Hi All
I thought I would start a new thread to talk about the content and other discussion about the Star Wars Blu-Rays. The other thread seems to have turned into more of a discussion on the merits of buying the Blu-Rays or not. Moderators, if you feel this should be merged into the other thread, then that is fine.
Some observations I had after watching the three Original Trilogy movies
The first thing I noticed in a New Hope was how dirty R2-D2 and C3P0 were on the Tantive IV. They looked pretty banged up even before they touched down on Tatooine. The Stormtrooper Armour looked a bit beat up as well, guessing they must have been filming in it a bit before they got to those scenes.
Empire Strikes Back Extra
[spoiler]In the extras for Empire Strikes Back, in the collection area. They have some photos of Boba Fetts Chest Armour and there is a link the the Cartoon that showed in the Holiday Special. They show the entire cartoon which I thought was really cool. I have been trying to keep spoiler free and did not read to much on what was included, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this[/spoiler]
From watching the Deleted scenes from Empire Strikes back, it really gave me the impression that Leia was really playing both Han and Luke in terms of her affections. Looks like they cut most of the Luke and Leia scenes out, I just wonder if that was because of her later being revealed as Lukes sister, or if they wanted to focus on the Han and Leia relationship.
For Return of the Jedi, with the HD, the Mattes for some of the scenes really stood out. The scene in the Rebel Hanger before Han, Luke and Leia left on the shuttle to go to Endor, the Matte of the Falcon in the distance really stood out. I noticed the mattes in a few other places as well, I guess with having the movie in HD, those are going to be more noticeable. Noticed it a bit in Empire Strikes back as well with the Battle of Hoth, but guessing maybe Jedi used more Mattes then the other two movies.
The Deleted Scene with Luke building the Lightsaber I thought was really cool. I had always thought Luke had been in Ben's old hut, and was not aware that he was actually in a cave. Also to see the Falcon and Lukes X-Wing there was cool, showing how everyone traveled to the planet together to rescue Han. The sandstorm scene was pretty cool also, and different then I had imagined. I saw how they lifted the lines from it and then added them as voice overs when Han was thanking Luke for rescuing him. Also sort of answered the question for me on what they do with the Ladder on the side of Lukes X-Wing when he is getting to take off.
Also, all the Astromechs really stood out to me, seems like they were every where. Not sure if they were always there and I never noticed them before. But since I collect the Hasbro 3 3/4 ones I could find myself pointing out the ones I have
I must say I really like the photos in the extra's of all the different Models and Costumes they use. Some of the behind the scenes info was interesting as well, like how the B-Wings they did not use much as the wings did not show up very well against the Blue Screen. Also the process they did to make the Star Destroyers lights was interesting. They story on the Executor was interesting as well and the reason on why the decided to make a different model for it. I think just going through the props might be my favorite part so far, as the pictures look so good, just wish there was more of them.
Nice Jeff and timely, I just started watching the First Bonus disc tonight. My plan is to watch all the Bonus material for I, II, and III and then those films and then move on to the OT. I am still on TPM extra's but have really enjoyed the extra scenes and archival video's. And the clips from the film look and sound amazing.
Quote from: Bryancd on September 20, 2011, 07:37:09 PM
Nice Jeff and timely, I just started watching the First Bonus disc tonight. My plan is to watch all the Bonus material for I, II, and III and then those films and then move on to the OT. I am still on TPM extra's but have really enjoyed the extra scenes and archival video's. And the clips from the film look and sound amazing.
I am going to start on the Prequels next, looking forward to them as thinking they will have a lot of material. Looking forward to seeing the updated Yoda in TPM
Great thread Jeff as this is what I want to know especially what the special features are like. Can anyone tell me what the matte shot in ROTJ when Luke falls in the pit to fight the monster in Jabbas room. I always remember the monster out line near Luke was terrible. Is that fixed?
Great idea for a new thread Jeff. Let's keep this one about the actual Blu-Rays themselves. Now, I just need to carve out some time to watch some of them. :)
I need a Blue Ray player lol. We're thinking of getting one by Christmas.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 21, 2011, 06:21:26 AM
I need a Blue Ray player lol. We're thinking of getting one by Christmas.
They have gotten real inexpensive over here. Easy to get one for $100 - or less.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 21, 2011, 06:21:26 AM
I need a Blue Ray player lol. We're thinking of getting one by Christmas.
Consider a PS3. Great blu-ray player, some decent games and a powerful media streamer. With the right software you can stream pretty much any format to it.
Yeah I need a hard drive Blue Ray player as I want to replace my hard drive DVD recorder. Got my eye on a Panasonic and my local supplier can make it region free for my foreign DVD's. Any other recomendations welcome. PS3 I know is good but as I said I need a hard drive.
