BLU-RAY UPDATE...

The first part of Home Theater Forum website's exclusive access to certain aspects of the STAR WARS Blu-rays, plus a transcript of the US LUCASFILM presentation are now online. Definitely worth checking out.

Link: Lucasfilm on Star Wars the Complete Saga Blu-ray: Hands on Report

UPDATE 22/8/11: Here's a very encouraging perspective on the press event from THE DIGITAL BITS website (which has more features and insights on the Blu-rays to come): The Digital Bits - The 2011 Star Wars Saga Blu-rays - First Insights

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 8: BERU'S KITCHEN CONVERSATION

With homely Beru Lars appearance in EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES cut down so savagely during the film's later post production editing (she has just one line in the finished film: "Hello"!) and followed by later re-shoots of material on Anakin and Padme, it would be nice if the upcoming Blu-rays could have Luke Skywalker's adopted mum to be's deleted scene with Padme, where, in the famous Homestead kitchen (painstakingly recreated by the films production designers to match the original environment conceived in 1976 by John Barry), she briefly talks about life on and outside of Tatooine...

"Would you like some blue milk?"

The Blu-ray Prequel deleted scenes for the new release total around 45 minutes, so that's probably 15 minutes for each film. A shame it all couldn't be longer, really, as there's at least 30 minutes of deleted scenes footage alone from ATTACK OF THE CLONES that is yet to be seen, with much of the final third of the film having been changed/re-worked/re-filmed in the post-production process.

MORE BLU-RAY STUFF...

In a nice and quiet alcove at Mos Eisley Cantina, Han and Jenny cuddle up and get ready to watch the STAR WARS Blu-rays!

Finally! A proper trailer for the Blu-ray Box set, with clips from deleted scenes and footage giving us a proper idea of the picture quality transfers (the above pic of the B/W alternate Cantina scene edit is greatly improved to what was seen all those years ago on CD-rom in 1997). From YAHOO, here: Star Wars: The Complete Saga - exclusive trailer | Movies Blog - Yahoo! Movies

Also, check out the Pod Race clip: Star Wars BLU-Ray Preview - The Phantom Menace Pod Doc - YouTube

And a recent feature on the Blu-ray blog: Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray preview with Holiday Special easter egg

A message from Darth Vader for AMAZON: Amazon.co.uk : Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) Ltd. Edition Film Cell

On the Prequels side of things, here's a taster of the Special Features Menus: STAR WARS - The Complete Saga auf Blu-ray: Sample Menü-Navigation (HD) - YouTube

Luke looks to the heavens waiting for his next Blu-ray post delivery!

BLU-RAY NEWS: "DVD & BLU-RAY REVIEW" MAGAZINE-SEPTEMBER 2011

The new edition of the UK's DVD & BLU-RAY review. Available in Jedi and Sith covers.

The latest issue of the popular British magazine BLU-RAY & DVD REVIEW is out now and its main focus is on, you guessed it, the upcoming STAR WARS SAGA Blu-ray releases. But don't be fooled by the cover lines, though, that make it look as if there's more info about the new releases than there actually is. Basically, the magazine is getting in on a cover and feature as early as it can in order to boost its circulation figures using the STAR WARS brand. There's a decent interview with the always likable and highly talented Matthew Wood who talks about the painstaking restoration work that he and David Accord have done on the sound design/mixing for the new releases (especially the new version of the original STAR WARS) to make them live up to, as best as possible, the way we originally heard the films when they were first at cinemas, and we also find out that the master copies being used for the Blu-ray are sourced from the controversial, previously used for the 2004 releases on DVD (which have now apparently been tinkered about with by ILM with regards to colour fixing and gradings, as well as some new lightsaber corrections, too. Wood doesn't state this in the article, just that the masters are from 2004. This info about ILM's involvement has recent-ish become public knowledge), but that's about it. The pictures are all the same old, same old we've seen in countless other magazines (why didn't they just ask LUCASFILM for some other images to use?), there's an okay feature from ex-INSIDER editor Brian J. Robb about the legacy of the original 1977 film, and a tired old "best of" moments previously done better in EMPIRE film magazine. If you can afford to get this magazine, and want it for your collection, by all means purchase it. Otherwise save yourself some money...

