Star Wars Trilogy [3-Disc Limited Edition: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi]

Why release another Star Wars Trilogy Gift Set if it just came out on DVD last fall. Yes, Star Wars is great, but there is almost no point. I can understand if it were the original movies that were released when they came out in theaters, however, they aren't. That would have made more sense. Those are just my thoughts.

-Joe

This three-disc set does not include the fourth disc of bonus materials. The Fox press site lists the four-disc set at a suggested retail price of $69.00 and this new three-disc set at $49.00. I can see no other reason but marketing for the new configuration; I guess Fox figures if you haven't bought the set by now, the lower price is your inducement.

John

Why not offer the originals if you're going to do this? I hope they get around to it before the original elements are lost or something (just say hypothetically George Lucas went more crazy or something and set fire to them)

You have a point on the cheaper price. But I still see it a little pointless. I don't want to just shoot up at 20th Century Fox, but they always do this for their big movies. They release it on DVD and then eventually release it again half a year later on a different set. However, this time, it has less features. The Special Editions are better in my opinion, but it would still be nice to see them originals also come back onto DVD.

-Joe

My wife hates every change Lucas made in the "Star Wars" special editions, and while she still loves them, she complains about them every time she watches them. But what are you going to do? They're Lucas's movies, he thinks he's improved them, and he can do what he likes with them.

It would seem to be an effective selling point to offer both the old and new editions, though, meaning more money and more profits for Lucas and Fox, so I'm not sure why they aren't both offered for sale.

John

Hey John, the Wife-O-Meter even objects to the cleaning of matte lines, speeder shadows, and such?

I thought those were sorely needed even when I was a kid. Of course it didn't detract from me loving them.

I'm glad I watched the original trilogy in the 80s when cinema hadn't been saturated with the high-tech CGI effects from the 90s onwards. Not saying that I wouldn't have liked the movies, but it might be harder to overlook the effects (if they were unchanged) as a young viewer new to the movies in this day and age.

Could it be possible that they're actually the original 1977-1983 versions? it gives you that idea from the looks of the cover art as well as the title STAR WARS TRILOGY: 3 Disc Limited Edition...
Lucas made it clear that his definite version were the special editions, and wasn't releasing the original versions ever, but since everybody has been asking for them, maybe he changed his mind about it...
If it's the case everybody will buy it... if not the case, sorry mr. Lucas but i'm not falling for double-dipping no more, for years i have paid more than enough for your movies, to get your kids throw collage.

Not again!

I already own 4...yes that's right, FOUR different versions of this trilogy (original VHS, THX enhanced VHS, Special Edition VHS, DVD Trilogy)! I am NOT shelling out more cash for another, especially if the films themselves are the same as the previous DVD release. I can understand wanting to make the films available at a lower cost, but I seriously hope Lucas isn't planning on people paying for the same films twice.

And of course we can all expect to see a nice 6-DVD box set when Episode 3 is released.

Hey George! Episodes 1 thru 3 sucked! STOP!

Wap

Is there any hope that these MIGHT be the original releases? Check out the RUNNING LENGTHS on the DVD Details page. Those are the lengths of the non-special-edition movies! Between that and the cover art, I'll foolishly hold out some shred of hope.

That is the most dumbest thing for lucas and fox to do they wont be getting my money i think that people need to get over that he will never release the original versions they are gone. They are George's movies so if u are a real fan u would be satisfied like you would be with the Episode III

Is it dumb to preserve our film heritage? I don't even care about the original releases of "Empire" and "Return", I just think that the cinema-changing original classic "Star Wars" should be available. As a CHOICE. That's all. I'm not judging the new prequels or George Lucas; let him do whatever he wants. But would you eliminate the original KING KONG from existence just because we can make a "more intense" CG-effects-laden Kong? Of course not; it's a classic. It's the same with the 1977 "Star Wars"; the importance of the original (for its role in shaping our American film history) goes WAY beyond aging fans' nostalgia.

Some of you people are treating the Special Editions like they are totally different movies. They're not. They just cleaned up the special effects nicely and made some creative changes. Whether or not you like the creative changes is another thing, but your forgetting that it adds up to only a few minutes difference. In my opinion, the most of the changes are not that bad (all I want is Hayden Christiansen gone). But I can definitely live with them.

