Rating: 
Summary: Lucas strikes (out) again!
Review: What a disappointment! The original Star Wars (Episode IV) will only be released in the "special edition" version. Sheesh! Like George Lucas really improved the movies by supposedly enhancing them. As with many men who accomplish great things and make huge sums of money, it has all gone to his head.With any luck, there will be a time in the not too distant future, when the original versions of these films are released on DVD. In the meantime, I cherish my Laserdiscs.
Rating: 
Summary: A REAL review of a REAL masterpiece
Review: Ok, let's start with the obvious: THE CLASSIC TRILOGY ON DVD!!!! Let's not get all huffy about the fact that it is the "Special Editions" and not the "original" editions. The incredible pettiness over this issue is a true testament to the incredible works of art the Star Wars films are. Especially the pettiness over the "New Trilogy". You will see reviews that scream "WHY DOESN'T GEORGE LUCAS LISTEN TO THE FANS?!?!?!?!". The answer is quite simple; the fans are not the artist, Gerorge Lucas IS. He makes these films with the hope that we enjoy the quality and scope of his amazing space fantasy. I believe you will enjoy the quality and scope of the epic tale of Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI. This is a story that has been told and re-told for over 25 years now. Only a REAL MASTERPIECE could endure for so long. Many critics cite these movies as breakthroughs in technological advancement in film. This is true, but it often overshadows the incredible story of a farmboy turned hero. It is a story that paralells many stories throughout time. A farmboy hero (Luke Skywalker), his trusty and loyal side-kicks (R2-D2 and C3PO), and old and wise wizard (Obi-wan Kenobi), a pirate (Han Solo) and his first mate (Chewbacca), a princess (Leia Organa), an evil henchman (Darth Vader), and of course the evil castle (The Death Star). It is a common formula for a storyteller's masterpiece, yet it holds a certain uniqueness because of the backdrop of a galaxy far, far away that it is painted on.
Rating:
Summary: It's Only a Movie. A Great Movie.
Review: I was 13 years old when Star Wars IV was released. It blew me away. This was the first movie I saw more than once at the movies, 10 times to be exact. I couldn't get enough of it, but the more I saw it, the more flaws I noticed with the special effects. But that didn't bother me because the movie itself had a sound structure where the effects flaws could be over looked.
Then it was on Cable TV, then the flaws were more prominent and annoying more than anything but still, the structure was as sound as solid as a rock. When I heard Lucas was going to digitally tweak the film I was a bit perturbed. Why would you fool with a perfect film? But it's only a movie I thought. The buzz around this new version was high and my curiosity was aroused where I had to see what he had done. Again, I was blown away. I felt that the "special edition" of Star Wars IV had somehow become more perfect. I felt like the 13 year old kid again seeing this masterpiece for the first time. The new effects didn't take anything away from the "original version" in fact it added much more. Believe it or not I wasn't much of a fan of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi because they didn't capture the originality of the first one. I think it's because Lucas didn't direct them, I'm still not sure why.
Rating:
Summary: where am i?
Review: first off, i never even really liked the star wars trilogy (4-6). sure i enjoy them now, but that's b/c i like the newer ones (yeah yeah... i know you all think they stink)... but after reading some of your posts, i just couldn't help myself... i mean, what world are you people living in to think that these movies are YOURS? honestly? sure lucas can do whatever he wants to do with them because they are HIS movies. man, i'm sorry your lives are so empty and that the only substance you seem to have is due to these movies. did they really change your lives? people!? folks!?... calm down! there's more to this world than lucas bashing websites and star wars conventions (which is pretty hypocritical if you think about it... you guys hate lucas for what he's done yet you still support him. i don't get it. probably never will... i'm not into RPG games or magic cards... and i have a girlfriend). look... just try to enjoy them as movies; that's all they are. if you guys want to whine about something, at least make sure it's about something of substance... otherwise just stop... put down the ho-ho's, the light saber toys and for god's sake, take off that darth vader helmet! you look silly! everything will be ok, kidos. we'll work through this.... (...)
Rating: 
Summary: It's about time!
