Anakin And His Angel

Original Trilogy DVD News
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The Original Star Wars Trilogy DVD hit stores September 21st of 2004!
Click here for more information from the official site.

Thanks to CaptainSithPark, Templar,
ob120485, and OBI-1_Skywalker for News!

Image of Anakin (Hayden) Spirit // Image of Anakin (Hayden) Spirit II
Image of changed Emperor in TESB
Image of changed Emperor in TESB II
Image of Han & Luke on Tatooine // Image of Naboo

From TheForce.net...

Well this is just awesome...the Star Wars Trilogy DVD box set is at the top of the Top 25 DVDs of 2004 list in the Rolling Stone magazine! You can check out the rest of the list in the current issue. Now that's what I'm talking about!

From DVDAnswers.com...

Here is a most excellent article comparing all the changes from the Original version of SW, to the 1997 version, then to the DVD version of a A New Hope. Click here to read it! Enjoy!

From CaptainSithPark...

Yesterday, Neil Burk first reported to us he felt the film score rear channels were reversed on his new copy of the Star Wars Episode IV DVD. He said he double-checked his wiring but was sure the effects where right, but the music was reversed. Today, Thedigitalbits.com (below) reported in detail about this, also saying the rear film score channels were reversed. Prior to publishing this, we asked Lucasfilm for a statement on it. We just received it:

We are always impressed with how closely fans listen to the many different sound mixes we have made for the Star Wars movies over the years. It is flattering to know that, indeed, the audience is listening. Consequently, each mix comes out differently and any changes that you hear on the all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX tracks on the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set are deliberate creative decisions. We can confirm that there are no technical glitches as has been reported.

If the channels are indeed reversed, this is a very curious creative decision. As everybody heads out starting tonight to get their DVDs, it remains to be seen if they agree with these particular creative decisions or not. We're anxious to hear from readers when you do get a chance to check it out in your own homes

Digital Bits - In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set accordingly with the details as follows:

[Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, we've detected a number of audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope. They are as follows:

1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.

2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.

3) Possibly most critically, John Williams' entire score for the film has been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear channel is playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels - instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear instead of the right rear. Again, this is very distracting once you notice it.

These problems are certainly severe enough in our opinion to merit a repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we do.]

Digital Bits - Well... a lot of you aren't going to believe this, but Lucasfilm has responded to our questions about the audio issue on the DVD of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Here's the company's official statement:

"We are always impressed with how closely fans listen to the many different sound mixes we have made for the Star Wars movies over the years. It is flattering to know that, indeed, the audience is listening. Consequently, each mix comes out differently and any changes that you hear on the all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX tracks on the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set are deliberate creative decisions. We can confirm that there are no technical glitches as reported."

Dialing down the trumpet fanfare during the Death Star attack... okay, I can see that could be a creative decision. But the strange audio quality shift of Tarkin's line and the surrounds issue - I don't really buy that those are creative decisions. Judging by the e-mails we're getting, we're certainly not the only ones to have noticed these things. We're going to dig into this further and see what we come up with.

Stay tuned...

Posted by Jeremy Solo...

Here is something for all of you who can't get to the hidden outtakes on your Original Trilogy DVD (Listen Up DestinySolo!). An easy way to get to it is to insert your Bonus Material Disc and start playing a feature (any one with video footage should do) and when it starts playing press the SEARCH button on your remote. Then access TITLE (not CHAPTER) 38. It will take you straight to the outtakes, no tricky code needed!

From Zap2it.com...

Extras & Hayden Cameo

Zap2it.com has two articles concerning the Original Trilogy DVD. Here are some excerpts...

The Extras of the DVD:
The four DVD set contains the 1997 versions of the three movies, along with a documentary by Kevin Burns called, with acknowledged irony, "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy." Burns says he was able to convince all the major "Star Wars" players to participate.

The documentary is two-and-a-half-hours long and contains extensive new material that will have fans and chat rooms buzzing. There's also compliments from seemingly jealous filmmakers like James Cameron ("Titanic," "Terminator.")

Read all!

Christensen's Digital Cameo:
The actor who plays the future Darth Vader in "Attack of the Clones" and the upcoming "Revenge of the Sith" will make a cameo in the new "Star Wars" trilogy DVD boxed set, report news sources.

Christensen will appear as the spirit of Anakin Skywalker at the end of the new version of "Return of the Jedi" DVD, replacing the face of Sebastian Shaw.

Read all!

From Canoe...

Fans feel the Force

Coming from Canoe...

In the most anticipated DVD box set of all time, Greedo fires first.

And as fans and retailers alike can tell you, there are no insignificant details when it comes to George Lucas' beloved Star Wars trilogy, which finally arrives on DVD in a four-disc collection on Sept. 21.

Greedo, as you may recall, was Jabba The Hutt's bug-eyed henchman -- the one who Han Solo (Harrison Ford) fries in that alien bar on Tattooine.

In the original 1977 film, Solo fired first.

By the time Lucas revisited the trilogy for its 1997 theatrical re-release, the director had decided Solo shouldn't be that cold-blooded and gave the scene a digital facelift with Greedo firing first and Solo reacting in self-defense. It was just one change Lucas made to the trilogy -- much to the dismay of purists -- but, as the DVD editions screened by the Sun reveals, it was far from the last.

Most notably, the legendary director has added Canadian Hayden Christensen to the final moments of 1983's Return of the Jedi.

