I’ve seen almost all those movies. I agree with all of the choices that I recognize. [LIST SPOILERS – Read the other one 1st:] Man, I hated Johnny & The Cobra Kai. Sensei John Creese was the incarnation of evil. I dig this list because it’s not full of the obvious choices. There’s no Darth Vader, no Joker, no Xenomorph.
Count Dracula – The one from The Monster Squad was just scary. He was pure evil. He took control of all the other not-quite Universal Monsters. He had vampire wenches. He was a badass.
A dying race, ruled by a dying Emperor, imprisoned within themselves in a dying land.
The Skeksis – From The Dark Crystal. They were ridiculously creepy. They still creep me out. Jim Henson was a weird, wild, dark, & scary dude. Frank Oz only served to drive the madness.
“Isn’t he great, muscles and a sense of humor. Well, let’s thank Greg for the lunch time thrills and spills he’s given us. OK, EVERYBODY GET UP! GRAB AN END OF YOUR TABLE!”
Damn you, George Lucas. I’m pretty sure you could sell the proverbial air conditioner to the Eskimo (is Inuit the correct term now?) without a problem, but I bet you can also amazingly re-sell him the air conditioner that he already has just by cleaning it, maybe adding a new filter, and putting a shiny sticker on it… and repeating that process every few years for the next 30 or 40. You are a genius.
Fanboy rant that you’ve already heard a million times over aside, George Lucas is a creative genius, and no matter how much we love to bicker about changes with new actors/voices, re-releases, re-edits, mis-colored & re-colored lightsabers, flying CGI droids, who shot first, and dancing Yoda… it all comes down to the fact that we love the Star Wars films and feel some kind of connection to them. If we didn’t feel so strongly about them, we (hopefully) wouldn’t waste our time bickering. (Sorry, can’t let it go: I still want “Yub Nub” back, I hatehatehate the new Ewok song in Jedi.)
Of course I’m going to get the Blu-ray version. To have them all in one package? Awesome. Seems like forever-ago that I was pontificating on what I’d like to see on a Blu-ray release. Now that it’s almost here & available for pre-order, I’m getting jittery… like I’ve had too many cups of coffee. Maybe I did that, too.
Bill Hunt is a lucky bastard that got a preview of the discs, and he shares the goods with us. Basically there are a lot of error fixes, clean ups, and a bunch of sound remastering and rebuilding. Some cool bits…
One thing I should confirm for you at this point: The original theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy are not included on these discs. Personally, I never expected them to be. I know a lot of fans want them, but it’s clear that Lucas has no intention of making them available at least for the foreseeable future.
Figured as much.
In addition to these sorts of fixes, significant additional dirt removal has been done, more garbage matte lines have been cleaned up and other little “fixes” have been applied as well. Here’s an example of one such fix done to Episode V. For years, fans have complained that in this shot of the Wampa attacking Luke’s Tauntaun, you could see part of the puppeteer’s arm because the costume didn’t extend quite far enough… Now, that’s been fixed.
For Episode IV, however, “getting it exactly right” required a rather extensive forensic effort, as this material just wasn’t cataloged with future surround remixes in mind. In many cases, Matt and his team went back to original analog tape recordings made in 1976 to get the best quality of all the required elements. As a result, it’s fair to say that the surround mix for Episode IV was almost completely rebuilt from scratch, with Matt comparing his work to the original print master to ensure its creative accuracy. And at every step of the way, director George Lucas and original sound supervisor Ben Burtt were consulted to ensure that the mix reproduced as closely as possible their original intent for the film’s sonic experience. In fact, Matt says he played the film’s reels many times for George, in 15-20 second chucks, to get his feedback.
Crazy. I think I’m going to have to break down & buy a surround-sound system just for this Blu-ray release. Maybe a better Blu-ray player too. Any ideas on how to convince my wife why this is necessary?
Now, you’ll recall that a little bit ago, I said 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 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 Episode I…
More tweaks? Hopefully more archive/deleted footage put into the films in lieu of additional background lizards, droids, clones, or new musical numbers. (Although, if more aliens popped up in the background… like the ones from Close Encounters, Alien, Predator, Cowboys & Aliens, or even a Klingon, that would be kind of geeky fun.) I’d like to see the Revenge of the Sith ending that Simon Pegg wrote about in his book.
