http://starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html

Discuss!

Oh god yes. As much as I hate the idea that they are obviously doing it for yet more money, I will definatly buy it. Even if I have the OT SE DVD release already.

****. Yes.

This makes me glad I didn't shell out for the first DVD release.

Translation: People are pissing and moaning about wanting to see the "original" Star Wars on DVD, so that's exactly what they're getting.

I guarantee it'll just be a rush job to shut people up. It'll have crap picture without any remastering as well as crap sound, as is already indicated by "Dolby 2.0 Surround."

I personally think this is really funny. People want to piss and moan about the changes that technology has brought Lucas to modify his films to suit the modern age of cinema; so he's releasing the movies without ANY of the changes that modern technology offers. I hope it has the worst picture and sound imaginable.

People don't piss and moan about the sound and picture quality - in fact, that's praised in the updated films. However, making additions to the movies is not exactly that.

I know they praise the sound and picture. That's exactly my point. They complain about the additions, which, like the excellent remaster and sound mix, are afforded by modern technological advancements which were not available at the time. So since they whined about the additions, they're getting NONE of the additions.

If you watch any of these on a tv larger than 15 inches, you're going to see a major slouch in video quality. And if you're used to that THX 5.1 sound mix, then get ready to hear crappy audio like you have not heard since VHS.

As I said, I think this is really funny.

EDIT: What I'm saying is, this seems a lot like they're just trying to teach people a lesson. This is even indicated by the limited run of the release. They're only going to produce it for like 2 months? Yeah, sounds like they don't feel like dumping a lot of money into producing copies. It's just a rush job, like I said, to shut people up, and to show people why the special editions indeed are better in several ways.

If not for the entertainment, it would certainly make a good collectable item.

But we'll be able to sing with the Ewoks again!

I hate Ewoks. I hate their singing more.

I could care less if it's a rush job. I *want* it to look and sound like my old VHS copies. Now I won't run the risk of those wearing out so quickly.

I for one am just like Yecti. I want it BECAUSE it's unchanged. I have the good DVD Widescreen copies, but I'd love to have the original versions even more. Hell, I grew up on the crummy VHS versions with stereo sound. I can live with that on DVD.

OMFG I think I'm going to cry..

I've been waiting for this moment for like... 10 years..

I've been waiting for this for like...well ever since I learned about it.

*HAPPY DANCE*

Errrmm...

So much for buying the DVD's beforehand. Then again, the differences are truly minor. I don't enjoy the OT less because they didn't make Han shoot first; it was just an awkward change.

Naturally, I like the old ewok celebration. more ewoks.

This is certainly good, but there's probably something tricky going on so I won't ditch my bootlegs yet

And the pic in the article clearly shows a smoking Greedo and no blaster marks on the wall, so Han obviously shot first :em321:

Booooring!

I like the prequel trilogy way better.











:em321:

w00tage!

It's about time... my VHS copies are totally worn down lol.

welll, you asked for the original, you get the ORIGINAL. not the 95 remix with better sound, the original with sterio sound. also, you have to remember that these were probably taken from a copy of the film that was in the hands of a collecter who bought them somewhere. So the quality wont be that good as they will need to go and clean up the film and the sound.

also, my VHS copies of the 95 release of the OT are still in good condition. the only reason I would have to get those is so i can have the wide-screen version.

I want a restored version of the original, with improved sound/visuals, but all the original content.

Oh well.

I'm way beyond caring.

So I'm gonna post in this thread.

Yeah the truth here is you might as well have a bootleg version of the laserdisc. It's not going to be any different. It's really kind of sad when you think about it, but I still don't support anyone that bashes the special editions. I think they're fine the way they have been. Just leave it be. The special editions have only improved on the originals, and the fact of the matter is the only real complaint is that Han doesn't shoot first and A New Hope isn't exactly the best film in the series. If you disagree with the fact that the new dvd release of Empire Strikes Back is better than the original, then I'm sorry to say you're flat out wrong. The same goes with Return of the Jedi.

If you disagree with any of the above, you are wrong.

Am I the only one who feels slightly ripped off by Lucas for saying, "No, I won't release the original trilogy. Nevar!" and now changing to, "Well, now that you've all bought the DVDs you may buy the original trilogy, isn't that generous? Sorry, that I didn't tell you before. GIMME YOUR MONEY!"

Your all crazy, except for Bill. Oh and Vinny.
Impi's crazy, but not because of this thread.

