It is a Star Wars fan dream come true… and another guaranteed $2 billion in Lucas’ bank account. Even though he swore he’d never do it, George Lucas is releasing the ORIGINAL Star Wars trilogy on DVD. Yes that’s right. The movies as they originally were when they were first released without all the new stuff. REJOICE!
Our good friends over at Coming Soon give us the following:
In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of “Star Wars,” “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie, as well as the original theatrical edition of the film. That means you’ll be able to enjoy “Star Wars” as it first appeared in 1977, “Empire” in 1980, and “Jedi” in 1983.
See the title crawl to “Star Wars” before it was known as “Episode IV”; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.
This is fantastic news. But come on… did anyone REALLY believe that George would turn down all that cash? Or maybe he just felt like he owed it to the fans after Phantom Menace. Either way, the fans now get what they have been asking for for so long.
Hell… like the obedient little drone that I am, I’m sure to buy this puppy on it’s first day.
The ultimate versions of the first Star wars will still be the cleaned up VHS versions released in 1994(?). Is it so difficult to release them on DVD? Lucas has to impose a 2-disc box set with the new versions that everyone bought?! He just releases flawed products, so we’ll always be waiting for the ultimate ones. Why two versions in one set? I guess Lucas is still pushing the new versions down our throat and working hard so these won’t be just a minor experiment -with his new computers/toys.
About the prequels: Wait 10 or 20 years, and the kids of today will consider them cult movies as well. The effects will be dated (they already are), the time capsule will work, and we’ll learn to love them as they are. IF ONLY LUCAS DOESN’T CHANGE THEM AS WELL!
Well, as a huge fan of the OT, I’m thrilled Lucas is releasing the “original theatrical” versions on DVD. I don’t mind having to buy the 2004 versions also as double sets (I did like the new ESB better than the original, though not the new ANH or ROTJ.) My concern is that Lucas will not make available the THX remastered & retouched versions as last released on Laserdisc. Those could also be considered “original theatrical” versions as they had no additional scenes like the Special Editions (but they were cleaned up for better sound, color, dust/scratches and mattes around the ships). So George, what exactly are we getting? Either way I’ll be getting all 3 (well…6) in September. Let’s hope for the THX redone versions. Either way, thanks George.
Hey John,
No he’s not doing it for the fans. The guy is doing it for profit. He’s a dick cause he lied about never putting them out when all along it was part of his plan, just so fans would buy the molested versions feeling that would be the only way to own it. He could have released them both the first time as a complete set.
Hey there Kell,
I’m not sure I follow you. For years fans have been calling Lucas a dick for NOT giving them the original versions on DVD. And now that he is listening to them and giving them what they want… we still can him a dick?
Talk about a no-win situation
“I’m not releasing the original trilogy unaltered ever again” really meant “I’m waiting until everyone buys the new version, so I can sell you two copies of the same thing”. Glad I refused to buy the new versions. Goes to show how much of a dick Lucas really is.
It was idiotic for anyone to EVER believe Lucas when he said these episodes wouldn’t be released on DVD. The money is just too much to pass up. I’m astounded people can be so frenzied that they’ll actually pony up the $ for this, considering you KNOW in your heart that he’ll then release the full 6-episode digitally re-mastered Collector’s Special Edition (w/trading cards and commemorative action figure) next year for even more $$$$.
What the hell is Han shot first ???????
Lucas is definitely doing this more for his own wallet than for the fans .. that said, this is definitely the ultimate DVD release for this year, and I’ll definitely buy in!
I used to be one of the biggest Star Wars Fanatics i knew. But between the, less than stellar, prequel trilogy and Lucas continuously dicking around with the OT….. i have reached the point of not caring anymore.
Hell no. I’m not going anywhere near those with a ten foot pole. I’ve spent enough $ on bloody star wars dvd’s to last me a freakin’ lifetime. The hubby is going to have to live without these (unless he buys them for himself).
the original will be release in september 12.
