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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2021 8:31:29 GMT -5
How annoying: I finally made up my mind I'd like to get that Paul Gulacy Crimson Empire book and it's now one of those out of print things that's ridiculously over-priced - 100s of $$ on amazo! Just because I took ten years to make a decision, is that any reason for such harsh punishment?! It very well may be collected in an upcoming New Republic Epic Collection, they just did Dark Empire this year (they've been going in sequence, so Crimson Empire would be logical next).
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Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2021 10:18:54 GMT -5
How are you watching the original versions? On VHS? I guess that brings up another question. Which version of the original trilogy does everybody watch? The "original" (which as far as I know is only available on VHS, laser disc, or that awful DVD version that Lucas "offered" fans based on the laserdisc), the 1997 Special Editions, the Blu-Ray, or the 4K, or some other version I've failed to mention? Personally, I watch the Blu-Ray most of the time. I do have the VHS takes from the 1980's and will watch them every once in a great while, but it's a nuisance to get the DV player going (my TV only has one coaxial input and I'm using that for something else) plus the video quality obviously isn't that great. I watch the original on the bonus discs from the 2006 limited edition releases, which I think are the ones based on the laserdisc copies? I watch them on an old CRT type TV so maybe that's why they look fine to me. I just watched Star Wars last night...something psychologically pleasing for me about NOT seeing "Episode 4" or "A New Hope" during the title crawl. Plus, despite the lower quality overall, everything just "looks right" to me on them, don't quite know how to explain. Like when they used to broadcast them on TV in the 80's and I'd re-watch them as a kid. Those 2006 limited edition releases are not widescreen, correct?
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Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2021 10:22:34 GMT -5
I too usually watch the unaltered OT, although not always. I do actually like some of the changes, such as the CGI revamping of the Battle of Yavin, the opening up of Cloud City, the Sarlaac's beak, and the general overall tidying up of matt lines in the special effect composites, for example. But like any sensible fan, I detested things like the Mos Eisley cringe-fest, Greedo shooting first, and the "Jedi rocks" sequence in Jabba's palace. I do have the laserdisc-sourced bonus DVD of Star Wars that supercat mentioned, but my go to versions of the unaltered editions are Harmy's DeSpecialized versions: fan-made reconstructions that are available from various "under the counter" internet sources. These blow the unaltered versions that were officially released as bonus discs on the DVD issues into the weeds. Wikipedia article about Harry's DeSpecialized editions.I'd love to get the DeSpecialized editions, but it just sounds like too much work for me. I wish I could just go to a dark alley somewhere and buy the darn things.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2021 11:16:04 GMT -5
I watch the original on the bonus discs from the 2006 limited edition releases, which I think are the ones based on the laserdisc copies? I watch them on an old CRT type TV so maybe that's why they look fine to me. I just watched Star Wars last night...something psychologically pleasing for me about NOT seeing "Episode 4" or "A New Hope" during the title crawl. Plus, despite the lower quality overall, everything just "looks right" to me on them, don't quite know how to explain. Like when they used to broadcast them on TV in the 80's and I'd re-watch them as a kid. Those 2006 limited edition releases are not widescreen, correct? Correct
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Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2021 11:38:30 GMT -5
Those 2006 limited edition releases are not widescreen, correct? Correct That's basically why I didn't buy them back when they were offered. I was hoping they'd come up with something better in the future...I'm still waiting.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 9,533
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Post by Confessor on Aug 7, 2021 12:36:50 GMT -5
That's basically why I didn't buy them back when they were offered. I was hoping they'd come up with something better in the future...I'm still waiting. My SW-related conspiracy theory is that I'm convinced George Lucas damaged/butchered the original negatives and master prints of the OT in the process of creating the Special Editions. That's why they've never been issued in a properly formatted and restored version. There are actually some clues to possibly support this conclusion in the behind the scenes documentaries about the Special Editions on the DVD releases. I mean, at this point, it's just plain weird that Lucasfilm have not put them out: it's an obvious cash-cow release that would be snapped up by thousands of fans around the world. And it's doubly weird now that Disney own the franchise. I mean, what's stopping Disney from putting them out? Certainly not Lucas and his "the Special Editions are the true, finished versions of the films" blindspot. Again, a pristine HD transfer on Blu-Ray or even as a Disney+ exclusive to encourage people to sign up to their streaming channel is a no-brainer! So what's the hold up? I think that the hold up is that for some technical reason the unaltered films are unable to be re-issued. And I think that technical reason is that Lucas and his team damaged them when they were doing the Special Editions. If I'm right, that would be an absolutely unprecedented act of cultural vandalism for mainstream cinema. One thing's for sure though, in the case of the original 1977 Star Wars film, it's a travesty that such a groundbreaking, landmark piece of cinema is not available to the public in its original form. Other groundbreaking and influential 70s films like Taxi Driver, The Godfather, Jaws, Apocalypse Now, etc have all have had deluxe remasters issued with pristine sound and picture transfers. Why not Star Wars?
