Classic Star Wars Trilogy Finally on DVD 673
chinton writes "From starwars.com: 'In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie, as well as the original theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.'"
All I want to know is (Score:2)
Re:All I want to know is (Score:5, Funny)
It's a trap! (Score:5, Interesting)
No. He's more machine now than man, twisted and evil.
Seriously, this isn't about good in the least. Let me do some translating here. From TFA:
"Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in theaters," said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. "We returned to the Lucasfilm Archives to search exhaustively for source material that could be presented on DVD. This is something that we're very excited to be able to give to fans in response to their continuing enthusiasm for Star Wars."
Like all PR machines, there's a certain amount of fudging that goes on, let me translate:
"Over the years, a throng of vicious purists have told us that the so called 'improvements' suck balls. What they want to see is the original before we did more damage than repair. There was also a large number of nerds stationed outside George's house chanting, 'Han Shot First.'" said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. "Pretty much, all we have to do is take the last VHS release before the special editions and prime it for DVD release. However, don't make the mistake that we're being altruistic to our fans in any way. The fact is, many of these weak willed nerds broke down and bought the first DVD release and now that their failure is complete, we can sock it to them with yet another release. George loves cash, what can we say? We double charge the weak and now even milk the cash out of the purists that were holding out."
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
Re:All I want to know is (Score:5, Informative)
Re:All I want to know is (Score:4, Informative)
DVD (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:DVD (Score:5, Informative)
Re:DVD (Score:5, Insightful)
He did say that, but then his pizza budget hit an all-time high so he decided to milk this withered udder one more time. Until the release on BluRay and HD-DVD are available, that is.
Re:DVD (Score:3, Insightful)
I bought mine a year ago. Bootleg? Yes. But I had been waiting for a long time, and Lucas sounded like he meant it... so I don't feel bad about paying for a bootleg DVD (transferred from the laserdisc edition, very nice quality).
How many times will I pay for the same movie? Let's see...
What is it now? (Score:4, Funny)
If only (Score:5, Insightful)
No need to cry .... (Score:2)
Re:No need to cry .... (Score:3, Funny)
Pfft. I only cry over spilled blue milk.
Re:If only (Score:2, Funny)
Re:If only (Score:3, Insightful)
If only they could now release episodes one through three with remastered versions that don't feature lousy acting, shallow characters and crappy plots.
Episode 3 was actually pretty good. It had plenty of action, but enough slow parts that tied the story together and developed the characters. It was dark and evil, definitely had a consistent and welcome theme throughout. I don't know which of the 6 movies is the best, but Episode 3 is a strong contender in my mind.
Episodes 1 and 2 left a lot to be desir
Re:If only (Score:3)
In what sense? Piss poor acting. Not just from Hayden ( who seems to operate in that mode ), but from everyone. Even my man Jackson. Shallow story, poor execution of what little plot they had. Cheesy Darth Vader scene, characters breaking from the mold they set in the previous two films.
I'll give you an example of that last one; Pademe losing her will to live? Here is a strong woman who has an almost limitless well of compassion in her ( think about her comments abo
Re:If only (Score:3, Insightful)
As for acting, has it ever been that good throughout any
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If only (Score:5, Insightful)
It's the kids that ruin sequels.
Look at The Mummy. I really liked the first one.
So i decided to take the family to the 2nd. That god damn kid ruined the entire thing.
Hollywood thinks that if a movie does well, making a sequel and putting an obnoxious 9 year old to bring in the kid audience must make everything even better.
Lucas was one of the first to try this, with those god-damn Ewoks.
He just perfected it with Ep.1
I am waiting for a Fight Club 2 with kids beating up each other and a pg-13 rating to finally bring about the apocalypse .
Re:If only (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If only (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:If only (Score:3)
1. Anakin is too young
2. Jar Jar
3. Midochlorians ('nuff said)
Number one is a big deal for me. I think Lucas should have made Anakin about the same age as Luke was when we first see him in EP3 (for allegorical reasons if nothing else). Not only would the pod racing scene have been more believable, Lucas could have introduced a sexual attraction between Anakin and Padme which also
Yoda is the Jedi Measuring Device (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Yoda is the Jedi Measuring Device (Score:4, Interesting)
Two reasons.
First, it becomes impossible to show that Anakin's strongest ever. Sure, Yoda might say that Anakin's the strongest for 900 years, but beyond that, you need some sort of numerical indicator.
And second, Lucas got the retroactive continuity syndrome. It seems to hit to every successfull author who returns to his old stories sooner or later. You start wondering if you couldn't refine some point a little, and before you know it, Takhisis has turned from the Dark Queen to a pathetic punch of neurosis who gets killed by an equally pathetic lovesick elf, the Valheru have stopped being the supreme threat from the past and become little more than puppets on a string, and oh yes, the Force has become something that a rodent (ysalamiri) can nullify and a cell organ (midichlorian) can influence.