Christensen -- who plays (future Darth Vader) Anakin Skywalker in Episodes 2 and 3 -- turns up as Skywalker's ghostly spectre, alongside Alec Guinness' Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi master Yoda...

Click here to read more.

From USA TODAY...

Spiffing up for the DVD

USA TODAY posted an article detailing the process used to scan the Original Trilogy film in preparation for the release on DVD this month. Here is an excerpt of the article...

The process: First, he analyzes the film and notes its biggest problems, be it dust or softness. Then he sets parameters for the restoration software. The computer system divides the film into segments and applies fixes, identifying flaws by comparing neighboring film frames. Lowry and his team check the processed scenes daily, frame by frame.

Restoration took about a month per film. As footage became ready, segments were downloaded onto a portable hard drive and shipped to Lucas for approval.

The result is as if a veil has been lifted: The annoying hail of visible noise is gone, and colors are richer. The footage seems to shine, as if brand-new. "We have given it the kind of sharpness which doesn't create ugly edges," Lowry says.

Beyond a stellar DVD, Lucasfilm now has a high-definition master stored in its vaults that won't degrade as celluloid does. The master can be used to make new film prints and high-definition DVDs.

You can also expect lots more News concerning the DVD soon. The long lead time press has been waiting till at least Wednesday to run its articles on the DVDs due out September 21. This will be the first time Lucasfilm gets on-record about the changes to the films we have all been seeing around the net. Only two more weeks!

From OBI-1_Skywalker...

Already on eBay!

Insane, but true. And it's going for $140.00 with 25 bids, and still eight days to go! Follow this link to check it out. You'll find pictures of the dvd...including parts of the inside booklet! Also be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page for interesting Q&A's.

From CaptainSithPark...

Peter Mayhew was at a Sci-Fi/Comic bla, bla, bla Con in Toronto, Ontario Canada this weekend replacing both Mr.'s Bolloch and Baker who were to attend but were not able. During his Intimate & Interactive on Friday night he was very tight lipped about anything Ep.3 (Obviously). Other than talk of improvements to Chewie's new costume (More muscular, Air conditioned Etc.) over the old one, Kashyyk will be stunning and we should all enjoy the movie very much.

I don't want to get him in trouble with this but he did say he will be donning the costume in the next week or two to do some related advertising for September's DVD release. Acting as spokesperson in the commercials (Europe, Australia was mentioned).

................

Well, we won't be getting official info for a while. Ron Epstein posted this at hometheaterforum:

ATTENTION

I attended the Star Wars Trilogy event in New York City earlier today.

I have so much to tell all of you, but unfortunately, everyone has signed an agreement that all coverage of the many Press Events being held are to be embargoed until September 8th.

This means a few things....

We cannot post any details about the event nor post any of the many pictures that were taken.....

...or even about the special guest star in attendance!

No publication nor Internet web site can post any pictures or news about the Press Events being held in various locations. This is being done so every site has a fair chance to get their coverage up at the same time. If you see another website posting information be sure to send us an email about it.

On September 8th every Internet site will be releasing their own coverage of what was discussed at the Star Wars Trilogy Press Events. We hope you will stop by HOME THEATER FORUM first as it is our goal to give you as much complete coverage as we can.

My apologies for leading many of you to believe that a story would be posted on 6/23. Fox had neglected to inform me at the time of invite that there would be an embargo placed on the coverage. Thank you for your patience.

From CaptainSithPark...

A friend of mine in Britain had a chance to see "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy". It will be a two-and-a-half hour documentary by Kevin Burns that will be on the upcoming Star Wars Trilogy DVD, he saw the 90 minute version that will air on A&E in the fall with some semi-spoilers here's his rough review:

Considering its not the full version, it's still amazing- 55 minutes is devoted to 'ANH' ,and about sixteen minutes each on 'EMPIRE' and 'JEDI'. Though there is no real new info on the making of the films, the visual material is STUNNING. The section on 'ANH' alone has some great behind the scenes, outtakes, scenes from different camera angles with different acting delivery/pre dubbing, some surprises, and half a deleted scene and a scene extension (a little clue- they both involve back projection!!). There are two very nice surprise guest contributors linked to 'ANH' too (one persons contribution I really wasn't expecting- after their fall out with Lucas in 1976-7). Though short and sweet, the 'EMPIRE' and 'JEDI' coverage is also great (also with super behind the scenes stuff) but obviously the extra hour on the DVD will cover them. It really is worth the wait. I'm not saying anymore- I don't want to spoilt it .

Looks like we may see bits of deleted scenes in amongst the featurettes! Sounds absolutely exciting!!

From TFN...

StarWars-Union.de has posted some very cool High Resh. scans of the Danish DVD covers for each of the movies. These are positively breath-taking, a definite must see!

From BOBFROMMARKETING...

..a member of the TFN boards posted this link which shows the ending scene of ROTJ..(with Hayden). Is it real or fake? You decide.

From DVDTown.com...

Check out this link which shows the Menu Screens for ANH, TESB and ROTJ. Very nice indeed, can't wait!

From the Official Site...

On September 21, when it comes time to tear through the shrink-wrap and open the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD, here's what you'll find inside. As described here, the four-disc set is encased in an attractive two-sided package with embossed cover art rendered in platinum for widescreen editions, or gold for full screen editions. Inside, the four discs each feature new artwork for their covers.

The cover art to each Episode features the same photographic art style found on the already available Episode I and II DVDs, unifying the saga as a whole. The art printed on the disc themselves features poster art from the original theatrical release. The disc art for A New Hope is by Tom Jung, Empire by Roger Kastel and Jedi by Kazuhiko Sano.

