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Summary: Those Digital Enhancements are Futile...
Review: I've just gone through Ep. IV SE once again, and there I clearly felt, that all those digital enhancements Lucas has done for the SEs and will include for the DVD-versions will have no effort at all! Those movies are so clearly and obviousley 70ies / 80ies work (what's so bad about that anyway???). No matter what Lucas tries to hide the simple fact, that these are OLD and technically OUTDATED (but incredible great) movies, he probably won't succede. He would have to throw away 95% of the FX-shots and replace them with new ones - and even then I doubt, the movies would perfectly blend with the prequels and give audiences the ILLUSION of a seamless six part saga. Too much has changed technically from miniaure shots to the computer power of the year 2004. Too far allready has the logic of the story been streched to somehow make the prequel-reapperance of beloved Characters like R2-D2, C-3PO, Boba Fett, Yoda (and Chewie for Ep. III?) possible. Too much has Lucas' intention changed over the years from making space adventure movies for juveniles AND grown ups to some kind of Disney-in-Space for the smallest. So maybe Lucas may be able to fool HIMSELF about the fact that he and his most successful movies are slowly getting old by making all those changes, but I doubt he can fool the audience (with the exception of some die hard fanboys). Maybe it would be WISE to stop raping the corpses and simply let those movies age with pride and dignity. They (and the millions that have seen them in their original incarnation and actually MADE them what they are today) have earned it!
Just my 2 cents...
Rating: 
Summary: A Love / Hate Relationship...
Review: I loved the "first" STAR WARS (aka: EPISODE IV- A NEW HOPE). I saw it in the theatre in 1977 and couldn't believe the realistic space scenery! I was enthralled by Darth Vader and still consider him one of the coolest villains ever. Of course, I was a kid back then. I fell hook, line, and light-saber for the whole phenomenon. Today, I have to look at what I loved about the original trilogy, as well as what I hated. STAR WARS Episode IV- A New Hope- I love the wide-eyed wonder of it. I love Luke as a kid who stumbles into the greatest adventure of his life, quite by "accident". Han Solo (Harrison Ford) as the rogue space-pirate type anti-hero guy. He's a cool foil for Luke's cream cheese goodiness. Princess Leia's (Carrie Fisher as the damsel-in-distress turned warrior was deceptively ahead of her time) is the perfect middle ground between the two male heroes. I loved them together as the flies in the empire's ointment. George Lukas drew from his childhood dreams, fantasies, and saturday afternoon movie serials to fashion a classic in it's own right. Episode IV stands as a milestone in not only special effects, but in sci-fi storytelling. It took something that seemed "out there" and made it accessible to folks like me (the non-sci-fi bunch). I loved Obi Wan (Alec Guinness). I loved The imperial ships, the death star, the land speeder, the Millenium Falcon, the sand people, the jawas, R2-D2, C-3PO, the goofy saloon scene, and even Leia's hairdos! I loved the whole bloody thing! I just can't find anything to hate about this first SW effort of Mr. Lukas. Then, in 1980 came Episode V- THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. No George behind the camera, and yet it is a great movie! Darker and far more ominous than it's predecessor, TESB features a growing, maturing Luke, a deepening (though guarded) chemistry between Leia and Han, and a gloom that slowly rises to ultimately engulf them all. This is my personal favorite SW flick. I love the ice planet Hoth, the snow monster encounter, and those beautiful imperial walkers! Vader is an unstoppable evil, bent on Luke's either joining him or being destroyed. The secrets revealed between them are legendary. Luke isn't as much of a boy, he's a young man. I love the dread and anguish in this installment. It makes it all seem real and inescapable. Then, there's Episode VI- RETURN OF THE JEDI- I have mixed feelings about this one. I love the space battles. I love the speeders roaring through the forests like giant, fuel-injected mosquitoes. I love Jaba The Hut's bulky nastiness, and Leia's bikini! I love Vader and that super-turd, The Emperor, of course. I love the plot and the way things turn out. However, I absolutely hate the stiff, nearly robotic way that Luke, Leia, and Han trudge through their scenes. The chemistry seems lost and Luke's Jedi-guru-I-Am-Buddha thing grates my last nerve! Then there's those cuddly, buy-me-at-your local-wal-mart Ewoks! I hated them in the theatre in '83, and I hate them now. Their part in the movie went on and on. I wanted the imperial troops to take most, if not all of them out! I hate the teddy bear planet! Die, Ewoks! Die!! There, I feel better now. My 8yo son loves the Ewoks though, and maybe that's the point. He's not old and jaded like his old man. Anyway, I still consider ROTJ to be a classic, just not as good as the other two in the trilogy. To be able to own them all like this is something I've looked forward to for years. The Star Wars trilogy is essential viewing for anyone who has a child's heart and an imagination to match. I get a little less crusty every time I see them. I enjoy that far off galaxy and can never wear it out...
