I would be very surprised if they can and do make it happen but here is the latest.
http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Rumor_Disney_Mulling_New_Release_Of_Unaltered_Original_Trilogy_153321.asp (http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Rumor_Disney_Mulling_New_Release_Of_Unaltered_Original_Trilogy_153321.asp)
That would be totally awesome in my view. I still have the original originals on VHS, but haven't owned a VCR in years. I watched the digitally altered original trilogy on Blue-Ray last week, and I just can't get over the changes. They drive me nuts!
P.S. - Really looking forward to seeing Han gun down Greedo in cold blood again.. haha.
Wow! Fingers crossed...
I have the VHS versions as well. Would love a good transfer, I watch the 'original' cut the other day on DVD (you know the one on the second disc) but it needs a good clean.
The updated versions are terrible, you can tell its all pasted on. Plus I'd love all the classic films nicely cleaned and un-tampered (no Hayden in Jedi please)
This eventually will happen. If there is money to be made, these will get released at some point. If the rights thing gets worked out for Ep. IV, the best time to have these come out would be just before Episode VII arrives.
Yeah marketing wise and I'm sure Bry will agree getting the classics out to run up would make huge bucks. I would buy them and I do t own the Blu-Ray releases. I think played right Disney pockets will end up being even larger and I wish I had the cash to have bought a few shares lol.
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 08:12:01 AM
Yeah marketing wise and I'm sure Bry will agree getting the classics out to run up would make huge bucks. I would buy them and I do t own the Blu-Ray releases. I think played right Disney pockets will end up being even larger and I wish I had the cash to have bought a few shares lol.
:) No doubt there is a built in market for these, the only issue beyond the right issue for Ep. IV is which versions would they release? They have already done the Laser disc version on DVD of the OT pre-special editions but I think fans want the ORIGINAL theatrical prints.
So do Disney not own the rights for the entire Star Wars franchise or just segments of it?
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 08:17:22 AM
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 08:12:01 AM
Yeah marketing wise and I'm sure Bry will agree getting the classics out to run up would make huge bucks. I would buy them and I do t own the Blu-Ray releases. I think played right Disney pockets will end up being even larger and I wish I had the cash to have bought a few shares lol.
:) No doubt there is a built in market for these, the only issue beyond the right issue for Ep. IV is which versions would they release? They have already done the Laser disc version on DVD of the OT pre-special editions but I think fans want the ORIGINAL theatrical prints.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 08:17:22 AM
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 08:12:01 AM
Yeah marketing wise and I'm sure Bry will agree getting the classics out to run up would make huge bucks. I would buy them and I do t own the Blu-Ray releases. I think played right Disney pockets will end up being even larger and I wish I had the cash to have bought a few shares lol.
:) No doubt there is a built in market for these, the only issue beyond the right issue for Ep. IV is which versions would they release? They have already done the Laser disc version on DVD of the OT pre-special editions but I think fans want the ORIGINAL theatrical prints.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 08:17:22 AM
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 08:12:01 AM
Yeah marketing wise and I'm sure Bry will agree getting the classics out to run up would make huge bucks. I would buy them and I do t own the Blu-Ray releases. I think played right Disney pockets will end up being even larger and I wish I had the cash to have bought a few shares lol.
:) No doubt there is a built in market for these, the only issue beyond the right issue for Ep. IV is which versions would they release? They have already done the Laser disc version on DVD of the OT pre-special editions but I think fans want the ORIGINAL theatrical prints.
How about do what they did with Jaws last year and restore the original prints, treat them like the classics they were before the Soecial Editions.
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 08:21:29 AM
So do Disney not own the rights for the entire Star Wars franchise or just segments of it?
Fox own the distribution rights for ANH in perpetuity.
The fact is that the OOT exists only in film form. It has never had a digital conversion, so the amount of work to bring it to a HD format is considerable. And so the question is what is the cost and then how broad is the market for this content? We can appreciate it's value but does the general public? Are people in general, the casual fan, really clamoring for the OOT on disc?
