It will be out in September. I'll be getting the set with all six films.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=73057

same here... even thou not much of a sci fi guy... the series will be a classic to have.

Do you get the original versions of the first 3 films?

The article makes no mention of it but I think it's safe to assume that the bluray set will have the 2004 re-release versions of the original trilogy.

From: MovieFone




That's the only important thing for me really, I have zero interest in anything other than the original three films in their original cuts, not the cocked-around-with versions or the prequel abominations.

However, as the more recent DVD releases did include the "original originals" I have hope there will be space (no pun intended) for the same in the blu-ray set. Although if there's no additional content or enhanced picture for the "oldies" there's probably not much point in me acquiring them over the DVD editions.

Cheers, Spinner

If Solo shoots second it's a no buy.

Can't wait! Original 3 only for me. Han did shoot first in my mind, but the other enhancements I think added to the movies for the most part. ESB looked absolutely incredible on my last dvd set, this should be pretty good. Again. For the 3rd or 4th time I've bought it.

I think the only movie of the original 3 that was improved with the additions was ROTJ, as it was pretty weak to begin with, and the singing bears at the end was a lame celebration. Adding the scenes from across the galaxy not only added more punch, but also made it clear that the rebels weren't just a bunch of malcontents that wanted to overthrow a government that everyone else liked.

My initial reaction is to just get the first three on Blu-Ray, since I wasn't a big fan of the prequels, but I'm not very bright and will probably end up caving and getting all 6 when it comes down to it.

The Lucas Empire thanks you.

If they'd put out a new Rogue Squadron or SW Battlefront game I'd gladly give them even more! LOL

I'd pay good money for an updated Tie Fighter or updated Jedi Knight DF 2.

I like one of the comments on that page that suggests George Lucas should just charge a lifetime subscription for updates.

Indeed.

(+5 years) New Format Release
(+1 year) Version with the original cuts on it (so everyone buys it again to get what they wanted in the first place)
(+1 year) "Deluxe/Gold" version with a tiny amount of new material on it so diehards buy it again to have the "ultimate version" (to be replaced in 5 years by a new "ultimate" version)

Rinse and repeat.

Looks like the same price as the Alien set, but 6 films instead of 4. I've only watched the first 2 Alien films so far, haven't watched the last 2 or the new special features yet, but they look GOOD.

Also, it looks like all the extras are in the full 6-film set only. That set will be 9 discs, while the 2 trilogy-only sets will be 3 discs each. So, if you care about extras at all, get the full set.



The Jedi Master

nice! I would buy the original trilogy and skip the prequel trilogy!


Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release Star Wars in three distinct sets to meet the needs of every Star Wars fan:

* Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray (9-disc Set includes all six films)
* Star Wars: Prequel Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes I-III)
* Star Wars: Original Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes IV-VI)

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray will feature all six live-action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation, along with three additional discs and more than 30 hours of extensive special features including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes, an exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives, and much more.

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray will be available for $139.99 US/$179.99 CAN and the Star Wars: Trilogy Sets for $69.99 US/89.99 CAN. Pricing for each set will vary by international territory.



It is most interesting that the Fox advert chose the words, 'to meet the needs of every Star Wars fan' because I hear a lot of fans asking for the original original!! haha

I have no interest in the originals on BD if they are simply the 2004 print in HD. If these aren't the fixed versions (the 2004 print needed lots of fixes), then I will never watch them so why buy them?

Oh and I don't see LFL putting out the original cut on BD, ever. They put it out on DVD and it was the lowest selling set ever.

But it sold, that's what matters.
Products don't have to break sales records in order to justify being sold.

It costs a hefty amount to do the same clean-up of the original prints that was done to the special editions. So, you have to sell enough to justify such an investment by LFL/FOX. The DVD set that included the original cuts didn't even make enough to pay for 1/10th of the cost of the restoration.

Maybe, but it's the only Starwars I bought, and will ever buy, on DVD

Same goes for BluRay. No originals, I'm not buying (c'mon, they're different films).

I appreciate 'ole fatneck doesn't care about me, or others like me, but there you have it. His revisionist juggernaut will never steamroller MY movie-loving soul.

How much did it cost and what did it make?
Doubt reissuing on blu-ray would cost as much again anyway. Regardless, there's more to things like this than basic cost analysis. Like concept cars that never sell but cost millions, or exotics that are sold at a loss. There are still benefits and indirect money to be made.

Apparently the individual original sales were about 100,000 units.

