Rating: Summary: George Lucas Has No Soul Review: I've written a review for this several times. Maybe Amazon has filled the quota allowed for negative reviews regarding the Star Wars films already. Or maybe this one will make the cut. I am 33 years old and grew up thinking that the Star Wars films were the best movies ever made. They inspired me and fascinated me. I spent oodles of money on the merchandise, as did my friends and family and bought the first several incarnations of the films on video as well. Even as an adult, when you actually took a minute to realize the message that was there, that even George Lucas himself said years ago, was that the emphasis was on the human story and the effects were there simply to help tell the story. All that changed years later. George Lucas has made it his life's work to tamper with the cherished memories that were once associated with these films. The special editions do not sit very well with the fans of the series (nor do the newer prequels). The over-emphasis on the badly incorporated CGI effects, the cutting of scenes and the deleting / adding of music scores is not only distracting, but very upsetting to most fans as well. Imagine watching The Wizard of Oz with new CGI effects, completely in color and with additional footage added some 60-odd years after the film was made. It's the same thing. These films have been ruined forever for me and for many others because of the relentless tinkering Lucas has continued to do. The DVD set that is coming out in September of this year is NOT the same Special Editions that were released theatrically in 1997 either. They have been "tweaked" more as well...and it isn't over yet. In 2007, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first film's release, an "Archive Edition" of all the films will be released again on DVD. So in regular George Lucas fashion, you will be expected to shell out even more big bucks to re-buy the same films...AGAIN. The original theatrical versions will not appear in this set either. The first three films at that point will be barely recognizable to anyone who saw the original theatrical versions when they were released as they are still in the process of "tweaking" the original trilogy to his Lucas-ness' specs. He was never happy with the original trilogy-and apparently still isn't. He wants the original three films to resemble as closely as possible the look and feel of the newer prequels...and that's not a good thing. Mr. Lucas has promised over and over again that the original theatrical versions will NEVER be released again in ANY format. To him, they no longer exist. He doesn't care about the zillions of fans around the world--fans that made him the very rich man that he is today. He's probably tired of all the hoopla and angered the new prequels were not universally loved by everyone, except perhaps small children. At any rate, he's shown an unforgivable indifference to the fans of his films. I for one will miss the first three films that were once Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi when my VHS copies eventually degrade into nothing, as I will not be purchasing any of those DVDs. But I guess I said goodbye to those classic wonderful films a long, long time ago. Thank you Mr. Lucas.
Rating: Summary: Where have you people been? Review: Since 1977, the original "Star Wars" film was a sci-fi classic hit! Then came the sequel "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) which far surpassed the first. (Considering many find it to be the best one!) Finally, there was the long awaited release, "Return of the Jedi" (1983). It ended the series with a bang! A generation later, George Lucas decided to continue with the SW saga in 1999 with the prequel trilogy starting with Episode I "The Phantom Menace". (unfortunately many were diappointed because of the annoying Jar-Jar character) Episode II "Attack of the Clones". The third installment's title is still undecided and won't be out till next May, 2005. However, there is something that I suppose most of you guys don't even know about yet! According to many sources I've seen, Lucas and crew will be releasing the original SW trilogy on September 21, 2004! It will be a four disk collection which includes all three original films. The fourth disk will be BONUS features such as a behind-the-scenes look and cast interviews. (Similar to "The Adventures of Indiana Jones Collection" released on DVD this past Fall) We will finally get the chance to experience the films in a more digitally enhanced clearer picture and sound quality that will be even better than the VHS Special Editions released back in '97, due to DVD standards. I'm only hoping though that we WON'T just get the Original versions of the films because the Special Edition versions helped improve them. Instead, there can hopefully be an option where we can choose to watch them in either 'Original' or 'Special' editions. (kind of like the "E.T." DVD, only on one disk per film!) I'm sure this will help keep us all busy while we're still waiting anxiously for the upcoming Episode III to hit the big screen! Get ready Star Wars fans, it's COMING SOON!!!!
Rating: Summary: Star Wars Trilogy Review: It's about time I got word from a star wars insider at lucas arts , that the trilogy will be released in a 4 dvd boxed set on September 21 2004. This is the movie series that started the new age of special effects and sci-fi movies. The trilogy is a part of history in the movie biz and I highly recommend it to all. So if you want a piece of movie history get it, sit back and enjoy the ride of your life.
Rating: Summary: Finally coming on DVD Review: I just read in the Febuary 20th issue of Entertainment Weekly that Lucas and Fox have set the release date for the trilogy on DVD to be September 21st, 2004. They said it will a four disc set, probably like Indiana Jones. Just thought you may like to know. I do not know if this is for sure but Entertainment Weekly is usually reliable.