That's the most difficult part of writing stories and peeling onions: you have to know when to stop.
Re:If only (Score:3)
I don't think you can blame the terrible acting on the actors alone. I've seen most of them in other roles where they excelled. You can't blame the poor dialog delivery on the actors. It's all the director's fault. His job is to decide if the actors are performing as they should. It's his call whether or not a scene is finished.
Re:If only (Score:3)
"Hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo."
That's a timeless classic that I've heard quoted a lot.
Of course its a joke about how crappy the move was... the audience even laughed when she said it.
Re:If only (Score:3, Funny)
Who shot first? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Who shot first? (Score:3, Informative)
Anyway, one of the first images you see at starwars.com [starwars.com] says
This September: Original Unaltered Trilogy on DVD
See Han Solo shoot first
Re:Who shot first? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Who shot first? (Score:3, Informative)
See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.
Re:Who shot first? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Who shot first? (Score:3, Insightful)
So yes he shot first but he also shot last.
Re:Who shot first? (Score:4, Interesting)
That's because Greedo was so coked up at the time. If you look at the original print, Greedo had a white powdery ring around his nose. That's one thing that was digitally changed in the SEs.
Re:Who shot first? (Score:5, Insightful)
Han killing Greedo before Greedo can get a shot off doesn't make Han a bad ass, it just makes Greedo an idiot.
Release to Theatres for Every Generation (Score:5, Interesting)
Especially when you see it on the big screen. Unfortunately, I was born in 1982 meaning that I wasn't quite to the point of being able to go see it in theatres when it was released. But the special edition releases changed all that--though the changes George Lucas made did leave me feeling kind of hollow (wtf, Han?).
I would think that the mass turn out to see the special edition movies would be proof enough that releasing the originals to theatres every ten years would be profitable. In fact, I would conjecture that releasing it every ten years would give everyone the chance to see it at an early age and be beneficial to the Star Wars franchise. I know Lucas wouldn't be able to resist changing parts of it but hopefully he'll be preoccupied with destroying the Indiana Jones Trilogy by then.
I did notice that Mr. Lucas isn't cited once in this article and instead we hear from Jim Ward who is perhaps actually interested in what the fans have to say as they are providing his paycheck.
If you were to ask me on any day of the week, "Would you like to go see one of the Star Wars movies on the big screen?" You bet I would. It's immeasurably better than the utter drek [imdb.com] that's in theatres now. Oftentimes my friends propose we go see a movie only to discover that there is nothing but pure crap [imdb.com]. What does Lucasfilm have that so few movies today lack? Timelessness--the ability to surpass the aging of the film and the advances in technology that every movie today uses.
While it's true I'm a fan of Star Wars so my opinion might be biased, I've never found anyone who's outright hated it.
Well, I got original separate movies for my birthday at a young age, the VHS set of this trilogy when I was about 15, I bought the special edition DVDs in wide screen format a couple years ago and now it looks like I'll be purchasing yet another copy of these movies. Boy, Lucasfilm sure has my number.
Re:Release to Theatres for Every Generation (Score:3, Interesting)
The Dukes of Hazzard? (Score:5, Funny)
The Dukes of Hazzard had the worst cookie cutter plot lines [everything2.com] ever. From the above link:
Re:The Dukes of Hazzard? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Dukes of Hazzard? (Score:3, Insightful)
Honestly this is probably one of the Dukes of Hazzard's few strengths. Those "very special episodes" almost always fall flat in most dramatic shows, and especially fall flat in comedies. They're generally worthless, don't make you feel empathy for the characters, and too
Re:Release to Theatres for Every Generation (Score:3, Interesting)
Actually, that is what I did in 77, 80, and 83. Which is what I thought
That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.
meant.
I haven't read the FA yet. But I'm wondering how "original" these are. Personally, I liked all of the remastering and cleanups they did to the special addition ones. I liked the introduct
Re:Release to Theatres for Every Generation (Score:5, Informative)
Obligatory SWHS joke (Score:3, Funny)
What does Lucasfilm have that so few movies today lack? Timelessness
Yep, Star Wars Holiday Special makes people cringe just as much today as it did when it first aired.
Awesome (Score:5, Informative)
HAN FIRES FIRST!
Re:Awesome (Score:3, Funny)
Oh, you just reminded me (Score:3, Insightful)
That one galled me more than Han shooting first, and it was mostly because there was so little reason for it to have been there -- I as a 10-year-old understood perfectly that Vader c
Re:Awesome (Score:5, Insightful)
Here's what bothered me about that scene. Imagine you're the biggest crime boss in the galaxy. You're chewing out some underling that just cost you a lot of money. And he steps on your tail! Don't you think you'd do a little more than give a quick squeal?