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Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2021 12:51:33 GMT -5
That's basically why I didn't buy them back when they were offered. I was hoping they'd come up with something better in the future...I'm still waiting. My SW-related conspiracy theory is that I'm convinced George Lucas damaged/butchered the original negatives and master prints of the OT in the process of creating the Special Editions. That's why they've never been issued in a properly formatted and restored version. There are actually some clues to possibly support this conclusion in the behind the scenes documentaries about the Special Editions on the DVD releases. I mean, at this point, it's just plain weird that Lucasfilm have not put them out: it's an obvious cash-cow release that would be snapped up by thousands of fans around the world. And it's doubly weird now that Disney own the franchise. I mean, what's stopping Disney from putting them out? Certainly not Lucas and his "the Special Editions are the true, finished versions of the films" blindspot. Again, a pristine HD transfer on Blu-Ray or even as a Disney+ exclusive to encourage people to sign up to their streaming channel is a no-brainer! So what's the hold up? I think that the hold up is that for some technical reason the unaltered films are unable to be re-issued. And I think that technical reason is that Lucas and his team damaged them when they were doing the Special Editions. If I'm right, that would be an absolutely unprecedented act of cultural vandalism for mainstream cinema. One thing's for sure though, in the case of the original 1977 Star Wars film, it's a travesty that such a groundbreaking, landmark piece of cinema is not available to the public in its original form. Other groundbreaking and influential 70s films like Taxi Driver, The Godfather, Jaws, Apocalypse Now, etc have all have had deluxe remasters issued with pristine sound and picture transfers. Why not Star Wars? Preaching to the choir, brother!
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Post by The Cheat on Aug 7, 2021 13:48:18 GMT -5
So it's 1999, I've got Star Wars fever like I was 6 years old again, the movie is about to come out and what do I find at the bookstore (a Walden at the mall) but the official screenplay available for sale. Yes, they released a print version of the screenplay you could read before the movie. Stark contrast to today with studios desperately trying to contain spoilers from leaking out. But back then it really was different. The Internet was obviously already here, but not nearly in the way we know social media today. My resistance was weak, I bought it and read the whole thing fully knowing I was likely spoiling a fair amount of the surprise. And I loved it, and since there were no visuals to go with it, my mind had to imagine for instance Jar Jar, and the way I heard his dialogue in my head did not annoy me at all. I was convinced it was going to be a fantastic movie overall. I did exactly the same. Then I taped the Duel of the Fates music video off of MTV and re-watched it over and over again trying to match up the characters
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Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2021 15:27:13 GMT -5
So it's 1999, I've got Star Wars fever like I was 6 years old again, the movie is about to come out and what do I find at the bookstore (a Walden at the mall) but the official screenplay available for sale. Yes, they released a print version of the screenplay you could read before the movie. Stark contrast to today with studios desperately trying to contain spoilers from leaking out. But back then it really was different. The Internet was obviously already here, but not nearly in the way we know social media today. My resistance was weak, I bought it and read the whole thing fully knowing I was likely spoiling a fair amount of the surprise. And I loved it, and since there were no visuals to go with it, my mind had to imagine for instance Jar Jar, and the way I heard his dialogue in my head did not annoy me at all. I was convinced it was going to be a fantastic movie overall. I did exactly the same. Then I taped the Duel of the Fates music video off of MTV and re-watched it over and over again trying to match up the characters Love Duel of the Fates!!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 7, 2021 17:15:52 GMT -5
How annoying: I finally made up my mind I'd like to get that Paul Gulacy Crimson Empire book and it's now one of those out of print things that's ridiculously over-priced - 100s of $$ on amazo! Just because I took ten years to make a decision, is that any reason for such harsh punishment?! I've seen the hardcover that collected the whole series listed for 500+ but it's pretty easy to score used copies of the trades for under 20 bucks
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 9,533
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Post by Confessor on Aug 7, 2021 19:58:16 GMT -5
I bought all three of the Crimson Empire minis as they were coming out, but I never really rated them all that highly. I mean, they're fun and the art is nice, but they're not earth shatteringly great or anything. There are a good number of better series from the Dark Horse years IMHO.
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Post by berkley on Aug 8, 2021 1:57:54 GMT -5
I bought all three of the Crimson Empire minis as they were coming out, but I never really rated them all that highly. I mean, they're fun and the art is nice, but they're not earth shatteringly great or anything. There are a good number of better series from the Dark Horse years IMHO. I'd be buying them for the Gulacy artwork, really, being a big fan of his stuff. So evn a mediocre story (i.e. not offensively bad) would almost qualify as a bonus.
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Post by berkley on Aug 8, 2021 2:11:55 GMT -5
How annoying: I finally made up my mind I'd like to get that Paul Gulacy Crimson Empire book and it's now one of those out of print things that's ridiculously over-priced - 100s of $$ on amazo! Just because I took ten years to make a decision, is that any reason for such harsh punishment?! I've seen the hardcover that collected the whole series listed for 500+ but it's pretty easy to score used copies of the trades for under 20 bucks
There are three volumes, is that right? I've seen the last two at reasonable prices - 20-something $C - but the first one seems to be ridiculously over-priced. Unless I've got this all hopelessly confused, as is often the case.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2021 8:02:59 GMT -5
I bought all three of the Crimson Empire minis as they were coming out, but I never really rated them all that highly. I mean, they're fun and the art is nice, but they're not earth shatteringly great or anything. There are a good number of better series from the Dark Horse years IMHO. I'd be buying them for the Gulacy artwork, really, being a big fan of his stuff. So evn a mediocre story (i.e. not offensively bad) would almost qualify as a bonus. I don't think the stories are offensively bad, but I agree with Confessor, the art is nice but the stories are not of the caliber of some of the other Dark Horse material. I had really looked forward to these too because the Imperial Guard looked so cool in Jedi even though they did nothing in the movie.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2021 8:11:42 GMT -5
I've seen the hardcover that collected the whole series listed for 500+ but it's pretty easy to score used copies of the trades for under 20 bucks
There are three volumes, is that right? I've seen the last two at reasonable prices - 20-something $C - but the first one seems to be ridiculously over-priced. Unless I've got this all hopelessly confused, as is often the case.
Yeah, the first one has gone up a bit. A couple of decent looking copies up on eBay right now for about $40 (another reason I mentioned possibly holding out to see if the next New Republic Epic Collection does indeed collect this).
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