Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Star Wars Trilogy

Curious how many of you are excited about the DVD Trilogy being released next week. I preordered mine a few months ago and it is supposed to arrive around the 21st.

My Axioms arrive this week. Can't wait to try some of these classics in Pro Logic IIx on my new Denon 2805...

I'm definitely excited. Can you tell me a little bit about the audio track? Stereo? 5.1? What's even possible? They did a 5.1 mix on Raiders, didn't they?

I haven't given it a lot of thought to be honest with you. So I guess I'm not to excited. Are they only coming out in ProLogicII? No Dolby Digital? If so, I'm even less excited then before.

It will be available in Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround formats and in aspect ratios of fullscreen 1.33 and 2.35 widescreen.

"I see the force is very strong in all of you Axiom owners, yes it is...." Yoda

I'm pretty excited about it. Moreso since I caught the SW documentary on A&E this past Sunday. I think it was called "Building of and Empire," or something like that. It wasn't too clear, but I believe that it's part of the DVD set, too.

What was interesting was that I thought I knew most of the "behind the scenes" stories. However there were a bunch in this doc that were just outstanding. One of which was hearing David Prowse's voice saying the lines for Darth Vader, which I had never heard before. It was outstandingly inciteful. And it made me very glad that they went with James Earl Jones' voice-overs for the Darth Vader character.

There are lots of other great stories like this in the doc, too. I'm really hoping that they're including it on the DVD because it'll make it that much more of a collector's item.

Pretty bad, huh? Maybe they'll repeat it... what am I saying? It's Bravo. It'll be on for another week about 3 times a day.

kinda like the video music awards on MTV.. i cant count how many times i have been flipping thru the channels and seen that thing on.. over, and over, and over..

bigjohn

I believe Episode III is due to come out in 2005 in theaters near you!

KC,

The documentary was called "Empire of Dreams - The Star Wars Trilogy". And yes, it will be included on the set...it is listed on the bonus features.

I am jazzed to get this...I was one of those who saw Star Wars over and over and over again...I have the originals and the Special Editions on VHS (yuk!) but I will settle for the versions Lucas is going to release on DVD...

My son (12) is also jazzed to be able to see them on DVD as he also understands and appreciates the inherent differences between VHS and DVD (who doesn't? ).

Movie Marathon coming up!

WhatFurrer

i am definitely putting this collection on my christmas list.. along with a new SVS sub, a new circular saw, an air tank/compressor, and a bar or pool table for the game room..

that should just about cover it....

bigjohn

My almost 6 yr old son LOVES star wars, he has all of the new light sabors from Obi Wan, Annikan Skywalker, and Yoda, he didn't want Count Dukus because he is bad. Well I guess Annikan eventually turns to the dark side but not in episodes 1 or 2. What is funny is he sees things I would not even think about. The other day he said "Dad, I know why Obiwan has a differant sabor in episode II", why is that son, "well because when the Phantom Manace killed his master, Obiwans sabor fell off the ledge, so he had to use the force to fly up and grab his masters sabor and kill the Phantom" I would not even have noticed that....

My folks are giving us their pool table, it is the one I grew up on and has 3/4 slate. Needs some new felt, but other than that should be like new as it was the best you could get when new.. I also am planning a bar/wet bar. I think I'm going to try to make it myself to save some green$$$.

our game room has been slowely coming along.. i get spurts of energy that i want to expend on it, then burn out and dont mess with it for a few months.. we have refinished the mesquite hardwood floors, painted and put in crown molding, did a ceiling treatment, and replaced the fireplace mantle and brick. we still need to install new front door and trim, build L-shaped seating bench along wall, buy or make and install bar(probably buy), and furnish.. i have a window and frame i want to replace also, but will probably have a contractor come do that.

it will be nice whenever it is finished........ whenever that is?

bigjohn

I know the feeling Bigjohn, we built a new house 3 years ago, and I am frantically trying to finish the HT/Rec room area. My Trilogy arrived yesterday and my son and I watched episode IV on my new Axioms and AVR2805 receiver. WoW, what a difference...

Randy

i am going to our local hastings to pick up the trilogy at lunch. will try and watch them by the end of this weekend.

