Maybe Lucas isn’t really insane after all..
Author: Britt Schramm
May 4th, 2006
If you are an old sentimental geek like me, this news might make your week. It appears that on September 12th, Lucasfilms and 20th Century Fox will be re-releasing individual special editions of Episodes IV through VI with each of them including the original theatrical release as part of the bonus material. However, the discs will only be available until the end of 2006 so get them while they’re hot. When I first read this announcement, I thought of one thing; something I would’ve never said as soon as three years ago - Buh-bye Laserdisc player. If you want to read more on this re-release and the new Lego Star Wars video game, it’s after the jump:
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Fans can look forward to a September filled with classic Star Wars nostalgia, led by the premiere of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game and the long-awaited DVD release of the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy.
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 and, as bonus material, the 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.
This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st. International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.
“Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in theaters,” said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. “We returned to the Lucasfilm Archives to search exhaustively for source material that could be presented on DVD. This is something that we’re very excited to be able to give to fans in response to their continuing enthusiasm for Star Wars. Topping it off with a new interactive adventure makes September 12 a red-letter day for Star Wars fans.”
That’s also the day fans will be able to experience the LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game, the action-packed sequel — filled with tongue-in-cheek humor — to one of the best selling video games of 2005.
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24 Responses to “Maybe Lucas isn’t really insane after all..”
May 4th, 2006 at 5:29 am
Seriously — WTF? I love Star Wars to death, but doesn’t Lucas have enough money? The theatrical releases should’ve been on the first DVDs. I’ll buy these new ones, of course, but this is getting ridiculous.
May 4th, 2006 at 6:32 am
He’s still a crazy old bastard. He’s just a GREEDY crazy old bastard who likes to take advantage of the hopelessly nerdy while kicking crippled children.
May 4th, 2006 at 7:16 am
Steve, have you seen Episode 3 yet? I love that movie.
May 4th, 2006 at 7:27 am
I had too much self respect to give Lucas any more money after the whole Episode Two debacle.
May 4th, 2006 at 8:06 am
Well come down from your pedastal (I know you like it up there, but it’s too high!) and rent it. Very Original Trilogy-esque.
May 4th, 2006 at 8:12 am
No pedestal here - I like me some crappy movies. But Ep. 2 was so bad that I got my money back from the theater. Fool me once, etc. I’ll watch it when it hits HBO when I can see it in HD. I find Ep. 2 semi-watchable in HD, actually. The special effects are so crisp and sharp, they aren’t at all convincing, leaving you with a viewing experience not unlike watching a rubber monster movie.
May 4th, 2006 at 8:55 am
Rubber monsters would’ve been more expressive than Hayden Christiensen and Natalie Portman.
May 4th, 2006 at 9:03 am
Zing!!
May 4th, 2006 at 11:18 am
Hayden was good in Episode 3. Even Portman, who was awful in the first 2, was good, methinks. Plus Sith really should’ve won the Oscar for best special effects.
May 4th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
The last bit there definitely. I was pretty amazed the thing wasn’t even nominated. I mean, is that a collective middle finger to the guy from his peers or what?
May 4th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Episode 3 was incredibe…
ly watch able. Still a lot of rapiness there.
The slaughter of the Jedi at the hands of Anikin, taken away from us for some half assed godfather tribute? Fuck you Lucas.
Dialogue? Fuck you Lucas.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Fuck you Lucas.
Chewbacca? Seriously? Fuck you, Lucas.
That’s why the Emporer looks like that? Wasting time explaining what doesn’t need to be explained? Fuck you Lucas!
Yoda vs. the Emporer? Okay, that was cool.
May 4th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Godfather-esque scene? Great.
Chewbacca? Cool, and why not?
Emperor getting disfigured by Mace? Cool.
Opening 20 minutes, final hour? Excellent.
May 4th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Godfather scene: Does it not go against everythng set up since the first movie? Seriously.
Chewbacca: Excessive, did forward the story in any way. Served no purpose other than pandering to some fans.
Emporer getting disfigured: Gratuitous. Better to just believe that was the influence of the Force. Wasted time explaining that that could have been spent on other stuff.
Opening 20 and Final 45- Yes. Good stuff. Except for the NOOOOO! He took a grounded and pwerful scene and blew it at the very end.
May 4th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Pardon my typos, I’m sick as a dog. That should be crappines, intead of rapiness up above.
May 4th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again. And again and again and again: the most accurate way I’ve seen Episode 3 described is it’s the best of the three worst Star Wars movies.
May 4th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
That’s a good way of looking at it. I’d say it’s the 5th worst of the 6 movies (Empire being the 6th worst).
May 4th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
T, how does the GF scene go against everything setup in the first movie? What do you mean?
May 5th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Empire the 6th worst?
Are you Sasha Baron Cohen, and you’re just fucking with me?
May 8th, 2006 at 5:48 am
I love Empire. I was just saying that call Sith “the best of the worst” isn’t really fair. It’s either good or it’s not.
Back to Sith — Vader’s “NOOO” was meant to echo Luke’s “NOOO” in Empire. I don’t think it exactly worked, but it didn’t blow the scene for me. It’s funny, cause only Star Wars fans hate that part. All the casual fans I know thought it was fine.
And I think the Emperor getting disfigured that way was kinda cool — plus it made sense later on, as he uses his disfigurement as evidence that the Jedi attacked him, and thus the Jedi will be exterminated.
May 8th, 2006 at 6:31 am
What do you mean not fair? I think there needs to be a middle ground with an obviously mediocre film like Ep 3 and perhaps all art in general. Backed into a corner, I’m going to say it’s overall not that great but has a couple good scenes. I may also say things like: I don’t feel like it’s a waste of time, but I never need to see it again.
“It’s good or not” is boring. Where’s the room for discussion, Ayn Rand?
May 8th, 2006 at 6:48 am
haha yikes! Of course there’s a middle ground, I didn’t mean to say there wasn’t. Nothing is entirely good or bad. But to say it’s the “best of the worst” isn’t a fair criticism in the sense, a) it’s a cop out, and b) that you’re lumping it in with the first two mediocre prequels in that statement. Don’t let their shortcomings (juvenile humor, awkward pacing, Natalie Portman at her worst)sully what Ep 3 did right (action, drama, and even the acting is better, across the board), which is what most detractors of the film do. Ep 3 is much more like Jedi and Star Wars than any of the other films, in tone, theme, and quality.
May 8th, 2006 at 11:06 am
All I know is the theater I was in, which COULDN’T have consisted of all Star Wars fans, burst into uproarious laughter at the NOOOOO!!!
May 8th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Well, it’s definitely smartass for effect, but I don’t think it’s a cop out or unfair. I think whoever said it originally was actually pretty perceptive. I mean, it’s true. You say yourself “the acting is better.” I mean, how high was that bar set?
May 8th, 2006 at 11:43 am
The acting is better in which?