REVENGE OF THE SITH DVD Review up and running...(let the flood begin)(SNEAK LOOK POST #146)... (1 Viewer)

[Tim Glover]

I copied all the rankings listed here and the Members names too :b and posted them in the Main Saga thread over in Movies for those that want to discuss the movies in general there.

 

[RobertR]

Mostly agree with Lou's rankings:

The Empire Strikes Back
A New Hope

A medium size quality drop


Return of the Jedi


A much larger quality drop

ROTS

A major quality drop

AOTC

Further drop

TPM, because of Jar Jar and the meaningless portrayal of kiddie "Annie".

 

[Joe D]

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. A New Hope

3. Return of the Jedi
4. Revenge of the Sith

5. Attach of the Clones



6. The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace could be a much better movie if they trimmed a lot of the fat off of the shots.

 

[Richard Kim]

I second that. Can we please get back on topic about the DVD release and leave the film ranking to the Saga thread?

 

[Donnie Eldridge]

Here ya go: Link

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Hey Guys!

First, I want to apologize that HTF does not have
a review of Revenge of the Sith up for you
to read. The truth of the matter is that the studio
accidentaly forgot to give us an invite out to the
recent Skywalker Ranch Press Event, and we are just
now getting screeners in our hands.

I am hoping Michael Osadciw will be getting his
screener today and that a review will be up shortly.

I had the opportunity to watch the DVD this morning
and I wanted to report back to you that the image
quality is absolutely outstanding. The fact that
this is a pure digital transfer really translates to
the home viewing screen in a manner not regularly
seen with DVD. Images are clean, smooth, and
abundantly rich in color. It is rare that you see
anything look this good on a standard definition
format.

The documentary on disc two, Within A Minute,
takes a rather unusual but fresh approach in looking
into the filmmaking process. While we get some great
in-depth insight into the film's final lightsaber
duel, the documentary goes further by breaking down
all the elements that go into the making of this film
by production department. I think it's a great tribute
to all the hard-working individuals who put so many
man hours into a film of this magnitude.

I'll let our reviewer go into more detail on this
disc, but I thought I'd give you a taste of my
favorite deleted scene which involves Yoda's
exile to Dagobah.....

 

[Chris Atkins]

Ron:

Did you like the movie any better this time around?

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Chris,

Yes and no.

I don't like these new Star Wars movies. It's
CGI nauseum and I feel that the dialogue is horrendously
flat. Hayden Christensen was absolutely the wrong
choice to play Anakin -- so much so that I find
myself shuddering during some of his delivery.

...then again, there is only so much an actor can
do with Lucas' dialogue.

I wasn't at the least entertained until the final third
of this film. I thought the duel on Mustafar was very
good, but the rise of Vader and his dialogue (the
infamous "nooooo") left me wanting something better.

I know my opinion will go against the grain here,
but I am not as huge a Star Wars fan as I was 25
years ago. I am sure most of that change is due to
my age and the fact that I have lost a lot so much
of the innocent, child qualities I had back then.

 

[Brent M]

Almost every action or sci-fi movie these days is "CGI nauseum"......at least Lucas does it WELL. Personally, I think Episode III is fantastic from start to finish and I also believe Hayden did an excellent job as Anakin. He had a dark quality about him that was perfect for this role. While I agree some of his dialogue wasn't delivered well, the same thing could have been said about Mark Hamill in the original films so it's really not that big a deal to me. Honestly, I don't watch Star Wars films for good acting because I know that it's not a realistic expectation(that has held true for 28 years). All I really want from these movies is to see action, special effects, great villains, etc. and I think Episode III delivered in all of those areas. Bring on the DVD, baby!

 

[Sam Davatchi]

So they didn't change the "noooo" or anything else for the DVD release? There were some speculations that they might tweak the movie a little for the DVD release.

 

[Cory S.]

The film is exactly as it was in the theatres...the only Star Wars film on DVD that's that way....

