Star Wars DVD Trilogy Reviewed

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jcdenton

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IGN has just reviewed the set. I was skeptical about some of the changes (still am about Hayden replacing Sebastian Shaw at the end of ROJ), but now I am almost certain that the movies look a whole lot better. I think I might just go pick this one up since my tapes are wearing out and I yearn watching this movie on a widescreen transfer.<br /><br />Here's the changes:<br /><ul type="square"><br /><b>Episode IV: A New Hope</b><li>Lots of matte lines removed. The space under Luke's speeder looks much more realistic.<li>R2D2's blue parts are much cleaner and more consistent.<li>The 1997 animation added to the entrance to Mos Eisley is much smoother.<li>Greedo and Han shoot at the same time, and Han's dodge is far more realistic.<li>Jabba has been retexturized and looks considerably better. Han still walks on his tail, but it's much smoother.<li>The lettering on various Death Star panels are written in Aurebesh rather than English. <li>The matte-painted hall in Leia's detention block looks much more realistic.<li>Lightsabers look much better. Colors are far brighter and the blades are more defined.<br /></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><br /><ul type="square"><br /><b>Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back</b><li>The battle of Hoth is enhanced with a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers <li>Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor instead of that near-fossil they had.<li>The conversations between Vader and Palpatine has a few new lines. Palpatine knows that Luke is Vader's son.<li>Light sabers are again fixed, making them more consistent.<li>Temuera Morrison does the voice of Boba Fett <li>Luke's inane scream when he jumps to escape Vader on Cloud City is gone. And there was much rejoicing.<br /></li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><br /><ul type="square"><br /><b>Episode VI: Return of the Jedi</b><li>Like the other two, the light sabers are fixed.<li>The Rancor looks considerably better, with its matte lines removed.<li>When</li></li></li></ul> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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jcdenton

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Well this is disappointing. One of the most demanded DVD sets has just been evaluated and no one has anything to say? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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qzzq

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Your link tried to enlist me in the US Navy... <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /><br /><br />But, if this is the same make-over that was in the cinemas a couple of years ago...I didn't exactly like what the changes added. I liked the old special effects, they have a certain charm to them and some of the space battles have stood the test of time quite well. If this is a newer version, I will definitely try to get one. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>
 
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jcdenton

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Actually this DVD set contains a make-over of the '97 Special Edition. As mentioned, there are various effects enhancements and scene alterations. I'm happy with most of the changes as some of them were badly needed (the ridiculous Han/Greedo duel for one). I still haven't heard any confirmation though of the removal of the white boxes around the ships, that would greatly complement the other enhancements.<br /><br />About the original theatrical editions, George Lucas has made it clear that they'll never see the light of day again, much to the dismay of old-school SW fans. So I guess we'll have to make the best of what we're given.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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Aetius

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The re-release of the "Star Wars Trilogy" seems to be Lucas' attempt to improve posterity's opinion of him, in addition to a shrewd way of making fans purchase almost identical content over and over again.<br /><br />Not that knocking him. It's a stroke of genius, really.<br /><br />Maybe the Fates will stick it to Lucas in the end. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I'd laugh if all the later versions of the DVD trilogy eventually get lost over the centuries, and only a single collection of three Chinese bootleg DVDs of the original releases survive 200 years from now.
 
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jcdenton

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I wouldn't call this new set "identical" to what's been released before, after all, it's a DVD set that has more extras and looks considerably better than any VHS or LD set.<br /><br />You are right about Lucas's obsession with constantly upgrading or manipulating the Star Wars trilogy, as if there was something wrong with it in the first place! In another few years, after Episode III is released, we just might see yet another revision with the release of an "ultimate" Anthology which tries to connects all 6 movies together. I think it's a mistake to try to adapt the original trilogy with the prequels when it really should be the other way around. I just hope the Star Wars Trilogy will stand as is.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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robotical

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My only complaint regarding the changes would have to be with the one letting it be known that Palpatine knew Luke was Vader's son. The emotional impact of Vader's "I am your father" line will be gone. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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nacnud