BASTARDS! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:BASTARDS! (Score:2)
Re:BASTARDS! (Score:5, Insightful)
Slashdot: You suck! We don't want Han to shoot first! Gives us the original version, not the Special Edition!
Lucas releases Classic Star Wars Trilogy on DVD!
Slashdot: You suck! I... uh... asked for this a year ago.
The almighty dollar (Score:3, Insightful)
So now we'll have the opportunity to purchase yet another copy, bringing some people up to 5 seperate copies of the same set of movies.
That's pretty impressive.
Can he do that? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Can he do that? (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe they'll hire actors and cut together a new edition, calling it the original one.
Seriously, the only thing that claim would tell me is that:
1. We don't plan to release the original one in more editions => this is your last chance.
2. We changed our minds.
3. Profit.
Awesome! (Score:5, Interesting)
No thanks (Score:5, Funny)
Re:No thanks (Score:3, Insightful)
You know
Re:No thanks (Score:2)
I'll buy that (Score:2)
I was so waiting for this news story! (Score:5, Funny)
*drumroll* *cymbals*
Thank you, thank you, try the lobster.
I felt a great disturbance in the Force... (Score:5, Funny)
Attractively priced? (Score:2)
Nice to see (Score:3, Interesting)
See http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-
I imagine he's bastardized Empire and Jedi as well.
Re:Nice to see (Score:3, Funny)
We saw this coming, right? (Score:3, Insightful)
It has nothing to do with the pressure we collectively put on them. It has nothing to do with George caving on his desire to keep tweaking his movies.
It has to do with bringing in more moolah. Just keep milking the cash cow.
Um... and I... um.... well... I'll probably be first in line to squeeze the teet.
-S
Pricing and the MPAA (Score:3, Insightful)
This was Palpatine's idea (Score:3, Interesting)
However, if Lucas wants to put out new DVDs, more power to him. However, you know what's funny? Sure, Lucas is releasing DVDs that have the original uncut versions of the OT on them. But note:
If you absolutely have to have the original versions, you have to buy the Special Editions to get them. So if you've already bought the DVD collection, you get to buy it again. So the "OMG!!1! HAN DIDN'T SHOOT FIRST?? I'M SO BUMMED!!" crowd get to buy the version they hate *twice*.
Sure, those consumers will put the other versions up for sale on Ebay as fast as possible. But by the time they sell, the Bluray/HD-DVD version comes out.
The circle is now complete!
Wish someone would do the same for Blade Runner (Score:2, Insightful)
Mr Scott I have a lot of time for - but in this case, I have to disagree.
Twenty-nine years of accumulated spoilers (Score:3, Insightful)
Watching a DVD is NOT the same as watching projected film on a screen in a theatre.
But the big problem is, I don't know of any safe way to erase, then subsequently restore, my memories of the past couple of decades so that I can see the film knowing nothing about the movie except a Time magazine review and a friend saying it was great.
How can I watch the 1977 Star Wars without the burden of twenty-nine-years'-worth of accumulated "spoilers?."
Re:Twenty-nine years of accumulated spoilers (Score:5, Interesting)
Granted, my boy is only two right now, so my plan won't come to fruition for a few more years. Also, I don't know what to do whith the kid afterwards. Oh, those pesky details.
So much for LD... (Score:2)
I can see it now . . . (Score:2)
Don't get too proud of this technological terror (Score:5, Interesting)
Lucas' Holiday (Score:2)
Any ideas on why the limited release?
I want the ultra configurable version (Score:5, Funny)
Han shoots first.
Greedo shoots first.
Both shoot at the same time.
Greedo doesn't shoot.
Han doesn't shoot. Greedo accidentally shoots himself.
Nobody shoots. Greedo declares the life of a rogue is not for him, and goes off to enjoy the sunshine
Jabba shoots first.
But I thought.... (Score:5, Informative)
Lucas: The special edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it.
Source (9/15/2004) [msn.com]
Re:But I thought.... (Score:4, Insightful)
As far as I can tell, the original trilogy had been the subject of more "labor of love" really well done fan DVD sets than anything else I can think of. I personally have three different DVD sets, all well done, some with nice extras and good menus.
Honestly, I've already bought the original trilogy at least 3 times, once on CED videodisc (!), once on VHS, then again on VHS special edition (I recently put that box set on a "freebies" table at a convention and nobody took it). I'd probably buy the original series on DVD, but I'm not buying a combo original+SE copy; I wouldn't want anyone to think that I actually bought it because of the SE.
Re:But I thought.... (Score:3, Interesting)
He's not saying it actually doesn't exist. He's saying he doesn't give a fuck about it. And you'll notice he's not promoting it. Seems the studio feels different. No contradiction.
The classic saga (Score:5, Funny)
Luke Skywalker: How did the movies die?
