Fan-Altered DVD Thread

[ThunderPeel2001]

I'm sure everyones spotted the myriad of Star Wars DVD bootlegs that have now made their way onto eBay, but I was just wondering which ones are the best?

The two most decent ones I've read about so far:

Version 1:
Non-anamorphic widescreen
True DD 5.1
Some extras

Version 2:
Anamorphic widescreen
Stereo sound
[extras?]

Obviously the anamorphic version looks like it should have the best picture quality, but a crap picture in anamorphic is still a crap picture

Does anyone have any experience with these two versions? Which is the best? Obviously 5.1 would be sweeeet, but if the anamorphic version has better pq then I'd rather go with that.

Any clues?

(And yes, I have my Super-Duper new version on pre-order at Amazon, as well! )

Thanks!

[TheSessler]

I assume by the version 1 non-anamorphic you mean TR-47s laserdisc rips, correct?

If you want kick-ass audio and slightly better picture, and nothing else(it doesn't have an extras despite what you may have been told), go with his set.

But if you want the rips with all the bells and whistles(menus, production notes)go for the anamorphic: Slightly worse audio, yes(but still not bad) and great picture(very slightly different from the TR-47 version).

Personally, I've downloaded both.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Here's some screengrabs from the anamorphic version (Version 2): http://www.fabaudits.co.uk/johnsstuff/PDVD_001.jpg

Is this the one you've seen?

[TheSessler]

Yeah, thats more or less the best you're going to get off of a Laserdisc. It looks better on your home theater system than your Monitor, trust me.

[General Gravos]

http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/v ... php?t=1440

[ThunderPeel2001]

Coolio! I got it now, thanks!

[dylan]

For the record, the "Anamorphic Version" as it's being called now, is my Dr.Gonzo version. How they lost the original name is beyond me.

[mebejedi]

"The best bootleg I've ever seen :"

Sorry to tell you, but the colors are really washed out in those pics. Surely there are better looking versions I know mine are.

[Zion]

Yeah, the color in those caps is very washed out. Is the actual video like that also, or was something lost in the capping process?

As far as audio goes, the originals (non-SE) do not have 5.1 DD. The 5.1 soundtrack was not available until the release of the SE laserdiscs.

[Starman]

Having the '97 SE's in Dolby Surround is a waste.

Mike

[Zion]

Grando, I am currently making a set of DVD's for myself and a few friends. This is off of the Definitive (non-SE) LD set:

http://www.aptirrelevance.com/images/st ... tv2000.jpg



Not bad eh?

[dylan]

Lookin' nice, Zion!

[demomanTNA]

I'll second that, it looks very good.

[KitFisto]

http://img79.exs.cx/img79/54/screen.jpg

[Blaksvn]

For the record, the "Anamorphic Version" as it's being called now, is my Dr.Gonzo version. How they lost the original name is beyond me.

Dr. Gonzo,

IF you browse the http://www.originaltrilogy.com boards...

I have corrected this error on the "Versions" thread and have now give you your proper credit and I will do my best to post this information everywhere that I come across them!

THANKS so much for creating this Set!
Rikter

[dylan]

I have corrected this error on the "Versions" thread and have now give you your proper credit and I will do my best to post this information everywhere that I come across them!

Awesome! Thanks!

[Chainsaw_Ash]

"The best bootleg I've ever seen :"

Sorry to tell you, but the colors are really washed out in those pics. Surely there are better looking versions I know mine are.

That's the way the SE has always looked, washed-out.

[Jaxon's Dad]

Any ideas as to what's going on with Torrentbox.com? I've been able to download about 65% of McDrmd's ESB pre-SE LD rip and now I can't. I try accessing the site and I get a Forbidden message. I managed to snag ANH. A big public thanx to McDrmd for providing the anamorphic rips. They'll make nice backups for my LDs.

[General Gravos]

Looks like a cool Star Wars set you have here.

Could you post some screenshots?

[dylan]

I have very nice fan-made DVDs of the original films. They all feature isolated scores and a trailer...

Yep. I've got his also. Really cool discs. The isolated score is a really neat way to watch the films and the crawl is seamless - reminds me of my Betamax LB bootleg

[GrandAdmiralSchmiggy]

Finnaly got around to burning gonzos ld rips to dvds with my new nec 3500a, and let me say, they look great on on my home theater. A definate upgrade to my old THX O-OT VHS set.

I recommend to everyone looking for O-OT copies to find these. And the bonus disc is pretty sweet too!

[mebejedi]

Hey! Looks like Riktor is in the house!

"Having the '97 SE's in Dolby Surround is a waste."

Why wouldn't you have them in 5.1?

"Yeah, the color in those caps is very washed out. Is the actual video like that also, or was something lost in the capping process?"

Methinks the transfer was made from the "Fox Video Special Widescreen Edition" disc. I have this LD as well, and the colors are almost identical to the screen caps.