BTW- i read an interview with george lucas this weekend, and he came off as very arrogant and selfish. i dont think i would ever want to meet the man, nor am i happy that i am about to give him $45 bucks of my hard earned money.. talk about a guy who has lost touch with reason for his wealth.. US!!, the fans of the movies.

bigjohn

Someone should knock Georgie down a peg - remind him he's responsible for the games Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus.

Bren R.

Just found out a buddy's bringing over the Trilogy tonight when he comes. I liked the middle three (SW, ESB and RotJ) but for me, the magic of being 10 years old is gone trying to watch the new ones - all effects wanking, no story.

(and no Carrie Fisher)

Bren R.

Hmmmmm Princess Leia. I don't care if she did mac her own brother. That gold bikini was just plain unfair.

jr

No doubt I'll get pissed on for this but...

I'm glad I got to watch "A New Hope" (Star Wars, kind of) before buying the DVD box set - saved myself $55.

George likes the whizbang stuff... George should learn not to mess with classics, I'm sure he'll be suggesting the Mona Lisa doesn't have enough lens flare and could use a CG matte.

The new CG additions to Star Wars turned me right off... I mean, 1978-1983 or whenever the movies were first released, a lot of the effects were done with models and scale explosions filmed with fast shutter cameras but at least they were organic. The CG hacked into the old movie looked incredibly out of place.

Don't get me started on the audio. The movie was rescored, a buttload of extra sound fx were added, but the dialog had the old, fat 70s analog sound to it, which was digitally gated... you hear crystal clear new digital sfx and musical score, then in cuts the old dialog sounding just like it did back then and harshly cuts back out. The movie suffers from serious lip flap (I was starting to wonder if they'd dubbed over parts of the original) which is unthinkable on a project this size. At one point, Grand Moff Tarkin looks like he's in a bad 70s Ninjasploitation movie.

I can accept an old movie sounding like an old movie... I'll watch Mel Brooks' History of the World Part I in mono if need be, but don't shave a rat and sell it to me as a poodle.

Bren R.

Here's the interview with Lucas:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/20/film.qa.george.lucas.ap/index.html

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'I'm making the movies'
Q: Why not release both the originals and special editions on DVD?

LUCAS: The special edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. ...
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Actually, the Laserdiscs would be the best edition

I'm glad George released the movie he wanted to make, unfortunately - it's not the movie I want to see.

Bren R.

i agree with bren 100%...

i bought the series last night and got home to watch it late. i couldnt turn it up real loud in fear of disturbing my wife and children, but there was a definite huge difference between the music and effects, and the actual dialogue volume. i had to keep the remote in hand, and turn it up for dialogue parts, then turn it way down for music segways, and battle cruisers flying thru the screen.

the movie is a straight up 'classic' so i cant dog it too bad.. but, i also, dont care for the new CG animation on top of the old footage. it looks very out of place and doesnt blend with the rest of the scene. it became a game to try and point out the newly added scenes or CG parts.. most of it is VERY easy to spot, some not so easy.

i just watched the first(or 4th, depending on how you look at it)episoder last night. hopefully, the good memories and childhood dreams will override my dislike for the newly 'enhanced' movies. the added boost in audio quality is a good thing, but i really think he should have stayed with the original footage.

the original movies made him a multi-million dollar empire.. why change a good thing??

bigjohn

bigjohn, you have an Onkyo, right? When you're watching a movie and don't want to disturn the family, you can set it into night mode, which basically makes the soft parts (dialog) louder and the loud parts (explosions) softer. That way you won't have to keep reaching for the remote.

yes, i almost used that feature, but didnt. i remember when i got the receiver, i saw that feature and thought, "i will never use that, it makes no sense."

well, there ya go. a perfect chance to try it out and i didnt. i will definitely keep that in mind for the next late night viewing session!!

bigjohn

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the original movies made him a multi-million dollar empire.. why change a good thing??

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Because licensing the THX name probably pays his bills. So he's reworking his old movies for the same reason dogs lick their own genitals - because they can.

Bren R.

ouch, I'm disappointed - was planning on buying it this weekend, but this sounds horrible.

