Unaltered Star Wars Trilogy Coming to DVD

[Winter Nights]

OR...

George Lucas Milks More Money From His Fanbase


May 3, 2006 - In a major surprise that will please many fans, Lucasfilm
has announced that the original, unaltered theatrical versions of theStar Wars Trilogy will be released on DVD this September. For many years now George Lucas had said he would not release the original cuts of the film, but things have clearly changed, with the press release crediting overwhelming fan demand as the reason.



The new box set of the trilogy will contain both the original cut and the 2004 digitally remastered version of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The set will be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st.

Okay.. So this will be the third year in a row that Lucas has re-released the original trilogy. I'm all for the original cuts and <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">, but damn. Especially considering the rumors of the entire six episodes saga being altered even further and re-released in a boxset next year.

Makes me sick. That said, George Lucas is a genious. A filthy fucking rich genious.

[~SapphireStar~]

Oh God. Its like the FF7 cow, getting milked nonstop. Ive also been told that he is writing a TV series that follows the education of Jedi warriors in training!? Of course people will most probably go out and buy these DVDs that they already own. Man that guy must have a big grin on his face 24/7.

[Winter Nights]

Oh God. Its like the FF7 cow, getting milked nonstop. Ive also been told that he is writing a TV series that follows the education of Jedi warriors in training!? Of course people will most probably go out and buy these DVDs that they already own. Man that guy must have a big grin on his face 24/7.
Actually, the tv show will be about the early days of the rebellion, bridging the gap between Episode 3 and Episode 4. It's debut is currently slated for Fall 2007.

[Old Manus]

Just in case the people who don't own the original trilogy (both of you) can't find a copy of the other 200 versions, i think.

[Psychotic]

HAN SHOOTS 1st.

[edczxcvbnm]

I have been waiting for this forever. I have the special edition on VHS and after the changes they had made to the DVD version, I was going to wait for this or download a rip of the Laserdisc version. This makes me VERY happy.

[LunarWeaver]

All 6 Episodes are getting remade into 3-D and getting released on IMAX or something too ^_^;

Is it weird I like the altered versions better? I can't for 30 years when the prequels get an update and 40 brand new versions... God forbid Lucas have less then 50 billion dollars >_< *jealousy*

[Cz]

I've got the originals on VHS, so this won't interest me. It's nice to see George Lucas kinda-admitting that his changes suck, though.

[~SapphireStar~]

Just in case the people who don't own the original trilogy (both of you) can't find a copy of the other 200 versions, i think.
Got them on VHS. My young cousin now has them cause I no longer own a VCR.

Actually, the tv show will be about the early days of the rebellion, bridging the gap between Episode 3 and Episode 4. It's debut is currently slated for Fall 2007.
Thanks for the correction.

[Khaotic]

I was never much of a star wars fan, of course I was into it when the new episodes were coming out, but thats when it stopped, after I saw it.

[fire_of_avalon]

Yeah, this isn't because of overwhelming fan demand, this is because he realizes the changes are dumb.

And HAN SHOOTS FIRST!

[Stayin Dizzy]

OR...That said, George Lucas is a genious. A filthy smurfing rich genious.


Funny thing is that when he pitched the idea for star wars production companies laughed in his face. They never thought the idea would sell. He was able to get all the liscenceing rights for apparel, toys, videogames, and other merchandise in the original negotiations. Wasn't it paramount who originally made the films? I bet their kicking their own ass now lol. Dudes so rich he can make his own movies now.

[MecaKane]

What about the versions from the late 90s? Where they first added the 3D stuff and stupid whatever his name was in the place of Anakin Skywalker. Were there other changes then, or was that it?

