It might be just easier to sit back, relax and wait for Chris's review....
All I want is an original release cleaned up and left how the maker originally wanted it.....

No one will ever read this post so far at the back, but I'd just like to say, thank you to Lucas for FINALLY giving in and delivering what the fans have been asking for for 10 years now!!

LLcruize wrote: Myself and others are just offering up the point of view that the majority of the buyers out there can care less this version is going to be rendered from a copy of a Laser Disk transfer, 2.0 sound and non-anamorphic widescreen. It is going to sell like hotcakes because the average fan out there just cares abou the movie itself, not all the bells and whistles.
Going by that rationale the average buyer has no need to buy these in the first place since the average buyer has little to no interest in the original versions and is happy with the 2004 versions that 9 out of 10 people already own. Don't let anyone at Lucasfilm kid you, this release is aimed squarely at people who want the original versions, and the only reason the originals are packaged with the 2004 versions and considered as 'bonus material' is an entirely legal and monetary one. As someone who has wanted the original versions since I bought my very first DVD I'm happy they're at last being released, but majorly disappointed at the same time.

This isn't a site for those people. If you come to DVDActive to discuss these DVDs you should expect the 'techie' point of view, as that's pretty much what we're about. Of course these films aren't 'important' in the grand scheme of the universe, but if we all took that attitude none of us would bother to get out of bed in the morning. I'm sure Bill Hunt took a long hard look at himself after receiving your email...

'You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know...' from The Big Lebowski. Only replace 'movie' with 'forum'.

and

'Donny, you're out of your element'.

Jabba wasn't in the original '77 version, as a man or anything else. The scene didn't even exist and the film was all the better for it.

See. Lucas is winning. People are gradually forgetting what the '77 releases had in them.

As far as I can see, the vast majority of the changes and improvements for the trilogy were a good thing. The end Death Star battle in Star Wars is much more dynamic now than it was. I should point out that I never had a problem with the '77 effects for that sequence before I get jumped on.

The problem I think for most fans (who were of an age to grow up with these films) is that the remaining small percentage of changes really were juvenile and done just for the lets just see what we can do, lets see how far we can push this-ness of it all.

Jabba should be gone from Star Wars
Han should be left to be the cold mercenary he was portrayed to be.

Jabba's house band needs removal from Jedi.
Hayden Christensen... okay. I can live with him in Jedi but someone intergrate him in the scene properly. Don't just thin down Sebastian Shaw's body and do a head/neck replacement on him. And get him to loosen up a bit and look like he's actually genuinely happy to be among his friends again.

Do thos things and the original trilogy is okay as a Spec Ed in my book.

Well, my point is that I don't think that this set of releases is worth getting out of one's pram about.  There are things which I'd desperately love to see released on DVD, more than Star Wars (as I'm happy with the 2004 versions), but I don't get worked up about them as it's really not worth it.  Doesn't help the matter much in the end.  At the end of the day, they're gonna sell.  You've just got to look at the top 10 DVDs on pre-order on amazon or hmv to know that.  If you don't want to buy them, fair enough and you've got your own valid reasons, but there's no need to have a fight with people who want to buy them who have equally valid opinions and reasons.

There were changes to The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, but the option to watch the digitally restored, anamorphic original version in the same quality as the enhanced version was there on both discs too.  And the only changes were an additional musical sequence branched into each one.  There are loads of DVDs out there that have the option to watch additional scenes branched into the original or not, so lay off the Disneys please.

As for these DVD releases, there's a statement on www.starwars.com which says that these are the first and only releases that the original unaltered trilogy will see on DVD.  Methinks that means that this is either as good as it gets, or he's saving the one remaining ace up his sleeve (digitally remastered, anamorphic unaltered trilogy) for a major hi-def re-release.  I doubt it though.  George prefers the newer versions and always has done, and so do most of the people who buy them if you ask around.

In fact, people who are new to the saga actually prefer the sequels.

I perfectly understand what you're talking about, Chris (about it not being anamorphic). Increased picture quality and a proper restoration, I can understand that. I bet that if the laserdisc transfers were given anamorphic enhancement (but not restored) I bet people would complain about the lack of a digital restoration. Still, I know quite a few people who are ecstatic about the unaltered trilogy being given a legit DVD release and will buy them regardless of that issue (even if they do have a widescreen and/or HDTV). And there's even the small minority who want restored versions of the 1997 Special Editions, and so forth...

I can probably make a related statement about the "The Little Mermaid" 2-disc re-release. The movie was first released in 1999, barebones and non-anamorphic, but it had the original 1989 version intact. Now in 2006, the re-release has a digital restoration, anamorphic enhancement and extras galore, but there is the possibility that the movie could have redrawn artwork to "enhance" the movie and could be a new version of the film (meaning slightly different backgrounds and characters). Disney has done some minor George Lucas-esque revisions to their animated films on DVD, particularly on "The Lion King". If that turns out to be true for TLM, I don't think I'll see as many people demanding an anamorphic version, with all the original animation and backgrounds untouched.

I used to have the 1-disc non-anamorphic Titanic which was released some years ago now (still available if you shop around) and the quality was significantly less than something which has received a fine image transfer and some TLC such as the Star Wars prequels in terms of image quality, especially compared to the marvellous 4-disc set that's recently been released.  This lack of quality was magnified when fixing the image on a widescreen TV.

However, it is common among many manufacturers to give their bonus features or even entire bonus discs non-anamorphic transfers and not to polish them up as they might do for the main film.  I think that the people at Lucasfilm realise there's people who want the originals in their original form, but seeing as George doesn't see them as the definitive versions of his films and claims to have no copy of the original negatives (not a debate I want to get into right now), then the best he was ever going to treat this was as bonus material; something intended to be viewed for comparison and curiosity more than entertainment, which I daresay is what he intends disc 1 to be.

I'll find it interesting to see for the first time in a long time what the original films looked like and how they were changed and as a keen fan I'll probably get these.  But I'm quite happy with the changes that have been made and am not too bothered by them, so this release isn't too controversial for me.  I would suggest that at the end of the day they're only films and not too controversial for a lot of people.  Heck, there are a lot of fans out there who don't even know Greedo was meant to shoot first!  And if you tell them, do you want to know how much they care?  Not a lot.

I think i'll hold onto my 2004 release and wait for the big box set.

My sentiments exactly Matthew.

I'm just going to ignore all the fans whining about how the original unaltered trilogy doesn't have anamorphic enhancement or a 5.1 remix. I'm going to get the 2-disc editions and just enjoy them as they were without all the alterations Lucas made... a lot of you are whining for nothing. If Lucas really didn't put any effort into making the original trilogy available for fans, then we wouldn't have any scene selections, no cool menu transitions, or any subtitle options for the unaltered versions. (I can understand the non-anamorphic issue, but I don't plan on getting a HDTV or a widescreen TV anytime soon.)

I bet you a lot of people who don't have widescreen televisions hear about this, they are going to buy it as long as it's in the proper aspect ratio. Sheesh... the holy grail of DVD has finally emerged unaltered and all you SW fans do is whine and b***h.

Apologies. I personally haven't heard anything official. It's just speculation. However if such a 30th anniversary boxset does not materialise next year I'll eat my own stool. It's a relatively safe bet that there will be such a release is all I'm saying.

They should have just released the originals as single discs or a boxset of three if they weren't going to include any other extras. Then they could have lowered the price to something reasonable. Bundling in the Spec Eds is just a way of getting rid of the discs as they have now been made redundant by the upcoming newly revised version that will no doubt be out next year for the 30th anniversary.

Better yet, Lucasfilm should have just saved the release of the originals until next year and included them in a boxset. But I get the feeling Lucas wouldn't want the unaltered versions 'infecting' his bells and whistles Spec Eds.

I think my decision is made.  I can't find these things for anything less than $60 altogether.  I'm not dropping that kind of cash on this "slap it together" set.  As much as I want those original versions in widescreen (which I do not have), it's not worth that much money with no restoration, no remaster, no anamorphic, no 5.1, and no new features.

-NJM

The limited time thing, I'm quite sure, is a load of c**p. Mark my words, later on, Lucas will put out a restored release of the just the original trilogy as we remember them with 2.0 and 5.1 surround sound, anamorphic of course, with commentaries (hopefully) I'll wait a while longer for the original REAL trilogy. You just know that it will happen. And maybe there will be at least one new documentary. Though, the bonus disc in the newer trilogy had a great documentary and with the other bonus features with the other movies, what else could they tell us that real Star Wars fans don't already know ?

Matt wrote: Chris Gould wrote: Bloody hell, Matt's were better than those...
LOL...just caught this post...I'm not exactly sure how to take that...



Believe it or not, it was intended as a compliment Goes against my recent form I know.

Chris Gould wrote: Bloody hell, Matt's were better than those...
LOL...just caught this post...I'm not exactly sure how to take that...

I am not a Star Wars fan by any means, but that not withstanding, Lucas is dropping the ball here.  DVD's not anaomorphically enhanced are a joke.  If SW was shot in fullscreen, there would be no argument.  But jezz, this is pushing it.  