"That's the way the SE has always looked, washed-out."

I seriously doubt that those caps are from the SE LD.

Here's a cap from mine.
http://home.netcom.com/~eandtc/sitebuil ... toshop.jpg

"The isolated score is a really neat way to watch the films"


That would be a cool idea! I have the Star Wars 2-LP original soudtrack. I just need a decent record player.

[Starman]

"Having the '97 SE's in Dolby Surround is a waste."

Why wouldn't you have them in 5.1?

Dolby SURROUND and Dolby DIGITAL are two COMPLETELY different things.

Dolby SURROUND is matrixed stereo analog surround. Crap by today's standards.

Dolby DIGITAL can be anything from 1.0 to 5.1, and even matrixed 6.1. You can even have 2.0 with a flagged surround matrix. When you say that something's in "Dolby Digital" it IMPLIES 5.1, but you really should explicitly say which format it is (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 4.1, 5.1).

And remember, the description said:

"Languages : English Dolby 2.0 Surround, French"

So it's not 5.1.

[mebejedi]

Lol, I remember.

[Ziggy]

Betamax = DiVx players


If you bought either hoping they were the next big thing .

[Chainsaw_Ash]

@Me Be Jedi --

It was from the SE, the person who posted those screens said:

This is a rip from the 97' Special Edition NOT the 2004 DVD

And for the record it was Grando Calrissian's post, not Zion's, if that's what you meant.

[dylan]

Betamax = DiVx players

If you bought either hoping they were the next big thing .

Uh, well, you got it half right. The "DIVX" system of one-time rentals never took off (with good reason). Beta OTOH, was a major force in the home video segment, more popular than Laserdisc. Beta quality was on par with VHS HiFi (which wouldn't come into play until the 90's). Beta was a smaller form factor. Beta is also still used in the television industry today. Beta was a big thing for nearly 10 years. In fact, I still have a Betamax player (and two LD players, a VHS player, turntable, cassette deck).

So, just because you can't remember it, doesn't mean it wasn't a "big thing".

[Ziggy]

I definitely remember Beta. Had one myself.

I just meant that it was never as widely accepted on the scale of VHS.

[EricIsBacchus]

I assume by the version 1 non-anamorphic you mean TR-47s laserdisc rips, correct?

If you want kick-ass audio and slightly better picture, and nothing else(it doesn't have an extras despite what you may have been told), go with his set.

But if you want the rips with all the bells and whistles(menus, production notes)go for the anamorphic: Slightly worse audio, yes(but still not bad) and great picture(very slightly different from the TR-47 version).

Personally, I've downloaded both.

Where to go to get them? Anyone want to hook me up? I've got a big collection of dvds/tapes I'd be willing to trade.
BTW - the folks over at theforce.net weren't too happy about me discussing this.

[dylan]

We're not too happy about you discussing theforce.net.

[EricIsBacchus]

We're not too happy about you discussing theforce.net.

Consider that the last time. I'm venting. Seriously though, anyone want to trade me a copy of the original OT? I've got a huge selection of stuff to trade, including stuff probably not available elsewhere.

[General Gravos]

An interesting screenshot comparison between the 2004 DVD's and the most usual bootlegs available:

http://www.originaltrilogy.com/forum/me ... ARTPAGE=78

[KitFisto]

Dr.Gonzo is the only one that got the proper aspect ratio.

[oojason]

Anyone have any info on how good or bad the 'Farsight' versions of the OT are?

[Zion]

Dr.Gonzo is the only one that got the proper aspect ratio.

Were the others anamorphic though? If so, yes they were wrong.


BTW, you guys can check out images from my ESB capture here.

[ratmankey]

I have very nice fan-made DVDs of the original films. They all feature isolated scores and a trailer.

Oh shit, I want this just for the isolated scores. I've always wanted to try watching the saga with just the music, but none of the DVDs have music-only tracks

Any idea where I could get this?

[GrandAdmiralSchmiggy]

I actually bought both of those on ebay vhs style real cheap, but i have a combo dvd/vhs player, so i dont mind some vhs. But i wouldnt mind nice high quality rips if they were out.

[dylan]

Wow. Those guys are nutty. It kind of makes me feel bad that they crap on my version - then I remember it's 3 years old and if I did it again, the available tech would allow me such a better transfer. Then they laude MeBeJedi about being 23.976, but fail to realize mine are too?

I dunno - it's a hell of a lot of work, and I respect what they're doing, but I'd rather have the official set's amazing picture quality than slave over another bootleg version only to have look half what the DVD's are.

One last note before I go watch Scrubs - I made a two disc set of all four of the original "Making Of" specials sourced from Japanese LD's (and in 23.976fps, no less ). They're around - check binaries newsgroups and possibly torrents at an inSanely Awesome place too.