I haven't picked up BLU-RAY & DVD REVIEW in a long time, though I noticed its name re-vamping. I have to say that when it was originally just known as DVD REVIEW a few years back it was a much better title. The then printing of the magazine was really nice, the layouts fun and informative and it was just an overall better package than the drab and boringly designed, almost identity-less product I was reading today. Obviously the money belts held onto by the accountants have been tightened up at the magazine company that produces it (FUTURE PUBLISHING), which is a bit of a shame...

AFICIONADO RATING: 5 out of 10

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 7: ANCHORHEAD GRAFFITI!

At Tosche Station, inside the Fixer's garage/work area in the small town of Anchorhead, the man himself (as played by Anthony Forrest), snuggles up for some quality time with his girlfriend Camie (played by almost Princess Leia-to-be, Koo Stark) whilst their friends Deak (Jay Benedict) and Windy (actor unknown-no one seems to know who played him! UK fan Jason Joiner probably knows but no doubt he's keeping the info to himself so as to try and get the person for an autograph signing!) engage in an intriguing and highly competitive electronic game with the newly returned to Tatooine Biggs Darklighter (Garrick Hagon). In a few scant seconds time, "Wormie" aka the young and exuberant Luke Skywalker, will burst into the room with enthusiastic stories of an overhead space battle-which no one will believe- that will be the starting point of an epic journey that will send young Luke into a bigger adventure than he could ever have dreamed possible...

Here's the sequence:YouTube - ‪"Star Wars" (1977) - The Deleted Scene Of Luke's Friends‬‏

For years the stuff of legend, this deleted scene raw footage, cut from the film by Lucas and Alan Ladd, Jr. because it was seemingly too similar to the kind of material explored by Lucas in his previous AMERICAN GRAFFITI, has only been shown twice officially by LUCASFILM, first as part of a special event held by Steve Sansweet at the San Diego COMIC CON in 1997, and second at a STAR WARS actors panel (which included Anthony Forrest) at CELEBRATION IV in 2007. In 1998 it made its way onto the famous STAR WARS: BEHIND THE MAGIC CD-ROM, where fans have since tried to clean it up and put it online in better quality for all to see and enjoy. It seems likely that this footage will be included, hopefully, in an even better, officially cleaned up state for the September Blu-ray release.

NEW BLU-RAY DELETED SCENE CLIP: CHASM CLASH!

Another welcome little deleted scene snippet from the upcoming Blu-rays has turned up online: this time its a slightly different version of the chasm battle from STAR WARS (Episode IV), incorporating the famous, for years debated, was it or wasn't it filmed moment in which Luke throws the grappling hook and misses the first time around.

Here it is:  STAR WARS Blu-Ray New Deleted Scene‬‏ - YouTube

We're sure there will be more hotly debated scenes like this to come on those shiny discs!!

UPDATE 2/8/2011: Turns out it was all just a clever hoax from the YOUTUBE poster. But, I'm sure you'll agree a nicely done one at that!

Also, here's an apparent Russian trailer for the Blu-rays. We don't think it's the real deal, though it's well put together: ‪Star Wars Blu Ray HD [Russian]‬‏ - YouTube

NOT LONG NOW..."THE COMPLETE SAGA": BLU-RAY NEWS

Everybody's probably already seen it, but I'm a completist when it comes to providing as much info as I can on the upcoming Blu-rays. Here's the link to the new STAR WARS BLU-RAY web site area on the official site:
StarWars.com | The Complete Saga on Blue-ray

The front and back holders for the unique cell packaging.

In the UK, fans who pre-order THE COMPLETE SAGA will receive their very own limited edition STAR WARS film cell.The Star Wars Sentiype™ contains a unique 35mm film frame reproduced from the original film footage using state-of-the-art imaging and printing techniques. The film frame is mounted and features original artwork from the Star Wars Blu-ray collection. Each senitype™ is numbered for authenticity.

The Senitype is only available to those that Pre-Order The Complete Saga on Blu-ray.  One limited edition Star Wars Senitype™  will be sent to all persons that have already pre-ordered The Complete Saga on Blu-ray. 

The overall packaging for the British Blu-ray COMPLETE SAGA disc releases.

The Limited Edition Star Wars® Sentiype™ is available whilst stocks last from UK dealers: Amazon, Play, HMV, The Hut and Tesco  


There's more STAR WARS related Blu-ray treats coming up for fans at the EMPIRE film magazine's event packed, star-studded extravaganza at the London 02 Arena-BIG SCREEN-taking place on the 12th-14th August. They'll be a big preview of THE COMPLETE SAGA discs, with on stage guest commentary from some of the key ILM team members involved in the films making and transfer to Blu-ray, plus a Jedi/Lightsaber Academy for the kids and families to indulge in, and an opportunity to have pictures taken on a popular STAR WARS set recreation. COWBOYS & ALIENS, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, will also be getting an advance UK screening, too! What's not to like!