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Everyone knows that Luke is Vaders son so the importance of that line has dimised already, but I agree it shouldn't be obvious that Palpatine knows unless you know that he knows that Luke is Darths son, clear? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />
 
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izlear

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WHY????<br />thats all I ask Why must he mess with things.<br />Why does he feel the need to replace the Anican at the end of retern? That is the most rediculous thing I have heard. I wish he'd just get off his "creative High horse and realise he makes the movies worse every time he screws with them.<br />
 
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jcdenton

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Are we sure that Emperor Palpatine reveals that Luke is Vader's son? It only says that the Emperor "knows", which could mean he only makes hints at who Luke is. Who knows, I'll have to watch it.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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cramic

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that is all very sad. I do not like them changing the orginal<br />
 
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chip5541

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Lucas is a hack. The reason for the changes is because of ego, lack of vision, and the real talent and control is gone. <br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p> There are two primary factors fueling this anomaly. Firstly, and what few people realize, is that the generally-preferred Episode IV - A New Hope (the "original" Star Wars movie) and its sequel (Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back) were profoundly impacted by individuals no longer working with Lucas. One of them was a man named Gary Kurtz, who produced American Graffiti and the first two Star Wars films. <br /><br />By the time Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi rolled around, Kurtz and Lucas had parted ways, and Ewoks reigned supreme. If Kurtz were still involved with the franchise, the saga's complexion would be significantly different. His perspective repeatedly counter-balanced Lucas' initial (and sometimes reckless) desires. While still attached to RotJ, for example, there were to be no Ewoks. Kurtz was adamant the film should not be about attacking another Death Star – he didn't like the idea of blatantly repeating such a major conceit within the same trilogy. Also, as originally conceived, Jedi was to have concluded on a more dramatic, bleaker note: Han Solo would have died, Leia would have gone-on to lead the bedraggled remnants of her people, and Luke would have been left, essentially, alone in the galaxy he'd just helped free. These characters, brought together by fate, happenstance, and maybe a little bit of prophesy, were to have gone their own separate ways, and return to their own separate lives. A dose of reality in such a fantastic setting. <br /><br />The prequels would have a different perspective as well: Episode I, for instance, was originally slated to be about The Clone Wars, and the formation of the Jedi Knights. A very different landscape, embracing a very different kind of storytelling than ultimately came our way. A kind of storytelling abandoned by L</p></blockquote>
 
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robotical

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What about the millions of parents that will be showing the original trilogy first? I certainly plan to when I have children. (We made it almost two decades without the prequels, why start with them now?) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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nacnud

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It i$ $trange a$ to why George Luca$ decided to make the prequel$, per$onaly I don't know why he did it.
 
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jcdenton

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I think the prequels were always in the loop from day one, Lucas just got sidetracked with the Indiana Jones trilogy. I have nothing against them being made, it just would have been a whole let better if Lucas hired the right people to produce them, rather than taking on most of the duties himself. The prequels don't hold a candle to the originals at all. What's great about the originals is that I can watch them over and over again without ever getting bored of them. In contrast to this I have little desire to watch Episodes I and II again.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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chip5541

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Episode II is one of the few movies I have ever walked out on. Thank god 1 was a DVD gift because I wold have felt royaly screwed if I had paid for it.
 
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qzzq

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That ET remake was terrible. The CGI ET was far worse than the muppet they used for the original. The movie definitely lost some of its magic.<br /><br />Why mess with movies that already have been made? Make new ones! DUH! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>
 
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jcdenton

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Spielberg releases <b>both</b> versions of the film in the DVD sets (like with ET, don't know about Close Encounters), something I wish Lucas would do. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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tom_hobbes

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Didactic means simply 'to teach'. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>
 
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elguapoguano

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Just bought the Trilogy on DVD at Walmart a couple days ago. Got it for $37.50. So far I've only watched "A new hope" and I am impressed by the quality of the DVD. The 5 changes that were made were pretty minor and actually help the continuity of the series. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>
 
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