But I do agree with some people, Star Wars fans are never happy.  Never are Apocalypse Now fans or Blade Runner fans.  But it doesn't matter.  Give the fans what they want.  They are going to buy.  By not doing things right, Lucas is taking a huge dump all over his fans and he will probably do it right for the large release, which he knows the fans will buy.  

To conclude, I feel bad for the fans.  Even I was considering picking these up (to give it another try...I am older now), but not if Lucas is going to put this POS out.  No thanks.  

Wow, the menus actually use ORIGINAL artwork. I'm impressed.

Those menus are pretty ugly IMO!

Well okay, interlacing/ghosting.

Pixelation wouldn't make much sense, since laserdiscs are analog...

Anyway. I'm more concerned over potential standards conversion. Instead of mastering the R2 DVDs from PAL laserdiscs, what if they use the same NTSC LDs for it and we end up not only with inferior image quality but combing as well? *shudders*

I'll wait for reviews.

I didn't read every post, so hopefully this won't be a repeat of what has been stated earlier.

By original versions, the fans simply want what Lucasfilm did with the Indiana Jones trilogy, the original theatrical cuts of the movie with video and sound quality updated to today's highest standards.  That's it.  It's very simple.  

Lucas is simply screwing with us with these releases.  He knows exactly what people want.  He's doing this b/c he doesn't want to give "US" the power.  He wants to make sure he's calling 100% of the shots.  

The original silver boxed set was a limited edition, and that's not too hard to find. These aren't really limited editions in that there will be limited numbers, they'll just be place don moratorium after a while.

Intergalactic Ponce wrote: Chris. Will it be you that reviews the OT discs and when do you expect to receive them if at all.

Will it be possible to do a visual comparison article comparing the old with the new. I know that would mean a lot of work on your part but after your herculean efforts detailing the 'changes' it would make a great companion piece.

Any thoughts?

I'm reviewing them (unless Mal's credit card is declined) and hopefully I will get them by the street date, if not before. I've already started the Star Wars review, which will be the main one, with the sequels being less thorough (I'm working out my 'issues' with these releases in the Star Wars review). I'm planning to add identical screen caps from both discs instead of the customary one, so that people can see the difference in quality. Obviously the 2004 release will look a lot better in most instances.

I too am not that pleased to hear of the shoddy release of the OT and I am showing that displeasure by not purchasing this upcoming set. I would absolutely love, for archival reasons, a nice transfer of the OT. From what it sounds like, we are getting nothing but a reformat of the old laserdisc editions which, to me, is nothing better than transfering the VHS version of the unaltered OT to DVD. That I can do myself, but I choose not to because of the resulting poor quality of the final product.
However, I also have more than a suspicion that Lucasfilm will be releasing something for the 30th anniversary. If they don't then meh, no big deal. (can ya tell the PT kinda ruined my fandom a bit)

Matt wrote: I'm not sure that pixilation is what anyone should really be concerned with here. Pixilation is a by-product of a lower quality or bad MPEG-2 encoding job at the mastering level of a DVD and has nothing to do with the actual source of the video so long as that source doesn't already have this problem. If the bit rate is reasonable and there aren't any errors during the encoding process then there shouldn't be much in the way of digital artefacts in the video transfer, and given that Fox isn't exactly some two-bit operation I'm not too concerned about their encoding process.
Some website reports from Comic con seemed to suggest that there was pixilation.

Anyway, hope to see an early review here so I can choose to buy them or not before the deadline.

Chris. Will it be you that reviews the OT discs and when do you expect to receive them if at all.

Will it be possible to do a visual comparison article comparing the old with the new. I know that would mean a lot of work on your part but after your herculean efforts detailing the 'changes' it would make a great companion piece.

Any thoughts?

Never one to sit on the fence are ya Chris

Menus are great. Looks classy.

And I totally agree with someone who said Star Wars fans will never be happy, that Lucas could dip them and gold and spinkle them with diamonds and people will still find a way to b***h about it. Saying how the gold isn't shiny enough or the diamonds the wrong color. People! you need to get that you DIDN'T create these movies and have no say in what should or should't be in them, when you'll make your own movies you can add or delete whatever the hell you want.

end of rant.

Just as a point of reference, I bought all three of these transfers in a box set.....for $250.00. And they look pretty good by the way, FAR better than the OT has ever looked before. They did a MAJOR restoration for that release. We're getting these PLUS the revised versions which look and sound incredible...for like $45.00. Do I wish they were anamorphic? Yes. But oh well. I have a life, that's why I don't dwell on things like this.

As for every SW fan who is b***hing about the unaltered versions being non-anamorphic, I could give a rat's ass if it was non-anamorphic with 2.0 stereo tracks -- I'll just buy all three 2-disc sets to annoy you all. Geez, all the nondemanding fans want the original trilogy regardless if its non-anamorphic and doesn't feature a basic restoration. (There's two words that can help you decide: Don't. Buy.)

As for Star Wars being available on HD, Lucasfilm has struck a deal with cable company Cinemax and HBO to air all six Star Wars films in November (in case you're wondering, the 2004 editions of the OT).

I like the menus. Shame they didn't use the same art for the DVD sleeves, I don't really like the way they've tried to match the style of the PT releases.

I'm sure there's going to be a more complete release of all the films for the 30th anniversary next year. Lucasfilm would rightly keep quiet about any plans for this in case it harms sales of this latest re-release. I seem to remember reading that Yoda's scenes in TPM were going to be CGI'ed to match the other PT films so we might see a re-release of that. I'm sure GL won't resist the temptation to add a couple more tweaks before it all comes out again. Pehaps he could replace all Hayden's scenes with a decent actor :-)

I don't believe that there would be as many complaints about the SE, if the context of the updated scenes hadn't been changed (like Han and Greedo), it is nice to the have original films to see what was the pinnacle of SFX in the 70's and 80's, but I wouldn't mind some SEs where only the SFX have been updated, and there have been no changes to the context of the scenes (like the new Anakin spirit etc). I don't know why GL has had to make the OT fit in with the PT, when really it should be the other way around. Will we ever see a SE PT, to be honest I doubt it because GL seems to love the PT but hate the OT.
I've heard that the picture quality is pretty awful, so I may not got these. The SE had to be mastered from non SE OT negatives somewhere, before all the new effects had been added, so whatever happened to those?

The problem seems to be that these transfer are taken from the Laser discs and can look quite pixelated. What people wanted was a transfer from the orignal film negative.

As someone stated earlier, there is a great difference here.  Altering these movies with new visual effects, new scenes, and altered footage/dialogue is what the special editions are.  What purest fans were hoping for with this release of the original release versions is simply the restoration of the picture and sound to top of the line quality.  It's not changing the context of the film, just making the picture and sound the best that it can be.

-NJM

I like the menus with the classic artwork.  Makes it feel like the original trilogy instead of the over-glossed cover artwork.  Give a nice vintage feel to the disc.  Though, I'm still divided on this buy.  If it was just the original versions bare bones, I'd be fine buying it, but putting the 2004 special editions on there shies me away.  I really hate to double-dip on these because, knowing Lucas, there could be triple and quardruple and nth number of dips in the future.  I don't want to start that if can avoid it.  I suppose it all comes down to price, and I thank pricegrabber.com for that.  I hate money grubbing studios and filmmakers.  Why can't any of them just release one definitive version of each film on DVD, and call it a day?  Instead, we've got ten different DVDs of the "Evil Dead" trilogy out there.

-NJM

The fact is all people wanted were cleaned up 9that has nothing to do with 'changing them'  fools), anamorphic prints of the original versions.  And there is nothing up with that.
I don't have these on DVD and I'm glad I waited.

But of course Lucas has to throw his dummy out of the cot and refuse to clean the prints up or even do the normal standard of making them anamorphic.  Because he's a big f**king child.

Oh...and let's not forget that the 'new' versions were also CENSORED by Lucas to remove a lot of the laser blast impacts.

Will there be a box set? Has this been asked?

Yeah - I really like those menus - I'm still up in the air about whether or not to buy these - on the one hand it would be cool to have the theatrical versions, simply for nostalgia and as a film collector - on the other hand I have the 2004 releases that I'm more or less happy with. That and I'm definitely going to be getting the long rumored seven-disc set whenever it finally comes out - so I just don't know. Oh, and I also really like the Indiana Jones menu system.

The menus look fine... not as cool as the ones for the 2004 edition, but they're still neat. I still don't get why people are boycotting this release just because it doesn't have anamorphic enhancement (I know this a big obstacle for those who have 16:9 tvs, but still)  -- the important thing is that SW purists can now have a legit copy of the theatrical cuts with the original sound intact. I personally think it's worth buying for archival purposes alone... I'm not as picky as other people are. (Hey, no one was complaining that other films like "Casablanca" or "Citizen Kane" didn't get a 5.1 remix when they were released on DVD!)

And Gabe, I personally thought the Indiana Jones menus were really cool. The photoshop filter used for the main menu made it look neat, in my opinion.

I sort of liked the Indiana Jones menus.  They were sort of classy, looking old and worn as if the video was recovered in an archeological expedition.  It was apt.  That said, I don't think the style is appropriate for Star Wars.

