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STAR WARS: The Despecialized Edition 2.5 - HD 720p

Discussion in 'Fan Film' started by Ben_Kenobi, Dec 11, 2014.

  1. Ben_Kenobi

    Ben_Kenobi Rebel General

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    I was always on the look out for fan-made cuts of the new and digital restorations of the original trilogies and was vaguely familiar with this project. However I never got around checking it out... until today. This is true dedication which very few of cinema enthusiasts can match! I'm absolutely thrilled.

    ATTENTION: To all of you who never grew with the original films and always wanted to see them in their intended cuts, help yourselves to this site. This is obviously %100 legal, with its domain and official download link.

    I urge everyone to at least visit and sign the petition.
    Obviously countless hours went into this work of love.

    OFFICIAL PROJECT PAGE
    http://originaltrilogy.com/

    SIGN THE PETITION HERE
    http://originaltrilogy.com/petition/

    Check out this feature detailing all the hard work that went into restoration.


    And the detailed, screen by screen explanation for those of the viewers who aren't aware of all the minute details the official BluRay "enhanced".

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109609428403596349302/albums/5932164278535972945

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109609428403596349302/albums/6044645069501365185

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109609428403596349302/albums/5648925209674175009
     
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  2. Stormagadon

    Stormagadon Cantina Court Jester
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    This is brilliant!

    And while we're on the topic of special additions, does anyone know what the differences between the 2004 DVD rerelease and the Blu-ray versions are?
     
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  3. Ben_Kenobi

    Ben_Kenobi Rebel General

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    @Stormagadon The 2011 BluRay releases used the 2004 remasters as the basis for conversion. The BluRay collection further enhanced some digital effects such as Jabba's CG model, a few additional sound effects not present in 2004 version s.a. Darth Vader's "Noooo" before tossing The Emperor into the shaft.

    I'm sure, if you're interested you can check out the comprehensive comparison list on Wiki between the original, 1997 restorationis, 2004 DVDs, and 2011 BluRays.
     
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  4. Stormagadon

    Stormagadon Cantina Court Jester
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    Okay, thank you. I was curious if there were many major changes besides updated CG models.
     
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  5. John Crichton

    John Crichton Rebel Official

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    If you're still interested, I found a website that detailed the variations between the different versions. I think it compared four versions (original release, 90s Special Edition, 2004 DVD release, and the blu-ray) in screenshots. Sometimes the original release wasn't applicable (added scenes, obviously).

    It was an interesting analysis, and it covered the PT as well. I can see if I can find it... believe I have it bookmarked on another computer.

    EDIT: Found it. The links are below.

    A New Hope: http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html
    The Empire Strikes Back: http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-two.html
    Return of the Jedi: http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-three.html
    And episodes I, II, and III (fewer changes since they're newer): http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-four.html
     
    #5 John Crichton, Dec 12, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2014
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  6. Stormagadon

    Stormagadon Cantina Court Jester
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  7. Beauke

    Beauke Rebel Commander

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    I had the give this topic a kick-up.

    I love Harmy's Despecialized Editions. It's my preferred way to watch the OT.

    Harmy recently started working on an updated version of his Despecialized Editions. He also decided to give an indept look on his workflow.

    In this first video, he talks about the spreadsheet he made and the work that goes in to the preparation of the different shots.


    In this second video, he shows us how he uses the various sources to create the different shots (in this case, the first shot of reel 3 of ESB), the clean-up process, ...
     
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  8. Lt. Hija

    Lt. Hija Rebel Official

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    A vast (and I really mean vast) improvement of Harmy's editions is the beautiful re-constitution of the original contrast, colors and half tones, in contrast the official DVDs and Blu-rays literally pale in comparison and look dull and lifeless.

    The only setback of his despecialized ANH edition is sometimes the unfortunate lack of original source material (resulting in a lower image resolution) which I 'felt' during the Yavin IV Alliance hangar (matte painting) shot and the Alliance snubfighters approaching the Death Star.

    I still own the original CAV LaserDiscs of ANH and ESB (haven't checked them for laser-rot, though) in Pan & Scan and wondered if not at least the full resoulution of the P&S image areas could be utilized for a new approach to yield a better image resolution.

    According to a friend of mine (file this under rumor mill for the time beeing) a 4K UHD Blu-ray release of ANH could be announced soon, but most likely that's going to be the George Lucas supervised 4K transfer and thus it's unlikely that the bad contrast or colors will be any better than what we already got (and it'll be the Special Edition, most likely).
     
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  9. Beauke

    Beauke Rebel Commander

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    One of the problems that he had, where the different low-resolution sources. But with the new 35mm print he has, i think the results will be a lot better than in previous versions.

    In the period between TFA & R1, the OT had a 4K restoration (included the footage that was used for R1).

    There is a big chance that a 4K-release of the OT will happen, but it will probably be based on the 2011 blu-ray release.
    The sad fact is that, as long JL is alive (and let's hope he is granted with a long & healthy life), we will never see the Unaltered OT in an official release.
     
