Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Will the Real Star Wars Please Stand Up??...
Review: OK -- I won't go so far as to say I want the original untouched versions of the trilogy -- just go back (if you can find a copy) and watch the originals -- FX have come miles (mostly thanks to Mr. Lucas) in the last 20 years and its painfully obvious how weak the technology was then, especially in the first one.
BUT -- some of the new additions to the trilogy just don't cut it. Mostly my problems lie with the "cute" additions that Lucas felt the need to make, such as the little robots taunting each other as Luke and company zip by in the speeder in A New Hope, or the totally unnecessary Max Rebo Band sequence in Return Of the Jedi. Lucas was obviously aiming these scenes at kids. Little little kids.
The film that the new additions actually work best in is, no surprise, Empire Strikes Back. The nuances of Cloud City and the extra scenes of the snow creature are wonderful and -- most importantly -- subtle. Not the "insert new scene" here look of A New Hope.
But all of that aside -- the films themselves are really good and very fun to watch, even after the 100th time. The bonus material here is great as well, with interviews with the majority of the cast and some neat outtakes that will make you laugh -- check out David Prowse's Vader dialogue and Peter Meyhew's Chewy dialogue. Great stuff!
Bottom line -- yeah some of the new CG stuff is annoying, but look at it this way -- atleast there ain't no Jar Jar Binks!

Rating:
Summary: the disks are red and sticky!
Review: When I was younger I was an ardent fan of Star Wars, and I was eagerly looking forward to finally owning the original trilogy on DVD.

Yeah, it may have taken a while, but they have finally been released!

When the set finally arrived in the mail, I couldn't wait: I stirred myself a large glass of Kool-Aid and unwrapped the handsome box. Unfortunately, in my excitement, I spilled the Kool-Aid all over the package and the DVD's -- and the couch.

Now, not surprisingly, the stupid things do not run properly. They skip and freeze, and at times will hardly play at all.

My (former) friends have cautiously suggested that all this was largely my fault. Nevertheless I am skeptical. I cannot help but suspect that LucasArts had something to do with this.

Why didn't they include Kool-Aid protection on the disks? Why was there no warning about not handling Kool-Aid around the disks? Why is it only now that I am learning of the effects of this otherwise innocuous beverage on their flimsy product?

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think it's possible that the disks in fact CAME SHIPPED with the Kool-Aid already on them, and that in my anger I'm just mixing things up. But why LucasArts would ship their new Star Wars disks out all sticky and red is beyond me. Perhaps to sell more?

I don't know. So all I can do is discourage you from buying it: the disks are coated in a mysterious red, sticky substance (God only knows where from) which seems to be impeding their proper operation.

You'd think LucasArts would be more responsible, but I guess that's just the way big business operates these days. Hmmmph.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: I love this set, especially the documentary, which informed me a lot about the chaotic journey that Star Wars had before becoming so successful. I own the original versions on tapes as well as the DVD set and I have to say that I prefer the DVD version. Looking at alot of "special effects" in the original had me laughing out loud at how crappy they looked.

Rating:
Summary: Star Wars Trilogy DVD
Review:

As three of my favorite movies growing up as a kid on the outskirts of suburban Sydney in the conservative 1980s, these timeless and wonderful films were a welcome and enjoyable means of escape from the pressures of day to day life. So I am glad to say that the Star Wars Trilogy are still great entertainment after all these years. Now they are finally available on DVD cleaned up and restored to a stunning and pristine condition. We can now enjoy them again and again after what seemed like an eternity of waiting by devoted fans worldwide. One can now watch these quasi-mystical space operas replete with Jedi knights, wookies, Androids and light sabers in all their epic glory. These groundbreaking films quite literally, forever changed the way that Hollywood made movies.

Although as an adult I can be very critical and expect much more from a movie than mere spectacle...and even though they have dated quite a bit, and the dialogue might be somewhat corny, and seem "naïve" in these very dark and troubled times that's okay. They might also seem a bit simplistic, too black and white, then most folklore or myth is. But I none the less still thoroughly enjoy watching these visionary and swashbuckling films from time to time.

I watch them with a strong feeling of romantic nostalgia, as I guess many people around my age do (people in their late 20s and early 30s) for a time when life seemed to be simpler and less complex, a time when people were less jaded, selfish and cynical. I don't actually have much of a problem with the changes George Lucas has made to his films, after all Western art history is full of artists who have gone back to change and rework a piece of art (mainly paintings) they have never been satisfied with, some have even obsessively worked on a piece for many many years, Its just a shame that he hasn't saved the original theatrical release versions as well, for posterity, if not for fans.

