BLU-RAY Box Set 2011 • IN-HAND REVIEWS

[quad73]

I got my complete saga box set today!





for just about $62.85

[Bandersnatch]

Quad - Do you have it in your hand (the box set, I mean)?

[Mr. Pickles]

I pulled a coupon scam on B&N last March & will be getting The Saga for $44.49.
Despite the utter shite that is this release, I can live w/paying $7.50 per movie.

[quad73]

It never leaves my hand from now on

[darthpsychotic]

quad - how about easteregg report for the boxset?

[Thundercracker]

^And some more details/descriptions on the deleted scenes would be great too when you have a chance.

[quad73]

Erm - well I won´t be able to watch it until Saturday. Got a lot of work to do! But I´ll see if I can get some teasers for you!





Ok - I´m watching the deleted scenes for EPI now. None of them are finished, lots of blu/green screen and one thing strikes me that I´ve never felt before: Portman is god awful in this movie. Sure her delivery is supposed to be different than in EPI-III but come on!

It looks like she is reading the lines for the first time Why have I not noticed this before? :O

[Inv8r]

She's just generally awful in everything, always, any time she opens her mouth. She has this weird ability to physically play a scene very nicely, but her line delivery is atrocious. Drove me nuts in Black Swan, where I really wanted to like her but she destroyed any goodwill she built from her physical performance with every vacant, nasal sylable she uttered.

Did they end up including the DVD deleted scenes There was some question about whether the listed scenes were in addition to the ones from the DVD or not.

[quad73]

No, so far I haven´t seen any trace of the dvd deleted scenes. Just new ones for the blu-ray. I have to say that the video commentaries for the miniatures and so one are really nice





The Qui-Maul scene is in rather bad shape, no HD there. And it´s over before you know it. I would have loved if they could have finished up these deleted scenes. At least a bit.

[BeauxNercozi]

Is this a joke? You have the entire box set and your first inclination is to post about the deleted scenes from Phantom Fucking Menace?

This is just plain embarrassing.

[quad73]

Is this a joke? You have the entire box set and your first inclination is to post about the deleted scenes from Phantom Fucking Menace?

So now I have to watch the stuff in the order YOU want me to? Is THIS a joke? I wanna watch them in order of the episode! If that´s alright with you kind sir?! No go cry somewhere else.

[Bandersnatch]

Is this a joke? You have the entire box set and your first inclination is to post about the deleted scenes from Phantom Fucking Menace?

This is just plain embarrassing.

Nice first post, dork.

[VT-16]

I remember someone saying she was supposed to be a regal figure in TPM so her stiff delivery matches the character at the time. Then she keeps the same delivery throughout most of the PT afterwards...

I guess it bothers me more in AOTC and ROTS. I think TPM is much nicer to watch than AOTC and parts of ROTS. Maybe it's because of the main cast, with Liam Neeson gone and Hayden and Portman's romance scenes, ugh...

[Alexrd]

Is this a joke? You have the entire box set and your first inclination is to post about the deleted scenes from Phantom Fucking Menace? This is just plain embarrassing

Troll account ... What else?

[Alexrd]

The deleted scenes are becoming a disappointment. I was expecting the previous ones from the DVD's to be on this set, and in HD. And those which are on the set are so few. Where is the extended Duel of the Fates? Or Obi-Wan's fried lightsaber?

[CoGro]

The deleted scenes are becoming a dissapointment. I was expecting the previous ones from the DVD's to be on this set, and in HD. And those which are on the set are so few. Where is the extended Duel of the Fates? Or Obi-Wan's fried lightsaber?

We knew this months ago. Is anyone surprised? I expected shit quality and we got it.

The Yoda-Qui-Gon scene being an animatic is flat out disgusting.

[Alexrd]

We knew this months ago.

I didn't. There were previews saying the deleted scenes of the DVDs were included too. And the full list of discs 7 & 8 were claimed to be incomplete.

[Inv8r]

Pretty disheartening to have it confirmed though. Have you had a look at the film itself? Be interested to hear what you think of the actual disc versus what we've seen of the MKVs.

[CoGro]

I didn't. There were previews saying the deleted scenes of the DVDs were included too. And the full list of discs 7 & 8 were claimed to be incomplete.

I don't think there was any expectation that the DVD deleted scenes would be included. Whichever preview that said that was certainly not official.

[quad73]

Pretty disheartening to have it confirmed though. Have you had a look at the film itself? Be interested to hear what you think of the actual disc versus what we've seen of the MKVs.

I´ll start watching the movies on saturday evening! Starting of with EPI. But as far as I can tell from the docs, TPM looks really good!

[darthpsychotic]

quad73 describe the set easter eggs when you can.

Speculation turned rumor turned to almost fact is the Boba Fett Holiday Special.