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  10. Lt. Hija

    Lt. Hija Rebel Official

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    WOW! :)
     
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  11. Pizza Time

    Pizza Time Guest

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    I watched his New Hope today, it's amazing. As a young fan, seeing it for the first time, as it was in 1977, it was one of the coolest moments of being a SW fan.
     
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  12. Jayson

    Jayson Resident Lucasian

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    I really want to watch the despecialized versions of the OT (currently stick with the laser disc transfers), but for the life of me, I've NEVER been able to figure out how to get a copy of them to watch. I've gone to the instructions, and good LORD, it's like decryption on steroids.

    It's not easy to find, and when you find them, the loops to jump through are insane. I've never been able to follow the instructions all the way through to getting a copy - I always end up in a dead end.
    I just want them either a) on mp4 (even though this is less than optimal, at this point I don't care), or b) on a disc ready to go (super unlikely), or c) the files to burn to disc for making your own bluray (then I could have a local friend of mine do that with his media capable set up).

    GAH!

    Cheers,
    Jayson
     
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  13. Messi

    Messi G.O.A.T.

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    Is this version available to download? If yes, where?
     
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  14. Martoto

    Martoto Force Sensitive

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    There's nothing that many of the patrons of originaltrilogy.com like more than publicly alienating people who would like to find out how to acquire the fan-edits they talk about openly there. It's like a very bad/broad SNL skit about high school cliques. And it's absurd to see people opnely talk about having something then adopt a perversely coy stance about obtaining that thing.
     
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  15. Force-Abel

    Force-Abel Clone Trooper

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    I must say this is not my experience of the originaltrilogy.com. If we are patient and read through the 3 opening posts by Harmy on each of the film it is quite easy to obtain the 3 DE films. Even for a non-native English speaker and someone who is not great with IT like myself. It would seem thousands of people have managed to obtain them through the OT.com (and other means like torrents or links on reddit, or on film streaming sites).

    There are Guides, Advice and How-To's on how to obtain these projects (and the many other projects on there) and general 'Some Information on Project X' threads in the 'General Assistance' forum on there, or in the 'Welcome', 'About' or 'Help' threads, on the OT website.

    People there are usually quite helpful and friendly too, though there are indeed fewer of them around the site of late. With some on there who will not help people who do not read the basic information before posting there, or are aggressive or insulting.

    Maybe it is worth trying again on there? I wish you good luck with getting the Despecialized Edits on there (or on other places).
     
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  16. Jayson

    Jayson Resident Lucasian

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    Not as easy as you make it seem.
    You have to sign up to back channels and get someone to invite you in to certain boards to get anywhere.

    One of which, the last time I looked no longer avcepted requests for membership so you couldn't even follow the directions anymore.

    Once you do get in, unless things have changed, last I checked you have to piece together your own disc file from multiple variations.
    It's not just a matter of A single copy.

    And then Harmy keeps tinkering with new versions so you don't actually even have just one version of the film to choose - let alone counting all of the audio channel options which compile the mess.

    Harmy himself is not very open on this subject.

    I wrote to him and explained that the convoluted process he was using was a huge drop off to anyone ever seeing his restorations and reconstructions, and instead fueled false presentations on Ebay by those willing to sucker people who just want to hit play and not play cloak and dagger followed by build your own bluray.

    Harmy asked if I knew another way around distributing it in this way. I said yes and to let me know if he wanted to talk.

    He never responded.

    So maybe if you don't natively speak English it's easier? As there is a cultural shift to what the internet is in England and especially America.
    Once you get to America, if it's not 3 seconds of a click like Amazon, then it ain't happening.

    Ain't no one in America going to run about on a scavanger hunt for copies of a film.
    And if anyone reading along from America says, "I did", shut it. You are so niche it doesn't statistically matter - like me watching silent movies to the phrase, "no one watches silent movies anymore."

    So...yeah. I just fundamentally disagree.
    It needs to be far more simple.

    And thousands of people is not impressive.
    Not for Star Wars.

    Cheers,
    Jayson
     
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  17. Force-Abel

    Force-Abel Clone Trooper

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    Sorry - I apologise, I do not know what 'back channels' are. Once you join up at the OT.com you do not need to join anything else. I think many people have obtained the DE without even joining up on the site, as threads and information are open to the public (no registration is necessary to view these or anything else on there).

    The latest version to acquire is not long to find out - v2.7 for Star Wars, v2.0 for Empire, and 2.5 for Return Of The Jedi - these are mentioned in each of the 3 main DE thread titles by Harmy.

    The different sound options? They all come in the package/download for each film, so you can choose whichever sound you prefer. I do not understand 'compile the mess'. But is seems good to have a choice of sound to listen to? (or whatever the 'default sound is).

