Rating: 
Summary: Not a Hypocrite ... well not much of one at least.
Review: First off, I'd like to begin by saying that I will definitely be buying this DVD set. I love Star Wars more than life itself (well some parts at least). However, I would like to say that I, like many, don't care for the Special Edition release. I saw these movies when I was a kid back in the 80's and was hooked since. I know that someone reiterated what Lucas was saying about being an 'unfinished' work of art. But for almost everyone, the original version is the finished product. It is what everyone grew up watching and what established his fan base. I don't despise Lucas for making the Special Editions, in fact if I was in his position I might do the same if I felt the need for it. But if your 'finished' work does not come out until 20 years after the original, then you will already have a great deal of people who only know 1 version. If Lucas only sees 1 version now, the new version, then thats fine. But why punish the people who grew up watching the original, the people who created the fan base which allowed Lucas to even make this Special Edition, by not including the Original which stood for 20 years. If the special edition came out only a few years after the original then I would agree in having only the 1 version, but were talking 20 years here. I want to watch the film that I grew up on. As I said, I love Star Wars and already have this pre ordered. I just wanted to throw in my 2cents.
Rating:
Summary: from 5 stars to 1 star, thanks to Mr. Lucas meddling
Review: I loved Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back and liked Return of the Jedi when they were in theaters from 1977-84. But George Lucas committed an unforgivable sin when he re-edited the movies for the "Special Editions": the complete altering/butchering of the previously excellent but now terrible Greedo scene. There are also other annoying changes I can't quite remember, along with some positive changes to the backgrounds and special effects. But it's the awful Greedo scene change that stays with me - it completely ruined the movie and soured me on Star Wars for good. Apparently the original versions - the ones that made Mr. Lucas his fame and fortune, the ones that were loved by all - are not going to be released on DVD. Steven Spielberg knew better with E.T. and released both versions; but then Spielberg is a classy and honorable man, unlike his pal Lucas. Lucas is truly insulting his audience (or what is left of it after 2 mind-numbingly awful sequels) and he does not deserve a penny of your hard earned money unless he releases the original movies either alone or in a set with the Special Editions. Please do not let your love of Star Wars blind you from protesting his revisionist butchery. BOYCOTT THE STAR WARS DVDS!
Rating: 
Summary: Should Have Released the Originals!
Review: When I saw the Empire Strikes Back Special Edition, I wasn't overly impressed with the new effects. The computer generated effects paled in comparison to the original magic. I never did see the other two installments because of that.
I was thrilled beyond belief when I heard that the trilogy was coming to DVD, but when I read that it was the Special Edition version, I was totally appalled! I grew up with the originals and that's what I want to see on my TV. I think George should consider releasing the movies in their original glory for the old-timers and have the Special Editions on hand for those who don't know any better.
Rating: 
Summary: more than a movie
Review: I will keep this short and simple. I was 7 when I saw the first one and it changed my life. Not unlike many other people I am sure. I am the Star Wars generation and damned proud of it. This series and especially the first film quite simply changed movies the way Elvis and the Beatles changed music and popular entertainment. Star Wars took us to the next step on the evolution of entertainment. God bless Lucas and all the rest for starting a revolution that can still be felt today.