[quad73]

I´ll get into the OT documentaries tomorrow! I´ll check for easter eggs then

[Bandersnatch]

Found this:

[flash width=640 height=385]http://www.youtube.com/v/0JL2IfMfLLs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1[/flash]

[Seb]

I don't feel ripped off, (but I completely understand those who do.)

I didn't buy that shit-sandwich excuse for a release. (I've got about ten other official releases to stuff my eyes with, and that's pathetic...)

[%20]

SWAficionado's comprehensive first look at the deleted scenes:

[Stale_Elvis]

Did I really just spend 3 minutes watching someone open a DVD box-set while heavy-breathing into a microphone?

[Joe1138]

SWAficionado's comprehensive first look at the deleted scenes:

I wasn't even aware of that site beforehand. Thanks for sharing the link.

[Mike_Droideka]

It's a great site; I check it daily.

[Starman]

Has anyone in the US found a retailer that put them out early? It may be nice to see reports of people grabbing them early.

There's a local place to me that puts movies out early all the time, but they haven't put out SW yet.

[pjvader]

quad73 describe the set easter eggs when you can.

Speculation turned rumor turned to almost fact is the Boba Fett Holiday Special.

dont think anyone has found how to access it yet but its on bonus disc 2

[quad73]

I still wish there was a good long documentary of the making of E2 & 3 like the one for E1 on the DVD. I´d much rather watch that than the short clips that is available:



:chewbacca:

[Sith Hunter#1]

quad73 - Nice to see you found the easter egg. how do you get it?

[darthpsychotic]

Boba Fett Holiday Special is on Disc VII under the title "Boba Fett: First Look" (8:39 Minutes)" - so the easter eggs if any are yet to be revealed.

On the DVDs easter eggs were accessible on the bonus disc by a certain button + 1138

[ETandElliott]

Damn - the deleted scenes sound awesome, but clearly a LOT has been left off. Material significant enough to supplement a future re-release. I'm considering getting the complete set if and when they discount it.

Enough has probably been rightfully complained about these Blu-rays, but I'm going to go even further. Why the hell is the packaging designed to damage the discs? Who thinks that slip case things are acceptable storage?

[quad73]

So far we've had a lot of complaining.

Time for some good things about this release?!

The picture quality is amazing.

Saw E3 last night and it´s stellar material.

[Topeka]

I agree!

Episode III is stellar, even so far a flawless transfer.

The other five films - well...

[Norway]

Got my boxed set on Saturday (Sept 10th). So far only watched Episodes 1 and 2 and the OT deleted scenes. AWESOME!!!



Anybody know of a complete list of changes from previous releases? I noticed 1 or 2 so far in each (TPM & AOTC). In AOTC there is an audio change: We hear Shmi's voice crying out for him during his nightmare scene (chapter 25 on the Blu-Ray). I like it.

[VT-16]

How's the transfer on the Boba Fett cartoon?

[Bandersnatch]

Unboxing the US Blu-Ray:

[flash width=640 height=385]http://www.youtube.com/v/62vK0zS2588?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1[/flash]

[Starman]

So glad that video wasn't 10 minutes :P

[ETandElliott]

The consensus seems to be that while they all obviously look the best they ever have on home video - Phantom is a DNR menace, Clones has been attacked by an ugly tint that certainly does no favors for a movie that never looked particularly good to begin with in my opinion, Sith gets revenge and looks exactly like its digital presentation, while the originals return and strike back with an overall strong albeit deeply flawed trilogy of transfers.

Regardless of how you may feel about the movie or how it looked to begin with, Sith is clearly the best of all the transfers for the fact that it is an exact duplicate of its original theatrical appearance. Just be sure to add a line of geeks outside your home theater and it's May 2005 all over again.

[pjvader]

Were having a saga day half way thru now gotta say it all looks and sounds great in 6.1 on a 120" screen so far clones has been the softest transfer loving every second of it! Had a look for eggs but I'm damned if I can find any!

[Alexrd]

Phantom is a DNR menace,

Actually (and fortunately), it's not. Only that Qui-Gon shot (which lasts aprox. 3 seconds) has a noticeable amount of DNR.

[Topeka]

Why do you say that? You do know what film is supposed to look like, right? Phantom Menace is indeed filtered throughout, moderately at its best and looking like video at its worst.

[Alexrd]

Why do you say that? You do know what film is supposed to look like, right? Phantom Menace is indeed filtered throughout, moderately at its best.

That doesn't make it a DNR menace like Predator.

[ETandElliott]

Well, I can't comment on how it compares to something like Predator, which I will never view on Blu-ray. I may be completely wrong, but wasn't that filmed on typically crappy stock of that era anyway? Seems like you lose either way.

I have high standards for BD because of BD transfers for both modern and classic films that have set that standard so high. This is a format with the potential to be much greater. Phantom Menace looks - eh, it's very processed to me. Like James Cameron gave Lucas pointers.

