I100% agree with you on this. Some scenes does look better on the Blu-ray version, like the space scenes, because the darkness is more clear and has no grey filter. But over all the 35mm print is way better with the VFX and CGI. It looks more natural in the colors + sometimes it even has more details on the clothes and objects. The final fight on the blu-ray version clearly has a blue filter, the more I look at it now and compare it to the 35mm, the more I hate the blu-ray version. I would love to see this 35 mm come out in it original format on Blu-ray / 4K
The 35mm is fantastic I'd love to see that on the big screen. But something about the VHS makes it my favorite, I don't know what it is. The lighting, motion blur, it all comes together for me. And I grew up on the DVD and higher quality
@@TwoStarWarsNerdsI remember watching the phantom menace on 📀 when, I first saw this movie in my childhood. Anyway, I watch the 3D version of 2012 and this 25th anniversary of the same movie this year in the theaters.
They "tweaked" the puppet out of the Blu Ray version! Lol. Of all of them though it had the best definition. You can definitely see the quality as the technology gets better VHS is so blurry but back in the day we didn't even know better. 35mm also has a yellowish tint to it, I'm not an expert film editor but I think that particular format is intended just for the theaters.
The reason TPM got DNR'd for the 2011 release is because it served as the master for the early 2012 theatrical 3D release of TPM. Because 3D movies cannot have film grain, as it messes with viewer's vision. I love the 10% extra footage of the 2011 release, I just wish it had retained some natural grain. That said, the 35mm version is my preferred version because it puts me right back in the theaters where I saw TPM at 5 times in 1999.
Star Wars Episodes I, II, III, IV, V, VI will never be beaten. TPM is a great movie and AotC and RotS are my favorites 🩷🌟🫅 I love the prequel films ♥️ the original trilogy is amazing too and RotJ is the perfect ending. They are masterpieces 🎉💥🔥♥️
Ugghhhhh I LOVE the 35mm. I love the overall warmer tone, it feels so painterly. Weirdly, I feel like shifting the color grade more blue or green is a pretty common thing with remasters, especially around the early 2010s. I really hope future remasters stay away from this trend
Nah, it didn't look like this 35 mm copy back in 1999. In some scenes it looks okay, but in others colours are all over the place. I'd say the film originally looked mostly like the DVD release, only a bit brighter in most scenes.
To me, all the rest of them look far too red or pink, without enough green to balance them out. I think it looks very green just because it is right next to all the other versions, on its own the green and yellow tones look far more natural to me.
Another interesting fact I remember about this movie - this movie was where Dolby Digital 5.1-EX made its debut in theaters. That was back when it was called "THX."
THX was always the certification steps and processes to ensure image and audio information quality to the highest possible standards of the time for 35mm film and Digital audio. The 35mm print had the Dolby Digital surround EX encoding that would playback on any upgraded theatre and to playback at home there was no Dolby standards so THX who co- created the format for Gary Rydstorm at Skywalker sound had their standards certification programme called THX Ultra and you could buy a THX Ultra certified receiver or pre-amp processor equipped with THX Surroundsound EX processing. I still have my old Denon ac-3 encoded receiver for my Dolby EX THX mastered Japanese Laserdisc of the phantom menace and randomly the occasional showing of House of flying daggers for my Asia imported DVD equipped with DTS Surround ES that other regions never got.
@@jefffan171 ohhh ok! I knew about the original THX creation and certification with ROTJ. I actually have a Denon receiver for modern gaming and movies and a Pioneer Elite I use for retro gaming. I'll have to go digging up manuals now!
@@TwoStarWarsNerds I'm a little rusty as things have moves on since my hey days of 7.1 etc. But I'd imagine later receivers would still have some support for it. The thing to watch for is that EX is a single matrix enclosure centre channel between the side left and right mix like the way back days of Dolby Pro-Logic. DTS-ES was a discreet 6.1 locked back center that a Denon or Pioneer would play one track out of both Back Left and Back Right speakers. Toy Story 3 was the birth of Dolby True HD 7.1 locked stereo back left and separated back Right channels.
@@jefffan171 I believe one of the receivers I have has the DTS-ES 6.1 encoding. I can remember coming across that setting and researching what it was! I have only been into serious home audio since 2020 so a lot of this is new to me. I appreciate you!
I think Phantom Menace was the last film I ever bought on VHS. I was collecting DVD even at that time, but for some reason it was initially a VHS only release.