Find out more about BIG SCREEN here: A Celebration of Film, A Feast for Fans Everywhere - The Live Movie Event | Empire Big Screen

DELETED SCENES GALORE COMING ON BLU-RAY!

A Treadwell droid watches Luke as he looks to the heavens in a classic deleted scene from STAR WARS.

Finally, LUCASFILM opens the vaults and shows us some of the Classic Trilogy Deleted Scenes goodies coming up on Blu-ray, and they're all the ones we want to see, as witnessed in this trailer: StarWars.com | Comic-Con 2011 Star Wars Blu-ray Deleted Scenes Teaser

Artoo escapes a carnage wielding Wampa in the caverns of Echo Base in EMPIRE.

Luke looks at the space battle overhead in STAR WARS.

Lando helps an injured Chewbacca to the Falcon in JEDI's famous Sandstorm sequence.

A shot of the Millennium Falcon and Princess Leia's Y-wing on Tatooine.

Luke conceals the damage to his mechanical hand in JEDI...

Luke makes his way to his X-wing during the Sandstorm.

A Mon Calamari pilot joins the Death Star II battle in JEDI

General Solo and his team come under Imperial attack in JEDI

The Bunker battle continues...

OUT NOW ON US BLU-RAY: "AMERICAN GRAFFITI"

Debbie (Candy Clark) and Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith) await the new AMERICAN GRAFFITI Blu-ray! Image: UNIVERSAL

George Lucas's seminal film tribute to his Modesto youth- AMERICAN GRAFFITI- has finally arrived on US Blu-ray and the review verdicts for it are very good.

Check out this review here from the popular BLU-RAY.COM site: American Graffiti Blu-ray

The US release is apparently region-free, so an official UK version of the movie is unlikely.

UPDATE 5/8/2011: My good buddy Chris Baker has let me know of this terrific blog site totally dedicated to the film from super-fan Jeff Hamrick. Check it out here:  http://jeffsallgraffitiallthetime.blogspot.com/2011/08/american-graffiti-lost-and-found.html?spref=fb

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 6: JEDI TEMPLE TRAP!

With the phoney recall signal sent by Anakin Skywalker, now Darth Vader, designed to lure Jedi Knights back to Coruscant- and certain death- a Clone Trooper, disguised as a Jedi, gets ready for more killing. In a blue screen scene filmed at the FOX studios, Obi-Wan and Yoda had to navigate their way around some false Jedi so as to get into the Temple and change the signal, but in the end this sequence was deleted and then revised/re-filmed to become the rather cool action sequence where the pair swiftly take on Clone Troopers outside the Temple and Yoda delivers that awesome lightsaber throw, which, though now iconic, Lucas considered such a violent move for a distinguished Jedi like Yoda that he almost cut it!

STAR WARS ON BLU-RAY: A LOOK AT THE SHINY DISCS...?

This image of the new Blu-ray box set discs and booklet has been doing the rounds on the various commercial sales websites. Some people out there think its a fake, but it looks pretty genuine to me.

We'll soon discover the truth once the exclusive Blu-ray presentation at COMIC CON has come and gone at the end of July...

CLASSIC IMAGE: PADME'S MISSION...

Here's a great shot of Padme (Natalie Portman) in what I call her Green Riding Hood outfit, during a deleted scene from EPISODE III, where she speaks to the DELEGATION OF 2000 on Coruscant about what can be done about ending both the Clone War and the all-too powerful rein of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine...

The deleted scenes may have already appeared on the 2005 DVD of REVENGE OF THE SITH but for completism they should be added to the upcoming Blu-rays regardless.

CLASSIC IMAGE: JEDI DESTINY...

Within the deserted and wrecked Jedi Temple, Master Yoda confers with Obi-Wan Kenobi as to the culprits responsible for the slaughter of their friends. A confirmation of a worse battle to come is soon unavoidable and inevitable...

Linked to our favourite green Jedi Master, check out this recently activated new clip from PLAY.COM, from the upcoming Blu-ray release, on how composer John Williams came up with the characters much loved theme tune, here: Star Wars - Landing - Play.com (UK) - Free Delivery

HOMESTEAD GENERATIONS: BLU-RAY COVER ART

Artist Lucamara's front sleeve work for the upcoming STAR WARS six film Blu-ray box set has been met with a mixed reaction, but here's the full piece of art previously posted at the DEVIANTART site.