Well Bilbo it is either that or you try to find a VHS version of the originals. If they are on laserdisc, that route becomes a possibility as well although a more difficult one.
Personally i think i will just have to accept the new edits.

The classic Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer just came in today (dvd format) but with Mono 2.0 sound. How exciting is that?

Like I said, I'm glad my VTR Op bought it first (no wonder Future Shop were selling it for a reduced price the first day... quick, get a bunch out the door before anyone realizes what versions are packaged!)

Luckily my parents have the original movies on VHS, which is very odd, since they're both over 60.

Bren R.

Here ya go bren
http://www.asciimation.co.nz/

rofl

Thanks for the "heads up" about the new dvd "Star wars" set............it's a shame that the original movies weren't used . I can't remember any other time, when an "artist" tried to alter his OWN work............usually, it's managers, executives, record\movie companies, or in posthumous situations, the "estate". I was going to buy the dvd set, but for now......I'll play the vhs tapes.
Lucas didn't "splice" in Jar-jar binks anywhere in the dvd set right?...................right?

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Lucas didn't "splice" in Jar-jar binks anywhere in the dvd set right?...................right?

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he wasnt in 'star wars', but i cant say the same for the other 2.. i havent watched them yet. good lord, i hope not.. talk about the most annoying character of all time. i would rather have 2 hammerheads, and bobba fett's grandfather!!!

bigjohn

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Here ya go bren
http://www.asciimation.co.nz/

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You know... I'd rather watch that than bad CG.

Bren R.

You got that right!

I have the widesscreen versions on VHS. But, don't have a VCR to run them on through my axioms. I have an old TV with a VCR combo in front of the threadmill that I can watch them on while jogging. That is usually reserved for Sports Center.

I'm just plain bummed about this... as I am not forking over the $$$ for this box set considering the reviews here -- of which I have learned to trust and respect.


Oh well. I broke my promise to hold out for the extended version of Return of the King, and went out and rented the first cut of it on DVD. I must say -- the sound track for ROTK is 2x better than either of the first 2. I think it was in extended 5.1 format...Whew! what a thrill that movie is on the Axioms. I was looking over my shoulders the whole time thinking, "where the heck did that come from!"

Can't wait to see the extended version with the extra scenes. We can all rest assured Peter jackson won't disappoint like George Lucas did. Sounds like just another money scam to me.

Strangely, as soon as I mentioned to the half dozen or so people that said that they were going out to get the DVDs that these were the theatrical re-releases, they've each looked at me like I told them their purchase would give them testical or uteran cancer.

Bren R.

Ah, just you wait for the re-releases, where Gollum swings first...

"Ah, just you wait for the re-releases, where Gollum swings first..."

And the additional endings....like Gollum's funeral...

And the claymation people rejoicing in Minas Tirith, toppling the statue of Gollum...


I figure they've already got the CGI, and claymation is the next frontier!

Claymation as in Pokey and Gumby? It's been done!

Is Claymation even a word?

I'm just waiting for "Debbie does Dallas" in claymation.
Now that would be exciting! Just kidding

Absolutely!

In all seriousness, you need to watch Wallace and Gromit. That is real claymation, and a true art.

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"Debbie does Dallas"

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dude.... i actually have that on VHS tape.

when i was a kid, one of my friends dad had a satellite dish.. that was back when they were huge, and the channels were like, 'comstat1', and 'telstar5'.. anyway, after his dad went to sleep one night, we went into the TV room and put a tape in the VCR and just recorded the porn channel all night.. then got up early the next day, took out the tape, and he never knew we did it.. i saved that tape for over 20 years, and still have it.

the tape also has a marilyn chambers movie called 'instable', and a movie called 'tangerine'.. i remember these only cause i watched this tape almost every night thru puberty..

the more i think about it.. the more i realize how screwed up my childhood was!!

bigjohn

Oh yeah the big dish... I remember now .....

Star wars, folks. Star wars....

Just watched most of the first movie. I knew the reviews were bad on "the new CGI" but I thought it would at least TRY to be spectacular.