[dylan]

Basically, it's a lot of really overzealous sheep who don't really know jack shit about either technology OR good storytelling OR the movies they're spending all day "Fighting" for, jacking off on each other because THEY know Star Wars better than George Lucas does.

I guess that's the part that kills me - I'm being critiqued by a bunch of guys that have no idea why they think one is better or worse.

[Zion]

Of course not. No one's told them what to think yet.

I mean, I'm overstating it a little, as you said--there's about 6 people over there who DO know their shit, but even some of the people who DO know their shit are pretty fuckin silly about it. And then there's the one who has disappeared so far up his ass he's completely revising THE WHOLE THING, making notes on Episode III and fishing for "new" titles for the OT. And the thing is, the other fuckin plebes are so far up THEIR own asses that they're going along with it. It's goddamn amazing. On a site called "originaltrilogy.com" where the whole point is to vilify the guy who created the movies for EDITING the movies, they're giving unending props to some sheep for editing the movies as if he wrote the fuckers..and the changes he's adding are just as hackneyed and cliched as Lucas...just in a more blatantly sheep manner.

But I can see why'd you be frustrated. It's completely arbitrary, their judgments. It really is. They don't know shit about shit, most times. They're told HOW to judge image, but they don't know WHY they're judging it like they are. They know that you can edit things together on the computer, but the concept of joining a shitty ass mpeg clip from the Behind the Magic cd rom to a DVD rip NOT looking good COMPLETELY flies over their pointy heads. They think the colors on the new DVD's are garish and over the top...but then they're judging off old, pre-restored, blown out home video transfers, and don't even realize they're not very good representations of how good these movies looked theatrically. They don't even understand how ANAMORPHIC works, for christs sake. They know they're angry about SOMETHING, but you give em enough rope, you find out they don't even really know what they're angry ABOUT.

The one good thing? if MeBeJedi really is doing a mini Lowry on this shit and color correcting every fucking frame of this shit--that should be a really nice lookin bootleg.

lol

[Zion]

The funny thing is, mine looks a hell of a lot better than that screencap now that I've done color correction. No caps of it yet though.

[dylan]

Nah, Zion's captures (please, there's no "ripping" going on here) are fucking awesome. It's amazing what a couple of years can do for good tools getting better.

But what I'm loving best is how Zion swoops in on OT.com's table and throws down the full house with all the cockiness of a saloon star.

[Zion]

Yeah, the video tends to go a bit soft after the resizing, which is why the anamorphic bootlegs (McD's) are on the softer side. I'll have to update my page once I get some screenshots of my latest capture up. The color correction in Premiere is helping make these look a lot more like the DVD versions.

After that, it's back to finishing my menus...

[dylan]

Someone's gotta keep you on your toes.

[Zion]

leaving for Cloud City
Star Destroyer
Rogue 2
Briefing
"No disintegrations!"
The Cave
R2 on Dagobah
Falcon Cockpit

[oojason]

Dr Gonzo

thanks for making the set that I love to watch the OT on. I only have your set and the TR47 Letterbox set of the OT, but for me yours is the better of the two (that's not saying TR47 is a bad set, either).




Zion & MeBeJedi

really looking forward to seeing your versions too. Total respect for all the hard work you guys are putting in for them.

[oojason]

There are a fair few peole on there who like the 97SE and 2004dvds - just that they are greedy/completists and want the pre97 versions too.

Some of 'em like the Prequel Trilogy and not everyone likes or agrees with the MagnoliaFan Edits.

A few of them post here too, and other SW sites too. It's just a SW site, aye - most people there wants the OOT on dvd too, but it's not all full of pratts going 'GL raped my childhood' and other shite.

I think most of the new people posting that they are looking forward to the MagFan Edits have gone there as it's one of the few places on the internet that has threads and info on them - plus MagFan posts there too. Maybe not all of 'em even want the OOT on dvd, or are after the 'bootlegs'...

[Zion]

I think most of the new people posting that they are looking forward to the MagFan Edits have gone there as it's one of the few places on the internet that has threads and info on them

Oh, the irony.

[Faid]

It's that it's star wars fans AT THAT SITE liking different versions and looking forward to MagnoliaFan making his own special editions to replace the old versions that surprises me. It's not that fans are taking to the idea, it's that fans who frequent a site dedicated to the original versions are so eagerly anticipating some anonymous sheep special editions.

I wasn't aware that MagnoliaFan would be editing the Original Trilogy (stupid except maybe some parts of Return of the Jedi), but I happen to like his version of Episode 1 at least. Sure Jar Jar is a little over the top, and the dub thing is annoying but I'll watch it over the original TPM anyday I think.

[mebejedi]

"The one good thing? if MeBeJedi really is doing a mini Lowry on this shit and color correcting every fucking frame of this shit--that should be a really nice lookin bootleg."

Not exactly. I am looking for IVTC errors frame by frame, but I'm trying to keep the colors as natural as possible. There are some sequences that may need some individual settings, however.