I have been told restoration would be over $20 million... but I have no idea what the actual cost would be (not like LFL is going to reveal those numbers). Then consider marketing costs, which are often the same to double production costs. You have to make at least twice what it costs to bring to market.

And I have no idea what you are referring to when you say "Doubt reissuing on blu-ray would cost as much again anyway." They never issued the movies in restored format. So, do you want to buy a BD set in non-restored format? Why? It would look like crap.

All the rumblings I've heard indicated that the BD set will be slightly different, yet again, from the 2004 set. Just as the 2004 set differed from the 1997 set (which I have on LD) in areas like the original lame CG Jabba and the Emperor in ESB not being replaced by Ian plus the original "old" Anakin at the end of ROTJ.

My guess is the prequel trilogy will see little or no changes, but due to the advances made in the last 5 yrs in CG tech I think the original trilogy will have its "new" stuff improved more and (hopefully) fit better in with the original film and not be as out of place as it was when the 97 release occurred.

However, for big SW fans I think the deleted scenes and other extras will make the BD set worth buying, regardless of your opinion on the actual changes in the original film. The other thing of course is going to be the improved sound. The original SE LD set I bought in 1997 was finally DD5.1 (after years of SW only in stereo or surround). The DVDs were the same, but I'm hoping for DTS-MA on the BD set. If not, even TrueHD is better than standard DD5.1.



The Jedi Master

Personally, I like the majority of the changes/additions that were made to the 2004 versions. Only some of the minor changes like the new bizarre Krayt Dragon call made by Obi Wan on Tatooine I didn't like.

That change didn't even seem to have a reason. I also thought they could've left Vader's "bring my shuttle" line from the end of ESB alone. Just because he added in the shots of Vader going from CC to the SSD didn't require changing that line, and frankly JEJ's reading of the new line was far too cool while the original line had so much awesome rage behind it.



The Jedi Master

FWIW....

Amazong sent me an email detailing that the SW Blu-rays are available for preorder
$90 for complete saga or $45 for each trilogy

I preordered the complete saga for the 30h of bonus footage. afaict, it is not clear about if the bonuses in the saga are in their repective trilogy sets.






http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete...5299&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Prequel-...5340&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Original...5409&sr=1-3

Not familiar with this one, what's different? I gave my dvd's to my nephew so I can't check.

And right after the Blu-Ray set(s) come out, 3D versions of the movies will appear in the theaters and eventually there will be another set of discs (Blu Ray or whatever follows) in 3D to buy. How many different releases (including both formats (i.,e vhs, laserdisc, dvd) as well as versions (original vs enhanced) will there then have been?

And yes, I know Lucas has announced 3D theatrical "re-releases" of the movies in 3D (unfortunately starting with Phantom Menace). I can just imagine seeing the opening scene from "A New Hope" in IMAX 3D with the Republic Cruiser and the Star Destroyer.

I'd go see 3D versions of the originals. Hell I'd go see them in 2D again too. LOL

haha too many versions and releases to count!

This reminds me of the recent release of The Beatles catalog on iTUNES. Someone counted up to 20 releases of The Beatles music catalog (vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, remasters, etc) and that EMI (or whomever owns the rights)!

Already on pre-order for me. Going to watch it again and again.

In the theatrical version of ESB, Vader simply says "Bring my shuttle" as he's leaving Cloud City after Luke had gotten away by jumping down the air shaft. In the 2004 version, Vader's line is changed to something much longer and convoluted (dont remember the exact dialogue right now). Anyway, Vader just saying "Bring my shuttle" worked much better dramatically speaking.

I've got the 2004 editions on DVD, but I've only bothered watching "A New Hope" of them, once.

Star Wars is one of those things you fondly remember from your youth, but which has been utterly ruined afterwards, and which should honestly be kept as slightly fuzzy enjoyable memory.

What the whole Star Wars debate has taught me well is that the way a film is perceived changes significantly with the age of the viewer. I know this may seem obvious but I read comments all the time from people saying that when they watched Star Wars as an adult they had a different impression of it compared to when they saw it as a kid.

As a kid, you wanted to be Luke. Later, you want to be Han.
The original 3 are still excellent IMO.

That's an excellent observation and it rings true with my personal experience. As a young kid, we all want to be the idealistic hero who believes in a cause. As older adults with an accumulation of real world experience, we mostly want to be the pragmatic, self-interested lady killer.

The changed line (starting with the 1997 SE and brought forward into the 2004 DVD) was "Inform my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival" in a rather matter-of-fact tone. He might as well have added "and order a pizza with everything on it."
The original "Bring my shuttle" was said with seething emotion as he just failed to convince his son to join him and in fact witnessed his son attempt suicide rather than join him.



