Rating: 
Summary: Extra's ruin a classic
Review: Only twice have i ever been so disappointed with the movie world. Once was the collective disappoint that i have over George's prequel which is a whole nother review. And twice when i saw the "Special Editions". I would agree that the cleaning up of old scenes and additions of background animartion to the films was a magnificiant idea, but i physically shudder when i think about the additions of the so called cut scenes. Personally i have never seen anything as [bad] as the Jabba Han Solo scene in "A New Hope". Add that to the horrifying musical scene, and replacement of the original ending in Return of the Jedi and you have killed the star wars experience for this life long star wars fan. In the end this viewer finds the upgrade a detestable mess, and wishes that he would have never seen the "Special Editions". Do yourself a favor and by the THX upgrades that came out a few years before this [stuff]came out.
Rating: 
Summary: These are the prized movies
Review: These three movies are so much better than the new three. They should make these on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: hmmm
Review: It would be amazing if the released the original 3 on dvd....without any changes. I don't want guns to be flash lights, Han to shoot second, and obvious cgis that don't go with the puppets and models that make up the movie. There is nothing more distracting then a beatifuly done scene with a giant video game looking character walking through. All you atention is drawn away from the characters to look at some crazy creature that was inserted 30 years after the fact. And how about the scene where Jabba walks around Han. Possibly one of the worst additons ever. I agree it is cool to see what they added, but it is all out of place. And though it was minor, Han shooting the alien after being shot at in the bar took away from his loosome character. He is supposed to be scum, who learns to help others. I would be all for dvds where you can select what version you want on the front menu. Something like "original verson" and "butchered version", but if we can't have a choice then just give us the original.
Rating: 
Summary: Love the movies, but not the original
Review: I'm totally a Star Wars geek, so I have to say that I was sadly disappointed when I popped it in the VCR and discovered it was the special edition. On the bright side, its still star wars. The enhanced picture quality is fantastic and is enough to tide me over until they all come out on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: The best release (so far) of these immortal movies
Review: Well, most of the world is still waiting for this classic trilogy to be released on DVD, and will likely be waiting for a few more years. Until then, we have to content ourselves with this VHS Special Edition release. The DVD release will mark my 4th purchase of the trilogy, and I have to admit that I don't regret buying these movies 3 times already one bit. They are just that good. This epic tale of the saga between good and evil is every bit as entertaining as it was 25 years ago, though the new added scenes (for the most part) have not improved the films much. Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and especially Yoda and Darth Vader have become household names thanks to this great trilogy. As far as epic scope and storytelling grandeur, there are few movies that can rival the Star Wars trilogy. George Lucas forever revolutionized the film industry with his release of Star Wars: a New Hope (in 1977). Every so often, a film is released that forever changes the world of cinema, and Star Wars was such a film. This movie, along with its sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (all 3 included in this release), was very deservant of all the credit it received. Say what you will about the new films--there are very few people who don't have a special place in their hearts for the original Star Wars trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Trilogy in Film History
Review: George Lucas' first instalment 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, RETURN OF THE JEDI, ATTACK OF THE CLONES 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 (Hurry up George).
Rating:
Summary: The One And Only - Episode IV, A New Hope
Review: When episode III is released in 2005???? it will bring the Star Wars saga ALL together and not a nanosecond too soon. I'm extremely impressed by all the knowledgeable details that fans have regarding the entire Star Wars series but as Bill Shatner said on SNL, they REALLY need to get a life. To be honest, I think I'm one of many millions that truely enjoyed the original Episode IV, A New hope - augmented with episodes V,VI,I,II,& eventually III. But in my humble opinion none of the sequels, enjoyable as they are, have ever come close to duplicating the pure magic and fantasy of ANH. ANH was groundbreaking and revolutionary for it's time and Lucas should have a heart and release it in DVD for us old timers. After all, it HAS been 25 years. OOHH, I know I'm gonna get slammed for this review but give me Episode IV, A New Hope anyday!