The VHS release is the original 1999 theatrical version, unlike the later DVD and Blu-ray releases which were altered. Therefore, it's a collectible item to treasure 🌟
The print was obviously scanned, but maybe the projector bulb is more reddish and would actually project in more accurate colors. Right now I like the DVD much more because I value the color accuracy, although I prefer the pod racing scene more yellow tinted in the film scan. It seems like they hiked up color saturation artificially in the Blue Ray. The best of all worlds would be the color accuracy of the DVD with the resolution and CGI of the Blue ray and maybe the colors of the film version for the Tattooine sequences.
That was great! I think I gotta go with the DVD release between those 4. Even though the Blu-Ray has more clarity, its color tone was too cool. Needed to be slightly warmer. I feel like the DVD had that look a bit better. Now, that said, I have the 4K blu-ray release where the color tone was yet again, adjusted and I absolutely love it!
Wow. I hope they'll be a 4K99 project starting after seeing how good that 35mm print looked I still only watch the Japanese Laserdisc at its the closest official home video release of the Theatrical cut and has an insane Dolby Digital EX soundtrack from the 35mm print as well.
This is the same exact argument being had in music where with all this digital clarity, producers are finding that the sound of analog tape is instead much more pleasing to the ear as it just kinda of smears the sound enough to glue it all together. That is very much what the 35mm does with movies as the magnetic grain does the same for visuals. Anakin of course hates the 35mm tho he finds grain too sandy and course.
For me 1 to 4 in overall colour tint preferences, the 35mm is the clearest and best colour tone, next would be the VHS then the DVD a close third and BluRay last. But in overall clarity and watch ability preferences, first is DVD then 35mm then VHS then BluRay.
I'm So glad I bought every Version I can get my hands on these films. I have VHS (Both Head versions and Special, I'm looking for the set before 90s head versions) Standard and Widescreen, DVD Standard and Widescreen., Blu-Ruy Complete Saga.
@@patriciopss1491 I’d have to check thestarwarstrilogy.com forums for that. I know that ROTS was digitally filmed so it may not have the same dramatic effect! But I’ll go check!
I’ll have another shootout with LaserDisc 😁 Went with VHS (albeit widescreen) as most are more familiar with that. And I didn’t want an odd number on screen lol
I own the VHS (theatrical release), DVD 2001 (special edition), Blu-ray 2011 and Blu-ray 2020. The 2011 and 2020 Blu-rays have slightly different color grading, but I prefer the Blu-ray 🩷🔥🌟👍
Future releases could use the tones of the Czech print, for perhaps the cockpit scenes and non-VFX scenes. Otherwise the print rather looks like Interstellar than Star Wars. 5:51
This film was made for the theatrical cut. Everything about it was designed for Czech print, especially the cgi. It only works with the film grain, noise reduction is only good for remastering older movies from before special effects like this.
The 35mm print looks like it has yellowed because of age. The sky in some of those scenes don’t look blue like in the Blu Ray. But I don’t recall thinking anything was wrong with the colour grading when the film was first released.
I miss that pink tint from the original version it kinda set it apart from the other two movies in the trilogy... which it kinda explains why George changed it.
Pro tip: If watching on iPhone, deactivate ‘True Tone’ in display and brightness settings. The first time I watched I thought the 35mm had a major green tint. the 35mm version is king. I actually have this but love seeing a good comparison. This one is added to a playlist I’ve been making..
It’s amazing how much effort goes into scanning these 35mm prints, we are living in an amazing time that this is possible to achieve. Shout out to those involved!
Overall I prefer the DVD, then the 35mm print (but for some scenes, those are flipped). Despite the sharpness of the blu-ray version, the color grading is so obnoxious that I think I’d prefer the VHS version to the blu-ray. That’s wild. Oh, and CGI Yoda is an abomination next to the puppet, which conveys far more emotion in my view. The puppet convinces me that Yoda is alive. The CGI does not.
I don't like the Blu-ray for the most part. The color grading seems to remove a great deal of perceivable detail in many scenes. Although, I think the CG Yoda is somewhat of an improvement in some cases to the lifeless puppet of the original release. The film print looks great for the most part.
The 35mm looks the best overall. Most balanced colors and contrast. The others have more red. It works well sometimes in the temples for example. And the sith being extra red is cool. But overall this staturated look of the home releases might make the movie look a bit cheaper!? Faker perhaps
It's 2 AM and I was just watching Phantom Meneace on Blu-ray. Incredible timing. I really love the 35mm more, It feels so organic in a way. also VHS and DVD are pretty nostalgic too. Where can I watch the full movie with the 35mm format?