To compare the King Kong remake with Star Wars SE is just ridiculous.

As to whether they are the originals or not, The Digital Bits (thedigitalbits.com) says they are the special editions. Make of it what you will..

Yes i do agree that the originals are classics and i can live with all the changes. Come on i mean if it is star Wars it is entertainment at its best

Sorry Wonderboy, but if I end up wincing at nearly every scene becuase there's been at least one change, that's bad. I don't mind all of the changes, in fact episode 5 is perfect as a special edition (although the Wampa scene is much better without seeing it, and I love creature features, I just remember getting creeped out when I saw this stalking form comming towards Luke). Jedi I could care less for (sure it has a really cool ending space battle, but that's aboot it). Basically the only problems I have with episode 4 (Star Wars) is the entire Mos Eisley scene (that includes not only the badly rendered C-3PO on the crappy looking speeder and the idiotic scene of Jabba that is both useless, extraneous and irrelevant but also Greedo shooting first!) and the quick cuts from the exploding chests. Why? Becuase it's not good. Certain nuances and effects you come to love over the years, and then when you want to see them and find they've been replaced with the plastic junk of computers that's not what I want. So ya, that's my problem with the changes.

You know, I've never heard anyone mention the one line cut out of 'Empire'. When Luke and R2 land on Dagobah, R2 is swallowed or whatever by some swamp monster. Upon being spit out, Luke gets over to him and says something to the effect of, "You're lucky you don't taste that good." It's gone now!! Anyone else remember that?

-Dave

DVDanswers has a very comprehensive list of all changes of all incarnations of the Star Wars trilogy including that cut line, and I suggest you check there for info.

Oh yes, DVDanswers would have that info....however it wouldn't answer the question that I asked, of who, from this board, remembers that original line.

-Dave

Perhaps John or somebody from the staff could provides us with a review of this 3-Disc Limited Edition, for several reasons that would allow us to make the right decision:

1) First of all, neither FOX or Lucasfilm has issued an official statement, regarding the version of the films included in this release... therefore up to this point, all is speculation.

2) If by any chance, this release includes the Original 1977-1983 versions, some would consider getting them, regardless that they have purchased the previous 2004 release (since some treasure the classics)

3) But if the films are the same as the 2004 DVD release, there's really no point in getting them, only because the cover art has changed...then again some fans do purchase the same doll again, only because the blister art has changed.

4) Finally as you may know, the 2004 DVD release presented some "minor technical flaws" in the audio and video, which Lucas has proclaimed as not flaws but "deliberate creative decisions", such as: reversed audio in rear channels and low volume of John Williams score in some scenes, absense of white core and wrong colors on lightsabers (pink and green instead of red and blue) matte boxes around ships in space, etc...

I respect that Lucas has the right to make "deliberate creative decisions" and overall the 2004 release is much better than the 1997 editions, but these minor details only makes you wonder if he actually gave the proper attention, in the video restauration and audio mixing process of the films; he's human after all, and who would be dumb enough to admit that made a mistake, that will trigger a mayor recall and solicitation of replacement DVD around the world?

If he made the choice to lower the volume of the score in X scene, i can understand and respect that, but to show matte boxes around the ships?... sorry Lucas, but that's a flaw that should had been corrected, specially since you have at your full disposal the best audio and video technology.

Therefore if by any chance these are the 2004 DVD release, but with these flaws fixed probally will be appealing to get them, as to have the best audio and video quality possible... but wait a minute... since we already purchased the 2004 release, aren't we intitled to have our DVD replaced, at least get a refund or discount when purchasing this new 3-Disc Limited Edition?

As many, i missed in the 2004 DVD releases, the 2-Disc treatment that the Prequel Trilogy got, since there's a lot of additional material that wasn't included, such as deleted scenes, featurettes of special effects, etc... again if indeed this release is identical to the 2004 DVD release (without the 4th bonus disc) i doubt will be succesfull...maybe only fans who love to buy every STAR WARS item, even if only the cover art changed, would consider getting it.