I was surprised at the relatively small amount of special features included and think that this is a bit cheap and stingy especially considering how many studios put a lot more effort into the "extras" these days George Lucas has no excuse! A gallery of concept art would have been great for example, or featurettes on Ralph Mcquarrie who did so much to define the look and feel of the films, and one on John Williams who composed and conducted the exhilarating and Iconic soundtracks for the Star Wars movies, two creative artists who together arguably did as much to establish the popularity and success of the Star Wars franchise as George Lucas himself.

Inspired by such diverse sources as the gripping serial adventures of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, romantic tales of medieval chivalry, the Japanese art of bushido, people like the legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa or the pop folklorist and writer Joseph Campbell, ancient myths, legends and fairy tales, old documentary footage from both world wars and art styles such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco, George Lucas deftly weaved all these varied inspirations together to create an archetypal and mythopoetic masterpiece of good and evil, heroes and villains that taken together as a whole, form a unified and prime example of science-fantasy in film. He had in so doing created a modernistic fable for the late 20th century and beyond that inspired a whole generation.


Rating:
Summary: Suh-WEET!
Review: Man, the originals were so boring. I'm glad they've been so thoroughly jazzed-up with extra effects and whatnot. And for those who disagree, you still have your precious little plastis figurines to cuddle with every night, and keep trying, maybe someday you really will use the force to mind-trick an actual female into going out with you. Until then, you can hide your shame behind a bobo-fett mask and pine away, pretending that the real problem is some new effects added to some 70's b-movie about aliens, robots, rubber masks and spaceships. Oh, and magic powers. Don't forget that.

Rating:
Summary: No matter what anyone says, it's STILL Star Wars...
Review: You can either take it or leave it, but no matter what you may believe, Star Wars will always be Star Wars. I have seen ALL the films so far (Including the untouched versions of the original trilogy) and enjoyed each and every one of them. (My favorite being "The Empire Strikes Back" out of them all) Truly, I am very glad to finally see these classic gems on DVD and revealed the way they were meant to be when they were released. Of course the purists will not be interested, considering the fact that they grew up watching them in the late 70s and early 80s. The reason why George Lucas had updated these movies in 1997 was due to the fact that he had a limited budget and very little time at the time they were originally made. Obviously, if this had been differently, nobody would be complaining... PERIOD! The changes BARELY affect the films negatively and they are still watchable for ANY SW fan, young or old.

I myself am one of those for the changes due to that they help fix many of the bugs and glitches in the movies. (One being the transparent cockpit of the ships during the battle for Hoth in ESB) Another problem was the white and yellow boxes, which would sometimes appear around some of the star ships. This error has been fixed in the DVDs and I am glad because to me it REALLY got distracting at times. (The same goes for that funny orange blob below Luke's landspeeder on Tatooine)

However, there are also some of the changes seen in the 1997 Special Editions that weren't really necessary at all but fit into the movies okay. One was with the Greedo shooting first in Episode IV, which didn't exactly look as realistic but luckily in this DVD version it has been slightly fixed up a bit, still making Han Solo look like a badass. Then let's not forget Jabba-the-Hutt, who looks A LOT more convincing and familar just like how he is in ROTJ, rather than his original makeover as a slithering piece of turd in the 1997 version. Also, it's excellent that they replaced the so-called "monkey eyed" woman with Ian McDiarmid (Who plays Palpatine and the Emperor in the prequel trilogy and Episode VI) it gives a hint of continuation to the prequels with the slightly altered dialogue. Another fix was the part with the Emperor's scream in Episode V as Luke chooses to plummet to his death. Yes, it has been edited out (as it originally was in the 1980 version) and I'm glad they did this because it doesn't make sense to have Emperor Palpatine's voice coming out of Luke's mouth! The same scream was also used in Episode VI when Vader throws Palpatine (AKA Darth Sidious) down the beam cannon. In addition, the black circles around the Emperor's eyes, has also been removed, making him look even more menacing and nightmarish than ever! As for Hayden Christensen replacing Shaw as Anakin's ghost, I didn't mind this at all. (Again, it gives a sign of continuation) Finally, the lightsaber effects for ALL three films, has been enhanced and even the Obi Wan VS. Vader duel looks more epic than ever with all the added in flashing effects and sound!

The DVDs themselves are in their best picture quality (It looks almost as new as the quality in Episodes I & II), and the 5.1 Dolby Digital EX sound transfer has never sounded better than ever! (Of course you also get the choice to watch them in 2.0 Surround Sound) When I first opened the package and popped in the first disk, it felt like I was watching the movies all over again for the first time! Never have I seen Star Wars like THIS! I do agree that we should've also gotten the original 1977, 1980, and 1983 releases because it would have been nice to reflect back on how they were originally made. (Without the added CGI effects, scenes, etc.) This would also appeal to diehard fans of the series. Sadly, George Lucas doesn't want to put them on DVD. (For now, at least) However, we do get to see BTS footage for Episodes IV-VI (including a bit of a sneak peak at Episode III) and the original theatrical trailers/T.V. spots.