The bonus disc features a new image of Darth Vader, with his eyes serving as a window to the wealth of behind-the-scenes material found on disc four. As the documentaries on this fourth disc delve into the very origins of the Star Wars saga, the disc art fittingly features a very early poster concept by Ralph McQuarrie.

For those who like their DVD shelves tidy and uniform, the boxed set can be displayed in different ways. The inner box that slides out of the slip case can be placed so that box art faces outwards, or that the individual DVD spines face outward, to properly show the numerical indices of each Episode. Also, care has been taken that all the spines assembled work as a whole, so that your complete library of Episodes I-VI (including Episode III) will have a cohesive design, with prequel and original trilogy delineated by color.

For a complete list of the DVD features, see this story. Keep checking starwars.com for future updates on this highly anticipated release.

From TFN...

According to our sources, Lucasfilm hosted a press day today for long lead publications like magazines and international papers. The focus of the day's events were to give them an exclusive preview of the Classic Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. The official 4-disc set debuts in September with online and short-lead having their preview sometime next month or early August.

While we've yet to hear anything substantial about the days events as of yet, this post is just to let you know that people out there have now seen Star Wars on DVD, they've witnessed some of the changes themselves and we'll all know soon enough all of the intricate details of the release. So far we believe we can confirm Hayden being added to ROTJ and Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor in the Trilogy. Naboo is also included in the ending celebrations and there's another pass on Jabba in ANH.

From the Digital Bits...

Also this morning, I imagine by now many of you have seen the altered Return of the Jedi DVD screen shot posted yesterday over on Ain't it Cool News. While some sources are still hedging their bets... yes, we can confirm that this is authentic. It IS one of many changes that are being made to the original Star Wars films for the September 21st DVD release.

We've been saying for months now that there were going to be changes made to these films for DVD, and while many believed us, a number of Star Wars fans have e-mailed to say we must be on crack. Nevertheless, believe it or not, we know for a FACT that several more changes are being made to these films. Trust us on this - our contacts are in positions to know. Like it or not, the films we will get on DVD on 9/21 are NOT going to be the original theatrical versions and they're not going to be the 1997 special editions either. Even Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet has confirmed this , saying at the recent WonderCon convention that the films contained on the discs would be the incarnations of the films "as George Lucas sees them today."

It's gonna get mighty interesting in the months ahead, folks.

Stay tuned..

SW on DVD: Special Edition Changes?...from TFN

There's been plenty of talk this week about just what will be on those Special Edition DVDs this September from Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox. Will they be the re-released versions of the original films or have there been even more changes?

Our sources tell us that there have been lots of changes to A New Hope, including some tinkering with the Han/Greedo scene. This is also the film with the most significant changes. The Emperor has been replaced with prequel actor Ian McDiarmid in ESB and Hayden Christensen does indeed appear in the final cut of Return of the Jedi. The explanation of his young appearance as a spirit is revealed in Episode III, as [spoiler]he years in the Dark Side don't age the Jedi's spirit form.[spoiler end]

We caution you that these are rumors and even this report should be met with some skepticism and prayer that they'll just quit messing with these movies. According to these people though, THESE are the rumored Archival Editions fans were expecting in the future.

So our hope is that maybe the 2006/7 DVD version of the film will be the originals in all of their glory?

The full press release from The Business Wire for the SW DVD's..

The Business Wire has issued the full press release for the Star Wars DVDs. Here it is in the entirety. We're really impressed with the content listed but our only question - there's no deleted scenes? Argh!

On DVD for the First Time Sept. 21: STAR WARS TRILOGY Brings New Excitement, Insight and Adventure to the Most Highly Anticipated DVD in History

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2004 -- More than 10 Hours of Bonus Materials Join the Classic, Newly Remastered Films in a Four-Disc Set that Includes a Brand-New, Feature-Length Documentary and Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes

Already among the best-selling titles of 2004 -- more than four months before its release -- the "Star Wars Trilogy" comes to DVD for the first time ever on Sept. 21 in the U.S. and Canada, with international release dates following closely.

No. 1 on Amazon.com's best-seller lists in the U.S., Canada, Germany and the U.K., the four-disc DVD set from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is priced at $69.98 SRP and includes more than 10 hours of entertainment and extraordinary picture and sound quality.

"Knowing how excited "Star Wars' fans are about this release, we're working very hard to make the films look and sound spectacular and to deliver a DVD collection that will be truly memorable," said Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at Lucasfilm Ltd., and the DVD's executive producer.

Available in both widescreen and full-frame formats in the U.S. (and widescreen only internationally), the three films in the "Star Wars Trilogy" -- "Episode IV A New Hope," "Episode V The Empire Strikes Back" and "Episode VI Return of the Jedi" -- have been newly restored and remastered by renowned Lowry Digital Images and are presented with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. Each film also includes new commentary by George Lucas and cast and crew members, including director Irvin Kershner, actress Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and Industrial Light & Magic's Dennis Muren.

A fourth disc in the collection includes an additional four hours of added-value material that brings remarkable new depth and insight into the making of the three films and the broader "Star Wars Saga."

The cornerstone of this fourth disc is "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy." The two-and-a-half hour documentary traces the evolution of "Star Wars" from a low-budget, labor-of-love space saga to a movie phenomenon that defied the odds and reinvented the rules. At its core, "Empire of Dreams" tells the story of an independent filmmaker who had to innovate and invent an entirely new way of creating motion pictures.