I also have to comment on the special features and advertising the set with 90 minutes of Star Wars spoofs. First, I have generally the same reaction I had to the DVD features: disappointment. Empire of Dreams was a fairly good documentary and some serious effort as opposed to Lucas adding nothing by telling us things we already know or incorrectly and filmmakers advertising ILM or whatever the hell else was on that disc.

We have the deleted scenes from the OT as the saving grace of the BD features. Not without flaws, but it's mostly unreleased footage from the OT--it's a glimpse into heaven.

Now to the spoofs. While I don't desire these at all and find the marketing of the BDs with parodies to be somewhat embarassing, it makes perfect sense. Lucas has been selling the movies through spoofs for years now.

The evil businessman in him saw the success of a SW sendup like Spaceballs on home video and TV broadcasts as it became a cult hit. He realized he could be making money from such parodies. Hell, when I first saw the cover art for the complete saga, I though it was for some Seth Green or Family Guy spoof.

[MasterKyobi9d9]

Official bluray.com review is up:

[Norway]

Just watched Episode III last night and WOW That film looks AMAZING! I was completely blown away. The transfer is indeed flawless as some have said. The colors POP out at you, vibrant and beautiful.

I noticed what I think are Easter eggs (small changes) but I would have to pull out my DVD versions to confirm - I may be just remembering wrong.



Episode I
• New droids added to the exit ramp during the invasion of Naboo (before Qui Gon bumps into Jar Jar)
• CGI Yoda (already mentioned) looks AMAZING! So much better than that reject puppet. (I love ESB Yoda, but TPM was a joke!)

Episode II
• Anakin's nightmare now has Shmi's voice calling out for help: "Anakin! Help me!"
• Color correction

Episode III
• Some color corrections/alterations, notably...
a. Artoo's arm is now blue when he zaps the buzz droids in the opening space sequence.
b. Utapau has a greener sky, all colors are brighter on that planet, including the clones' armor.

• I noticed a new mushroom-ish-shaped building in the background on Utapau, when Obi-Wan lands. (Need to confirm this)
• New voiceover of Anakin remembering Sidious' words: "Only the Dark Side can save Padme from death" (or similar) while he sits in Jedi counsel chamber waiting for Mace to arrest Palpatine. (which I believe was only Williams AWESOME and eerie score before - correct me on this.)

Luckily it's only in the beginning of the scene and the rest still cuts between Anakin and Padme in their separate rooms looking out over the city with that fantastic emotional score playing loud and clear. EDIT: I just spoke with a friend about this scene who told me the voiceover is not new. Can anybody else confirm?



Gotta say, overall I think all three films look brilliant. I disagree with the naysayers regarding the VQ of Episodes 1 & 2. Episode 1 looks very good. I watched them all on a 55" LED screen with 5.1 surround. The sound is PERFECT! Couldn't be better. (Sadly I had kids sleeping in rooms near my TV room so I had to keep the sound at around 60% of what I would normally like.)

The main (negative) thing I notice is that in Episodes I and II (especially TPM) the CG characters (Jar Jar, Sebulba, Boss Nass) are far more noticeably removed from the actors due to the quality of the transfer. It's much easier to tell what is real and what is a computer effect.

Some scenes look like characters were pasted on, over the film. I hadn't noticed how obvious some of those effects were before but now they kind of scream out. But that's more a knock against the dated CGI, not the Blu-Ray transfer. In Episode 3 it all runs very seamless. You would never know there weren't men wearing clone suits or a real General Grievous suit/costume. It's stunning!

[Bandersnatch]

Episode I
• New droids added to the exit ramp during the invasion of Naboo (before Qui Gon bumps into Jar Jar)

Thanks for the observations. Are those actual "new" droids, or do we now see them because of the additional 8% screen space that had been cropped off in the old DVD release?

Official bluray.com review is up:

Interesting review, and lots of good info, especially about the PQ and audio, but strange that the reviewer spends a great deal of time setting up the review and proclaiming that he shalt not "argue the merits" of the movies, but then proceeds to do exactly that for the first 3rd of the review.

[jasperjones]

I gotta say, I'm glad I changed my mind and got the set. To me the movies look incredible. The collection for me has been awesome so far. I love the interviews with the artists involved. I particularly love the matte paintings. Awe-inspiring.

TPM Yoda is fantastic. The Shmi VO now stops that scene being laughable. Same goes for the new Greedo edit (although it's still a needless change). Yes there are still the odd lightsaber inconsistencies and mattes but I can live with those. Haven't watched ROTJ yet but so far I'm on board with all of the other changes.

Deleted scenes work great for me. Was never expecting any finished scenes to fun to see 'em. Very interesting seeing the animatics for Spielberg's Grievous chase. Over long but some cracking ideas that would have been fun to see.

Easily the best presentation of the movies I've had at home and well worth the money. Overall, a great set as far as I'm concerned.