212 reviews
Sales Rank: 4384

Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL
Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Danish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 4
Running Time: 361 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 2.6

UPC: 503903601737
EAN: 0503903601737
ASIN: B0001ZE1OU

Theatrical Release Date: December 11, 1980
Release Date: September 20, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

Accessories:

Star Wars Trilogy Box Set [Deluxe Remastered Version]

Similar Items:

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace [DVD] [1999]

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones [DVD] [2002]

Star Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Sith (2 Disc Edition) [DVD] [2005]

Star Wars - Prequel Trilogy [DVD] [1999]

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1 Disc) [DVD] [1999]

Editorial Reviews:

DVD Details
Four-disc set includes: ulliiEpisode IV, A New Hope/i (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min) liiEpisode V, The Empire Strikes Back/i (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min) liiEpisode VI, Return of the Jedi/i (Special Edition)--commentary by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min) liBonus disc: all-new bonus features, including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced on the Star Wars saga, and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films/ulSubitles (all material across all four discs): English, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish pClick here to see detailed information on the special features included on the bonus disc.p bAmazon.co.uk Review/bp George Lucas's original iStar Wars/i trilogy is a clever synthesis of pop-cultural and mythological references, taking classic fairy-tale themes, adding more than a dash of Arthurian legend, and providing cinematic high adventure inspired as much by Kurosawa's Samurai epics as by iFlash Gordon/i and iBuck Rogers/i. As a result, audiences of all ages can find something to identify with in Luke Skywalker's journey from disaffected teenager dreaming of adventure to Jedi Knight and saviour of the galaxy. He not only rescues a Princess, but discovers she's a close relative. And if there's a lesson to be gleaned from the Skywalker clan, it's that no matter how bad things get in the average dysfunctional family, it's never too late for reconciliation.p Originally released in 1977, iStar Wars/i, the first film, was made as a standalone. Perhaps that's why Obi-Wan Kenobi seems a tad inconsistent in his attitude towards his old pupil Anakin Skywalker, and perhaps also why Luke is allowed to develop a guilt-free crush on Princess Leia. Lucas's story, told from the point of view of the two bickering droids (a device taken from Kurosawa's iHidden Fortress/i), also borrows freely from Errol Flynn's iRobin Hood/i, as does John Williams's seminal Korngold-inspired music score. p Thanks in equal part to Leigh Brackett's screenplay and Irvin Kershner's direction iThe Empire Strikes Back/i (1980) is the most grown-up instalment in the series. The basic fairy-tale is developed and expanded, with the principal characters experiencing emotional turmoil--blossoming romance, mixed feelings and confused loyalties--amid a very real threat of annihilation as Darth Vader's motivations become chillingly personal. Luke's quasi-Arthurian destiny is complicated still further by the half-truths of his wizardly mentors; and swashbuckler Han Solo finds the past catching up with him, quite literally in the form of bounty hunter Boba Fett. The film is graced by more fabulous landscapes (ice, forest, clouds), more unforgettable new characters (Yoda), more groundbreaking special effects (the asteroid chase), and John Williams's finest score.p The difficult third film, 1983's iReturn of the Jedi/i, seems schizophrenic in its intentions, hoping to please both the kiddies who bought all the toys and an older audience who appreciated the narrative's epic and mythological strands. The result is a film that splits awkwardly into two. One thread, which might be subtitled "The Redemption of Anakin Skywalker", pursues the story of the Skywalker family to a cathartic conclusion. The other thread, which might be described as "The Care Bears Go to War", attempts to say something profound about primitivism versus technological sophistication, but just gets silly as furry midgets doing Tarzan whoops defeat the Emperor's crack legions. p In 1997 Lucas re-released the three original films in digitally remastered "Special Edition" versions, in which many scenes have been restored and enhanced (some would say "unnecessarily tinkered with"). Despite loud and continued criticisms from fans, these Special Editions are now considered definitive, if only by Lucasfilm. --iMark Walker/i

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 1-5 of 212

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The Force is still with us January 2, 2006
D. I. Shipley (Gravesend, KENT United Kingdom)
34 out of 34 found this review helpful