Featuring all-new interviews with Lucas and more than 40 members of the cast and crew from all three films, "Empire of Dreams" also includes appearances by a host of filmmakers and media personalities, along with never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the three films. This new documentary brings viewers the most comprehensive look at a pioneer who triumphed against the odds to create an enduring modern fairy tale that has captivated the world.

Additionally, the fourth bonus disc offers a host of other exciting features, including:

-- "Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of Darth Vader" - No other villain is as iconic as Darth Vader, a symbol of doom since his first appearance on movie screens in 1977, who remains a permanent part of popular culture. Finally, "Star Wars: Episode III" will reveal just how Anakin Skywalker became the feared Sith Lord. In this exclusive preview, George Lucas discusses Anakin's descent, while viewers will get a first look at the new Vader costume forged for Episode III and will experience first-hand how Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor have prepared for the epic lightsaber battle that has been anticipated for more than two decades: the climactic showdown between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

-- "The Birth of the Lightsaber(TM)" - Its unforgettable hum and scintillating glow are instantly recognizable around the world, and now viewers will discover the origins of this elegant weapon from a more civilized age. This documentary, devoted to the lightsaber, features insight from George Lucas, cast and crew into the history of the iconic laser sword. It showcases the genesis of the lightsaber stunt and special-effects work and illustrates how each film in the Star Wars saga has surpassed the previous one with spectacular action set pieces featuring the Jedi's most trusted weapon.

-- "The Characters of Star Wars" - An in-depth look at how favorite characters came to be, featuring rare concept art, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with George Lucas and the cast and crew who shaped the screen's favorite heroes - Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO - and the greatest villain of all, Darth Vader.

-- "The Force Is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars" - "Star Wars" opened up a galaxy of possibilities to a generation of filmmakers and creative talents. Viewers will hear first-hand from some of the most notable filmmakers of our time about how influential the "Star Wars" movies have been to their lives.

-- "Star Wars Battlefront(TM) Trailer and Playable Demo" - Now that the greatest "Star Wars" battles are on DVD, video game players can live them like never before in the new video game "Star Wars: Battlefront" from LucasArts, available for PlayStation(R)2, Xbox(R) and PC-CD. The "Star Wars Trilogy" DVD will offer a trailer featuring an exciting look at the video game, along with a special demo for Xbox users that lets users fight the Battle of Endor as a Rebel or Imperial soldier and drive AT-STs, ride speeder bikes and use different weapons to lead their side to victory. The full version of "Star Wars Battlefront" will also be released Sept. 21 for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft, and PC.

-- "Star Wars: Episode III Making the Game Preview" - Video-game players will be able to experience the stunning Jedi action of "Episode III" themselves in the new "Star Wars: Episode III" game. This special feature shows how game developers at LucasArts worked behind-the-scenes and on the set to create the most authentic Jedi experience ever. The "Star Wars: Episode III" game will be available in Spring 2005 for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft.

-- "Original Trailers and TV Spots" - The original theatrical teaser, launch and re-release trailers for each film, plus TV spots, are featured on the DVD.

-- "Never-Before-Seen Production Gallery" - DVD owners will delve into an unseen corner of the Lucasfilm Archives with exclusive photos from the making of the "Star Wars Trilogy," traveling from Tunisia to England, Norway, Arizona and back to California.

-- "Posters and Print Campaigns" - The original releases of the "Star Wars Trilogy" films came at a time when international campaigns produced a wealth of intriguing, alternative poster art. Viewers can explore a collection of theatrical posters from around the world.

-- "Exclusive DVD-ROM Content" - The "Star Wars Trilogy" DVDs are keys that unlock exclusive content available only through a special DVD-ROM website. In addition, the DVD offers a link to starwars.com, the official "Star Wars" destination on the Web, which provides daily features and updates on the continuing "Star Wars" saga

Official Site Specs and Details on DVD's..

Star Wars: Episode III Making the Game Preview: Video-game players will be able to experience the stunning Jedi action of Episode III themselves in the new Star Wars: Episode III game, due out in Spring 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. This special feature shows how game developers at LucasArts worked behind-the-scenes and on the set to create the most authentic Jedi experience ever.

Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of Darth Vader: Finally, Star Wars: Episode III will reveal just how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, the most iconic villain in film history. In this exclusive preview, George Lucas discusses Anakin's descent, with a first look at the new Vader costume forged for Episode III. Also, experience how Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor have prepared for the epic lightsaber battle that has been anticipated for more than two decades: the climactic showdown between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

USA Today article..

Star Wars fans get a first look at the final chapter in George Lucas' saga on the $70 Star Wars Trilogy DVD set due Sept. 21.

For $70, fans can feast on Star Wars and see Darth Vader's new duds.

One of the extras is The Return of Darth Vader, a sneak preview of the as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode III in which Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) becomes Vader. The preview offers a first glimpse of the new Vader costume, too. "What we want to do is give people a sense of what it was like when Darth Vader steps back on the set again," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "It's one of those moments that happens only once in the lifetime of a saga."

Christensen will fill Vader's shoes, but no word yet on whether actor James Earl Jones will again supply Vader's voice. He did so in the original films, while actor David Prowse played the hooded and caped man in black. Then, in Return of the Jedi, when Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) takes off Vader's mask, the actor seen was the late Sebastian Shaw

New York Times article on DVD Restoration team..

600 Macs, 4,000 Lines, One Giant Leap for DVD's

Excerpt - "We're making an archive for DVD, film, digital cinema, HDTV, TV, whatever that will last the next two or three generations of technology," Mr. Lowry said.

