star wars trilogy on dvd

[AphxA]

Courtesy of starwars.com

The Star Wars Trilogy on DVD
February 10, 2004

The most requested films for the DVD format will finally become a reality this September as Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox present the eagerly-awaited Star Wars Trilogy for the ultimate home entertainment format. The four-disc collection will be released on September 21 in the U.S. and Canada, with international release dates following closely.

"We know how long fans have waited for this release and how much they have been looking forward to it, so everyone has been working overtime to make sure that the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD is an awesome experience," said Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution for Lucasfilm Ltd. and the DVD collection's Executive Producer.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi will be available in a four-disc set that includes a bonus disc filled with all-new special features -- including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced about the Star Wars saga and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films. Each of the three films in the Star Wars Trilogy has been digitally restored and re-mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.

"First and foremost, the DVDs will deliver the very best possible sound and picture and take advantage of everything the medium can offer. On top of that, we are creating added-value material that gets inside the creation of the Star Wars films in a fresh and fun way," Ward said. "We want watching this DVD collection to be as memorable as seeing the movies for the first time."

The films of the Star Wars Trilogy will be available exclusively as a collection and will feature Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. All three films are closed-captioned and subtitled in English, French and Spanish in the U.S. Internationally, sound and subtitling specifications will vary by territory.

Keep checking starwars.com over the coming months for more specific details about the content of this must-own DVD set.

 

[The Sean Man]

Yeah, but are these the originals, or the "Special Editions"? HAN SHOOTS FIRST!

The Sean Man

 

[tommytikl]

These will not be the original movies as seen in 1979 etc, these will be the rereleased stuff and can be bought on VHS right now.
I do hope they at least go back and fix the inserted Jabba the Hut.
God was that horrible digital insertion!!!

 

[AphxA]

lmao, he looked like a walking talking terd.

 

[The Sean Man]

Ya know, if he was going to go back and change things, at least he could've changed those stupid ewoks to wookees. What a difference that would have made in the battle on Endor.

The Sean Man

 

[theshire]

Episode III opens with a Wookiee battle, you know.

 

[The Sean Man]

Ahhhh! Don't spoil it for me. It's bad enough all the movie websites are filled with spoilers and pics. I like going into a movie like this blind.

The Sean Man

 

[the_Baron]

i'm waiting for the Sony Beta Tape version.

 

[Moses25]

Episode III opens with a Wookiee battle, you know.

Is that true?

Dave, where art thou?

Cheers.😀

 

[BigJim]

I don't care if they keep the digital editing, but for the love of the Force George, please have Han fire at Greedo first!

 

[Dave2112]

Weird. I didn't see this thread until now.

Actually, from the updates I've been getting through Insider and the website, EpIII is supposed to start out with a huge space battle, not a "Wookie Battle", although I'm sure the Wooks will be part of it.

As for the Trilogy on DVD, I can't wait for it. My second copy on VHS is about worn...

...I have nothing...

Anyhoo...it'll probably be the Special Editions, although I wouldn't put it past Lucas to do what they did for the Alien Saga and offer both versions of each film. But you're right, Han shoots first. That was the big blunder of the re-editing. Well, that and Luke screaming like a girl after he lets go and falls into the chasm on Cloud City after Vader kicks his ass. Way to turn a selfless sacrifice into "Oops, I tripped!"

 

[theshire]

Can someone please explain to me what's so bad about Han shooting first? Is it the editing: the fact that he's already getting his gun out anyway? Lucas said the point of that change was because Han seemed too much like a cold-blooded killer in the original version. Or am I missing something else blindingly obvious?

 

[tommytikl]

Well Lucas was not the director of the first or second film, notice that those two films are much "darker" than Jedi.
Han ,umm, was a cold-blooded killer!!! Duh, he was a smuggler, he did this for a living.
I think Lucas changed the films to "spite" the original director...just my opinion.
I personally would have loved to see "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" done by that director, to see what he would have done.

 

[theshire]

No, you've got it all wrong...

