MMB Intergallatic Star Wars DVD Review!

[MickeyMouseboy]

I'm glad you enjoyed your set lukey wukey you seemed pretty happy with it

[Jack]

Well, I watched "A New Hope" last night. I'm not sure why, but I didn't get into the movie very much. I guess I just just so focused on the better picture and better sound.

Anyway, the presentation is fantastic. The audio defects some have complained about are hardly noticeable.

[TheZue]

I thought I'd be offended by Hayden being in Jedi but I kinda like it now that I've seen it. It was funny, I felt kinda different when Vader died in Return of the Jedi after seeing episodes 1&2. It had more meaning with all of the Anakin history that's built up in the last couple movies.

The thing that really bugs me about the set is the flimsy box. Spongebob season one got a better box. I know it was rushed, but it doesn't take much thought to give a set a thicker stock of cardboard.

[Luke]

Well, I watched "A New Hope" last night. I'm not sure why, but I didn't get into the movie very much. I guess I just just so focused on the better picture and better sound.

I too watched "A New Hope", or as I like to call it, <i>Star Wars</i>, tonight. First time I've seen it in its entirety in a little over 7½ years, when I saw the Special Edition in theaters. Didn't notice the audio "defects", but this may be the first time I've totally followed the plot particulars. In the past, I've always focused on other things and just taken the gist of the plot and found that was sufficient to enjoy it.

I think I need to revisit the other 5 films and do the same...I will be watching Empire and Jedi some point later this week or next most likely.

Anyway, <i>Star Wars</i> is a very good film. I've always felt that the ending is a little anti-climactic, and weaker than the rest of it. I still feel that way, but overall, it's every bit as good as I remember it. I think. Had I seen it now for the first time, I'd probably be more cynical.

But to compare to the Lord of the Rings movies, and their similar massive embracing, I think <i>Star Wars</i> offers so much more. These films didn't come from popular novels, and I think the stories they tell are more about humanity (set in a fantastic setting) than pure fantasy (like <i>Lord of the Rings</i>). In some ways, having to remain faithful to texts probably bogs down <i>Lord of the Rings</i>, as there's so much filler and those insane running times that feel even longer than they are.

For me, <i>Star Wars</i> connects and the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> films do not. I think another important distinction is formula. <i>Star Wars</i> uses a good deal of the untouchable heroes doing battle by the easily-devastated storm troopers that outnumber them. But it never feels tiresome (even in repeat viewings) the way that <i>Lord of the Rings</i> does with its big good vs. evil battles and characters mistaken for dead and ooh someone's lured by the ring formulas do on a first viewing.

But anyway, yes, I have used the <i>Star Wars</i> thread to assault <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. That wasn't the intention, but if nothing else, I'm trying to rationalize why one series of film works for me and one doesn't, when both seem to work for the greater majority of the population. Or at least those on the Internet. Wrote way more than I expected too.

[Maerj]

I watched all three films and I must say that I am very pleased. As someone who has followed these film religiously since they came out, I think these DVDs are the best they have ever looked or sounded. The additions made to this version are things that I have hoped for for years.

The new Jabba is excellent, he acts now, he thinks, he is a living character in that scene as opposed to the more cartoony 1997 version. The English writing was removed from the Tractor Beam Controls in the Death Star. The lightsaber blades were colored in and fixed in the Obi Wan/Vader fight. I like having the real Emperor in Empire Strikes Back, much better than the other thing they had in there before! Finally, the Rancor looked better than in any previous version of return of the Jedi. It was also nice having Naboo in the celebration scene at the end. the more the merrier! How about another world or two in the future? Maybe in the 2007 HD-DVD version.

The feature length documentary was excellent. Very in-depth containing footage that I have never seen before. One thing that most people have been complaining about on this set is the lack of a deleted scenes section. While that is true, there really are quite a few delete/alternate scenes in there if ya look. Scattered throughout the main docu are all sorts of scenes from the lost cut, bloopers, etc. Be sure to watch the credits on all of the extras for more of this footage! The still frame section contains pics from a lot of the major cut scenes, too. I also found the sandstorm scene in the Return of the Jedi trailer, cool!

[deathie mouse]

reading all your comments makes me wanna go buy the set but must resist the dark side of the ntsc force.

