Product Description

For the first time ever and for a limited time only the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes for the first time ever on DVD the original films as seen in theaters in 1977 1980 and 1983.System Requirements:Running Time: 127 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: PG UPC: 024543263739 Manufacturer No: 2236373

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #960 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .38 pounds
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.com
The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of George Lucas's epic space fantasy Star Wars is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Star Wars as it originally played in theaters in 1977. What does that mean exactly? Well, for starters, the initial title crawl proclaims that this is just Star Wars, not Episode IV, A New Hope. Second, the film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more critters and droids scurrying around the port of Mos Eisley when Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi first arrive, no meetings between Han Solo and Jabba the Hut and between Luke and Biggs (extraneous scenes that were cut in 1977), no enhanced explosions during the final reel, and--most importantly to some fans--no more of Greedo shooting first in the bar. Instead Han is free to be the scoundrel and not even let Greedo squeeze off a shot.

What do you lose by watching the 1977 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here). Digital cleanup for another--Tatooine looks like it's been coated with an additional layer of sand cloud. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Star Wars, however, is not anamorphically enhanced (sometimes referred to as "4:3 letterbox"), so on a widescreen TV it will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference.

Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope, and the 1977 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

What ORIGINAL Star Wars Fans Wanted All Along
This review is for all ORIGINAL Star Wars fans (I was 14 when it was released). This is what WE have wanted all along. The original Star Wars movie we saw in 1977 (no "Episode IV - A New Hope" in the crawler - never thought I'd get to see that again). This is the untampered with version, no computer generated alterations to the visuals and storyline, no special sound, no special format, but ALL THE ORIGINAL FUN!!! The quality of the DVD is actually quite good. Much better than your old VHS versions you've worn out. Take it from "one of you"...you WILL love this DVD. (Those who hate this DVD are the ones who think it's cool that a young Anakin replaced the old Anakin in the "special edition" of ROTJ...unbelievable!). And by the way...get it right once and for all people...the argument isn't "Han shot first", the truth is "Greedo never shot".

missing scenes
Its a great addition to any avid fans collection. finally, the original 1977 theatrical release on DVD! But dont buy it expecting to see the Biggs and Luke scene on Tatooine or the Jabba the Hut scene with Han in the hanger of Mos Eisley. They have been cut. Apparently they were never officially released in the theater version but i fondly remember seeing them in a version of the film. Other then that small bit Great DVD's

The film that started it all.
Star Wars...........
The ground breaking movie that blew people away, from the opening football field sized star destroyer to the not so epic due with Obi - Wan.
This movie has impacted so many and inspired so many.
The good?
VADER!!!!!!!!
One foot step onscreen was all it took to start the legend.
One of the best if not THE greatest super villain of all time.
The script is good, thank god Harrison Ford told Lucas, "You can write all this corny nonsense all you want but I'm not saying it".
If only the cast of the recent three had the courage to tell him that.
We wouldn't have had to suffer through the laughably bad dialogue in "Clones"
The action is great and the movie has definitely withstood the test of time.

The bad?
It drags in places but considering this movie was sooooooooo groundbreaking, I'm not going to make to many complaints.
Vader did not have enough screen time. Considering Lucas says this whole thing is Vader's story, one would think he would have had a ton more time in this one. Hmmmmmm????

That's it folks, A New Hope is a masterpiece and a must see/ must have for anyone and everyone.