Star Wars the "Theatrical Version"

[Pain_Man]

...ass.

 

If this what laser disc looks like, I can see why my parents never bought one.

 

To the DVD....

 

I didn't have high expectations in the first place, and it has signally failed to meet even those.

 

First, it really is the original theatrical release. There's no "Episode IV - A New Hope" above the crawl (which Lucas was allowed to add after the movie became a mega-hit and Fox was ready to do anything, even fellatio, to keep him happy).

 

The "theatrical version"--which isn't true because it's the laser disc version!---is on the "bonus" disk. Another little from George to us.

 

The picture quality sucks. Some of that, I suppose, might have to do with my TV being an HDTV. But it's grainy and it's also a 2.35:1 ratio, so there are huge black borders above and below the picture. It's also dull, lack the sparkling color of the "official" version.

 

The sound is only 2.1 Dolby but it's bad. It sounds like the stock stereo on a Hyundai.

 

On the commentary track on the "official" version, Ben Burtt, sound editor/editor, says they did a 5.1 Dolby mix--which was brand new so only a handful of theaters were equipped for it--for the theatrical release back in '77. But we get 2.1. Even if they had to use laser disc video, they couldn't have remixed the sound to produce 5.1?

 

 

All, in all, it almost feels like spite from George. As thought he was pissed off that we--the people who made him a friggin' billionaire!--have the balls to ask for the version that started it all.

 

And I don't believe for a goddamn second that they had to "destroy" the original print in order to make the "official" version released in '97.

 

It just doesn't make sense. When you're rewriting a book, you don't destroy the first draft during the re-write. What if you fuck something up?

 

Same thing with a movie. When a movie's edited together, do they just chuck the dailies in the trash before they're finished with it? Of course not.

 

Given the fact that Star Wars is the highest grossing movie in history ($1.4 billion dollars, 800M pounds?) does anyone really believe that they just through the master print--or just made one?!--into a shoebox in Lucas's closet?*

 

 

 

I bought it for nostalgic reasons. Unless it touched your childhood the way it did mine (I was six when it came out and I'll never forget that Star Destroyer when it filled the screen), I would definitely buy the boxed set with George's "official", "final", "ultimate"--until the-he-gets-bored-and-decides-to-fuck-around-some-more versions come out.

 

One thing's for sure: I won't be buying the other two supposed "theatrical versions." After all, the only real differences in the version of "Jedi" are the fucking "Ewok Song" (I HATE EWOKS!!!) and the original actor who played the "old" Anakin (who really looks like shit for just over 40, on the other hand, he was burned from head to foot.) And I felt the the changes made in "Empire" were improvements.

 

 

"This station is now the ultimate power in the universe! I suggest we use it!"

 

--General Motti

(the "Force Choke" surely improved his manners.)

 

 

*More likely it would have been treated as the Beatles' masters were: kept them in a climate controlled vault in the depths of 20th Century Fox (since "New Hope" is the only one that Lucas doesn't own completely)?

 

And the sound from Beatles' CD's sound a lot better than this!

[dbminter]

I tried to tell you, and a few others, this would probably happen. They were simply doing a direct copy from the laserdisc to the DVD. And, while, essentially, the technology is relatively the same, you can't just let the computers do all the work without checking the results afterwards. Hell, who knows? It wouldn't surprise me if they saved money and just stuck a camera in front of a TV and made a VHS copy, like some cheap ass content providers make. Like Allied Artist's DVD of Day Of The Triffids.

[Pain_Man]

I'm wasn't really surprised. Doesn't lessen my annoyance though. I was hoping for at least digital cable quality.

 

I never got around to buying "New Hope" on VHS, believe or not, so I wanted a copy of the original theatrical release.

 

Like I said, I wasn't expecting much and I didn't even get that.

 

Shame on you, George!

 

50 views and Minty's the only one who's commented? How very odd... Could it be that I said it all?? (Or almost all?)