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.
Now then, let’s move on to the extras. Is it really worth getting the Complete Saga set just to get the three extras discs? For me at least, the answer here is clear: Absolutely. Yes… I’ve now seen many of the Original Trilogy deleted scenes. No… I can’t tell you much about them (believe me, that drives me as crazy as it does you). But I was pretty surprised by them and in a good way. What I can tell you is that they are substantial – at least for the Original Trilogy. This isn’t just dribs and drabs stuff – it includes long sequences. And they’re extremely cool. Frankly, for me this is the real draw of the entire BD release. As you’ve seen in some of the teaser clips Lucasfilm has released, they’re not pristine, but most of them are in HD – at least the Original Trilogy clips. And trust me, they’re well worth seeing. It’s stuff some of you have wanted to see in good quality since 1977, along with a few things fans may not have known even existed.
What’s more, each film has two audio commentary tracks – the ones that were on the previous DVD release as well as an all-new commentary compiled from tons of vintage and archived interviews with the cast and crew. Finally, I’m assured that there are indeed a handful of “very fun” Easter eggs scattered throughout the set.
OOOH. How will I find these? Ha ha. I’m going to have to set up a Google News alert or something. I’m never good at just finding them on my own.
Go read the main article, it’s worth it if you’re a geek… and there are some killer photos!
In with that, they point to yet another article, that says exciting things like…
On the special features, we spent 3 years sifting and digging through 30 years of material that is in the vaults at the Ranch, it’s been quite an undertaking. We uncovered boxes that hadn’t been opened in over 20 years, it was a very dirty experience! We looked through work prints, we found dailies, we went through behind-the scenes videos, we really uncovered a slew of new gems that we’re really excited to share with the fans.
Oh what I wouldn’t give to dig through those archives.
Q: Is the holiday special on there?
A: You’ll have to wait and see! The holiday special is a challenge, but look for some Easter Eggs – what’s a Star Wars release without a couple of Easter Eggs?! J
I’m guessing not the whole Holiday special, but maybe a clip… especially the Boba Fett cartoon. A clean version of that would be excellent! (If it exists, watch it have overdubs fromTemuera Morrison
If the whole special shows up, that would be killer. No one ever asks about the Ewok movies. What about those? When are we going to get more forest creatures, lost footage, and an all-new CGI Gorax? How about Cindel & Mace running around in Jedi somewhere?
Oh yeah, maybe Troops will pop up as an easter egg!
Thanks to HarrisPoll Surveys, PNC/Visa Points, and a jar o’ change, I was able to pre-order from Amazon for only $2.49 out of pocket.
I felt like listing some of my favorite movies from when I was a kid. They’re in no particular order, just how they came to mind. Some are 80’s movies, some are earlier, with a few early 90’s ones thrown in. They were all new to me with the advent of home video rental stores. We used to go to this place called Network Video, & eventually the general store by my house started renting videos too.
I keep adding to the list as some of these movies remind me of others, I may have to do a part 2 or something someday…
Star Wars – This one’s obvious. I’m talking the whole original trilogy here. I really don’t feel the need to elaborate.
Ghostbusters – I remember laughing hysterically at “We came, we saw, we kicked some ass!” This was the perfect mix of creepy and funny for a kid like me. I used to rent this one all the time. I even loved the Saturday morning cartoon.
The Goonies – I have probably watched this more than any other movie on the list, except maybe Star Wars. I can still watch this over & over again. As a kid, it was really easy to be immersed in this movie. I have felt a little bit like Mikey, Data, Mouth, & Chunk many times. I just saw something about the original cast reuniting for a 25th anniversary celebration.
Gremlins – Who didn’t want a Mogwai after seeing this movie? Regardless of the danger, Gizmo would be the best pet ever. I actually remember the gremlins being kind of scary too. (Hey, I was 7 when this came out.)
