Star Wars - Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition) | Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford

Star Wars - Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition) | Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford | Original version is awesome

vhs video:

Star Wars - Episod...

	Star Wars - Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition) Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford 20th Century Fox, 1997 average customer review:based on 806 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

This is the version to buy

You had to be there to understand how profoundly different, how mesmerizing this film was when it was first released. As teenagers, my friends and I, living on the white trash side of town and with limited familial resources for much other than lunch money, had to shop lift our SF books. We stole them in great numbers, actually. I'm not proud of the fact, but our little SF club needed material to read and discuss, our basement library needed to grow, and our nascent writing talents needed role models. The genre was our life. Imagine the two remaining members of that thieving little club some years later, who, still addicted to SF, walked into the largest theater on the south side of Detroit, sat down without much of a clue what to expect, and watched that fantastic yellow roll-up against a field of real-looking stars, followed by that, that, that bone rattling sound and the sight of the very first Imperial cruiser rumbling overhead. My friend Mark actually had tears in his eyes at the close of the film. It was singularly fantastic. I'm feeling like the geeky kid I was then by reminiscing like this, but this film had a profound effect on me.

Mine is not the only generation in love with the series. My son, years later became a rabid Star Wars fan and amassed one of the largest collections of Star Wars stuff I've ever heard of, he even has some of the huge theater lobby cardboard stand-ups. I'm not sure where I'm going with this except to say that this film changed it all. It catapulted SF right out of the gutter and into the mainstream. It brought to cinematic life all the sights and sounds of distant worlds and characters that until then had existed only in our science fiction heads. It made at least one of us cry from the sheer joy of seeing it. It is a timeless wonder and real cinematic magic.

for more information click here

Original version is awesome

I bought this (along with ESB and ROTJ) in order to get the original theatrical versions. I couldn't have cared less about the new and improved most recent altered/special edition versions of the movies. In fact, once I got the original versions, I wanted to throw the special edition disks out, along with other special edition versions of the original trilogy I had accumulated over the years, but my wife wouldn't let me.

I all I can say, is after years of being force fed Lucas revisionist versions of the original trilogy, it was SOOOO refreshing to see unaltered versions.

Now, some of the ultra purists will insist these 'original' versions aren't the REAL originals, but a well done transfer from the laser disks done back in the late 80s or early 90s. I don't know if they are correct. I used to keep up with all this, but I stopped a while back. For those looking to relive the nostalgia of seeing the movies in theaters as kids, it probably won't matter much. (Anyone who remembers the original Nub-Nub song from the end of Jedi and cried when Lucas replaced it with some new John Williams composition will know what I am talking about.)

In this classic release, Han shoots first! There are no Mos Eisley edits and the classic end battle is complete with original fighters and not those fake looking CGI spacecraft. I loved it all!

After seeing the originals, I realized just how cheezy the CGI additions in the special editions actually were. The original version even contained hairs and dust on the screen from the film capture, so the theater experience is even more authentic!

The original versions are works of art, in a way I feel I should frame them or put them in a safe deposit box. Lucas and company were miracle workers back then, true pioneers.

The special edition disk was pretty much the same as previous special editions, Lucas might have made some changes, who knows? If you are looking to buy this for the special edition content, I'd hold off. Wait for the inevitable Blue-Ray/HD-DVD release in the next couple of years.

for more information click here

5 stars for the film, 3 for the DVD

What can I say about Star Wars that hasn't already been said?

Not much.

This is quite possibly one of the most perfect films ever made. Since its initial release it has become a long-lasting international phenomenon and an American cultural icon. How many other films in history have kept such a large and faithful fan base 30 years after it was released?

This latest (and I'm POSITIVE it's not the last) release of this classic film is somewhat of a letdown. Many were outraged at the 1997 special edition and demanded the original theatrical release, but it looked as though that was not going to happen (yeah, right!). Finally, the original untouched version was given to us, but with no image upgrade or quality sound; plus, the image was letterboxed, not widescreen (BIG difference for those "in the know" and care about such things (like me)).

Fear not, true believers. In an attempt to bag another zillion, Lucas is sure to release yet another version of his beloved creation, only this time it will be in DTS and Dolby 5.1 as well as anamorphic widescreen.

You know it's going to happen. It's just a matter of time.

As for me, I REFUSE to purchase this title (I purchased the 2004 special editions because it was all I could get at the time). When Lucas finally comes to his senses and releases what I really want, I'll be happy to part with some of my money. Until that day, any other "editions" will be completely ignored by me.

for more information click here

Jedi versus Sith

This review is not about the movie, but about the differences between the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi only care about others and the Sith solely care about themselves is the main difference between the two groups. I know from watching this stuff that it has an impact on how I think. It's important for people to know that in order to be good you don't solely have to care about other people, you need to take care of yourself and then and only then you can take care of others. Imagine trying to do everyone else's homework and not getting yours done, whats doing to happen? Answer: you're going to overextend yourself and not do well in the course. There is a time for everything but you must take care of yourself to be prosperous and to be a blessing to others.

for more information click here