Star Wars on DVD

twigstamc420 writes "USA Today is reporting that Lucasfilm has announced the details of releasing the Star Wars episodes IV through VI on DVD as well as a bonus DVD with commentary."

Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[MrP- (45616)]

Some of the changes:

Good change: dvd_palpatine1.jpg [elitemrp.net]
They replaced the horrible emperor [elitemrp.net] from ESB with the real emperor

OK Change: dvd_jabba1.jpg [elitemrp.net]
They updated the Jabba scene from ANH SE, now Jabba doesn't look like he was rendered on a Nintendo64

Horrible puke-inducing change:
dvd_esprit2.jpg [elitemrp.net]
Hayden Christensen in the end of RoTJ. ::barf::

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[TheGatekeeper (309483)]

Lucas's revisionist history really does bother me as a geek. While I agree some of the added scenes do add to the movies, some of them are simply unacceptable. Greedo shooting first for example.

If they were offering the original movies on DVD, I'd jump at it. I don't know how I feel about this revisionist version, but it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Just be thankful...

[Chordonblue (585047)]

...They didn't replace the original Anakin with Jar-Jar!

(The HORROR!)

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[Waffle Iron (339739)]

If they were offering the original movies on DVD, I'd jump at it. I don't know how I feel about this revisionist version, but it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I have altered the film. Pray I don't alter it any further.

-GL

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[DarkHelmet (120004)]

I think George Lucas sees Star Wars as a mock autobiography of his life, with himself playing Darth Vader. At first, he used to be on the good side of the force. But then he became corrupt with the evils of money, and became more a machine now, twisted and evil.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[Zork the Almighty (599344)]

I can only pray that the real George Lucas is dead and has been spinning in his grave for a decade now.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[Elwood P Dowd (16933)]

Greedo shooting first for example.

And taking out the best songs.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[Aero Leviathan (698882)]

I saw on some interview that the minor dialogue changes weren't even intentional; when they were remastering the film for 1997, they sometimes had to use different takes that hadn't deteriorated as much (or so they say). They claim they didn't even realise they had changed any of the dialogue until diehard fans started complaining... ^_~

Re:hopefulness

[Jugalator (259273)]

Or the part where Luke shouts "Carrie!" instead of "Leia!" at the end of Ep IV. Fun stuff like that should definitely be left in.

From IMDb...

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: It is frequently claimed that upon returning to the Rebel base after destroying the Death Star, Luke exclaims, "Carrie!" when he hears Leia (Carrie Fisher) call "Luke!" Sound designer Ben Burtt has confirmed that, after extensive listening, it appears to be "Hey" or "Yay"; 'Mark Hamill' reports that he said, "Hey! There she is!" but mumbled the last word.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[wass (72082)]

Isn't he also changing the name to 'The Gathering Shadow' and making the following the scrolling introduction:

It is a time of uncertainty. The
empire's ambiguous tariff statutes
mandate close reexamination of
galactic import quotas. Interim
Princess Agoomba has co-chaired
a subcommittee to draft amendments
to existing trade policies

Meanwhile, regulatory agencies
are being heavily lobbied by a
consortium of mercantile interest
groups and their suppliers to
streamline loading restrictions for
class C cargo vessels. The shipping...

Oh wait, director mixup, that was Randall Curtis [tvtome.com].

They changed it? you mean

[commodoresloat (172735)]

"These aren't the DVDs you're looking for."

the futility of protest

[gad_zuki! (70830)]

I really hope DVDs/SVCDs of the laserdisc version get pushed on popular bittorrent and p2p networks the day this comes out. I'd love to read news articles and talking heads on the news trying to figure this out.

*two local tv anchors on location at a suncoast DVD retailer observing the long line*

"Well Jane, it seems this is one of the most pirated movies in history."

"Yes Tom, the online world has never been shy about co-opting releases."

"True, except they're pirating the version sold in the 80s from something called a 'laserdisc.'"

*confusion ensues as a pasty skined geek grabs Jane's mic*

Fan: "Greedo does NOT shoot first!!!"

*security hauls the fan away*

"What was that about?"

"No idea. What's a greedo? *pause* Don't worry folks he's getting the help he needs."

*back on Skywalker Ranch*

Fan has eyes clipped open while a projector plays the Greedo scene endlessly before him and a small crowd tied to their chairs in a small theater. A tear run downs his cheek as he quietly, in unison with the rest, whispers, "Greedo shoots first. Greedo shoots first. Greedo shoots first."

Re:Now that does not make sense?

[by Anonymous Coward]

the theory is that when a jedi dies he comes back in his purest form..so yoda and obi wan come back as they were when they died, but anakin returns as he was before he went to the dark side

Absolutely correct; however...

