Star Wars 1-6 box set announced on Blu-ray.

tommyboy

comfortablycurt wrote: »

For the life of me, I don't understand why some people hate the expanded versions of the original Star Wars movies. I really fail to see how it "ruins" anything. In my mind, all it does is make it better. Parts of the storyline make a lot more sense...for instance, the scene with Jabba by the Millenium Falcon. In the originals, we never really know precisely why Jabba is after Han in the first place. You get a rough idea...but you don't really get the whole picture. That's just one example.

From what I remember, that was really the only change or addition of the trilogy that had any effect on the storyline and didn't really add much anyway. (BTW, didn't jabba just send someone to kill him the scene before cause solo didn't pay him?). Seeing an alien giraffe walk across the screen or watching a CGI muppet sing adds nothing to the movie

Just admit it, the popularity of star wars and Indiana Jones has gotten to his head.

kevhed72

Ricardo wrote: »

How would you guys introduce someone to the Star Wars movies? I mean someone that has never seen any of the movies (thinking a few years from now a kid or teenager that never saw them)?
Would you have them start with episode 1, or maybe episode 4?????

Interesting question...if you found someone living under a rock. If you started with episode 1, I would think said person would agree that the movies got better in 1 - 6 order, and peaked with 4 or 5 IMO.

kevhed72

nooshinjohn wrote: »

The original trilogy (4-6)... the last three films (1-3) are not in the same league IMHO.

I think that view is probably close to universal...4-6 had better acting, actors, writing, and Harrison Ford when he was pretty cool and cutting edge.

bobman1235

I feel like it would be retarded to watch them in 1-6 order, just because of the vast differences in technology between the two sets.

And the original trilogy is just not that much better than the new one. They all have hammy acting and horrible dialog... but they're also all fun. Comparing the originals as if they're gold compared to the new ones is just all nostalgia.

nooshinjohn

kevhed72 wrote: »

Interesting question...if you found someone living under a rock. If you started with episode 1, I would think said person would agree that the movies got better in 1 - 6 order, and peaked with 4 or 5 IMO.

I also think you would get people asking why ep4-6 look like they were made in the 1970's and ep1-3 look so much newer if they are the first in the series. That is why the two series should have been stand alone rather than linked, and should never have been made 25 years apart. Watching these films as they stand now is kind of like listening to grandpa's life story from the end rather than the beginning. I think they turned this idea into a film too.

kevhed72

When I get my projector and new room up and running, I think the first movies I will sit down with my boys to watch are 4-6 in Blue Ray.

Zion21

About time this has been announced. Have been wanting to watch some star-wars on my new home theatre for awhile now!

tommyboy

bobman1235 wrote: »

And the original trilogy is just not that much better than the new one. They all have hammy acting and horrible dialog... but they're also all fun. Comparing the originals as if they're gold compared to the new ones is just all nostalgia.

Please watch Attack of the clones right now and see if you can say that again with a straight face

I am by no means a star wars fanatic and never seen the old ones in theaters. I only watched them a few years before the phantom menace so there's no nostalgia on my end and I still put the originals ways ahead of the prequels (except maybe return of the jedi). Yes the acting isn't the best, but at least there's a little life in it, unlike the extremely wooden and cheesy dialog of the prequels (emperor excluded, he was great in episode 3)

cokewithvanilla

BD50 versions are available in places on the intertubes if you can't wait. A guy called 'wookiegroomer' did stuff with some high quality HD broadcasts. They look good. Dunno why they took so long to release them on BR.

Indiana jones is also available if you look... that's what i've been waiting for on BR

BlueFox

Well, it is 2011. Where are they George? Let's get moving!!! I don't have all year.

cheddar

tommyboy wrote: »

Please watch Attack of the clones right now and see if you can say that again with a straight face

I am by no means a star wars fanatic and never seen the old ones in theaters. I only watched them a few years before the phantom menace so there's no nostalgia on my end and I still put the originals ways ahead of the prequels (except maybe return of the jedi). Yes the acting isn't the best, but at least there's a little life in it, unlike the extremely wooden and cheesy dialog of the prequels (emperor excluded, he was great in episode 3)

After the surprise success of Star Wars, the studio put George on a very short leash so he wouldn't ruin the franchise.