Well if the DVDs really turn out being as bad as people think they will be then just protest some more. A year later, they will release another set for you to buy uncut and with updated sound.

Honestly, I don't think they'll release a half-assed product just as a metaphorical middle finger to whining fans as not only would that raise tons of hell but it would be an insult to DVDs in general. If they even tried to put anything else other than the updated THX versions as the transfer, it probably wouldn't make it through the process.

Granted, there is only 2.0 sound but they probably only have 5.1 sound made for the edited versions and doing 5.1 for the originals would delay it until after the Christmas season. I think they just released that they need something big during those months leading into the holiday and it would've taken too long to do any modifications with the prequels.

BUT, if it does turn out to be a POS product, just wait a year or two for the complaints to sink in and Lucas going $_$ to release a new uncut version with updated quality.

You had better believe this is going to be a half assed dvd release. Why would the sound be 2.0? There's no reason for that. There would NEVER be a THX certefied release in 2.0 surround. NEVER! It's just to get the fanboys off their backs. Other than Greedo shooting first, I don't have a singe god danmed problem with the special editions.

Although it would be sweet if they released a special edition of RotJ that made it so it didn't suck so badly. Meh, whatever. I just put the dvd in and I'm about to give it a 100th chance. See you in 2.5 hours with my report on whether or not it still sucks.

If it were a half-assed DVD release, not only would Lucas lose alot of money from fans but also from people picking it up in general as they would probably watch it and then return it thinking it's a bad copy.

It would be stupid business-wise to release such a crappy product. As for why it's being released in 2.0? Well I said my theory, and also theres alot of popular movies that are only in 2.0.

Look at from Lucas's view: why release the PERFECT edition...when you can include that later with the prequels in dual trilogy pack?

The video quality is not going to be horrible. They're using the touched up frames from the 97 release, just without the CGI additions.

I want a DVD that has Boba Fett speaking American English.

The only thing i dont like about the dvds I have are vaders pink lightsaber throughout the trilogy. :-\ How could they let him have a pink saber? In most places it looks worse than the saber in the original films.

It will be interesting to see what version it is. At any rate, it's being packaged with the re-mastered versions, so I'm sure anyone who buys it and is then offended by the 2.0 and lack of widescreen will watch those instead.

This was always going to happen, I just thought it'd happen after Lucas was dead and somebody wanted more money. I'm personally hoping they're as dirty as when I first saw them on VHS in c1990.

Bill, there are a lot of changes in the DVD version of ESB and RotJ that are undesirable. In ESB, Vader's entire conversation with the Emperor was mutilated, not to mention the way the Palpatine now looks: it was pathetic in RotS and looks no better here. Granted, old Green-face looked pretty bad too, but since the new version looks no better, it's just changing things for the sake of changing them. RotJ Palpatine is the only good Palpatine, as far as I'm concerned.

In RotJ, I've never been a fan of the SE ending sequence, but I suppose that's a matter of preference. The Rebel Alliance is still a ragtag band of freedom fighters, and a low-key celebration with the Ewoks feels much more fitting than mass celebrations throughout the galaxy. Then, to my mind, is the more grievous change of placing Hayden Christiansen in there as the ghost of Anakin. Not only does it recall the fact that he was just a whiney, poorly-acted loser in the PT, which hardly merits being "redeemed," but moreover it implies that Anakin Skywalker ceased to exist the moment he turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader. It was, in my opinion, a much more poignant moment to see that Anakin had been maturing and suffering inside of Darth Vader the whole time. It makes the whole redemption arc--incidentally the focus of all 6 movies--a little more meaningful.

But, no: I'm a whiney Star Wars fanboy who just likes to ***** about George Lucas raping my childhood. "I am wrong." Ok. Glad you think so.

Wait.... How does a lack of widescreen qualify them as the original theatrical version? Where does it even SAY that?

Yes, widescreen would be my only reason to buy them (and the higher lifetime).

I think I'll get the DVDs, rip them, and see if I can splice the 5.1 soundtrack onto it. Sure, it'd be a helluva lot of work, and there are still some scenes that would be in 2.0 anyway (like the old ewok celebration), but I think it'd be an interesting project at any rate.

Widescreen, 5.1, and better picture was about the ONLY reason I bought the last round on DVD. For this round I don't CARE about picture and sound. I have that, give me the original good stuff now. And since they're claiming theatrical release, to me that implies it IS widescreen.

Hmmm... kind of frustrating because I fairly recently caved in and bought the "special" edition or whatever DVDs. Not sure if I'm willing to buy them again.