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Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

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Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#281
post #9

Maybe now we'll see a BluRay version of ANH where Han shoots first...

That brings up a good point. Die-hard Star Wars fans have been begging Lucasfilm to release the "unspecial" editions of the original trilogy for many years. IIRC Lucasfilm claims the original negatives were permanently altered when the special editions were made...but certainly no editor could be so careless? It's possible the original negatives still exist and Disney will eventually release them. Further watching: h…

If nothing else there are still high-quality laserdisc copies of the original; I believe there's a DVD-quality rip therof on the internets.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#282
post #9

Maybe now we'll see a BluRay version of ANH where Han shoots first...

That brings up a good point. Die-hard Star Wars fans have been begging Lucasfilm to release the "unspecial" editions of the original trilogy for many years. IIRC Lucasfilm claims the original negatives were permanently altered when the special editions were made...but certainly no editor could be so careless? It's possible the original negatives still exist and Disney will eventually release them. Further watching: h…

It doesn't matter if the original film elements exist or not.

Many different early-generation film elements exist, such as internegatives and interpositives, all of which are capable of yielding resolutions much higher than 2K (or even 4K) with the right equipment.

Furthermore, many hundreds (or even thousands) of the theatrical 35mm and 70mm film reels still exist for all three films. (They're in the hands of private collectors and LFL.) Sure, they're beat to hell, but a restoration team worth its weight should be able to handle such a job if the situation were so dire.

For more information, see http://www.originaltrilogy.com/ and http://www.savestarwars.com/.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#283
post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That brings up a good point. Die-hard Star Wars fans have been begging Lucasfilm to release the "unspecial" editions of the original trilogy for many years. IIRC Lucasfilm claims the original negatives were permanently altered when the special editions were made...but certainly no editor could be so careless? It's possible the original negatives still exist and Disney will eventually release them. Further watching: h…

If nothing else there are still high-quality laserdisc copies of the original; I believe there's a DVD-quality rip therof on the internets.

LFL released the original-unaltered-trilogy in 2006 as bonus DVDs to stand alongside the 2004 releases of the Special Editions. They used the D1 Maser Tapes created for the 1993 Definitive Collection laserdisc set, so they're (technically) better than the aforementioned laserdiscs.

With that being said, the image quality suffers from horrible smearing caused by 1993-era DVNR and colors are severely desaturated. Furthermore, the release was rushed and reeks of an inexperienced restoration team. For more information, see: http://savestarwars.com/gout.html

It is held by many to be the worst DVD release of all time.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#284
post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

pretty low, considering that a movie like Avatar made approx $3 billion in revenues.

$1.1 billion in profit. But it was certainly an exception to the average film.

Star Wars merchandise and expanded universe rights will generate an insane revenue stream (Legos, Video Games, DVD re-releases. . Hasboro toys, books, etc.) on top of a new movie coming out in 2015 that will only supercharge those streams.

On top of that, you get extra bonuses such as Indiana Jones and all its associated merchandising.

Disney just bought itself a nice constant revenue stream that will keep generating golden eggs so long as Star Wars remains a core part of American culture.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#285

Awesome, Episode 7. Think I might watch 5 and 6 again soon.

I think the point is that Disney will be behind the movies now. As a fan, I am more in fear of horrible, time wasting movies, Disney is known for making sequels to just try and make some extra money out of a series. Star Wars is a jackpot for that. While some more honorable fans will not see the movies, most fans will regardless because they have to at least see the new movies otherwise they wouldn't be fans anymore.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#287
post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A nice bit of irony, coming from you.

I will miss the 20th Century Fox intro and fanfare. That still sends chills down my spine.

Oh wow I never even though about that.. A Star Wars movie without the 20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm pre-roll just won't be the same...

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two responses. (i) Millions of kids saw that episode and went on to pirate movies and music anyways, because kids don't really derive their ethics from cartoon series, just like you & I aren't secretly animated by "Knowing is Half The Battle" from G.I. Joe. ( http://www.joeheadquarters.com/joeendings.shtml ) (ii) The particular message you're suggesting Iron Man is "propagandizing" is so anodyne that it was the subje…

You mean I'm the only one that "Knowing is Half the Battle" animates? Gadzooks!

Nah man,when my kids make a mistake (or almost make a mistake), I go out of my way to tell them how they could have avoided it; 9 times out of 10 I end the discussion with, "And now you know ..." before I realize what I'm saying :P

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#289
post #287
post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will miss the 20th Century Fox intro and fanfare. That still sends chills down my spine.

Oh wow I never even though about that.. A Star Wars movie without the 20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm pre-roll just won't be the same...

They'll probably keep the LucasFilm roll there as it will still be their studio producing most of it. But what should really bother you is the Disney intro with Tinkerbell flying around. That's going to look highly inappropriate...

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter that not all the properties fall in line with Fox News' agenda. That Fox News has a huge influence is undeniable, and the rest of News Corps news and pundit properties fall in line with that. The entertainment divisions simply put money in the pot.

> It doesn't matter that not all the properties fall in line with Fox News' agenda It matters in the sense that a media conglomerate can't consistently act in concert to effect cultural change, which was the original question. But I think you're being insufficiently cynical if you don't think the news properties are there to put money in the pot, too. Before Fox News was launched, the overwhelming sentiment among con…

Murdoch absolutely uses his news properties to influence politics and government policy. I don't deny that News Corp may be primarily a profit-motivated division. But you do realize that the policies Murdoch wants to influence lead to more profits, right? Even if the cultural effect is a side effect, it is a result of a motivated corporate agenda. And the reason it happens is because the corporations are so big and rich, and therefore influential, and therefore powerful.
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