Rating:
Summary: The "Holy Trilogy" reworked
Review: There's not much praise I can give to the new effects in this movie; the only ones that are really effective are the ones in the extended assault on the Death Star in "A New Hope." It's great to see the X-wings soaring around at break-neck speed like we always knew they could, and we get marvelous new angles of the Death Star's variated surface. I would have to say that this is where it should have ended though. It's tough to take all three movies into account at the same time because of the strength of one, the brilliance of the other, and the somewhat troublesome last one. It's sort of common ruling that "Empire Strikes Back" is the best, "Star Wars" the second, and "Return of the Jedi" the last. Now, considering what "Jedi" is up against, it's still a great movie, just not "Empire Strikes Back" quality. Forgive me for saying this too, but were it not for "Empire Strikes Back" I don't think we'd be talking about Star Wars like we do today, and George Lucas's ghastly new movies would be only sidebar mentions in movie-mags. Overall, the quality of the tapes isn't very good. The picture is exceedingly bright, to the point where we can't make out details in the background. The special effects are sort of a first-generation attempt at modern movie sophistication ("Matrix" anyone?) and were interesting at first glance, but considering how far we've come since then, they've become almost corny in appearance. What's up with Jabba the Hutt? He looks now like a concept effect and not a finished product. And why couldn't they clean up the lightsaber effect? If so much of the movie's old effects weren't good enough to remain, why was the painted-on blade allowed to stay? (which is the only good thing about the new movies vs. the old ones). And what's interesting too is how they still don't stack up to those highly detailed models they made back in the 70's and 80's. Give me a Star Destroyer cruising past before I see Jabba the Hutt slithering on by. The performances haven't changed except for Han Solo shooting first (an unforgivable transgression by Lucas, must all our heroes be virtuous and unspoilt?) Frank Oz's performance as Yoda was allowed to remain, which we should all thank our lucky stars for. I suppose Lucas didn't want to jeopardize his relationship with Oz since he needed him for the new trilogy. All in all, I prefer the old versions to the revamped versions, which I can still find at my local used-book and movie outlet. I would recommend going purest and getting those instead of these "special edition" versions.
Rating:
Summary: A Love / Hate Relationship...
Review: I loved the "first" STAR WARS (aka: EPISODE IV- A NEW HOPE). I saw it in the theatre in 1977 and couldn't believe the realistic space scenery! I was enthralled by Darth Vader and still consider him one of the coolest villains ever. Of course, I was a kid back then. I fell hook, line, and light-saber for the whole phenomenon. Today, I have to look at what I loved about the original trilogy, as well as what I hated. STAR WARS Episode IV- A New Hope- I love the wide-eyed wonder of it. I love Luke as a kid who stumbles into the greatest adventure of his life, quite by "accident". Han Solo (Harrison Ford) as the rogue space-pirate type anti-hero guy. He's a cool foil for Luke's cream cheese goodiness. Princess Leia's (Carrie Fisher as the damsel-in-distress turned warrior was deceptively ahead of her time) is the perfect middle ground between the two male heroes. I loved them together as the flies in the empire's ointment. George Lukas drew from his childhood dreams, fantasies, and saturday afternoon movie serials to fashion a classic in it's own right. Episode IV stands as a milestone in not only special effects, but in sci-fi storytelling. It took something that seemed "out there" and made it accessible to folks like me (the non-sci-fi bunch). I loved Obi Wan (Alec Guinness). I loved The imperial ships, the death star, the land speeder, the Millenium Falcon, the sand people, the jawas, R2-D2, C-3PO, the goofy saloon scene, and even Leia's hairdos! I loved the whole bloody thing! I just can't find anything to hate about this first SW effort of Mr. Lukas. Then, in 1980 came Episode V- THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. No George behind the camera, and yet it is a great movie! Darker and far more ominous than it's predecessor, TESB features a growing, maturing Luke, a deepening (though guarded) chemistry between Leia and Han, and a gloom that slowly rises to ultimately engulf them all. This is my personal favorite SW flick. I love the ice planet Hoth, the snow monster encounter, and those beautiful imperial walkers! Vader is an unstoppable evil, bent on Luke's either joining him or being destroyed. The secrets revealed between them are legendary. Luke isn't as much of a boy, he's a young man. I love the dread and anguish in this installment. It makes it all seem real and inescapable. Then, there's Episode VI- RETURN OF THE JEDI- I have mixed feelings about this one. I love the space battles. I love the speeders roaring through the forests like giant, fuel-injected mosquitoes. I love Jaba The Hut's bulky nastiness, and Leia's bikini! I love Vader and that super-turd, The Emperor, of course. I love the plot and the way things turn out. However, I absolutely hate the stiff, nearly robotic way that Luke, Leia, and Han trudge through their scenes. The chemistry seems lost and Luke's Jedi-guru-I-Am-Buddha thing grates my last nerve! Then there's those cuddly, buy-me-at-your local-wal-mart Ewoks! I hated them in the theatre in '83, and I hate them now. Their part in the movie went on and on. I wanted the imperial troops to take most, if not all of them out! I hate the teddy bear planet! Die, Ewoks! Die!! There, I feel better now. My 8yo son loves the Ewoks though, and maybe that's the point. He's not old and jaded like his old man. Anyway, I still consider ROTJ to be a classic, just not as good as the other two in the trilogy. To be able to own them all like this is something I've looked forward to for years. The Star Wars trilogy is essential viewing for anyone who has a child's heart and an imagination to match. I get a little less crusty every time I see them. I enjoy that far off galaxy and can never wear it out...
