Star Wars (US - DVD R1)
You thought it would never happen, but it is. Yup, the 'Original' films are incoming!
Title: Star Wars
Starring: Harrison Ford
Released: 12th September 2006
SRP: $29.98
Further Details:
The shock news today is that Lucasfilm and Fox Home Entertainment has announced plans to release the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy. In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 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. This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st, with each title priced at around $29.98. The International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.
News by Tom Woodward
Starring: Harrison Ford
Released: 12th September 2006
SRP: $29.98
Further Details:
The shock news today is that Lucasfilm and Fox Home Entertainment has announced plans to release the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy. In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 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. This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st, with each title priced at around $29.98. The International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.
News by Tom Woodward
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thedigitalbits mentioned, in it's rumor section, that they've some confirmation on a major 6-film release next year. There are no details, and of course there won't be until we saps buy this set, but I wouldn't be surprised if we got a thirteen or fourteen disc set that included the original versions.
I'll admit I'm a sap when it comes to both Star Wars and DVDs. I doubt I'll be able to resist buying these. I'll replace my 2004 keep cases with these three keep cases and stick them in the boxset with my bonus disc. Actually, when the soundtrack for Episode III came out with that musical journey DVD I swapped out my bonus disc keep case with a two-disc case that could hold both the original bonus DVD (with Empire of Dreams) and Star Wars a Musical Journey. It really worked well. So I'm used to altering the 2004 boxset and plan to do so again.
I'll admit I'm a sap when it comes to both Star Wars and DVDs. I doubt I'll be able to resist buying these. I'll replace my 2004 keep cases with these three keep cases and stick them in the boxset with my bonus disc. Actually, when the soundtrack for Episode III came out with that musical journey DVD I swapped out my bonus disc keep case with a two-disc case that could hold both the original bonus DVD (with Empire of Dreams) and Star Wars a Musical Journey. It really worked well. So I'm used to altering the 2004 boxset and plan to do so again.
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.
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.
"Actually, when the soundtrack for Episode III came out with that musical journey DVD I swapped out my bonus disc keep case with a two-disc case that could hold both the original bonus DVD (with Empire of Dreams) and Star Wars a Musical Journey."
Yeah, I did the same thing.
As for the price dropping: That is pretty risky. These things are not going to be on sale for long. By the time any price drop happens, who knows if you'll be able to find them. Limited Editions can be as rare as Jarhead, or easy to find as the Saving Private Ryan one.
Yeah, I did the same thing.
As for the price dropping: That is pretty risky. These things are not going to be on sale for long. By the time any price drop happens, who knows if you'll be able to find them. Limited Editions can be as rare as Jarhead, or easy to find as the Saving Private Ryan one.
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.
how can so many people fall for this obvious rip off of release after release of these movies, especially after Lucas down-right lied to all of the fans that these older versions were destroyed. Before the last release, that's exactly what he said, that they would never come out. This is obviously a final chance for them to make millions more from this trilogy before they do the exact same thing over again with high-definition. I understand that they are there to make money, but this all has been at the expense of the die-hard fans who have bought VHS, laserdiscs (3 different releases) and the original dvd set. And the saddest lie of all, that the original versions negatives were destroyed, how dumb does he think the public is? What person would EVER destroy the original negatives (over at THX yet) of their breakthrough top boxxofice hit? Come on. Sorry....I have better things to do with my hard earned money.
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.
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.
Not really worth it for me.
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.
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.
Well okay, interlacing/ghosting.
Menus now added for Empire Strikes Back...
Those menus are pretty ugly IMO!
Well I am a sucker I am buying them
Wow, the menus actually use ORIGINAL artwork. I'm impressed.
I don't care for the original theatrical releases, so I'm holding out for the 6-movie Anniversary Edition next year.
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.
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.
I can hold out til next year. I have my Special edition widescreen VHS Darth Vader box that look AWESOME to me for now. Why would I spend another $60 on something that I already have for unaltered originals that are inferior to todays standards.
As was mentioned earlier, You have to know that 100% of the original movies were remastered for picture and sound before the SPECIAL EDITIONS work was done on them. You know that those masters are still around and will show up sometime in the future in an anamorphic version with THX Sound and picture.
They will show NEXT YEAR in that 30th anniversary box set. I CAN WAIT!!!
As was mentioned earlier, You have to know that 100% of the original movies were remastered for picture and sound before the SPECIAL EDITIONS work was done on them. You know that those masters are still around and will show up sometime in the future in an anamorphic version with THX Sound and picture.
They will show NEXT YEAR in that 30th anniversary box set. I CAN WAIT!!!
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...
LOL...just caught this post...I'm not exactly sure how to take that...
I think these transfers ARE the THX transfers. The ones released around the same time as the THX VHS sets, only on Laserdisc. So they should look better than the THX VHS tapes, but that's still not that great unless your watching them on a 13" fullscreen TV. State of the art circa 1996 or whatever isn't that great these days.
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.
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: 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.
Ray of sunshine you are...hehe.
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.Ray of sunshine you are...hehe.
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 ?
My Star Wars disc shipped today. Should have it early next week if all goes well. I know at least one person who has them already, and although the resolution is s**t the colour rendition is actually quite pleasing (better than the 2004 DVDs anyway, although that's not hard).
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
-NJM
NickMichalak wrote: 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
Amazon has them all for 17.87 each. With free shipping, I'd say that's less than 60. Not a big margin, but still.
-NJM
Amazon has them all for 17.87 each. With free shipping, I'd say that's less than 60. Not a big margin, but still.
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.
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.
Were you guys hearing about a 30th anv. release? All I have heard about (from Steven Sansweet) was a 10th Anv. boxset with the prequels and the old. (2009 is ten years from TPM)
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.
Lucasfilm have had a big player in the DVD market for the last few years. 2001 saw The Phantom Menace, 2002 saw Attack of the Clones, 2003 saw Indiana Jones, 2004 saw the trilogy, 2005 saw Revenge of the Sith, 2006 sees the original unaltered trilogy...
Connect the dots. They're gonna want a major release for this time next year, there's no doubt of that, even if all they do is stick the 6 films in their current forms in a big box. But I'm hoping for a proper gift set with at least one disc of features specific to each film. One thing Lucasfilm do well on without question is a decent set of extras.
Connect the dots. They're gonna want a major release for this time next year, there's no doubt of that, even if all they do is stick the 6 films in their current forms in a big box. But I'm hoping for a proper gift set with at least one disc of features specific to each film. One thing Lucasfilm do well on without question is a decent set of extras.
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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)