Star Wars n00b- Which DVD to buy?

Hey people.

Me and my sister want to watch the original Star Wars films, having never properly watched them. I want, ideally, to see the films as they were originally released. From what I can gather, some of the DVD releases have tarted up the originals with different scenes and some CGI.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Original-Trilogy-DVD/dp/B001FVKUA8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

This set has 6 discs, 2 for each film; one is the 'original' and one is the remastered version. Some of the reviews are critical of the 'original' versions. Someone moans that they are not optimsied for HDTV, but surely doing that would ruin the intergrity of the original

Can anyone vouch for these original discs containing the films in the same state that they were released in back in the cinemas? Thanks.

 

Yeah, seems like it..the "new" versions are known as Special Editions, or at least they used to be, and they have all sorts of dumb-looking CGI added. Actually, the only really good thing about them was being able to see the original trilogy (even though it had some stupid crap added) in theaters!

 

Not optimized for HTDV simply means "not anamorphic."

The transfers used are the same used for the previous LaserDisc release. So instead of being anamorphic, they are in 4:3 hard matte letterbox. It means that you get less native resoution when played back. On a 16:9 HDTV you'll see a "windows box" effect unless you use the zoom function on your DVD player.

This is the same effect you'll get with any LaserDisc or any hard matte DVD (of which there were many in the early days of DVD).

Hope this helps.

-hl718

 

Unless you go for a Laser Disc bootleg, then that is currently the only way to see the unmolested originals on DVD.

 

So much hate towards the SE's. I find them superior to the inconsistent originals.

That being said, this set is the same as the Individual releases on DVD packed into one I think, they aren't full widescreen like the above have stated but that doesn't mean it's not worth having.
It's not like they are unwatchable because they aren't they are perfectly fine.

The amount of elitism some fellow Stars Wars fans showcase is incredibly troubling.

 

I own that dvd set and watch the original theatrical releases regularly. it's the only way to on dvd. i would watch the theatrical releases, then watch the special editions and see what you like better.

you can see a lot of screenshots and reasons why i don't like the special editions nearly as much here: http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html

things like adding Hayden Christenson to Jedi and changing who shoots first in the cantina are two major things that bug me.

 

Well, like I say, theres 2 discs for each film so I'd have the choice of which version to watch. I know that some people have a lot of emotional attachment to these films- and I guess I just wanted to watch the films the original states that fostered this attachment.

I'm not fussed about anamorphic or letterboxing or anything. Ive placed an order for this set.. seems quite a good price. Plus 93p student discount.. My sister wants to see the Prequels.. but she can buy that shit, lol.

 

awesome.

hopefully you guys like them. lol.

 

Not elitism at all, we saw the originals at the time, and that's what we want to watch now.

 

Indeed !

They screwed up the sound on the extended editions.

I'll echo what other people have said I WANT THE ORIGINALS !

Those are what I grew up on, that being said "original" is tough as evey year they went through changes and tinkering here and there.

 

If some one finds the original raw film. It will probably get restored to its original glory.

It is no wonder why I have The Godfather The Coppola Restoration, and the five disc ultimate edition of Blade Runner too. I do not have the briefcase ultimate collectors edition, but this version instead

linky

Which is just as impressive, and also I have The Robocop Collection, which is awesome too, if I mad add that comment. So I agree totally with your comment right here

So if the raw film was ever found, I would love an ultimate collections edition of the original saga, with loads and utter loads of extra material, heck even god awful old extra material.

 

there's lots of fan edits that have restored and tweaked just lighting effects to the laser disc copies to restore them. There are now now two special editions also. the vhs and dvd copies. The DVD's edited even MOAR. Like, they made han shoot after greedo- but at almost the exact same time. etc

 

Lucas has EVERYTHING !

Zero has been lost, it's all in the Lucasfilm archives all of it don't buy any of their BS !

They'll keep milking it through the years like they have.

The point is the "story" has changed so much, the truth is being whitewashed about how these movies came to be. I fail to see the point why ? To make Lucas look more like a genius ?

All I ask is for copies of the movies I grew up on, not changing the story i.e. Greedo shoots first or toning down the violence.

I have the briefcase for BR and that's how you remaster a flick ! Still SUCKS the gallery got pulled due to space.

The Godfather The Coppola Restoration is awesome as well !

 

yeah, i find it hard to believe he lost the masters after he restored them before editing them for the special editions in 97. What'd he do, record over them for Magnum PI reruns?

 

CGI Jabba the Hutt looked like shit; literally and figuratively. That scene with him walking with Han Solo looked so terrible, I don't see how anyone could thought it looked better that way.

I bought a 1984 CBS/FOX Video VHS copy of Empire Strikes Back from a used gaming/tape store for one dollar that is in perfect condition case and all. Looks perfect for a tape that old. Then again I think older tapes were made of higher quality than what we got in later years.

 

the redid the scene on the DVD again. They used the model for jabba from episode 1.

the CGI was horible when they were going to mos eisley and the you see the CGI speeder. nearly flat textures, and no movement from C3PO when they move - completely static.

 

Star Wars movies are like POKEMONS

You need to GET THEM ALL!!!!

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Although, Episode 1 is HILARIOUS and I can quote almost the entire movie and it has a cool light saber fight. But still! 2 is worthless and 3 is garbo.

 

Is there a clip of the awful 'restored' Jabba scene? I read that the used a human actor.. and due to this, at one point Hans walks past where Jabba's tail would be- and they made him yelp or somesuch. Is this availabe to see in it's cookiness somewhere? Not the CGI version..

Nevermind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SaMCIAHJuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eCg0rGfH-w&feature=related

Jesus they are terrible. Hans jerks upwards!