The new Star Wars DVDs

[2099net]

I have also been holding out on them because of the 30th anniversary Saga boxset coming out next year

But won't that have even more "altered" versions of the Original Trilogy on than the previous boxset's release?

I don't really see Lucas doing anything else with the "Original" Original Trilogy. He claims he does not have the negatives anymore (which may or may not be true, but I suspect other archives and insitutions have them, such as the AFI or BFI) and that's why this release is not enhanced for widescreen.

They're the transfers from the LD release. As far as Lucas is concerned the original negatives are no more. Now, I'm pretty sure ILM could come up with some clever software to upscale the transfers if they wanted to, but they still wouldn't be properly enhanced transfers.

I don't see him doing anything on the upcoming boxset (beyond tinkering with all 6 movies even more)

The fact that, even though 90% of the people buying the new 2 disc releases will already own the previous boxset, yet he still calls the Original films "bonus discs" pretty much sums up his attitude to these films; to him, they're nothing more than an historic curiosity.

[yamiiguy]

^^^ yes but i just can't justify buying these at £15 each when next year im probebly having to pay £100 for another boxset (which will hopefully contain these)

[dvdjunkie]

It has already been posted that the only way to get the original 'untouched' theatrical release of "Star Wars IV, V, and VI" is through this recent release. The Box Set you speak of is all six chapter of the Saga and will NOT include the theatrical versions of any of the movies. They are "fixing" Yoda in "Phantom Menace", and adding more CGI effects to all of the first three chapters, and then putting them together with the already "fixed-up" version of "A New Hope", "The Empire Strikes Back", and "Return of the Jedi".

The only way you will be able to get the theatrical versions is the way they were currently released. Just a few extra bucks, and I am sure if you shop around at any used stores you can find copies for about half-price. That is what I did.

[Dottie]

I made my choice! I'm gonna get them this week. I didn't like the sequels/prequel trilogy, so I'll get those Limited Editions, since I don't need the upcoming boxset then.
I can still copy my VHS tapes of the 1996 SE on DVD, too.
I so want the English language track, since my VHS, of course, only has the German one. That's one reason to get this set, and I really, really want the originals.
It's a shame that Lucas wanted to create this great world(and at the time the movies were made he did) and with the new changes of the 2004 versions he ruined it.

[rexcrk]

I actually don't mind having a little bit of grain and imperfections in the picture, it gives it that nostalgic feeling I guess lol.

See, this is why I don't need or do drugs, I get all hyped on nostalgia

[MickeyMousePal]

Isn't George Lucas going to take out a Ultimate Star Wars Box Set with 12 Disc each movie will have 2 Disc....also a Dark Vader, Yoda or Boba Fett head with the Box Set.

[slave2moonlight]

Where are those stinkin' Young Indiana Jones DVDs? I mean, we got short-changed on the VHS collection. They had the nerve to number them and still not release all of them, so we have these gaps for the 10 missing films...

Personally, I love the Star Wars films both on their own, in untouched versions, and as redone sagas with the prequels. He didn't really ruin anything. He gave us his final vision. It's just not what many fans envisioned themselves. Can't please everyone. I have complaints about aspects of the prequels, but they still are amazing films and the only one that really has moments where it bothers me is the first. I don't hate Jar Jar, but they needed to tone him down a lot, and lose the "Full House" dialogue. Also didn't care for the scientific details on how the Force works... Kinda glad they'll be redoing the Phantom Menace puppet Yoda. He was pretty crappy.

Now, I wish Lucas would release the Droids and Ewoks cartoons in complete sets. Especially since I didn't get a chance to snag the single disc releases, which I can't seem to find anymore.

[Escapay]

Where are those stinkin' Young Indiana Jones DVDs? I mean, we got short-changed on the VHS collection. They had the nerve to number them and still not release all of them, so we have these gaps for the 10 missing films...

News, according to TVShowsonDVD:

October 24, 2002: Rick McCallum confirms they're working on Young Indy, but won't be ready for another 3-4 years.
*Hey, it'll be 4 years this month! Where are they???