+1 for sticking to George. He does however make changes I do not agree with, and I do not think the original should be adapted and changed even by the artist.
it was always going to be a contest between the blu ray and film. I prefer the darker space from the digital versions (DVD and blu ray) but (edit : almost) every other shot was better on film
@@TwoStarWarsNerds I prefer those for the prequel and original trilogy actually. I did not like the remastered ones Disney put out. The colors looked weird and the audio feels like the dynamic range is reduced. I did not buy the sequel trilogy as I don't consider those films canon.
The 35mm print getting a lot of love in here, but I think it's hideous! So much detail in the shadows is lost, contrast is all messed up, and it is just _super_ green looking overall.
The color grading on so much stuff is off on the DVD and blu ray. I always wondered why the blue of lightsabers haven't looked right to me in years. It's because the new releases changed their color. They're more teal and white in the original releases
man, the jump from vhs to dvd blows my mind. its like your eyes are shit, then you get glasses lol. then the jump from dvd to bluray is the same thing. i think the bluray looks the best
If you ask me, the 2011 Blu-Ray should be used. There were tangent lines in the original cut (filmmakers, ALWAYS WATCH OUT FOR TANGENT LINES!). when the 2011 Blu-Ray was released, everyone was in right in the middle of the camera shot. As for the the theatrical cuts, they should be inserted into the 2011 version, just upscaled. I really missed the "Vote now!" Shouting. Trying to make something that's highly new at the time wouldn't really work.
@@TwoStarWarsNerds Definition: A tangent simply is an area where two things in an image are nearly touching or actually touching, and in doing so create a visual mistake that the human eye doesn't like. PRIME EXAMPLE: Watch the first Jedi council scene. Qui-Gon's head is touching the frame, and Obi-Wan is complete cut out.
There are certain parts where the BluRay looks much better and other parts where the 35mm looks better. Whoever did the grading on the Darth Maul fight for BluRay did a poor job on Darth Maul's face.
Still say DVD is the best format. If you want Bluray results, just put a DVD in the player, go into TV settings and put the sharpness so high everything looks like Lego, then crank the contrast on the TV down so the blacks look grey, and then fire the settings on the reds and blues to maximum so everything is magenta... hey presto, Bluray.
It isn’t. It is in Czech. There are some kind of difficult instructions out there for syncing audio and subtitles for it. Hopefully an English one is found soon!
Love the phantom menace, saw it when I was 5.. had such a better tone then the other prequels. I just wish anakin.. had the same actor throughout the series.. VHS print actually has some better shots than the bluray! Amazing!
BluRay has more blue tint in it, original more red tint, czech more green. I prefer the red look more, it's in stark contrast to the blue space and compliments the yellow and green hues of Naboo and Tatooine. But bluray yoda is superior. The green look is nice on the ships but gross in yellow scenes like on tatooine planet and naboo.
35 mm for life! Saw the film in my theater opening day in 1999 and it’s NEVER looked “correct” since then. The skin tones. The color. The way the CGI blends in better. The comfort of the film flicker. 4K’d digital at times looks like a video game being recorded on a digital recorder so everything just looks….artificial. As amazing and wonderful as digital cinema has come today, there is just NOTHING like a 35 mm print of a film that just makes the look and feel to be more timeless.
Yeah if only the finished negative was 35mm film and not 2k filmout tape they could scan it at 4k and above and except for the cgi you would get a 4K image. But because the movie is actually stuck at 2K the 4K DI is an upscale, whether it's the DCP or the 4K UHD.
@@TwoStarWarsNerds most likely the era in which the movie was made 4K renders and scans just wasn't done, and 2k workflow was standard. Yes, it's a problem now that we have 4K television and want a higher quality copy of the movie.
I love the 35mm print. I feel like the CGI blends so much better.
Yes! 1000%
@@danielcollins7960 the VFX was very much intended to work with 35mm, which is why it looks better compared to the remasters.
I100% agree with you on this. Some scenes does look better on the Blu-ray version, like the space scenes, because the darkness is more clear and has no grey filter. But over all the 35mm print is way better with the VFX and CGI. It looks more natural in the colors + sometimes it even has more details on the clothes and objects. The final fight on the blu-ray version clearly has a blue filter, the more I look at it now and compare it to the 35mm, the more I hate the blu-ray version. I would love to see this 35 mm come out in it original format on Blu-ray / 4K
@@DKKatano an offical 35mm unaltered print release on Bluray would be awesome
same but I feel that the color correction is off. it has too much green/yellow tint/hue
The 35mm is fantastic I'd love to see that on the big screen. But something about the VHS makes it my favorite, I don't know what it is. The lighting, motion blur, it all comes together for me. And I grew up on the DVD and higher quality
I saw TPM in theaters as a kid. I was 9. I don’t remember much of the quality, but it was amazing. And hey, I respect the VHS game 🫡
@@TwoStarWarsNerdsI remember watching the phantom menace on 📀 when, I first saw this movie in my childhood. Anyway, I watch the 3D version of 2012 and this 25th anniversary of the same movie this year in the theaters.