[Stealth Potato (619366)]

the theory is that when a jedi dies he comes back in his purest form

Which is exactly what would make the appearance of an 'old' Anakin in ghostly form all the more poignant. If the whole series is indeed the story of Anakin Skywalker, then is not the very consummation at the point where Darth Vader is finally turned by love for his son? Indeed, it is only then, and never before, that Anakin could truly be said to be pure; it was his final redemption before his death - his son saved him.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[TomServo (79922)]

I enjoyed the star wars films, and while I'm not a huge star wars fan, I was most likely going to pick these up.

Then I read the same bit you quoted.

That's crap. They're complaining in the article that they're not the highest forecasted sellers for this holiday season because it's $70, and blaming it on that. Maybe it has something to do with:

a) not releasing the original versions, the ones that everyone really wants to see and
b) telling them to pay $70, yet refusing to tell them what they're actually getting, so they can "check them out for themselves."

When I buy a DVD, I damn well want to know what I'm getting. Extras are beyond that, but I want to know that the movie I'm buying is the movie that I've seen previously and enjoyed.

LotR is one thing. They have additional scenes on the super fancy-pants versions. But they don't go changing the scenes you've already watched. LotR gave extras that we hadn't seen, ones that we can skip easily with the remote if we decide we don't like them, or even purchase the version that's identical to the theatrical release. With this, we STILL can't buy the theatrical release, and we don't even know if they're changing what we saw in the re-release. That's absolutely ridiculous.

However, given the way that LucasFilm has treated its fans, give it 3-4 years. We'll have the originals, untouched, on DVD, as a super special bonus edition at $90 just to bleed a little more out of those that bought this set. It makes me sad, I remember loving these movies as a kid. However, as a principle, I feel like buying any of these versions now gives LucasFilm validation to fuck with me and take every possible dollar they can out of my wallet. Screw 'em. I like the movies a lot, but they're not my favorites.

I'll miss 'em, but they're not good enough to bend over for.

Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers)

[BlackHawk-666 (560896)]

Look for the extra scenes where they have digitally inserted Jar Jar Binks in. Plus, Jar Jar does a stand up comedy routine in the bar scene in Star Wars ;->

Anyone have a .torrent?

[by Anonymous Coward]

Oh wait...wrong forum. Nothing to see here...move along...

Re:Anyone have a .torrent?

[by Anonymous Coward]

Will the non-special editions do? :)

• A New Hope [66.90.75.92]
• The Empire Strikes Back [66.90.75.92]
• Return of the Jedi [66.90.75.92]

They're DVD-R sized, so make sure you're on a fast enough connection!

Mr Lucas

[onyxruby (118189)]

On behalf of the slashdot community and geeks everywhere. I beg you please release these as they were originaly shown in the theaters.

Thank-you Your fan base

Re:Mr Lucas

[miyako (632510)]

On behalf of Lucas and co.
Fuck you, you'll buy what we release and like it.
Thank you, Lucasfilms.

Box Set

[devinoni (13244)]

I'm waiting for the super-special-extended-ultra-remastered-digitally- enhanced mega super version box set of all 6 movies.

Re:Box Set

[decipher_saint (72686)]

Actually, I would like a super-UNenhanced version of the original three...

*grips tightly DVD burns of LaserDisc versions*
Pr-r-r-reciousssss

Re:Box Set

[AstrumPreliator (708436)]

By the time they're done with all six movies they'll have to remaster the first trilogy (IV - VI) and show it in theaters (again). Then when that's done they'll have to remaster the second trilogy (I - III) and show those in theaters again. But by that time the first trilogy will be so far out of date they'll decide to completely remake it.

You'll be waiting for that all-in-one box set for a long long time.

=P

Changes?

[Russ Steffen (263)]

I hear that in this version Alderaan shoots first.

Re:Changes?

[colmore (56499)]

No, but there's good inteligence that clearly shows Alderaan had a stockpile of WMDs that it planned to give to the Rebel Alliance. The new DVD further points out that its government was an anti-democratic dictatorship by a royal family, and goes on to document its sentient-rights abuses which while largely decades in the past, still play a part in building a convincing case for a pre-emptive planetary destruction by the Emp - er - Coalition Forces.

I'm going to wait...believe it or not.

[Agent Green (231202)]

I'm actually going to wait this one out. I can't recall how many times the trilogy was released on VHS...and am not going to get taken like a sucker on this like I was with Fellowship of the Ring.

Once the second release is out, then it'll be time to party. Probably when episode 3 is done and release and it's all in one pretty box. :)

Re:I'm going to wait...believe it or not.

[The-Bus (138060)]

and am not going to get taken like a sucker on this like I was with Fellowship of the Ring.

Purely your fault...

1. Peter Jackson announced the EE (extended edition) before the regular edition had been released.
   
2. The EE is an entirely different cut.
   
3. The extras are all different.
   
4. New Line offers at least $5 off if you send in the UPC from the first one, bringing the cost of the EEs down to about $20 when they come out.
   