Quote from: Rico on September 21, 2011, 06:23:24 AM
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 21, 2011, 06:21:26 AM
I need a Blue Ray player lol. We're thinking of getting one by Christmas.
They have gotten real inexpensive over here. Easy to get one for $100 - or less.
We got a Samsung Blu Ray for our bedroom, also has Wi-Fi internet (NetFlix, Hulu, Blockbuster, etc, even FaceBook) at Best Buy and I think we paid like $129 for it, so yeah, very reasonable now.
Quote from: Dangelus on September 21, 2011, 06:24:52 AM
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 21, 2011, 06:21:26 AM
I need a Blue Ray player lol. We're thinking of getting one by Christmas.
Consider a PS3. Great blu-ray player, some decent games and a powerful media streamer. With the right software you can stream pretty much any format to it.
I'll second the suggestion for a PS3. I use TVersity from my PC and can stream pretty much any video to my PS3/HDTV.
Back to the SW Blu-Ray discussion. I'm planning on doing some Blu-Ray screen captures and posting them up here soon from the discs.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 21, 2011, 06:28:42 AM
Yeah I need a hard drive Blue Ray player as I want to replace my hard drive DVD recorder. Got my eye on a Panasonic and my local supplier can make it region free for my foreign DVD's. Any other recomendations welcome. PS3 I know is good but as I said I need a hard drive.
Meds start a thread in tech topics with your requirements and I'll chip in. I've been streaming media over the network since the Xbox 1 days and the tech community is my other big online circle after TrekSF. I'm sure I can recommend a few things.
I have watched a bunch of the behind the scenes stuff now, but must be doing it wrong, some of the stuff you mentioned I didn't see Jeff. I'll have to skype with you sometime as see what I'm doing wrong. ;)
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 20, 2011, 10:55:03 PM
Great thread Jeff as this is what I want to know especially what the special features are like. Can anyone tell me what the matte shot in ROTJ when Luke falls in the pit to fight the monster in Jabbas room. I always remember the monster out line near Luke was terrible. Is that fixed?
I thought the Rancor looked much better, and did not see the outlining like in the past. I did notice a bit of outlining on some of the Skiff scenes in the desert, mostly with Chewie and the back ground.
Quote from: moyer777 on September 21, 2011, 10:11:10 AM
I have watched a bunch of the behind the scenes stuff now, but must be doing it wrong, some of the stuff you mentioned I didn't see Jeff. I'll have to skype with you sometime as see what I'm doing wrong. ;)
Sure thing Rick, some of the menus you have to dig around a bit. The Holiday Special cartoon is in a different spot then one would expect.
Watching more of the first Bonus disc, I am struck by just how much content Lucas Film must have that we have never and likely won't ever see, especially from the making of the prequels. I am just half way through the featurettes for Ep.II and they literally filmed EVRYTHING being done in front of and behind the camera. I mean they have video of pod racer engines being loaded on a Russian transport, all of the model and maqueete shop archival video and interviews, and new complete and partially complete scenes I have never scene. And there are probably so much more that fans would want to see it's almost impossible to provide it all.
Bryan - did you know they had webcams up all over the place while filming the prequels? So, there is TONS of material around for those movies.
Quote from: Rico on September 22, 2011, 06:08:08 AM
Bryan - did you know they had webcams up all over the place while filming the prequels? So, there is TONS of material around for those movies.
Do I know it?! Dude, I was a Hyperspace member for all the filming of EpII just to try and see lightsaber hilts! :)
I love how geeky we are here. It makes me smile.
Stop it damn you, stop it with your Blue Ray special features talk, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. :D
OK, I finished the first Bonus Disc which is archival stuff from the prequels, deleted scenes, interviews, prop and costume gallery and video, and concept art. It's amazing to see how production techniques changed over the course of the three films. The extended Geonosis arena battle is amazing to watch to see how they plan out and render these massive scenes. Now it's on to the OT archives!
It's Blu-Ray capture time...
(click to enlarge them)
some more...
and more...
I have to say, the color saturation in "A New Hope" (and I'm sure the other films) is pretty intense. A fair amount over-saturated to my eye vs. the film itself. And man, that Greedo scene with Han has gotten weird. It's almost hard to tell now who really shoots first or what happens.
Quote from: Rico on September 24, 2011, 09:02:39 AM
that Greedo scene with Han has gotten weird. It's almost hard to tell now who really shoots first or what happens.
I think that was the point!
So far I have watched 5 of the 6 movies with Revenge of the Sith remaining. Just amazing of all the little details I am picking up. Lots of the back ground characters stand out a lot more. I was watching Attack of the Clones tonight with some friends, and we were commenting on an attractive background character in the scene with Obi-Wan and Dexter Jester we had never noticed before.
