is on the disc) and the mono soundtrack that was put together slightly later, after Lucas realized that not all theaters showing the movie would have stereo capability.
I watched ANH and ESB today, and they are truly the original versions. ANH doesn't even have "EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE" before the opening crawl. (It was added for one of the film's first re-releases.) Picture quality is great, but they aren't anamorphic.
Overall, I'm quite pleased. It's funny that Lucas could so drastically alter my perception of him by simply releasing these...
-MMoM
-------------------- The flaws we find most objectionable in others are often those we recognize in ourselves.
Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Oh, I didn't realize there was a mono soundtrack for the original release. Interesting!
I've only watched the first of the three so far, but I'm rather pleased. And I'm not enough of a video snob to honestly care if it's anamorphic or not. Sure, it'd probably look a little better, but you're talking about diminishing returns. It already looks a heck of a lot better than on our worn-out VHS tape!
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged
posted
Yeah, it doesn't really matter to me, either, as I don't have an anamorphic television. Still, somewhere down the road it might become an issue for some...
-------------------- The flaws we find most objectionable in others are often those we recognize in ourselves.
Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
For me at the moment its a plus, as my DVD player doesn't comprehend anamorphic and just stretches it vertically.
Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged
posted
OK, so to get the ORIGINAL versions - I have to get ANOTHER copy of the 2004 DVD versions? On top of that the ORIGINAL versions aren't anamorphic widescreen like released in the theatres? Are these just laserdisc transfers!?!
Are they worth getting after having the 2004 version already?
Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged
"I have the 2004 box set, but I really prefer the Originals over the changes." Again, get these two-disc sets, BUT beware that your discs from the original boxset will become useless, as you've just bought them again.
posted
Yep, if you own the 2004 DVDs, this means you're buying them all over again. Don't you just LOVE George Lucas' marketing strategies?
This is exactly why I had zero interest in buying the 2004 DVDs... I didn't actually KNOW something would come out later, but I figured that there would be something, given Lucas' track record. And because I've gotten sick of the Special Edition revisions and his arrogant posturing about how they fulfill his "original vision" and so forth, I didn't want to buy a copy of his 1984-esque revisionist history. So I had no problem buying this "limited" release, because (1) I get the original versions on digital media, so I'll be able to preserve it for myself under fair use provisions much easier than from the VHS tapes, and (2) because after I buy this, I will have absolutely zero interest in buying any further releases of these movies.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged
Da_bang80
A few sectors short of an Empire
Member # 528
posted
I've got three versions of the original trilogy, yes I know, I'm a whore for Star Wars. Anyways, I have the DVD Edition, the '97 SE on VHS, and the old plain trology. One thing I noticed with the new DVD versions compared to the old ones is the scene in the Death Star hanger control room when the one stormtrooper hits his head on the door. In the New DVD they over-emphasize that. In the old trilogy it's harder to notice and more like an easter egg. In the new one there is an audible thunk and the stormtrooper grunts or something. I don't know why but that kind of detracted from the overall experience for me.
-------------------- Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I cannot accept. And the wisdom to hide the bodies of all the people I had to kill today because they pissed me off.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
