May the "force" be with you

[pixelthis]

[QUOTE=PeruvianSkies]Yeah, it was his earlier story that he expanded for a feature-length film, it cost $777,777 to make, which was incredibly low even in 1970, especially for the result. However, even though it was an earlier student film that was expanded for a feature length film, that does not mean they are identical. This film is the real deal, it's far more polished than his previous effort and with more production value, it's amazing that this film alone shows what an auteur Lucas was, even right out of the gate.

If anything, his inspiration was more on target with 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, which pioneered space films altogether. While they had been made before and space was often seen, it was never seen like this. Especially considering we had not even landed on the moon when the film was started. The "look" of the spacecrafts and space/planets etc were highly influential, even on STAR WARS, which is evident in the designs. However, Kubrick knew that his work was something special, so much so that he destroyed all the models from the film knowing that people would be copying the from the master.

2001 was an iconic film that had nothing to do with THX, which was more utopian than sci fi

My point about THX-1138 though is that I am anxious to see that film on Blu-ray, even more than the STAR WARS trilogy.

GOOD FOR YOU


Going back to the Laserdisc discussion.....

Yes, I am well aware that there is a huge difference between DVD and LD, I was making a jest when I called the LD an oversize DVD, I guess humor goes over your head here.

Not really, it just wasn't that funny. However it was misleading to those who don't
understand the difference between the two. AND QUITE A FEW DON'T.
An unfunny and misleading statement

What I loved about the STAR WARS LD's is that the sound is thicker, much like the 70mm blow-up prints of the film that sound fuller and richer. Quite honestly, the sound on the LD's is more genuine sounding than the botched up DVD release, which has already been discussed here. This is why myself and others will still hang onto our beloved Lasers, even though obsolete so many of them, there are still some that have yet to be replicated on any format....

So you would watch a limited picture just to get "better" sound, which can't really match a DVD? Odd choice.

TAXI DRIVER - rare commentary

And inferior pic
ABYSS - better sound than the DVD.
IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT laser player, which you cant find anymore, hardly.
When there arent any more, then you can toss them

DTS editions of BLADE, BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE FRIGHTENERS, FROM DUSK TIL DAWN, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, PINK FLOYD THE WALL, ROB ROY, VERTIGO, and many others never released on DVD that way.

WHO CARES?
You need an obsolete player, a flipper if you can find it, the pic will be inferiour,
And BLU editions with much better pic and sound are already out, or will be out.
You need to get with sir talky, between his CRT rig and your obsolete Laserdisc,
you both are keeping the 1980's alive.

[PeruvianSkies]

I guess I have to spell everything out around here for those who lack the ability to understand humor or film or just about anything related to this hobby....

I am a film lover, a film fanatic....I don't care if LD is obsolete or DVD or whatever, I love the films and want the best version of that available, but I also collect, which means I have no problem owning various versions of ...oh let's say BLADE RUNNER, which I have owned on every version available, including the Japanese LD, the Criterion version, the horrible DVD version, and of course the special edition Blu-ray with briefcase.

For people who are passionate about movies, they don't care about "newest" all the time. While I would certainly love every film that I love to be available with the best picture and sound, that is not always possible. It's no different than people who collect classic cars....obviously some of them don't have the latest and greatest gadgets like AC or auto windows, but that's not the point of them collecting the item.

It's not about living in the past, it's about appreciating the past and learning from it in order to get somewhere in the future.

I could care less if you understand my little "oversized DVD" joke, it obviously went over your head and no one else on here really thought that I didn't know the difference between the two, this thread is not about Laserdisc or DVD, if people really want to know more about those formats, it's certainly something they can Google, you are the only person who had a problem with it, get over it and yourself.

This site has become absolutely un-fun in just about all capacities as you can't even make a simple comment anymore without it becoming an argument of incredibly blown-out-of-proportion sizes. No wonder people rarely post.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

This site is not that bad. It is just that folks here are educated enough that you just cannot say anything and get away with it. You got to know your stuff, or you will get checked. Nothing wrong with that, it keeps the integrity of the site intact, and keeps the misinformation to a minimum.

