Yippy! I just bought the "silver" trilogy 2 weeks ago..

Didn't Lucas say these films didn't exist anymore after the SE came out?(after all the Tweaking).

I was never too bothered about the original versions. But I sold my trilogy boxset last year, so i'll pick these up come September.

Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie and, as bonus material, the theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.-I thought Fox would do that in the first place.

THANK THE MAKER.

And oh, it really does make a difference.  Having Greedo shoot first completley changes our first impression of Han Solo... and the digital c**pola touchups that we had in the special editions were both distracting and ugly.  The opening song in Jabbas palace made me cringe.

At Last!!!

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jeppi quaff
Wow!

Because Lucas still wasn't "satisfied" with those versions.
This is great news even though I doubt it'll be limited for that long.

I doubt Lucas will ever be happy. With CGI getting better all the time no doubt the HD versions will be altered again.

i stupid wuestion...what is the difference betwen Thetrical releas and the 2004 remastered ???????? is the film longer or what ???

I wonder how well they will clean up the print. Maybe they will leave it all grainy with dust and c**p, just to p|$$ you all off, lol.

I'll be getting the new versions. Star Wars is my life. Even though, other than Jedi Rock, I prefer the SEs, the completist in me needs the OVs.

OK, a question: will the commentaries from the first 2 releases of the 2004 version be ported over to this one?

Hooray! Now, what about ET without the stupid walkie talkies! I still forget, did the most recent release have the walkie talkies? Or is there a version still out there where they have guns?

Appropriate day for this announcement.

'May the fourth be with you.'

Why all the theatrics from Jim Ward? 'We've searched and scoured the Lucasfilm archives for siutable material.' Eh? Unless there is so much more to this 'putting stuff on DVD' than meets the eye, I think most people would have been happy with the 'restored digital master' used for the mid 90's NTSC THX approved laserdisc. And I believe it had a 5.1 mix derived and restored from the 70mm 6 track mag audio. They give the impression that they've all been scurrying around in dusty cupboards to find the original film when in fact they must have had access to these (mid 90's) digital master all along. I can't believe they restored the original trilogy for laserdisc back then and then just chucked the masters. What a load of arse chaffery this is. Mr Ward, stop building your part up and get it done already.

Glad the originals will finally get an airing though as I never saw the mid 90's laser's of them. But I suspect that for most people (even fans of the first 3) the reaction to seeing them will be, Uh huh. Yep. I've seen this. Man this looks bad compared to the Special Eds. Brighter, I'll give you that but a bit ratty. Unless Lowry have done a basic clean up on them of course.

I suppose we shouldn't moan really. They've done what thousands have asked for. The only cynical part to it all is that it feels like a last ditch attempt to wring the last drop out of the films on DVD before the inevitable HD release. Revenue that will no doubt go straight into funding the 3D formatting of the 6 films and the upcoming TV series.

That's (show) business I suppose.

At last, that is great news!!!! But what about the intermediate Special Editions, the ones before the 2004 tweaks like the new version of Jabba, the voice changes for Boba Fett and Aidan Kristiansen replacing Sebastian Shaw at the end of the jedi? :D

Mind you, there's still the old not-so bootleg Hong Kong version released 4 years ago for that.