Nash, TN Star Wars DVD Thread

This is just a recap for those who don't regularly look at the DVD threads, of news Scott posted this morning from the TFN Headlines:

Just following up information to your stories about the Classic Trilogy on DVD; our upcoming releases bulletin lists Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as being released by 20th Century Fox on November 4th, 2004. This information came to us via FOX themselves, so it's 99% reliable.
One other note, prices won't be known for sure until approximately 3 months before release. And as of today they're listed as separate releases; there's no Star Wars trilogy box set listed though it will be released, presumably. I thought it was interesting as Indy isn't available separately.

Thanks Kir!

 

This from Rebelscum.com:

Star Wars 2004 Revealed At London Toy Fair
Our man on the ground called in to report that TLC Marketing plc, Lucasfilm's chosen promotions partner in Europe, made a private, hour-long presentation to the British toy industry in an attempt to raise interest and awareness of the Star Wars license.
Though not as info-packed as the one held in California in October of last year, TLCs address did include the following:
-The official proclamation that the Special Editions of Episodes 4, 5 and 6 would be released on DVD format in October/November of this year,

 

FINALLY!!! However, I may have to purchase a DVD-R this year so I can transfer my original (non-special ed.) Star Wars trilogy LaserDiscs to DVD as it seems pretty evident that Lucas has no intention of rereleasing them with DVD versions.

 

Odd that other websites have not picked up on this yet. And there is still no report on StarWars.com.
Could this be just another rumor...

Well, as always, wait and see.

 

Well I don't know if it's rumor, but the 1st page of this thread noted a November 4th release date from Fox.

 

From TF.N 2/05/04:

We've received information from a reliable source that an official announcement regarding the much rumored Trilogy DVD is expected soon. Our source says next Tuesday (2/10) will bring official word that the Special Edition versions of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return Of The Jedi will be released in a four disk set on September 21 of this year. No mention was made of additional footage, or the contents of the fourth disk, but more information will likely be known next week.

Keep your ears peeled for the big news!

 

ITS OFFICIAL!!!

The Most-Requested DVD Ever Is Finally Available In September When the STAR WARS TRILOGY Comes to DVD for the First Time

Four-Disc Set Includes All Three Movies, Digitally Restored and Remastered, an All-New Documentary and Never-Before-Seen Footage


All of the unforgettable heroism, villainy and epic adventure of George Lucas's STAR WARS trilogy comes to the ultimate home-entertainment format for the very first time around the world this September from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, ending the wait for the most-anticipated DVD release ever. The four-disc collection will be released on Sept. 21 in the U.S. and Canada, with international release dates following closely.

"We know how long fans have waited for this release and how much they have been looking forward to it, so everyone has been working overtime to make sure that the STAR WARS TRILOGY on DVD is an awesome experience," said Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution for Lucasfilm Ltd. and the DVD collection's Executive Producer.

The STAR WARS TRILOGY tops the list of "cinephiles' most-requested titles never released on the format," according to a May 2003 E! Online report. Further, the three STAR WARS TRILOGY films -- "Star Wars: A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" -- also hold the top three spots on Amazon.com's "most-requested DVDs" list.

"Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" will be available in a four-disc set that includes a bonus disc filled with all-new special features -- including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced about the Star Wars saga and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films. Each of the three films in the STAR WARS TRILOGY has been digitally restored and re-mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.

"First and foremost, the DVDs will deliver the very best possible sound and picture and take advantage of everything the medium can offer. On top of that, we are creating added-value material that gets inside the creation of the Star Wars films in a fresh and fun way," Ward said. "We want watching this DVD collection to be as memorable as seeing the movies for the first time."

The films of the STAR WARS TRILOGY will be available exclusively as a collection and will feature Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. All three films are closed-captioned and subtitled in English, French and Spanish in the U.S. Internationally, sound and subtitling specifications will vary by territory.

 

Well, many DVD industry people predicted a Tuesday announcement and now we have it! Now we'll have to wait on details about the extras and which version(s) will be released, as The Digital Bits put it: the original theatrical versions, the 90s special editions or the ultimate "archive" editions?