I saw Star Wars in the cinema on its original release in 1977 and I was not slow to buy a ticket for an encore. The sheer experience of that film was exhilarating at a time when movie SFX were still a fair distance away from the quality we know and expect today. Few cinemas had stereo sound then because Dolby Stereo was in its infancy, and to actually be in a cinema so equipped at that time was a rarity. If you were really lucky, in addition to Dolby stereo, it might have a 70mm facility which would give you an enhanced picture, plus a 6 channel stereo split instead of the normal 4 channel of standard Dolby. Nowadays digital stereo in the cinema and home makes that sort of differentiating pretty irrelevent. br /Seeing Star Wars in stereo and with its incredible effects really was an experience . After that sound and SFX were never going to be the same, and neither have looked back since. br / br /Of the three films Return Of The Jedi is in 3rd place, a great film but is simply bettered by the two that came before it. In second place sits Star Wars itself. The film remains one of those viewing experiences which just remains in your mind as a milestone. What effects, what imagination, the ability to lift you out of every day life and take you to a galaxy, far, far away. Who can forget seeing that opening shot of the huge Star Destroyer bearing down on Princess Leia's fleeing vessel? br /No audiences had seen spaceships of those looks and dimensions on the big screen before... br /The pride of place by a whisker is taken by The Empire Strikes Back. Of the three films, this is the one that has stood up to more repeat viewings than the others. When I first saw it it did not have the effect that seeing the first did, absorbing though it still was. The passage of time has seen it establish itself as my fave of the trilogy though. I always felt that the plot for Star Wars drew on the Arthurian Legend and nowhere is this more apparent than in The Empire Strikes Back, particularly when the true identity of Darth Vader is revealed for the first time. br /There is a moodiness about Empire that runs through the film from start to finish, and I often wonder what Jedi would have been like if George Lucas had let the director of Empire Strikes Back - Irvin Kershner helm that film too.... br / br /As to the controversy of the editing that Lucas has made to the dvd releases, my feelings are as follows: br /I loved the originals and have the vhs versions of all three. However, with nearly 20 years between Jedi and The Phantom Menace there were always going to be continuity issues concerning casting and SFX. Play an original vhs version of Star Wars, and you will soon see that the mattes have not aged well and stand out visibly. Yet did we notice them at the the time of the films release? No of course not because the SFX then were state of the art. Now with the passage of time and SFX having come on in leaps and bounds, George Lucas decided to update the former films.In my opinion he has done a good job too SFX wise. The casting editing is more to link with the newer editions of the franchise than to improve the quality of the originals, so my thoughts on that are mixed though. I can see the reason for doing it but I simply prefer the original actors in their roles. Clive Revill's Emperor in Empire Strikes Back I think is the deletion that was most unnecessary. br /Overall though I am glad that I have a choice and can either watch the originals on vhs or put on the updated versions on dvd. br /I have looked forward to the dvd release of these films for years and am delighted with finally being able to blast them across my home cinema set up. The picture on 16:9 anamorphic is great on a widescreen tv. All sound channels are crisp and totally clear of any distortion. Laser blasts and Tie Fighters shoot across the room to varying degrees...Such is the effect of being able to do that, it has returned me to the awe struck kid seeing Star Wars for the first time in a cinema. Thanks for the dvds, George, it may have taken a while but at least they are here now.

5 out of 5 stars

It's about time !! October 3, 2004
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