And, on topic, I'll be getting the DVDs.

As ObiWan said...

[whiteranger99x (235024)]

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of geeks suddenly cried out in glee and were suddenly silenced."

Lucas' reality check bounced.

[beldraen (94534)]

From the man who refuses to release original editions and continues to "rice" out his movies said this about movie purity:

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas, who testified with Steven Spielberg before Congress in the 1980s against colorization and other forms of alteration, said the process yanks such slapstick performers as the Stooges out of the black-and-white universe they belong in.

Appearently, putting stooges into the movies is ok. Read more about this fun here. [cnn.com]

"Digitally Remastered Footage"

[johnthorensen (539527)]

Here's to hoping this has something to do with Princess Leia in Jabba's Palace :)

-JT

I'll stick to my LaserDiscs....

[elberserko (758501)]

The only true way to see the original theatrical versions of the trilogy is to get the laserdiscs. Not only does it look and sound better than the VHS but If you get the right ones, they are widescreen, which no VHS copy of the "original theatrical" versions have to the best of my knowledge.

Re:I'll stick to my LaserDiscs....

[Nogami_Saeko (466595)]

I did that myself - I wouldn't buy pirate DVDs, but I had no problem format-shifting them myself (and doing some cleanup) - LDs through a DV transcoder into the computer, some DVNR and pull the edges of the letterbox down to pure black so as to not waste bits in MPG encoding, pulldown to 24frame progressive, multipass encoding, then some subtitling for the aliens talking.

That said, although the video looks good, it would certainly benefit from a digital-surround mix...

Hmm... Wonder about extracting the new remastered audio from the DVD release and re-editing it to match the older visuals, then recombine it. May be worth a shot :)

N.

Sorry people

[Neo-Rio-101 (700494)]

If you RTFA, you see this:-


The controversy. The versions of Lucas' beloved films that are on these new DVDs are not the original theatrical releases but the special editions that played in theaters in 1997. Rumor have circulated about additional changes, but Ward would not deny or confirm them. "We want to encourage our fans to check them out themselves."

To point out the obvious (not a conspiracy theory)

[kamapuaa (555446)]

George Lucas is about making money, not about establishing or preserving legacies or whatever. I just have to believe that he'll release these DVDs, claim they're the only official release ever, and wait for every nerd to buy them, even though they grumble about it being the revised version.

Only then, after the DVD saled have slowed down, will he decide to relent, release the original movies on DVD, and snap up the profits from nerds re-purchasing the DVDs of the original movie.

Kind of the inverse of Lord of the Rings DVD strategy - Lucas realizes if he releases the original versions first, nobody will buy the revised versions later.

Why?

[telstar (236404)]

Why can't Lucas take a hint from the LOTR series and release the 13-DVD super-duper box set with 35 variations of each film including the original versions and his new screwed up versions? Charge people eleventy-seven dollars or whatever ... just give people what they want .... not what he thinks they should have.

'Star Wars - Interactive' - God help us...

[Chordonblue (585047)]

Be careful what you wish for - I envision the future this way:

***Yo, Yo, Yo!!!*** - Check It! It's 'Star Wars Interactive' comin' to you on Supa Blu-Ray!

- See the original blocky transparencies around Tie Fighters and X-Wings! (Some of you out there really want that, huh?)

- Replace Greedo with Jar-Jar and make Han shoot first again! And again. And again!

- See the original Irish guy who played the part of Jabba the Hutt and put him in Episode Six!

- Give Boba Fett some extra rocket fuel so he can escape his fate!

Seriously, you know this sort of thing is coming eventually. So is all this panic about original versions a case of purity or old-tyme familiarity for us old farts? Believe me, it's hard to see some of this stuff happening to the films I grew up with (I was 12 when I saw Star Wars), but is the fact that Greedo shot first going to change the entire demeanor of the film?

Maybe it's a question of relevancy. As time goes on, you can expect more of this sort of thing to happen to films like it has with music.

Example: Look at Rap. Rap recycles old music into newer stuff. Should that be outlawed too?

The Commentary

[SpootFinallyRegister (787720)]

Heres a part where i rake in some money.

Ooh, heres another million... selling out, selling out, cashing in, nother million.

Money. Money, money.

Is anyone still watching this? suckers.

-George Lucas

How hard would it be...

[multiplexo (27356)]

To get LaserDiscs of the original movies before George started fucking around with them and remaster them onto DVDs and then distribute them underground? I have no desire to see the new and improved _Star Wars_ and it just shows how unoriginal Lucas is, he can't come up with anything new so he just reedits _Star Wars_ and re-releases it every time he needs a few more bux (just like the way Francis Ford Coppola) keeps re-editing _Apocalypse Now_ and adding new footage.