At first when I saw the shots I thought, "oh no, those are screen shots, the film actually looks that bad!"  I wonder whether they might be using film footage for the menus and  they look so distorted because they are--in fact--old and dicrepid.  I hope you're right, that it's the Indy style, because if it's not we're getting some terrible quality film here.  The thumbnail shots on the scene selection pages aren't very encouraging.

I love Star Wars, and I was fine with the 1997 special editions for the most part (obviously not Greedo's shooting and Jabba's look), and was happier with the improvements made in the 2004 DVDs.  As a consequence, I almost had no use for the original versions.  I wanted them, for the novelty, but I knew I'd opt to watch the SEs.  That is... until I heard Temeura Morrison voicing Boba Fett in Empire.  My favorite film of all time, and one of the coolest characters, and they changed his kick-butt voice!?!  It cannot be allowed!

Bottom line, now I need the Original version for Empire (which had the fewest alterations in 1997 anyway), just so I can hear "as you wish," "he's no good to me dead," and "put Captain Solo in the cargo hold" spoken in the proper voice.  Or, just give us the 1997 version on DVD.  I'd gladly trade back for the Greedo guffaw and Jabba-lite to have one of my favorite characters speak as I remember him.

It irks the hell outa me that Lucasfilm would so disrespect the films and the fans with this release.  

IT looks like they're using that same photoshop filter they used on the Indiana Jones motion menus. It was ugly then too.

Them's purdy.  I actually still think I will stick with the special editions.  I dont agree with all the changes, but I like them better than with out.  

Why still no word when SAGA Collection is coming out?  How much more c**p/stuff can he add to or behind the flick to entice me?

It's cool that George Lucas is releasing these at all. People that want to buy them, buy them. People that don't, don't. Stop whining.
Everyone was screaming for "THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY ON DVD..." and now you are finally getting it and what do people say?...."I can't believe he's not remixing the sound to 5.1 Surround Sound THX....I can't believe he is not restoring the picture......I can't believe this, I can't believe that..."..blah blah blah.
You gripe about the digitally enhanced ones and now you are griping because he HASN"T touched up the old ones?....come out of the fog people. Make up your freakin minds.

Bloody hell, Matt's were better than those...

I loved the old Star Wars trilogy. Saw the new versions. Haven't seen it the way it looked like when it was in theaters, so I'll definitely buy this. Must pre-order, because I LOVE STAR WARS!!!

R.I.P star wars i have to agree with you I was 12 when star wars came out and can still remember the evening news showing the hysteria on it's release,it was so big for it's time much better than the sci fi efforts shown on tv like dr who and blakes seven,it changed cinema forever and a lot of us.i've saw all 3 fims in the cinema and the 97 releases,my fondest memory is seeing star wars at home for the 1st time with my new betamax vcr and 21 inch 4:3 television it was the also the 1st video I ever watched,since then i've saw it on widescreen video laserdisc tv dvd,still got the memory it,we may not be happy with george lucas decision in not remastering it for this release but moving with the times i've grew out of star wars now 1997 is a long time away most of you rambling about this release probably never were born 1st time around,i'll settle with the new release as a piece of history and continue to view the 2004 version,times have changed 21 inch is like a portable tv now mono sound gone betamax gone but not forgotten,move on with the times i've now got plasma tv thx surround sound system,looking back over the years it was good at the time,but nows probably the time to let star wars the star wars ghost to rest and accept what we have

Adrian - some studios make discs that support the "pan and scan on the fly", but most haven't.  It's one of those weird things.  I've tried using that, but found that maybe only 1/8th of my discs can do this.

Why does no one ever use the pan and scan on the fly that is part of the DVD spec?

Andrew Perkins wrote: Cable wrote: I know this probably a stupid question, but if I buy the Full-screen sets, will the Original films also be full screen? or Nobody knows yet?
Why the hell would you want these great films in fullscreen?

Anyway if the originals are being taken from the 93 Laserdisc release then they will only be in non-anamorphic widescreen.

Thanks Andrew, just wanted to know.

For Star Wars DVDs I buy them both in FS and WS. Sometimes I fell like watching them in FS, and sometimes I fell like watching them in WS.

I would do amything for this if I didn't buy the "2004" editions

LLcruize wrote: To me, there is no doubt this was a quick response by Lucas Films to get these out as quickly as possible to the market of folks that were crying afoul about not having the original versions on DVD. No doubt about it.

How do you work that out then? People have been asking for these DVDs since the beginnings of the format. Hardly a quick turnaround. And just because they are using the laserdisc sources doesn't mean they can't be encoded anamorphically.

What in the heck is up with the photo-shopped peice of poo covers? Why not use the original poster art?
Not real sure about yet another dip into the Lucas pool.

I like the covers, and I love the spines. One of the reasons I'd actually like to buy these. But I am still on the fence.

I'm sure someone will end up making custom covers for these...which without doubt will be infinity x better.

napalm68 wrote: hondo21 wrote: And I'm pretty sure X-Files is anamorphic.
The first couple of series of X-Files were 4:3. I think from memory season 3 onwards was anamorphic
The X-Files was anamorphic widescreen starting with the 5th season.

hondo21 wrote: And I'm pretty sure X-Files is anamorphic.
The first couple of series of X-Files were 4:3. I think from memory season 3 onwards was anamorphic

I know this probably a stupid question, but if I buy the Full-screen sets, will the Original films also be full screen? or Nobody knows yet?

Ray Waterway wrote: Of course, leave it to Tim Bisley from BBC's "Spaced" to say something really neat...

Tim: Brian, did you notice that everything that transpired in those three films - and I *mean* everything - can be attributed to the actions of one very *minor* character?
Brian: Who?
Tim: The gunner on the Star Destroyer at the beginning of the first film.
Brian: How come?
Tim: [know-it-all] Well. Hmmhmmhmm. Because, if the gunner *had* shot the pod that C-3P0 and R2 were in, they wouldn't have got to Tatooine, they wouldn't have met Luke, Luke wouldn't have met Ben, they wouldn't have met Han and Chewie, they wouldn't have rescued Princess Leia. *None* of it would have happened.

I think I've heard that elsewhere too. Great observation though. If you think about it, almost every plot of every movie occurs due to what could be considered 'freak occurances' (SEE, Bilbo/Gollum finding the one ring, Jack winning the ticket to the Titanic, Angel Eyes being in the same emcampment as Blondie and Tuco, etc.)

Highres artwork added...

Spaced was commissioned for Channel 4, I guess you might have seen it on BBC America as they buy the rights for all sorts of stuff.

Adrian, no doubt, we are not in the 80's anymore, technology and my ability to afford it have allowed for me to see the films on DVD. However, my point is lost in that I loved these films in their worse possible presentation and have loved them in their best to date.

Will I buy these new DVD's? I might, I might not. I have the VHS versions before the special editions. So I have those if I want to see these in the quality as closest to when I saw them in 77, 80 and 83. Not to mention, I am perfectly satisfied with the release from last year. I have never worried about anamorphic wide screen or mono, 2.0 or 5.1 sound. All I have cared about is the story. The last I checked, no matter what version I have, Luke meets up with everyone, they have a great adventure and in the end, the rebellion wins out and balance is restored to the Force.  

Adrian wrote: Matt wrote: Actually, the first DVD release of The X-Files movie in 1999 is not anamorphic, but the second release from 2001, which also added a DTS audio track, is.

Sounds like I need an upgrade.    I honestly didn't realize that this was ever re-released.
Yeah, at one time I owned both, but shortly got rid of the older release. You can probably pick up the DTS version pretty cheap by now; I wouldn't be surprised if you could get it just about anywhere for under $10.

Matt wrote: Actually, the first DVD release of The X-Files movie in 1999 is not anamorphic, but the second release from 2001, which also added a DTS audio track, is.

Sounds like I need an upgrade.    I honestly didn't realize that this was ever re-released.

The thing is, the original negs of the films had to be completely restored before they started adding the special editions CGI, So you know there are those masters saved. I'm sure  those restored version will appear sometime in the future with anamorphic widescreen.

If these are going to be rips of the LDs, I am not buying them. This is most unsettling news...

Mal wrote: For those that don't understand what anamorphic is. It allows them to record the video in a stretched shape (ie without the top and bottom black bars). Doing this means you have more detail in the direction that it is stretched. It also makes it a lot easier to watch on a modern TV.

If our glossary worked I could show them

For those that don't understand what anamorphic is. It allows them to record the video in a stretched shape (ie without the top and bottom black bars). Doing this means you have more detail in the direction that it is stretched. It also makes it a lot easier to watch on a modern TV.

Well Luca$ really masters screwing his own fans. Which I doubt there are many left, though. I mean...if no one buys these releases, he can just say "Oh screw it, this proves no one wanted the originals anyway". If they DO sell, there are two alternatives; He'll tell us "I just gave them to you, STFU already", or he'll release completely new ones mastered from good-quality positives (since we all know he cut the negatives for the special editions, so they don't exist). In any case, we're screwed and w***e out our ca$h to him.

Here's an interesting article though:

http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/editorials/origin...