Quote from: Meds on July 22, 2013, 02:27:23 AM
I have the VHS versions as well. Would love a good transfer, I watch the 'original' cut the other day on DVD (you know the one on the second disc) but it needs a good clean.
The updated versions are terrible, you can tell its all pasted on. Plus I'd love all the classic films nicely cleaned and un-tampered (no Hayden in Jedi please)
Ditto on removing Hayden!
To be honest, although I'd welcome the release of the OOT it would be more to stick two fingers up at Lucas for his ludicrous comments that they no longer existed. I am much more excited in the work being done by the Revisited project and the upcoming release of ESB.
The OT had many technical errors that they are correcting and tasteful and subtle replacement CGI, model and live action work that I'm really excited about.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 09:36:01 AM
The fact is that the OOT exists only in film form. It has never had a digital conversion, so the amount of work to bring it to a HD format is considerable. And so the question is what is the cost and then how broad is the market for this content? We can appreciate it's value but does the general public? Are people in general, the casual fan, really clamoring for the OOT on disc?
OK, but that's what they use to restore these movies, the original negative. I think the market is there, all you have to do is tell rolls over and over its the original trilogy the way you remember it! People buy Star Wars, they just do. I know a ton of non-geeky types who bought the last release "just to have it". Market it right and it will sell. Link it to the sequels' ramp up.
Quote from: ChrisMC on July 22, 2013, 03:48:48 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 09:36:01 AM
The fact is that the OOT exists only in film form. It has never had a digital conversion, so the amount of work to bring it to a HD format is considerable. And so the question is what is the cost and then how broad is the market for this content? We can appreciate it's value but does the general public? Are people in general, the casual fan, really clamoring for the OOT on disc?
OK, but that's what they use to restore these movies, the original negative. I think the market is there, all you have to do is tell rolls over and over its the original trilogy the way you remember it! People buy Star Wars, they just do. I know a ton of non-geeky types who bought the last release "just to have it". Market it right and it will sell. Link it to the sequels' ramp up.
But what is the marketing strategy here, Chris? A box set, individual? How do you price it? I think it is naive to think they can just crank it out, support it with advertising, cash in, and call it a day. Now Disney is well known and well schooled in film preservation of their own content, so there is that motivation. And as sole owners of LucasFilm, they very well may be able to compel Fox to let them take the film out of the vault and restore it and sell it under the LucasFilm corporate name. But I would still argue this is a bit niche.
OK, but wasn't the last release of Star Wars the top selling Blu-ray of the entire year, and that was the whole box set? There's gold in them thar hills. I'm not being naive, I'm simply stating that many other 'classic' movies have gone the 'restore' route, and Star Wars on home video ALWAYS sells. Years of video store management back that up...even if it was many years ago.
Might be a moot point...
http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Clarification_On_Our_Post_About_Disney_Considering_An_OT_ReRelease_153351.asp (http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Clarification_On_Our_Post_About_Disney_Considering_An_OT_ReRelease_153351.asp)
Quote from: Bryancd on July 22, 2013, 07:28:26 PM
Might be a moot point...
http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Clarification_On_Our_Post_About_Disney_Considering_An_OT_ReRelease_153351.asp (http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Clarification_On_Our_Post_About_Disney_Considering_An_OT_ReRelease_153351.asp)
This is what happens when people speak too soon on the Internet! lol
Quote from: ChrisMC on July 22, 2013, 04:00:02 PM
OK, but wasn't the last release of Star Wars the top selling Blu-ray of the entire year, and that was the whole box set? There's gold in them thar hills. I'm not being naive, I'm simply stating that many other 'classic' movies have gone the 'restore' route, and Star Wars on home video ALWAYS sells. Years of video store management back that up...even if it was many years ago.
Yeah, the restore route is one thing, but to the majority of fans, especially the more casual, the Special Edition Blu-ray release is liekly THE definitive one to on and they own it already. Another release of the OOT is asking them to pay again for what thye already own and I'm not convinced that market is there in size enough.