@@nathancruz9172 nice! I loved the 3D version. I wish we could see it again!
I agree with you, but I feel like we loose some of the bright colors on some characters.
The colors look terrible for me
Now you can really spot the difference in colorgrading. The 2011 blu ray version has a hint of magenta in the shadows.
It’s not bad, just noticeable for sure.
@@TwoStarWarsNerdsno it very noticeable especially on things that are sitting closest to grey.
@@gaza454399.9% of the people watching are not looking for color grading. Blu-ray is crystal clear and looks great on their new TV’s.
They "tweaked" the puppet out of the Blu Ray version! Lol. Of all of them though it had the best definition. You can definitely see the quality as the technology gets better VHS is so blurry but back in the day we didn't even know better. 35mm also has a yellowish tint to it, I'm not an expert film editor but I think that particular format is intended just for the theaters.
It’s definitely interesting how they color grade the post-theatrical versions to a cooler temperature to give it that blue tint.
Could the 35mm print also be slightly yellow due more to age and degrading though?
There’s life in the 35mm print, so warm! The blacks are deep and seem natural. There’s also this purple tint on the blu ray version
I love the shadows in the 35mm!
@@gsh0cked it's called black crush, zero details in shadows
What? The blacks are all crushed in the 35mm print, and it's _super_ green
@@sasca854 exactly
The reason TPM got DNR'd for the 2011 release is because it served as the master for the early 2012 theatrical 3D release of TPM. Because 3D movies cannot have film grain, as it messes with viewer's vision.
I love the 10% extra footage of the 2011 release, I just wish it had retained some natural grain. That said, the 35mm version is my preferred version because it puts me right back in the theaters where I saw TPM at 5 times in 1999.
Ahhh that makes a lot of sense. I really wish there was a file of TPM3D floating around. I have been looking forever for it!
Yeah because you can totally remember exactly what it looked like 25 years ago. /s
@@TwoStarWarsNerds As far as I remember, it was available only as an encrypted dcp with kdm's.
I remember when Episode I came out. Seeing Yoda and Ben Kenobi again was such a surprise!
Awesome!
oh yeah. It was a great time to be an 11 year old Star Wars fan. Even the breakfast cereal had Phantom Menace on it.
@@rovhalt6650 the good old times- when star wars was star wars
film looks like a painting came to life
oooo! I love Ep. 1, it's my happy place, people can bash all they want but I love this movie!
Ep 1 is so underrated
Star Wars Episodes I, II, III, IV, V, VI will never be beaten. TPM is a great movie and AotC and RotS are my favorites 🩷🌟🫅 I love the prequel films ♥️ the original trilogy is amazing too and RotJ is the perfect ending.
They are masterpieces 🎉💥🔥♥️
This was Awesome! I do Love the Blue-ray 2011 and DVD but of course VHS Always Hold a Special place in My Heart 💚🤘
I watched that VHS so many times as a kid!
I only ever owned the VHS’s for the six movies, sweet comparison video!
Nice! We never got Ep 3 on VHS here but I have 1,2, 4-6 on VHS.
@@TwoStarWarsNerdsthat’s correct.
I have all 6 movies on 📀, including the original theatrical release of Star Wars trilogy from 1977-1983.
Ugghhhhh I LOVE the 35mm. I love the overall warmer tone, it feels so painterly. Weirdly, I feel like shifting the color grade more blue or green is a pretty common thing with remasters, especially around the early 2010s. I really hope future remasters stay away from this trend
It’s a pretty stark difference between the color balances of theatrical vs digital
Is the green tint in the 35MM due to the age of the film, or did the movie actually look that green in theaters in 1999?
It may be partly film print, but this is more likely how it looked in 99. Color grading changes were made for almost every home media release.
probably why tpm was hated on release. the home release grading looks better 😅
Nah, it didn't look like this 35 mm copy back in 1999. In some scenes it looks okay, but in others colours are all over the place. I'd say the film originally looked mostly like the DVD release, only a bit brighter in most scenes.
it's a bad print
To me, all the rest of them look far too red or pink, without enough green to balance them out. I think it looks very green just because it is right next to all the other versions, on its own the green and yellow tones look far more natural to me.