I was a bit surprised with TPM that there were still some models built that they used to film with, as for some reason I was thinking they were computer generated. The last ship they built for Blue Screen for a Star Wars movie was a rather bland ship for Chancellor Palpatine, almost felt anti climatic after all the iconic ships in the past.
OK! I really need to get these. I know they will look awesome. And I have seen some of the extra content from tv, but you guys are talking about things I know I haven't seen. If not before maybe I'll get these for Christmas!!
If I had them I think is try any get two TVs and run new and old side by side just to play spot the difference for myself. Reading about it just isn't the same!
Looking at those pictures Jabba still looks a bit off.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 25, 2011, 01:09:17 PM
Looking at those pictures Jabba still looks a bit off.
Well since the blu-rays are taken from the same transfer as the DVDs and nothing has been altered in that scene then it would.
Quote from: Dangelus on September 25, 2011, 01:26:47 PM
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 25, 2011, 01:09:17 PM
Looking at those pictures Jabba still looks a bit off.
Well since the blu-rays are taken from the same transfer as the DVDs and nothing has been altered in that scene then it would.
Actually I think Jabba looks a bit better. Might be the higher res., but I thought he looked a bit more real.
Really enjoyed the entire ANH Archives. The high res. model images and great and the deleted scenes a blast. Also, Arnie and Marjorie over at SWAN last week did a whole show reviewing the entire box set and and I couldn't agree with their comments more. For a good review, go have a listen.
Wow! There's a ton of Wampa stuff filmed for ESB! It would have made the movie more like ALIEN!
The Wampa stuff was pretty interesting. I can see why they took it out, as some of it did not look the greatest, plus it somewhat diminished the threat of the Imperials storming the base.
I really liked the Models as well, the pictures were great and cool to see some of the detail.
Another aspect of the Archive stuff from ROTS are the extended scenes some of which are actually animatics. It's very interesting to see how they could use computer generated sequences to see a complete part of the film without actually going through the expense of filming it. The Grevious/Obi wan chase creted by Steven Speilberg is wild...and endless! I also liked the Yoda/Sidious fight where Yoda uses the Royal Guards as shields. LOL!!!
And you guys have to check out on the OT Archives for ESB a very recent Clone Wars meeting where Lucas discusses the Force light and dark side, riveting stuff!
I found those animatics interesting as well. It was interesting that in the original animatic of Yoda/Palpatime battle, Yoda did not flee the senate chamber like he did in the movie. Would be interested to hear the reasoning why they decided to change that. All I could really think of, is that George might have felt, if Yoda did not flee and Palpatine did, that expectation might be for Yoda to hunt him down later, instead of going into hiding. Also the little cut scene of Yoda communing with Qui-Gon was interesting as well, to bad they never got to the point of having Liam Neeson do the voice work
OH MY GOD! The deleted pilot scenes from ROTJ! The Rebel Alliance was hiring from at AARP!!! :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao
I thought them passing all those lines to the fellow playing the Mon Cal pilot was funny, and he seemed to roll along with it. Was interesting to see all the pilots, but got a bit monotonous after awhile.
I was listening to the forcecast today and they were raving about the segment you mentioned Bryan between dark and light in the force. I might slip in the Blu-Ray tonight and watch it, as they also said it was a must watch.
If you want to hear n interesting insight into what GL considers when altering any of the films watch the Anatomy of a Dewback documentary. Very interesting.
I finally got mine, my wife got it for me for my birthday. How anyone could complain anout these Blurays is beyond me. One of the best values as far as a box set I have ever seen. The deleted scenes alone are worth it, let alone the great interviews, docs and the spoof program! I'm in geek heaven with this. So far I've only watched Episode I(which I regard better lately for some reason) and I'm plowing through the extras. Ahhhh.
Quote from: Chris-El on October 23, 2011, 01:37:34 PM
How anyone could complain anout these Blurays is beyond me.
Never underestimate fans ability to crap on that which they love! ;)
Finally broke down and bought the blu-ray set of this. Got the whole shibang. I LOVE the movies and knew I'd get them in blu-ray sooner or later, but it was all the extra content that sold me on the complete set. Now to start saving up my nickles and dimes for the Indiana Jones collection coming out later this year. :o
Appaullo
My wife and I have been slowly working our way through this set. I think the transfer quality is really good. Have not had time to watch any of the extras yet though. I'm more of a Star Trek fan than a Star Wars fan so I doubt this set will get viewed as frequently as our Trek blu-rays, but I'm glad we own them.
I'm undecided about the Indy films. I enjoy all of them but since owning the DVD box set and buying the Crystal Skull on blu-ray we have only watched them once. I know the blu-ray experience will be better but I'm not sure I would watch them often enough to justify the expense. If the set comes down to around $50.00 I will consider it more seriously.
Kevin
Going to merge this in with the thread discussion on the SW Blu-Ray's.