'Star Wars' Trilogy Debuts on DVD

Here's The Digital Bits follow-up on the sound problem:

(LATE UPDATE - 9/20/04 - 10:30 PM PDT)

Well... Lucasfilm has responded to our questions about the audio issue on the DVD of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope with a blanket statement of denial. Here's the exact text:

"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."

Now here's my response. I don't buy it. The audio quality of that Tarkin line can't be anything other than a technical issue, probably a problem with the original audio element of the dialogue, and Lucasfilm doesn't want to cop to that on the eve of the big release. When you guys hear it tomorrow, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Tarkin's "Then name the system!" line sounds terrible. As far as dialing down the trumpet fanfare during the Death Star attack (in fact, much of Williams' music during the first part of the attack has been reduced in volume in the mix)... I can see that could be a creative decision. It's a decision I absolutely HATE, but okay, maybe that's a creative decision. You guys will have to see what you think when you get the discs.

As far as the reversed music in the surrounds issue - it's going to be very hard for the average listener to detect. We've heard from a number of sources, however, who claim to hear it. In fact, that's how we originally became aware of the problem ourselves. Still, in light of Lucasfilm's denial, we'd like more of you die hard audiophiles to give this disc a listen yourselves and see if you hear it too.

We'll keep looking into this, so stay tuned...

 

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/20/sidebar.hamill/index.html

Not sure if everyone saw this yet.

 

Kurtz says Lucas did not have the Luke/Leia brother/sister thing planned from the beginning, and I believe him. Lucas, I take everything he says with a grain of salt.

 

Have a problem with my Star Wars DVD set. In episode IV at about 58:24 the picture and audio break up for about a second. I replaced it and played the new one...same thing in the same spot. Is it the DVd or my player?

Any suggestions?



Brian

 

Layer change?

 

Why would anyone buy the pan and scan version of these DVDs???

 

SamS,

Wouldn't that be a pause. This is a pixillation (If i am using that word right). The picture breaks up in to black squares. Does yours do that in that spot? It is almost like a drop out.

Brian

 

As long as they keep releasing pan & scan movies people will buy them either by accident, or because it's the only version available where they go to purchase it, or because the video industry still insists on calling them "Standard" or "Full Screen" instead of "Cropped" or "up to 45% of visible picture removed", which would be more appropriate. I don't like the fact that they made the "pan & scan" version in the gold case and the widescreen version in the silver either. Gold is usually considered better than silver, but not in this instance.

 

Thank you, young Skywalker! Indeed you ARE powerful as the Emperor has foreseen!

 

According to Best Buy employees, people actually are clueless as to why there are black bars on screen in a widescreen movie. There are also people who simply cannot watch a movie in widescreen. They insist that the Full Frame format is the way it is supposed to be.

 

Hi Brian,

No mine seems fine The only thing I can think of at the moment is that that time of the movie is near the disc's outer edge and maybe your player has a tough time tracking out there. Or maybe a bad run of discs? Very odd...

 

I agree with Sam. DVDs have multi layers which enables them to cramp a full length feature film on one side of the disc. When the disc switches layers, you get a slight pause in audio and video until the layer resumes. Nothing to worry about, though. Now if you had the Definitive LD set............

 

Rick,

If you read my description, there is no pause. The picture is interrupted for one second by black boxes that break up the picture and then they disappear while the audio cuts out. It is right in the middle of dialog, not before a scene change. It is in the middle of the film (58:24) so it is not at the disc's outer edge. This is the second disc to have that at the same spot. So, is it the disc, or is it my player?

Brian

 

The story has changed/evolved many times over the years. I've read early screenplay drafts and remember things that I read back in '77 that don't jibe with things said today. I don't mean to say that Lucas is lying, just that the creative process is a slippery thing...

Here's an interesting article that explains some of the SW origins...

http://www.towson.edu/~flynn/starwars.html

Then there's this (copied from a Google cache), which may or may not be legit but nevertheless seems filled with contradictions...

"THE STAR WARS"

May, 1973


Story Synopsis

BY

GEORGE LUCAS



A
LUCASFILM LTD.
FILM




THE STAR WARS

by

George Lucas


LUCASFILM LIMITED



May, 1973



Deep Space.


