Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Limited Edition, Includes Theatrical Version) [DVD] [1977] | ![Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Limited Edition, Includes Theatrical Version) [DVD] [1977]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51v9VH4qD3L._SL160_.jpg) | Director: George Lucas
Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, David Prowse
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £22.99
Buy New: £5.74
as of 25/11/2009 00:53 GMT details
You Save: £17.25 (75%)
New (29) Used (13) Collectible (1) from £4.59
Seller: direct_offers_uk
Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 3668
Format: PAL, Surround Sound, Special Edition, THX, Dolby
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5039036028288
ASIN: B000FMH8UI
Theatrical Release Date: 1977
Release Date: September 11, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
 Thank the maker... September 28, 2006
Antony Grace (London, UK)
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
Finally, finally! Just bought these and watched them again - god it was good. Spaceships look real rather than CGI animated because they are real. The effects ILM used back then were done with real models and explosions, but done so well you couldn't tell they were models. So, so, so much better than CGI animation that just looks like a computer game. I trawled the charity shops a few years ago to pick up the originals on VHS, knowing every time I watched them it could be the last given VHS's abilty to be chewed up. Finally I don't have to worry about this any more!
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br /And I know these are kids movies, but when I first watched them, I was a kid - watching them again now takes me back in a way to those first magical moments and that is why this film is so well loved. It's also the fact that Star Wars tells a classic story which taps into the basics of good story telling. Sure, I love the Godfather too, but I'm not so lifeless I can't enjoy moments of childish glee when the fantastic John Williams score kicks in or when the Millenium Falcon blasts out of trouble just in time!
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br /And directors who use CGI, please could you take note of a little film called Jurassic Park. 1993 it was made and it still is one of the best films I've seen which obviously uses CGI but still manages to make it look real. It's been nearly 14 years now and we still get films which don't use the technology half as well as they did back then!
Accuracy of reviews . . . July 1, 2007
C. Bulmer (East Yorkshire, UK)
28 out of 30 found this review helpful
I don't often review products on Amazon but I had to write this and respond to just a couple of points raised by a previous reviewer.
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br /"George Lucas would be turning in his grave if he ever saw what they'd done to the original version of his film"
br / - George Lucas is alive and well and it was HE who decided to re-release the original trilogy as Special Editions closer to his vision. Cynics would say the unnecessary digital tweaking was a dry run to prove that the technology was capable of producing the level of digital effects he wanted in his new trilogy, and as a marketing campaign to renew interest in the franchise prior to releasing the prequels.
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br /"Lucas first introduced the world to Darth Vader in 1975 (when Star Wars hit cinemas)
br / - Star Wars received a US release in December 1977. Quite what philandering Darth Vader was upto in the meantime is anybody's guess.
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br /"Cushing turns in a rounded and absorbing performance and if one considers that the actor was in his mid nineties when he made the film, it is an achievement to behold"
br / - For a man born in 1913, starring in a film in 1977, I would say he makes a suitable achievement for a 64 year old.
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br /The quality of the acting by Cushing and Guinness though did elevate the film above a typical space opera and, compared to some of the performances in the prequels that would follow, revisiting these films highlights just how much presence these actors had.
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br /For those who haven't seen Star Wars (shame on you) then the Digitally altered Special Editions are probably the best films to watch. The quality of print and sound on the theatrical releases are far below outstanding and does spoil the viewing experience.
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br /However for the purists (i.e. anyone who grew up with Star Wars and has seen the films many times) this is the only chance to own these original editions, free of George Lucas' additional (and most would say unwelcome) scenes.
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br /We've had the Special Editions, now the Original Theatrical Editions.
br /How hard would it have been to have had the digitally improved Theatrical Editions without unnecessary scenes?