I'd be willing to bet that with decent equipment you could make a pretty good transfer from a LaserDisc and while it might not have the resolution or sound of the new versions it would retain all of the stuff that made the original movies so great.

I haven't seen anyone mention this yet.

[cheetah (9485)]

But there is a longtime petition site to get the original movies put on Dvd. http://www.originaltrilogy.com/ [originaltrilogy.com] Check it out...

The Ewoks

[BillsPetMonkey (654200)]

having a disco at the end of RoTJ unfortunately won't be erased from living memory on the new DVD ...

Darth Lucas quote

[CaptainCarrot (84625)]

"I find your lack of cash disturbing..."

Imagine...

[huchida (764848)]

... If George Lucas would've learned something from his good friend Steven Spielberg. Make movies, don't muck around with your old ones (well, muck around as little as possible, I'm aware of the E.T. walkie talkies. Something tells me Spielberg didn't put in a fraction of the effort coming up with that.) Do something new every now and then. Take your skills and knowledge and try and tell a good story, maybe even break away from science fiction a bit. I know he had it in him at one point, American Graffiti's a great movie.

But I guess Lucas isn't a director at heart. If he was, he would've directed Empire and Return. He likes his special effects and he's good at them-- the last two movies felt more like advertisements for Industrial Light and Magic than labors of love.

Though to his credit, the Star Wars video games have generally been great... Fun, well-made, darker and more true to the promise of Star Wars than any of the movie's sequels have been.

(No, I didn't call it "Episode IV" or "A New Hope." I still call the first one Star Wars. The eight-year-old me would've wanted it that way.)

Re:Honestly...

[ravenspear (756059)]

Let's hope Episode III is good..

Buh, Buh, Missa no wan to die!

Re:Yeah!

[EvilCabbage (589836)]

What took so long?

George needed the extra time to think of new and horrible ways to re-edit our childhood. Good thing too, I hadn't quite had all my dreams shattered yet.

Actually...

[EvilCabbage (589836)]

Jabba didn't meet up with Han before Han took off (and certainly not the significantly older looking version of Han that you see in this scene). Etc. Etc. Han did meet Jabba in the original cut, the scene was pulled from theatrical release though. Jabba was originally a dumpy irish fellow dressed in fur and leather.

If you're going to bitch about scene changes, at least have the facts my friend.

Re:Yawn.

[Don Sample (57699)]

Uh... "the significantly older version of Han" was filmed with the original movie, and a stand-in (a fat guy wearing some sort of fur outfit, looked kinda like Cyrano Jones from The Trouble With Tribbles) for Jabba, that George originally planned to replace with a stop motion Hut.

When that plan didn't work out (didn't have the time/budget/tech to do it convincingly) they added the Greedo scene to pass on the same information about Han's difficulties with the local smugglar king, which is why the conversation with Jabba is essentially the same as the conversation with Greedo.

Re:Non special edition dvd's

[djward (251728)]

Find a used laserdisc player. You can find the orig. trilogy, remastered THX but pre-extra shite, for pretty cheap now on LD. Damn good quality (almost DVD quality), surround sound, etc. I've been enjoying them for years. I suppose you could borrow a LD player and hook it up to computer and burn over to DVD if you were inclined.

I love the laserdiscs though. Big, beautiful cover art. The Empire Strikes Back LD cover is a thing of beauty.

Re:Han shoots first?

[by Anonymous Coward]

Han shoots first?

If he does, I'm not buying them, period.

Er, we WANT Han to shoot first.

Re:Wake me up when they put the ORIGINALs on DVD

[daVinci1980 (73174)]

Dear 80's Star Wars fan in my target market,

Actually, I'm willing to be that you will purchase this version when it comes out. You'll open up the shiny plastic and you'll curse my name for not releasing the "pure" movies. It is possible that you will resist this boxed set, but fortunately for me you have friends and relatives who remember how much you love Star Wars, and *certainly* one or more of them will purchase this collection for you. Either way, your money will already be mine, and I won't really care. I'll be laughing all the way to the bank in one of my 30 new Ferraris.

However, I will let you in on a little secret. Ever since DVD came around as a format, I've been saying that I didn't feel DVD was an appropriate format for the Star Wars franchise. I didn't think the betamax sales had fallen off enough to cannibalize my own market share. However, I've clearly changed views on that, and it is therefore likely that at *some* point in the future, I will release the super-duper-ultra-elite-Star-Wars-Final-absolutely -no-kidding-this-time Edition. Which will actually just be the original theater version.

I hope this tidbit holds you over.

The master of your wallet,

George Lucas

Re:StarWars.com News Releases

[shadowmatter (734276)]

The Birth of the Lightsaber

Heaven forbid that thing turn on while still in the womb.

- sm