Rating:
Summary: Hard to find...but worth buying
Review: 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away'. I was 14 when I first saw this now-famous opening 'card' to what was then just Star Wars. It had not yet been given an Episode number or a subtitle. It was simply Star Wars back in the summer of 1977, and George Lucas was not sure - and neither was 20th Century Fox - whether his dream of a six-chapter Skywalker/Star Wars saga would be realized. After all, this mixture of space adventure, Western, war movie, and old-fashioned mythology was, according to some studio executives, a souped-up comic book story with no chance of making money. Yet, the adventures of farmboy-turned-into-hero Luke Skywalker somehow defied the logic of skeptics and fuddy duddy critics, and Star Wars went on to make movie history (and billions in ticket sales and licensed products). Lucas went on to write the next two films' stories and screenplays (with the creative talents of the late Leigh Brackett and writer-director Lawrence Kasdan to assist), and with the success of Star Wars (which by 1981 would be renamed as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) to build up Lucasfilm Limited (LFL) into a huge multi-media empire. And even though it would be almost two decades before the prequels could be made and released, the Star Wars Trilogy's completion in 1983 laid the groundwork for the creation of Episodes One, Two, and Three. This boxed set of the Star Wars Trilogy consists of the 1997 Special Edition films. These were released to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars, which was a good promotional tool for LFL to build up fan enthusiasm for the still-in-production Episode I. The Special Edition re-release featured not only a restored print of the film, but also some deleted scenes (mostly with Jabba the Hutt) were incorporated into Star Wars: A New Hope. Mos Eisley was practically reinvented digitally, and some scenes were tweaked digitally, pleasing some fans while annoying others. The other two Episodes (The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) were given less drastic retouches' or at least there were fewer gripes about the changes there. Of course, none of the elements that made the Classic Trilogy such a big part of our lives is missing in this Special Edition. Luke's earnest quest to be a Jedi, Leia's resolution to restore the democratic Republic, the droids' Laurel-and-Hardy friendship, Han's casual courage, Chewie's fierce loyalty, Obi-Wan's quiet nobility, Yoda's quirky teachings, Palpatine's unremitting evil, and Darth Vader's dark power are all there, just as we aging teenagers of the Star Wars Generation remember them. Industrial Light & Magic's then-visionary effects have been cleaned up (there are none of those unsightly mattes that are evident in home video transfers), and John Williams' classic score still sounds fresh and timeless. The Star Wars Trilogy - at least this is my impression - is the movie series that has been most shamelessly re-released and re-packaged since the advent of videotape. Since 1992 four boxed sets (original, THX, 1997 Limited Edition, and 2000 re-release) have been launched like so many probe droids. This latest video release has the fewest extra features of the last three - the 1992 boxed set has no extra features. While the THX version from 1995 opens each film with a short intro by George Lucas and Leonard Maltin, and the 1997 limited release comes with explanations of how and why the films were altered and/or restored, the 2000 boxed set only has a short promotional featurette about Episode II. This boxed set comes in an easy to find pan and scan (full screen) format and a harder-to-find Widescreen version. Until the DVD set comes out sometime in 2005, this boxed set is the best way to enjoy the original Star Wars films. --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition
Rating:
Summary: The Movie Really is Finished.....
Review: Well there have been all sorts of rumors that Lucasfilm will be adding even more new scenes, new music, and some slight editing corrections when this movie comes to DVD. But George Lucas has continued to deney these rumors. The Special Edition work that was done on this movie in 1997 is the "final" version that Lucas wanted for the movie, and thus will be the only version shown on the DVD when it's released two years fron now.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars? Waaaay to low!!
Review: Truly amazing. How can I say more? These movie are my all time favorite. A mystic "force" draws me to them. The newest episodes I & II are horrible, but if you're a BIG fan like me yo'll buy them. You just can't beat relaxing for a day, clearing your scedul and watching "A New Hope" "The Empier Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."
The films have some lines that stick in my head like glue,"May the force be with you" who could foret that one?!
These movies will go down in histoy as classics. And may they NEVER be forgotten.
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