Lucas did direct the first movie. ESB was directed by Irvin Kershner (director of one of the RoboCop films and some independant horror movies), and ROTJ was directed by Richard Marquand - but they were all based on the screenplay by George Lucas. He only didn't direct them because he had some heart problems at the time.

 

[TicklishSinner]

oh no my dad will be buying that and watching that ALL DAMN DAY

 

[BigJim]

Can someone please explain to me what's so bad about Han shooting first? Is it the editing: the fact that he's already getting his gun out anyway? Lucas said the point of that change was because Han seemed too much like a cold-blooded killer in the original version. Or am I missing something else blindingly obvious?

Han shooting first isn't bad at all, it's good! The whole idea was that Han was a rougher and more ruthless person in the beginning and that his experiences changed him into someone fundementaly more likeable. It was much better left the way it was. Also, the idea that Greedo was so bad a fucking shot that he'd miss Han by three clear feet from only two feet in distance is beyond belief. Would Jabba hire a cross-eyed assassin?

And I have to agree with Dave. The action of Luke at the end of Empire would seema lot more heroic without the banshee like warbling. I havn't seen the original version though, so I don't know how it came across.

 

[theshire]

Dammit! I meant to say 'Greedo shooting first', not Han! Fucking keyboard...

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Might as well just wait for them to release the entire Star Wars saga in some sort of limited edition collector's box set containing all six episodes and bonus discs, etc. It would probably be really expensive though, but then you'd get the entire series in one pop. Then again they might not even sell it like that, in order to make extra money.

We've waited years and years for the original trilogy to come to DVD. Waiting a few more years for the entire series won't matter.

 

[dskodj]

Was never a Star Wars fan (aside from Meco's great reworking of the music for the dancefloor) and only saw the original ones (Star Wars, Empire and Jedi) one time way back when. However, from what im reading here..in these recent reissues they change the movie around????? Thats something I dont understand..so its a collectors item to have the original versions? Thats kinda screwed if ya ask me 😕

 

[The Sean Man]

George won't release the 'original' original movies. Never will. Beg all ya want, but he's not going to listen.

The Sean man

 

[dskodj]

So the original films as seen in the theater were NEVER on video? Not even in the 80s??? The first 2 Star Wars film I saw when it was on cable in the early 80s and then Jedi I saw in the theater.

 

[theshire]

Yes, they were out on VHS but...

In 1997 Lucas remastered them with better picture and sound quality, (arguably) better special effects and a couple of new scenes. Now the originals will never see the light of day again.

 

[BigJim]

As luck would have it, a cousin of mine owns the original trilogy in it's original VHS format. I really must watch them someday.

 

[phatteus]

Wow, I feel like an old fart on this thread. I own the originals on VHS, and I own the Special edition trilogy on VHS.
The Special Edition Trilogy collects dust. I only watch the originals.

Greedo shooting first is only the half of it.

I am quite surprised at some of the complaints about the "banshee-like screaming" that Luke emits during his Cloud City plummett. Did no one notice that in order to cut costs, Lucas simply dubbed the Emperor's death scream over Luke's jump? Listen to it again; it's the same cry! BigJim, in the original, there is no sound during Luke's drop (save for John William's masterful score). That is what made the scene so breathtaking. Luke is wounded far worse than he's ever been in his life, and he has just discovered that The biggest, baddest motherf---er in the galaxy is his father! So what does he do? He drops into the airshaft, choosing certain death over turning to the Dark Side of the force. His complete silence during this (despite actual tears streaming down his face while shouting "that's not true... that's impossible") shows Luke's resolve and determination against evil in the galaxy.

Worst edit? The Sarlaac. What the hell Audrey II doing in the pit of Karkoon? I liked it better when folks just fell in!

The Special edition sucks. I hate George Lucas for it, and I pray to God that Episode III sucks way less than his recent crap.

 

[BigJim]

I know he was silent during the fall because Dave mentioned it and no, I didn't notice it was the Emperor's death scream.