The eerie blue-green planet of Aquilae slowly drifts
into view. A small speck, orbiting the planet, glints
in the light of a near by star.


Suddenly a sleek fighter-type spacecraft settles ominously
into the foreground moving swiftly toward the orbiting
speck. Two more fighters silently maneuver into battle
formation behind the first and then three more craft
glide into view. The orbiting speck is actually a
gargantuan space fortress which dwarfs the approaching
fighters. Fuel pods are jettisoned. The six fighters
break off into a power dive attack on the huge fortress.
Lazer bolts streak from the fighters creating small
explosions on the complex surface of the fort. Return
fire catches one of the fighters and it bursts into a
million pieces. Another of the craft plows into a gun
emplacement jutting from the fortress causing a hideous
series of chain reaction explosions. The chaos of
battle echoes through the vastness of space.


It is the thirty-third century, a period of civil wars
in the galaxy. A rebel princess, with her family,
her retainers, and the clan treasure, is being pursued.
If they can cross territory controlled by the Empire
and reach a friendly planet, they will be saved. The
Sovereign knows this, and posts a reward for the capture
of the princess.


She is being guarded by one of her generals, (Luke
Skywalker) and it is he who leads her on the long and
dangerous journey that follows. They take along with
them two hundred pounds of the greatly treasured "aura
spice", and also two Imperial bureaucrats, whom the
general has captured.


The two terrified, bickering bureaucrats crash land
on Aquilae while trying to flee the battle of the
space fortress. They accidently discover a small
container of the priceless "aura spice" and are rummaging
around the rocks pushing and pulling each other trying
to find more when they are discovered by Luke Skywalker
and taken to his camp.


The princess and the general are disguised as farmers,
and the bureaucrats join their party with the intention
of stealing their "land speeder" and "aura spice".
It doesn't take them too long to realize the general
isn't a farmer and that they are captives about to
embark on a dangerous mission. The two bureaucrats
are essentially comic relief inserted among the general
seriousness of the adventure.


The small group in their sleek, white, two-man "land
speeders" travel across the wastelands of Aquilae,
headed for the space port city of Gordon, where they
hope to get a spacecraft that will take them to the
friendly planet of Ophuchi.


At a desolate rest stop, the rebels are stopped and
questioned by an Imperial patrol. Apparently satisfied,
the captian lets the group continue on their way, but
a short distance into the wilderness, they are attacked
by the patrol. The Imperial patrol of twelve men is no
match for the incredibly skilled and powerful general,
who makes short work of the enemy.


One of the two-man "speeders" is destroyed in the fight
and the bureaucrats must ride on the back of the remaining
one, which slows the group down considerably. They
drive into a storm, run low on food and water, but
eventually make it to the ruin of a religious temple.
In the temple they discover a rebel band of ten boys
(aged 15 to 18) who are planning an attack on one of
the Imperial outposts. The boys laugh in anticipation
of the blow they will strike the Empire in the name of
the princess. They all stop laughing, but the laughing
continues and they look around in consternation. Into
the sanctuary ambles Skywalker, scratching himself,
amused at the idealism of the youths. He barely
glances at them. The contrast between the boy rebels
with their terse nods, their meaningful glances, and
Skywalker, a real general, a real man could not be
greater. The boys plead to join the party to protect
the princess, but the general refuses, and insists
they all return to their homes. They say they have
no place to go and begin to follow the party across
the wasteland.


One night the party is attacked by one of the large
beasts that roam the plains, and is eventually killed
by the boy rebels. The general reluctantly accepts
the presence of the boys, and allows them to join
the group.


The general, one of the bureaucrats, and one of the
boys, venture into a shabby cantina on the outskirts
of the space port, looking for the rebel contact who
will help them get a spacecraft. The murky little
den is filled with a startling array of weird and
erotic Aliens laughing and drinking at the bar. The
bureaucrat and the boy are both terrified as the general
orders two drinks and questions the bartender about
the rebel contact man. A group of bullies begin to
taunt and ridicule the boy. Skywalker attempts to avoid
a confrontation, but worse comes to worse, and he is
forced to fight. With a flash of light, his lazer
sword is out. An are lies on the ground, one of the
bullies lies double, slashed from chin to groin and
Skywalker, with quiet dignity, replaces his sword in
its sheath. The entire fight has lasted a matter of
seconds.