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 5: REBEL INFILTRATION!

General Han Solo and Princess Leia, with Chewbacca and their Rebel Commando squad, continue their uneasy journey into the dark and dangerous corridors of the Imperial energy shield bunker so as to find and neutralise its command and control area for the incoming "surprise" fighter attack on the Death Star II.

This action sequence, which involves the group accidentally running into a Stormtrooper patrol and getting into a firefight, is probably one of the most desired deleted scenes from RETURN OF THE JEDI, after the infamous Tatooine Sandstorm, that I hope will be included on the Blu-rays. So far, those talented people at ORIGINAL TRILOGY.COM have found a foreign Blu-ray/DVD classifications source (FSK - FSK Suchergebnis) confirming that the deleted/extended scenes for both trilogies will have a running time of up to 45 minutes each, so it looks like we'll get a worthy selection of material to enjoy...

Here's an early look at the box sets from a LUCASFILM STAR WARS MEDIA DAY press event last week: A Destiny Revealed: Star Wars Media Day Brings Blu-ray and More to New York City: BigPictureBigSound

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 4: "THE LOST TWENTY"

We'd all seen the pictures before the release of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, where, within the vast interior of the Jedi Temple Archives, Obi-Wan Kenobi looks on at a bust (one of many showing other historically important Jedi), bearing the visage of Count Dooku, leading to Librarian Jocastu Nu recounting to him (and the audience) how the ex-Jedi Master has become one of the few of a group, intriguingly known as "the Lost Twenty", to have deliberately departed the Jedi Order of their own free will due to differing viewpoints with the colleagues. Sadly, the fascinating scene, which revealed how Dooku's then recent departure had proved a bitter blow to the Council (soon further surprised by his becoming the leader of the ever-growing Separatist Forces against the Republic), disappointingly never making it into the final film.

Here's hoping for either a re-insertion of the footage into the film on Blu-ray or, at least, a welcome appearance in the Deleted Scenes section...

CLASSIC IMAGE: FORCE-FUL TRIO!

Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi work out their next move whilst trapped in the Force powerful dominion of Mortis in ALTAR OF MORTIS, the second part of writer Christian Taylor's popular Mortis Trilogy fantasy, from the recent THE CLONE WARS Season Three, now officially announced for release by LUCASFILM/WARNER BROTHERS on DVD and high definition Blu-ray this October.

Here's the info: StarWars.com | The Clone Wars Season 3 on Blu-Ray and DVD This October

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: EPISODE II BLU-RAY TASTER?

Click the pic to fully enjoy this great ultra high res image from ILM for EPISODE II, featuring Obi-Wan and the Kaminoans inspecting the early battalions of Clone Soldiers, which clearly shows the kind of picture quality improvements/difference we should get when the film makes it's debut on Blu-ray in September. Made on digital video from the outset, the Prequel should look even more incredible to look at than ever before and be the closest we'll ever get to seeing how it was meant to be watched from the outset...

THE FIRST STAR WARS BLU-RAY FOOTAGE: EWAN AND DENIS!

Check out the first clip from the upcoming STAR WARS Blu-rays exclusively at PLAY.COM. Ewan McGregor talks about his first experience seeing STAR WARS, and his uncle, Denis Lawson as Wedge, on the big screen. Most of the talk is not new, but the inclusion of un-dubbed previously unseen cockpit footage of Lawson against blue screen, with Lucas off camera providing dialogue exchange as Luke, is terrific. Lawson's voice was dubbed over in STAR WARS and EMPIRE's eventual cinema release, but was strong enough to be left intact for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Clip: Star Wars - Landing - Play.com (UK) - Free Delivery

SPECIAL EDITION CLASSIC IMAGE: CLOUD CITY LANDING

Another lovely ILM image to enjoy from the 1997 SPECIAL EDITION's, this time from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, expanding the locations and beauty of the universe that is the STAR WARS saga, and showing the Millennium Falcon confidently making its way towards one of Bespin's numerous outdoor landing platforms. Not enough was seen of Cloud City's exterior in the final quarter of EMPIRE and this moment/extension is one of several additions that opens things up a bit more.

Could a few more picturesque sequences like this be appearing on the upcoming Blu-ray disc/special features for the film?