Another interesting fact I remember about this movie - this movie was where Dolby Digital 5.1-EX made its debut in theaters. That was back when it was called "THX."
I didn’t know that. Really cool to know!
THX was always the certification steps and processes to ensure image and audio information quality to the highest possible standards of the time for 35mm film and Digital audio.
The 35mm print had the Dolby Digital surround EX encoding that would playback on any upgraded theatre and to playback at home there was no Dolby standards so THX who co- created the format for Gary Rydstorm at Skywalker sound had their standards certification programme called THX Ultra and you could buy a THX Ultra certified receiver or pre-amp processor equipped with THX Surroundsound EX processing.
I still have my old Denon ac-3 encoded receiver for my Dolby EX THX mastered Japanese Laserdisc of the phantom menace and randomly the occasional showing of House of flying daggers for my Asia imported DVD equipped with DTS Surround ES that other regions never got.
@@jefffan171 ohhh ok! I knew about the original THX creation and certification with ROTJ. I actually have a Denon receiver for modern gaming and movies and a Pioneer Elite I use for retro gaming. I'll have to go digging up manuals now!
@@TwoStarWarsNerds I'm a little rusty as things have moves on since my hey days of 7.1 etc.
But I'd imagine later receivers would still have some support for it.
The thing to watch for is that EX is a single matrix enclosure centre channel between the side left and right mix like the way back days of Dolby Pro-Logic.
DTS-ES was a discreet 6.1 locked back center that a Denon or Pioneer would play one track out of both Back Left and Back Right speakers. Toy Story 3 was the birth of Dolby True HD 7.1 locked stereo back left and separated back Right channels.
@@jefffan171 I believe one of the receivers I have has the DTS-ES 6.1 encoding. I can remember coming across that setting and researching what it was! I have only been into serious home audio since 2020 so a lot of this is new to me. I appreciate you!
Pull a bit of the green tint out of the film print, and it could be the perfect version.
Totally
I think Phantom Menace was the last film I ever bought on VHS. I was collecting DVD even at that time, but for some reason it was initially a VHS only release.
The VHS release is the original 1999 theatrical version, unlike the later DVD and Blu-ray releases which were altered. Therefore, it's a collectible item to treasure 🌟
I have two VHS copies just in case one poops out lol
My original dvd copy of tpm has the bad Yoda puppet, my much newer bluray plus DVD copy of tpm has the cg Yoda.
The print was obviously scanned, but maybe the projector bulb is more reddish and would actually project in more accurate colors. Right now I like the DVD much more because I value the color accuracy, although I prefer the pod racing scene more yellow tinted in the film scan. It seems like they hiked up color saturation artificially in the Blue Ray. The best of all worlds would be the color accuracy of the DVD with the resolution and CGI of the Blue ray and maybe the colors of the film version for the Tattooine sequences.
What’s hard is we will never know truly what was desired. George isn’t super clear about that
Really cool video. I'm a DVD kinda guy.
Cant go wrong there! If I remember correctly the DVD is a direct transfer of the Theatrical film print with some extra scenes added.
Me too.
That was great! I think I gotta go with the DVD release between those 4. Even though the Blu-Ray has more clarity, its color tone was too cool. Needed to be slightly warmer. I feel like the DVD had that look a bit better. Now, that said, I have the 4K blu-ray release where the color tone was yet again, adjusted and I absolutely love it!
The blue tint of the 2011 bluray drives me a little crazy lol
Wow. I hope they'll be a 4K99 project starting after seeing how good that 35mm print looked
I still only watch the Japanese Laserdisc at its the closest official home video release of the Theatrical cut and has an insane Dolby Digital EX soundtrack from the 35mm print as well.
I need to get a LaserDisc player!
Interesting comparison of the different versions
This is the same exact argument being had in music where with all this digital clarity, producers are finding that the sound of analog tape is instead much more pleasing to the ear as it just kinda of smears the sound enough to glue it all together. That is very much what the 35mm does with movies as the magnetic grain does the same for visuals.
Anakin of course hates the 35mm tho he finds grain too sandy and course.
For me 1 to 4 in overall colour tint preferences, the 35mm is the clearest and best colour tone, next would be the VHS then the DVD a close third and BluRay last. But in overall clarity and watch ability preferences, first is DVD then 35mm then VHS then BluRay.
I like your reasoning
I have the widescreen VHS and the Japanese LaserDisc. Where did you find that film print version?