[XxSephirothxX]

I read about this today. I don't care about George Lucas making money, I'm just glad I can get the unaltered versions on DVD, since my VHS tapes are ooold. I had been holding back until they released a boxset of the entire series, but I might just pick these up anyway. At least Han shooting first and Yub Nub are back. :p

[Marshall Banana]

Neat! Although, it doesn't make much of a difference to me. I'm not going to buy them. I'm satisfied with the copies I already own for now. But hey, if I were George Lucas, I would likely milk Star Wars for everything I could possibly get too.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I'll be getting this. I have the originals on VHS, but that's VHS, man.
What about the versions from the late 90s? Where they first added the 3D stuff and stupid whatever his name was in the place of Anakin Skywalker. Were there other changes then, or was that it?The version released in '97 was the Special Edition. It cleaned up the existing special effects and threw in a large amount of additional CG, much of it pretty intrusive. ("Hey, there's an empty spot in this shot where Luke and Ben are driving into Mos Eisley. Let's throw in a couple of droids goofing around--you know, for the kids!") The most major change was probably the addition of a previously unused scene where Han confronts Jabba in the first movie. At the time it was originally shot, Jabba was a fat guy dressed in furs instead of a huge slug thing, so they overlaid him with a 100% CG slug Jabba. I'm sure you can find a meticulously catalogued list of all the changes using Internets.

Hayden Christensen didn't replace Sebastian Shaw as Anakin's ghost until the 2004 DVD release, which had even more things altered than the '97 cut. Again, there's surely a list to be found on no less than eleven dozen fan sites.

[fantasyjunkie]

I'm happy that an unedited version is coming out. And I get to see Han SHOOT FIRST!

[Chris]

I love all of the movies, but just to make it clear. The uncut versions are shorter?

[edczxcvbnm]

I feel like reviving this thread to say how fucked up this actually is. Here is the low down.

- Not the original theatrical release
- $90
- It will be the 1995 laser disc rip
- 2 channel stereo sound in stead of 6 channel sound(like the original theatrical release)
- No cleaned up picture

So in a <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">ty attempt to give the fans what they want they decided to fuck them some more. If I wanted the laser disc release I would go download it and burn it to DVD myself.

This set became ultra unattractive.

[Jebus]

I agree with ed, but seeing as how my VHS copy of RotJ has completely dissapeared, I'll probably end up getting these anyway.

Sigh.

[I Took the Red Pill]

I'll end up getting them eventually, but I'm in no hurry. The VHS's will do for now.

[Big D]

Don't worry, in a couple of years they'll release the 'original TV edition' of the movies - basically, a DVD that perfectly reproduces the movies in the format they had during their original TV broadcast. Non-widescreen, original special effects, and classic TV commercials. It'll be like re-living the good old days when nobody owned very many pre-recorded movies and watching something on TV was a big deal.

Actually I jest.
If hard-core weirdoes are going to pay even more money for an inferior version of something they already own, then that's entirely up to them. If George Lucas is getting richer because of it - well, then good luck to him.

At some point in the future, I *might* own these movies on DVD. Maybe. Haven't seen part III yet, though.

[Zeromus_X]

Meh. Wait...how many times does this make this? Oh well. I already have it on DVD, I don't need to buy it again for the fifth time.

[DudeSon2004]

To buy or not to buy.

[Necron]

What's the point in releasing the original when we can have a better looking digitally remastered one? I don't get it. :surprised

[lovehurts]

George is a genius ,star wars "was" a work of genius.

The point of these releases. Is that it wont be altered....the newer copies arent just remastered. They have extra scenes and horrible edits that upset the fans such as haiden christen at the end of rotj or bright lights that make the trench scenes in a new hope look like a christmas set.....He just edits the dumbest things such as for another example in a new hope when obi wan comes to scare away the tusken raiders to save luke .....the sound that was original in that scene was perfect and was adored by fans . He replaced the sound that obi wan used to scare away the tuskens with a chessy "granny is taking a crap" sound effect....Just horrible . These were classic films, Im all for him fixing up the pixels making the scenes crystal clear but he cant handle that. I was ok with adding a sgi jabba the hut in a new hope I was ok with the special addition releases. But this new obsession these new releases are garbage and maybe it only takes true fans to see that but he's not of control.

[fantasyjunkie]

I totally agree with Lovehurts

[Arkada]

I am also inclined to agree. This is why Im glad I have the origional VHS versions that are all unedited.