Original Link
http://www.limitedmovie.com/dvd/showdetail.asp?pid=1235






Updated with Official Statment


Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox have announced the DVD Release for Star Wars Trilogy DVD on September 21st. This special 4 disc box set will include the three "original' Star Wars movies (Star Wars IV: A New Hope, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi) presented in THX Anamorphic Widescreen and Dolby Digital-EX.

Each film will be released in the 'Special Edition' version (including the changes made to the films for their theatrical re-release in 1997) and feature audio commentary by George Lucas and select members of the cast and crew. There will NOT be an option to view the films in their original theatrical version and the films will not be sold individually.

In addition to the three features the box set will also feature a fourth disc including making-of documentaries and features for the 3 films as well as a 2 hour documentary including never-before-seen footage. Exact pricing for the set, specific disc extras and an official pre-order date to be announced in the weeks ahead.

Most of the Asian DVD bootlegs are either from the THX LD release (the "faces" covers) or the SE box set. Some (very few) are from the Definitive Collection Box set. I've even seen transfers of the Supplemental Materials from the Definitive Collection for sale by themselves on EPay. The Special Editions are the only versions that were mastered with 5.1 sound and being LD, you'd need an RF output to decode the 5.1 signal. Any "Original Editions" you see out there advertising 5.1 sound have been interpolated from PCM audio and as such shouldn't really be considered "true" 5.1.

The four "Making Of" specials ("The Making of Star Wars, SP/FX: The Empire Strikes Back, Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi and From Star Wars to Jedi; The Making of a Saga) were available on rare US releases and Japanese-only LD, and there may be some bootleg transfers of them out there, but the cost of the LD set, even today, is exorbitant so most are sourced from VHS.

My advice to you all is to save you cash and buy the official SE releases next fall. While LD is much better quality than VHS, the all digital transfer, with true 5.1ex surround that'll be on the official DVD is so much nicer. If anyone already has Asian bootlegs, compare the binary sunset scene with the snippet of it on the Episode II documentary DVD. You'll see instantly what I'm talking about. You're not going to find that vivid clarity on a bootleg.

If you're dead set on getting a set of the "Original Editions", please, do your research. There are a lot of factors that can effect the quality. Just because a disc is dual layered doesn't mean that it's better than a single layer disc. In fact, I've seen the opposite. Start asking questions like - what's the aspect ratio? 4:3 letterboxed or 16:9 anamorphic? Has it been properly IVTC'd? If not, it's interlaced, like the LD's, meaning that it's not progressive scan and you'll need a line doubler on HDTV's. It also means that they devoted more disc space to 25% more frames than they needed, meaning the overall picture quality can be worse. There's a lot to look at in deciding if your bootleg money is well spent. I decided my money was best spent making my own "backups".

It is possible that they will release a variety of packs. In Australia there were at least FOUR different variations for AotC released including singles, box sets and Limited Editions.

This sort of release neccessitates at least 2 discs per movie.

Probably, SI.

But this is LFL

you're a "the glass is half empty" kinda guy, eh?

Luca$ told me himself

They are releasing toys in vintage packaging to celebrate DVD coming out.

Any word if there will be another round of changes?

I know there're rumors, but what are the odds Lucas will make more "corrections"?

How much in bodily fluids will I have to sell for this set?

I think there will be changes made. Footage has already been shot during AotC for this.



It will be BIG and probably in November for lead up to the May release of EpIII.

My Wish List for the OT DVD's:

1. Restore Han shooting Greedo first.
2. Fix all lightsabers.
3. Spruce up all the FX even more.

Or maybe it's the Dr.Gonzo editions :wink:

Heres my wishlist:
restore every SE change

No it hasn't.

I want proof, not leads!

These are just some changes off the top of my head which would benefit our viewing pleasure. Please feel inclined to agree or disgree on any of these points:



Fix the lightsabres (for fucks sake) in ANH.

Delete Greedo shooting first.

Fix Jabba CG in Mos Eisley encounter.

Include Imperial March in ANH esp. with Vaders arrival on Tantiv.

Delete matte lines throughout every episode.

Delete Luke's girly scream from Bespin.

Re-insert Wampa attack on Hoth base.

Jedi Rocks is Ok except for that exagerrated scream at camera. :x

CG new hair on ROTJ Luke.

CG a shitload more Ewoks into Battle of Endor.

CG more Stormies in Death Star docking bay for Vader & Emperor arrival.



Now you'll notice I haven't included any changes to retrofit the PT. This, I believe, has to be done much later, after EPIII obviously, for the much rumoured "archival editions" hopefully due in 2006/07.

Let me add that "Feed me Seymour" shit from ROTJ. That shit has got to go. The big hole in the ground was much more intriguing, I think.

We had tiny bugs in my front yard (in that big dirt part that was supposed to be a garden before my folks had kids to trample it to death), and call me ignorant, but I can't remember what they were called, but they had these little pits in the dirt. It was cool imagining one of those on a much larger scale being like the Sarlacc, and knocking a little ant into it and watching it get devoured.

If anything, just make those tentacles more lively, and bam, coolness restored.

I've never had a problem with the SE Sarlaac pit...

anyone else?

I've never had any problems with the SE. I just want a high quality version of the OT for viewing at home.



A few updates would be cool though.

There are already clouds throughout the OT and the SE on Tatooine. It's not sometyhing that's just been added lately.

Check out the binary sunset scene. When you see Luke - No clouds. Then it cuts to a close up of the two suns - now there's clouds. Lucas wants to put the closeup clouds into the Luke on the hill scene directly before it.