Review: I've been waiting so freakin' long for the Star Wars Trilogy to be released on DVD! The added scenes in the special edition don't bother me as much as they do other fans, but that's probably because the special edition was the first version I saw. I agree that both George Lucas and Speilberg have made dumb decisions about going back and changing their movies. Still, at least when Speilberg had all of those really lame and unneccessary changes made to E.T., the special edition DVD came with the new version AND the original one. To me, the problem with George Lucas is that he's so in love with the wonderful CGI shots that are in movies that he almost completely relies on them. CGI's can make movies better, but they don't make movies. All that being said, I'm glad that these movies are finally going to be released on DVD. I came onto amazon.com to search for movies that weren't out on DVD and contribute my vote to have it released. The star wars trilogy is the first thing I searched for, and I was shocked to see that it is finally being released on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Total Revamp Gets my vote
Review: Hot news. George just phoned me to wish me a happy Monday, and gave me some hitherto unknown info on the new trilogy. George says he's sick of these people who have rejected all that their country once held dear in order to fixate on what was originally a children's film. He says he is going to destroy the monster he created once and for all. "It's my Frankenstein", he told me "and I'm gonna' have to be the one to bring it down". How do you intend to do that, I said. Ok, wait for it: 1. Tarzan, yes, a CGI Johnny Weismuller, will appear with the Ewoks.
2. The Daleks will actually destroy the death star out of jealousy, because they couldn't invent anything that good.
3. Han-solo will be sexually abused by the Huts.
4. A CGI of president Bush will lead the defence of the ice planet. They will capture some of the storm troopers and sexually abuse them too. Meanwhile a CGI of Tony Blair will lead the attack on the ice station reactors. Oh, and the Armoured Walkers will hop, like frogs.
5. Did I mention that Leah got sexually abused in the first film? George said it will be tastefully done, though.
6. Oh, and the sound track, that is really radical. The dance of the sugar plumb fairy, while the x-wings go into battle (only to find that the daleks have got there first)
7. When Luke takes Darth's helmet off at the end, it is a CGI of Groucho Marx, with the immortal (new) lines "Hey, YOU think this is strange: they told me I was going to play Shoeless Joe Jackson. Ovey, directors!"
Hey, there's more but I don't want to upset the purists. Anyway, I says to George, I says, "Look George, you are tampering with American history here. You are destroying the fabric of a universe that people believe in. How can you do that, man?" "You think that's bad, Chris", says George, "wait till they see who's playing Obi-Wan!" I asked him to ellaborate but he simply chuckled and said, "I'd always wanted to star in a film". I'm not sure if that was a clue, but he did admit that the new Obi-wan would be more sedate. I'm looking forward to the new edition trilogy. Especially the Daleks.
Rating:
Summary: Why?!
Review: Why does George Lucas insist on not listening to his fans??? First it's Jarjar, and now this....... Would it be so hard to make a box set with the original movies in it? Why does Lucas keep making stupid mistakes? The trilogy should be watched with the original footage. Who wants to see those stupid extra scenes...they don't even look good. Jabba becomes a sissy. The computer animation they added looks terrible - it looks so out of place. The dancers in Jabba's place look STUPID!!!! What a let down. Probably won't even buy the trilogy now. Boo hoo! Smarten up Lucas!!!
Rating:
Summary: Lucas is wrong, these Special Editions are a cultural crime
Review: With the special edition, you'll never see a more wacky hive of scum and villany. I've never seen a more clear example of falling in love with one's own footage. With Lucas' refusal to release the original remastered theatre print editions, he is betraying the trust of an entire generation of people whose lives were shaped by these films. The special edition changes them substantially. There was a pleasant balance of slapstick in the original, and now "A New Hope" is uncomfortably brought down to the level of "Return of the Jedi" with additional cutsey animal/droid/human/hut antics. It's not the money, we all know it would make bank. It's 100% Lucas' ego. No, I'm sorry, I believe Lucas has no right to tamper with or hinder the release of this work; it has become far, far bigger than the man himself. I look forward to independently produced (and of *necessity* pirated) DVD's of the cleaned up originals. And if Lucas ever manages to escape the fog of megalomania, I'd be happy to pay him almost anything to never have to see Han step on Jabba's tail again. Please please please! It is especially sad to note that, with the capacity of DVD, both editions of each film would have fit on the same DVD but for the selfish, willful petulance of one man.
Rating: 
Summary: I love Star Wars, but I am so over George Lucas...
