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Star Wars Episode I DVD - October 16, 2001
linderdm writes: "The official Star Wars web site has an article confirming reports about the release date of October 16th for the Phantom Menace DVD. It looks like it will be a double DVD set with 6 hours of additional material, plus 7 new deleted scenes added to the movie." Lucas should have an option to view it in Phantom Edit mode. If that's unrealistic, maybe releasing ep IV, V and VI would be feasible? Please?
As it was covered in the Chicago Tribune a few days ago, I remember the the critic gave it a 1/4 star less than the 3.5 stars that the untouched version had; the edit was much more refined and moved well, but lacked some of the magic that the original had. Rumor has it that Lucas has seen this, and while not allowing it to be distributed publicly, acknowledges that it's a good edit, but not as good as his original vision.
"Pinky, you've left the lens cap of your mind on again." - P&TB
"I can see my house from here!" - ST:
In the original edition, when the bounty hunter confronts Han Solo in the bar, Solo shoots him under the table in cold blood. Establishing that for all his rough and loveable exterior, he is a cold-blooded mercenary at heart. This colors his entire relationship with Leia and his decision to return and helt the Alliance.
In the Special Edition, Lucas adds a few seconds where _the bounty hunter fires the first shot_, turning Solo from a ruthless mercenary to just another guy defending himself in a tough world.
That's a bit of a change, don't you think?
sPh
That's a lot of additional material.
It seems *someone* thinks pretty highly of their little movie.
(Yes, I'm running out to buy this one when it comes out too, despite Jar Jar :P)
...
Consider donating an identical amount (or more?) of the cost of your DVD purchase to the EFF here: https://www.eff.org/support/
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...Lucas already busted me on laserdisc; I have 4 copies of Star Wards. Based on that experience, here's my prediction for the actual, top secret, rape-the-fans schedule:
October 16, 2001: Ep. 1, 6 hours of additional footage, some removed footage. Dolby Digital sound only (Yes, that's for real, check the link)
February 10th, 2002: "Special Edition" Ep. 1, same 6 hours of additional footage, 2 more missing scenes, addition of DTS sound. Buy another copy if you've got a good sound system.
May 30, 2002: "The ultimate edition" Ep. 1, new superior video transfer, director's commentary, Dolby digital and DTS sound. Missing the 6 hours of extra footage and extra scenes.
September 15, 2002: "Director's cut" Ep. 1, back to the old video transfer, same running length but a few scenes switched around, commentary from Lucas and several actors.
January 6, 2003: "Collector's Edition" Ep.1, Dolby Digital, DTS, 6 hours of extra footage, commentary, includes scripts, concept drawings, and other production notes.
Me, I'm just gonna wait until Jan 6, 2003.
-b
If I wanted a sig I would have filled in that stupid box.
The Phantom Menace DVD set will include audio commentary by Lucas, an hour-long documentary on the making of the film, and featurettes about the plot, design, costumes, visual effects and fight scenes. The DVD extra will be seven deleted scenes, amounting to about 20 minutes of previously unseen footage. Since they were cut from the film, the scenes had never been completed. For the DVD, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic, Lucas' special effects operation, went back and finished them with full visual effects.
Reuters
English Dolby Digital [5.1]
English DTS [5.1]
English Jar-Jar free
English Subtitles
French Dolby Pro Logic [2.1]
At least this would be an official release with some extra goodies.
Yeah, it would be great to have a copy without those two robots kibitzing all throughout the movie.
Together I shall rule the world! -- Tom Servo
-- .sig are belong to us!
All your
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
You are correct. The "extra material" was enough to make me capitulate.
I will probably buy a copy of this hoary slab of Gungan-shit.
What can I say? I've had skywalkerian fantasies running through my mind since I was 14 years old. This is as thorough a part of my life as the Constitution I'd die to uphold. Having seen SW1 in the theater, I figured I'd paid my fealty. But no, marketing will out, and I'll just have to find a way to get one at the skinniest profit margin, because I can not do without.
As for the reasons for the poor quality, this time Lucas did too much by himself. He caught lightning in a bottle with Star Wars. Lawrence Kasdan and Joseph Campbell put the meat into Empire and Jedi. Lucas had to craft this one alone. Hopefully he's gone to the water and seen his destiny, and will get his act together for the next two. He's listed in IMDB as having someone else helping with the script for Episode II. We'll see.
And no, I don't expect the trilogy to appear in DVD (or whatever replaces it) until Lucas finds a way to encrypt it so that it can only be decrypted by the retina and occipital lobe of a licensed user.
--Blair
- Seven never-before-seen deleted scenes with full visual effects completed just for the DVD release
- The Beginning - an all-new hour-long documentary culled from over 600 hours of footage offering unprecedented access inside Lucasfilm and ILM during the making of Episode I
- Multi-angle storyboard-to-animatic-to-finished-film feature, that lets you flip through the various phases of development of key action sequences
- Five behind-the-scenes featurettes exploring The Phantom Menace's storyline, designs, costumes, visual effects and fight scenes
- The popular Duel of the Fates music video that debuted in 1999
- All 12 parts of the Lynne's Diaries, the web documentaries that first appeared at starwars.com
- Galleries of theatrical posters, print campaign, and never-before-scene production photos
- The original theatrical teaser and launch trailers, plus seven TV spots including the "tone poems"
Not all that bad, really. Enough to keep a Star Wars fan happy for some time."Meesa think dis movie stinky."