The Jedi Master

I think that's also why the new movies didn't really take off with the older crowd---no Han Solo. You had a Luke type character, Obi Wan mentor roles (no pun intended), Yoda, a Princess....but no Han/Chewey, much less a Millenium Falcon.

I have never been bothered much by the change. The original line was a continuity problem because he said to bring his shuttle and then THERE IT IS! It would be like having a character say "James! Bring the car around" and then he gets in the car.

So, the current line makes more sense. And while the delivery is certainly not as effective as the original, I can actually feel a bit of anger in it. My biggest problem with the change is the use of a ROTJ shot of the shuttle docking with the star destroyer. COME ON! What, you couldn't reshoot it or CGI it?!

It's been a while since I've seen the original, but I thought he said "Bring my shuttle," and then the next time you saw him, he was on board the Star Destroyer. I think the scene of him boarding the shuttle was added as well.

You may be right... it has been so long since I saw the original.

The anouncement at the CES featuring Lord Vader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kHRlJwn6A

Pre ordered the complete set on Amazon uk

Yes, the original release it's "bring my shuttle" followed by his appearance on the SSD bridge. The SE changed the line, then you saw the CGI shot of the shuttle flying out from Bespin to the SSD, then you see the ROTJ shot of it it landing with an alternate take of him meeting Moff Jerjerrod in the 2nd DS from a long shot without dialog.
I know they wanted to keep the costs down (the redone ROTJ earned the least of the 3 and he likely knew it would) and that's probably why they reused that shot.
The main thing, though, was it was unnecessary. The original line followed by his appearance was plenty. I don't know ONE person who saw ESB who, after seeing it, said "but how did Vader get on the SSD??? I didn't see it!!!"


The Jedi Master

Ah, gosh darn it, Amazon has put the Star Wars bluray back to 1st to 3rd October, just had an email from them about it...

I hated that Lucas added more footage of the wampa at the beginning of ESB. It was more suspenseful to keep him mostly out of sight.

I'd like to see the lost footage of the Wampa attack on the rebel base. All we see now is the aftermath as Han gets ready to leave to look for Luke you can see the hole in the wall and the 2-1B on the floor looking at a dead tauntaun.



The Jedi Master

I got an email from Lucas telling me when he will be telling me about the details of the SW blurays.


http://maythe4th.starwars.com/countdown.php

Sweet that countdown looks awesome. Can't wait.

All I want to know is, does Han shoot first?

+1


I'm not sure I buy the Lucas comment about the original release is no longer in existence. I am hoping the info on Tuesday will reveal that we will get the mutliple versions all in bluray (original, 97 release, 2004 release) similar to the blade runner or CE3K special releases.

It exists, it's just deteriorated to hell. He never bothered to "restore" the original scenes in 1997, so at this point I'm not sure what state they'd be in.






The Jedi Master

As a general rule I dont re-purchase films on bluray that I already have on standard DVD but I'll be making exceptions for the Star Wars trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition I will rebuy on BR, Star Wars I couldn't care less about anymore.

I'm a doctor Jim not a stormtropper pilot.

Luke.. the shorts let go, Luke trust me. oh Ben, oh Ben.

Now that's just nasty!

cool!

Have you read "The Secret History of Star Wars" I only found out about this book and the webpage last night. The site mentions in the "saving SW" article that...
"When Lucas says that the original version physically does not exist, this is what he really means--the negative is conformed to the Special Edition. Of course, it would be very easy to simply put the original pieces back and conform it to the original version, or use the separation masters and IPs, or simply scan the old pieces for a digital restoration, but I digress."
It also goes on to state that Lucas claims it would cost a lot of money to restore the original release. Pretty crazy coming from a guy who is spending the cash to make the SW films into 3D releases. (someone stated the cost of 3D conversion at sumfink like $10,000.00USD/minute of film?)

here is a linky to the site with some interesting articles and links to other articles about SW
http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/index.html

How in the world did they get the Canadian pricing for this? Our dollar is higher than the USD so we get to pay 25% more for the DVDs.

The price difference in Canada has very little to do with the exchange rate and more to do with the licensing fees that differ from country to country. Had these been films made by a Canadian studio then it would be an entirely different situation.

I preordered the complete saga blu-ray for $90USD (about 35% off the rsp) and iirc the trilogy sets go for$40. I expect you would be able to find a comparable discount in Canada?