“… Their wishes will be granted Sept. 12 when Fox releases new two-disc DVDs ($30 each) of Star Wars (since retitled as Episode IV: A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that include the films as they first appeared in theaters, along with the new, restored versions (now available in the four-disc $70 Star Wars Trilogy).”
start saving up…
i need clarification. 2 discs? 1 is the theater version and the other one is what? the special edition? if that’s the case. whatta rip! i’ll have 2 of the special editions. i’m getting a grip before i bust a blood vessel.
Un-FREAKIN’-believable! i gotta dish out more money for this movie. the only bright star to this is that i can show my son, who is 5 yrs old what I watched when I was a kid, my daughter, who is 2, won’t care. she hasn’t really expressed any interest in star wars like her big brother, except whacking him with one of his lightsabers.
how else is lucas gonna suck more money from me? after all this gripin’, i know i’m gonna buy it. shutting up now…
I actually have mixed feelings about the mods done to the originals, I loved the shots of Mos Eisley/I hated the Greedo shoots first ,why take a perfect scene like that and change it over and over again to finally have it look just awfull, I can’t understand how George watched this scene and thought it looked good in the end. I enjoyed the shot of the Bantha’s with jabba’s sail barge/hated the sign along in jabba’s palace.Basically the only shots that should have been added are shots of vehicles landing and taking off, shots of lanscapes ect… not stupid crap like han talking to jabba, I think you guys get the idea…
test
i agree w/ Doktorpee, i am also waiting for the “supreme ultimate jedi master/sith lord edition”… but this is a good start…
HAN SHOT FIRST!
its about time.
I never minded the alterations made by Lucas to his original trilogy, they are his movies after all. I was disappointed that they were not released side by side with the original versions though. Sure, it’s just a movie, but for many guys of my generation, it was a defining moment. We were thrilled by the heroics and awed by the effects. When I watch the special editions of these movies (particularly the first), it does not bring me back to 1977.
I’m not an artistic person, so I always had trouble accepting Lucas’s explanation of how he wanted to fix “Star Wars” and make it more like what he envisioned. Not all art is perfect. The Venus de Milo has no arms for crying out loud. As someone who has spent a good deal of money restoring old films so they can be enjoyed by future generations, Lucas should realize that films are more than just stories, they are also time capsules. Perhaps he now has.
Hmmm… I was really surprised to hear this. But, what about the first trilogy out on DVD. It seems like the whole goddamn double dip. The only way this can work (IMO) is to cheapen the price. Then again, I guess the price will be worth it cause, hell, IT’S THE ORIGINAL!
Personally, I think all the movies I have on DVD are pretty good (I can understand the complaints for the prequels and the Special Edition, I was on that band wagon). However, I want to see what fans have been saying about the original without the CGI updates.
If there’s one thing I’d like to see is the infamous “Han shoots first” scene. That was a subject of great debate, so it’s nice to see this scene come to the DVD world.
See what happens when you bash George Lucas. Not just only is he a good director (of course you’ll disagree with me), but he LISTEN’S TO THE FANS! Now the bigger question: When the hell is the Original edition released?
i don’t really care
HAN SHOT FIRST BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a God after all… George Lucas FINALLY GOT A FUCKING CLUE.
The new movies SUCK. The new versions of the old movies SUCK.
Thank god for old ones.
Yeeeeeeeees! I’ve waited so long for this release! Now I can finally trash those laser-disc conversions of the originals I got off eBay =P I’ll certainly be dying for this day to come!
Well, there was public demand for it, in doing this action Lucas can quiet a good portion of his hardcore OT fanbase. However, he should have done it when the new versions were put on DVD a few years ago. One thing I would also love to see is the deleted scenes (Luke & Biggs) in a special features menu. I would also love and drool over commentaries of any one or more of the following :
Ralph McCquarrie
John Dykstra
Rick Baker
On Empire: Ivan Kirshner.
There. That’s my wish list.
-Sealer
yeah, well, the ultimate box-set will probably be released on Blu-ray discs.
Man, I knew this was going to happen – but this is not good! I am waiting for the “ultimate” box-set! If this “original 3” boxset comes out, I may have to wait another 1-2 years! Damnit, that sucks.
Well its about damn time!