George Lucas adds some new surprises into Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Some of the changes are for the better and are purely technical. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace will finally contain the entire film image from its digital transfer, meaning that none of the picture is lost from the original file to the DVD, as it was when this chapter in the saga was first released on the DVD format. To see the difference in image, and how much of the actual picture is being restored,
There have been overall improvements in the image quality of all six films, as they are being mastered from original digital source material. The unnecessary edge-enhancement and color-timing issues, which made some of the lightsabers on display in the 2004 releases look washed out, have also been corrected. George Lucas has also, in his infinite wisdom, gone back and corrected some of the more quirky visual mistakes that he originally, intentionally left in the last time these movies were reworked. For instance, when the Wampa attacks the Tauntaun, we will no longer see the puppeteer's arm at the edge of the frame. The audio has also been greatly improved on all six movies.
Those all sound like legitimate changes necessary in updating Star Wars for its Blu-ray release, even though erasing some of the more charming on-screen mistakes may tick off certain fans. The disturbing news is that George Lucas has gone back through the films, adding in new "surprises" and additions that could royally piss off those hardcore audience members who were hoping to see the original, uncut trilogy included here.
The first three Star Wars movies, as originally released in theaters, will not be included as part of this set. But there will be some new additions, starting with a digital Yoda that, some speculate, will be reinserted over the puppet used in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. As far as we know, Frank Oz's original puppet work in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is being left intact.
What are these new surprises? Well, we'll have to wait for Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray to be released on September 16th to find out, as Lucasfilm is keeping this information a secret. Here is what The Digital Bits had to say about these new surprise changes.
"These should probably be best considered new 2011 versions of these films, and not the 2004 DVD versions. All the fixes and corrections alone justify this in my opinion, but there's another reason too... and you can probably guess what it is: Once again, George Lucas has apparently added a few new "surprises" into these films. I don't know what they are and didn't get to see any of them on Friday, but I was assured that there will be "new things to notice" when we watch the films. I think we can safely assume that one of them will be the new all-digital Yoda in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Way back when Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithwas released on DVD, ILM digital effects supervisor Pablo Helman confirmed to me that the puppet Yoda in Star Wars: Episode I was replaced with a digital version to better match his appearance in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. In fact, the Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith DVD extras includes a clip of the Star Wars: Episode I digital Yoda. However, this Blu-ray set is really the first opportunity we'll have to see it in full. What the other changes to these films may be, I have no idea, but I suspect there will be no lack of blog posts on this very subject within hours of the first discs becoming available to fans."
Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray arrives in stores on September 16th.
Comments (45)
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CelluloidDreams
Nobody has found a way to squeeze more cash out of a film franchise than George Lucas has done with Star Wars, and he's at it again...
9 months agoby @2movieguysFlag
Salem6777
yea i am staying with my DVD's for now...
9 months agoby @Salem6777Flag
CelluloidDreams
I will stay with my DVD's!
9 months agoby @2movieguysFlag
Time
George Lucas in all consideration is an artist. I myself am artist and when making a peace of artwork you never feel like it's finished. I have been a fan of Star Wars for over 25 plus years now and bought, re bought, re bought the saga as it came to VHS and DVD. Each time has left a great feeling to me and my family. So bring on the blu-ray, and why not give it the royal treatment for being on the highest quality in digital home entertainment. So for all those people who want the original saga you got the standard DVD set and that is where it should and most like will stay.
9 months agoby @arringtonFlag
Lord McLovin of MovieWeb
If you don't like what George Lucas is doing with the blu-ray sets and the special editions by tampering with his Star Wars films, just stick to your old VHS tapes of the originals and transfer them onto DVD. it really works then you don't have to complain all the time. The only thing I'm waiting for is the Indiana Jones franchise on blu-ray, I want those instead.
9 months agoby @ghostmanFlag
Worth5Bucks
just leave them alone george
9 months agoby @mattbierwagenFlag
Avian
I knew every would react like this, since B. Alan Orange only mentioned this little section of the article and not the rest where the writer basically praises the set.
Go a head guys and read the article itself to get a good insight on the blu-ray set itself.
9 months agoby @avian005Flag
TheStonedReviewer
Jesus christ! Leave it alone! LEAVE IT ALONE!!!! what is wrong with these directors, their OBSESSED!!!
9 months agoby @stonedFlag
Josh
@dcrock Thank you! I think Jake Lloyd is by far the worst thing to ever happen to Star Wars. Jar Jar is an intentionally goofy character; he's supposed to be annoying. For my money, he's no more irritating that C3PO, and he's only really in one of the six movies, so people need to chill.
9 months agoby @shuabertFlag
Josh
If we are considering these as a brand new release rather than a port of the 2004 DVD versions, I hope Lucas takes some of the major fan concerns to heart. Most notably, I hope they return the Cantina scene to its original status where Han shoots Greedo first. Everything else -- Christensen at the end of Jedi, Jabba in A New Hope -- while I'm not big fans of the changes, I can live with. But I think the Han shoots first issue is the one most fans have the most vitriol over.
As far as digitally replacing Yoda in Phantom Menace, that's fine with me. It's a good idea to make him more consistent between the three prequels, and as long as they don't mess with the puppetry in 4 - 6 -- Yoda SHOULD look different, less active, because he's nearing the end of his life -- I don't see why people should be bothered.