Review: Lucas has been raised upon the shoulders of fanboys for ONE movie he directed, "Star Wars; A New Hope". He can't write well and he can't direct. Why did the first 3 (yes the FIRST) do so well? Fox had control. He didn't write the screenplay for "Empire" or "Return" nor did he direct either of them. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" you say? Sorry, but Lawrence Kasdan (writer of Empire Strikes Back and ROJ) wrote the screenplay and Spielberg directed it. Lucas deserves credit for the idea and many details but it ends there. With SW he knew what the story was, but he didn't tell it-better men did, which is why the original Star Wars was the franchise it was, and not a laughable joke like "Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" and most likely the next one. George Lucas has contributed to filmmaking like no other, with THX and ILM etc.-there is no denying that-- but the creative genius is in reality nothing more than an overrated idea man, who wants us to believe he's this maverick who had his whole story figured out. I guess that's why Luke's sister kissed him full on the lips in the Empire Strikes Back. Go ahead; argue that Leia didn't know Luke was her brother when she kissed him. Guess what, neither did Lucas until he began developing Return of the Jedi-but he continues to assert that it was all part of a well laid plan. Not. A reviewer here decided to make comparisons to Lord of the Rings, stating that Lucas used elements of Tolkein's writings. I don't know about that, but I do know that Middle Earth (one continent on one planet) has more character, depth and creativity than Lucas' whole "universe". One reviewer here asserts "It's Lucas' universe and he can do what he wants with it". Yes he certainly can and boy did he ever, but let's be honest. Lucas' worlds have little depth. One whole planet that is a giant planet-sized city, one that is nothing but a swamp, one that is nothing but ice, one that is nothing but a forest, one that is nothing but a desert, and one that is nothing but water and so on. The entire Star Wars universe, spanning galaxies far, far away is really just Earth all spread out in space. The truth is to create whole planets with more than one land or sea variety would be too much for Lucas to wrap his brain around, and he probably doesn't have the patience, or the brains to work it out. So let's not compare him to JRR Tolkein, okay? Tolkien died while still developing middle earth. If Lucas croaked and didn't leave some kind of condition in his will saying no one but he can make Star Wars material (he probably did), then SW might have a real future. Now Lucas has to make a third prequel, and just get it over with. Hopefully he will have learned that, yes, he does suck and his own Star Wars fan base is telling him so. As dull as he is, especially when he forces us to fast forward through his "making of" junk that he strategically placed before the actual movie starts rather than after (the VHS trilogy), he still can corral grown-up children wanting to relive their childhood and force their kids to sit through two HORRIBLE Star Wars "prequels". I watched "making of" materiel of Lucas shooting on a set with his little kids running around the set everywhere, getting in everybody's way, but who could argue with him? If George Lucas wasn't such a control freak, and allowed better people than him to take over the production of these movies, and perhaps allowed others to continue his work they'd probably have been as great as Empire and Return, but no. It's HIS, and HE must control ALL aspects of his masterpiece, which is why the new films suck so bad regardless of the visual aspect. He's made enough money from Star Wars. How much is enough? I own the original Star Wars trilogy, and I have no need of his special edition. I like the trilogy better when it had no connection with the crappy prequels. Adding CGI to the original Star Wars is the same as putting a bunch of CGI in The Wizard of Oz, and it doesn't serve the story and it frankly stains a movie that was fine the way it was, but Lucas wants us all to see his vision, so he'll jam it down our throats. I'm inclined to spew it back up at him and forget that there ever was a Star Wars. Naturally, this didn't help anyone so click away on how it didn't. I know that it's all just sci-fi dorks flaming over how I mock one of their gods.
Rating:
Summary: The way Lucas wanted it ~
Review: I am sorry that they are not releasing both versions, but George Lucas told us all that the special edition version was the version he originally wanted to release. Do the additions of some scenes not in the original really take away from the movie? It's not like they went back and brought the actors back in to re-shoot a bunch of the scenes. Most people are clamoring for more deleted scenes and extra material...these are the same people who say that Lucas has destroyed the movie by adding material to it. I agree with the person earlier who said..."thank god, now I can get rid of my VCR." Those of you who think that this re-release of the special edition is sacreligous, shouldn't buy it...go watch it on your Betamax or laser disk player, afterall you were probably pissed when they put it on VHS and released the THX version that changed the sound. I personnaly cant wait to show it to my kids who will be able to enjoy it for years and years...BRAVO George Lucas for getting off your duff and releasing it...finally!
| 
