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Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $69.98
Your Price: $45.49
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Just Buy It!!!
Review: If you are to purchase any Star Wars movies, never buy them indiviualy (unless you are getting Episodes 1 and 2) only because it is hard to find single movies and have no purpose without a trilogy.The special edition also is the way to go in Star Wars purchasing which is why I call this review "Just Buy It!!!".With the whole trilogy, you could watch from A New Hope to Return of the Jedi instead going back and forth with them.It gives the story a better touch to watch them in order!Unless of course, the trilogy is to costly that can be an exception.
Here is a sypnosis of the video content:You will start off with an interview told by George Lucas (the creator) on how the film was made. Every video starts with this.Then, you will see the story of the movie on the screen and the theme song in the background.From there,a scene with a Star Destroyer will take place.Now for a short sypnosis of each movie:A New Hope is about an Imperial plot to locate and destroy the Rebel Bse which is hidden on Yavin Four.The Tantive IV Blockade Runner is being attacked by a Star Destroyer.C-3P0,the pessimistic and non-courageous droid walks with R2-D2 through a corridor where the ship begins to fall apart.They are boarded by Stormtroopers and start a laser fight.R2 and 3P0 escape but R2 stays behind to get a message from Princess Leia Organa who is in distress and seeks help from an Obi-Wan Kenobi.The droids leave on an escape pod and land on the dessert planet Tattoine where they are sold to a family of farmers.In that family is Luke Skywalker who wants to be a Jedi but must wait a year before joining the academy.He meets Obi-Wan Kenobi who needs Luke to help Obi-Wan go to Aldorran after seeing Leia's message but Luke says he must go yet after discovering the loss of his family, he emabarks on a journey to visit Aldorran , meets a cocky pilot named Han Solo and a wookie named Chewbacca,meets the vilianous Darth Vader, discovers a large Imperial Base called the Death Star,and Obi-Wan gets killed to help Luke with the force...
The Empire Strikes Back:Probe Droids are launched toward the sixth planet of the Hoth star system by an Imperial Star Destroyer.Han had went to find Luke in a bad blizzard then returns to the secret Rebel Base on Hoth where they find that the Empire has found them.The base evacuates but must first deffend theirselves from a group of Imperial AT-AT walkers.Luke had seen Obi-Wan in a dream.He said, "Yoda will train you."Luke goes on his journey as the Han Solo and Leia leave on Han's ship, the Millenium Falcon and Luke goes to meet Yoda but in his training discovers that Leia and Han are in danger on the planet Bespin,where they fled to but must fight in a climactic duel with Darth Vader and finds out a secret that will change his life...
Return of the Jedi:A Star Destroyer drops off two TIE fighters and a shuttle to land.Vader is on that shuttle!Luke Skywalker must try to save Han when he is captive in Jabba the Hutt's palace,home of a nasty, slimy, slug-like creature with a group of freaks to help him be evil.C-3P0 and R2-D2 are also helping in the matter but were only taken as a gift from Luke to the Hutt.A black man,Lando Calrissian,from Bespin is also in this. Yet when they get out, they find out about a new Death Star in progress and must destroy it but have a dangerous,climactic, and almost hopeless mission...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Star Wars: The Ultimate Movie Experience
Review: I've been a fan of Star Wars longer than I know. Although I wasn't around when the movies were originally released, I watched the movies when they were re-released for the 20th anniversary, and I've been hooked ever since. Not only are the movies great in entertainment value, but they are a true reflection upon life. Good versus evil is the overriding theme, and as Lucas wrote in the introduction to the hardback books of the movies, it's about the choices we make, that we all are intrinsically capable of doing anything. Many are critical of the acting in the movies (especially the new ones), the dialogue, and the overuse of the special effects. Frankly, I don't believe the acting is all that bad-it isn't going to win an Academy Award, but it fits in with the time, the place, the message...

A New Hope-Honestly, I like this one the least. I think that Luke was very immature (although it fits his personality at the time), and the complete incompetence of the guards on the Death Star is quite laughable. Nevertheless, Alec Guiness is great as the brooding Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Harrison Ford's performance as Han Solo is outstanding.

The Empire Strikes Back-Almost as good as ROTJ. The movie seems to drag at points, as it becomes mired in the mystical teachings of Yoda, and the seemingly slow pursuit of the Millennium Falcon in the asteroid field. Even so, it develops Yoda as the beloved character he is today. The Cloud City duel is epic, as Luke does battle with Darth Vader...Also, Han and Leia reveal their attraction for one another. People deride the romance in AOTC for springing out of nowhere, but is the romance in TESB much better or any less 'spontaneous'? I think not.

Return of the Jedi-The best in the series. Luke matures greatly, and his loneliness continues to grow as Yoda dies, as does his father, Anakin. (This is why I don't like the New Republic books as much; I think he shows much more compassion and sociality than the end of ROTJ shows.) Darth Vader's funeral pyre is an especially poignant scene; one can almost feel Luke's pain, as John Williams' score resonates. The dancing on Endor is cheesy, but I like the ephemeral images of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Yoda. It is the end of the past, and a time for a new beginning.