Whether you have the VHS originals from 1977 to 1983, or you own the 1997 or 2002 special editions, this wonderfully packaged DVD collection is a must for Star Wars fans.pNever before has Star Wars been available to own on DVD !!! This now means you can keep your VHS originals in pristine condition. - No more wear and tear.pThe extras DVD is worth the price alone. For the first time ever, Star Wars fans can get an insight into what it was like to make the original trilogy, for both George Lucas and the rest of the team, in the fantastic 2.5 hour documentary "Empire Of Dreams". This is well worth a watch. Get the wife and kids out of the room (unless they're Star Wars fans, too), plonk yourself in front of the TV with a large bag of crisps and sink into the Star Wars Universe !!! There are multiple documentaries on the extras DVD, each one as good as the last, but Empire Of Dreams stands out, and could have maybe been on a DVD on its own. - It's that good !!!pAs for the films themselves, the picture is so crisp, and the sound so outstanding, they could be completely new movies made just this year.pI won't spoil things by letting on about the extras in each film, but it's both interesting and exciting for a Star Wars fan to watch the films and see something completely new.pAll in all, I think anyone who is a Star Wars fan deserves to own this outstanding box set. - Go on, treat yourselves !!!

5 out of 5 stars

Not the original versions nor the SE's but something else... April 19, 2004
166 out of 190 found this review helpful

I pretty much agree with Amazon's editorial review except for the uncritical praise lavished on The Empire Strikes Back. It's a good sequel but it's not without flaws. That said, it's worth pointing out that these three movies will feature even more enhancements and newly shot footage designed to ensure both trilogies fit together as one story (which was after all Lucas's original intention).pLucasfilm won't say anything until the official press launch but to judge by some of the more informed comments being made around the net it does look as though the Obi-wan/Vader fight onboard the Death Star (from A New Hope) has been redone to bring it more into line with the pace and zip of the lightsabre battles of the prequels. The CGI Jabba The Hut from ANH has almost certainly been redone and many of the effects from all three films have either been replaced or cleaned up. Additionally, in The Empire Strikes Back, Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor may have been digitally added into the scene where Darth Vader communicates with the Emperor. But most controversially of all (at least for the fans) actor Hayden Christenson - who plays Anakin Skywalker (Luke's father and Darth Vader to-be) in the prequels - may also feature as the aged and horribly scarred Vader in the scene from Return of the Jedi where he is finally unmasked by Luke. pNow whether this and numerous other rumours (such as the one about the Han/Greedo scene having been properly restored) turn out to be true or false, well, we'll just have to wait and see. One thing I do know, this DVD release is NOT the 1997 Special Edition. No way. I know that 100%. I'm not saying the above changes are definitely going to be in there either but that's increasingly what it looks like. So if you're a fan brace yourself for some major surprises because George hasn't quite finished tinkering with his story just yet.

5 out of 5 stars

The original and best June 17, 2007
Mr. Andrew Moore (Worcestershire)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Ok, so we all know what Star Wars is and the recent "new" trilogy has been and gone at the cinema bringing the SW universe to a whole new audience. So, no long winded review of the stories here just simple advice... GET THIS. The original trilogy may be a bit dated (30 years old) but they are so much better than the recent prequel trilogy (except for perhaps Revenge of the Sith which in my opinion is just as good as these three). The extra disc is interesting behind the scenes stuff and other documentaries and the packaging is good on the shelf. br /Go on, get it and the force will be with you... always.

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic four disc set! January 4, 2005
A. S. Garton (milton keynes, england)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This is truly the definitive (original) Star Wars boxed set, containing all three of the original, remastered movies and a disc of additional bits and pieces.pFirst, the films themselves: Lucas could easily have ruined these movies through over use of CGI or other new technology. However, the remastering of each film has been done with due care and attention and as a result they all retain their character and remain unspoilt. They all look and sound properly spruced up, and the occasional deleted scene (remastered, of course) has been reintroduced. Some of the original footage has been augmented very well, for example the explosion of the Death Star at the end of A New Hope is now very 21st century, rather than 1970-something! All this this only adds to the experience of these classic movies.pThe fourth disc is packed full of documentaries, original trailers, etc. I usually think these are a waste of time, as they rarely bring us anything new. However in this case the additional disc is well worth having, from it's documentaries on the characters, the plot lines, to the creation of the ligh sabre.... they are all worth a watch a are good fun too. Best yet, the fourth disc has a nice preview - not a trailer, but a preview - of the final, yet-to-be-released film. pOverall I would say that this is an excellent bundle. And a word to the wise... I haven't found this cheaper than Amazon's price anywhere.

Showing reviews 1-5 of 212

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