 

Yup..It was nice to hear first thing this morning on my alarm clock radio. Q-108 was talking about the DVD release and also mentioned the Star Wars characters that helped them at the toy drive in December...that was nice that they are still thinking about us. I know we left an impression.

 

dvdreview.com is reporting that it will indeed be the 1997 SE versions of the film. However, since the official release (as other websites have noted) did not mention which versions would be included (although deep down we all know where GL is probably going to be headed) this is mild rumor. No idea where dvdreview's info is coming from. Stay tuned!

 

Regardless of the versions, I'm in line for it!

 

Regardless of the versions, I'm in line for it!

That's a long wait in line between now and September 21st. Maybe you can use Hayden as a placeholder if you need to go eat, use the restroom, etc.

 

I at least hope the format is the same as episode 1 and 2. It would be nice to have the same menu selections with different openings with original trilogy stuff. If so what would they be? Episode 4 would most likely have The death star and tatooine. Episode 5 would have hoth, dagobah and bespin and Episode 6 would have tatooine again the death star2 and endor.

How many of you have bootleg DVD's or VCDs? I have a set of VCDs from Australia in the special edition format...not that good and I wish it was widescreen, but still I've had it for about 2 years. Do you think they have waited too long and people won't need this set new set?

 

Maybe you can use Hayden as a placeholder if you need to go eat, use the restroom, etc.

Thanks for reminding me, Dylan. Hayden is too fidgity (18 months). Guess I'll bring along the ACME port-a-potty just in case. And hey, who needs to go eat when you got your left arm to gnaw on? (unless your left-handed, then use your imagination....)

 

This is from an AP article:
The versions on DVD will feature only the special editions, LucasFilm spokeswoman Lynn Hale said.

Even though many fans of the original movies had hoped the rougher, unaltered films would also be provided, Ward said there wasn't much debate about whether to release the unaltered originals.

"The official definitive versions are the 1997 special editions. That's the version the artist, in this case George Lucas, intended to be seen," he said.

 

The Starwars.com official newletter arrived in my email today. The official word is that the Special Edition is the only version that will be offered on DVD.

 

The Starwars.com official newletter arrived in my email today. The official word is that the Special Edition is the only version that will be offered on DVD.

Funny, because the official newsletter I received basically contained the same text as the announcment on starwars.com. There were mentions of special features, but there was no mention of the SE's.

Now, after noting that...good work Glenn on spotting that AP report. Also, the Ch.4 morning news (Toymaster's own!) had Jimmy Carter (for non-Nashville area people, that is not the former President & house builder) reported on the DVD release and stated that the SE's would be the version b/c GL felt it was his right to withhold the original theater versions. I have also seen some reports that Lucasfilm has at least rethought the Greedo fires first scene, but it still may be included.

September will be here before we know it!

 

C'mon folks - don't lose heart.

The marketing geniouses at Lucasfilm will hopefully persuade the Great Flannelled One to include the originals in the Deluxe Box Set of all six films - kind of a reverse - Director's Uncut.

Both versions on each disk - you decide which one to watch from the menu. No commentaries.

After all, who would buy the Deluxe Box Set of the entire Saga in the Fall of 2007 if I through VI was just a rehash collection in a new box?

Then again, I bought the Blue boxed Trilogy VHS with the hologram and 'Making Of' video and mini book which was just a rehash of the simple boxed set in the black box from the previous year, which I also have.

Hmmmmmmm......then again... there's the Special Edition silver boxed set from '97 and then the re-issued full color box set from 2001 which are gathering dust in the cabinet.

Okay I take it back.

They'll dump all six DVDs into a cool printed box, toss in a color booklet, a film frame from ancient prints (collect them all - one Film Frame in specially marked boxed sets, trade with your freinds!), a miniature folded poster depicting each of the release posters from the saga, a letter from the Flannelled One Himself stamped with GL's signature in foil, a coupon book for exclusive Star Wars re-released and overstocked merchandise, a color card begging your Star Wars Fanclub membership and a partridge in a parsec tree.