I lurve STAR WARS (see i also always refer to it not in the IntraVenously way) to me is one of those perfect happy movies that serves it's purpose: blow your mind and forget the world. Escapism at it's best.

and i lurve the original original version I haven't seen the movie in years tho

(i only watched the SE once in the theater, but the original like 20 times )

I don't even watch the THX laserdisc, I prefer the previous Laserdisc. Some of its primary colors look more primary and saturated like I remember them (the yellows and greens when they burp the Death Ray and the red 'round Leia before she shoots the stormtrooper at the begining for example) (and the THX LD Empire was too blue and dull! the japanese LD looked brighter and whiter as snow was on the screen originaly)

but i disgress

what I wanted to say was that I disagree with Luke and I find the ending perfect and uplifting (well to me the ending is the Throne Room, don't know if that was what you were refering to ) it makes you happy and then fills your chest with air and the music makes you want to get up and play with your lightsabre and jump and shout with joy when youre getting out of the theater just like Bruce Wayne does after watching Zorro (but of course we know how that ends the JarJorker shows up and screws it all up )



Maybe I'm recalling the feeling one had when you watched on the theater the first time which might be totally different from what one gets watching it on tiny 60" screens, and the Laserdiscs just acted like an sensory anchor to bring it back.. (like smells) cus just thinking about the movie makes me feel it again. Ahhhh CINEMA




btw thanks for the compliment on the avatar Luke, it's nice they are appreciated, since I really do them for the UD members to enjoy

(and compare to the new transfers)


_________________________________
coming to a forum near you: THE LANGUAGE WARS
in 6 language stereo
May The Mondlango Be With You

[2099net]

The English writing was removed from the Tractor Beam Controls in the Death Star.

What's wrong with having English language? They all speak English. Is Lucas' next edition "Super Special Edition" to have everyone speaking in a new, made up language with subtitles at the bottom of the screen?

[Escapay]

The English writing was removed from the Tractor Beam Controls in the Death Star.

What's wrong with having English language? They all speak English. Is Lucas' next edition "Super Special Edition" to have everyone speaking in a new, made up language with subtitles at the bottom of the screen?

Perhaps they speak English, but their written English is different from ours. Like how morse code is still English, but just a form of lines and dots transmitted through electronic signals.

Remember...it was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

Escapay

[Loomis]

[
Perhaps they speak English, but their written English is different from ours. Like how morse code is still English, but just a form of lines and dots transmitted through electronic signals.

Remember...it was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

Escapay

The inner nerd wants to say that they speak a language called 'Basic' (which I'm sure I read somewhere).

If you look at the text on the X-Wing screen when R2 is talking to Luke in Empire, it is not in English.

Now, back to my dark corner!

[2099net]

[
Perhaps they speak English, but their written English is different from ours. Like how morse code is still English, but just a form of lines and dots transmitted through electronic signals.

Remember...it was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

Escapay

The inner nerd wants to say that they speak a language called 'Basic' (which I'm sure I read somewhere).

If you look at the text on the X-Wing screen when R2 is talking to Luke in Empire, it is not in English.

Now, back to my dark corner!

So why not change that text to English instead?

[Escapay]

The inner nerd wants to say that they speak a language called 'Basic' (which I'm sure I read somewhere).

If you look at the text on the X-Wing screen when R2 is talking to Luke in Empire, it is not in English.

Now, back to my dark corner!

So why not change that text to English instead?

To further confuse the fans.

Escapaz

[2099net]

Well, the convention is, they speak non-English, but in order for us, the viewers to understand what is happening, they speak English. Its the same as how everybody speaks English in Evita or whatever.

So really, following the same convention, the writing should be in English too. It's not "reality" or an attempt at a truely alien "reality" either. If it was, and if that was what Lucas wanted, then the film would be like the Elvish sections in Lord of the Rings or Klingon in Star Wars. Spoken in an Alien language with subtitles throughout.

[deathie mouse]

The written language thing looks cool but it's another transforming of the movie experience, especially for first time viewers. You and I having seen the movie a million times have it memorized and we already know that monitor is showing the tractor beam, but a first time viewer, maybe a young one would benefit from it saying "tractor beam" etc. Otherwise, why did he put the word Tractor Beam there in the first place a long long time ago in a set design script far far away? It's like the Greedo sequence, I don't need the subtitles (or they could be printed in Lucasian) anymore but maybe a first time viewer without them wont get all of it (maybe thats why Han can't shoot first anymore ) A similar thing happens when you change or re-edit something you have seen a bazillion times. The first couple of times, since the scenes are new, they seem ok in length, content, etc. but after the 100th time you already know it by rote so you start pulling on your beard and saying maybe if I change a little here, or a little there, it won't be as boring...



rice and bean edit

[Just Myself]

My set came from Amazon today (Free Shipping can be fast!) and I've been going through the Bonus Disc. I haven't yet watched the big documentary, so I hope that is really special because the rest of it has been underwhelming. Maybe not underwhelming for 'any movie'...but these are three movies and STAR WARS movies at that. I know I'll have to watch the 150-minute documentary before passing judgment altogether.