[PeruvianSkies]

This site is not that bad. It is just that folks here are educated enough that you just cannot say anything and get away with it. You got to know your stuff, or you will get checked. Nothing wrong with that, it keeps the integrity of the site intact, and keeps the misinformation to a minimum.

I'll remind you of that often then....

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I'll remind you of that often then....

I bet you will try

[pixelthis]

I guess I have to spell everything out around here for those who lack the ability to understand humor or film or just about anything related to this hobby....

I am a film lover, a film fanatic....I don't care if LD is obsolete or DVD or whatever, I love the films and want the best version of that available, but I also collect, which means I have no problem owning various versions of ...oh let's say BLADE RUNNER, which I have owned on every version available, including the Japanese LD, the Criterion version, the horrible DVD version, and of course the special edition Blu-ray with briefcase.

For people who are passionate about movies, they don't care about "newest" all the time. While I would certainly love every film that I love to be available with the best picture and sound, that is not always possible. It's no different than people who collect classic cars....obviously some of them don't have the latest and greatest gadgets like AC or auto windows, but that's not the point of them collecting the item.

It's not about living in the past, it's about appreciating the past and learning from it in order to get somewhere in the future.

I could care less if you understand my little "oversized DVD" joke, it obviously went over your head and no one else on here really thought that I didn't know the difference between the two, this thread is not about Laserdisc or DVD, if people really want to know more about those formats, it's certainly something they can Google, you are the only person who had a problem with it, get over it and yourself.

This site has become absolutely un-fun in just about all capacities as you can't even make a simple comment anymore without it becoming an argument of incredibly blown-out-of-proportion sizes. No wonder people rarely post.

What a delicate flower.
To some, picture is more important, to some, sound, and of course we will all watch our favorite if not given the choice, in less than prime condition.
But there are trade offs to anything, and you stated something that was, IMHO, silly,
mainly that you would watch an inferior picture for a slightly better sound, never mind that
any DVD could beat that sound.
I JUST CAN'T beleive that anybody is even questioning the obsolescence of LD.
You got some old kit? Fine, just remember that watching it is time you don't get back,
is all I am saying.
Any fan that knows a BLU version of their film is coming out should not watch it until it
does, so that they can see it in all of its glory, some things are worth waiting for.
So they screwed up the DVD?

WHO CARES?

Give the BLU a chance, no way that DVD can match it, and LD is stone knives and bearskins in comparsion.
And if you don't want criticism, don't post, or offer an opinion, especially an idiotic one.
You're like the MONKS who walked down the road self flagellating themselves.
HT is supposed to be fun, don't you know?

[PeruvianSkies]

What a delicate flower.
To some, picture is more important, to some, sound, and of course we will all watch our favorite if not given the choice, in less than prime condition.
But there are trade offs to anything, and you stated something that was, IMHO, silly,
mainly that you would watch an inferior picture for a slightly better sound, never mind that
any DVD could beat that sound.
I JUST CAN'T beleive that anybody is even questioning the obsolescence of LD.
You got some old kit? Fine, just remember that watching it is time you don't get back,
is all I am saying.
Any fan that knows a BLU version of their film is coming out should not watch it until it
does, so that they can see it in all of its glory, some things are worth waiting for.
So they screwed up the DVD?

WHO CARES?

Give the BLU a chance, no way that DVD can match it, and LD is stone knives and bearskins in comparsion.
And if you don't want criticism, don't post, or offer an opinion, especially an idiotic one.
You're like the MONKS who walked down the road self flagellating themselves.
HT is supposed to be fun, don't you know?

The ONLY reason that Laserdisc (I'll be even more clear and say "12 Laserdisc, so people don't confuse that with the other sizes), is because STAR WARS, along with a few other great films, was one of the titles that had a great "12 Laserdisc history and was one of the titles that fans and collectors still sought after due to the fact that the DVD was botched by many standards. There are still other titles out there that have yet to be released on DVD in superior picture/sound than the Laserdisc, which is why collectors were/are still paying top dollar online to get these discs.

Obviously LD is out-dated in many respects, especially since the picture resolution cannot compete with Blu-ray, but DVD was often recylced from the LD issue on many early DVD releases. Often though, the rights that companies like Pioneer had on Laserdisc (such as Madonna) were exclusive and have yet to be released on DVD various concerts.