Sheesh - one could only wish he'd take a cue from Peter Jackson and stroke the fans like Jackson did for the Extended LOTR's DVDs, and give us everything. I mean EVERYTHING - from the sketches and story treatments from 1974-75; the complete Ralph McQuarrie, Doug Chiang portfolios; new and old interviews with cast and crews; every shred of documentary 'making of' footage; the complete Bigg's/Tatooine - Snowtroopers/Wampas - Sandstorm and Vader choking Royal Guards cut scenes from the trilogy; Videography of making models, pyrotechnics, costumes, 'B' roll film takes; music scoring sessions; Concert footage of JW conducting SW music, the remastering of the films for the Special Editions; a new interview with GL explaining how he got from StarKiller to Skywalker - what he intended for episodes VII-IX, what he originally envisioned in the story arc and what and why he modified and changed in the story along the way; ALL the theatrical trailers, teasers, toy commercials and poster concepts; and last but not least: the dreaded 1977 Holiday Special.

Call it the Ultimate Saga Edition and I be glad to plunk down a few greenbacks for it.....again.

 

In other words, take great care of this trilogy boxed set of the original trilogy so that come late 2005 or 2006 (if desired) we can regift it.

I actually doubt that GL will release the original editions again as the Special Editions were toted as "The way they were intended to be seen". To do so would be to admit that the changes he made to the originals were, er um, less than perfect. Which I think they were positive in the case of adding special effect such as the Dewbacks, the space battles, the approach to Cloud City, & the ending Celebration of ROTJ. And of course, the restoration of the film being positive goes without saying. A couple of major exceptions are Greedo shooting first (ANH), Luke screaming as he is falling (ESB), & the minor changes that didn't add to the films integrity such as the changing of minor dialogue in ESB, specifically Luke's line to R2, "You're lucky you don't taste very good", to "You were lucky to get out of that one." and my least favorite change which is Vader's dialogue change from, "BRING MY SHUTTLE!", to "Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival." And then cutting away to a piece of film of Vader arriving on the Second Death Star from ROTJ & using it for his arrival on the Star Destroyer. We know he reached his Star Destroyer before our heroes escaped, we didn't need to watch his shuttle dock with it too. It also messed up the timing of the original music too.

Either way, I'm currently planning on transfering my original edition STAR WARS boxed laserdisc set to DVDs, once I get a DVD-R (by the end of the year- I hope). But, like almost all of you still plan on buying the DVDs when they are released in September.

 

Can't forget how the Max Rebo Band somehow became the Electric Mayhem and the Sarlacc Pit turned into Audrey II!

Well, you can figure that if George Lucas lives to be 80 years old, we'll have the classic editions on DVD (or whatever the medium is by then) sometime in...2025.

 

"FEED ME SEYMORE!!!"
-Little Shop of Horros

Yup! 'Ol GL didn't know when to stop tinkering with perfection. I'm surprised he didn't try to insert Jar Jar in there somewhere like in Mos Eisley cantina...
"OBI, OBI, OBI, meesa thought yousa was dead! LOOKY, LOOKY, LOOKY IMPERIAL SANDTROOPERS! ITSA JEDI!!!"

This is why I will NEVER relinquish my original cuts of the trilogy on Laser Disc. They will make nice DVD transfers some day. I would love to take out the unecessary stuff reinserted from the Special Eds which would basically include almost everything NEW, especially Greedo Shooting first, the Jabba/ Han scene (Jabba looked terrible) & ALL the reinvented dialogue in ESB, especially "Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival". I didn't feel that ROTJ needed ANYTHING done to it except for the final celebrations at the end & the deletion of the YUB YUB song was a welcomed change in my opinion.

BTW, does anybody remember the radio version of this one with the goofy attempt at turning it into a rap song?!

 

The "YUB YUB" song was horrid. I'm glad it was removed. The new music there is much better. I never was a big fan of "Lapti Nek", but I did like "Jedi Rocks" and the dancers. I just wish they had fixed all the places in ROTJ where the film was flipped.

 

For those who missed it, the official site has posted the final artwork for the DVD cover. No matter what I do, the images just refuse to post. For the full story, here's the link: SW OT DVD

 

Looks like that have some embedded HTML to stop it. Let's try this:

[image=http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/03/img/20040322_1_bg.jpg]

[image=http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/03/img/20040322_2_bg.jpg]

 

The gold packaging looks pretty good. Too bad that's the fullscreen edition.

EDIT: Maybe I could get both boxed sets and throw away the FS DVD's...