Thirty-five years ago, Mr. Lowry, who is now 71, patented a method of cleaning up NASA's live televised transmissions from the moon. Six years ago, as the DVD took off, he set up Lowry Digital then a two-man R & D shop to apply his techniques to digital restoration.

He hired a photographer to make a short 35-millimeter film clip of some children playing soccer on a lakeshore. He paid a local lab to transfer the film to digital video, using a 4K scanner. The picture was clear, sharp, detailed. He then processed the images with his film-restoration software, which he'd programmed onto some Macintosh G4 computers. (The effort took months, as the faster G5's weren't out yet.) The processed picture was clearer, sharper and more detailed still. He could see every divot on the turf. What had once looked like a smudge in the background was now recognizable as a boat on the lake.

In January 2000, some executives from Warner Brothers saw his demo. They were so impressed, they faxed him an order the same day to restore the masters for three DVD's: "Gone With the Wind," "Now Voyager" and "North by Northwest." With the advance money, he bought the computers he needed to do the job.

Since then, he has bought hundreds of computers, hired a staff of 30 and worked on 80 DVD's including the long-awaited DVD of "Star Wars" erasing wear, tears, dirt, scratches and other ravages of age. (In the early days, he sometimes erased too much. By his own admission, his restoration of "Citizen Kane" is too clean; the natural grain of film is gone; it looks like a video. He later figured out how to fix flaws while preserving grain.)

Many restoration specialists do this sort of work manually, often frame by frame. Mr. Lowry may be the first to do digital restoration while the images are still in a digital format a bunch of 0's and 1's inside a computer before they're transferred to video.

Not long ago, MGM sent a camera crew to interview him about his restoration techniques for a "special feature" to be included on the Bond DVD's. The question now is how long it will take MGM to release these DVD's and how long it will take other studios and digital-mastering houses to catch on in short, how long it will take for the future to begin."

Full Article - ON the second floor of an unassuming office building on the edge of Burbank, John Lowry is forging what might be the future of the DVD � and, with it, the way that classic films will be stored, preserved, telecast and watched.

Mr. Lowry, who has worked for decades at enhancing video imagery, is responsible for some of the best-looking DVD restorations in recent years, including transfers of "Casablanca", "Singin' in the Rain" and "Once Upon a Time in the West."

Since last November, he has been immersed in a project that promises to advance the state of the art � and that has been kept secret, even among most industry insiders, until now.

What he is doing will make a DVD look nearly as sharp and detailed as a 35-millimeter film print. It will produce images with six times the resolution of today's high-definition television sets. In video quality, it could turn home theater into a true rival of the neighborhood cineplex.

Walk into the suites of Lowry Digital, the company that Mr. Lowry started six years ago, and the first sight that strikes you is the computer bank � rack after rack of Macintosh G5 computers, 600 of them, holding a combined memory of 2,400 gigabytes.

Beyond this room is a super-sanitized, temperature-controlled chamber. Inside, a technician wearing a white smock and cap monitors a pair of machines called the Imager XE-Advanced, made by the Imagica Corp.

The Imagica machines are ultra-sophisticated digital film-scanners. They are loaded with reels from the original negative of the 1967 James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice."

The spools advance slowly, one frame every four seconds, which is how long it takes the Imagica to scan across a frame 4,000 times � a process known as 4K scanning.

During the scan, the machine creates a digital replica of the frame, consisting of 4,000 horizontal lines of data. A cable then transmits this data to a hard-drive server in an adjoining room.

To put the magnitude of 4,000 lines in perspective, a television displays broadcast signals as 480 lines. High-definition televisions have up to 1,080 lines. (The greater number of lines, the more detailed the image � the more closely it resembles a seamless, lifelike picture.) Impressive as HDTV looks, 35-millimeter film has far more color and detail. Engineers calculate that 4,000 lines of data would be needed to reproduce all the visual information in a frame of film � exactly as many lines as the Imagica delivers.

So, if it scans an original camera negative, as it's doing with "You Only Live Twice," it creates a data file that's a virtual duplicate of the negative.

By contrast, most DVD's these days � good as many look � begin with a compromise: they're scanned at just 1,080 lines, at most 2,000 (sometimes as few as 480), and the source is almost always not the original negative but a copy. When you start with a copy, Mr. Lowry said, "you're immediately losing lots of details. Colors are less pure, too."

In other words, a DVD that's scanned at 4K from an original negative should look better than the best DVD's today. That's the theory, anyway.

MGM has hired Lowry Digital to make 4K digital masters of nine James Bond films, including all of those starring Sean Connery. I have watched scenes from a high-definition transfer of these masters on monitors at Lowry Digital. I've also seen a DVD, which Mr. Lowry gave me, on my TV set at home.

The scenes look as brilliant as anything I've seen on a video disc � and better than any video of a color movie that was shot 35 to 40 years ago. Colors are saturated and natural. Gardens have dozens of shades of green. Flesh tones are uncannily lifelike. Shadows look like shadows, not gray blots. Motions are smooth, not jumpy.

MGM executives decline to say when they'll be releasing these Bond DVD's � or anything else about the project, except to confirm that it exists. The new discs won't be out until next year at least � perhaps in part to avoid angering consumers who bought the 20 Bond films in three boxed sets that MGM put out just last year. Those discs (which Mr. Lowry had nothing to do with) tend to look grainy, blotched and flat.