 

I tried to tell you, and a few others, this would probably happen. They were simply doing a direct copy from the laserdisc to the DVD. And, while, essentially, the technology is relatively the same, you can't just let the computers do all the work without checking the results afterwards. Hell, who knows? It wouldn't surprise me if they saved money and just stuck a camera in front of a TV and made a VHS copy, like some cheap ass content providers make. Like Allied Artist's DVD of Day Of The Triffids.

Edited September 16, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Kenadjian]

50 views and Minty's the only one who's commented? How very odd... Could it be that I said it all?? (Or almost all?)

Well, to be honest, when I see a post as long as war and peace, I can't be arsed reading it.

[spinningwheel]

[Grain]

If the originals weren't worth a bundle as Laser discs, I'd get those instead. Perhaps with this DVD release they'll loose their novelty value.

[lfcrule1972]

I read the post and didn't comment as I had no comment I have the re-mastered trilogy on WS VHS and then again on remastered DVD. I wouldn't bother with the original releases now myself.

[Pain_Man]

I read the post and didn't comment as I had no comment I have the re-mastered trilogy on WS VHS and then again on remastered DVD. I wouldn't bother with the original releases now myself.

 

 

Frogive the ignorance, but what's "WS VHS"?

[Pain_Man]

Ken! Are you saying that I bore you?

 

 

 

 

 

50 views and Minty's the only one who's commented? How very odd... Could it be that I said it all?? (Or almost all?)

Well, to be honest, when I see a post as long as war and peace, I can't be arsed reading it.

[dbminter]

Frogive the ignorance, but what's "WS VHS"?

 

 

WideScreen Video Home System.

[Kenadjian]

Ken! Are you saying that I bore you?

Not at all I just can't be arsed reading a post for 5 minutes that is not technical, no matter who posts it.

 

Unless offcourse the topic is of some interest to me.

[Pain_Man]

Duh!

Thanks.

 

Never heard of such a thing. Did they sell them over here? Or was this another bad-ass thing that only Brits, Europeans and Japanese were able to buy?

 

 

Frogive the ignorance, but what's "WS VHS"?

 

 

WideScreen Video Home System.

[Pain_Man]

Unless offcourse the topic is of some interest to me.

 

 

Mais, bien sur!

 

But of course!

[lfcrule1972]

Pain_Man - you never got the original trilogy, remastered on VHS cassette ??

[Grain]

They were available in Canada (so I suspect down south too), my brother has a couple different 3 VHS set's in WS, ones the unadultered version, one has some mod's, I believe Lucas first round at changes, which I think included Jabba. At least one of the versions was THX also, a bit strange for VHS, IMO.

 

 

Never heard of such a thing. Did they sell them over here? Or was this another bad-ass thing that only Brits, Europeans and Japanese were able to buy?

Frogive the ignorance, but what's "WS VHS"?

WideScreen Video Home System.

[dbminter]

I freely admit, I never got the series on VHS. I've stated it before, will uselessly repeat myself. I don't CARE how much of a cultural milestone it has ingratiated itself into... it's OVERRATED!

[dbminter]

BTW, in a piece of on the fringe, peripheral information to the subject, the G4 network has, apparently, produced an animated series for the Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs.

[lfcrule1972]

Over rated ?? Eps 1-3 I agree but not the original trilogy......

[Grain]

10 bucks says Kirk would kick Obi Wan's ass in the Thunder Dome....

[dbminter]

Unicron plays football with the Death Star.

[Pain_Man]

Pain_Man - you never got the original trilogy, remastered on VHS cassette ??

 

 

Yes, as a true Child of the Force, I hang my head in shame. I don't even know why. I just never bought them. Not that it would matter much now.

 

 

Inadequate as this DVD is compared to "Final" version (till George changes his mind again) or the avg DVD, it's still better than VHS. VHS sucks. I've never liked it, even when it was the only game in town.

 

OK, I know laser disc's been around a long time, but we never had one as a kid and by the time I could afford one, DVDs were out, so buying one would have been rather like buying an 8-track in 1985.

[Pain_Man]

As always, minty, I respect your opinion even when I disagree with it--as I do in this case.