    Ah, longer than 3 seconds, and you are not interested? I see. Yes, some patience is required. Though it is a lot easier or quicker to obtains DE now than it was years ago. I do not think this is 'American' or 'English' thing as you say - some people have less patience all over the world, some more. It seems many Americans and English, among people from other countries have managed it :) But as my point was, even if you struggle with English language or computer skills the DE can still be obtained - just with a little patience (it is not 'rocket science' as the saying goes ;))

    It is a shame Harmy cannot reply to everyone with a question, but he does try to help and provide information, and probably has a life outside of DE. As said, others on the OT site have been helpful and guided others who are patient, polite, or made an effort to obtains them when they have had issues or questions. Maybe longer than 3 seconds though ;)

    Reasons why it cannot be more simple to obtain is obvious, a simple download button etc. The OT site would not be around if it allowed this, like many other sites who have been taken down by authorities, or got into trouble, and Harmy himself too, or other project makers.

    Harmy is now working on v3 for each of the Original Trilogy films - for in 4K quality. It may take a long time before finished but it should be very good quality like his previous DE releases.

    In the 'useful' threads on the OT there is information or suggestions on other ways to obtains Despecialized if the Guides are a problem = Torrents, streams sites, mega links, reddit links, njvc version, certain search engines. Even asking for a copy from someone you know or from a friend. So, many options are available, which is good for a fan made preservation project.


    That you fundamentally disagree is cool. Though factually it is much easier to obtain the DE then you say. So I thought it may help others interested in watching the DE to post the above and my previous post in here.

    Thankyou.
     
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  18. Jayson

    Jayson Resident Lucasian

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    OK, since this comes up ALL the time and no one ever puts up and instead just keeps saying "It's easy", let's put the money where the mouth is.

    I've already an account. I'm logged in.
    So...where to after logging in?

    Here's the most likely relevant section.
    Capture.JPG

    But it's a forum with tangents all over the place. So let's get instructions.
    Hey look at that, there's a FAQ on it. That should help right?

    Here's the FAQ link.
    https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/H...d-answers-member-FAQs/id/60848/page/1#1208188

    Here's what it reads.
    One of the first links that stands out is:

    So we're in an FAQ that tells us to go read another FAQ help doc on the SAME subject....

    Oh do go on.
    wonka.jpg

    Here's what that other FAQ help doc says.

    Oh, yeah...I'm seeing this screaming as easy here. (sarcasm)
    Good lord, I haven't even started and already I'm pummeled with variations of information like I just stepped into a Star Trek canon debate.

    So first of all, I have NO idea WHICH of these is the "Real Despecialized Edition".
    Capture1.jpg

    <<continued in next post>>
    --- Double Post Merged, Nov 30, 2020, Original Post Date: Nov 30, 2020 ---
    <<continued from above>>


    So, I'll just blindly pick on.
    I'll just go with the first one on the list.

    Which then leads to:
    I want STAR WARS, the first one, so I'll just click STAR WARS - the first link I see that reads STAR WARS.
    Capture2.JPG

    Woops, nope. That doesn't get me what I want. That gets me a rambling blabberfest.
    <<continued in next post>>
    --- Double Post Merged, Nov 30, 2020 ---
    <<continued from above>>

    OK, let's go back and look further.
    AH, this looks promising.
    Capture3.JPG

    But alas...no
    OK, so...nowhere in there was there an instruction for obtaining this thing. Just a bunch of blabbering on about stuff.

    Maybe I got a bunk sample.

    Let's back up and go to a little link tucked all the way at the beginning and hiding just before all of the GIANT BOLD TITLES SCREAMING AT US EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!

    On the first page, just at the beginning, it quietly reads.
    Firstly, again, it's WEIRD that the FAQ document for how to get Harmy's version refers to TWO other documents to getting Harmy's version rather than actually...I don't know...SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT HOW TO GET COPIES OF HARMY'S VERSION.

    lol I know...crazy idea right? Saying things that your title says you're going to say...what a gas of an idea.
    Capture5.JPG


    But I digress. At least we finally found it!
    HURRAY!
    Capture4.JPG

    <<continued in next post>>
     
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  19. Jayson

    Jayson Resident Lucasian

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    <<continued from above>>

    Except...no. We've still got quite a ways to go...


    Following the first link

    We get to this:
    <<continued in next post>>
     
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  20. Jayson

    Jayson Resident Lucasian

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    <<continued from above>>

    First link leads to:
    Second link leads to a showcase of the video sources. Woopty doo.

    Can't find anything in here that instructs how to go about getting a copy.
    Alright, let's keep looking.

    Next we get this.
    Oh for F***S SAKE!

    I've gone to an FAQ document to go to an FAQ document to go to an FAQ document.
    EVEN MICROSOFT ISN'T THIS INEPT AT DOCUMENT WRITING AND PROVIDING SENSIBLE INSTRUCTIONS!

    If this were a military instruction manual, we'd be dead by now!
    So basically...Rogue One.
    Capture6.JPG


    Fine...let's see what we get.

    <<continued in next post>>
     
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