They were made with the materials at hand � faded film stock and high-definition (sometimes standard-definition) scanners. Studios frequently use 4K scanners for computer animation and special effects, but few have even considered 4K-scanning of entire movies for DVD. It's an expensive operation. An Imagica scanner costs about $300,000. The G5 computers cost $3,000 apiece. The software, servers and so forth aren't cheap either. All told, mastering a DVD in 4K costs two to four times as much as doing it the usual ways.

The attraction of going this route is that it produces not just better-looking DVD's for now but a foundation for formats of the future.

From FYE..

We have even more detailed information from retail sources this morning on the content to be included on Disc Four of the Star Wars Trilogy (due 9/21). According to FYE, the disc will include:

Star Wars: The Independent Films feature length documentary - The story of Star Wars is the story of the most successful independent series film ever produced. It's the story of a Hollywood outsider named George Lucas and a low-budget labor of love space saga that defied the odds and reinvented the rules. It's the story of a revolution born of a dream. It's the story of an independent filmmaker who had to innovate and invent an entirely new way of creating motion pictures. It's the story of a fundamental paradigm shift in the creative process made, not by the studio system, but by a single filmmaker with a simple dream. (150 min)

The Evolution of Characters featurette - Get an in-depth look at how all your favorite characters came to be with exclusive concept art and discussion with George and the people who shaped what ultimately became our favorite heroes and villains. Includes a separate still/video gallery cut to Star Wars music with access to artwork and classic scenes for each major character. (30 min.)

The Influence of Star Wars featurette - The groundbreaking special effects that were pioneered to make Star Wars movies not only helped viewers escape to a galaxy far, far away, but they changed the way every movie was made thereafter. Experience never before seen effects innovations from the films and learn how pivotal the films were to modern effects wizards and filmmakers. (20 min.)

Lightsabers/Fights featurette - Forget laser pistols, the lightsaber is the coolest weapon in the Star Wars galaxy. What were George's influences for creating the lightsaber? How did Mark Hamill, Alec Guiness, and Darth Vader stunt people approach wielding a saber? How did the effects guys figure out the lightsaber beam? How did each fight escalate from the previous one? And what influences did this creation have on movies thereafter? (10 min.)

1977 Featurette - Transport people back in time to the opening of each Star Wars film. Menus will showcase all the pop culture features from the 1977 opening such as: TV references, toy ads, promotional partner commercials, news clips, songs inspired by Star Wars, Star Wars magazine and newspaper coverage, classic video game demos. (20 min.)

Star Wars Battlefront X-Box Video Game Demo (15 min.)

Teasers and Trailers from the original theatrical releases of each of the movies along with the 1997 re-releases. (15 min.)

TV Spots from the original theatrical releases of the movies along with the 1997 re-releases (5 min.)

Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview -- Section One: The Creator - Finally the birth of Vader. George talks about finally bringing Vader back to the series and teases about Anakin's descent to the Dark Side and the powers of seduction in play. Section Two: The Costume - Black is back. For the last Star Wars movie ever and the birth of the ultimate villain, a new costume was forged. This segment answers some key questions: who created it? was it made for Hayden? Section Three: The Actors - Finally I get to become Vader. Key interviews with the cast (including Hayden) and crew sharing their thoughts and experiences about working on the last Star Wars film and finally seeing the completion of the Saga. (10 min.)

Stills - A comprehensive gallery of posters from around the world, classic artwork, and never-before-seen photos from all three films (approximately 300 images.)

DVD-ROM Features - DVD ROM link to exclusive Star Wars website.

So there you go... certainly sounds interesting. By the way, each of the movie discs will also reportedly include a credit roll Easter egg. Just so you know, all of this does jive what we've heard from other retailers recently, so it sounds like the real deal. Throw in the audio commentaries we've reported on previously, and you've got a nice little package

All this has been reproted on Digital bits.com and for your viewing pleasure a sneak peak!!!! CLICK HERE!!

According to the listing for the title on the Best Buy.com website..

Disc Four will contain:
The feature-length Star Wars: The Independent Films documentary
3 production featurettes including: 1) The Evolution of Characters 2) The Influence of Star Wars and 3) Lightsabers/Fights)
A vintage 1977 "making of" featurette
A comprehensive gallery of posters and production artwork
and the Star Wars: Battlefront Xbox videogame demo.

From the Digital Bits site..

Okay... as I said yesterday, a lot of you have been e-mailing asking me to comment on the recent announcement of the Star Wars films coming to DVD later this year. Given our long history of following this topic here at The Bits, and my often vocal stance about these films eventually coming to DVD, I suppose it's only natural that a lot of you have come to expect us to take a sort of lead in the collective online angst over this thing. Knowing the announcement was coming well in advance, having inside information on the plans and now having taken a day or two to collect my thoughts, here's what I think.

First, I can't deny that as a Star Wars fan, a part of me is excited that these films are finally headed to our favorite format. The inner child in me, who will always be 10 years old and sitting in the Oak Park Theater in Minot, North Dakota seeing the original Star Wars for the first time, will always have a knee-jerk reaction to news like this. No matter how tough I've talked about this subject in the past, that kid will always work to undermine my arguments to some degree. So am I happy that the Star Wars films, in any form, are finally coming to DVD? Yeah, I suppose I am. A little.

But there's also no denying that the excitement is tempered by the knowledge that what's coming to DVD is not what I remember. The original Star Wars films electrified a generation of young movie goers, and fundamentally changed the way motion pictures were made and promoted. The original Star Wars was nominated for ten Oscars including Best Picture, and walked away with six of them. Empire and Jedi were together nominated for seven more. Each film in the original trilogy was also given a Special Achievement Award by the Academy - that's how revolutionary they were at the time. Despite all that, in a bit of creative revisionism, creator George Lucas now wants you to believe those films no longer exist. They're just gone. They never represented his true vision, and were not the films he wanted them to be at the time of their release, so he wants to make them go away for good.

