Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray Review - Page 4

On my projector they tended to stick out a bit, i supplied 3 and 4 to show what the usual image quality is like on the film, i took the stills directly off the disc, i'm thinking it could be part of the transfer and just the way it was shot but it does stick out a bit to me, i imagine it stuck out at the cinema too, i'd like to know from people who own the pre 1997 laserdiscs if its there as well.

 

It certainly is not consistent with the majority of the film.

 

 

Most of them probably won't be all that noticeable in SD res.  Only #1 of your screencaps might be noticeable near as I can tell, and even then, it may not look quite like this.  Also, those old SD masters may have had some AA filtering done to further reduce the effect.

 

Even in most cinemas during their original theatrical runs, it may not be nearly this pronounced unless projected at 70mm since 35mm projections are usually estimated to only yield 720p res.

 

I used to have the excellent pre-SE, post-restoration THX LDs (the ones w/ the elegantly simple, gate-fold face covers), but loan them out to someone on AVS to transfer to DVD nearly 10(?) years ago and never bothered to recover them since my LD player died and I have no real interest in acquiring another player.  I guess I could try running that old DVD dupe of RotJ to see if I get around to it, but I'm pretty sure the rather compressed non-16x9 res (homebrewed on rather dated tech) won't show much of anything, if memory serves.  As it was, I could barely stand rewatching them after taking the plunge on the 2004 OT DVDs.  Besides, any additional playback processing (like scaling for a 16x9 1080p display) will likely further blend away these blurs me thinks...

 

_Man_

 

BTW, my set just arrived yesterday, but I'm a little bit reluctant to open it and commit to the purchase now.  Having a little bit of buyer's remorse given the reports of issues (plus I only got it as a sort of impulse buy at a nice final price).

 

Any good guesses as to when Lucas may do yet another release of these w/ most/all issues fixed (and whatever additional revisions whether good or bad... or giving us the real OT in top quality as improbable as that might be)?

 

_Man_

 

Edited by ManW_TheUncool - 9/22/11 at 2:46am

The Jabba The Hutt/Han Solo scene does have poor quality CGI and its really a redundant scene, it should be removed and put on the deleted scenes disc.

 

Agreed. The Greedo scene was extended in the wake of the Jabba scene being excised from the film.

When they added that scene back in for the 1997 SE, it rendered much of the Greedo dialogue redundant. At least have one or the other! I preferred Jabba's introduction in Jedi.

Since they never corrected the much more glaring errors on the DVDs and the only release of the OOT on DVD was from a 1993 laserdisc master, my guess would be never. While downloading is still years away, I think this is the last time that Star Wars is going to be released on a physical format but I'm sure they'll make a few more tweaks and corrections whenever downloadable versions of the movies get released.

Even if my guesses are wrong, the earliest you can expect another Star Wars release is 2013 because next year is Indiana Jones.

I think 2012 they will start doing individual releases. Episode I will be out in 3D, and it would make sense to offer it on its own on 3D BluRay.

Very lame that Lucas doesn't simply get everything he supposedly envisioned fixed by now for this BD release.  It's one thing to claim that certain revisions (despite their unpopularity w/ fans) were always part of his vision and weren't adequately achievable before, but quite another to be a slacker at fixing glaring issues that should be fixed by now -- and then, seemingly introducing new issues like the camera-shake-like blurry PQ in certain scenes in RotJ.  All that only serves to show us how careless (perhaps in more ways than one) he's become as a filmmaker/craftsman, if he ever really deserved all the accolades in the past.  His ego has clearly far outgrown his abilities now.

 

Anyhoo...  Sucks that we're basically stuck w/ this somewhat half-baked BD set, not having much idea whether a better set (on BD) will come along anytime soon, if ever at all.  I certainly don't want to go the download/streaming route for the next go-around nor even another media format for that matter -- I really cannot see myself upgrading to another format yet again at this point and certainly doubt this franchise will hold enough appeal by then to be a big draw for me to do so...

