Star Wars Trilogy DVDs.. hit the shelves today.. thoughts ??

[vhelp]

Just got my Star Wars Trilogy DVD set.

Post your thoughts here, if you'd like. I'm figuring there will be others making
postings of there new found experiences w/ this DVD set too, but I thought
I should post mine now, since I just it this evening and had a chance to
have a quick look at it.., and so far, I like it. I appreciate the hard work
(FWIW) that Lucus and team has done, with this DVD trilogy set.

.. At a later time, I might show some side/by/side results (at least, from
.. my laserdisc conversions done my prefered way, and using my various utilis
.. and tools 'n techniques and things)

Anyways. I was able to pick it up at K-Mart (thanks to a friend who works
their, and his store discount) I got it for $39 instead of $49 dollars

I'm impressed, but not surprised. The quality is a tad better than my
laserdisc set (SE version) I was expecting more, coming from a DVD
format, but I should have expected what quality level is present. Maybe
a Superbit will be next.

Mind you, I only looked at the ANH, since I know that the other two should be
marginally better.

And, from what I saw, it looks like its in Anamorphic format, which is better
because a conversion will allow Widescreen reproduction w/out glitches in the
video's 16 x 9 "stretch" process.

And, finally I have something to use as a reference and comparison

I'm not actually giving any review, but I thought since I have the DVD set, I would
just post what I saw so far, for what its worth at this time. I could revise
it at a later date..

PROS:
* Widescreen. Color (though mixed here and there) was only marginally
... better than my laserdisc set.
* The audio sound quality was marginal as well, (though I only listedn in
... side my powerdvd software player)
* Anamporphic format.

CONS:
* There were a number of Background darkness that showed some DCT blocks,
... but is probably not noticable to a casual viewer.

-vhelp

[D_Knife]

Vhelp can you confirm if you have subtitles for Greedo and Jabba???
I just got it and am watching it on my Realmagic Hollywood +
and no text subtitles, I'm not sure if it's this player or what...
Everything else looks good though

[indolikaa]

Can't wait to see them.

I've never actually watched the Special Editions. I was content to watch the original releases until such time as the Special Special Edition became available with the DVD release.

[vhelp]

Hi D_Knife,

Yes, subtitles are included. They play inside my powerdvd window, as indicated
in the image below.



** note, for space reasons, I've resized the image to 720x306 (to maintain AR)
.... inside Painshop Pro. Expect there to be slight glitches inside the char's
.... text. Also, saved as a .PNG for max quality (jpg 's distroy ability to
.... judge true comparisons)

Actually, I just wanted to add, after messing around some more w/ my DVD set
and my laserdics (a few short encodes) I realize that the DVD quality **IS**
much better than my laserdisc. (I didn't say that the laserdisc was better, but
it may have came across that way)

I'm having fun w/ my test encodes of both, and I can definately see differences.
Mind you, not only am I limited (quality'wise) in Capturing, but also due to other
issues such as:

* Line Noise in my captures (using my ATI Rage Fury Pro card)
* Limited to Composition captures (no s-video on this card)
* other

I'm hoping to post two samples (DVD vs. Laserdisc) ..course, we already know which
one will look better

Cheers,
-vhelp

[pchan]

Got mine SW SE DVD on the Sep 19th. I guess the local store cheated by selling early !

Paid US$53(converted from local currency) for the 3 DVDs + 1 extra disk. Good deal !

My kids (include me ) is hooked to the TV now...

My DVD player got soooo hot with the non-stop SW SE movie. I am worry that my price SW SE DVD might melt ! :P

I just couldn't help it but just wish that GL will change his mind and release the ORIGINAL Trilogy ... Just my honest wish !

[D_Knife]

hmm thanks for the info vhelp - I will have to check on my player at home tonight

[Darth Paris]

I picked my set up at best buy for $40. All I have watched so far is ANH.

My two complaints:
1.Lukes saber is green in one shot
2.Boxes aren't fixed around tie fighters

[D_Knife]

Which movie and which scene is the saber green
other than ROTJ when it's supposed to be green

[pchan]

Yap.. the light sabre is quarky.. sometimes short and sometimes extra long !

[D_Knife]

I know (and was disappointed) when I saw luke's sabre go from bright nice blue to white when he was practising with the remote

[tygrus2000]

Overall a great experience watching these on my bigscreen. Its actually quite remarkable how well they stannd up to the test of time. I for one prefer a yoda puppet over the cgi one.

I did notice that the voices were not that clear or were muffled or drowned out by the other channels. perhaps the original didnt have a strong enough vocal track to remaster to 5.1. Otherwise very well done.

I remember how people used to criticize mark hamill for being a wooden actor - i think he did a good job. I think he brought more life to the role that hayden chritianson does.

[c_hernandez32]

What is the bitrate of the DVDs? I heard that the Indiana Jones DVDs were almost SuperBit quality in terms of bitrate. Are the SW DVDs that good? They don't even have dts audio, so the video has to be high.