 

Star Wars was my first real movie experience. Yes, my parent took me to see shit like Benji (and I cried when he got leg broke--think it was Benji & Jackie Chan II, hell I was three and the doggie was cute and I hated seeing animals hurt.

 

 

OK, I'll never forget the image of that massive Star Destroyer filling the screen. The nervous guardsmen (?) lining up waiting for the attack. The door bursting in (funny how George anticipates, exactly, SWAT techniques) and the Stormtrooper suicidally storming Leia's ship (ok, Antilles' ship for the fastidious). Nothing wrong with their aim in that battle.

 

Darth Vader's appearance. James Earl Jones booming, basso voice ('course I didn't know about reverb at six).

 

Plus, it's fun. I know a lot of people have carried it too far a la Elvis. But so what?

 

I love the movies. Even Jedi--much as I HATE Ewoks. (Even then I realized they were crass commercialism and I don't find his contention that because Chewie could fly the Falcon that all wookies were therefore technologically advanced; look at H. sapiens: some of us live in jungles, with loin clothes eating monkies and bugs, others are recombining DNA and building spaceships!!!)

 

Empire's a masterpiece.

 

They have a special place in my heart. And always will. Not even Lucas' arrogance can fuck that up or take it away from me.

 

I freely admit, I never got the series on VHS. I've stated it before, will uselessly repeat myself. I don't CARE how much of a cultural milestone it has ingratiated itself into... it's OVERRATED!

Edited September 28, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Pain_Man]

You're on.

 

[Obi lays vicious Force Choke on Kirk. Camera zooms in at medium speed, cutting back and forth between Obi and Kirk as Kirk's face contorts and his hands go to his neck; camera cuts back to Obi as he slowly moves toward Kirk, slow zoom to Obi's eyes. Quick cut to Kirk's eye. Flash of light saber after cuts. Camera cuts back to close up on Obi's face as we hear a body and head tumble, separately, to the floor. Camera cuts to Tina turner who's adjusting her Shock Wig...]

 

American cash, please.

 

10 bucks says Kirk would kick Obi Wan's ass in the Thunder Dome....

[Pain_Man]

Don't really understand the under-appreciation with the second first triology.

 

I like them (and I do have a thing for Natalie Portman that can't explain; not really my type at all, but something about her makes me want to introduce her to my saber).

 

Especially Sith. Imo, the tragedy is well played. We finally got the Arthurian ending that Jedi should have had but didn't.

 

I liked the fact that he at least made an attempt to show some complexity to his society. This is incredibly difficult to communicate on film (one of the reasons the Dune movie, the Lynch Disaster, was such a cluster fuck. It took a mini-series to really communicate it and some brilliant screenwriting to compact Herbert's multi-galactic vision to the screen).

 

I think he did an admiral job. Could it have been better? Or they, rather? Yes. I think he should have followed the same formula he did for Empire and Jedi. Write the screen story, or collaborate on the script--as he did do in Ep II--and bring in an outside director--maybe Spielberg (who was supposed to direct Jedi until Lucas got into a pissing contest with the DGA--which he lost, but Marquand* did a good job;

 

But the over idea was sound and was executed well in my--not even close to humble--opinion.

 

The basic problem is this: the expectations for the "first" triology had built up over 22 years . Lucas himself put it best: "No one could have met those expectations." And, it's just that simple.

 

 

*anyone doubting his directorial skill should check out The Eye of the Needle based on a novel by Ken Follett (sp?). Donald Sutherland plays a master German spy/assassin in WWII whose trade mark is a very fine, narrow stilletto (hence his name "The Needle") and his method of killing. He punctures the solar plexus and jabs the knife upward. He doesn't pierce the heart, but the blade's sudden contact, causes the heart to go into cardiac arrest. Anymore would spoil. Seriously, if it ever comes on late night TV or you see it at the video store, watch it. If you like taut thrillers, watch it. The heroine's pretty hot too.

 

Over rated ?? Eps 1-3 I agree but not the original trilogy......

Edited September 28, 2006 by Pain_Man

[Pain_Man]

Perhaps, but the Valar would have destroyed them all.

 

Unicron plays football with the Death Star.