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Summary: The Ultimate Archival editions?- I hope it's true.
Review: I have heard there are changes that have been made to make these movies match with the prequels visually and story wise. Let's hope so! Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope:
1.The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first
appearance on Princess Leia's ship. 2.The lightsaber effects have been redone and the frame jumps of lightsabers being turned on has been removed. 3. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate. 4. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabers cauterize wounds. 5. The original shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been restored. 6. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's reaction to the disturbence in the Force that is created by all those deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as
well. 7. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for
use with all the stormtroopers and Boba Fett in all the movies. 8. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been remade. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is being considered for the scene. 9.The Death Star battle is more epic 10. There's a new scene with Vader goes to Coruscant in the same building at the end of Attack of the Clones and inform the Emperor of a new potential who is strong in the Force. 11. Chewbacca now gets a medal. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
1.The battle of Hoth is enhanced with a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers 2. Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations between Vader and Palpatine is now longer and features a few connections to the prequels. 3. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of emotions. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
1.Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and
CGI. 2. The Rancor is CGI 3. Yoda is CGI. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now. 4. The love theme Across the Stars is inserted when Luke is talking with Leia about their mother. 5. In the battle of Endor there are thousands of Ewoks and they are more vicious 6. Lightsaber effects shadows on the floor are gone. 7. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme. 8. Sebastian Shaw who played Anakin when he was unmasked has been replaced with Hayden
Christensen. 9.Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christensen.
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Summary: I hope Amazon posts this review
Review: It's no slur on the genuinely great first "Star Wars" that much of the plotline and characterization was lifted straight out of Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress." Reusing older plotlines is a terrific way to shore up the fact that you have no interesting plots of your own. And after all, the extremely talented Kurosawa dipped into Shakespeare's well of ideas more than once - and Shakespeare himself lifted many of his plots from earlier plays. For Episode III, rip off Kurosawa's ripoff of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," and retell the "Throne of Blood" storyline as Darth Vader's journey into evil. We've got one more year before George Lucas finishes up his "Star Wars" prequel trilogy with the as-yet-untitled Episode III, and he certainly has his work cut out for him. Not only does he have to resolve the ongoing storylines of "Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" in such a way as to lead directly into Episode IV, the original 1977 "Star Wars," but he has to overcome two of the most soul-killingly dull storylines ever put on film. Considering that most of the worst ideas in the last two films came from Lucas himself, he might start by handing over the reins to another filmmaker. It might be difficult to convince Lucas to go along with it. Enjoy the first trilogy, forget about the prequels.
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Summary: Star Wars: A New Hope-CGI Versions
Review: STAR WARS MOVIES: ARE THE BEST! These are some of the most awesome movies - they will live forever :) And, most likely, go on and on and on and on, really, just like the movie suggests..., but today, before other releases, I have to say : I loved the Star Wars movies from the age of being a kid of six (6), it was interesting for me, today, to see reviews reacting negetivly to the CGI versions (they are interesting, but not true), it is too bad, but you can really tell the difference, I prefer the original versions, some how they are more real, more connecting. In the final DVDs, I hope the originals are present! Adults admire the original. Or shall it we make something, really nice, differnt - please don't dissipoint the audience...we are the thing, the original, the fans...now the parents of the things to come - to come - with It would be great in the future if new releases would have both versions on DVD. I like the films, but for now, they are being put at the lower end of my list of purchases. And, things like the sequences of the "Lord of the Rings", and "The Matrix" series, are right there! Doing what I want. There are many other high quality movies to mention, but, I love STAR WARS, and I want my STAR WARS!, old and new, give it to me and I will buy. It is that simple and since 1977, wonderfully basic. (...)
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Summary: Table Talk with George, and other poems
Review: Back in May, I gave you some hot news straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. (Yes, your friend and mine, Mr. L.) Anyhow, I spoke to the man again recently. As per the last time, he was filled with remorse for having ever created the Star Wars Universe. "Chris" he said, with a sigh, "I have had no peace of mind ever since I introduced the world to that neo-Buddhist rubbish which underlies the plot. You know, that feeling orientated dogma, whereby we tune into some kind of cosmic wave band. God becomes depersonalized so that He becomes a mere influence rather than a personality. He is not the personal Yahweh of the Bible, but an amorphous nothing; an indefinable force like the mother nature of the evolutionist. As such we use Him, rather than allow Him as Lord and Master over us. I've come to see that this is the basic error in all mysticism from Kabala to Zen - God is presented as really too big to care what we do from day to day. It sounds God honouring at first, but in the end it is just academic and futile."
"Well," says I, "it is only a movie, George, as you have said yourself. You can't be blamed if people believe it to the point of losing grip on reality, can you now?"