I will get the original trilogy when it comes out on DVD (which probably won't be until Episode III is finished). I hope they have interviews with the original cast members. It is amazing that the spring of 2005 will bring forth the last Star Wars movie...the books are great, but the way Lucas has brought this galaxy 'far, far away' on the screen can never be replicated.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: "If you only knew the power of the Dark Side"
Review: Star Wars - Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, rather suffers from 'middle child' syndrome. Being the second of the original trilogy it has neither the fresh appeal of originality that marked its predecessor, nor is it required to reach any conclusions. The result is a film with decidedly minimalist plot development. The Empire is still hunting down the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker is still training to be a Jedi knight, and. . . . . . . . . . well, that's pretty much it. Instead of a solid storyline, the viewer is treated to 122 minutes of cobbled-together battle sequences (although watch for the impressive Imperial walker troop carriers, which resemble out-sized armoured elephants).

The characters however, have developed considerably since the first film - it's nice to see loyal Chewbacca show a sense of humour. The sexual tension between Princess Leia and handsome scoundrel Han Solo is palpable. . . . . . . . . . until they kiss (which looks about as exciting as snogging a shoe). In a clever twist, Yoda the Jedi Master is not a Hercules-type warrior, but a wizened green dwarf; the characterisation would have worked even better had he not had a voice a-la-Sesame Street.

In the Special Edition of Episode IV, A New Hope, there is an obvious and uncomfortable chasm between those scenes which have been unaltered since they were shot in 1977 and those that were digitally re-mastered and added to 20 years later. Fortunately the same is not the case in Episode V. But why was it necessary to darken the picture contrast so drastically?

For fanatics The Empire Strikes Back is of course an integral component of the Star Wars dynasty. Viewers with a more casual interest in the story could probably get away with skipping this installment altogether.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The best films ever but where is the DVD?
Review: If you are as sick of pathetic,low-resolution VHS versions of the best movies,you DO have some alternative options. First,you can a used Laserdisc player for around [$$$] that blows the VHS versions away,the Trilogy usally sells for around [$$$] for all 3 Laserdiscs on E-bay,plus that Laserdisc player also comes in mighy handy for countless other films not out on DVD. Second,they are actually GOOD quality bootlegs (5-star collection) of the Trilogy on DVD,the ones i own include a 2.35:1 Widescreen letterbox (non-anamorphic) transfer mastered from the great Laserdiscs with DTS and DD 5.1 sound on dual-layered discs. The picture quality imo,is superior to the Laserdisc versions due to DVDs component video input and progressive scan. Show George Lucas what he is missing by going with one of these options and not supporting VHS,a DEAD technology.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: STAR WARS TRILOGY
Review: George Lucas' first installment in the immensely popular STAR WARS franchise is generally regarded as the greatest movie ever made. Why? Well, what's not to like? From the opening shot of the Blockade Runner accompanied by that great theme tune by John Williams, you know you're in the unique world of the STAR WARS universe. Before George's prequels THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES, A NEW HOPE was known only as STAR WARS. Audiences had never seen anything so original and amazing. Now, the series has entered into the fanboy culture all over the world. In comparison, Episode 4 seems somewhat tame compared to AOTC in terms of action, but it's still an astounding adventure filled with great characters and wonderful escapsim.
From Hero Luke Skywalker's symbolic journey from his home Tatooine to the moment of victory at the finale, we are greeted with a myriad of fantastic characters, especially Han Solo, played by a pre-Indy Harrison Ford and his buddy Chewbacca. And the ultimate incarnation of evil, Darth Vader. And that, more than anything, is what made TPM so hollow. While the action was good, the lack of good characters is disappointing. But AOTC has regained much of the sense of adventure that this film started off.
Lucas' grand vision illuminates the entire film, with inventive creatures and events. Several scenes that are my favorites are Obi Wan's conversation to Luke about the Clone Wars and Vader, Solo's disposal of Greedo, Obi Wan and Vader's last confrontation and the battle of Yavin. One of my all-time favorite films, STAR WARS is THE great adventure.

Directed by Irvin Kershner, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK moved away from the high-sprited antics of the first film and took a step towards the dark side. The Empire is preparing to seek revenge on the Rebel Alliance, C3P0 gets blasted to bits and Luke Skywalker finds out that Darth Vader is his dad! Even John William's score is much darker in tone than his previous efforts. But the film is an excellent adventure that many fans consider to be superior to the original. Mark Hamill returns as Luke, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the sardonic Han Solo. And we are introduced to the wise Yoda, who trains Luke about the ways of a Jedi. The action ante is upped considerably, with fantastic chases through asteroid feilds, battles between snowspeeders and the AT-ATs and Luke's rescue mission. And the Bespin Duel, where the confrontational battle between Vader and Luke ends with one of the most shocking revelations in movie history (Even if it's somewhat un-surprising for future fans who watch all the completed films in sequence).