 

_Man_

 

I agree with TheDigitalBits in that the absolute last opportunity Lucas has to sell us Star Wars on physical media again will be... you guessed it... the unaltered original trilogy. I'd thought it would be the 3D versions (which sooooo many people wouldn't buy), but it's starting to look like LFL might just pack it in after The Phantom Menace.

VHS to laserdisc was a huge leap, as was laserdisc to dvd, as was dvd to blu-ray. But at some point, in-home screens just can't get any bigger. Couple that with the eventual switch to downloading, and I really think that releasing the UOT on blu-ray is Lucas's last chance to make a big bag o' money off of Star Wars on home video.

It'll happen!

The Star Wars (alright then: A New Hope - gah!) review is up at DVD Active:

http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope3.html

At last a reviewer who has the guts to tell it like it is.....

"With this release Lucasfilm had the opportunity to correct the mistakes of 2004, but contrary to pre-release rumours they have only done half of the job. Issues such as Luke's incorrectly coloured lightsaber have only been partially addressed, resulting in a situation where the young Jedi-in-training's weapon is now three different colours in one scene. While the above is one of the more obvious issues it's not an isolated incident. Apart from feeling wholly unnecessary the latest additions to the film have been inserted in what is best described as an amateurish fashion. The aforementioned rocks that R2 hides behind are a particularly curious change, not just because they would appear to prevent the little droid from entering his hiding spot in the first place, but also because they are nowhere to be seen in the next shot. Similarly, the escape pod's blue lid has been changed to a dark grey in the opening scenes, but shortly after it features prominently with its original bright blue colouring. It's as if no one was paying any attention to continuity for this release and it smacks of laziness. There are also further changes to Obi-Wan's krayt dragon call, which is now so far removed from the original effect as to be unrecognisable."

Well worth a read!

Finally watched ep iv last night and u know I'm pretty happy with it. Effectively it's the special edition minus most of the flaws that were brought up in the 2004 DVD - while not fixed properly the lightsabre on the falcon is basically back to how it always was and not green and the changes to the rocks and kenobi's call are so minor that I barely noticed it - what it accounts for all of 3 seconds though I really don't get why they bothered.. Sound is also much improved.Maybe it's just been a while since I watched it but enjoyed the film again and on my nice new plasma it looks stunning in places. Still need to lose most of the new Mos Eisley bits though the greedo scene is a lot better now. Delete those stupid buzzing flying robots please !!!!

Watched Episodes I and II....absolutely beautiful transfers! I was very happy to experience the new editions looking so spiffy!

Watching ANH now and was looking very closely at Luke's lightsaber on the Falcon. While I did see some color inconsistencies, I didn't find it nearly as bad as many of the reports suggested. One thing I do like, and I don't think I've seen too much discussion on this (although, there is a myriad of lengthy threads) is that, while the alien language subtitled appear to be player generated, they do look to be in the right font and the right place in the frame.

I hope that if they ever release the OT films individually, we'll again get an OOT bonus disc with each one (hopefully anamorphic and in HD this time).

Unrealistic, I know.

Check out Return Of The Jedi, Vaders pinkish lightsaber cores, all wrong, it stuck out more to me than any scene in Episode IV.

 

Pet peeve time. Sorry. Can someone please fix the note that the review by Matt Hough is "COMING SOON"???

I don't mean to be thick, Robb (it just comes naturally at times!  ).  Where is this note that needs "fixing?"

Never mind.  Found it...and fixed.

 

Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

I've just had the pleasure of watching the prequels and original films on my Blu-Ray HD boxset I picked up on a deal last week here in the UK

thoughts?

the prequels were stunning in HD, with incredible PQ and AQ, and I know many hate these prequels but I quite enjoy them

the films themselves are irritating in places (Jar-Jar Binks, etc.) but also very gripping in the action sequences and battles, especially Episode III which is somewhat sad / depressing as it sets up the transition to Episode IV with the fall of several major characters


the original films were quite a revelation in HD, although many PQ flaws became quickly evident