Rating: Summary: What is all the fuss about???!!!!! Review: I can't believe some of these reviews involving the upcoming DVD release of the "Star Wars" Special Edition Trilogy, what is exactly wrong with the SE versions???!!, this one (A New Hope) had most of the changes, but they were in my view needed, we see more of Mos Eisley which now looks like a Metropolis, which is cool, why is this a bad thing??, the bloch under the Landspeeder is now gone, why is this a crime, Greedo shooting first??, so what, the scene was designed to show what a good marksman Han really is, yes, I agree, the Jabba scene could have been better, but a neat scene nonetheless, & Boba Fett thrown in for good measure was nice, Han facing down a legion of Stormtroopers on the Death Star was a nice change, I say again, what is the problem here???, & the end battle is now soooooo much better, are you people telling me that the X-Wings & Tie Fighters on sticks are better than the digital ones???, the new sequences are more realistic looking than the older version, Lucas took nothing away from the film, he just made it better, & "Empire" with more shots of Bespin were cool, again, nothing was taken away from the Original film, & "Jedi", the Jabba dance number is better with more interesting characters, & the end sequence is sooooo much better, I am glad Lucas & Co. got rid of that ridiculous Ewok song, I hated that song, the new ending is much more surreal with celebrations everywhere, again, why is this a bad thing??, It seems to me that the ones complaining about the SE films are the same ones who complain about the Prequels, & don't appreciate the art of filmaking, like Lucas does, as far as Speilberg's E.T., its new version made little or no money, which is why he probably released both versions, not so with "Star Wars", before 1997, I too felt that the films needed improvemnets, & my interest was renewed that year, I will take the SE over the originals any day!!
Rating: Summary: Star Wars Trilogy to be released September 21, 2004 Review: "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." -(from starwars.com) http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/02/news20040210.html
Rating: Summary: MASTERPIECE Review: One of the greatest movies of all time. If you don't like it, you have to at least respect it for it's greatness. The plot is brilliant, the acting is good, and the special effects are amazing for their date and age.
Rating: Summary: I don't really care what version is on DVD.... Review: I seriously couldn't care what version is on DVD. If they release the Special Editions (which they ended up doing) awesome. If they release the original versions (which they didn't, dang!) even better. But seriously, why are you complaining. IT IS THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS ON DVD!!!!!! BE HAPPY!!!!! I am overly excited. I've been watching the movies since I was 8 (I am 16 now, and still enjoying my VHS tapes) and I really enjoyed the Special Edition versions and thought they were nice. Some Special Editions or Director's Cuts aren't as nice. Ex: In E.T. 20th Anniversary, when they took away the guns out of the police men's hands and put walkie talkies, THAT WAS THE DUMBEST THING EVER!!!!! That ruined a classic. I am so glad that Spielberg (my second favorite director) put the original version in the DVD set, that way I can pick that one over the new version. Anyway, I am so happy with the Star Wars movies on DVD. Now I don't have to search on eBay for those bootleg DVDs or the original laserdiscs (which I was going to get if I had to wait one more year for a Star Wars Trilogy DVD Set) I only have one complaint about this set: why not have individual second discs for each film like with the Alien Quadrilogy set? Lucasfilm and Fox getting a little cheap with us? Since it will only be 4 discs, the 4th one better have lots of good stuff on it, besides that 2 hour documentary which I am sure will be very nice. Just wait patiently fans, (and to you fanboys who are upset about the Special Editions being the ones on DVD, GET OVER IT!!! You wanted the movies, YOU GOT THEM! Just buy it, have it in your collection! Jeez man! You don't see me complaining!
Rating: Summary: Good news:Star Wars on DVD. Bad news: Review: It's hard to get excited about the release of Star Wars on DVD when it's the inferior "special" edition that Lucas released a few years back. To me, adding CGI to this film is like painting a beard on the Mona Lisa. The Greedo-shoots-first thing is annoying, but I find the Jabba scene to be much worse. A CGI Jabba is superimposed over the original actor who played the part, and through the "magic" of computer special effects, we get to see a ridiculous moment with Han walking over Jabba's tail (this was done because Ford walked behind the actor in the original scene, something that proved problematic when the CGI Jabba was added). So much for the most feared criminal in the galaxy. It's a shame that Lucas won't (at this stage, anyway) make the original theatrical version available alongside the "special" edition. It'd make every Star Wars fan deliriously happy, but it seems that Lucas doesn't care about the fans who grew up with the film as it originally was. It's also a huge slap in the face to the many filmgoers who saw this film repeatedly over the years and who purchased it in its various video/laserdisc incarnations. If Lucas sticks to ditching the original version and only releases the SE on DVD, then I won't be buying it.
Rating: Summary: It will play well in Lucas's living room... Review: The revisions Lucas made to the original Star Wars trilogy for the Special Editions remain cheezy and degrading. There is no question that these changes will appear just as corny in DVD format as they did in VHS not to mention on the big screen. From Greedo's lack of point blank marksmanship to Luke's suicide Tarzan yell as he plummets down the shaft of Cloud City, these revisions effortlessly turn Sci Fi classics into student film comedies. I find it infuriating that Lucas has refused to listen to the outcry from Star Wars fans for the past 5 years to include the original versions on the DVD. Where would these films be without the people who paid cash to go see them 20 times back in the 70's and 80's? Keep your S.E. version, George. I'm not buying. Just know that to many Star Wars fans, the "S" does not refer to the word "Special".
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