Instead, we have new Special Edition versions with enhanced special effects and new scenes. Okay... personally, I don't have a problem with the Special Edition versions. They're not the films I know and love, and they're not the films that won all those awards and changed filmmaking as we know it, but hey... I went and saw them in 1997 and I mostly enjoyed the new material (with one or two obvious exceptions). I recognize that it's Lucas' right as the creator of these films to update them and "finish" them with modern special effects technology. I understand that he wants to make them "fit" better with his new prequels. None of that, however, will change the fact that I'll always prefer the originals. I know many, many of you feel the same way.

As most of you know by now, I'm personally of the opinion that denying that the original theatrical versions exist is just foolish. I know there are some who disagree, but I do believe that Lucas has a responsibility to all of the artisans and craftsmen who worked on the films, to the fans and to film history, to preserve the originals alongside the Special Editions. Certainly, Steven Spielberg knows the importance of this, which is why his recent E.T. DVD included both his kinder, gentler, revised version of the film (the one nobody went to see in theaters, it's worth noting) along with the original. There's certainly no technical reason at all why Lucas couldn't do the same with the Star Wars films on DVD

Will that ever happen? I don't know. Personally, I doubt it, but still, you just never know. Lucas has certainly changed his mind about things in the past. If the financial engine that Star Wars has become starts to run out of gas, releasing the original versions "one more last time" would certainly get it going again in a hurry. I have, however, come to believe that no amount of protesting, boycotting and petitioning by the fans will make that happen. The fans will never, ever change his mind. It has to be his own decision on his own time. The sense I get is that he's just tired of the fans, and frankly tired of the whole Star Wars phenomenon. He got pretty well walloped critically by the fans over Episode I, which was no doubt disheartening in some respect, and Episode II fared only a little better. So now he just wants to finish Episode III, complete the Saga such that he's satisfied with it, and move on with his life

So what does all that mean for the September DVD release? Well... I have very reliable information that Lucas and his creative team didn't stop tweaking these films in 1997, after the new versions first appeared in theaters. I'm not going to say how I know, except that our information comes from within the industry, and not from online fan-boy sources or speculation. You can chose to believe it or not, but we've learned that many more tweaks and changes are planned for these films before it's all over. We've got a pretty good idea of what some of these changes might be, and certainly there will be lots of little color timing tweaks and digital "cleaning" done to the films as well. Suffice it to say that the versions of these films that will be released on DVD later this year will not be exactly the same as what we saw in theaters in 1997.

Lucasfilm has a history of including little surprises in their films on DVDs - new moments, extended scenes, subtle and not so subtle changes. It happened with both Episode I and Episode II (new and extended scenes), the Indiana Jones Trilogy (digital alterations to remove reflections and production equipment) and even American Graffiti (a digitally-enhanced sunset). I'm quite confident that, at the press event for the DVD release later this year, we'll ask what changes have been made and we'll hear the usual line: "You'll just have to take the DVDs home, watch them and see for yourself..."

[This is just my own personal preference, but if Lucas would just let Han shoot first again, fix that awful Jabba CGI, and put glowing blades on the sabers in the Ben/Vader duel, I'm fine with everything else in the SEs. I don't know specifically that any of that is actually going to happen, but I'm hopeful.]

I think these discs will be markedly better than the Indiana Jones DVDs in terms of both technical quality and content. Not that those discs were bad by any measure (except maybe in the extras department), but this is Lucas' baby, and you can bet that every effort that can be made to make them look and sound as good as possible will be made. We'll get audio commentary, we'll get a two-hour documentary and probably more. Van Ling's doing the menus again, so they'll kick ass. Also, as I said a minute ago, I think there will be a few surprises.

So why release them now? Simple... to give fans, and the franchise, a much-needed shot in the arm prior to the theatrical release of Episode III next May. Plus, by finally releasing them on DVD... Lucas can, well, say he's released them on DVD. It gets the fan-boys (some of them anyway) off his back a little. Episode III will then come out on DVD at the end of next year, and fans can - at long last - have their own little marathons of all six films. The whole Saga will be done. Except that it won't.

Remember how I said a moment ago that Lucas and his creative team didn't stop tweaking these films in 1997? Well, they haven't stopped tweaking these films. And they aren't going to stop for a few years yet. They'll continue go grow, change and evolve. You can believe this or not, but Lucas and his team are indeed, even now, planning ultimate, Archive Editions of all six Star Wars films for release in the future. I know this from conversations with many different people in positions to know within the industry, on many different occasions.

Consider that Lucas has said several times in the past that the ultimate versions of these films will eventually be released in high-definition format. Consider that May of 2007 will mark the 30th Anniversary of the original film's theatrical release. Consider that both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD are targeted for launch in by late 2005 or early 2006, and one of them will eventually replace existing DVD.

If you think Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox are going to want to pass up a chance to re-sell you these films for their 30th Anniversary, very likely in high-definition, well... I want to know what kind of drugs you're taking. Those next-generation optical discs are going to have an awful lot of room to fill. Might Lucas decide to include the original theatrical versions of these films on that multi-disc set, alongside his ultimate versions, just for sh_ts and giggles? Who knows.