Nothing added, nothing taken away. December 31, 2006
C. J. Hutchins (Sheffield UK)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
A few reviewers have mentioned that this isn't the original theatrical version, despite what it says in the tin. It's true. The film on the second disc seems to be the same as the THX digitally remastered version that was released on VHS in, I think, the mid-late 90's.
br /There don't seem to be many differences between this one and the original 1977 effort - a couple of tiny alterations of the 'blink and you'll miss it' variety, but the sound picture quality are certainly improved.
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br /Like a lot of people, this is the version I bought the DVD for and after having some misgivings after reading the reviews on here I have to say I am very pleased. It is in widescrren format but I haven't had any problems with that. The picture quality is great, although maybe more VHS than DVD but again I'm not complaining. I've not noticed any grainy images yet - that's not to say they aren't there, but they certainly don't distract from the enjoyment of the film if they are.
br /Sound quality is very good, too, and the soundtrack (voices, music etc) has obviously benefitted from some cleaning up.
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br /There are no extras included with the 1977 version - it in itself is regarded as a 'bonus feature' but the 1st disc includes some commentaries, including one by Carrie Fisher which could be interesting.
br /I have to admit, though, that I didn't buy it for that version.
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br /This is the film I remember watching from being little - nothing has been added and nothing has been taken away, or very little! If you want the film as it should be seen, buy this! If you're after bundles of extras, however, you may be disappointed.
Just as I remember it January 15, 2007
B. Abraham (Birmingham, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
After reading the reviews I decided to buy this one as a 'tester' like Alex from Melbourne. I can't vouch for plasma/LCD/widescreen/HD TV's but the original looks excellent on my TV (59cm CRT, and yes, laugh if you must). I think if the new editions had not been done then there would not be so many negatives toward the DVD version of the original. Sure, the sound and picture quality isn't as good compared to the new editions but if I bought any other DVD and got the same picture quality as the original then I would be more than happy.
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br /What I like best is that it actually has that old school feeling about it, just as I remember as a kid. And not being a full on star wars geek I completely forgot about Han shooting first. This is way better than seeing Greedo shoot first and miss at point blank range. And as for the scene with Jabba, C'mon!
br /Now I'm looking forward to purchasing the other 2 and seeing the original ending in Jedi.
br /Being the cynic I am, I know that they will release these as remastered versions sometime down the track (and I will buy them) but in saying that, it's great to see the movie as it originally was. Oh and don't forget the HD/Blu Ray versions are still to come, GL must be rubbing his hands together!
What on earth is he ranting about? May 11, 2007
Mr. T. A. Williams (Bicester, UK)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
I don't normally criticise other reviewers personally but seeing as how Ken Weir has already unjustly slated another reviewer (B.Abraham), I feel the need to step in and correct the situation.
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br /Ken, you have completely missed the point. B.Abraham was not saying that his DVD included a scene that yours does not, he was merely implying that the addition of the CGI Jabba The Hut to the `Special Edition' of Star Wars Episode 4 was completely unnecessary, along with the absurd `Greedo firing first' scene. It's a perfectly valid point and one that many fans, myself included, are known to agree with. If you like the scene with Jabba, then fair enough, you are entitled to your opinion.
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br /However, the meeting between Han and Jabba did NOT appear at all in the original theatrical release, either with Jabba as a human or otherwise, and if you did see the scene in the theatrical release, then it must have been some sort of unedited bootleg copy. The `Jabba' scene was actually filmed but subsequently ended up on the cutting room floor. It only came to light when it was reinstated for the original release of the Special Edition and had a CGI Jabba superimposed over the original human actor. The only way you would have ever seen the scene played out as originally filmed is by watching one of the `Making Of' documentaries regarding the Star Wars Special Editions, where the scene is often shown first with the human actor, and then again with the CGI Jabba super imposed on top of him how to demonstrate how the effects were done for the Special Edition movie.
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br /To use such a flawed argument as an excuse to attack another reviewer and give an otherwise enjoyable film a dismal 1-star rating and knock it's overall rating down is pathetic. Do your research properly next time, Mr. Weir.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
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