Especially pay attention to this bit:

Quote: What on Earth does George's ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, have to do with any of this, you ask? Well, let's just say that their divorce way back when didn't just fade away amicably. Lucas was rich and the company was doing well. Lucas and his wife decided to part ways. However, there was that little issue of the money and how to split it up. I won't get into all the details on who got what and why, but suffice it to say that Marcia Lucas stands to get a nice paycheck whenever anything related to the ORIGINAL Star Wars films is released or aired. However, because the Special Editions are changed films and therefore NOT the originals, she doesn't get anything, (or perhaps very little - I'm not 100% sure).

Think hard on that last sentence. This could possibly change your perception on Lucas' motivation behind creating a Special Edition in the first place, could it not?.....

.....Think again, fanboy. If these original versions of the films are released as BONUS FEATURES, then that would nullify, pretty much, any monetary obligations to Marcia. This is exactly what I heard around the water cooler and I called it speculation at first until I saw an ad that confirmed it reading: "DVDs include special bonus material - the original theatrical movies from 1977, 1980, & 1983!" So, what you will actually be buying in the stores during this limited Disneyesque run is the 2004 editions (again) but with the ORIGINAL versions as bonus features.

So one could assume that Marcia would get nothing and Lucasfilm would keep all the dough. Of course they'll spin it as them giving us the versions we want, catering to the fans, etc. so I'm curious to see how they market this. The sales ad reads, "These are the DVDs fans have been demanding - Huge sales potention for new and core fans!" Ugh.

OK folks...let's bring in some facts here.

These new versions will be ports of the non-anamorphic LD prints because those are the only ones that still exist in the unaltered form.

But, no...no...you say.  He should use the original film elements for this DVD print.  Well, sorry...the original film elements are in such bad shape that you wouldn't WANT to see a print of them now.  That's why Lucasfilm had Lowry Digital restore them for the '04 release.  

Now then, for those who [i]still[/n] don't know what anamorphic is after all this time, then all I can say is it's time to egt with the program.  Especially with the next format on the horizon.  It'd be like not knowing the difference between VHS a

Bouncy X, anamorphic has nothing to do with filling the screen or black bars. It has to do with improved resolution vs. a letterbox non-anamorphic version. Anamorphic typically looks significantly better on a widescreen TV. Read the primer at thedigitalbits.com to understand it.

And I'm pretty sure X-Files is anamorphic.

ok so i'm not a techy here so forgive me if i'm wrong about this but......we have an hdtv widescreen tv in our living room and I recently watched the x-files movie on it, this is the disc that came out in 1998 so if i'm correct its not anamorphic at all..so when I watched it I did notice that the "black bars" were bigger than when I watch widescreen movies that ARE anamorphic (i'm talking about those at 2:35 cuz those at 1:78 fill up the whole screen)...ok anyway I was p**sed about this but figured this was the price of non-anamorphic on widescreen tvs...but my tv has a button to change the screen shape and I just played with it and was able to make the image bigger and look like every other anamorphic disc i've watched on it...and the movie itself wasnt stretched or squished or anything...it just fit the screen the proper way...so my whole point is whats it matter if these star wars arent anamorphic? i'm sure every tv has this option of playing with the screen shape....

now as I said i'm no techy so maybe i'm wrong and x-files is actually anamorphic so if it is I apologize but from everything i;ve read i'm pretty sure it isnt...cuz this "bigger black bar" problem sometimes occurs when regular televsion playes widescreen movies

oh and i've never seen a movie have "bars" on all four sides as some people posted here...maybe our tv's default setting is on this so called zoom but as I said up there...picture quality isnt affected...the x-files disc looked just as nice after I pushed that button as all my other dvds..

Matt wrote: Adrian wrote: I have the Definitive Laserdisc collection and I am pretty sure that Jabba's subtitles (in fact all subtitles of alien speech) are within the frame of the picture itself and not in the black area below the picture.  You should be able to safely zoom and not lose the subtitles.
No, they're in the letterboxed portion of the frame, but still should be visible when zoomed depending on your display.

Aaah, you are right.  They are 2.35:1 movies so part of the letterbox frame is still visible when you zoom.

rebel-scum wrote: P.S. Non-anamorphic, will that also mean that like previous releases of the theatrical versions, will Jabba's subtitles appear on the lower black bar, so that you CAN'T SEE THEM, when you zoom the damn thing?

I have the Definitive Laserdisc collection and I am pretty sure that Jabba's subtitles (in fact all subtitles of alien speech) are within the frame of the picture itself and not in the black area below the picture.  You should be able to safely zoom and not lose the subtitles.


If this is indeed just a port of the laserdisc and is non-anamorphic, I see no reason to buy it.

Nice one! will be getting it, even though I already own the trilogy box set

If it's not been posted before The Digital Bits have confirmation from Fox and Lucasfilm these will be non-anamorphic meaning it's a definite non-purchase for me.

I just posted this in the general area but I'll toss it up here too -

Here's a good point thedigitalbits.com brought up in their lastest post about the movies.

The original 1977 Star Wars movie now titled Episode IV: A New Hope is being released without it's A New Hope Title. The first time that's EVER happened on home video. If you recall, you saw it briefly on the Empire of Dreams documentary. If you also recall it was ANAMORPHIC. So, if you put two and two together - if you saw something that has never been seen before, and it was anamorphic and Lucas claims to be using old laserdisc ports for the movies on DVD when we KNOW it was remastered for anamorphic widescreen, guess what? Lucas is full of s**t and lying to the public about not having a better source. Likely, to get you to buy the anamorphic version later in yet another re-release.

That's just great. George Lucas just gave all of us a big 'ole F**K YOU! and I'm willing to bet he's gonna try to do it again next year for the 30th anniversary. Hopefully by then, Rick MacCullum will toss him down a giant Death Star II pitt.

--------------

Since I wrote this I tossed in the empire of dreams doc, all of which is anamorphic widescreen. It's not just a new hope. They show scenes from each of the sequels from the original cuts - ex) the imperial walker being seen through the piller of the fighter cockpit on hoth, overglow in the engines of star destroyers, super high yield glow on the lightsabers in Jedi and various other things. The only SE effect I could dissern in the retrospective is the Deathstar II blowing up with that ring around it, which could have been a creative choice by the documentary maker.

In other words - I think it's official. Lucas is trying to pull a fast one on everyone.

Whoa! It's the original poster art but instead of paintings...it's photoshopped with exact photos! WHY?!? Does not compute.

NON-ANAMORPHIC! That is BULLC**P!

Tyler Foster wrote: Whoever complained about fans claiming a creation as their own should stop being so ridiculous. When you make a film and the world accepts it it stops being yours.


I think we just have different views. Being a filmmaker and a musican myself I do not believe that my work is anyone but my own as well anyone who helped me of course. I mean I would hope people will like what I do, but at the end of the day if I'm happy with my work that's all that matters. Now I have usually agreed with Lucas on the creative changes for the most part, but as I said above I did more research and this SW release looks to be a pretty s**tty cash-in.

This brings up a good debate topic: As an artist in any form, who claims ownership after it's been publically consumed? The artist or the audience?

Does the Jack stand for jackass?

The guy just asked a question.

Hffffff....Who let the kids out of the playground?

Shocking news about the non-anamorphic status!  hell, even many cheapy budget DVD's of semi-obscure films have anamorphic transfers nowadays!
Awful.

But what to do?  I may still get them as I don't have the 'newer' versions at all, and the original versions only on those OOP, first widescreen VHS releases with the silver writing.

I think The Bits hit on an interesting point - it's the 30th anniversary next year. I'm guessing these editions will be around just until the end of 2006 so they can make way for a new release next year. What with the non-anamorphic news, this kind of seals it for me. Time will tell...

Calm yourselves down please guys.

tomreagan wrote: JackJackMN, um, you're kind of a d**k, huh?

IF you say so, you ask stupid questions, you get a smart assss answer!


Anomorphic is a process in mastering a DVD which allows the a widescreen tv remove the black bars and fill the entire tv with the movie, if it is aspect ratio 1:85, if 2:35 you will still have black bars just not as big.

NON anomorphic will produce bars around all 4 side of the movie, making the veiwer ZOOM in to remove the bars and cause pixalation of the image.

SnakePETER wrote: i hate to sound ignorant, but what exactly does non/anamorphic mean? ... I think I sorta like these new covers... more so then the last ones, but then again i'm not sure if that's saying much. (my all time favorite covers were the ones for the '97 special editions.)


Hmmmm, you do sound IGNORANT. IF you have to ask that question, You should never post on here again and never be aloud to buy another DVD. Let me guess, you buy FULLSCREEN dvd's still?

Do an internet search before you ask one of the simplest things to know about a widescreen dvd EVER!!!!!

Steven Carrier wrote: This is so confusing. I dont get it. The original films will be laserdisc! What the hell. They wont be anamorphic. This is stomach churning, Lucusfilm is a leader in top notch DVDs, so why would they be doing this. ITS SO STUPID! And that cover art, horrible. So ugly. This is so disheartening. I might just keep my regular DVDs.

HELLO, do you NOT READ. LASER DISCS? Dummmb ASSSSSSS. They are saying they will be using the transfer from the laser disc. You have posted  1,082 times? I don't even wanna think how many other stuid questions you asked.

So p**sed off!!  Couldn't see why he didn't do this when he released the boxed set.  Well, course I can see why he decided to do this.  To make guys like us dish out the extra bucks cuz he just doesn't seem to have enough in his bank account!!!  Ok, I'm done b***hing.  I know I'm still picking these up regardless...