What I can tell you for certain, is that the versions of these films you're getting on DVD in September are NOT the final versions. They're just one more step on a longer road. This is not the last time they'll be out on disc, and a better release is already in the cards. So buy them, don't buy them... it's ultimately not going to matter. Do what you feel you must.

In the meantime, if you need a fix of the original films, they're still out there on VHS and Laserdisc... and even DVD too. Bootleg DVD, of course, but they're out there. A few years ago, we counted no less than eleven different bootleg versions of these films and many more have appeared online and at conventions since then. It might surprise you to know (it certainly surprised me), that while most of the bootlegs are crap, a select few of them feature the original versions of these films in true anamorphic widescreen video, mastered from previous Laserdisc releases in surprisingly good quality. We don't condone bootlegs here at The Bits, but there's no denying that when there's demand to have a film on DVD in the marketplace, and it isn't being met by the studios, someone is going to find a way to meet it with bootlegs and make a nice buck doing so.

The simple fact remains, in the absence of legitimate releases, a LOT of people are buying bootleg copies of the original Star Wars films on DVD. You know... it's not like Lucas really has grounds to complain about it. After all, those original films no longer exist, right?

That, of course, is a topic for another day and another column, when I can muster more energy for it. In any case, it's gonna be a long seven months until September... and I say that with as much trepidation as enthusiasm.

You know, it's funny. I feel as if I'm talking about films that are being re-released on DVD for the fifth time rather than the first. Guess that's what seven plus years of waiting... for THIS... will do to a fan.

Go figure.

Bill Hunt

Ain't It Cool News has reported that Allegedly George is still tinkering and that these changes (Good or Bad) have or will be made to the Special Editions in hopes of tying together the Prequel Trilogy even further - for their DVD Release on Sept. 21 of '04 This is all somewhat recent, allegedly he knows someone that works for LucasFilm. Who knows if it is true?

Episode IV: A New Hope
01. The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first appearance on Princess Leia's ship.
02. When Obi-Wan is talking to Luke about his father Anakin's Theme plays in the background and then it turns into the Imperial March as he talks about Vader.
03. The lightsaber effects have been redone and the frame jumps of lightsabers being turned on has been removed.
04. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate.
05. In the Cantina, the Duros (green aliens guys) have been replaced with Neimoidians and some aliens from the prequels have been added.
06. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabers cauterize wounds.
07. The original shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been restored.
08. Jabba the Hutt has been given a makeover and Han no longer steps on his tale.
09. In place of R2 wobbling down the stairs to the Falcon's hangar, a CG R2 navigating the stairs like he does in Attack of the Clones was added.
10. The white boxes around space ships have been removed and new CG shots have been added.
11. The scene of the Falcon being chased by the two Star Destroyers was modified. The Falcon now does spinning moves, avoiding the Star Destroyers' fire.
12. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's reaction to the disturbance in the Force that is created by all those deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as well.
13. The Dianoga has gotten a CG makeover and were are now able to see more of the creature.
14. The Death Star's paneling and computers have been slightly altered to show similar displays to those in the prequels.
15. The words "Tractor Beam" with Aurebesh lettering.
16. More stormtroopers have been added to the Death Star.
17. Some Storm Troopers will wear clone like armor
18. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been spruced up. It is much more epic and there is much more movement. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is being considered for the scene.
19. The Death Star plans that are taken from R2 have been updated. When the Rebels are reviewing the Death Star plans they look similar to the plans we see in Attack of the Clones.
20. The Death Star battle is much more epic with more Tie Fighters and more Rebels being blown to bits. We get to see old Naboo starfighters being used by the Rebels.
21. There's a new scene (shot during Episode III) where Darth Vader goes to Coruscant and lands his ship in the same building Count Dooku does at the end of Attack of the Clones. Except now the building is all fixed up and it is now Palpatine's palace. He meets with Palpatine to ask for forgiveness for his failure and inform him of a new potential who is strong in the Force.
22. Chewbacca now gets a medal.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
01. The taun-tauns are now CG.
02. The battle of Hoth is much more epic. We see the Imperial ships land on Hoth and release AT-ATs. The AT-ATs have been sped up a bit. There's a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers featuring new ships and vehicles.
03. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for the older stormtroopers.
04. The white boxes around space ships have been removed.
05. The slug monster is CG.
06. Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations between Vader and Palpatine is now longer and features a few connections to the prequels.
07. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of emotions yet his movements remain the same. Also two deleted scenes featuring Yoda instructing Luke have been restored.
08. A new scene was shot in which the stormtroopers, after they capture Han, Leia and Chewie, bring Vader the box containing C-3PO in pieces. Vader orders the stormtroopers to bring the broken droid to Chewbacca's cell so that he can fix him.
09. The lightsaber effects have been redone in certain parts.
10. Luke's fall from Cloud City has been reshot against bluescreen using a stuntman.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
01. Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and CG.
02. The Rancor is CG and looks disgusting as ever.
03. Yoda is CG. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now.
04. Saber effects were spruced up
05. The plan is to insert the love theme Across the Stars when Luke is talking with Leia about their mother.
06. Temuera Morrison's like before is now the voice for some stormtroopers.
07. In the battle of Endor there more Ewoks and they are more vicious
08. White boxes around ships removed.
09. The black blotches around Palpatine's face are gone.
10. Some of the lightsaber effects have been redone. The shadows that the lightsabers made on the floor are gone.
11. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme.
12. Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christenson with make-up to make him look his age. He looks on proudly at his son Luke with the spirit of Padme by his side.