http://www.thedigita...ill.html#082406
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Also today... a follow-up on something we've been telling you to expect for quite while now. 2007, as you may well be aware, is the 30th anniversary of the original Star Wars' debut in theaters. You'd have to be stupid not to know that Lucasfilm is going to have big DVD release plans with which to celebrate the anniversary, and we've been telling you that was the case for many months now. Indeed, during our last visit to the Ranch for the DVD release of Episode III, producer Rick McCallum confirmed that a box set of all six films was going to happen eventually, and animation director Rob Coleman even let it slip that the puppet Yoda from Episode I had already been replaced with a new CG Yoda to match Episodes II & III for the "future" release. T-Bone over at Star Wars Universe recently speculated about this box set, and we've been quietly checking in with our industry sources on it as well. Well, we've confirmed it: There IS a big, ultimate, 6-film Star Wars anniversary DVD box set planned for 2007. There will be more changes to the films, and there will be LOTS of new, never-before-seen special features - all the good stuff that was held back by Lucasfilm from the original Trilogy DVD release a few years ago. Think deleted scenes and more. We don't know if good, genuinely-REMASTERED versions of the original theatrical editions of the films will be included or not (though how you could call the set "ultimate" without them, we don't know). We don't expect high-definition versions yet, as those formats are just too new. We don't have ANY other details for you yet, so please don't ask. But as you consider whether or not to purchase the "limited edition" DVDs due on 9/12... we thought you should know that more IS absolutely on the way next year. 'Nuff said for now.
As always, please keep in mind that titles discussed here are tentative and are subject to change until officially announced by the studios.
Stay tuned...
T-Bone (starwarz.com) said:
By T-bone
Published: August 13, 2006
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May 25th, 2007, as some of you may well know, will bring about the 30th anniversary of the original release of Star Wars in theaters. You don't really think that the Lucasfilm marketing machine would let such a momentous occasion go without trying to sell you anything and everything possible with a Star Wars logo on it, do you? Of course not. So here are a few rumors about what you might see next year, according to a source that unfortunately wishes to remain anonymous but I trust completely. I'm sure that big Celebration IV will tie into this all as well.
I know that anonymous sources tend to lead people to thinking the story is made up but you'll have to just trust me or wait and see. Things can change I'm sure but things are in motion now that should come to fruition next year. If I label something a rumor, it is just that - a rumor. Please take it as such. Moving on...
What I'm hearing sounds like it's not going to be a simple "Here is the new set" blitz. It's going to, once again, incorporate the soundtracks, the convention and yes, more tinkering to the DVDs. I'll repeat that - MORE tinkering to the FILMS. Yes, more changes to the Star Wars films. By now, this shouldn't exactly be "news" to anyone. I think fans almost expect that with every release of every Lucasfilm DVD from here on in (and maybe that was the idea), there are probably going to be some kind of changes, be it a transition (dissolve to wipe, perhaps) or a completely new scene.
Let’s start with the soundtracks. The complete scores are allegedly going to be released in one big boxed set but my source tells me that the audio quality will not be as good as the current releases for some reason. Now I’m not a stickler with CDs and I don’t go nuts with audio quality. If it sounds good on my iPod, I’m fine with it. If it sounds good on the computer or whatever, great. I can notice big changes but when it comes down to it, I won’t be ticked off if it’s a little off in quality, though I’d expect newer releases to sound better than the previous ones.
That said, the only thing my source told me about the soundtracks is that they “…will not sound as good as the current discs. They will sound like every other John Williams 'muffled' release.” I’m not 100% sure what that means, exactly but I’m sure some of you soundtrack lovers and John Williams fanatics out there will know what he’s talking about. The status quo probably won’t take issue but if you already have them, you might not need to buy them again.
This time, I’m not falling prey to the soundtrack trap like I did with the 2004 version. They ensnared me into buying the silver boxed set of soundtracks because inside were supposed to be some exclusive screensavers and I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s good enough to make me buy these again, even though I already have them. I’m getting something else I don’t have. Great.” So I took the CDs and installed the screensavers. I tried out the one for EMPIRE and up came the wonderful logo followed by…a bunch of expanded universe artwork that had NOTHING to do with the film. Thinking it was a quirk, I tried the other two screensavers and it was the same thing. Bring up the FILM logo and then show images that have NOTHING to do with the film. Who’s the genius that devised that plan? I sure hope they’re not working there anymore. I almost threw the CDs out the window.
