Star Wars Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) [1977]

• Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (Special Edition)--commentary by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Bonus disc: all-new bonus features, including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced on the Star Wars saga, and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films

Click here to see detailed information on the special features included on the bonus disc.

Amazon.co.uk Review

George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy is a clever synthesis of pop-cultural and mythological references, taking classic fairy-tale themes, adding more than a dash of Arthurian legend, and providing cinematic high adventure inspired as much by Kurosawa's Samurai epics as by Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. As a result, audiences of all ages can find something to identify with in Luke Skywalker's journey from disaffected teenager dreaming of adventure to Jedi Knight and saviour of the galaxy. He not only rescues a Princess, but discovers she's a close relative. And if there's a lesson to be gleaned from the Skywalker clan, it's that no matter how bad things get in the average dysfunctional family, it's never too late for reconciliation.

Originally released in 1977, Star Wars, the first film, was made as a standalone. Perhaps that's why Obi-Wan Kenobi seems a tad inconsistent in his attitude towards his old pupil Anakin Skywalker, and perhaps also why Luke is allowed to develop a guilt-free crush on Princess Leia. Lucas's story, told from the point of view of the two bickering droids (a device taken from Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress), also borrows freely from Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, as does John Williams's seminal Korngold-inspired music score.

Thanks in equal part to Leigh Brackett's screenplay and Irvin Kershner's direction The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the most grown-up instalment in the series. The basic fairy-tale is developed and expanded, with the principal characters experiencing emotional turmoil--blossoming romance, mixed feelings and confused loyalties--amid a very real threat of annihilation as Darth Vader's motivations become chillingly personal. Luke's quasi-Arthurian destiny is complicated still further by the half-truths of his wizardly mentors; and swashbuckler Han Solo finds the past catching up with him, quite literally in the form of bounty hunter Boba Fett. The film is graced by more fabulous landscapes (ice, forest, clouds), more unforgettable new characters (Yoda), more groundbreaking special effects (the asteroid chase), and John Williams's finest score.

The difficult third film, 1983's Return of the Jedi, seems schizophrenic in its intentions, hoping to please both the kiddies who bought all the toys and an older audience who appreciated the narrative's epic and mythological strands. The result is a film that splits awkwardly into two. One thread, which might be subtitled "The Redemption of Anakin Skywalker", pursues the story of the Skywalker family to a cathartic conclusion. The other thread, which might be described as "The Care Bears Go to War", attempts to say something profound about primitivism versus technological sophistication, but just gets silly as furry midgets doing Tarzan whoops defeat the Emperor's crack legions.

In 1997 Lucas re-released the three original films in digitally remastered "Special Edition" versions, in which many scenes have been restored and enhanced (some would say "unnecessarily tinkered with"). Despite loud and continued criticisms from fans, these Special Editions are now considered definitive, if only by Lucasfilm. --Mark Walker

Lucasfilm won't say anything until the official press launch but to judge by some of the more informed comments being made around the net it does look as though the Obi-wan/Vader fight onboard the Death Star (from A New Hope) has been redone to bring it more into line with the pace and zip of the lightsabre battles of the prequels. The CGI Jabba The Hut from ANH has almost certainly been redone and many of the effects from all three films have either been replaced or cleaned up. Additionally, in The Empire Strikes Back, Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor may have been digitally added into the scene where Darth Vader communicates with the Emperor. But most controversially of all (at least for the fans) actor Hayden Christenson - who plays Anakin Skywalker (Luke's father and Darth Vader to-be) in the prequels - may also feature as the aged and horribly scarred Vader in the scene from Return of the Jedi where he is finally unmasked by Luke.

Now whether this and numerous other rumours (such as the one about the Han/Greedo scene having been properly restored) turn out to be true or false, well, we'll just have to wait and see. One thing I do know, this DVD release is NOT the 1997 Special Edition. No way. I know that 100%. I'm not saying the above changes are definitely going to be in there either but that's increasingly what it looks like. So if you're a fan brace yourself for some major surprises because George hasn't quite finished tinkering with his story just yet.


Just enjoy them and stop crying !!!!   August 23, 2004
90 out of 137 found this review helpful

At last the original Star Wars trilogy will be out on home cinema's ultimate format. A great day you would have thought.
How come so many of these reviews are just crying abount the releases not being the original cinema version??? At 34 years old I, as most of you did, went to the cinema as a 7 year old to see Star Wars and as a 7 year old was blown away.

Now with all of film making features that Lucasfilm, through the creation of these films, has brought to modern cinema I get blown away again and again.

THX sound, Industrial Light and Magic, CG and all of the other gems that make modern day blockbusters possible.

So why not let George use this power to enhance his vision after all it is 2004 not 1977 and if we don't like it just blow the dust off your old VHS tapes and go back to the 'Original'.

Somehow, I don't think any of us will !!


Stop moaning, "fans".   August 1, 2004
77 out of 122 found this review helpful

Nice to see the 'loyal' fans in support of George Lucas' perfect trilogy...

George's Star Wars is Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds - he feels he needs to go back to it to make sure it's what it is in his head. Sure, some fans might want the original as it is - like some people insist nothing is better than vinyl.

However I don't really see how adding in extra bits (even the cringeworthy Anakin replacement I've heard about) suddenly turns a 5 star trilogy into a 2 star trilogy. If what made the special editions was the original film, no-one would be moaning about their quality. They're still essentially the same films. I fail to see how adjusting them in the most minute way possible affects the enjoyment. Unless you're a nit-picker... but then, what are you doing watching a fantasy movie in the first place?

It's what Lucas had dreamed of, don't forget without him you wouldn't have the original to pine for in the first place.

Classic stuff - the greatest story ever told - nice to finally see it on DVD.


Where is the original cut?   July 7, 2004
76 out of 142 found this review helpful

I am very dissapointed with this release of the Original Trilogy.
With somuch time to prepare there is no excuse for this second rate release.
Once again Lucus has seen fit to make changes to the films I saw as a child, but more to the point he has neglected to make use of the technology available to him to provide his vision _and_ what fans want: The films they grew up with!

The recent release of the Alian Saga on DVD utilised DVD technology to present both the original cut and special edition cuts on the same disc without replicating data and therefore allowing for a top quality transfer.

Why was this not done for the this Starwars Trilogy set?

The reason for not doing this on this Starwars Trilogy set that springs to mind is money.
One presumes Lucus will release the set fans actualy wanted at a later date so we have to pay again. :/
Personaly, I'll be watching a friends copy and waiting patiantly for a better release.

I have only given one star because the changes are needless and the original cut is not provided. The original movies obviously would get 5 stars.


Love the films but.............   May 5, 2004
AndyB (CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom)
55 out of 119 found this review helpful

...surely this is the one, major opportunity for George Lucas to release his vision of the three films completed, to run happily as one big story, and totally tinkered with, but with the original versions of the films in this DVD set too?! When was the last time the text in Much Ado About Nothing" was altered, or Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata had an electric guitar solo introduced into it?

The originals were classic films. I'd buy them on DVD - As for these, well, I don't know - I was a bit disgruntled by the changes for the "special" editions - Really BAD cheese filled ending to Return of the Jedi anyone? - Too much tinkering makes a pigs breakfast out of what should be bacon and eggs......

And if they release the originals on yet another DVD collection for another 50, well, I'd expect the world too sick of the commercialism of it all by then to fall for it yet again......