October 16, 2003: Jim Ward announces the DVDs are in production, no release date set, but they want a late 2004 release.
*2004 came and went...no DVDs!

March 4, 2004: Rick McCallum announces that they've been producing extensive historical featurettes/documentaries for the DVDs.

July 20, 2005: Nothing new except the announcement that two years of work had already gone into the DVDs, and they'll be released as a boxset when Indy 4 is.
*Gotta love that they announced Indy 4 would be released by Winter 2006...and the film is still in pre-production I believe...

October 8, 2005: Rick McCallum says that there will be 22 individual releases and at the time 3 have been completed (!). In total, there will be 66 historical featurettes spread over the 22 releases. The DVDs are now set to be released with Indy 4...Spring 2007.
*Yeah...not gonna happen.

So...what's been going on with the Young Indy Jones DVDs? First they would have been a nice boxset of what I assume would have been the TV episodes in broadcast order, along with follow-up telefilms (before they decided to edit all of them as telefilms).

Then they announce 22 individual releases. Individual releases. Considering the fact that there are 44 individual episodes, that means we're getting the telefilms version (2 episodes combined, dropping the Old Indy Bookends and adding the newly filmed footage from 1996) instead of the broadcast episode version. Poo.

Isn't that wonderful? Rather than give us Young Indy Jones in what would be one impressive boxset of 44 episodes, we now have to buy them individually at what I'm guessing will be a $19.99 SRP a pop. And given the fact that Spring 2007 seems highly unlikely for a theatrical release of Indy 4, since sources are all saying they begin SHOOTING in 2007 for a 2008 release.

Pisses me off how often the damn things are being delayed.

Pisses me off that we're not getting the broadcast versions, but the coupling-of-episodes-with-newly-shot-1996-footage telefilms that REMOVE the Old Indy bookends.

Pisses me off that they couldn't see it fit to release the broadcast versions in 2003 with the 4-disc Indy set, then release the 22 individual releases later.

I mean, I would have handled it like this:

In 2003, release a barebones TV boxset of the original episodes that were broadcast from 1992-1993 (and of course including the unaired episodes that simply were edited into telefilms later when everything was). It could have been released day-and-date with the 4-disc set and bonus features could have simply been the video interviews from the VHS tapes along with maybe a few quick commentaries for select episodes.

Then, in 2008, a good five years after its original release, we'll likely be seeing new 2-disc editions of the 3 Indy films. THEN they could release the telefilm versions of the Young Indy series, as the 22 individual releases and with all the nice *new* bonus features.

I'm about *thisclose* to just ordering bootlegs. Can't stand watching only "Treasure of the Peacock's Eye" over and over again on VHS.

Escapay

[slave2moonlight]

Ha, yeah, it sucks bigtime. And I really hope Indy 4 is good... Anyways, I can't say I loved the idea of "Old (one-eyed) Indy," but that's how the show came out, so I want that footage. However, I'd be fine with the Old Indy footage (and the original openings) as extras with the telefilms. I don't want to lose out on the new footage that was shot for the telefilm versions.

Of course, what we will probably get is just the telefilms without Old Indy footage extras. One of my favorite Young Indys was "Mystery of the Blues," not only because of the story itself, but because it had the bookends Young Indy SHOULD have had every time: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, reflecting back on his youth. You know, what they SHOULD do is shoot some bookends for all the telefilms using Harrison Ford. They could do it while making Indy 4. George shouldn't even tell Harrison what it's for, just say it's part of the 4th Indy film, ha.

And having to buy them all separately... that's baloney. I do have all the 12 they DID release on VHS, so I have those to watch in the meantime. Plus, got a few more off Sci-Fi Channel when they aired them one Christmas morning. Nowhere near the complete set (of telefilms) though. Wish Sci-Fi would run 'em again so I can get the rest. Well, glad to hear that they have done some work on the sets and are actually starting with Indy 4. I'm sure, when the 4th film comes out or is about to, we'll see the Young Indy DVDs...

But what about the Star Wars Holiday Special?!!! Yeah, it's terrible, but I watch it every year during the holidays! It's such a trip!