Star Wars Trilogy

Now don't get me wrong, I was born 3 years before the original Star Wars film hit theaters in May 1977, and I welcomed the Special Editions in '97 with open arms, because unlike many film purists, I feel I'm the true 'progressive' on these matters and I'm a Republican. Imagine that! I have always felt that the original films needed cleaning up and brought up to date with the emergence of computer enhanced effects. I don't know, call me crazy for not wanting to see flashing "blue screen" boxes around the TIE Fighters as they streak across the screen. I feel the one thing that kills realism in the movies is bad blue screen effects. So I was more than happy that Lucas and ILM cleaned up the blue screen artifacts.

I also welcomed the additional CGI shots dispersed through-out the films. The additional Mos Eisley shots, although they probably need additional work on them to clean them up a bit as the CG work was a bit primitive at the time in ~'96. However the additional shots of X-Wings 'n stuff from the Battle of Yavin IV were especially cool.

But being fair and balanced, I did have a few objections to a few changes, like for instance some dialogue changes and other scenes, but at the same time, I wished they had added more scenes in certain places.

But enough about the SE contraversy. So what about the DVDs? Well, as I said before, these DVD versions will still yet again be different than the '97 versions. What has changed? Well, rumors have it that the light sabre effects have been enhanced. One thing that always bothered me about ANH was the seemingly "white-looking" light sabre that Luke used in Obi-wans home and in the Falcon during the remote drone training. So instead of the white blade, we might be getting a solid glowing blue sabre.

Another thing that bothered me was the 'dated' computer screens on the Death Star and on Yavin IV. I mean they screamed 1977! Much like the TV screens in the series Babylon 5 that screamed early '90s. I'd like to see (if possible) new screens that would go along more with established continuity in the Prequal movies.


Lucas is really a piece of work   September 22, 2004
Sinthetik Devil (Garden Grove, CA)
55 out of 72 found this review helpful

Millions of fans around the world adored his films, bought the toys, made him millions, perhaps billions of dollars. And in return, he takes the original films, butchers them with CGI and scene alterations, then procalims he will NEVER rlease the original films, because to HIM these ARE the originals. What an ass.

The SE revisions are horrible. In A New Hope Greedo shoots first, making Han look like a pacifist. He was supposed to be a scoundrel who slowly transitions into a good guy. We see Jabba in a pointless conversation, ruining the suspense and tension throughout the 3 films. Originally there was a sense of dread caused by Jabba...who was he? What did he look like. You never saw him until the last film. But now he shows up in the first film like some skinny weakling. Han steps on his tail and he does nothing. The Jabba in the third movie would have thrown him to the Rancor. In Empire, when Luke jumps into the chasm, he screams like a little baby, ruining the powerful moment in which he was supposed to COURAGEOUSLY jump into the chasm rather than join the dark side. The scream only makes sense if he were pushed, but he CHOSE to jump. This was supposed to be the scene where Luke becomes mature, a change in character from when he was a teen on Tatooine. Ruined. In Return of the Jedi we get a horrible musical scene with a thing that looks like the Honeycomb guy singing. Unwatchable. Also, Boba Fett's death is put on the level of a fart joke with Lucas adding a burp in after he is swallowed by the Sarlaac.

There would be no complaints if he released BOTH and gave the fans a choice which they want to buy. But no. It's his way or nothing. Imagine if this happened with every old film. Dirty Harry could have some CGI explosions, they could update Al Pacino's hair in Scarface, dub dialogue into silent films. Where would it end? Lucas is a one trick pony who got lucky with an idea and now his ego is ruining the franchise that was one the most powerful on the planet.

Buy the LOTR trilogy instead if you don't have it, or look for some original trilogy bootlegs. Dont give any more money to that bloated ass Lucas. Lucas has been known to be full of crap, so perhaps he will release the originals in a few years to rack up on some more money. Go to Originaltrilogy.com and sign the petition!!!


Terms most people can understand   December 1, 2004
FitzFG (Upstate New York)
52 out of 62 found this review helpful

Many of these reviews blast purists and tell them to suck it up and get with the times. Personally, I am a purist. I want Lucas to release the ORIGINAL on dvd.
I understand how this position may be difficult for a younger generation to understand. Let me paint a parallel to which most people will be able to relate. Lets say, theoretically, that in 20-30 years the Tolkien estate comes under new management. Peter Jackson obtains the rights to The Hobbit and makes a new movie. He casts Brad Pitt as Gandalf and proceeds to dub over Sir Ian McKellen's face in the original trilogy just to make the movies "mesh" more efficiently. While he's at it he makes a few more changes that either a minority of people want or that he'd been wanting to do for years. He makes all the Gondorians African American and the Rohirrim Native American because a few people have complained that the trilogy was racist. Just for fun he places a repeating ballista on the top of each Oliphaunt and adds an army of dwarfs to the Battle of Pelennor Fields. He also touches up the scenery by adding flying dragons to the background or expanding some of the battle scenes with fighting wizards or other such junk. The finale is altered to include a MiddleEarth wide song/dance/celebration with Hobbits doing ballet and Elves rapping. All of these effects are done using state-or-the-art tech that contrasts harshly with the film quality of today. Jackson then refuses to release the original LOTR on the video system that replaces dvd because the new one is "better". You also have to listen to a new generation talking about how dated the original LOTR are and saying that Jackson is justified in mangling them. If you are a fan of LOTR and this scenario does not bother you, then you truly have my sympathy.
Returning to reality: I am going to hold on to my VHS versions of the original Star Wars Trilogy and hope they last until Lucas dies and someone else releases the original on dvd.


Disappointment   July 23, 2004
Bag Of Toes (Nowhere Yet Everywhere)
51 out of 65 found this review helpful

Where is the option to watch the ORIGINAL UNMOLESTED versions of these classic films? Boo! Mr. Lucas, Boo! The Alien Quadrilogy gives us the option of watching the original film or the special edition. Why is this not an option for the ultimate science fiction trilogy of all time? Would one buy the Special Edition Mona Lisa with new smile? HELL NO! Leave a classic as it is - A CLASSIC. I will not be buying this travesty. I will wait for the original trilogy on DVD or will simply do without. Shame on you George Lucas.