Amazon.com user comments on the OOT DVD's

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2006-09-06 03:01am

Sorry if people have already seen these, and yes, I generally think Amazon should simply forbid non-press comments for products that haven't yet been released, but still.

Amazon.com's prices are actually quite reasonable for the new set. Disappointed as I am with it (though I'm glad it's coming out at all), at least it's only about $10 more expensive than the 4 disc set from 2004.

If this info is true, it's quite interesting:

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Don't hate/love George Lucas for this release, he had nothing to do with it., September 4, 2006Reviewer: Matt Orion (Blaustin, Texachusetts) - See all my reviews

For those of you complaning about George Lucas and this 3rd release of Star Wars on DVD, you need to get your facts straight.

1. It was NOT Lucas's idea to release the original theatrical cut of the movie. Lucas has stated several times that he would never release the versions of the film on DVD because he considered them unfinished works. This release was spearheaded by his company, Lucasfilm.

2. Because Lucas didn't want this release, he refused to have money spent remastering the original films for anamorphic widescreen. He even went so far as to claim than no original prints of the film existed, but this is not true. That's why Lucasfilm was forced to use the version they have. It's also why we probably never will see a remastered copy of this release.

3. Lucas insisted that the DVD's include the 2004 versions of the film. This is so that any sales of these DVD's will boost the total money earned by these versions even further. This way Lucas can conviently ignore the fact that most people are buying this for the original versions.

So if your're gonna condem George Lucas for something, condem him for the right thing. It's not his fault some of you have to buy another DVD set, but it is his fault your not getting the best quality version of the film. Now, if you haven't bothered picking up the DVD sets before now, then this is a good release to get. Still, there probably will be a box set of all 6 movies at some point in the future, but wether or not it will contain the original theatrical versions is uncertain at this time.

Wow.

Also:

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
I've seen the original DVD, September 5, 2006Reviewer: bass boy "music fan" (Arkansas) - See all my reviews

Five-star movie. It looks fairly good. There are a few dust/dirt spots on some of the image, particularly some of Peter Cushing's scenes aboard the Death Star, but nothing too distracting. The sound is solid, probably what it sounded like in 1977 (good stereo, but no surround-sound available.) Also, the opening "crawl" only says "Star Wars." No "Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope." That finally puts an end to the argument that the original 1977 prints contained "A New Hope." (They did NOT, otherwise all of the toys, lunchboxes, figures and comic books from 1978-1979 would have included "A New Hope" in their titles.) There are a couple tie-fighter scenes where the transparent "border boxes" are seen around the model ships, but only in a handful of scenes. Most of the ships and space battles look really good. Again, these 1977 flaws are not distracting. There is a minor "click" sound as the DVD disc layer switches, immediately after Cushing says "Terminate her. Immediately." Thankfully, the film looks the way it originally did. (Yes, the not-so-great airbrushing job seen below Luke's "floating" landspeeder, but you don't get the silly explosion rings seen in the 2004 edition when planets explode.)
One of the best films ever. Overall, the image is clear and lively, although a few visual flaws exist here and there. Again, the blemishes aren't too distracting, although I don't have a digital TV. I do have a very large RCA TV, and the image is pretty impressive. They could have added more bonuses on the disc though, instead of just the trailer for the Star Wars Lego videogame. Screen tests, anyone? The retro artwork on the back of the DVD case and the inside insert (which should have more information and photos) is pretty cool, reminiscent of the 1977 and 1978 theatrical posters that decorated movie lobbies. Get it if you must own the original theatrical version -- this is the one I've been waiting for, where Tatooine looks desolate and alien, not the overrpopulated scenes in the "Special Edition" where Mos Eisley looks like Dallas, Texas, in rush-hour traffic. But if you're happy with George Lucas' recent "Special Edition" releases, it's probably not worth $20 to those who like Lucas' recent "changes." Oh, and yes, Han Solo shoots first in this orignial theatrical DVD. Although expected and anticipated by the viewer, when the blast shoots straight at the camera and the smoke rises, it's almost a shock, probably because we're almost used to the almost-10-year-old "Greedo Shoots First" scene in Lucas' "Special Edition." Let's hope the original theatrical "Empire" DVD has the original emperor and "Return of the Jedi" has actor Sebastian Shaw (not Hayden Christensen) in the final jedi "ghost" scene.