The Monster Squad – This was like “Goonies vs. the Universal Monsters” to me… so, of course, I loved it. Mr. Alucard called for you. How scary is that? This made me want to start a monster club myself. I may just have to get this on Blu-ray… even thought I already have the VHS & DVD…
The Last Starfighter– The movie for anyone who’s ever imagined that they’re actually in a video game. Great plot-line for a kid who likes video games, or sci-fi. From what I understand, it was one of the first movies to have major use of computer generated graphics.
Batman (1989) – I remember thinking (even at a young age) “Michael Keaton? The guy from Mr. Mom, Gung Ho, & Beetlejuice?” I was as surprised as the rest of the world when it turned out to be the scariest and most awesome Batman movie to date. The comic book nerd in me was overly pleased with Nicholson’s Joker too. Even though he had always been portrayed in the comics as a lanky degenerate loon… Nicholson seemed to capture the spirit of insanity perfectly in that cool demeanor that only he could deliver.
Batman (1966) – I loved the TV show in reruns as a kid, it was like a 60’s comic come to life in all its campy glory. Plus, the Joker, Riddler, The Penguin, and Catwoman all in one movie? Wow! Ha ha ha. This one still has the coolest Batmobile.
Explorers – Space travel… with a home computer, a Tilt-A-Whirl car, and a junkyard. What’s not to love about this one? Again, to a kid, this all seemed quite plausible. This could have been “Goonies in Space”. Ha ha ha.
Leonard Part 6 – Part 6 of a nonexistent line of films… Bill Cosby fends off mutant vegetarians with magic meat. It burns them like holy water on vampires. That alone will make you want to watch this even though Cosby hated it and spoke out against seeing it while he was supposed to be promoting the film.
The Experts – Does anyone else remember this movie at all? There doesn’t seem to be much about it on the web. It’s classic 80’s comic Commie cheese. Two guys, one John Travolta and one other dude are somehow transplanted to a 1950’s style town in Russia set up as an experiment… where the people think they’re in 1950’s USA. It’s like Pleasantville, only not.
Cloak & Dagger – This was another one where you could really imagine being the kid in the film. This YouTube clip sums up the mood quite well. It’s a great kid-centered spy movie with a good deal of action, if I remember right.
Funny Farm – This has got to be one of the most absolutely hilarious movies ever. Andy Farmer is driven to the brink of insanity by an incredibly odd small town and a series of classic (& at the time still funny) Chevy Chase pratfalls. The telephone operator, Yellow Dog, mutton balls… all favorite movie moments.
WarGames – Yeah, I just wrote about this one. Every kid with a computer envisioned hacking into a government computer… or at least hacking into something… and this was all before the internet.
Flight of the Navigator – This movie is excellent. I know I wore out the VHS, and watched it every time I happened to catch it on TV. Alien abduction, a morphing spacecraft, time anomalies, government conspiracies. Intense!
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – I loved this move and still crave Reese’s Pieces every time I think about it. I wanted to build a communication device with my record player too. This movie probably started my distrust of the government.
Weird Science – Geek movie extreme, with that 80’s “my life will end if I don’t get laid” vibe. Less believable than WarGames, more believable than Explorers… Sort of. I never watched the TV show that this spawned, but the movie was a favorite. Oh yeah, the theme song was cool too!
Willow – Best fantasy movie ever? Maybe. It had a 2-headed dragon, sorcerers, a hero, an unwilling little-person hero, tiny funny guys, a villain that looked like Skeletor, and endless amounts of awesome.
Back to the Future Trilogy – If there was an order to this list, this would be very near the top. These movies were fast paced, exciting, and visually stunning. This is what movies should be like. Plus, Christopher Lloyd is bat-shit-nuts and that’s always entertaining.
Project X – As a kid, I loved monkeys, chimps, gorillas, and pretty much any primate. Pop them into an action thriller, and of course I was hooked. This is probably another reason why I distrust government so much.
Big Trouble in Little China – This movie is just ridiculous. Martial arts, Uzis, lightning bolts, and Kurt Russell. What more do you need to throw in to have a winning movie? Oh yeah, creepy monsters and a Chinese sorcerer. That’s what.
Indiana Jones Trilogy – Yeah, just the first 3 here… they were, after all, the only ones out when I was a child. Indiana Jones is the movie hero. The hat, the whip, the attitude… it’s iconic. These would also be at the top of an ordered list. I think that goes without saying.