But:

The Characters of Star Wars: This was a good featurette, but it feels cut short, leaving out major characters and ending abruptly. Hopefully, there's more of this type in the documentary.
Episode III Preview: Return of Darth Vader - Not quite as revealing as a trailer, but it provided a pretty interesting look at a film that I hadn't been anticipating as much as I once would have.

Eh..
Birth of the Lightsaber: Mildly interesting, but not much of a featurette. The highlight was the "Simpsons" clip in the end credits. Fox so totally should have include "Planet of the Apes: The Musical" on the Planet of the Apes DVD released this past February.
Trailers and TV Spots: nice to see, but this is a small sampling
Posters and Print Campaign: ditto
The Force is With Them: A whole bunch of filmmakers heaping praise on Lucas and company. This sounded more interesting in theory. In execution, it's just a bunch of brief clips from other films and essentially a promo for ILM.


Star Wars: Episode III - Making the Game: great, an ad for a video game based on a film that isn't done
Battlefront Game Demo: no use to me
Battlefront Trailer: another ad, passed off as a significant bonus feature

Still have to watch the Lightsaber featurette and of course, the big documentary, which I hope makes up for everything.

For now, this seems pretty underwhelming in comparison to the other two Star Wars DVDs, and those were single films. Obviously, there's less material for older films, but there is so much more to do with these films, and with 7½ years to put together the DVD, it's disappointing. Yes, I know Lucas was working on the other films. But maybe he should have rearranged his priorities. These DVDs, not the prequels, are how his great Star Wars world will live on for some time...for me personally, anyway.

I know we Internet folk can be a bit overly critical, and I should watch the documentary before lamenting it. But I shall return to this post later.

Glad you liked it, Luke. By the way...

LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER!!!

[Jack]

Watched Empire and Jedi the past few nights.

Empire confirms its place as my favorite of the series. I just love everything about it. Hoth is such a cool planet, the battle with the AT-ATs rocks, and the asteroid chase is a helluva lot of fun. Plus, the character interaction is the best of the series - Yoda meeting Luke on Dagobah, Han and Leia falling for each other on the Falcon, and of course Vader & Luke at the end. The whole move is astounding.

Jedi isn't as good as I remembered it being. When I used to watch it, it was my second favorite next to Empire, but now I view it as a somewhat weaker movie. The entire first half of the movie is pretty weak, though it does have memorable moments. While I used to think nothing of the Ewoks' place in the movie, they now stick out like a sore thumb as uneeded and overly-cutesy (though I still like them, just not in this movie). Onething that improved over the last viewing was Vader's redemption -it impacted me more than it used to, thanks to the prequels. I still like the whole movie, but not as much as I used to.

[englishboy]

With Jedi, Lucas finally went whole hog into marketing, which strongly effected many sequences in the film, most notable the Ewoks. Endor was originally supposed to be housed with hacked-off slave wookies working for the Empire. The type of thing that would've probably help Jedi explore some of the darkness evident in Empire--and which makes that movie work. But you know, Happy Meals with your slave wookie just wouldn't sell well.

[Jack]

Well, I don't buy the idea that Ewoks were incorperated into the movie just for marketing. Supposedly, the reason Wookies weren't used was because Chewbacca was already shown to be technologically savvy, and Lucas wanted a really primitive race. So he basically did a primitive variation on the Wookies with Ewoks.

I don't feel Ewoks themselves ruin the movie - I like them as characters. The movie just dwells on them for too long with the whole sequence in their village. It has no bearing on the rest of the plot. As I said, it sticks out like a sore thumb as the worst part of the trilogy.

[MickeyMouseboy]

maybe they dont speak english and what we're hearing is a voice over by other artist.

[Luke]

what I wanted to say was that I disagree with Luke and I find the ending perfect and uplifting (well to me the ending is the Throne Room, don't know if that was what you were refering to ) it makes you happy and then fills your chest with air and the music makes you want to get up and play with your lightsabre and jump and shout with joy when youre getting out of the theater just like Bruce Wayne does after watching Zorro (but of course we know how that ends the JarJorker shows up and screws it all up )

The Throne Room ending is sufficient, it's just that the

(27-year-old spoiler below)

mission to blow up the Death Star

is simply not as tight and engaging as the rest

[ichabod]

(27-year-old spoiler below)

mission to blow up the Death Star