Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[Edd Grayson]

I wonder why the Clone Wars and the Separatists and Trade Fed. had to always play second fiddle ? I would like them more than the Republic, Rebel Alliance, or even the Empire.

[thecolorsblend]

Unfortunately, it's alot easier to compare the 2004 to the 2011 SE's only because of the 1997 SE's never actually getting a official DVD release at any point in time. Which is kinda of a shame. Only because it would be nice for us completionists to have not only the original unaltered original trilogy on blu, but also the 1997 releases as well. Though it goes without saying which set would be the priority. 

Not that you asked me but I agree with you. The 1997 SE was a beautiful remaster of the original. People can say whatever they want about the quality of the changes made for the '97 SE's (or any other SE for that matter) but the overall presentation was the best the trilogy had ever looked and sounded... and certainly far superior to the horrible 2004 remastering with the crushed blacks, oversaturated colors, borked audio and other problems.

But yes, a remaster of the original trilogy is desirable... if unlikely right now because of potential legal snafu's.

[The Dark Knight]

TDK, just out of curiosity, which special editions do you like the best? I haven't checked out the 2011 blu rays special editions .... yet (getting the re-released complete saga blu ray set tomorrow from Amazon, so that will change sooner than later), but have seen the 1997 SE's, as well as the 2004 SE's when the original trilogy was first *officially* released on DVD.

I grew up with the 1997 edition, but I haven't seen it in ages. The changes weren't drastic to me at the time - I only realised what differed years later when I saw the OT on Laserdisc.

I recently bought the 2011 Blu-ray set. It's decent for the most part. I can see this argument from both sides. The people who want 1977, 1980 and 1983 films to remain of that era. But I can also accept moving forward as a brand, Star Wars wants to unify itself, if that makes sense.

So I guess the 2011 version is now considered *the* final cut of the films. Releasing the OT unaltered would somewhat confuse the brand they have manufactured after years of tinkering, but they should just do it. It'd sell like hotcakes.

[The Joker]

Yeah, topics like the 1997 SE's, and the original unaltered trilogy makes me wish I knew pretty much anything about torrents. Cause, it's pretty much the only option for fans to get their hands on that material, which ideally should have been readily available years ago, for the foreseeable future, and in the case of the 1997 SE's, maybe the ONLY option ever. Which is just really unfortunate. Especially for those of us who want the original trilogy in all it's (As Lucas would say) 1st draft glory, and the 1997 SE's because of our own personal preference/nostalgia for that version of the trilogy.

I agree the legal snafu's is a problem. I believe I've read somewhere that Disney may get ownership of Empire/Jedi by a particular year in the future (sort of like how James Cameron will regain the Terminator rights by the end of this decade), but FOX owns 'A New Hope' outright. I would like to think that if Fox and WB can come to terms with the Adam West Batman show, the same can hold true with Fox and Disney, but who knows. Lucas' vetoing power of the OT being pretty much null since the sale to Disney can be something of a positive in this respect ....

[thecolorsblend]

Yeah, topics like the 1997 SE's, and the original unaltered trilogy makes me wish I knew pretty much anything about torrents. Cause, it's pretty much the only option for fans to get their hands on that material, which ideally should have been readily available years ago, for the foreseeable future, and in the case of the 1997 SE's, maybe the ONLY option ever. Which is just really unfortunate. Especially for those of us who want the original trilogy in all it's (As Lucas would say) 1st draft glory, and the 1997 SE's because of our own personal preference/nostalgia for that version of the trilogy.

I'm sure you could find the unaltered trilogy as a torrent pretty easily. But I'm not aware of the '97 version floating around out there.

I went through a phase where I wanted every major version of Star Wars I could get my hands on. And for the unaltered trilogy, that was easy since those DVD's were released back in 2006 and I snapped them right up. Those DVD's are what most unaltered torrents are sourced from, I would imagine.

And for the 2004 DVD's, well, I already had the 2004 DVD's. So that was easy.

But the 1997 SE? Tough to do. I eventually found a set of 1997 laserdisks on eBay. I contacted a video transferal shop near here and worked out a verbal agreement from the proprietor that I would purchase and then donate a laserdisk player for him to transfer the LD's to DVD... in exchange for him doing the work for free. I ended up not doing it though because time got away from me.

That may be your only option though since I don't think 1997 torrents are out there anywhere. I've found torrents that say they're 1997 but they're usually 2004 and the idiot torrent compiler didn't know the difference.

I've seen some fan-made 1997 restorations where the fan editor remastered the video and fixed that weird pink tint the 1997 Star Wars release had. He basically shifted the color balance around a bit which fixed the problem. It looked great and sounded about as well as it could under the circumstances.

Honestly I think it would be great if Disney could release a sort of mega set featuring the version of each movie most commonly heard on that movie's opening day in 1977, 1980 and 1983, the 1997 version, the 2004 version and the Blu-Ray version. Not holding my breath for it but I'd love to hear the unaltered trilogy with the original mono soundmixes.

[Catwoman]

I would love to see the original versions again. I have them on VHS somewhere but I haven't seen them (or my VCR) in years lol.

I'm so excited about seeing TFA that I couldn't wait until Friday. I'm seeing it TOMORROW! So excited!!!

[The Joker]

I'm sure you could find the unaltered trilogy as a torrent pretty easily. But I'm not aware of the '97 version floating around out there.

