World Famous Comics: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness Directed By: George Lucas Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 12, 2006 Running Time: 121 minutes Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 1977
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.
Amazon.com: The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of George Lucas's epic space fantasy Star Wars is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Star Wars as it originally played in theaters in 1977. What does that mean exactly? Well, for starters, the initial title crawl proclaims that this is just Star Wars, not Episode IV, A New Hope. Second, the film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more critters and droids scurrying around the port of Mos Eisley when Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi first arrive, no meetings between Han Solo and Jabba the Hut and between Luke and Biggs (extraneous scenes that were cut in 1977), no enhanced explosions during the final reel, and--most importantly to some fans--no more of Greedo shooting first in the bar. Instead Han is free to be the scoundrel and not even let Greedo squeeze off a shot.
What do you lose by watching the 1977 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here). Digital cleanup for another--Tatooine looks like it's been coated with an additional layer of sand cloud. 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 Star Wars, however, is not anamorphically enhanced (sometimes referred to as "4:3 letterbox"), so on a widescreen TV it 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 Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope, and the 1977 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
Original Theatrical Version - Definitive The Original Theatrical versions are in their original 2.35:1 Widescreen aspect, letterboxed within a 3x4 screen format - not anamorphic - which is clearly indicated on the packaging. You can view this "full-size" on your 16x9 TV by setting your DVD player's HDMI output to 3x4/pillar-box if necessary, and then setting your TV to "zoom" so that the screen is filled side to side with the picture. There will be slim black bars on the top and bottom, just as there are on anamorphic DVD's with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
Even with the zoom in effect, the picture is crystal clear and the color great. I'm using an upconvert DVD player with HDMI output (1080p), and a 50-inch plasma HD television. Some have said in reviews that the picture quality is poor, even "VHS quality", but that's totally false. I've read that the originals here were taken from the laser-disc masters done in the early 90's; well, they look great however they were sourced. The sound is Dolby 2.0 Stereo (as indicated on the package) and sounds excellent. I get some center-channel and sub-woofer action as well as the stereo music and sound-effects on my system.
If a blu-ray/HD version is ever issued, that will be great and an improvement; but this is the only way to get the original films on DVD at this time, and they look great, so this set is essential for fans who saw these movies in theatres when they were released between 1977 and 1983 and want to see them once again in their original glory.
Primitive-Looking By Now, But A 'Must' To Set Up The Series After seeing all six episodes of the Star Wars saga several times apiece, I still think this initial entry is interesting but one of weaker ones in the series. (That may not be popular to say, but I'm being honest.) Perhaps that's because by now, the special-effects look primitive and also because it's a little slow in parts, slower than the other five films.
Sometimes, though, it's nice to have more lulls as these modern-day action films many times overdo the violence. This one, however, is just a bit too slow overall.
The first hour of this film sets up the second hour plus the two sequels that followed in the 1980s, showing how the principal characters were united, who they are fighting against and what mystical powers they have at their disposal.
Despite how old this film is, it's a "must" for this collection since it sets up so much of what is to follow. It's also kind of fun to look at this again and see how young everyone looks!
Don't Buy This Movie Not because it's not anamorphic or a copy of a crappy laser disc, don't buy Star Wars, a.k.a. the most overly hyped movie in recent history because it wasn't that good. You're all kidding yourselves if you think watching it after 30+ years it'll get better. To shell out anything over $10 for this particular movie, one you can watch for free on Spike, Science Fiction channel or Blockbuster, you all must be retarded. By the way how many of you really understand what anamorphic means? You people are worst than trekkies. I mean they at least had a series plus a number of movies, one of which is coming out in a month, to fall back on. A director that wasn't hated more than George Bush. What have you got? One, possibly two movies to talk about. A movie where the closest the main character got to getting laid was with his sister!! Yeah, that was revolutionary. Get over the whole anamorphic-anoia, watch the movie on its own merits and you'll see even if it comes out in pristine condition, you'll still watch it once or twice unless you're the kid who had to see it 50 times. By the way I liked Close Encounters of the Third Kind much more than this piece of crap. No this isn't a troll, I'm just pissed that after 5 PAGES!!! all you could say was "Oh, it's not anamorphic! It's no better than the laser disc!! It's not the original!! You know everyone of you are going to go out and buy a blu-ray player when this turd hits the shelves, you'll watch it 6 times over the weekend and come back here and bitch that Lucas screwed you again! I'd laugh at you too, $15!! ha-ha-ha! For the purposes of a review, it sucked. Wonder why Mark Hamill didn't do more? Watch this movie again. Had Han Solo been the main character, it would be a different story. Now take a drag or two on your inhaler before responding.
P.S. George Lucas blows.
An all time classic... This is a classic you don't want to miss. Digitally remastered makes this a worth while home experience. Don't miss out.
Everyone likes the old movie better!! It's true. Just about everyone likes the old movie better, back when it was just called "Star Wars." I hate how I can say "Star Wars" now and some people have to ask "Which Episode?" It's freaking STAR WARS!!! It's not "Episode IV: A New Hope," but STAR WARS, end title.
If and only if you own this DVD release or the 2004 release, I invite you to use your internets to google the word "Adywan." You will be pleasantly surprised.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