Empire
Directed by Irvin Kershner
Screenplay Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan

Return of the Jedi
Directed by Richard Marquand
Screenplay Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas (and surprise, we got jub jub ewoks)


Then for the prequels George gets back to both writing and directing and we get Jar Jar Binks and Darth Vader on his knees with outstretched arms yelling Nooooo! like a scene out of spaceballs...I really don't think it's a coincidence that many think Star Wars peaked at Empire.

bobman1235

tommyboy wrote: »

Please watch Attack of the clones right now and see if you can say that again with a straight face

You watch anything that happened on Endor and you tell me the original trilogy isn't just as cheesy or stupid. The original trilogy has camp value, if not "nostalgia" per se. Hayden Christensen is TERRIBLE, but so was Mark Hamil. Harrison Ford is badass, but so is Ewan MacGregor or even Liam Neeson. Jar Jar is a retarded character designed to drag the kids in, but so are the Ewoks, or even Yoda in the originals.

At least the action in the new ones is passable. Watch any of the light saber fights in the original trilogy and tell me they hold up.

BlueFox

I was just on Amazon and I noticed they have these for pre-order with a September 2011 release date. At least they didn't wait for Christmas. :rolleyes:

cokewithvanilla

BlueFox wrote: »

I was just on Amazon and I noticed they have these for pre-order with a September 2011 release date. At least they didn't wait for Christmas. :rolleyes:

I wonder how many times the date has been pushed back. I would just download the Adywan color corrected 14gb versions, or the wookiegroomer BD50 versions if you really think you'll see the extra quality.

cheddar

bobman1235 wrote: »

You watch anything that happened on Endor and you tell me the original trilogy isn't just as cheesy or stupid.

I think it's a bit much to condemn Empire too just because George got his finger back in the mix in Return. I don't think the non-Lucas directors and screenwriters get near enough credit for saving the original trilogy from the depths of cheese and unintended parody George dragged us through in the prequels. I'd describe the more humorous parts of Empire as light, fun, and full of energy. And they played as intended.

I'd decribe many of the most humorous parts of the prequels as characters, scenes and dialog so terrible you want to burst out laughing or cringe at how lame it all is. I think you're right that action scenes with a lot of effects are George's strong suit. LucasArts has long been the best in the business not only for Star Wars but for many other great action flicks. IMO, it's just too bad Lucas fancies himself a great director and screen writer too.

cheddar

Sorry, I meant ILM, not LucasArts. I think they make the video games.

tommyboy

bobman1235 wrote: »

You watch anything that happened on Endor and you tell me the original trilogy isn't just as cheesy or stupid. The original trilogy has camp value, if not "nostalgia" per se. Hayden Christensen is TERRIBLE, but so was Mark Hamil. Harrison Ford is badass, but so is Ewan MacGregor or even Liam Neeson. Jar Jar is a retarded character designed to drag the kids in, but so are the Ewoks, or even Yoda in the originals.

At least the action in the new ones is passable. Watch any of the light saber fights in the original trilogy and tell me they hold up.

Well, we both can have our different opinions. I for one didn't really like return of the jedi, but at least that battle had a point, that even the will of the smallest creatures (yes I know, teddy bears) can overcome an overpowered opposition. What did jar jar binks and his buddies do? Oh yeah thats right surrender without even fighting. It was Lucas's chance to use his shiny new computers.

And if you watching all three saber fights, you realize that the fight itself really means nothing. Have you noticed through all of them they has plenty of dialogue in between? Thats because something else is going besides them swinging laser swords.

cheddar wrote: »

I think you're right that action scenes with a lot of effects are George's strong suit.

Am I the only one who feels differently about this. Ok, yeah the big action scenes look great, but whenever there is say two people walking down a hallway, doesn't it look like they are just walking on a green screen set? Everything looks too clean.

I guess you can tell I didn't like the prequels (though I did like episode 3 at first, but the more I watch it the more I can tell its as bad as the others). But oh well, life goes on

cheddar

tommyboy wrote: »

Am I the only one who feels differently about this. Ok, yeah the big action scenes look great, but whenever there is say two people walking down a hallway, doesn't it look like they are just walking on a green screen set? Everything looks too clean.