 

[TedT]

A New Hope
Attack Of The Close
Revenge Of The Sith (ask me on a different day and I may put this at #2, depends on my mood. AOTC had a great battle with a Fett and the last 40 minutes of AOTC was just about the best 40 minutes of all the SW films. But I loved ROTS.)
Empire Strikes Back
Return Of The Jedi
Phantom Menace

 

[Ricardo C]

Oops, wrong thread!

Now for a more on-topic comment:

The Dagobah scene looks wonderful... Still wishing it could have been edited into the film proper. And the new TPM Yoda looks fantastic. Hopefully we won't have to wait beyond 2007 for a new TPM disc (on DVD or HD)

 

[Jerome Grate]

Interesting thread, can't wait to see it.

 

[Tim Glover]

Nice screen shots Ron. Glad you liked the Within A Minute doc. Looking forward to that myself. Sorry the film and the other PT hasn't worked for you. I think we're similar in age and I know that feeling I had after seeing the OT too. Maybe time will actually help or even make it worse for you.

From Dvd Talk's review:
Image:


Technically speaking, this appears to be really, really reference stuff with ROTS. At least until we common folk get our hands on it and realize that Chewy was supposed to yell the Tarzan yell from the left surround-not the right one.

 

[Sev Bragg]

I don't like these new Star Wars movies. It's
CGI nauseum and I feel that the dialogue is horrendously
flat. Hayden Christensen was absolutely the wrong
choice to play Anakin -- so much so that I find
myself shuddering during some of his delivery.


Ron have you ever researched what was a miniature model and what was CGI in the prequels? A LOT of physical models were used, more per each prequel movie than the entire OT combined. I suggest you pick up head ILMer John Knoll's new SW in 365 days book which has photos of almost every set and model used throughout all 6 SW movies.

Lucas had Francis Ford Coppola's dialogue coach, Chris Neil around this time, so I still don't understand this about Hayden. People often say bluescreen is to blame but most of the dialogue (about 85 percent) is redone months later in a soundbooth because of set noise. Most people thought he was good, or better this time around, and you didn't really even bash him in your AOTC review, I see a lot of revisionist backtracking reviewing going on.

...then again, there is only so much an actor can
do with Lucas' dialogue.
Yes it's same as Ford and Fisher said "You can type this stuff George, but you can't say it." stuff from ANH, but you didn't complain about that stuff. Remember Lucas wrote and directed ANH and the actors pretty much said George directed them the same way.

I wasn't at the least entertained until the final third
of this film. I thought the duel on Mustafar was very
good, but the rise of Vader and his dialogue (the
infamous "nooooo") left me wanting something better.
So you are saying you liked AOTC more? Because from reading your AOTC review, you liked most of it at the time. Honestly what did you want Vader to say or do? The man was hurt and angry at himself, I think the simple "NOOO!" is a lot better than him chit chatting on about his pain.

I know my opinion will go against the grain here,
but I am not as huge a Star Wars fan as I was 25
years ago. I am sure most of that change is due to
my age and the fact that I have lost a lot so much
of the innocent, child qualities I had back then.
Well at least you admit it. That's a lot more than can be said for some fanboys.

 

[Ron-P]

I'll pick this up, I have the other 2 so might as well complete the collection. I view them more like Saturday morning cartoons then actual Star Wars movies. Like Ron, I just don't care at all for this new trilogy, but, the kids like it.

 

[Brent M]

That's interesting because Episode III is the least "kid friendly" film of the saga(that's probably why I like it so much). Call me crazy, but a guy getting his limbs severed and then being burned alive doesn't really scream Saturday morning cartoon.

 

[Sev Bragg]

Yeah sat morn cartoons with a guy's flesh burning off.

 

[Kevin Lamb]

I actually think Vader's "NOOOOO!" works quite well for the overall story. Padme's death is the breaking point for him, just as the revelation that Vader was his father was the breaking point for Luke.

Both had the same impulse reaction, but made very different choices afterward.