"I guess not, but somehow I feel kind of responsible. I've done some thinking recently and I've realized that the film industry has a lot to answer for. We have sold this image to the world that every American male is a fist-fighting, heavy drinking, loud-mouthed womanizer on the outside and a hero just waiting for his moment on the inside. Every American female is a tramp with a heart of gold. No wonder hard working nations who respect family and tradition think we are a nation of sentimental slobs."
"I see what you mean, George," I said thoughtfully, "but, of course, we both know that there is still some juice left in the grapes. There are still folk out there that love Jesus Christ and recognize Him as the Son of the Living God. These folk have renounced the folly and the shame of the age they live in and have trusted Christ as the one and only Saviour sent from God. They have embraced Him and found Him to be in truth a Saviour from the power, stain, guilt and consequences of indwelling sin. A loving, personal Saviour Who gave His life for us on a cross and is now risen and reigning at the right hand of the throne of the Father. And these people have put away their toys. But in my country, George, we have, to a man, spat on the Holy One of God. We have opened our doors to the Moslem hordes who deny Christ - even though their Koran teaches that He was indeed born of a virgin and was without sin."
"The Koran teaches that?" George asked with surprise.
"Absolutely," I replied, "It kind of makes you want to ask them: 'How many people, down through history, have you known that were born of a virgin!' I mean, Jesus isn't exactly important in their scheme of things, but Mohammed wasn't born of a virgin nor was he sinless! But I'm straying...we in England" I continued, "have become as wretched as the godless European. While, over where you are, George, in America, when you have got past the silly side of religion, you still come across men and women who have not bowed their knee to this baal worshiping culture of pride, greed, cynicism, mockery, sexual perversion and total unreality. I mean, that is really what the terrorist is against. He doesn't fear men in their thirties and forties living in cloud cuckoo land. He fears what he sees of your past glory, when America was known for its godly people." "That's the tragedy of it all, isn't it? But in some ways I hoped that my stories would be a kind of morality myth which would kindle such values as friendship, trust, loyalty and spiritual adventure; rather like the kingdom of Logres, in the Arthurian legends. But I have created twisted gollems; man made parodies of human kind; spoilt junkies waiting for their next fix. They can't live with out me and yet they hate me for having, as they believe, made them what they are."
"Do you hate them George" I asked, feeling confident of the response which I indeed elicited.
"No. No, I don't hate," he said, his voice now quiet, almost broken, "They are the lost children of America. For all their bravado, they are still the lost children of the Vietnam generation. No, I don't hate them, Chris. How could I, I feel the same pain they do." Well, that's kind of where we left it. I felt for George after we had gone our separate ways. I felt he was like Herge, the creator of Tintin, who in the end was haunted by his own creations. He is a sensitive man and very lonely, but basically he is what you Americans call a regular guy. George is also a busy man, but if he phones again, maybe I'll tell you some more.
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Summary: Starwars Trilogy - 2004 Special Editions
Review: The Star Wars DVD's that are coming out in September are NOT the original 1977, 1980 or 1983 theatrical releases NOR are they the 1997 special editions...these are the new 2004 versions, as mentioned on the Star Wars offical website and on thedigitalbits.com which even has a screen shot of the new Return of the Jedi 2004 special edition...it has the original Obi-wan (Alec Guiness), the same yoda, but has Hayden Christiansen as Anakin now as seen in the pic! I am looking forward to it immensely. I hope they have altered Jabba in this new version! In Episode 1 and 6 he is fat as he should be...between 1 and 4 it looks like he went to slim fast, then piled back on the pounds for episode 6...LOL. I know they had limitations being, the original Jabba shot was human...but still..I always get a laugh seeing it! I think it would be nice to see the Emperor in Episode 4! It will be cool, when you can watch all 6 movies back to back, 12 hours+ of Starwars....I can't wait until September...and of course to May 2005 for episode 3...
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Summary: To each and every complainer, SHUT UP!!
Review: I myself have been EAGERLY awaiting the releasal of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. SO WHAT if it's the special edition trilogy? At least George Lucas finally released the trilogy on DVD so it can be enjoyed even more. I can't wait for Star Wars III to come out myself, the first two were excellent.
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Summary: Give me a break!
Review: Many of us have been waiting 10 years for these 3 movies to come out on DVD and its about time! I cant believe the poor comments in the reviews here. Nothing out there will compare to these 3 movies done properly in Dolby 7.1 surround. There are a lot of fake DVD's out there recorde off the films but they have poor quality sound and video. These will be official and will be great! I have waited 10 years for this.
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Summary: Still The Greatest series of all time
Review: Some people complain that they will not be getting the original versions of the film. There are also rumors of further enhancements and additions beyond the Special Editions. I say it is great to finally get these wonderful films on DVD with or without the enhancenents. The other versions have been available for years on VHS and I am of the opinion that any new material presented is a good thing. It also gives you a reason to keep your old VHS tapes.
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