Skywalker, the princess, and their party make contact
with the rebel underground, but not before an Imperial
spy, who followed them from the cantina, reports their
plans to the city governor. The rebels enter the
space port to board a trader's ship, whose captain
is friendly toward the rebels. The group doesn't
realize until it is too late, that it is a trap. Guards
pounce on them from everywhere. The princess, the
bureaucrats, and the boys run for a ship while Skywalker
holds off the guards. They narrowly escape in a stolen
space fighter and lose themselves among the giant
Imperial fleet looking for the rebels.


The general orbits his ship further and further away
from the planet, until he feels it is safe to head out
into deep space toward Ophuchi. As he maneuvers to
break out of orbit, a patrol craft hails the ship and
requests to board and search her. Skywalker trys to
discourage them, but the patrol becomes suspicious.
Skywalker makes a run for it and the patrol craft
fires on them. The rebels return the fire and destroy
the patrol craft. The stolen Imperial ship races toward
the safety of deep space as twelve fighter craft converge
on the destroyed patrol and give chase.


A raging air-to-air battle and chase begins which
continues halfway across the galaxy. The rebel boys
shoot down many Imperial ships under the harsh and
uncompromising instructions of the general. A few of
the boys are angered at his cold and relentless directions,
although they grow to respect him when they begin to
see the results of his training. Their ship is hit
several times and begins to break up, causing them
to slow down. They maneuver the crippled fighter to
an asteroid in an attempt to hide from their pursuers.
The trick works, but as they resume their trek across
the galaxy, the ship is rocked by a series of explosions
and plummets toward the forbidden planet of Yavin.


Everyone jettisons safely away from the doomed craft
before it explodes, and using rocket pack, slowly
drift to the foreboding surface. The general, the princess,
the two bureaucrats with the "aura spice", and one of
the rebel boys regroup and set up camp. When only
one other boy shows up, the group decides to split up.
The general, princess, and bureaucrats head for what
appears to be a city, while the two boys go off looking
for their comrades. They are watched by a giant furry
Alien, who quietly disappears into the foliage.


Skywalker and his party race along a narrow pathway
riding "jet-sticks" fashioned from their rescue packs.
They round a bend and see the way is blocked by three
or four Aliens, riding large bird-like creatures. The
general instantly changes direction on to a side path,
the others follow close behind, chased by the Aliens.
Skywalker drops behind the others and begins shooting
at the Aliens with his lazer gun. The Aliens sling a
dart-like object at Skywalker as they rush along the
road. The general kills the last Alien just as he
reaches the gate to the Alien camp. Skywalker cannot
curb his "jet-stick" in time and the momentum carries
him directly into the enemies' hands.


The group is surrounded by Aliens. Skywalker jumps
off his "jet-stick" and takes a defense stance. The
Aliens give him room. They seem puzzled by these
intruders and jabber to themselves. Two leaders carry
on a heated argument. Finally one storms off in disgust
and the other summons a guard who steps forward with
a large spear in his hand. Skywalker and the Alien
stand surveying each other. The Alien makes a lunge,
the general counters, and the fight begins. A desperate
fight ensues, but eventually Skywalker wins by cutting
the Alien in half with his lazer sword. At this, all
the Aliens worked into a frenzy mob, carry the general
off and throw him over a thousand foot crevasse into
a boiling lake.


The general's sure death, terrifies the bureaucrats
and moves the princess. The Aliens lead them to a
small hut where they are imprisoned. Unknown to everyone,
the general grabs an overhanging vine on his descent
and swings to safety. He starts back to rescue the
others when he encounters an Alien. Skywalker starts
to attack, but the Alien drops to the ground jabbering
and carrying on. The general recognizes the Alien as
the one who argued with the leader, who ordered his death.
The general trys to communicate with the Alien, but
all he can make out is that the creature worships him
and wants to take him some place urgently.


