Unaltered Original Star Wars Trilogy on Blu Ray?

[Ron]

Which version is that? Are you talking about the OOT bonus discs that were included with the initial '04 DVD release? Frankly, those are dreadful. A better (and more accessible) laserdisc transfer would be the ILM Definitive (HA!) Collection set from 1993. The best would be the Japanese-release "Special Collection" laserdiscs from 1986. Here's a comparison between the two -- JSC top, DC bottom.

That's interesting...

Over the weekend, I just happened to be watching comparison videos of all the various OT releases, film prints, and fan edits: 2011 blu ray, 2006 dvds, Harmy, Silver Screen Edition, etc. To me, the one redeeming quality about the 2006 dvds seemed to be their color timing. It looked the most "right" to me. Like how I remembered the movies looking on VHS. Now watching this comparison you linked, I really like those JSC transfers. They look more natural. The DC is too reddish. Now in the videos I watched, the 2006 dvds didn't look that reddish but it is definitely closer to the DC than the JSC. It's easier to see now that they are the same transfer.

I didn't get to watch Star Wars in its original theatrical run to know what the most authentic color timing for it is but that JSC looks really good to me. Thanks for posting that link Inquisitor Peregrinus !

 

[Jaitea]

4K release of OT & PT in early 2020 says Digital Bits:

The 4K Ultra HD Release List (US/UK/DE)

Here is a list of known 4K Ultra HD titles released, announced, or in the works for the US, UK, and German (select titles) markets through 2025, compiled from our sources and best-available information.

www.thedigitalbits.com

Not sure how the 2k filmed & SE effects will hold up

J

 

[Psab keel]

It's probably the SE version. No thanks.

 

[The Terminator]

4K release of OT & PT in early 2020 says Digital Bits:

The 4K Ultra HD Release List (US/UK/DE)

Here is a list of known 4K Ultra HD titles released, announced, or in the works for the US, UK, and German (select titles) markets through 2025, compiled from our sources and best-available information.

www.thedigitalbits.com

Not sure how the 2k filmed & SE effects will hold up

J

Only if they would use Mike Verta's 4K restoration of the ORIGINAL 1977 version.
Easily the best.

 

[Jaitea]

Only if they would use Mike Verta's 4K restoration of the ORIGINAL 1977 version.
Easily the best.

That would be the ultimate dream release, what we've seen of Mike's project would be the perfect version

J

 

[Axlotl]

I didn't get to watch Star Wars in its original theatrical run to know what the most authentic color timing for it is but that JSC looks really good to me. Thanks for posting that link Inquisitor Peregrinus !

That's how I remember it looking. More cyan, less magenta. All the SE/post-SE stuff leans too hard towards magenta.
Threepio looked more brassy than golden. And Luke's saber wasn't bright blue. It was mostly white with just a hint of teal around the edges.

 

[Jaitea]

This is a pretty good article

The Fans Who Saved Star Wars

Corey Atad on the fans who restored the original, unaltered Star Wars for a new generation.

moviemezzanine.com

J

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

How are they going to do them in 4K when all the digital assets of the SEs and TPM, and all of AOTC and ROTS, were generated in 2K?

 

[anamorphicWayne]

How are they going to do them in 4K when all the digital assets of the SEs and TPM, and all of AOTC and ROTS, were generated in 2K?

Most likely upscale them, I presume.

 

[cboath]

Then it's not truly in 4k is it.

 

[anamorphicWayne]

I found this video which this guy offers his take on 'Film to 2K to 4K'.

Why Do Older Movies Look Better in 4K?

 

[robn1]

Scrap the CG Special Ed. Edition crap and use the original cuts. Problem solved.

 

[The Terminator]

How are they going to do them in 4K when all the digital assets of the SEs and TPM, and all of AOTC and ROTS, were generated in 2K?

Same way they did with T2, scan a print, or an interpositive at 4K resolution. But since the original CG wasn't rendered at 4K resolution they are simply upscaling the CGI.
It's even worse with Episode 2 and Episode 3, they were filmed digitally at 1080p, which is slightly lower resolution than 2K.
But no matter if it's 4K or even 8K, details will be lost when upscaled.

I have personally seen an upscaled version of Episode 2, upscaled using extremely sophisticated AI. And while it looked "good", the results were quite bad. Everything looked polished. No grain, no detail. And when downscaled to 1080p and compared to the original blu-ray version, oh my. Made the blu-ray look great.

My suggestion, which would be expensive. Is to re-render the original CGI(when possible). Or recreate them from scratch. The latter would cost a hell of a lot more.
Also, due to age and the nature of softwares: a lot of 3D assets will be useless because they can't be opened with modern software.


With the special editions, recreate the effects from scratch or upscale it, in any case at least make the original theatrical films available. Other wise, a lot of people's amazing work will be forever lost. Be it miniatures or what have you.
These films were awarded Oscars, the originals, not the special editions.