Why would ya think they would be anamorphic?

Lucas will re-re-re-release his films as long as he lives. Smart move. Release them non-anamporhic so you can release them a year later anamorphic. ching, ching

I'm waiting on an official answer to my own inquiry, but if these are indeed a non-anamorphic release then they'll be no sale here. I was perfectly happy, nix that...ecstatic, just getting DVDs based on the '93 LD master prints, but there is absolutely no decent excuse whatsoever to not release these with the anamorphic enhancement that every suitable release gets these days. Anyone that knows anything about DVD authoring knows that anamorphically enhancing DVD-video is no big deal and a small step in the process of encoding video for the format, so much so that not doing it is more of a deliberate act than actually doing it and just substandard to what the format is all about. What a joke...but again I'll reserve judgement until I hear something definitive.

As for the covers...every one of the Star Wars films have had terrible cover art, so I guess it's nice to see that they've decided to remain consistant there.

Hopefully this is just gonna be some lame release and well all forget about it. I am still holding out for the Definitive boxed set with all sic films in HD-DVD and the works. I'm just gonna pretend that these 2-disc sets dont exist (unless lucus wises up and releases anamorphic widescreen on the original triolgy!)

Well, I was going to buy these, but since I have an HDTV and non-anamorphic enhanced DVDs look awful and have borders on all four sides of the picture, I will be passing on this set.

What the hell is Lucasfilm thinking? I mean, would it really cost that much to do a 16x9 transfer? Apparently so.

All I have to say is that those covers are AWESOME!!!

From another forum...not so good!
Quote: We've confirmed something that we'd begun to suspect... and it's probably going to disappoint a lot of you. It certainly disappoints us here at The Bits. Those new DVD editions of the Star Wars films? The original theatrical versions of the films are going to be non-anamorphic (our original post on this indicated otherwise, but we have confirmed that the widescreen versions will be letterboxed only). What this likely means is that Lucasfilm has simply re-purposed the previous non-anamorphic transfers that were done back in 1995 for the last laserdisc and VHS release of the "original" versions of the films. And with that, our enthusiasm for this DVD release has just dropped through the floor. Anamorphic-enhanced versions of the theatrical editions, we'd buy in a heartbeat. But what we're going to get instead is little better than a ported-over laserdisc. In this day and age, releasing a widescreen film without anamorphic enhancement on DVD is just unacceptable. Does Lucasfilm really think fans want those versions of the films on DVD so badly that people just won't care? Yes Virginia, they do. How many versions of these films do you suppose Lucasfilm will try to get fans to buy in high-def over the coming years? And think about it... you just know the studio has to be prepping yet another standard DVD release for next year's 30th Anniversary of the original Star Wars. Do you suppose this means that the theatrical editions won't be included in the super-über box set of all six films? Probably. Ugh.

This is so confusing. I dont get it. The original films will be laserdisc! What the hell. They wont be anamorphic. This is stomach churning, Lucusfilm is a leader in top notch DVDs, so why would they be doing this. ITS SO STUPID! And that cover art, horrible. So ugly. This is so disheartening. I might just keep my regular DVDs.

So Obi Wan and Luke were eating in a chinese restaurant. Luke was having trouble with his chopsticks so Obi Wan suggests..."Use the forks, Luke!"

Non-anamorphic!?!?!?!

Too bad I love the covers too.  Guess I'll just keep waiting.

I hate to sound crass, but this is becoming hilarious. Talk about your mentally retarded gift horses.

Just got word from www.thedigitalbits.com that the theatrical editions will not, I repeat NOT be anamorphically enhanced.  What we're getting will be almost no better than the Definitive Edition laserdiscs.  Does this strike anyone else as STUPID?!?!  I'm sorry, what little shred of faith I had in the Lucas Empire is now gone.  He thinks these original editions are sh*t, so he's going to give us a sh*t transfer.

This throws me into serious doubt as to whether or not I want to buy these anymore.  I know it's a piddly thing, but one of the reasons I was going to buy these was that the picture would have been better than my laserdisc collection.  Now that it's not, I can save my close-to-$60 and go get something else.  What it amounts to is nothing more than what Triumph the Comic Insult Dog would call "George Lucas' table sc**ps".

Unbelievable.  I know I'm probably going to get boned for saying this, and people are probably going to tell me, "Well, you wanted these originals released, well now you have them, and be happy".  Sure.  But at least use the DVD's video capacity to its fullest extent, George!  The 2.0 sound is great!  No problem!  But to have a substandard quality picture is just absurd.  Maybe he's afraid we're going to see the matte boxes and all the imperfections just a little too clearly or something.  I don't know.  But here's hoping someone can change the minds of the manufacturers...

I don't know why anyone would want a 5.1 track anyway since it would only alter what was intended for these films originally, and having too many choices for the audio would come at the expense of bit rate on the video. Besides that, adding 5.1 sound would make the point of the release kind of meaningless. An uncompressed PCM 2.0 track would have been nice though, but I'm willing to trade that in for a Dolby 2.0 track if it means a higher bit rate for the video.

Yeah Jersy and Bouncy - you are right!!!

I should have read it more closely before I wrote the last point....

I understand what you're saying AIDIE, but your last comment is a kind of funny oxymoron anyway.

Worst Nightmare wrote: That said, I will probably get this as my old VHS copies will eventually fail - I might just wait 6 months until the price drops a bit.

remember this is a limited release, sept 13th to dec 31st so waiting that long might not be a good idea...lol  although I still see stores selling the 2 disc version of E.T. that was a limited release too so it might not matter but yeah...just saying..lol

My 1 cent worth?
Well a few things:-

# George Lucas made and owns Star Wars and all the stuff that goes with it - if he wishes to change anything to do with it, it is his choice. It is up to you to accept it or not. Simple.

# For me, this is a double dip. He could have released the original versions like this with the first OT box release with out any issues. I am a massive fan of Star Wars and would have thought that the un-altered OT might have been included but it wasn't. I cannot believe that an original cut of Star Wars (for example) would be lost - like how else would he have been able to release the Special Editions without the original print to work on?

# It is only a movie - a great one but still just a movie. We must always remember that when looking at this sort of thing.

That said, I will probably get this as my old VHS copies will eventually fail - I might just wait 6 months until the price drops a bit.

The Curmudgeon wrote: I thought the original versions didn't exist George, you one-trick pony gutless parasite?

My brother in law sent me a link to the AP article where Lucas made that comment.  It looks a bit different when you read it in context.
AP Interview Sept. 15, 2004:
AP: Why not release both the originals and special editions on DVD?

Lucas: The special edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it. ... I’m not going to spend the, we’re talking millions of dollars here, the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn’t really exist anymore. It’s like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I’m sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. [rest of answer snipped


Link to full interview: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6011380/

IN CONTEXT, he was (as I read it) acknowledging that the film elements from the original releases still physically exist.

kenny wong wrote: I'm definitely going to pick this set up despite having the rereleased special edition trilogy too.  But, why are they all crammed into one disc?  I don't know, maybe it's me, but I do prefer to have them on seperate discs...

They are on 2 Discs

These are just like the "old versions" of these films, right? Why wouls they want to release that? I mean, for being a Star Wars fan, I'm not excited about it.

I'm definitely going to pick this set up despite having the rereleased special edition trilogy too.  But, why are they all crammed into one disc?  I don't know, maybe it's me, but I do prefer to have them on seperate discs...

Well, Fangsfirst took my statement pretty much to heart, and then someone else allready said what I was thinking. You really are taking this whole thing very seriously, Fangsfirst. Hear are the unaltered DVDs you asked for, enjoy them. I still don't think changing one's mind nessisarily equates lying. If Lucas said now, today, in an interview that Obi Wan Kenobi was played by Alec Guiness in all six films, that would be a lie. Nobody here needs to be getting angry about any of this. Frustration is fine, but anger is ridiculous.

First of all, let's get one thing straight.  George Lucas did not invent the double dip.  I've been working in the video business since 1986 and I can't even remember how many different releases and coverboxes we had for the James Bond movies on VHS.  The fact of the matter is that every movie that has stood the test of time has had numorous releases in many formats over the years.  It's just that we don't keep rebuying all of them.  Except for Star Wars-and we buy them by our own accord.  No one is forcing us.  Almost every movie has already had at least 2 or 3 dvd releases already.  Just of the top of my head I know for a fact the Cliffhanger has had 3.  Legends of the Fall 3.  What about Das Boot-I think it's up to 5 now.  I look at Star Wars as Lord of the rings.  I love the theatrical and the extended.  and if you are a die hard fan you buy both.  Case closed.  Personally, I prefer the theatrical cuts and that how I will watch them from this point on, but let's give Lucas his due.  At least when he asks us to buy them he tries to give us something new.  Anybody out there buy the new Wedding Singer DVD.  How about ferris bueller or the new Airplane.  Exact same movie, and I really don't care how "more Active" the rear channels are on Ferris.  But I don't hear all you crybabies out the screaming about those.  Also-Star Wars in 1977 was NOT 5.1 dts SO SHUT UP ALREADY.  If this is about feeling 7 again, that's what you are going to get.  Star Wars fans are beginning to pass Star Trek fans as the biggest babies in the galaxy.  It comes down to this.  You've been crying for 8 years for these and here they are.  Now shut up and quit your complaining.  Here's another fact.  In the next 10 years every movie on DVD is going to be re-released at least once on HDDVD, blueray, and who knows what.  Please, keep you mouth shut and quit you're complaining.  If you don't whine about the 4th release of space jam, don't whine about star wars.  buy or don't buy...there is no more compaining.