God forbid the man should fix continuity errors. :wink:

I'm really looking forward to the OT DVD release. I'm sure Lucas has done something to these movies since the SE.

It would be nice to have the O-OT as well, but I think that's a pipe dream.

Just as a side issue I'm sick to death of "fans" railing on ROTJ!!! It fucken pisses me off. It's no better or worse than the previous 2 episodes so what gives????

let's out a roar

pointing out a dune reference

The ground battle on Endor only changed in favour of the Rebels when Chewie comandeered the AT-ST. Once that happened they were able to rout the Imperials and destroy the secret bunker "on the other side of the ridge".

Ewoks are cool, but their effectiveness in the battle is way over-stated.

My archival edition wishlist:

Fix the piss-poor ligthsaber effects in ANH

New CGI Jabba. The SE Jabba looks dated now

Eliminate all matte lines

Eliminate Luke's girly scream in ESB

Have Han shoot first again, just so everyone will shut the fuck up about that scene already.


Rumor is Sept. 21 is the release date for the OT. Rock on!

4 disc set.

6 disc set.

I know I'm in the minorty, but I couldn't care less about multi disc sets.


I have about 250 DVD's and the only thing I watch or care about are the movies. A flawless picture and excellent sound in the feature is all I care about.

Extra features and commentaries are lame. I could give two shits what some actor has to say, or how many effects people worked on a film.

I love my extended cut DVD's of FOTR and TTT, but I've never even bothered to spin discs 3 and 4.

Films

Extra features ... *meh*

yeah but dude these are the OT DVD's!!!

I just want the dvd because my tapes have deteriorated :\

You shouldn't be dissappointed.

I used to watch the "making of's" and listen to commentaries. Then I realized that I wasn't enjoying movies the way I used to.

For example, I can't watch the The Abyss anymore without cataloging in my mind model, dry set with smoke, miniature, real actors, etc. I found my joy of film being sucked out of me.


I dont really need to know how the magic happens. I have no plans to work in movies, or join that industry in any capacity. I dont want to see the man behind the curtain helping the magician do his tricks.


I just love watching movies.

Fatboy, that was fuckin hilarious cuz its sooooo true.

2007 will hopefully see the release of a 12 disc box set to rule them all.

Only ubernerds knew about DVDs. Got mine in 1999. With a DVD-ROM. I have the VCD of the SE. I haven't watched any SW movies since Nov 02.

I bought a DVD player in '97.

Damn thing set me back $500 bucks, but I had a widescreen TV I bought in '96 from an electronics store that was closing. I'd never seen a 16:9 TV before and was floored. Geek mode avarice came out and it *had* to be mine.

I was a laserdisc buff, till my geekiness got the better of me and I spent the money on the DVD player.

There were only 4 movies availble for purchase at the time too. Blade Runner, Twister, The Road Warrior, and Goodfellas.

I'm such a widescreen fan. I had a whole collection of widescreen tapes from the mid nineties.

And I must admit even in 97 the first movie I wanted for my new player was StarWars.

I got my first DVD player in '99 and went straight to amazon.com to order the OT.

I was genuinely perturbed when I found it wasn't released yet.

2007 sounds like a good year it being the 30th anniversary and all. It will also give the guys at LFL enough time to retrofit the OT to fit the PT. (did that make sense...?)

Awesome!

Even though I already own an "unofficial" copy of the OT on DVD, I'm sure this release will be incredible.

I'll be more than happy to have the SE OT in anamorphic widescreen with an awesome soundtrack.

Well it's official over on slashdot http://www.slashdot.org they have a report of the OT being officially released on DVD. It's coming this Septemeber and I have no idea what changes have been made or what new stuff to expect. All it says are they will be based on the 1997 SE.

Total agreeance here!

I wonder if Bill Hunt followed up that answer with a temper tantrum demanding that Lucas follow the petition and release the O-OT anyway. Hopefully he had a good supply of tissue so as to not mess up Jim Ward's suit. Hunt has never shied away from an opportunity to promote originaltrilogy.com and slam the SEs. But hey, I'm sure he will have plenty of company to bitch with.

Although all of the old "Making of" specials are out there, if you want to look for them. I just scored, through a trade, all four (The Making of Star Wars, SP/FX: The Empire Strikes Back, Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi and From Star Wars to Jedi) on DVD, recorded with a standalone DVD recorder from the Japanese LD's to replace my aged VHS captures.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, if you want the old ones, they're not that hard to come by and I welcome an all new documentary.

Sept 21 can't come soon enough!

Right at the start of the EPIII publicity campaign too.

yesterday on TFN:



anyone got any info on these cut scenes?

Here 3 DVD boxes... I don't know if these are the real thing, cause I don't speak french.. (linked from a french website)

The Final Conflict:



Jedi vs Darkside



The Imperial Collection

Meh.

I couldn't care less of the original versions are released. They'd never get a spin in my DVD player. I dont need black boxes around the ships, huge matte lines, see through speeders, or that horrible Yub Yub song.



That being said, I did sign it so maybe the people who actually care can be happy too. :wink:

Jabba SE looked little shiny, a little sterile.

I don't really take these "rumours" as much of a suprise, in fact they may as well be an official confirmation. With the OT coming to DVD there's no way Lucas would miss a chance to improve on some things and touch other things up. I'd expect quite a few changes in all 3 episodes.

I'll be more than happy to see any new changes. I liked a lot of the SE, and further updates sound cool.



Besides, I've seen these films a LOT. An update or two will keep them fresh. I've still got my VHS's of the SE, and if I cared I could borrow my borthers LD's of the non se version.

wonder what happened to those scenes shot during AotC?