 

[Jaitea]

With the special editions, recreate the effects from scratch or upscale it, in any case at least make the original theatrical films available. Other wise, a lot of people's amazing work will be forever lost. Be it miniatures or what have you.
These films were awarded Oscars, the originals, not the special editions.

A fresh 4k scan with the optional upscaled SE effects or without,....but really, going back to what you reminded us about,....Mike Verta's restored version really would be best,...he understands what the footage was supposed to look like, & he repaired effect shots etc....a company like Reliance Media would just clean it up,...not grade the film the way that Mike did

The Look of Star Wars - Color Comparison #2 in Star Wars - Legacy Edition 4K Restoration

This is "The Look of Star Wars - Color Comparison #2" by Mike Verta on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

vimeo.com

J

 

[The Terminator]

A fresh 4k scan with the optional upscaled SE effects or without,....but really, going back to what you reminded us about,....Mike Verta's restored version really would be best,...he understands what the footage was supposed to look like, & he repaired effect shots etc....a company like Reliance Media would just clean it up,...not grade the film the way that Mike did

The Look of Star Wars - Color Comparison #2 in Star Wars - Legacy Edition 4K Restoration

This is "The Look of Star Wars - Color Comparison #2" by Mike Verta on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

vimeo.com

J

Indeed. Or worse, like what they did for the dvd release in 2004. An automated process that gave Darth Vader a pink lightsaber.

 

[kamandi]

This is a pretty good article

The Fans Who Saved Star Wars

Corey Atad on the fans who restored the original, unaltered Star Wars for a new generation.

moviemezzanine.com

J

I have quite a few of the fan restorations and my new favorite is 4K77 from TN1. They offer versions with and without noise reduction. The non-DNR is it for me. Fantastic work on color grading, scratch and dirt removal, many audio track options....

The easiest way for Disney to get me to buy the OT again is if they released a set using the Blade Runner 5 disk set as a model. My wish list would be a 4K "authentic" Star Wars representing the film in 1977. Then I would want the rough assembly from the Library of Congress. Disk 3 would be a Special Edition. Disk 4 & 5 would be outtakes, Behind the scenes, Holiday Special.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

The easiest way for Disney to get me to buy the OT again is if they released a set using the Blade Runner 5 disk set as a model. My wish list would be a 4K "authentic" Star Wars representing the film in 1977. Then I would want the rough assembly from the Library of Congress. Disk 3 would be a Special Edition. Disk 4 & 5 would be outtakes, Behind the scenes, Holiday Special.

I doubt the Holiday Special. LFL has been saying over and over since George retired that they're respecting his vision and wishes and his final version of the OT is their definitive version, and the Holiday Special is never spoken of (and he wishes he could personally destroy every bootleg copy in existence).

That said, I'd love:
• Disc 1 -- original (properly) remastered Star Wars '77 (i.e., no Episode IV)
• Disc 2 -- remastered/re-rendered current version of the film with cleaned up effects and corrected goofs (like the CG Rebel fighters -- ugh!)
• Disc 3 -- making-of documentaries, deleted scenes, and the original "documentary style" rough edit
• Disc 4 -- branching-story disc, with every version of every shot the viewer can select or de-select to make their own personal "perfect" Star Wars viewing experience

 

[kamandi]

The Holiday Special is for the completist in me. I don't know that I could bring myself to watch it. It's nearly unbearable.

If they only had a disk with a 4K version that had a feel like the TN1 transfer and then seperate disk with a cleaned up "HI-DEF" modern look that alone would make me drop a premium price. I want a version that doesn't feel overprocessed but benefits from a high-end transfer.

 

[Solo4114]

I fully expect that the PT will have to be "upscaled" to put it on 4k and sell it. There's really no other way to do it. But it's going to have a very "plastic" look to it, where everything looks too perfect.

The thing is, a lot of people probably won't care. They won't notice the difference. Or to the extent they do, at least some of them will actually prefer it because it "looks more modern" or "more realistic." I've seen this with friends who don't even notice the difference when motion interpolation is turned up high on their TV (which I always turn off, if given the chance). If I turn it off, it's 50/50 as to whether they say "Whoa! I had no idea! NOW it looks like a movie!" vs. "Turn it back on. It's more realistic the other way."

 

[The Terminator]

I fully expect that the PT will have to be "upscaled" to put it on 4k and sell it. There's really no other way to do it. But it's going to have a very "plastic" look to it, where everything looks too perfect.

The thing is, a lot of people probably won't care. They won't notice the difference. Or to the extent they do, at least some of them will actually prefer it because it "looks more modern" or "more realistic." I've seen this with friends who don't even notice the difference when motion interpolation is turned up high on their TV (which I always turn off, if given the chance). If I turn it off, it's 50/50 as to whether they say "Whoa! I had no idea! NOW it looks like a movie!" vs. "Turn it back on. It's more realistic the other way."

Whoever invented that, should be taken out back and shot. It's painful to watch.