So if you have the soundtracks, you might want to think about whether or not you really need this new set of music. Chances are, you have it all, but if you don’t have all of the soundtracks this might be a good set to invest in. We’ll have to see what the details are but this time I’ll be very skeptical of the bonus features, if any.
Now, on to the films. From what I understand, George Lucas is going back once again to make even more changes to the Star Wars films. What those changes are and what films in particular they are going to show up in, I don’t know yet. As soon as my rumor mill starts to flow on those, I will let you know. All I know is that my source tells me that it’s going to happen for this new box to be released next year.
Frankly, I find it funny that Lucas will spend more money on these films but won’t give the unaltered versions a correct anamorphic transfer. Perhaps he will for this new set. We’ll have to wait until the details start to come out. Something in my gut is telling me the unaltered versions will not show up, but that’s my gut, not a rumor. It could happen.
All I know is you should probably start saving up your money now if you plan on buying this thing because it’ll probably be a monster and will probably come in a few different variations. Technically, it could run at around $150 or in that ballpark when you consider it’s 2 discs per film, at least, and then there’s bound to be at least one bonus disc, if not two. Plus they’ll probably throw in some garbage like game demos or little coins or pewter figures or whatever they dream up that they think will make the set more appealing to fans because let’s face it, outside of the normal DVD enthusiasts, the only other people buying this mega-set are going to be fans of the films. Most other people already have them or will be buying them individually this year.
Ok, so there’s one more little rumor I need to throw into the mix here that’s somewhat related but came bundled with the info I was given, so let’s get it out there and see if it sticks. The Star Wars Anniversary Set that’s coming next year is going to be the big item for 2007, but what about 2008? Well, Lucasfilm is allegedly working on another Indiana Jones boxed set for the 2008 Holiday season, so have no fear those of you who like to spend money.
Think about the timing though. The new Indiana Jones film seems to have finally been given the go ahead and if all goes well, we could see it in theaters in either late 2007 or early 2008. That gives the marketing machine plenty of time to promote a new Indy set for 4th quarter, 2008 but with the NEW film included. Again, that’s just my gut there. The only info I was given was that there’s another Indy box being prepped for 2008. I’m reading into the rumor.
See, I have to say this stuff because the last time I posted some rumors about the digital arm of ILM possibly moving to India or somewhere out of California, some Lucasfilm employees got all pissy with me and decided to trash me publicly without even contacting me first to ask about the article. There was talk about how the fan sites need to keep themselves in check and sometimes need to be taken down a notch, etc. That sort of negativity isn't going to do anyone any good. I’ve been posting rumors for 10 years now so this should be nothing new to them. In fact, this source tells me that the main reason they haven’t moved ILM yet is because of the work they’re doing for the Anniversary set. I never said they were moving tomorrow so we’ll see if this all pans out one day. If not, no big deal, right? I get the rumors, I report them – that’s it. If they’re wrong, I’m the one that has to worry about it and believe me, I don’t.
So anyhow – get your wallets ready folks. It looks like 2007 is going to be full of surprises! As soon as I hear more on these rumors, confirming or denying, I will let you know. Until then, take them as you will.
Hide Comments (3)
T-bone - August 15, 2006
I can't imagine they'd be huge changes, but we can all hope for a reversal of Greedo shooting first! Wishful thinking, I say but I would make a wager that the EP1 Yoda will be replaced - and I think it already was for testing purposes, from what I remember.
jayce78 - August 14, 2006
told ya!
Gnome - August 14, 2006
I can't see what more changes to the DVD's there would need to be. Fix a few things that got messed up with the last release (green saber, sound mix) but nothing in the originals unless it's reincorporation of deleted scenes. In The PT, all I can see is making Ep. I Yoda digital. This set will have to pretty amazing to make me but these movies for the 4th time.
