What you'll get here are the 2-disc limited editions of the original trilogy in a handy-dandy box. What are the limited editions? Two disc packages that contain the recent special editions and a "bonus disc" for each film that contains the respective originals. And by originals, I mean the complete un-altered films the way audiences saw them back in 1977, 1980 and 1983. Even the added-in-'81 "A New Hope" in the title crawl of the first film is no longer there. It is simply STAR WARS. Simply put: these are the versions audiences (who were born before the 90s) fell in love with. These are the versions that made Star Wars a phenomenon. The versions that are worth a damn. Does anyone seriously know ANYBODY who prefers the special editions to the originals?
Unfortunately, these are still the same old non-anamorphic transfers. They look great (and are light years better than my fullscreen VHS tapes), but how much effort does it take to enhance these films for widescreen televisions? It's not messing with the legacy or "raping childhoods." It's simply updating the format for 2008. Even two years ago, when these editions were first released, letterbox was outdated. Get with the program, Georgie. These are not simply programs on a bonus disc. They're the films that made you a trillionaire. And they're the films everybody who buys this set wants.
Also unfortunate is that they're not including the bonus disc from the 2004 set of the special editions. However, if I had to choose between that set and this one, I'd go with this one all the way. Special features are nice, but it's the movies that count. I'd rather have bare-bones editions of the original trilogy than all the bells and whistles of the special edtions. Star Wars Trilogy
This box contains the previously released "limited edition" 2-disc sets, now in 3 slim-line cases, which means you get STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI in both the original theatrical versions (for the first time on DVD!) and the re-worked "special editions" from the mid 90's.
I purchased these mainly for the original theatrical versions and my comments relate to those versions only.
The Original Theatrical versions are in their original 2.35:1 Widescreen aspect, letterboxed within a 3x4 screen format - not anamorphic - which is clearly indicated on the packaging. You can view this "full-size" on your 16x9 TV by setting your DVD player's HDMI output to 3x4/pillar-box if necessary, and then setting your TV to "zoom" so that the screen is filled side to side with the picture. There will be slim black bars on the top and bottom, just as there are on anamorphic DVD's with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
Even with the zoom in effect, the picture is crystal clear and the color great. I'm using an upconvert DVD player with HDMI output (1080p), and a 50-inch plasma HD television. Some have said in reviews that the picture quality is poor, even "VHS quality", but that's totally false. I've read that the originals here were taken from the laser-disc masters done in the early 90's; well, they look great however they were sourced. The sound is Dolby 2.0 Stereo (as indicated on the package) and sounds excellent. I get some center-channel and sub-woofer action as well as the stereo music and sound-effects on my system.
If a blu-ray/HD version is ever issued, that will be great and an improvement; but this is the only way to get the original films on DVD at this time, and they look great, so this set is essential for fans who saw these movies in theatres when they were released between 1977 and 1983 and want to see them once again in their original glory.
I see this box set is getting a lot of bad reviews so I thought I'd chime in.
Most people giving it one star are just mad that there is another boxset release. This doesn't bother me at all. I never bought the other boxsets because of all the CG that was added, those aren't the movies I love.
People are also upset that the originals aren't in anamorphic widescreen and are poor transfers. Yeah an anamorphic version would have been nice and maybe they could have been retransfered, but these movies look a lot better than my old VHS set. Most likely these movies look better now than they did in the crappy theatar I saw them in.
In conclusion, this is a very affordable way to get all the original versions of the original trilogy, plus you get all the touched up versions.
Memo to George Lucas: I am not buying any more of your movies until you give us the REMASTERED films as they were ORIGINALLY. Han shoots first. Hayden Christiansen's ghost does not appear at the end of ROTJ. The original nub nub Ewok music is put back into the film, and the original Jabba's Palace band music is restored, etc. etc. Get the picture? You can do it, George. And don't tell us that the original negatives for these films no longer exist, because I don't believe you. If you think you are going to keep me buying and rebuying and rebuying the same product over and over and over again, then think again, because I'm not coming along for the ride.
I repeat: As soon as you release the original 1977, 1980, and 1983 versions of the films AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY - and they MUST be remastered - not grainy laserdisc transfers. Then, and ONLY then, can you have any more of my money.
Just give the fans what they want. Is that too much to ask?
How is it possible that I have now bought the exact same (well, almost) movies on video tape for now the FOURTH TIME? Yes, I'm one of those people who own the original letterbox release, the letterbox THX release, and the letterbox Special Edition box set. Now, as soon as Mr. Lucas announces yet another marketing of the Holy Trilogy, I'm there with my credit card on Amazon.com! Heck, I don't even BUY video cassettes anymore, I have a DVD player! Why do I keep shelling out hard earned dollars for the same movies?Well, if you really need to ask that question, you're obviously not a Star Wars fan. Without a doubt, there movies have become immortal for one reason: they have ressurected the myth genre. While the Greeks and Romans had their famous mythologies, Aesop had his fables, and the Britsh had King Arthur, the last generation of the 20th Century has Star Wars.We were raised on Star Wars. Dreams of becoming a Jedi were as common as future proffessions such as doctor or policeman back at my grade school. I doubt a day went by between my fourth and tenth years of life where the accolades of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, R2 and 3PO weren't acted out in my daily play with my friends. We didn't play "Cowboys and Indians." We played "Rebels and Imperials." We didn't have gun fights, we battled each other with whatever could substitute for a lightsaber.In retrospect, now that I'm all grwon up, I'm thankful for Lucas for what he gave me. These movies laid of a simple play of good versus evil. In the end, the quest for virtue will always triumph over the greed of evil. They also taught me that if you believe in yourself and have faith a higher power, you can accomplish anything. For this, you will see me ordering this trilogy every time it is released. Not just for the "Episode II Behind-The-Scenes" stuff, but basically to give the well-worn copies I already own a break. Thank you, Mr. Lucas. You've brought great joy into my life and helped to teach me the values I have today. Though I don't have children yet, I'm sure that when they come along, they will be living out the same fantasies I did a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...P.S. Where's the DVDs? - George Lucas - Science Fiction - Harrison Ford - Dvd'
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