Of course sound matters just as much as picture, LD was full-bit rate DTS, whereas most DVD's were half-bit rate and that is why many of the DTS Lasers are still as popular as ever.

It is only now that we are getting Blu-ray releases of various films with DTS offerings that beat out the LD's. A great example is the recent Blu-ray release of TOY STORY, which finally gives the film that DTS punch that the Laserdisc had..... of course the LD was available for 13 years until something came along that could beat it.

Has anyone heard whether the Blu-ray issues of the STAR WARS trilogy will be the 1997 versions or not???

[pixelthis]

The ONLY reason that Laserdisc (I'll be even more clear and say "12 Laserdisc, so people don't confuse that with the other sizes), is because STAR WARS, along with a few other great films, was one of the titles that had a great "12 Laserdisc history and was one of the titles that fans and collectors still sought after due to the fact that the DVD was botched by many standards. There are still other titles out there that have yet to be released on DVD in superior picture/sound than the Laserdisc, which is why collectors were/are still paying top dollar online to get these discs.

Obviously LD is out-dated in many respects, especially since the picture resolution cannot compete with Blu-ray, but DVD was often recylced from the LD issue on many early DVD releases. Often though, the rights that companies like Pioneer had on Laserdisc (such as Madonna) were exclusive and have yet to be released on DVD various concerts.

Of course sound matters just as much as picture, LD was full-bit rate DTS, whereas most DVD's were half-bit rate and that is why many of the DTS Lasers are still as popular as ever.

It is only now that we are getting Blu-ray releases of various films with DTS offerings that beat out the LD's. A great example is the recent Blu-ray release of TOY STORY, which finally gives the film that DTS punch that the Laserdisc had..... of course the LD was available for 13 years until something came along that could beat it.

Has anyone heard whether the Blu-ray issues of the STAR WARS trilogy will be the 1997 versions or not???

They will be the "remastered" versions.
AND SOONER or later you will get out of LD, they don't make players anymore.
You are not fighting the DVD "war" (that war has been lost), you are fighting a war where one side basically nuked the other.
Truth is, LASER had trouble competing with vhs
It never was a mass market medium
One good thing about LASER, its cheap, about ten bucks a CRATE, with some titles
going for 75 cents.
LD was a great idea at the time, but that time was a decade and a half ago.
Give up the ghost, this "battle" is over, everybody has gone home

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Of course sound matters just as much as picture, LD was full-bit rate DTS, whereas most DVD's were half-bit rate and that is why many of the DTS Lasers are still as popular as ever.

Being full bit rate does not automatically make the audio better than a half bit rate track. It all goes back to the quality of the mixing, and master used to do the encode. The better the mix and the cleaner the master, the better the sound whether we are talking full bit rate, or half bit rate. Do you really think the lossless Dts-HD Master Audio track of Battle of Britain is as good as the lossy Dts track of Saving Private Ryan?

It is only now that we are getting Blu-ray releases of various films with DTS offerings that beat out the LD's. A great example is the recent Blu-ray release of TOY STORY, which finally gives the film that DTS punch that the Laserdisc had..... of course the LD was available for 13 years until something came along that could beat it.

The master used on the Blu ray disc is different from the one used on the LD, so they cannot even be compared. The Dts master used for the 10th Anniversay DVD of Toy story is the same master used for the Blu ray release.

I would dare you to do a double blind test of the full bit rate Dts track of Toy Story against the half bit rate encoding on the 10th Anniversay edition. I bet you won't be able to tell the difference because the encoders used for the latter were better than those used on the former.

[RGA]

I have about 40 Laserdiscs - basically I am no videophile. I bought LD entirely because the movies offered widescreen which most VHS indeed none that I saw offered.

The picture was better too but that was secondary. LD was a pain to have to flip over half way through. The machines that did it for you seemed to break down faster. Although I believe Denon had a 25 LD changer or some such monstrosity.

It's pretty tough to argue against the quality of Blu-Ray. I watched a bit of "The Dark Knight" as my first Bluray purchase and it is quite spectacular looking.