FangsFirst wrote:

"Changing your mind or not foreseeing every single turn your organic creation may take is not the same as lying."
No, that isn't, but saying there have "always" been nine episodes, then "always" six IS lying.
So is claiming that "Revenge of the Jedi" was a fake title to mess with marketing, when official theatrical posters say it.
So is claiming the prequels were already fully scripted.

I don't know where you get your info from, but coming from a die hard SW fan with interviews saved on his harddrive, most of your statements are incorrect and speculative.  Were there nine episodes?  There was a rough outline for nine episodes at the beginning, yes, but a rough outline does not constitute there BEING nine movies.  If I wrote a rough outline for an essay I were doing and exised parts here and there it does NOT mean I'm trimming out extra parts of my story because an outline does not make a finished product, and you will not find a direct quote from Lucas saying that there "will be nine movies," or, "there are nine scripts."  

FangsFirst wrote: According to some...

I don't for one second buy any statement that starts with the very speculative, "According to some...."  Bring hard fact and empirical evidence to your argument, not some he-said-she-said BS.

FangsFirst wrote:  Yes, he still owns it and can legally make the changes, but he has released it to the public and there is a certain sort of 'ownership' to it in that way. Unofficial and non-legal and debatable, certainly, but it is there.
But even beyond that; how is he changing 'his' work in RotJ or ESB? He didn't script them. He didn't direct them. Sure, they're based around his characters, and events he (supposedly) had written.

HA, I have to laugh at that last *supposedly* line, as if Lucas stole or manipulated the story out from someone.  If you've listened to the ESB commentary you'd know that George approached Irvin Kirschner about the changes before doing them and Irvin gave his blessing, but of course you'll leave that fact out because it doesn't fit your argument.  He did the same with most of the changes he made, even though he DIDN'T HAVE TO.  You paint a picture of old man Lucas sitting in a editing room with a mischevous grin on his face while he purposefully sabotages others' work, and that's just not true....

FangsFirst wrote:
...in the sense of being responsible to the people who gave you the millions of dollars you used to do this to these films. Give us the damn option at least.


Now he is, yet you're still complaining...let it go already.

FangsFirst wrote:
 While I was glad to see news of these releases, I just don't feel any burning passion to get a hold of them anymore.

Yet you're here commenting and complaining over apparently what you've wanted all along and now that it's being offered you still find reason to complain.  I can accept those that wanted the originals on DVD, but I have a hard time swallowing those that are never happy and that constantly find something to b* about in regards to these movies.  "We want the original, unaltered versions on DVD!," and then you get them and it's, "Lucas is a lier and I just don't care anymore!" Grow up, man.
 
FangsFirst wrote:
My personal issues with Lucas do not stem from his decision to make changes (though I DO think that was a stupid decision, as I've said, it is his to make) but from his attitude toward fans and from his habit of blatantly lying constantly. I'd accept the changes a lot more if he weren't saying he "always" wanted them to be like this--something that IS a lie. MAYBE he always wanted the effects to look more fluid and to have some more creatures wandering about, but he can't possibly have "always" wanted Greedo to shoot first, or "always" wanted Hayden to be in there (or, for that matter, a young Anakin at all...) or "always" wanted Boba Fett to sound a certain way--because those things (outside of Hayden specifically and Morrison's specific voice) were completely possible at the time, and he'd've scripted them that way if he wanted them.

If you can post links to any contradicting statements and not vagueries or ambiguities then I'll defer, but coming from a diehard there was never any blatant contradicting statements.  Most of the changes he made were for bridging purposes - he sees all six movies as one, so, sure he changes Boba's voice to match his CLONE Jango's.  Could he have done that in '80 or even '97?  No, how could he?  Jango wasn't cast yet.  The CGI effects and monsters were perhaps to try and make the transition between the OT and the PT less jarring.  Most of the changes, I believe, were in this vein - he sees all six as one story and he's trying to make them more fluent.  The others, like Greedo shooting first, are probably issues that he's had for a while that he decided, "...hey, I WROTE the Han Solo character and I know his motivation and having him shoot first was a mistake and that's always bugged me, so I'll change it..."  Hey, some may like it and some may not, oh well.

OK, here is my spin, for better or worse.

I saw all these films when they originally came out. I was at THE right age to enjoy them. I was 11 when I saw New Hope in 1977. Now that I am 40, I look back upon those initial viewings with great nostalgia.

I say that above to provide a little history for my opinion of these DVD's. First off, have never been torn up about the SE's or the lack of the original theatrical releases being on DVD (own the VHS). Quit frankly I find it sad that so many need to have them on DVD to be able to remember back. I have my memories and that is all I have needed. No matter how many times I watch the films now, even on VHS in original theatrical editions, it never is like when I first saw them. So I have seen no point in requiring them in theatrical form on DVD when no matter which version they are, it will never be like it was back in 77, 80 and 83. To me, if you need the original versions on DVD to appreciate these films, you never really appreciated them in the first place. Effects changes do not change a story. The story of these films have never been altered with these changes. If you say Han shooting first changes his character, I say B.S. on that. His character is established through his interaction with Chewi, Luke and Leia. None of which has been altered one bit.

Lucas is the creator of this story, not any of the arm chair quarterbacks out there who think they are. Yeah, we put down the money and continue to, but these are his stories. They are his to do with however he feels. If he says the original theatrical version doesn't exist, then for him, it doesn't. The SE's are his vision of what the films would look like. Some I say stop hating just because you are not him. He has put in the time and creative force to create these, not you. So get over it!!

I am glad that Lucas is putting these out in 2.1. Serves the purists right for saying they wanted these films in their original form on DVD. I find it funny that those same "purists" now want to moan and cry the fact that the films are not presented in 5.1. I say Lucas should have put these out with a mono track and every bit of scratch and imperfection. Because that is how we saw them back in the day. If we are going to stand on our purist platform and cry about the desecration of art by altering effects, then we must be willing to go full steam ahead. Funny thing is, those same purists start jumping off the bandwagon when you talk like that.

I will buy these, not because I have to have them to be able to complete my memories. I will buy them simply because I am a fan and don't have this version on DVD. I will not spit at Lucas for being greedy or egotistical maniac. Who is more greedy or egotistical? The person who created the story, worked their whole filmmaking life on it? Or the ones that didn't create the story or worked their whole life on it, yet see fit to just because they plunked down some money WILLINGLY take ownership and dictate what is or isn't right about them?

 

ticktock wrote: He listens to fans and he DOES try to give them what they want - everyone cried after EPISODE I about Jar-Jar and so in the next two prequels he gets next to no screen time.
"AP: Do you pay much attention to fan reactions to your choices?

Lucas: Not really. "

I think that's pretty blatantly stating that he DOESN'T listen to fans...

"AP: Why not release both the originals and special editions on DVD?

Lucas: The special edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it."

This is cold and arrogant in a wholly different way.

Still, Gabe:
"Changing your mind or not foreseeing every single turn your organic creation may take is not the same as lying."
No, that isn't, but saying there have "always" been nine episodes, then "always" six IS lying.
So is claiming that "Revenge of the Jedi" was a fake title to mess with marketing, when official theatrical posters say it.
So is claiming the prequels were already fully scripted.
According to some, so is claiming ANY sequels OR prequels were intended prior to the first film's success in 1977.
He has consistently blatantly lied, and there are no two ways about it.
If you think he's every right to change the film, I think that's definitely a personal belief and I have no intention to argue that at all--though I think that strangely enough, everyone who responded to that commented by saying "But once it's out of my hands..."--which is the case here. Yes, he still owns it and can legally make the changes, but he has released it to the public and there is a certain sort of 'ownership' to it in that way. Unofficial and non-legal and debatable, certainly, but it is there.
But even beyond that; how is he changing 'his' work in RotJ or ESB? He didn't script them. He didn't direct them. Sure, they're based around his characters, and events he (supposedly) had written.
That makes a pretty big difference as compared to those of you who paint or write something and want to go back and change it. It's more like you gave someone else your canvas with a rough sketch and then you said "no no, this is all wrong," and corrected *their* mistakes.
Or Rick Baker's wolfman mask, or the actors who are covered up and dubbed over...
I suppose the point is that my disagreement is not over 'rights' in a legal or proprietal sense, but in the sense of being responsible to the people who gave you the millions of dollars you used to do this to these films. Give us the damn option at least.
So, does he have the "right"?
Sure. Absolutely.
I don't really disagree with that at all.

