Subject: DVD Special Features Confirmed!!! Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 19:28:03 GMT From: Steve Tilson Organization: Deja.com - Before you buy. Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc In a statement issued late yesterday afternoon, Star Wars producer and guru Rick McCalumn confirmed a list of very impressive features set for inclusion with the DVD release, in 2006, of the entire Star Wars saga. While fan pressure to release even "stripped," or featureless, DVD's of Episode I and the original trilogy has been intense, Lucasfilm has remained adamant that the movies will not be released on DVD until they are, in George Lucas' word, "perfect." "It's going to be worth the wait," McCalumn said, in a hastily-assembled press conference at Skywalker Ranch. "We're a little amazed ourselves at the quality and value these discs are going to represent." To whet the appetites of the fans, Lucasfilm has released this preliminary list of special features to be included in the six-movie, 12 disc boxed set slated for release in late May of 2006. "These are the minimums," McCalumn said. "These are the things we absolutely won't ship without. Just remember, the actual release may be even better than this." The list of Region 1 features for each of the movies includes: 1. 2.35:1 widescreen editions of all six films, anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions. 2. All six movies will be presented in Dolby Digital EX 6.1 channel surround sound. The three films of the original trilogy will have their audio tracks and music remastered to take advantage of this new sound technology. (Fans who would prefer DTS Digital Surround are reminded that George Lucas himself created Dolby Digital EX, so there's little chance of DTS discs being released.) Commentary tracks from George Lucas, Irving Kershner, Richard Marquand, Lawrence Kasdan, John Williams, and all of the principal actors (except Harrison Ford) will be included on the discs. 3. The "classic," non-SE versions of the original trilogy will be included on three supplementary discs (sold only with the boxed set). The Ewok TV movies and cartoon series will also be included. Additionally, the Star Wars Holiday Special will be included in a "hidden" portion of one of the discs. 4. Missing scenes will be included on one of the supplementary discs. Scenes slated for this disc include the Biggs scenes from ANH, the alternate ending of ROTJ in which the Falcon is destroyed and Lando killed, the extended Wampa scenes from ESB, and the rest of TPM's third act. 5. DVD-ROM users will be able to use the same technology used to replace stunt doubles' faces with those of Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson in the TPM lightsaber duel to digitally substitute the faces (or even bodies) of anyone they choose for anyone in the six movies. Want to be Anakin? A complete 3-D workup of your face will be created from three photos of yourself, taken from any angle, which you will supply. Maybe you'd like to kiss the Princess? A click of the mouse and your mug will be seamlessly superimposed over Harrison Ford's! (Lucasfilm officially discourages fans from using this technology to alter the films substantially; for example, to digitally substitute Wookiees for Ewoks. McCalumn said the feature was included for the enjoyment of fans in the privacy of their own homes and with small groups of friends, saying, "It's up to the viewer, but we hope they'll respect the films' artistic integrity.") 6. Extensive documentaries on the making of all six films will include "No More Compromises," in which George Lucas will discuss the changes he was forced to make to his original vision due to the constraints of technology, and "On the Plantation," a look at minorities in Star Wars, hosted by Billy Dee Williams and Ahmed Best. 7. Region 2 DVD's, to be released in Europe in October of 2007, will be pan & scan with 2.0 stereo audio. "We know fans are clamoring for these DVD's, and frankly we're a little tired of all the whining," McCalumn said. "We hope we've given you something to look forward to. It's going to be a lot of work to squeeze into six years, but we think the results will be worth it... and worth the wait. And the price, too." The US boxed set will retail for a $949.99 MSRP. Steve Tilson -- It was the BATF in the vanguard, as usual, backed up by FBI shock troops... I saw the gold flag of the IRS and realized we would doubtless have to face flamethrowers and chemical-biological warfare shells. -Doom: Hell on Earth Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.