I see on StarWars.com the "original opening crawl" thing is still listed on the May 3, 2006 announcement (that was previously removed, then reinstated).

So I wonder, is this the crawl from a 1977 print (transferred in 1993, then copied for 2006)? Or is it a computer generated "re-creation" similar to the ones featured on many fanedits that are floating around the 'net already?

Still it would be cool if there was finally something new in this release. After all, I don't think a digital home version was ever released of the original crawl, much less one in widescreen (only full frame VHS tapes).

I do find it a bit weird/funny though that some of the posters seem to have considered the special editions superior to the originals and agreed with lucas that the old versions are "unfinished/outdated/obsolete" and "no longer exist" and yet are still buying the new set! Maybe they really want to play LEGO Star Wars on their Xbox?

Read more here: http://tinyurl.com/hzg62

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2006-09-06 06:54am

Having looked at the screencap comparisons on SW.com, I'm still convinced the good of the SE outway the bad by a longshot. Those snowspeeder scenes are almost painful to watch now. :S

"changes."

Uhm, why the "" on that?

Cao Cao · Post by **Cao Cao** » 2006-09-06 09:20am

Lucas' attitude on the original versions of the trilogy is pitiful.
Even if his latest versions are 100% perfect works of art that every fan loves he still has no right to stomp around trying to erase the originals from history.
I know if I created something like that, I would love to have the "incomplete" version out there. For crying out loud Lucas, those are the versions that got you your money, your corporate empire and your ranch, you idiot!

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2006-09-06 12:16pm

Frankly, the movies were just fine for 14-20 years before the special editions, and just fine for 24-29 years before the 2004 editions.

I think the "restoration process" while it looks cool, does do some "damage" to the original films. In removing the film grain to create a "digital look" (to match Episode II and III which were shot digitally, rather than on regular film), is an alteration.

Now I am all in favor of restoration in the sense of restoring color balance as it was in the original as seen in theaters, cleaning up the film stock and fixing bad frames, etc.

I am fine with leaving the "bad special effects", the gaffes and technology of the 1970's-80's in there.

I think a lot of folks criticizing the people who are now whining that this is such a "hasty" release are really not understanding what it's all about.

You can restore a film without removing the grain. You can restore a film without suddenly changing the colors and the soundtrack drastically and then chalking it up to "deliberate creative decisions" that make no sense. You can even restore a film without adding CGI to it.

Anyway, had they simply done a modern (rather than 1993) encode of the movies, color balanced and cleaned, with the six channel sound track re-created, and anamorphic enabled it, I'd be perfectly happy with this set.

But what was really interesting is the idea that Lucas refused to work on it, so the studio (lucasfilm or fox) basically just grabbed this one from the vaults... that would explain a lot.

Lucas would remain consistent (if petty and stubborn), but not nearly so apparently personally resentful of fans ("oh okay here's your doughnut, but it's cold and stale and I spit on it, btw").

I don't mind the idea of the Special Editions and some parts of them I like. It's just that if you're going to release the originals, RELEASE THE ORIGINALS. Do it right.

If Star Wars really is Star Wars (1977) though, and not "A New Hope" circa 1993, that is pretty cool. But that only justifies purchasing 1/3rd of this "series."

Incidentally, I presume that most of the folks who are buying these plan to buy all three sets. Since disc 2 is listed as containing the Xbox demo of LEGO SW 2 and the trailer for it, I wonder... will all three bonus discs all have the same demo/trailer on them?

If so, that would really be hilariously annoying. Or will we get three different bits of filler, one for each? Heh, oh man...

Cao Cao · Post by **Cao Cao** » 2006-09-06 12:24pm

I just don't understand Lucas' attitude on it.
He might as well publicly admit that he thinks that the PT, the SE and the DVD editions are inferior to the originals. Because honestly that's the impression he gives - that he's threatened by the originals.

And I agree with over the top restoration. Sound and color alterations are ok, but is it too much to ask that the people who first saw Star Wars in cinemas want to experience it like that again?
And the fans would pay for it. Guaranteed profit!