Awesome! I really want the LaserDisc version. You can find the film print in the forums at thestarwarstrilogy.com 😁
I have the 35 mm print and it looks amazing. Aldo the grain frame Is pure cinematic. The reel Is awesone. Looking foward for EP.II AND III.
@@patriciopss1491 like you have the actual print or the scan?
@@TwoStarWarsNerds exactly. The 35 mm print with the English opening crawl.
We've all learned from the original trilogy, it's the theatrical version that's best.
It will always be the theatrical version.
👆👆👆 THIS
Very interesting. Thanks for your hard work on this.
Thanks for watching and commenting 💪
I would be very interested in hearing more comments on this in a part 2, maybe do a deep dive on each format
I was thinking about that! Maybe cover all the changes too
I'm So glad I bought every Version I can get my hands on these films. I have VHS (Both Head versions and Special, I'm looking for the set before 90s head versions) Standard and Widescreen, DVD Standard and Widescreen., Blu-Ruy Complete Saga.
YES! Physical media forever!
VHS is the best seeing it is so nostalgic I wish I still had a working VCR😭
This looks so good. Also i've seen some parts of Revenge of the sith 35 mm. Where can I find those versions?
@@patriciopss1491 I’d have to check thestarwarstrilogy.com forums for that. I know that ROTS was digitally filmed so it may not have the same dramatic effect! But I’ll go check!
@@TwoStarWarsNerds I found Phantom Menace on Reddit. I'm downloading it. So I'll do the same with ROTS. I hope to find Attack Of The Clones also
I think I'm going to have to go with the Blu-ray version, but the 35mm is a vibe too! Also RIP puppet Yoda.
Nice choice! RIP puppet yoda
You can see why dvd blew up. Massive difference in quality compared to vhs..
thanks for this comparison of the phantom menace mate...subbed too..love starwars cant go pass duel of the fates..
Thanks! Duel of the fates ❤️
Who approved that strung out Yoda puppet
No laserdisc? That's probably the best home version. My laserdiscs of the original trilogy look great through my projector.
I’ll have another shootout with LaserDisc 😁 Went with VHS (albeit widescreen) as most are more familiar with that. And I didn’t want an odd number on screen lol
I love the six Star Wars movies so much 🩷🎉💥🔥👸🏻
YES!! 1-6 for life!
Bluray for me - though tilts red
35 mm has a charm to it, though tilts far too much on greens, not very natural
Was that always the natural color of the 35mm? It seems like a yellow filter was applied over it.
Where can one download a 35mm print scan of TPM?
That VHS looks like watching 3-D without the glasses on.
And there was a point in time where we all loved it
I know. I lived through that era. And dvd just changed it all. Was groundbreaking at the time..
@@TwoStarWarsNerds we didn’t know any better; well, except for the 35mm
I own the VHS (theatrical release), DVD 2001 (special edition), Blu-ray 2011 and Blu-ray 2020. The 2011 and 2020 Blu-rays have slightly different color grading, but I prefer the Blu-ray 🩷🔥🌟👍
Damn... One of last great movies on VHS, right next to Matrix.
Future releases could use the tones of the Czech print, for perhaps the cockpit scenes and non-VFX scenes. Otherwise the print rather looks like Interstellar than Star Wars. 5:51
This film was made for the theatrical cut. Everything about it was designed for Czech print, especially the cgi. It only works with the film grain, noise reduction is only good for remastering older movies from before special effects like this.
I like the Vhs version the best, it's fuzzy and nostalgic looking.
So nostalgic
The 35mm print looks like it has yellowed because of age. The sky in some of those scenes don’t look blue like in the Blu Ray. But I don’t recall thinking anything was wrong with the colour grading when the film was first released.
I was 7 when it came out so I have no memory of color grading. But I think this is just a warmer color grade
I miss that pink tint from the original version it kinda set it apart from the other two movies in the trilogy... which it kinda explains why George changed it.
Something nostalgic about that tint 😂
In all the clips my eye is drawn to the 35mm
Same
God I love film print. It's such a richness no other format comes close to.
1000%
I guess this shows that colour grade is everything, and to avoid DVDs. lol Great video!.
😂 color grading is everything!
Pro tip: If watching on iPhone, deactivate ‘True Tone’ in display and brightness settings. The first time I watched I thought the 35mm had a major green tint.
the 35mm version is king. I actually have this but love seeing a good comparison. This one is added to a playlist I’ve been making..
Good tip!
It’s amazing how much effort goes into scanning these 35mm prints, we are living in an amazing time that this is possible to achieve. Shout out to those involved!