I went through a phase where I wanted every major version of Star Wars I could get my hands on. And for the unaltered trilogy, that was easy since those DVD's were released back in 2006 and I snapped them right up. Those DVD's are what most unaltered torrents are sourced from, I would imagine.

And for the 2004 DVD's, well, I already had the 2004 DVD's. So that was easy.

But the 1997 SE? Tough to do. I eventually found a set of 1997 laserdisks on eBay. I contacted a video transferal shop near here and worked out a verbal agreement from the proprietor that I would purchase and then donate a laserdisk player for him to transfer the LD's to DVD... in exchange for him doing the work for free. I ended up not doing it though because time got away from me.

That may be your only option though since I don't think 1997 torrents are out there anywhere. I've found torrents that say they're 1997 but they're usually 2004 and the idiot torrent compiler didn't know the difference.

I've seen some fan-made 1997 restorations where the fan editor remastered the video and fixed that weird pink tint the 1997 Star Wars release had. He basically shifted the color balance around a bit which fixed the problem. It looked great and sounded about as well as it could under the circumstances.

Honestly I think it would be great if Disney could release a sort of mega set featuring the version of each movie most commonly heard on that movie's opening day in 1977, 1980 and 1983, the 1997 version, the 2004 version and the Blu-Ray version. Not holding my breath for it but I'd love to hear the unaltered trilogy with the original mono soundmixes.

Something like that would truly be nothing short of outstanding. I mean, giving the fans their own personal choice on which version or versions of the OT they want, is pretty much Fox/Disney's license to print money. Cause it goes without saying that hardcore fans may purchase each and every version just to have them, or due to new bonus features or what have you, or even perhaps just a simple case of preference as, depending on one's age, one might gravitate towards a specific version/versions than others. Personally, I have alot more fondness for the unaltered OT, and the 1997 SE's, than I do the 2004 SE, and probably the 2011 SE's as well.

I know what you mean about getting in that mood for wanting every version. Right now, getting ahold of a DVD version of the 1997 SE's is pretty much the 'Holy Grail' of Star Wars films. As I think what some people consider the 'Holy Grail', The Holiday Special, is fairly easy to find (I found a more cleaned up version just a few days ago). I definitely see what you are saying about people mistakingly posting the 1997 SE's for download, and then come to find out, it's the 2004 versions. It's frustrating for sure, and adds to that allure of wanting that specific trilogy due to just how elusive the '97 trilogy really seems to be.

I've even had the thought of maybe hooking up 2 old VCR's (not the DVD/VCR combos that were being sold when VHS was phasing out .. I've read getting past the copy guard on those is nearly impossible), and recording the 1997 SE VHS set, and then after that, copy those onto DVD, but it's really not my preferred method, and I'm not even sure that would work. I assume it might since I have transferred some VHS to DVD, but can't say for absolutely sure. Plus, I would have to purchase the '97 VHS set anyways.

As far as the unaltered OT goes, I've heard of a 'de-specialized edition' of each film being out there in torrent land. It's apparently a fan project which restored the film to it's original glory, and is said to be alot better than the 2006 DVD copies, which like you, I have as well (they have really jumped up in price now I see). That's certainly one option I guess ....

[THE BAT-MAN]

I find it interesting that the 1997 special edition is being discussed.  Let me share with you how I was introduced to Star Wars?  In the beginning,  I didn't know what Star Wars was, but ironically I knew what Spaceballs was.  It was 1997 and the Trilogy rerelease was coming to my local movie theatre.  My mother insisted on taking me and my brother.  At first I protested and was very reluctant to even going.  The main reason was I had seen Spaceballs on tv and felt like Star Wars was going to be pretty much the same thing.  And don't get me wrong I do like Spaceballs very much, but when I was young I didn't really get that it was a comedy satire of the Sci Fi genre.  My Mom literally forced me to watch Star Wars.  Or should I say she used the Force on me.  Anyway, it should also be mentioned that at the time of my youth and still to this day I was very big on collecting and listening to Film Scores.  I have heard John Williams scores for such movies as E.T., Hook, and Indiana Jones.  Which reminds me, also at this particular  time of my life I was a huge Indiana Jones fan and only knew Harrison Ford at the time as Indiana Jones.  So here I was sitting in my theatre chair the lights blackened the 20th Century Fox Logo coming in with Alfred Newmans original score and the titlecard for Lucasfilm LTD and THX then I read the text of the films setting.  "A Long Time Ago... In a Galaxy Far Far Away." Then Bam John Williams Thunderous Main Titles come blasting in the theatre walls with the big titles that read STAR WARS.  From then on I was hooked.  My Mom took me to see the whole trilogy in theatres and on top of that she took me to my local library which had the original uncut versions of the trilogy on VHS and man I watched the hell out of them.  Later that year she bought me the 1997 special editions on VHS for my Birthday and I still own it to this very day.  The condition of my vhs tapes believe it or not are still in mint condition even the original slip cases haven't been destroyed.  My only regret is that I had an opportunity within the same year to get the Original Uncut versions on VHS, but my Mom wouldn't let me get it because she didn't think that I needed to have two versions of the same films.  Now even she regrets not letting me get it at the time.  It was an amazing experience for me and deeply part of my childhood memories.

[Catwoman]

This was AMAZING! It had everything. It thrilled me, scared me, made me laugh, made me cry, made me cheer, made me want to cut Adam Driver's moley face off, but most of all it made me long for Episode VIII! It is so good.

[Edd Grayson]

 I'm seeing it in about 12 hours