But I've also got every right to think it is completely the wrong thing to do.
Though honestly my complains stem almost exclusively from Morrison's overdubbed lines and the insertion of Hayden Christensen.
The prequels ruined my taste for Star Wars enough as it is, trampling all over the history set up by the EU--which would be ok if I thought they were worth a damn. I personally thought all three were c**p and I don't want anything to do with them. I want to be able to watch those original 3 films without having to be reminded of the more recent atrocities. Especially without good reason. Why does Boba Fett have to sound like Jango Fett? OK, we know of one reason he "should"--but why couldn't his voice have been damaged between now and then? Or the helmet is affecting his voice? Is that change REALLY necessary?
Many have commented--and I agree--that Anakin doesn't have to look like Hayden, because Anakin redeemed himself at the end. It's a silly change that's unnecessary and has little to do with improving effects based on technology.

I don't say this as a fanboy, as I say, the prequels pretty much killed my love for star wars. While I was glad to see news of these releases, I just don't feel any burning passion to get a hold of them anymore. I dunno. I just feel like I can respect those that like the changes or don't mind them (hey, it's YOUR viewing experience) but everyone just talks c**p about those of us who don't want them. What's so bloody wrong with wanting to watch the damn movie we want to watch?
My personal issues with Lucas do not stem from his decision to make changes (though I DO think that was a stupid decision, as I've said, it is his to make) but from his attitude toward fans and from his habit of blatantly lying constantly. I'd accept the changes a lot more if he weren't saying he "always" wanted them to be like this--something that IS a lie. MAYBE he always wanted the effects to look more fluid and to have some more creatures wandering about, but he can't possibly have "always" wanted Greedo to shoot first, or "always" wanted Hayden to be in there (or, for that matter, a young Anakin at all...) or "always" wanted Boba Fett to sound a certain way--because those things (outside of Hayden specifically and Morrison's specific voice) were completely possible at the time, and he'd've scripted them that way if he wanted them.
If you don't mind that he lied, good enough. But don't deny that he did.

Dave Brock wrote: HA!  At last I can upgrade to DVD!

Bloody good job it's May 4th and not April 1st!
Damn straight, man.  I saw this news post, and I was like, "this is bulls**t."  One of those too good to be true moments because Lucas has been such a jag-off about the original versions.  Anyway, I'm definitely gonna be pre-ordering this because it'll go faster than the original set because of the limited release period.

You sleep through a whole day, and you miss out the biggest DVD news of the week.

-NJM

I think most of these complainers are just p**sed because they know they are gonna shell out and buy this version too. You can't blame Lucas, yeah it sucks the way marketing works, but like some people have said before, you DON'T have to buy them. Honestly set done the xbox controller and put down the cheetos, everything is going to be okay.

I for one respect Lucas for going back and finishing HIS movies. Yes, they are HIS movies no matter what you creepy fanboys think. As an artist and a filmmaker myself I would love to have the opportunities Lucas has to contailly fix and perfect his opus.

BOUT F**KING TIME.

Cool. Will be awesome to see the original versions on DVD. We will definately be getting these.

I swear none of you are satisfied.  You cry and cry and cry and moan about the "Originals" not being released on DVD and then when they finally are you find something else to moan about: "Oh, what's with the 2.0 Surround Sound?  Where's the extra features?"  You put out signed petitions to get this thing out and when old man Lucas finally caves you give him grief for doing so.  I think it's just the culture of the internet fanboy - never satisfied.  My take is this: when he said that the original, unaltered editions would never be released he really  meant it, but then people started going bonkers and signing petitions and calling him out on every forum and so he finally caves...and he didn't do it completely, in my estimation.  The whole 3-month limit for this thing is basically him saying, "Okay you whiny b@stards, you hounded me and wouldn't let up so you've got three months to get this thing and then I never want to hear about it again!"  I mean, really, how could this be a money grab?  %98 of the population out there are perfectly fine with the editions they have now and won't double dip - he's doing this specifically for the vocal, whiny fanboys who'll form the small percentage of sales for this thing.  Really, why else would Lucas only keep this thing out for three months then?  He listens to fans and he DOES try to give them what they want - everyone cried after EPISODE I about Jar-Jar and so in the next two prequels he gets next to no screen time.  He wanted to wait for the 30th anniversary of SW and after the prequels before releasing the OT on DVD but people started the petitions and the whining and so he gave in.  Don't blame Lucas - if you own eight editions of the trilogy than that's your fault.  Last I check old man Lucas wasn't standing behind you at Wal-Mart with a gun to your head.  For me, I'd be happy to plunk down for any extra versions of SW.  I love SW and more product is better than none, IMHO. If you don't feel the same way then by all means PASS ON THIS EDITION!  If not then please shut your moaning, crybaby mouths!

I'm glad the original versions of the OT are coming to DVD, but I want the deleted scenes.   I didn't buy the special editions on DVD and only own Empire on VHS back from 1991.  I do have some Star Wars magazines and comics and the West End role playing game.  used to have over 60 of the action figures.

I'm not disagreeing with the abrupt change in plans, it is fishy, and I suspect that Lucas had less to do with it than everyone here seems to think. The misinformation is a problem.

But I still stand by my statement about artist, including writers. I pretty much hate every review I've writen about two days after I write it and it is simply the fact that the reviews no longer belong to me (and my laziness) that keeps me from constantly changing them. Maybe I'm different than most writers that way, but I doubt it. Lucas just happens to have not let himself move on after creating his third public work. That's f**ked up, but for psychological reasons.

I suppose I take it a little personally when fans attack Lucas like they do because I relate to him more than I'd like to admit, and have a feeling I'd do things very simular to him. I also stand by my statements that fans take this all WAY to personally.

I think creative types that spend the money to make films for themselves are allowed a certain ammount of arrogance when it comes to their work. I also think that Lucas never asked for legions of fan boys harping on his every word as if they were related. Though arguments could be made in the cases of Empire and Jedi, I'm still impressed that he's kept these things his own. I don't like many of the changes, but I do respect his claim to them. And he, like the rest of us, is allowed to change his mind. Changing your mind or not foreseeing every single turn your organic creation may take is not the same as lying. And I think that fans tend to lay claim to things which they donot own. If you don't like the Prequels, then you don't like the prequels. Lucas didn't make them to spite you. Take that as you will.

Also, as a painter, I have to say that I'm not satisfyed with any of my paintings, and go back to the ones I still own quite often. One shouldn't presume they know the difinative answer to a question as broad as Lucas'. Most artists stop because they are exhusted or have moved on to other work. The ones who think they've finished are usually the most arrogant.

Jurgie1979 wrote: Errmm. . .

I don't have a problem with Mr. Lucas. He's a businessman as well as a film-maker and he's very talented in both arenas.
I'm reluctant to claim talent in his film-making, since I feel there's a decline in quality as he becomes more involved (RotJ and ESB are my favourites, both being scripted AND directed by others, ANH is next and there's rumour he recieved a lot of help like dialogue polishing...and then the rest are c**p and his fingers are DEEP. Hmm....). Obviously you are completely capable of disagreeing with the lot cause it's all opinion, but anyway:

The only issue I REALLY take with the man is his arrogance.
He said in an interview "There's VHS if they want it."
I really can't find a way to see that that doesn't make him an enormous jerk.
And then the comment about "If [such and such a painter] had a chance, don't you think he'd go back and paint more?"
And the answer is, of course, NO. They have the technology to do everything they want, and eventually they stop. Some have been quoted as saying "You have to find the point where the painting reaches its end, even if you aren't satisfied."

Furthermore, if he "ALWAYS" wanted to make these (Like there were "always" 1...er...3...er...9...er...6...movies...all of which he has claimed...well, 1 not so much claimed, but still) movies like they exist, why didn't the novelizations or scripts or what have you include some of this s**t? Who cares what voice comes out of Boba Fett? that's sort of a double edged sword, because I DO care that it was changed to associate it with a c**ppy movie, but why does it make so much difference to him? Why is he c**pping on Jeremy Bulloch's work as an actor?
Why does he claim that the "Revenge of the Jedi" thing was a hoax when the OFFICIAL POSTERS SENT TO THEATRES said it?

The man is an arrogant liar, plain and simple. As long as everyone knows that, even if you don't care, that's something, I think. Just don't fool yourself. He lies. A lot.

Errmm. . .

I don't have a problem with Mr. Lucas. He's a businessman as well as a film-maker and he's very talented in both arenas.   I also don't get too bent out of shape by the special edition changes - sure, I close my eyes every time Greedo shoots first and I positively have to skip past the entire "Jedi Rocks" debacle - but I do enjoy seeing the Jabba/Han confrontation at Mos Eisly - and it's great to have Ian Mcdiamird now in Empire instead of the bumpy-faced guy. I'm not sure at this point whether or not I'll be picking these up - sure, they have the versions of the films that I grew up on - but since I was born in 1982 and only caught Jedi in the theater as a toddler (no joke, my parents took me along with my older brother) - the versions that I first saw on the big-screen were the Special Editions, so they hold a certain nostalgia (I grew up with edited and commercial-infested taped off of TV versions of the trilogy - so the whole big-screen thing was a big deal for me.)
The real question is whether or not my wife will let me put out the money for movies we already have. Ideally, I'd like to wait for the Megaset with the digital Yoda replacing the really bad puppet from Phantom Menace. But, we'll see how the prices are and how spiffy and irresistable the artwork is (I'm a sucker for great artwork.)