It's funny how the colors of the VHS often comes close to the 35mm print shown at the cinemas ..Except for when it's orange and very saturated.
Then they went and messed with it
I recognize the book in the background ❤
YES! Amazing book ❤️
It's not "ultimate" without the Japanese Laserdisc release which I believe is the original unaltered theatrical release. But still a nice comparison.
VHS and LaserDisc are the same in content, while Laserdisc is easily better quality. And a theatrical film release is unaltered too.
Why does the Blue-Ray version, everything look slimmer?
I only have the 📀 version with the puppeteer yoda, before they added the CGI version of blu ray.
@@nathancruz9172 great version!
Overall I prefer the DVD, then the 35mm print (but for some scenes, those are flipped). Despite the sharpness of the blu-ray version, the color grading is so obnoxious that I think I’d prefer the VHS version to the blu-ray. That’s wild.
Oh, and CGI Yoda is an abomination next to the puppet, which conveys far more emotion in my view. The puppet convinces me that Yoda is alive. The CGI does not.
Hahaha I love the VHS version. The 35mm is the first time I actually preferred puppet yoda. I get cgi for continuity though.
Film version makes everything look rounder. The digital fidelity is nice in its own right, but compared to the 35mm it looks flat.
I don't like the Blu-ray for the most part. The color grading seems to remove a great deal of perceivable detail in many scenes. Although, I think the CG Yoda is somewhat of an improvement in some cases to the lifeless puppet of the original release. The film print looks great for the most part.
Well said!
Sad the 4K version is absent
35MM film is superior quality, would love to see all other movies in this preserved state!
AotC and RotS were not shot on 35mm film, they are digital.
You should check out Project 4K77, 80, and 83 if you haven’t already!
The 35mm looks the best overall. Most balanced colors and contrast. The others have more red. It works well sometimes in the temples for example. And the sith being extra red is cool. But overall this staturated look of the home releases might make the movie look a bit cheaper!? Faker perhaps
Nah it’s just straight from the source
is there anywhere we can watch the full 35mm version ?
thestarwarstrilogy.com forums 😁
The BluRay has no blur and the best contrast just a little forced magenta especially in the last scene
That’s DNR for ya
It's 2 AM and I was just watching Phantom Meneace on Blu-ray. Incredible timing. I really love the 35mm more, It feels so organic in a way. also VHS and DVD are pretty nostalgic too. Where can I watch the full movie with the 35mm format?
Awesome! Yes, organic is the best description I’ve heard! If you check out the forums on thestarwarstrilogy.com they have details on how to watch 😁
@@TwoStarWarsNerds oh yes I just discovered that site. It's awsome
the skin in 35mm is great
Seriously!
Do Lord of the Rings next if you can! Take me back to the early 2000s!
That would be cool!
Blu-ray. George’s final vision/version before the sale/downfall of LFL.
+1 for sticking to George. He does however make changes I do not agree with, and I do not think the original should be adapted and changed even by the artist.
2011 colors look the best but the 35mm is cool I just think when the 35 dull out the blue sky it becomes claustrophobic
Some interior scenes I like the bluray better. But some of the 35mm shots I love
Just saw this in theaters for the anniversary. What version did I most likely watch? I can’t remember if Yoda was cg or not lol
I’m not sure exactly, but I would assume it’s the same as what’s on Disney+. So the latest digital version.
it was always going to be a contest between the blu ray and film. I prefer the darker space from the digital versions (DVD and blu ray) but (edit : almost) every other shot was better on film
I get that!
I was always happy with the 2011 Blu-ray. I have my old DVD still because they replaced Yoda's puppet with CGI on the Blu-ray.
@@stonesfan285 the 2011 bluray is great! Probably the version I watch the most.
@@TwoStarWarsNerds I prefer those for the prequel and original trilogy actually. I did not like the remastered ones Disney put out. The colors looked weird and the audio feels like the dynamic range is reduced. I did not buy the sequel trilogy as I don't consider those films canon.
hard to tell if the 35mm has lost color due to age or generation loss. also considering the blu-ray was noise reduced within an inch of its life.
The DNR in the Bluray is so annoying
Honestly, i prefer 2011 Blu Ray, the 35mm Copy has realistic color scheme, but its a old movie, the grading CAN be inaccurate
There’s too much magenta added into the BluRay version. If they’d added only half the amount of it into the 35mm print, it would have been perfect.
I agree
The 35mm print getting a lot of love in here, but I think it's hideous! So much detail in the shadows is lost, contrast is all messed up, and it is just _super_ green looking overall.
Appreciate the honesty!