I actually like how they used miniatures in earlier movies like Star Wars just bacause of all the 'imperfections' that lend a different look than CGI. But as far as digital effects in movies go, ILM has consistently been out front. IIRC, Pixar owes its existence to ILM tech sold to Steve Jobs.

cokewithvanilla

tommyboy wrote: »

Everything looks too clean.

really? I thought one of the main reasons that the trilogy was so much different from prior movies on the same subject was that everything didn't look so perfect and clean. Maybe we're thinking about different things. Most of the things are battered and beat up.. only things that were just built by the empire are clean... as they should be.

bobman1235

tommyboy wrote: »

Well, we both can have our different opinions. I for one didn't really like return of the jedi, but at least that battle had a point, that even the will of the smallest creatures (yes I know, teddy bears) can overcome an overpowered opposition. What did jar jar binks and his buddies do? Oh yeah thats right surrender without even fighting. It was Lucas's chance to use his shiny new computers.

I love Empire, but it also came out when I was a kid so I know myopinion is tainted by my nostalgia. I don't mean by my comments that I don't like the original trilogy, just that it has many of the same flaws as the newer trilogy. We just choose to ignore them in the older ones, and exaggerate them in the newer ones.

wingnut4772

George Lucas is the Antichrist.

Ricardo

wingnut4772 wrote: »

George Lucas is the Antichrist.

I'm sure he has some special powers. He brought you back.....

We missed you Darla.

Ron-P

wingnut4772 wrote: »

George Lucas is the Antichrist.

Far from my friend. He is a genius. The guy has turned one set of films into a 3 decade long money empire creating anger, hatred, bitterness and some joy to just about everyone, everywhere...and the battle still wages on. What other director, or set of films has done this? None.

The guy is brilliant. Just look at any Star Wars thread, they grow faster than a Mogwai in a swimming pool.

cheddar

comfortablycurt wrote: »

That's a bit different. The director of both those movies is long since deceased. It's not as if someone else went in and changed Star Wars after Lucas's death or something like that...Lucas himself changed the movies to better suit the vision that he originally had for them.

Thought this comment was a little ironic since Lucas didn't direct either Empire or Return, so what would he know about the director's original vision for the films? So it's very much like someone else going in and changing things after a director creates a classic.

cheddar

Just looked it up, both the director of Empire and the director of Jedi are deceased. Richard Marquand died in 1987. And Irvin Kershner died just last November.

bobman1235

Ron-P wrote: »

Far from my friend. He is a genius. The guy has turned one set of films into a 3 decade long money empire creating anger, hatred, bitterness and some joy to just about everyone, everywhere...and the battle still wages on. What other director, or set of films has done this? None.

The guy is brilliant. Just look at any Star Wars thread, they grow faster than a Mogwai in a swimming pool.

The antichrist would actually probably be pretty smart. Most of the worst people in history were

Obviously Star Wars is an amazing accomplishment on many levels. Lucas created that universe, for the most part, and deserves all the credit. He also deserves criticism for things he does not do well. Dialog being number one in my book, but other things as well.

tommyboy

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

really? I thought one of the main reasons that the trilogy was so much different from prior movies on the same subject was that everything didn't look so perfect and clean. Maybe we're thinking about different things. Most of the things are battered and beat up.. only things that were just built by the empire are clean... as they should be.

You think the prequels have the same "imperfection" feel the originals had?

bobman1235 wrote: »

I love Empire, but it also came out when I was a kid so I know myopinion is tainted by my nostalgia. I don't mean by my comments that I don't like the original trilogy, just that it has many of the same flaws as the newer trilogy. We just choose to ignore them in the older ones, and exaggerate them in the newer ones.

Agreed to a point. But there something different about the prequels (especially episode 2) that makes them fall apart. The problem it seems to me is that the films try to take themselves way too seriously and I find myself laughing throughout most of them because of it. Natalie Portman, "Obi wan"(I forget his name), and samuel L jackson are all great actors, but in these their performances are so bad its almost comical. And though the acting wasn't good in the originals, at least I wasn't laughing at the actors (instead of laughing at the characters, the way it should be).

wingnut4772

Ricardo wrote: »

I'm sure he has some special powers. He brought you back.....

We missed you Darla.

Awwww thanks. This is really just a drive by though

Ricardo

wingnut4772 wrote: »

This is really just a drive by though

Fair enough. But at least we know you're alive.

kuntasensei

Details dropped this morning on what the set will contain (though the countdown site quickly crashed from being overloaded). Can't freakin' wait!
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6326