RETURN OF THE JEDI starts off with Luke and Leia rescuing Han Solo from the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. While the film is less exciting than it's counterparts, it does have some good action, including the rescue on the desert skiff, the speeder chase through the forest of Endor, the dark final battle between Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Luke and the destruction of the second Death Star. The lightsaber fights are some of the best in the Star Wars cannon and Princess Leia is hotter than ever! John William's score is even more exciting than ESB.
If I were to place the Star Wars films in order from best to not-as-good, they would go THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, A NEW HOPE, ATTACK OF THE CLONES, RETURN OF THE JEDI and THE PHANTOM MENACE.
This presentation is very impressive, with added scenes and improved SFX. We see more of Jabba the Hutt, there are some great additions including the amazing Bespin City and the added celebration scenes at the end of JEDI. A classic trilogy, and a must-buy when it gets on DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I CAN'T THINK OF A SERIES...
Review: that offers more fun, action, fantasy or adventure. Although EMPIRE is the best of the three, these films are such a wonderful experience! (especially if you can manage to watch them back-to-back!!!)
My only problem is with the new digital effects- I would have been happier if Lucas et al would have simply cleaned up the color and sound, as is done with most DVD transfers...The films just don't need any tinkering!!! I prefer the originals (even the funny smudges below Luke's landspeeder).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic
Review: This is the classic Epic Tale. Not a book (well actually it is) but it is absolutely classic film. The first was Oscar Nominated for Best Picture but lost to Annie Hall. Buy these now!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bring it back!
Review: When ep 2 came out,they reissued the pan/scan VHS of the orginal trilogy (special edition) but NOT THE WIDESCREEN casette (at that time).
Although a DVD may be less then a year away,there should be a way for folks to watch the orginal trilogy the way it was intended to be seen! in the ORGINAL ASPECT RATIO! (if not in a theatre)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better than it should have been.
Review: Some apologists for The Phantom Menace, not all, defend it by saying, "Yes, it has its flaws; but it's just as good as the original Star Wars, which had the very same flaws."

After a while it's hard to avoid the suspicion that they're right. Not about The Phantom Menace being a good film - it is definitely not - but about Star Wars being no better. Maybe we've been deluded these past decades. Similar delusions have persisted for just as long. Could it be that Star Wars, too, was an unimaginative, flatly directed, kiddie movie?

NO! Most certainly, it was not. One thing The Phantom Menace reveals, though, is that Star Wars was not fated to be as good as it was. It became great partly by accident.

Harrison Ford has genuine charm; Mark Hamill is perfect as the innocent adolescent with a tendency to whine; Alec Guinness needs no comment; and no other female lead had the strength of Carrie Fischer - at least, not while playing a traditional princess. Maybe this perfect cast was assembled by sheer chance. (Lucas never replicated the feat, after all.) But so what? It's still a perfect cast. They all created memorable characters; and moreover, as characters and actors, interacted successfully with each other.

Mos Eisley's spaceport was also a fortuitous accident. "Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy" - yet it managed to avoid being a thriving, respectable looking town largely because George Lucas didn't have the money to turn it into one. And a good thing too. It's possibly the most frightening place in the Star Wars universe: truly grimy, light years away from real civilisation, crawling with odd and touchy aliens.

With art direction, special effects, and music, too, George Lucas struck gold. Has a science fantasy world ever looked better? Have special effects ever succeeded in making such a world look more real? Arguably not - although this isn't what makes Star Wars unique. Nor is the music (although the music is part of what makes it unique). No: there really is magic here. It sounds a cliché, but there IS something about the simple but honestly pursued story, or the world, or the score, or something, that lifts Star Wars high above by-the-numbers space opera - the same indefinable element that makes Das Rheingold more than a soap opera with occasional sorcery, and The Lord of the Rings more than the first of five thousand episodic fantasy adventures. This is the company "Star Wars" belongs in.

I for one am thankful that Lucas never had the time or money to over-fill Star Wars in the way that he has Epiodes I and II. The new films are perfect examples of how self-indulgence achieves only one thing, the spoiling of the art.

If the film isn't quite up to the standard of the aforementioned opera or the book, well... maybe that's because it found its way into such company by accident. It belongs there all the same.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWESOME.
Review: I love this trilogy. I was 9 years old when I went to see Star Wars at the movie theater and 4 more times after that. From the first scene, when the destroyer flies overhead, my jaw dropped in amazement. The special effects of these movies are so good that even today they hold their own compared to the cgi effects of the newer films (which in my opinion are terrible). The acting is very good and natural, the script is articulate and multidimensional and the storyline is dinamic and layered. I love all three of them. Overall: EXCELLENT.


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