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 | The original trilogy with great bonus features

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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 2510 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Original Star Wars Trilogy

The genius of Lucas's epic space-action saga is the way he draws on sources both popular (Flash Gordon, Westerns, comic serials of the 1940s) and refined (Kurosawa films) to create a universally endearing fantasy of unrivalled thrills, unexpected twists of fate, and plenty of hearty humor--not to mention spectacular chase scenes. The franchise is still going, but the first three films--tracing the exploits of the ragtag rebels in their quest to topple Vader's Empire--remain the best. Harrison Ford, as a roguish mercenary piloting a beat-up ship, steals nearly every scene he's in, especially playing off Fisher's feisty princess. With its archetypal characters and mythic storyline, the "Star Wars" trilogy is an infinitely entertaining universe unto its own.

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The original trilogy with great bonus features

I love the Star Wars trilogy. (The original, mind you, not the mediocre crap they passed off as prequels.) This set brings the original movies together along with some amazing bonus material that gives great insight into the mind of George Lucas and the process by which Star Wars was brought about. My appreciation for the movies increased after watching the "Empire of Dreams" documentary, and it made me want to enjoy the movies, which are restored with amazing picture and sound, again and again. Star Wars fans, this DVD set is a MUST SEE!

Star Wars almost as good as in 1977

I am sentimental, but I prefer the movie to be in the original format. But all in all the movie is still as enjoyable as it ever was.

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awesome

star wars is super duper. i love the surround sound and new visual enhancements. can't wait til george lucas comes out with 7,8, and 9!

A Science-Fantasy Saga

As three of my favorite movies growing up as a kid on the outskirts of Sydney in the conservative 1980s, these timeless and wonderful films were a welcome and enjoyable means of escape from the pressures of daily life. I am glad to say that the classic Star Wars Trilogy is still great entertainment after all these years. Now they are finally available on DVD cleaned up and restored to a stunning and pristine condition, one can enjoy them again and again after what seemed like an eternity of waiting by devoted fans. These quasi-mystical space-opera's replete with Jedi knights, strange aliens and their many worlds, androids, starships and light sabers can truly now be experienced in all their epic glory. George Lucas in making these three groundbreaking films quite literally, changed the way that Hollywood made its movies.

Although now as a grown woman I can be very critical and expect much more from a movie than sheer spectacle, and while they are somewhat dated and the dialogue might seem a bit corny and naive in these very dark and troubled times, that's okay. The films also tend to be a bit simplistic (too black and white) but then most folklore or mythology is much the same, so that's okay as well. In spite of these minor criticisms I still thoroughly enjoy watching these three visionary films once in a blue moon. I realize that when all is said and done, they are just swashbuckling intergalactic adventure stories not to be taken too earnestly! When I watch these films I experience a strong feeling of romantic nostalgia, as I guess many around my age do (people in their late 20s and early 30s). There is a longing for a time when life seemed to be simpler and less complex, a time when people were more radical and non-conformist, a time when people were less jaded, selfish and cynical... as they are now. And I don't actually have much of a problem with many of the changes George Lucas has made to his films, after all Western art history is full of artists who have gone back to change and rework a piece of art (mainly paintings) they have never been satisfied with. Its just a shame that he hasn't made available on DVD the original theatrical release versions as well, for posterity, if not for fans.

I was surprised and disappointed at the relatively small amount of special features included and think that this is a bit cheap and stingy. Especially considering how many studios put a lot more effort into the "extras" these days; George Lucas really has no excuse and could have added more. A gallery of concept art would have been great for example, or featurettes on Ralph Mcquarrie who did so much to define the aesthetic look of the films, and one on John Williams who composed and conducted the rousing and memorable soundtracks for the Star Wars movies. Two creative artists who together did almost as much as Mr. Lucas himself to establish the popularity and success of the Star Wars franchise.

George Lucas was inspired by such diverse sources as the gripping serial adventures of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, romantic tales of medieval chivalry and the Japanese art of bushido, ancient myths, legends and fairy tales. Old documentary footage from both World Wars inspired him too and early modern art styles such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. He was also strongly influenced by legendary fellow filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and the pop-folklorist and writer Joseph Campbell amongst others. He deftly wove all these varied inspirations together to create an archetypal and mythic masterpiece of good and evil, heroes and villains which taken as a whole forms a unified and prime example of science-fantasy in film. In doing so he has created a modernistic fable for the late 20th century and beyond that has inspired generations of dreamers. May the force be with you.

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