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Archival editions?- I hope it's true.
Review: I have heard there are changes that have been made to make these movies match with the prequels visually and story wise. Let's hope so! Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope:
1.The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first
appearance on Princess Leia's ship. 2.The lightsaber effects have been redone and the frame jumps of lightsabers being turned on has been removed. 3. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate. 4. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabers cauterize wounds. 5. The original shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been restored. 6. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's reaction to the disturbence in the Force that is created by all those deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as
well. 7. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for
use with all the stormtroopers and Boba Fett in all the movies. 8. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been remade. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is being considered for the scene. 9.The Death Star battle is more epic 10. There's a new scene with Vader goes to Coruscant in the same building at the end of Attack of the Clones and inform the Emperor of a new potential who is strong in the Force. 11. Chewbacca now gets a medal. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
1.The battle of Hoth is enhanced with a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers 2. Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations between Vader and Palpatine is now longer and features a few connections to the prequels. 3. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of emotions. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
1.Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and
CGI. 2. The Rancor is CGI 3. Yoda is CGI. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now. 4. The love theme Across the Stars is inserted when Luke is talking with Leia about their mother. 5. In the battle of Endor there are thousands of Ewoks and they are more vicious 6. Lightsaber effects shadows on the floor are gone. 7. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme. 8. Sebastian Shaw who played Anakin when he was unmasked has been replaced with Hayden
Christensen. 9.Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christensen.
Rating:
Summary: I hope Amazon posts this review
Review: It's no slur on the genuinely great first "Star Wars" that much of the plotline and characterization was lifted straight out of Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress." Reusing older plotlines is a terrific way to shore up the fact that you have no interesting plots of your own. And after all, the extremely talented Kurosawa dipped into Shakespeare's well of ideas more than once - and Shakespeare himself lifted many of his plots from earlier plays. For Episode III, rip off Kurosawa's ripoff of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," and retell the "Throne of Blood" storyline as Darth Vader's journey into evil. We've got one more year before George Lucas finishes up his "Star Wars" prequel trilogy with the as-yet-untitled Episode III, and he certainly has his work cut out for him. Not only does he have to resolve the ongoing storylines of "Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" in such a way as to lead directly into Episode IV, the original 1977 "Star Wars," but he has to overcome two of the most soul-killingly dull storylines ever put on film. Considering that most of the worst ideas in the last two films came from Lucas himself, he might start by handing over the reins to another filmmaker. It might be difficult to convince Lucas to go along with it. Enjoy the first trilogy, forget about the prequels.