As far as I can see the only addition is a bunch of those "alien elephant" animals and a couple of flying droids. PLEASE tell me there was more -- don't tell me George messed with the movie just to put one of those tacky animals into every empty spot in the spaceport...

Forrest Gump anyone ?

Don't forget the new light sabre effects... they look thinner when they're sideways now, gives them more of a slick rapier look.

And every town has a perfect place for a CG "crane" shot in it... but they keep the rendered landspeeder a speck on the print so you can't tell they mapped Mark Hamill onto a mesh that looks like a Playmobil construction guy.

And Jabba the thin Hutt.

Bren R.

>>And Jabba the thin Hutt.

Ah yes, I didn't remember seeing Jabba in front of the MF before, but I have been known to forget things.

The original movie, he was played by a fat man (but that hit the cutting room floor - I can see George screaming now... NO, NO... Like a REAL slug, not just a fat bastard!)... for "A New Hope" they rotoscoped the CG Hutt over the gourmand human (which, because of the problems with blocking, Ford has to walk over Hutt's tail) - that's why they have all that footage to work from.

Saw that old footage on a "making of" documentary of the real movie... er, the original movie.

Bren R.

my wife sent me out to the Walmart market for some sour cream for her cheese cake she was making. Came back with the sour cream and the 45.00 box set... I'm such a weak person. I walked in the house and said, "this is some expensive ass sour cream I bought."

I probably won't get to these movies until the weekend.

I had heard about that, Jabba being just a fat man.
In fact, i had an old comic book when i was a kid. It was this oversized magazine like thing about 1.5' tall and a foot wide, that contained a comic figure of that missing scene and Jabba was a fat man.
Always confused me since it wasn't in the movie.

Bigjohn- "Insatiable" RULES!!! We must have recorded off of the same satellite. Ah, the golden days of porn. They sure don't make movies like that one anymore!

Perhaps I've said too much...

Moving on... Star Wars rules, too, just to keep this semi-on topic. Anyone play the new Battlefront video game yet? Though I'm disappointed in Lucas' latest efforts in movie making, his genius shines through on the marketing side. In the videogame, you get to choose which battles you'd like to play from any of the films. That includes battles from the as yet unreleased third episode. So those people who want some clues to the movie can buy the game and find them out for themselves. That's some incredibly smart marketing if you ask me.

Ok, since I started this post, I finally watched all of the trilogy DVD set. For the most part, I'm happy with the collection. I see Jabba went on Atkins at some point in his career. The only other thing that bothered me was at the end of Return of the Jedi, when Luke looks over and sees ObiWan, Yoda, and Annikan. The dubbed in the younger Annikan as he will look in the upcoming Episode III. That really bothered me, not sure why, I guess Lucas wanted people to see how he was before he turns to the Dark Side. Oh well, I'm still pretty pleased with the quality of audio/picture. Boy when my EP350 kicks in, you really feel like your there...

Randy

I was wondering the same thing about Annikan at the end. Was that always there or was the picture of someone else? Its been so long since I watched that I never really noticed but the guy standing there looks an awful like what annikan would look like in SWII if he were a few years older!

The image was of someone else...I do not remember the actors name...but definitely was not Hayden Christensen...I do not believe he was even born at the time that the "originals" were made.

I agree with whomever stated it earlier about the music of the rejoicing at the end of "Return of the Jedi"...I miss the Ewock's tune...it could have worked with the scenes of Naboo and all...

Make sure to look at the documentary on "The Return of Darth Vader" on the Bonus disk...interesting stuff but they will have to shoot Hayden from a low angle to make him look as tall as the actor who played Darth Vader in the originals...

Okay...who has the "originals" on laserdisk?

WhatFurrer

I just found out that my wife has a laserdisc player at her brother's place. She cannot quite remember if they own the Star Wars laserdisc movies or not, but if we can find them, we'll have them soon!!!
I'm just giddy thinking about it.

I bring you Wallace & Gromit

Back to the Trilogy... the guys from Penny Arcade again say what we're all thinking.

Bren R.

ya Bren that comic was pure brillance!

Priceless. That sums it up

I don't know why but 'batshit loco' makes me laugh every time.
Maybe I'm just immature.

jr