I am watching on a large LG flat-screen with Sony 5.1 home cinema system, so a good system, but not a huge projection system or "reference audio" setup as I am sure many forum members have in their homes


even on my home system, most noticeable in the original films was the brilliant set design, costumes and "real world grittiness" compared to the slick prequels, what I saw often looked real because it was (in terms of the sets)

however, the battle sequences often revealed the use of minitature model sets, most noticeable in Episode IV

I often saw strange watery blue banding around special effects shots in both Episodes IV and V, for characters and space battles featuring vehicles; a good example is the addition of a head shot inside a vehicle where a blue halo was very prominent around the face


Episode VI was easily the most refined of the original films, although the issue of several minutes of film being off-focus was something I picked up on, before coming to this forum and reading how another forum member had seen this


the addition of modern computer effects into the original films was quite jarring in my humble opinion, because it sat completely at odds with the model making and physical effects of that era?

there are additional bits that confuse my memory of watching the original films as a kid, and then in later years as a young adult at Christmas on Television and then on home format releases

did I see these elements in the original releases? were they added for the DVD releases? added for the HD releases?

was Anakin Skywalker's "ghost jedi" image (sitting next to Yoda and Obi-Wan) altered for the end of Episode VI following the release of the prequels (featuring Haydin Christensen) - I am sure it was originally the actor who played the helmetless Darth Vader in the original films?

Yeah, the old Anakin ghost was replaced with the young Anakin ghost at the end of Return Of The Jedi for the DVD and that continued for the Blu-ray.

Yes, it was Sebastian Shaw as the Force ghost Anakin until the 2004 DVD release.

Edit: Travis, you're lucky my computer decided to have memory issues or I totally would have answered that first.

Whoa! Hold up!  I was with you through most of this John, but once you suggest that Matt lacks "guts" (as in somehow giving in to external pressure or being "cowed by the man") because the review is not "negative" enough to suit you and your personal take on it, then I draw the line!  

 

It's stupid crap like that comment that gives fanboys a bad name and I think you owe Hough an apology.

 

Cool your heels Will - I was referring to just about all the reviews I'd read (at that point!) thus far pertaining to this release; I wasn't singling out Hough specifically, though granted in context with the rest of this thread it does come across that way, and that I am sorry for.

I still maintain - as is my right - that many reviewers took the safe/easy path out in reviewing this set. However, exactly the same situation occurred with the 2004 DVD release so it's no great surprise...

However many ARE enjoying the set - faults and all - and good for them I guess. It's not for me however - My desire to own this set for the original documentaries has faded for me, as indeed has my love for Star Wars in general. I'm tired of what the saga has become, the way it has split fandom right down the middle, the way film history is being repeatedly messed with, Lucas' peculiar attitude to the original films, the endless online arguments, fixes that are promised and not delivered etc etc etc. Plenty of other classic films to buy that are done correctly, and to get behind.

Best,

- John

Gee if ever their was a Blue ray release where you can't part with the dvd set.While there is plenty of extras on this set,The best stuff was on the last dvd boxes

I am surprised on how sloppy some of these transfers are . Unfixed garbage mattes that could have been easily fixed; the weird 4 minutes of blurred image in Jedi. Very sloppy work.

I have been of this opinion since the initial Blu release. I think George is more a brilliant business man rather than a bully who purposely angers fans of the OT. And yes, it will sell huge when released.

 

There's nothing brilliant about it IMO. He simply recognizes the obvious - fans will buy pretty much anything Star Wars that he puts out there for sale. You don't have to be a genius to analyze previous sales data. It's a no-brainer.

I think the lack of originals is simply to due to Lucas feeling that they're incomplete and not some really long term plan to re-sell the movies. While it would most likely be profitable (even with the large amount required to restore the movie), I don't see profit being enough of a driving factor to make the guy compromise his artistic desires when he already has more money than could spend in 10 lifetimes.

I'd love to be wrong though.

I thought it had been previously established it wouldn't cost all that much to restore the films?

If George really thinks they're incomplete, he should offer up refunds to everyone who bought a copy prior to 1995.

 

I agree that it would be huge if the original films were released on blu-ray, but it is not the last time they can be released. Once the 3D conversions are done, we will eventually see 3D blu-ray editions, either individually or as a set.