P.S. - I sure hope they don't feel the neccisity to release these in both full-screen and wide-screen. Is there any idiot out there who purposely buys half a movie? Full-screen is artistic rape - and when studios dabble in it they're only indulging an ignorant and misguided populace.  

Wow. 4-disc set in 2004, 3-disc set in 2005, 6-disc set in 2006. I'm curious what they'll include for the 2007 and 2008 boxed sets. All six films? Then all 6 in 3D. Fox, why didn't you get it right the first time. And Lucas...go screw yourself with a Nerf Crotchbat.

Quote: Now I know what you're going to say, "What about all these double- and triple-dips of movies when some movies don't even have a initial release?"  Well, there's obviously a demand for them, otherwise the studios wouldn't bother releasing them.  Why release something that won't make any money?

I'm sure we'll all be running down to the store to pick up our copies of Not Another Teen Movie: Unseen. There was plenty of demand back in 2004 when the DVDs were released, not to mention years prior to that. Did they release them? No. Releasing these now is fairly cynical, especially as they're bare-bones discs. Nice that they're coming out at the same time as a new Star Wars toy line and a video game as well.

With that said, I'll probably still buy them. I don't have to like Lucasfilm's marketing tactics though.

Rick McGrath wrote: Just to let you people know, Lucasfilm IS planning to release the SW saga on Blu-ray disc around this time next year, and it will include the above trilogy in original condition, with EXTRA features that are not on this release...what those extras are?? I would have to kill you once I tell you. Although I am probably already in deep with what I have said.

The problem is BluRay may not exist at this time next year.

David, or Lincolnecho, or what ever name you're going by these days, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR POLITICS. Quit making everything about conservatives VS liberals. I agree with most of what you say about Lucas' supply and demand, and I agree that people complain too much about these things, but you seriously need to quite pushing your political bulls**t on the forums. Either that or you know, quit making baseless, uneducated claims. I can't believe you haven't been banned yet.

-Gabe, the F**king Socialist.

AIDIE wrote: can't we just demand DTS releases as well, skip the comentary tracks add optional DTS , a isolated music score in 5.1 or a bonus dvd-audio or sacd soundtrack

There is no 5.1 mix for the original unaltered triology.  I doubt Lucas is going to take the time to remix the existing stereo mix to 5.1 for the unaltered trilogy since he already done something similiar for the SEs.  Besides, if it doesn't come with the original soundtrack, it isn't really the unaltered trilogy that most fans want.

can't we just demand DTS releases as well, skip the comentary tracks add optional DTS , a isolated music score in 5.1 or a bonus dvd-audio or sacd soundtrack

Can we please knock off the "this is just another trick to make money" bulls**t?

If you people should learn one thing in your life, it's that people produce things because consumers WANT them.  If nobody wanted them, they wouldn't be produced.  Now I know what you're going to say, "What about all these double- and triple-dips of movies when some movies don't even have a initial release?"  Well, there's obviously a demand for them, otherwise the studios wouldn't bother releasing them.  Why release something that won't make any money?

Is this a greed thing?  Only if you a f**king Socialist and you hate it when the "people" make more money than the f**king government does.  Ha!  Gotcha there!  Can you tell me one thing that the government produces that MAKES them money?  As in profit?  Nothing.  This is why governments usually go bankrupt in a short time when they try to provide a service or good.  Without a profit incentive, they're just going to go broke as the demand increases.  Let the free market work and it'll be better for all of us.

Lucas has decided to release these because it's what some people want.  It's called DEMAND.  Not because he just wants to make some more money.  

Why are oil companies making lots of profits?  Because DEMAND is at an all time high.  They just happen to be selling a commodity that a lot of people want.  This is the same reason why there's no one selling buggy-whips anymore.

Adrian wrote: C.H. U.D. wrote: Woohoo!

I can now point and laugh at my friends who wasted their money on the previous box sets because "The originals will never be released", and now I'll be able to get both versions at the same time.

Never say never when it comes to money.

But you won't get the bonus disc that was included in that set.

The Bonus disc wasn't that great, the documentry on it was already broadcasted on TV.

I still want some kind of branching version where I can pick some of the redeux bits (redone Death Star run, cloud city, etc), but axe others (Greedo shooting first, the Jabba scene, the f**king musical number in Jedi). Maybe with an HD release. I'm going to find it very hard to re-buy these films just to buy them again when the price of HD drops and the hardware works. Maybe just Jedi (those changes have always bugged me the most).

So, we finally get the original versions, and the tweaked versions on one disk, and that will satisfy all.

Are these simply going to be the Special Editions, or the Special Editions 2, or are they going to be further altered?

IMHO, I liked 98% of the changes from original to the latest releases.  I will pick these up, just to have 'em, but at the end of the day, I will probably watch the updated stuff when it comes down to the choice of what to put in the 'ol DVD player.

Steven Carrier wrote: OK, so this announcemnt is great but why the hell are they available for such a short period of time! September through December, WTF. You would think that Fox would make these the definitive editions of the films on DVD, not some special limited editoins. People are going to go crazy over these. Mabye I should pre-order them!
My guess is it'll be cheaper for them since they'll just have to dedicate a small window to duplication and it'll create hype/demand for the product so they'll make loads in a very short space of time - after all, I doubt anyone that has a passing interest in the series will wait around until the release is available at bargain prices because by then it'll be gone and selling on eBay for multiple times the price.

£ukasz D wrote: i stupid wuestion...what is the difference betwen Thetrical releas and the 2004 remastered ???????? is the film longer or what ???

It is a bit of an odd question. Here is the answer:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

As for the new discs, yes they will have commentaries (the 2004 versions that is) and the transfers will be as they were in '93. This is according to comments made by Jim Ward, who also had this bit of spin to offer:

Quote: This new set of DVDs does not constitute "George changing his mind," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "What we've always said is George viewed the revised versions of the films as the definitive versions."

Yeah, whatever.

Lincoln6Echo wrote: Oh one more thing...can we please stop using the ridiculous word "c**ppy"?  It's sounds we're all a bunch of children who are afraid to cuss in front of our parents or teachers.

Try using the word "lousey".  It means the same thing and it doesn't get censored.  Not to mention that it portrays that one has a slightly more mature vocabulary that throwing around the word "c**p" all the time.

Hey, f**k that bulls**t. If I wanna f**king curse and s**t, ill f**kin curse all the motherf**king time b***h!

Woohoo!

I can now point and laugh at my friends who wasted their money on the previous box sets because "The originals will never be released", and now I'll be able to get both versions at the same time.

Never say never when it comes to money.

WidscreenEys wrote: ************************************************************

Wait so this includes the trilogy version that came in the black and silver box  AND  the new original cuts?

************************************************************

In the words of C-3PO, is English a second language to you?

Yes, these new versions will include the 2004 SE+ versions AND the original un-altered '77, '80, and '83 theatrical versions.  So all the little cry babies can have their cake and eat it too.

Me, I don't care.  I like the SE+ versions and wished they'd go even further with some of the CG enhancements.  The only scene that I don't really care for is the Jedi Rocks song in Jabba's palace, only because it breaks up the pace the original verison had.

£ukasz D wrote: i stupid wuestion...what is the difference betwen Thetrical releas and the 2004 remastered ???????? is the film longer or what ???

Surely you jest?

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 9 years, Lucas added CG effects into the film back in '97.  The 2004 remastered versions went through Lowrey Digital 4K-res clean-up and further enhancements were made as well.  However, there are still some complaints that the enhancements weren't universal.  For example, changing hues of lightsabers during certain duels.  The ROTJ Luke/Vader duel is such one, where the contrast on the saber blades seems to keep changing from shot to shot, making Vader's saber look like a soft pink rather than a white-ish red (white blade, red glow).

************************************************************

Wait so this includes the trilogy version that came in the black and silver box  AND  the new original cuts?

************************************************************

It's about time.

And if Lucas said "the original versions don't exist anymore", then this proves he was lying.

Now if we can get him to release the Star Wars Holiday Special (just for the camp value) on DVD.

HD releases in 18 months time?

Oh I get it. These are the ORIGIONAL versiond minus all those stupid little added CG creatures and stuff. I still dunno if I'll be picking one up. Star Wars was great but can we ever just move on???

Can't believe this is happening, but I'll be glad to revisit the original versions. I, like most, have been irritated by some of the changes, but pleased by others. It will be nice to just hit the reset button.

Let's set the record straight. The first home video presentation of the trilogy to contain Dolby 5.1 was the LaserDisc release of the 1997 Special Editions which contained, as so many of you eloquebtly put it, all the digital c**pola. Every previous LaserDisc presentations was just standard Dolby Surround (albeit in fabulous 16-bit digital PCM).  Lucas and company pretty much wrote the book on surround sound mixing. Even in the earliest days of home theater, some c**ppy VHS copy of Star Wars was often used to show off one's equipment. With the advances in matrixed Dolby Surround decoding these days, such as Dolby Pro-Logic IIx, rest assured that the 2.0 soundtracks will sound just as great. And keep in mind that in 1977, most people saw Star Wars in MONO!

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.

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.

Appropriate day for this announcement.

'May the fourth be with you.'

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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