Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: Irvin Kershner
Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $8.99 (45%)
New (41) Used (17) Collectible (1) from $9.99
Rating:  423 reviews
Sales Rank: 1915
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 129 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.3
MPN: 2236383
UPC: 024543263838
EAN: 0024543263838
ASIN: B000FQJAJG
Theatrical Release Date: May 21, 1980
Release Date: September 12, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
For the first time ever and for a limited time only the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes for the first time ever on DVD the original films as seen in theaters in 1977 1980 and 1983.System Requirements:Running Time: 127 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: PG UPC: 024543263838 Manufacturer No: 2236383
Amazon.com
The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of The Empire Strikes Back is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Empire as it originally played in theaters in 1980. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more of Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) replacing Clive Revill with slightly revised lines, or Temuera Morrison rerecording of Boba Fett's minimal dialogue. What do you lose by watching the 1980 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Empire, however, on a widescreen TV will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference. Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1980 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi
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| Customer Reviews: Read 418 more reviews...
 Move along. These aren't the DVDs you're looking for. June 27, 2006
J. Renner
179 out of 227 found this review helpful
If you love the original Star Wars trilogy as much as me, it is time to send a loud and clear message to Lucas that you will not endorse a subpar, inferior product. Do not get too excited when you pop this DVD into your player to watch on a widescreen TV. The 1980 version will appear as a tiny, low-resolution image. It is a non-anamorphic transfer (which in 2006 is NOT an industry standard), so it is NOT enhanced for 16x9 viewing. Get ready to enjoy Star Wars like you never have before - as if you were watching it through a mail slot!!!
Boycott this DVD until Lucasfilm acknowledges and corrects this. This trilogy's most loyal fans deserve better.
Thanks for nothing, George May 25, 2006
Dave Mack (. United States)
161 out of 238 found this review helpful
One, you are making any fan who really wants the original theatrical releases buy yet ANOTHER version of your "SPECIAL EDITION" versions which the most fans already own.
Two, For a compnay that prides itself on the best audio and video presentations, you are delivering a VERY substandard product for 2006.
Three, Have some pride in your work. Sure, these weren't finished to your liking when they came out. Technology will ALWAYS improve and you could tweak your art until the end of your life but at some point, let it go and move on. But allow these "unfinished" versions at least to be experienced in the best way possible.
d
 This release is not worth owning, even if you're a die hard June 15, 2006
bixodoido (Utah, USA)
44 out of 63 found this review helpful
I love the original Star Wars movies. I owned them on the original VHS release. When Lucasfilms released the trilogy on VHS in the `special' THX format I was more than happy to oblige, and bought the entire trilogy. Then came the special extended versions of the movies-great! I saw those in theaters and rushed to buy them when they came out on VHS. I missed the Laserdisc version and didn't buy anything else on VHS, but then came the DVD release of the trilogy (the extended versions of the film). Hey, I thought, I already own these movies in 3, yes 3, versions. But what the heck-Lucas and co. are saying they'll never release the original versions of the film on DVD anyway, so why not make it 4?
Now we're looking at yet another release of the films. This is promised to be a "Limited Edition," which probably means it will only be out until demand subsides and they can release another version. If this were a new Dolby or Hi Def release of the original movies I may consider them, but its not. It's a rehashed release of the Laserdisc version of the films from 13 or so years ago, hideously outdated and ignorant of the technological advantages of DVD. I'm not going to bite on this release-I've had enough for the time being.
When (and to me it's a question of when, not if) Lucas finally decides to put forth a bit of effort and release Episodes IV-VI in a format that's not 15 years outdated I'll buy, though by this point I feel I shouldn't. But I see no reason to buy this release. Before the first DVD version came out Lucas said he wouldn't release the original films on DVD until after Episode 3-that turned out to be a lie. Then he said he'd never release the original theatricals on DVD-that, too has proved untrue. I'm fairly certain that we'll get a new version of the theatrical releases soon, maybe one that will be worth owning. Until then I can be patient-Lucas is apparently so willing to bleed his die-hard fans dry that the only true "definitive" release of the films will be the one Lucas does right before he, himself, passes on. Only then will these poor, tired classics get a rest.
Make your own DVD July 19, 2006
N. Dawson
23 out of 35 found this review helpful
Folks, we have the technology now. If you can get your hands on copies of the old Widescreen VHS tapes or laserdiscs, you can make your own DVD copies for about $1. They will be the same quality that George is about to charge you $30 for. I have been a life-long SW fan, but in recent years Mr Lucas has shown his true colors. Wait to see if he ever releases a version you can't make yourself and then buy (although it will probably come packaged in such a way that you have to spend a lot more than it's worth to buy YET ANOTHER copy of his SE editions etc...)
 The Empire Strikes Back April 8, 2000
22 out of 26 found this review helpful
The second entry in the Star Wars trilogy is my personalfavorite. Irvin Kershner and George Lucas accomplished something fewother filmakers have done: They made a sequel that is considered to be better than the original. This film, has a more dark, eerie edge to it comparing it to Return of the Jedi or the original. This is probably the most realistic film of the series. Mark Hamil is great as Luke but probably is better in Return of the Jedi. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are in top form in this one though. At the 198O Academy Awards Empire won Best Sound and a Special Achievement Award for its dazzling visual effects. I felt bad that it didn't win Best Art-Set Direction but felt it got cheated when it lost Best Original Score since the score in this was probably the best in the series. The fight on the ice planet Hoth where the Imperial AT-AT Walkers attack the Rebel base is very exciting and memorable, as are several other scenes such as the chase through the asteroid field and the part where Han is lowered into the carbon-freezing pit in Cloud City. The dialogue is funny such as "Shut him up or shut him down!". Yoda was very good and Frank Oz did a great job as the voiceof Yoda. The climax is a thrilling lightsaber fight in the bowels of the Cloud City . It is my favorite one in the series, edging out the one in Return of the Jedi aboard the half-completed Death Star before the Emperor. Pretty cool. I really liked how you got to see Vader's meditation chamber and the Imperial Fleet. I also liked how you got to see all the Imperial officers and the inside area of the Executor. seeing more of the Cloud City made this dark film a bit brighter. I heavily recommend this movie to anyone, especially HUGE Star Wars fans like myself.
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