Ben Kenobi: A film producer named George Lucas, who was an idol of mine until he turned to evil, helped the industry change the scenes. He betrayed and murdered the Star Wars movies.
---------------------
Darth Vader: "There is no escape. Don't make me edit you. Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You've only begun to discover your power. Join me and I will edit your training. With our combined strength we can end this great film series and bring profit to the company"
Luke Skywalker: "I'll never join you!"
Darth Vader: "If you only knew the power of the Movie Business. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to the movies."
Luke Skywalker: "He told me enough! He told me you killed him!"
Darth Vader: "No. I am the movies."
Luke Skywalker: "No. That's not true! That's impossible!"
Darth Vader: "Search your feelings. You know it to be true."
Luke Skywalker: "Noooooooo!"
Darth Vader: "Luke, you can destroy the Movie Business. It has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we shall rule Hollywood as father and son. Come with me. It is the only way."
---------------
Luke Skywalker: "Search your feelings, Lucas. You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate."
Darth Vader: "It is too late for me, consumers. The Movie Business will show you the true nature of money. It is your master now."
Luke Skywalker: "Then my movies are truly dead."
-------------------
Anakin Skywalker: "Luke, help me take these edits off."
Luke Skywalker: "But you'll die."
Anakin Skywalker: "Nothing can stop that now. Just for once, let me look on you with my original film."
(Luke disconnects and releases the original films on dvd.)
Anakin Skywalker: "Now, go my consumer. Leave me."
Luke Skywalker: "I won't leave you here; I've got to save the movies!"
Anakin Skywalker: "You already have, Luke. You were right, you were right about me. Tell your fellow consumers you were right..."
What about Biggs at the beginning? (Score:5, Interesting)
I personally liked the scenes. It made it easier for the audience to feel Luke's feeling of being left behind while important things happened Elsewhere, and made Bigg's death in the trench more painful.
Re:What about Biggs at the beginning? (Score:5, Informative)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=srf68SEuyJM&search=sta
Episode VII: Repackaging of the Clones (Score:4, Informative)
I wonder if he will be re-releasing Star Wars in 3-D in the original, and altered formats? [comingsoon.net]
The money will never run out at this rate
OriginalTrilogy.com (Score:5, Informative)
Top stuff for any fan.
Everyone forgets (Score:3, Interesting)
We'll finally be able to dance to the Yub Nub song at the end of Jedi again
Sorry Lucas - I've owned these for FIVE YEARS (Score:5, Insightful)
Now that you've changed your mind, I'm not just going to run out and buy them. Why should I? I already have them. Sure, they may have a bit better video quality, but I'm refusing to give you my $ just because you realized you needed the cash and it meant more than your supposed "artistic integrity".
Too little, too late. You had a good 15 years of me buying everything you put out (FS VHS, Widescreen VHS box set, Definitive Collection LD's, "face" CLV LD's)....but your attitude towards fans, in spite of this 11th hour reversal, just make me not care.
I have no problem paying good money for great product, but conversely when someone like Lucas dicks fans over and over I have no problem going the bootleg/download route. I bet the BitTorrent sites will have it before it even comes out.
AE
X0 edition (Score:3, Interesting)
I have this to say about the "special editions" (Score:3, Funny)
with my apologies to Lord Vader.
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:5, Funny)
You'll have to wait till the SW fans try to shoot you and miss.
Justin.
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:2)
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:4, Informative)
To the GP — your thoughts about Han and Greedo might be slightly altered after you see this [wurzeltod.ch] alternate version
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:3, Funny)
Don't panic. It sounds tougher than it really is. You can get right up in their face and they'll STILL miss.
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:3, Funny)
So Dick Cheney isn't a Star Wars fan, I presume.
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:3, Interesting)
My favorite "pointless thing that you notice" in the original Star Wars was when Obi-wan tells Luke after the jawa vehicle attack "These blast points are too accurate for anyone but Imperial stormtroopers." Those troopers basically didn't hit anything they were aiming at for the next 2 movies/6 years!
I too have the laserdisc versions both of the original commercial release and the remastered edition. Lucase wants our money. How long can it be before the "super-original" version comes out where
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:3, Insightful)
As a similar change, what if we edited it so that in the Emperor's room at the very end, Vader attacks first instead of Luke striking out in anger. That so
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:In response to overwhelming demand ... (Score:3, Funny)
Details here [bash.org]
Re:WTF? 1977? (Score:2)
Re:WTF? 1977? (Score:2)
Thus proving the validity of this story. [slashdot.org]
Just because you think Lucas has made enough money doesn't justify stealing his works. I'm presuming you feel it's acceptable to fill your tank with gas and drive off without paying because the oil companies have made enough money.
Re:Thank God for that (Score:2)
Re:shouldn't RotJ be in THX like in the theatres?? (Score:3, Informative)