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars: A New Hope-CGI Versions
Review: STAR WARS MOVIES: ARE THE BEST! These are some of the most awesome movies - they will live forever :) And, most likely, go on and on and on and on, really, just like the movie suggests..., but today, before other releases, I have to say : I loved the Star Wars movies from the age of being a kid of six (6), it was interesting for me, today, to see reviews reacting negetivly to the CGI versions (they are interesting, but not true), it is too bad, but you can really tell the difference, I prefer the original versions, some how they are more real, more connecting. In the final DVDs, I hope the originals are present! Adults admire the original. Or shall it we make something, really nice, differnt - please don't dissipoint the audience...we are the thing, the original, the fans...now the parents of the things to come - to come - with It would be great in the future if new releases would have both versions on DVD. I like the films, but for now, they are being put at the lower end of my list of purchases. And, things like the sequences of the "Lord of the Rings", and "The Matrix" series, are right there! Doing what I want. There are many other high quality movies to mention, but, I love STAR WARS, and I want my STAR WARS!, old and new, give it to me and I will buy. It is that simple and since 1977, wonderfully basic. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Table Talk with George, and other poems
Review: Back in May, I gave you some hot news straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. (Yes, your friend and mine, Mr. L.) Anyhow, I spoke to the man again recently. As per the last time, he was filled with remorse for having ever created the Star Wars Universe. "Chris" he said, with a sigh, "I have had no peace of mind ever since I introduced the world to that neo-Buddhist rubbish which underlies the plot. You know, that feeling orientated dogma, whereby we tune into some kind of cosmic wave band. God becomes depersonalized so that He becomes a mere influence rather than a personality. He is not the personal Yahweh of the Bible, but an amorphous nothing; an indefinable force like the mother nature of the evolutionist. As such we use Him, rather than allow Him as Lord and Master over us. I've come to see that this is the basic error in all mysticism from Kabala to Zen - God is presented as really too big to care what we do from day to day. It sounds God honouring at first, but in the end it is just academic and futile."
"Well," says I, "it is only a movie, George, as you have said yourself. You can't be blamed if people believe it to the point of losing grip on reality, can you now?"
"I guess not, but somehow I feel kind of responsible. I've done some thinking recently and I've realized that the film industry has a lot to answer for. We have sold this image to the world that every American male is a fist-fighting, heavy drinking, loud-mouthed womanizer on the outside and a hero just waiting for his moment on the inside. Every American female is a tramp with a heart of gold. No wonder hard working nations who respect family and tradition think we are a nation of sentimental slobs."
"I see what you mean, George," I said thoughtfully, "but, of course, we both know that there is still some juice left in the grapes. There are still folk out there that love Jesus Christ and recognize Him as the Son of the Living God. These folk have renounced the folly and the shame of the age they live in and have trusted Christ as the one and only Saviour sent from God. They have embraced Him and found Him to be in truth a Saviour from the power, stain, guilt and consequences of indwelling sin. A loving, personal Saviour Who gave His life for us on a cross and is now risen and reigning at the right hand of the throne of the Father. And these people have put away their toys. But in my country, George, we have, to a man, spat on the Holy One of God. We have opened our doors to the Moslem hordes who deny Christ - even though their Koran teaches that He was indeed born of a virgin and was without sin."
"The Koran teaches that?" George asked with surprise.
"Absolutely," I replied, "It kind of makes you want to ask them: 'How many people, down through history, have you known that were born of a virgin!' I mean, Jesus isn't exactly important in their scheme of things, but Mohammed wasn't born of a virgin nor was he sinless! But I'm straying...we in England" I continued, "have become as wretched as the godless European. While, over where you are, George, in America, when you have got past the silly side of religion, you still come across men and women who have not bowed their knee to this baal worshiping culture of pride, greed, cynicism, mockery, sexual perversion and total unreality. I mean, that is really what the terrorist is against. He doesn't fear men in their thirties and forties living in cloud cuckoo land. He fears what he sees of your past glory, when America was known for its godly people." "That's the tragedy of it all, isn't it? But in some ways I hoped that my stories would be a kind of morality myth which would kindle such values as friendship, trust, loyalty and spiritual adventure; rather like the kingdom of Logres, in the Arthurian legends. But I have created twisted gollems; man made parodies of human kind; spoilt junkies waiting for their next fix. They can't live with out me and yet they hate me for having, as they believe, made them what they are."
"Do you hate them George" I asked, feeling confident of the response which I indeed elicited.
"No. No, I don't hate," he said, his voice now quiet, almost broken, "They are the lost children of America. For all their bravado, they are still the lost children of the Vietnam generation. No, I don't hate them, Chris. How could I, I feel the same pain they do." Well, that's kind of where we left it. I felt for George after we had gone our separate ways. I felt he was like Herge, the creator of Tintin, who in the end was haunted by his own creations. He is a sensitive man and very lonely, but basically he is what you Americans call a regular guy. George is also a busy man, but if he phones again, maybe I'll tell you some more.
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