The Last Dragon – Martial arts plus Motown. We used to watch this during lock-ins where I took Taekwondo as a kid. Bruce Leroy vs. Sho’Nuff had a very Jedi-like vibe, and there was lightning. This is super cheesy, but it’s what makes it a great flick. Sho’Nuff!!!
Coming to America – Ah. Once upon a time Eddie Murphy was funny, & not afraid to say dirty words. Sadly… this movie probably sparked the fat-suit movies to follow with Eddie and Arsenio playing multiple roles. But there are so many things in this film to love… McDowell’s, Soul Glo, Sexual Chocolate. Priceless.
Enter the Dragon – Bruce Lee’s final film, and (I think) the first one that I saw. What kid doesn’t love martial arts movies? The crazy mirrored room scene is my favorite.
Star Trek series – Yeah, I like both Star Wars and Star Trek. Star Wars is more awesome, but don’t get me started. In school, a lot of us nerdy kids were into Star Trek… the show, the movies, the shows that came after… it was awesome. The play between Kirk, Spock, & Bones gets better & better with each film in the series!
The Karate Kid– As a kid in a Taekwondo class, I loved these movies. All three were good, but especially the first one. (We’ll forget about The Next Karate Kid, and the new Jackie Chan one.) I wanted to be the Karate Kid, only in a Cobra Kai uniform. “Sweep the leg!”
Labyrinth – This movie still creeps me out. David Bowie’s Goblin King is more than a little creepy. The Muppets here are the stuff of nightmares… almost as bad as the ones in The Dark Crystal. This is like a darker Wizard of Oz type film… it really put me in another world.
The Dark Crystal – We need more creepy Muppet movies. Forget this GCI and 3-D stuff, I want puppets and stop-motion! I honestly can’t even tell you the full plot, but I watched this several times and loved it.
Just One of the Guys – I think this became a favorite just because I’ve seen it so many times. I mean, it was always on. And, there was like 3 seconds of boobs.
Short Circuit– Johnny 5 is alive! No disassemble! Very funny childlike innocence in a robot come to life thanks to a lightning bolt. Wacky comedic adventure, loved this one.
The Toy – If you’ve never seen this, I recommend going to get it right away… or any Pryor movie exceptSuperman III. It’s just fun & goofy. The Wonder-wheel is my favorite part. And, there’s a lesson in there somewhere…
Revenge of the Nerds – This movie made me want to be a nerd, if I wasn’t one already. The 2nd one wasn’t all that bad, ether. I think this made me want to start a nerd band too.
Police Academy series – I generally like all of these movies… I think I wanted to be Larvell Jones, or at least Zed. Heh. The eyebrow gag is the best… I love movies that are just goofy to be goofy.
“Crocodile Dundee”– For a while in the 80’s, there seemed to be this odd obsession with all things Australian. I don’t know if this was a cause of that or just another part of the wave, but I remember thinking how cool Australia was for quite a long time. It was a like a fresh quirky cowboy movie. The Simpsons episode where Bart prank calls Australia also pokes fun at this fascination.
The NeverEnding Story – What kid didn’t love this film when it came out? It was visually amazing, sad, exciting, a little scary… it was an incredible adventure. I bet Gmork would still scare me if I watched it now…
Don’t Tell Mom, The Babysitter’s Dead – This movie has two things; the line “The dishes are done, man!” and Christina Applegate. All I needed in 1991 was Christina Applegate. I would of watched 3 hours of her doing anything. Ha ha ha.
Predator – This movie was scary and thrilling. It has one of the best movie lines ever… Jesse Ventura’s “I Ain’t got time to bleed.” …as well as many others. This kind of film is so easy to get drawn into. I was in this world when watching this film. Heat vision? Invisibility? I think I wanted to be the Predator… ha ha ha.
I’ve seen almost all those movies. I agree with all of the choices that I recognize. [LIST SPOILERS – Read the other one 1st:] Man, I hated Johnny & The Cobra Kai. Sensei John Creese was the incarnation of evil. I dig this list because it’s not full of the obvious choices. There’s no Darth Vader, no Joker, no Xenomorph.
World (and Lunar) Domination 