A bunch of stores are selling several titles for under $20 which is the max I will spend on a movie. I lived in China and buying perfect copies for $0.85 and entire TV series for $5 is difficult to come back and see idiotic prices that go up and down like a yo-yo. I don't mind price fluctuation but when a season of Dexter can be bought at Wal-mart for $10 for 2 months and Best-Buy sells it for $34.99 and then for two weeks sells it for $19.99 and then goes back up to $29.99 - well it bugs me.

Star Trek: DS9 seasons were $162.99 and now sell at Future Shop for $39.99. Just wait them out. Six Feet Under $59.00 - my mom waited and then bought each season for $17.99-$19.99 - now they're back over $50.

BAHH

I never bought Star Wars on any format. The three disc set was always interesting but Return of the Jedi and the lame Ewok muppets was such a pathetic let down. The first film is tough to re watch and the star of all the movies was Empire - it's the only one I can watch multiple times. The latest three were some of the biggest piles of caca in film history - It's the first time in years I shut a movie off before getting to the second half. Jar Jar certainly was jarring to the intelligence of movie goers. And prequels are dumb for the most part because you know nothing bad will happen to Vader junior. And all the CGI just looks like CGI.

Give me real damn special effects like the wolf change scene in American Werewolf in London or John Carpenter's "The Thing" over the CGI crud coming out. Just got home from watching the lame Pirhnna 3D and it looks so unvelievably fake.

Where is the true artistry and craftmanship and model making gone? Some putz on a Uniblab 5000 computer creating the whole movie. Bahh again!

This review of Phantom Menace says it all - the review is FAR more entertaining to watch than the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZ...eature=related

In fact that review makes me think that the Phantom Menace may arguably be the worst big budget highly anticipated film in the history of movies.

[PeruvianSkies]

I have about 40 Laserdiscs - basically I am no videophile. I bought LD entirely because the movies offered widescreen which most VHS indeed none that I saw offered.

The picture was better too but that was secondary. LD was a pain to have to flip over half way through. The machines that did it for you seemed to break down faster. Although I believe Denon had a 25 LD changer or some such monstrosity.

It's pretty tough to argue against the quality of Blu-Ray. I watched a bit of "The Dark Knight" as my first Bluray purchase and it is quite spectacular looking.

A bunch of stores are selling several titles for under $20 which is the max I will spend on a movie. I lived in China and buying perfect copies for $0.85 and entire TV series for $5 is difficult to come back and see idiotic prices that go up and down like a yo-yo. I don't mind price fluctuation but when a season of Dexter can be bought at Wal-mart for $10 for 2 months and Best-Buy sells it for $34.99 and then for two weeks sells it for $19.99 and then goes back up to $29.99 - well it bugs me.

Star Trek: DS9 seasons were $162.99 and now sell at Future Shop for $39.99. Just wait them out. Six Feet Under $59.00 - my mom waited and then bought each season for $17.99-$19.99 - now they're back over $50.

BAHH

I never bought Star Wars on any format. The three disc set was always interesting but Return of the Jedi and the lame Ewok muppets was such a pathetic let down. The first film is tough to re watch and the star of all the movies was Empire - it's the only one I can watch multiple times. The latest three were some of the biggest piles of caca in film history - It's the first time in years I shut a movie off before getting to the second half. Jar Jar certainly was jarring to the intelligence of movie goers. And prequels are dumb for the most part because you know nothing bad will happen to Vader junior. And all the CGI just looks like CGI.

Give me real damn special effects like the wolf change scene in American Werewolf in London or John Carpenter's "The Thing" over the CGI crud coming out. Just got home from watching the lame Pirhnna 3D and it looks so unvelievably fake.

Where is the true artistry and craftmanship and model making gone? Some putz on a Uniblab 5000 computer creating the whole movie. Bahh again!

This review of Phantom Menace says it all - the review is FAR more entertaining to watch than the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZ...eature=related

In fact that review makes me think that the Phantom Menace may arguably be the worst big budget highly anticipated film in the history of movies.

I have roughly 90 Laserdiscs left, most of them I have replaced in time as better versions became available either on DVD or Blu-ray, but there are several that I still have that I am holding onto no matter what, mostly because they are cool collector items or like I mentioned before, they still don't have fully equal versions on some other format. I'm gonna start a new thread listing LD worthy of still owning.