For those who are against this release, I would have to disagree because this is the best [and ONLY] DVD experience of the films you will be getting for now. Honestly, I don't see what the problem is and I would've bought this set whether it was the Original or Special Editions, because it clearly makes no difference unless you have nothing better to do than to waste your time obsessing and whining about it. After all, the special effects, added scenes, and altered music/actors are NOT the only elements these movies are about! It's also the wonderful storytelling and acting, the many different planets and creatures that inhabit them, which George Lucas introduces us to, & the beautifully composed score by John Williams that will always be there! Just buy the set, pop in your favorite episode, pop a little popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movies with an open mind. I'm very glad that I bought this set and am now waiting patiently on the theatrical release for Episode III which will be coming May 19th! Once that one comes to DVD the following year, I will finally be able to own all six episodes!

"THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS..." -Alec Guiness as Obi Wan Kenobi

Rating:
Summary: STAR WARS THE LEGEND
Review: I would like to grant *****FIVE STARS to the icon place that this movies represent in the film industry. Although I do have the main complain as others, why aren't the original version available, I saw it as a kid and I don't mind at all, they're like the ones we loved. Watching this movie retouched is a treat but not a pleasure. As a casual fan and not a StarWars convention maniac, I do believe too that the original thing should be release in DVD. That said, I couldn't imagine another space saga that has so much influence in the movies than this one.

Rating:
Summary: Best trilogy ever made
Review: I was very impressed with the cleanliness of this re-masted DVD edition. All of the blue screen shadows have been removed entirely and the audio is epic. I hear a lot from the "purists" out there who want to see the theatrical release on DVD I say NO. These minor improvements only add to the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Don't listen to these morons!
Review: Quite possibly the most epic collection of science fiction stories ever made, it is the brilliantly designed brainchild of creator George Lucas. Telling the tale of the evil senator palpatine's rise to power and the legacy of the Skywalker family, you are wintered into a world where numerous aliens, planets, vehicles, droids, weapons, technology, and culture of a galaxy far, far away wrap your greatest imaginations in amazement.

Episode IV: A New Hope - There's a lot of things I could say about this film, but I'm pretty sure most of you reading this have already seen this movie. The special effects are fantastic for this film even by today's standards, and the character development in this film is one of the best I've seen in years. The story will have you on an epic adventure of many proportions, so it's no wonder this film is still remembered even today. Although there are certain story elements that aren't really original and the story can get predictable at times, it doesn't ruin this film. George Lucas does a great job directing this film and has the story and special effects work together beautifully; the soundtrack for this film is superb. With so many great memorable scenes like the showdown between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader or the classic flight scene with Luke Skywalker. This movie will have you cheering and begging for more after it's finished.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - The story gets a little darker with this film and has some very surprising plot twists. This movie not only surpasses the original, but is a great movie in its own right. The acting, directing, cinematography, musical score, and special effects are great, and compliment the story quite well. This movie will have on an emotional roller coaster that'll leave you gasping for more. With epic scenes like the showdown between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader or the tragic end Han Solo faces in this film, it's no wonder why this film is considered the best out of all the Star Wars films.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - What can I say about this third film? It's another masterpiece in movie history. The story can get a little cheesy at times with the ewoks and a bit predictable, but it doesn't ruin the experience. George Lucas not only produced a great story, but he also delivered another great musical score and special effects to back it up. The original Star Wars trilogy is one of the best movie series of all time with great moments like the final confrontation Luke has with Darth Vader and the Emperor or the touching love story with Princess Leia and Han Solo, so this movie series never stops being interesting. A true classic for any movie fan.

Overall, the original trilogy is truly a masterpiece.

My favorite character in this trilogy is definitely Han Solo.
He's got this cocky, bad ass attitude that I like.

I first seen these when my dad bought the trilogy on laserdisc in 1995.
I loved these after since I watched them for the first time.

After seeing the ORIGINAL films, this DVD box set took awhile to grow on me.
As I watched Episode IV, I adapted to the changes.
The picture and sound are phenomenal. The films look like they were made TODAY. Now THAT, my friends, is AMAZING.
Lucas said he wanted them this way, so I guess everyone who wants these on DVD will have to accept that.

He's never going to give us the originals, but these will do.