On to Indy....I knew this would happen. I love having all of my movies from the same franchise in matching boxes and such, to be nice and neat. There's no way though that I'm going to buy all 3 movies again. I can only hope that they release the 4th movie in the same packaging that the Indy films are in now so I can just slip it in flawlessly. But I think we all know that chances of that happening.
http://www.starwarz....2_articleid=846
Personally, I will NOT buy a six movie boxed set just to get a new cardboard box or even new covers. I won't buy it just to get CG Yoda in Episode I (or even to get Episode I mastered properly so it's not overly sharpened and edge-enhanced as the 2001 release was).
Nor do I wish to rebuy the 2004 Editions again (I was already planning to rebuy them just to get the "Original Theatrical" Trilogy). Nor do I wish to rebuy Episode II or III.
When I heard this, I immediately got this picture in my mind of a NEW Episode I edition, and a NEW bonus disc for the Classic Trilogy, and the rest of the stuff being previously released discs (that is, Episode II and III as they appeared in 2002 and 2005, and the Classic Trilogy as it appears in the 2006 "limited edition" set).
If I had never bought these movies yet, I would probably be screaming for this right now, but as of now, it doesn't look like it'd be worth my time. And even if Lucas decides to tweak the Classic Trilogy one more time, I can only imagine lame changes, so I would not care to buy that either (I think I would rent it once if my curiosity got the best of me, rather than buying it on the off chance that it's an improvement over previous Special Editions).
When Lucas says "Limited Edition" these days, he is basically talking about the packaging, not the content on the actual discs, it seems. And "bonus features" amount to unrelated fluff, not actual content of the film itself (remember his packing LucasArts video game advertisments and Episode III teasers onto the classic trilogy set instead of using that space for deleted scenes or classic behind the scenes docs/interviews).
And before anyone tells me I'm a stick in the mud and going to miss out on the "chance of a lifetime" get real....
The "Bonus Disc" of the four disc 2004 set can be bought seperately from the main set. The "Limited Edition" 2005 set was identical to the 2004 set, except in a new box minus that bonus disc (which was 1/3rd non-Classic Star Wars content anyway). I am willing to bet that any "New" discs that are available in this rumored 2007 set will eventually be available seperately.
If this rumor is true, I would think that Lucas thinks he's got us once again.
He thinks we'll be so desperate to own the "ultimate" edition of all the Star Wars movies on DVD that we'll buy the Limited Edition 2006 set, fearing we'll "miss out" since it's only going to be on sale for 3 months (and so it MUST be unique, though that "uniqueness" might just be the way it's packaged!) and then we'll buy the 2007 set just to get the new Episode I content and possibly some new special edition changes.
Sure, you could try to sell your old copies cheap, or give them away as gifts to friends. Lucas is just double-dipping like so many other studios and producers are doing these days to blatantly milk extra cash off of their devoted fanbase.
I'm now debating whether or not to get the "Limited Edition" set at all. Sure, it would be all I really asked for, but I could save money and just order individual discs off of ebay in the future from the "new ultimate" set. Of course I'd have to wait another year probably, but still. Isn't that worth saving a couple of hundred bucks and still be a Star Wars fan?
I own the prequels already. Frankly, I don't think making Yoda CGI would really make TPM anymore worth watching. If anything it'd be a once-over for the novelty. Just imagine the Special Edition of a New Hope. Would you buy it again if all that was different was they redid CGI Jabba AGAIN and made him look a little bit more lifelike than before? Deleted scenes would be cool, but if it's just going to be the trailer scenes that didn't make it into the movie and the four Tatooine scenes (Luke and the treadwell droid at the farm; Luke & friends at Toschi Station; Luke & Biggs having a drink outdoors; alternate long Mos Eisley cantina rough cut in black & white) which are ALREADY available for free on the internet and on the very cheap (but out of print, though available through ebay or whatever) "Behind the Magic" CD-ROM... why bother?
It would need to be never before released stuff (not just some 1 second long clip of Luke walking past the camera) or redone in high quality (I'm talking 2004 set "restored" quality, with proper color timing though) to make it attractive to me for a buy.
This time around I don't feel like making excuses for Lucas for shoddy quality. How many times does he think I'm going to buy the movies? If it's not worth more than a rental, it's a no buy. This time I'm going to try before I buy!
Other thoughts, please post...