The Alien leads Skywalker to a clearing where a platoon
of the Imperial guard is lounging, obviously waiting
for someone or something. The general jumps undercover
as a herd of Aliens arrive with the princess and
bureaucrats in tow. A trade is made and the platoon
leaves in a "speed tank" with the three captives. The
general tries to follow, but is unable to keep up.


The Alien leads Skywalker to a small farm where he discovers
the boy rebels are waiting for him. The farm is owned
by a cantankerous old farmer who is married to an Alien.
He tells the group that he hates the Empire and shows them the
location of an outpost where they might have
taken the princess.


The general and his army of youthful warriors plan
an attack on the small Imperial outpost. They use
surprise and the general's rigorous training to overcome
the enemy and capture the outpost. they discover the
princess has been taken to Alderaan, the capitol of
the Empire. They make plans to rescue the princess
from right under the nose of the Emperor. The only
craft at the outpost capable of intergalactic travel
is a squadron of one-man devil fighters, which the
general trains the kids to use. When they feel they
are ready, they strike out toward the center of the
galaxy and the heart of the Empire.


Disguised as Imperial rangers, the small armada flies
right through the gates of the impressive city-planet
of Alderaan and stops at the prison complex. After
overcoming a series of difficult barriers and traps
they find the princess and free her.



An alarm sounds. The rebels are forced to fight their
way out of the prison with "multiple lazer guns" and
swords. A few of the boys are killed, but most of
them make it to their spacecraft followed by Skywalker
and the princess. They break through a ring of Imperial
ships attempting to stop them and escape into deep
space.


The princess' arrival on Ophuchi is celebrated by
a huge parade, honoring the general and his small band.
The princess' uncle, ruler of Ophuchi, rewards the
bureaucrats, who for the first time see the princess
revealed as her true goddess-like self. The general
commissions the "boy rebels" into the princess' special
guard. After the ceremony is over, and the festivities
have ended, the drunken bureaucrats stagger down an
empty street arm in arm realizing that they have been
adventuring with demigods.


THE END ?

MAY 25, 1973

 

Ouch. Sorry 'bout the length. If deemed appropriate, perhaps a Gort might want to move it to a new thread?

 

I've got this same problem twice on Episode IV, first at 57:30 where Tarkin goes to clutch the princess' face and again at 58:24, right about when he is telling her to "name the system. It happened on my Pioneer 563 at home, my computer dvd player at home, and now on the Sony NC615 I have here at work. I haven't watched all of Episode IV, so I don't know if there are other trouble spots. I'm taking my set back to Best Buy this afternoon.

 

Brian,

That's just it, the layer change is usually at the outer edge. RSDL (Reverse Spiral Dual Layer) discs start at the hub like a CD and go all the way out to the edge before the laser refocuses and starts it's journey back inward.

Again, not knowing anything for sure, just trying to throw out some ideas.

 

No way this is a layer change issue.

 

....you'd have to flip the disk over!

 

Totally true. I hear people in stores all the time ask for "the one without the bars on it." I am so used to seeing them at this point that when the rare TV show actually has them, I don't even notice it.

 

Alright guys, I watched some of it last night. They look great, they sound great. The sound mix is a bit odd though. The music is really soft and the explosions are really loud. Dialog not only goes from dark to bright and sometimes one person in a scene is much louder than the other people. Aunt Peru has a new voice as does some of the henchmen. They used a different take for Leia's confrontation with Vader in the start of Ep IV. Etc, etc, etc, etc...

And that's just the first hour of the first movie.

I was expecting more from the extras too. Where's the deleted scenes? Ep I & II got a disc each of bonuses yet these get one disc for all three movies? Weird.

 

Can't say anything I've read so far is filling me with confidence....

 

While I have ordered the DVD's, I also just bought the "faces" THX widescreen VHS box set...which I am told is the best "original" versions to own. I hope my info was correct on that as the box was not cheap...

 

The last I heard, Best Buy ordered around 70-80% of their allocation for this movie in widescreen.