Perhaps if they had considered better releasing a 3-Disc Complementary Edition, of all that additional material that didn't make it in the prior release, would had been a right call and a huge sales success..."wha missa tinkin"...Lucas loves double dipping!...hell he started it in the first place!!!

The thing is, there has been so much tinkering with these movies that they're FUBAR.

Mind you, I fully support George Lucas's right to change his movies in any way he sees fit. However, there are some audio changes that were not made to the French or Spanish dubs, which leads me to wonder if anyone really gave a damn about the current DVD releases since Lucas is not done tinkering with these movies anyway.

As such, I'm glad that "Episode 3" was such a disaster. When I go back to the U.S., I'm selling all of my "Star Wars" DVDs. Thus, I won't have the headache of dealing with these ever-changing movies ever again.

Episode 3 a disaster? I think not. Episode 3, or 1, or 2 may not have the magic of the original trilogy, but to say any of them are a disaster is ludicrous. Fact is episode 3 was the better of the new trilogy, and a solid enough film for the value of good entertainment. I???ll agree it has its issues but I wouldn???t go as far to say it was a disaster.

Tim

Tim,

I was laughing at the movie beginning with the prologue scrawl ("WAR!"). I kept laughing throughout the entire thing. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt when I heard Natalie Portman's awful line readings and when Vader's armor was put on his body while his flesh was still burning. I stopped laughing only when I realized that I had wasted two hours and $10.

Eddie

LOL Eddie. Looks like it still took you long time to realise that you were wasting your time.;)

No kidding, Eddie. If it truly was that bad to you, then why didn't you just walk out?

Tim

I was watching a car wreck--I couldn't take my eyes off of the screen.

While Ep 3 might be the best of the prequels, I agree with John's review that that isn't saying a whole lot.

Ep 1 was total exposition. Boring to a fault. Ep 2 was pretty messy. Someone earlier stated that ROTJ had a great ending battle scene, but not much else. Well, Ep 2 was a jumble tied up with a top-notch video game finale.

Most of what's lacking in the prequels is character motivation. In the original trilogy, there was at least a quest these characters were going on. They had these novel things called "character arcs." Dynamic of character even entered into the writing. Classic literature, surely not, but the entire prequel trilogy ends up not feeling compelling, only expository.

Talk about "creative" changes all you want. It's creative aspects of a film that determines whether someone likes it or not.

I'm personally sick of the whole "will he release the original trilogy" debate. While I would love to have the unaltered originals on DVD (yes, matte lines and all), the chance of that is nil (though being proven wrong would be a nice surprise). I agree with Eddie that Lucas seems to just have no idea what his "original vision" (as he states) of these films truly is. We've had 2 revamps so far with more likely to come, so FUBAR is the nicest of descriptions we can probably give it.

I've got the 2004 set. No need to buy the prequels. Only other purchase would be the unaltered originals, so I think my wallet's pretty safe.

Sean (...though I don't know the power of the Dark Side...) ;)

now that the DVD is released, does anyone know what is the difference between this release and last year's

I also would like to know if there's a difference between this edition and the 2004 DVD release... anyone had the opportunity to check them out?

i think so many people have been burned by this crap that no one cares any more. the people at lucas and fox certainly haven't helped as they have kept quiet about the audio issues that plagued the four-disc set.

I'm sorry but your oppinion doesn't answer the question... anyone had the opportunity to review this release? I would like to know if there's a difference between this one and the 2004 DVD release, in particular regarding any improvement solving the problems with the audio mixes and color restoration.

genbar,

my opinion did answer your question--just about none of the dvd reviews sites cares because 1) fox didn't provide screeners for this set and 2) no one can afford spending so much hard-earned money only on lucas's dvds.

your answers are best found at a star wars fan site.

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/674/674215p1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases

eddie

Thanks, Eddie... i was looking for a review from anybody who had the opportunity to check this release, not necesarally someone from the DVDTown staff.

I'm certanly not a star wars completist, but i was hoping that technical errors had been fixed (green/pink lightsabers, matte boxes on ships, audio mixes, etc.) which could justify purchasing this release, not because it has a different box art.

Finally here's the official answer from starwars.com:

http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20051202.html