Star Wars never came out in HD on Muse LD?

[D_Knife]

Just watching the featurette (sp) on disc 4
boy didn't Carrie Fisher go downhill!!!

[old painless]

I have to say....i think the quality is excellent!!!...watching them on my projector with prog scan.....fantastic!!....hate to say...but well done Lucas

[GabeB]

The bitrate is high, the quality is awesome with prog. scan and hdtv. It's hard to tell that the movies are over 20 yrs. old. The sound quality is also excellent.

[yoda313]

Hello,

Love 'em!!!

Got mine last night. Best transfer I ever saw (next to the Indy set of course ).

Excellent, worth every penny!

Kevin

[andkiich]

Just watching the featurette (sp) on disc 4
boy didn't Carrie Fisher go downhill!!!

Drugs will do that to you.


For me, the bonus disc was worth the price.

I now have the original theatrical release and the special editions on DVD(made from my laserdisc sets) and now these. I just hope he doesn't tinker with them anymore. I don't want to buy another set.

I'm always a big fan of behind the scenes stuff. I don't really like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but the behind the scenes stuff is way cool.

[liquid217]

copied from www.thedigitalbits.com

Bonus Disc

To access a Star Wars Trilogy gag reel, go to the Video Game & Still Galleries menu page. Using your remote, press "10+", "1" (or "11" depending on your player) and wait for the pause as the player accepts the input (note that a small box next to R2-D2 will illuminate if you're on the right track). Then press "3" and wait for the pause. Finally, press "8".

Look also for additional outtake clips during the credits of The Characters of Star Wars featurette, and funny lightsaber spoof clips during the credits of The Birth of the Lightsaber featurette. You don't have to do anything to access them other than watch the featurettes.

[yoda313]

copied from www.thedigitalbits.com

Bonus Disc

To access a Star Wars Trilogy gag reel, go to the Video Game & Still Galleries menu page. Using your remote, press "10+", "1" (or "11" depending on your player) and wait for the pause as the player accepts the input (note that a small box next to R2-D2 will illuminate if you're on the right track). Then press "3" and wait for the pause. Finally, press "8".

Look also for additional outtake clips during the credits of The Characters of Star Wars featurette, and funny lightsaber spoof clips during the credits of The Birth of the Lightsaber featurette. You don't have to do anything to access them other than watch the featurettes.

Hello,

Cool! Thanks.

Kevin

[GabeB]

Hey, thanks, that was pretty funny.

[djmattyb]

All I wonder is, will this now put an end to the thread Star Wars conversion - hit me with your best shot? The answer now is: buy the DVD! Unless you are going to clean each frame like Lucasarts did there is no way to get the movies to look as good as these DVD's.

[yoda313]

All I wonder is, will this now put an end to the thread Star Wars conversion - hit me with your best shot? The answer now is: buy the DVD! Unless you are going to clean each frame like Lucasarts did there is no way to get the movies to look as good as these DVD's.

Hello,

That's for the ORIGINAL version. They want all the original scenes intact and don't apparently care about top notch quality (like these new dvds have).

Kevin

[Gislaved]

Have any experienced the sound problems stated on www.thedigitalbits.com?

"In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set accordingly with the details as follows:

[Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, a few audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope have been detected. They are as follows:

1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.

2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost as if the master sound element was damaged.

3) Also, John Williams' score for the film seems to have been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear channel seems to be playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels - instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear instead of the right rear. It's hard to notice, but we're getting a number of reports from people hearing this.

These problems would seem to be severe enough to merit a repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we do.]"

[djmattyb]

Maybe they can now turn their post into: What scenes do I need to edit out to make the movies like the original 1970's versions?" It's George's movie people!

[gitreel]

Maybe they can now turn their post into: What scenes do I need to edit out to make the movies like the original 1970's versions?" It's George's movie people!

Thank you.

[Darth Paris]

Which movie and which scene is the saber green
other than ROTJ when it's supposed to be green

It was at the very begining of the Lightsaber training aboard the falcon in ANH. It isn't quite as green as the ROTJ, but it is still very obvious. Anyone else think the boxes arounfd the ties looked like complete crap? I just can't believ that they haven been fixed.

[yoda313]

Hello,

It was at the very begining of the Lightsaber training aboard the falcon in ANH. It isn't quite as green as the ROTJ, but it is still very obvious

I thought I saw that! Man it flashed by so fast I wasn't sure. What a change! I'm glad that was only a few frames worth!

Kevin

[dphirschler]

** note, for space reasons, I've resized the image to 720x306 (to maintain AR)

Woah! Better change that to 640x360 if you want to preserve the aspect ratio. That looks waay too stretched. Or, you could show it at 853x480, but that wouldn't really save space would it?


Darryl

[dphirschler]

It's MY movie now! I am gonna have a fun time with these discs! Look out for the Hirschler Edit coming soon to my home theater! hehehe.


Darryl

[gitreel]

More power to you.