Maybe we'll get a real surprise, and the theatrical cuts will be included in the set as well?
I'm just excited to have a nice set of all six movies. Even though I really am not a fan of Attack of the Clones, you can't have the set without it.
9 months agoby @shuabertFlag
ZanyZap
Of course B. Alan wrote this. :P I look forward to the release and after some extensive therapy and a lot of drugs, I will probably get over that the puppeteer's arms are no longer present.
9 months agoby @zanyzapFlag
dcrock
I think it's funny how much people hate jar jar. I hate the kid who played the young anakin in episode one much much much more.
9 months agoby @dcrockFlag
felipe-11
I'm stoked to buy this. The only thing I'd like is for him to get rid of the young Anakin at the end of Episode VI, that will simply never make sense.
Replacing Episode I Yoda but not the original trilogy's Yoda was a wise decision. As was the new Episode VI ending, with the entire galaxy celebrating instead of just a wookie party.
I'd say I'm actually happy with everything he's doing, but I do agree the original theatrical cuts would be a nice extra (I myself have never seen them, grew up with the 97 releases), but hey, minus that it's a pretty awesome set at a pretty good price.
9 months agoby @felipe-11Flag
Messenger
@k-man
LOL, yes, I was being nice.
9 months agoby @messengerFlag
eli-rome
I think they should digitally remaster Anakin Skywalker on episode 2 cause he was the reason i wasnt digging Star Wars anymore, oh yeah and jar jar binks for real, if they can fix those two charecters im back in.
9 months agoby @eli-romeFlag
obi1geoffrey
I'm not much of a Star Wars fan, I think it's ok but I have other movie series I prefer. I'm glad they are putting the digital Yoda in I couldn't stand that fake puppet. I never really enjoyed the original trilogy all the special effects looked really cheesy and fake I hope those get corrected too. I'll most likely buy this 9 disc blu-ray cause it'll have corrected errors and loads of special features and doc*mentaries. I don't agree with a lot of the Star Wars fans about which trilogy is better, but I do agree that if Lucas needs to take anything out of the Star Wars series it's Jar-Jar. Meesa can't stand him.
9 months agoby @ob1geoffreyFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@k-man Damn
9 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Dan
@k-man Amen.
9 months agoby @dan1Flag
MovieWiz001
"D':.....*inhale*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" - The Godfather Part III (1990)
9 months agoby @moviewiz001Flag
K-Man
Does anyone else find it ironic that, of all the changes Lucas has made and all the digital alterations, he still has "altered" Jar Jar Binks out of the goddamn movies?
@joker926 @messenger - If by touched, do you mean ruined???? Because if so, yeah, that was done years ago. Its an absolute disgrace and a crime to butcher true classics like what Lucas has done. I hate that prick.
@dan1 - Very much agreed, my friend.
Quite frankly, I would be ok with Lucas making as many alterations as he wanted and as many lame, stupid versions of the films as he wants......AS LONG AS HE RELEASED THE ORIGINAL, UNALTERED, GOOD VERSIONS along with it. But the fact that he denies us of that one thing, which is the one thing that we, the true fans (or ex-fans, I should say), actually want......well, that's what really pisses me off. That's the slap in the face! George is essentially treating everyone who watches these movies like little kids, allowing us to only watch the bits that HE wants us to watch.
Somebody needs to take this fat f*ck out already. He's nothing but a nuisance, at this point.
@garretbyrne - Agreed, I've been telling people that for years. Everyone wants the originals but they are also willing to spend the cash on the crappy altered versions. People need to take a stand and not buy it......that's the only way we are getting the originals.
@bane5000 - because he sucks.
9 months agoby @k-manFlag
ROFLitschristian
Couldn't see much of a difference, except in the photo of Vader and Luke's sabers. Other than that, meh.
9 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
Jekku
Getting rid of puppet Yoda in Phantom Menace? Yes, plz. That Yoda just never looked right to me.
9 months agoby @jekkuFlag
MovieManiac
Whatever. Star Wars has been edited to sh*t already.
9 months agoby @moviemaniac66Flag
J.P.
@dan1 Lucus is a royal douchbag isn't he?
9 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
J.P.
@ejk1 If end up being able too, would you give or sell me one? I this point, I refuse to watch the edited versions of the original trilogy any longer.
9 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
Lord McLovin of MovieWeb
Glad to hear they're replacing puppet Yoda with CGI Yoda in Episode I and that they will be doing color-corrections on the lightsabers for Ep. IV-VI (they always looked too saturated and the blues looked white, while Vaders red lightsaber looked pink. It seems like George Lucas can never be quite satisfied with his movies :/
9 months agoby @ghostmanFlag
eli-rome
I hope he puts everything that they have worked on this blu ray, if not then die soon George please.
9 months agoby @eli-romeFlag
Messenger
@joker926
They've already been touched, years ago.
9 months agoby @messengerFlag
Joker926
I don't care if he replaces the puppet Yoda with a digital Yoda, because honestly it looked like crap in Episode I. LOL Just don't touch IV-VI!!!!! Those ones are the classics! >:(
9 months agoby @joker926Flag
Dan
F*ck you, Lucas.
9 months agoby @dan1Flag