The color grading on so much stuff is off on the DVD and blu ray. I always wondered why the blue of lightsabers haven't looked right to me in years. It's because the new releases changed their color. They're more teal and white in the original releases
👆👆
man, the jump from vhs to dvd blows my mind. its like your eyes are shit, then you get glasses lol. then the jump from dvd to bluray is the same thing. i think the bluray looks the best
Seriously!
If you ask me, the 2011 Blu-Ray should be used. There were tangent lines in the original cut (filmmakers, ALWAYS WATCH OUT FOR TANGENT LINES!). when the 2011 Blu-Ray was released, everyone was in right in the middle of the camera shot. As for the the theatrical cuts, they should be inserted into the 2011 version, just upscaled. I really missed the "Vote now!" Shouting. Trying to make something that's highly new at the time wouldn't really work.
What are tangent lines?
@@TwoStarWarsNerds Definition: A tangent simply is an area where two things in an image are nearly touching or actually touching, and in doing so create a visual mistake that the human eye doesn't like.
PRIME EXAMPLE: Watch the first Jedi council scene. Qui-Gon's head is touching the frame, and Obi-Wan is complete cut out.
There are certain parts where the BluRay looks much better and other parts where the 35mm looks better. Whoever did the grading on the Darth Maul fight for BluRay did a poor job on Darth Maul's face.
I feel like they were trying to make him as shadowy as possible in the bluray edit
@@TwoStarWarsNerds All shadow, no detail!
Still say DVD is the best format.
If you want Bluray results, just put a DVD in the player, go into TV settings and put the sharpness so high everything looks like Lego, then crank the contrast on the TV down so the blacks look grey, and then fire the settings on the reds and blues to maximum so everything is magenta... hey presto, Bluray.
😂😂
so how do people get the 35mm?
Check out thestarwarstrilogy.com forums 😁
i prefer the much darker tone of blueray. 35mm is much to colourfull
I think Maul on Bluray is best because of that
is the 35mm in english?
It isn’t. It is in Czech. There are some kind of difficult instructions out there for syncing audio and subtitles for it. Hopefully an English one is found soon!
35mm film for me always.
I the 35mm version available to download anywhere?
@@vivi1649 check out thestarwarstrilogy.com forums 😁
depends on the scene for me between bluray and 35mm. lightsaber colors and yoda are better on bluray.
Same!
Love the phantom menace, saw it when I was 5.. had such a better tone then the other prequels. I just wish anakin.. had the same actor throughout the series..
VHS print actually has some better shots than the bluray! Amazing!
Love the prequels. Jake Lloyd is great, but also so glad we have Hayden!
🩷🌟👍 @@TwoStarWarsNerds
What about the 4k disc
It exists.
Also the 35mm is the only HD copy of the theatrical cut.
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The Czech print has faded red and blue dye
I think it’s just the original color grade. Then by home release George changed his mind on colors.
@@TwoStarWarsNerds having worked with film and scanning archives, I absolutely stand by what I wrote.
BluRay has more blue tint in it, original more red tint, czech more green.
I prefer the red look more, it's in stark contrast to the blue space and compliments the yellow and green hues of Naboo and Tatooine.
But bluray yoda is superior. The green look is nice on the ships but gross in yellow scenes like on tatooine planet and naboo.
The DVD is a good choice always 👍
God i love star wars
Same
35mm print is the best. Clear and rich looking. Blue ray looks cold, dvd is grey and muddy and vhs is lower quality.
Straight up 😂
35 mm for life! Saw the film in my theater opening day in 1999 and it’s NEVER looked “correct” since then. The skin tones. The color. The way the CGI blends in better. The comfort of the film flicker. 4K’d digital at times looks like a video game being recorded on a digital recorder so everything just looks….artificial. As amazing and wonderful as digital cinema has come today, there is just NOTHING like a 35 mm print of a film that just makes the look and feel to be more timeless.
Film > digital every time
The 35 mm is the best looking one.
I think so too
Yeah if only the finished negative was 35mm film and not 2k filmout tape they could scan it at 4k and above and except for the cgi you would get a 4K image. But because the movie is actually stuck at 2K the 4K DI is an upscale, whether it's the DCP or the 4K UHD.
Do you know if this was just a financial decision?
@@TwoStarWarsNerds most likely the era in which the movie was made 4K renders and scans just wasn't done, and 2k workflow was standard. Yes, it's a problem now that we have 4K television and want a higher quality copy of the movie.
Is it my impression or the VHS is the most faithful format to the 35mm?
I believe so, yes.
2011 Blu-ray for me
Good choice 👍