Well, it's looking like the new "original + enhanced" sets of the old trilogy (first discussed in http://the-w.com/thread.php/id=29682) are shaking out at $16.99 at Best Buy, and $17.87 at Amazon. Let me first make the obligatory "buy it through us" plugs:
And now, the more than One Question: are you sucker enough to buy these, and if so, are you getting one, all three, or something inbetween?
I....will probably spring for all three. I SHOULD buy them through Amazon and ask for free shipping and not pay sales tax, but I will probably just pick 'em up at Best Buy. Because I AM a sucker. I even already own the laserdiscs, for crying out loud, but I am too lazy to swap them in the middle of the picture (not to mention make sure the laserdisc player is still working!)
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The only thing that is stopping me is that these are letter-boxed and not anamorphic and I'm geek enough that I have a 16:9 TV and obsess over such things.
And, it's Lucas. He'll eventually release the anamorphic versions later anyway.
(edited by Zeruel on 11.9.06 0400)
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I ordered the set w/ special tin (bestbuy.com) from Best Buy, because I'm that big of a Star Wars geek. Also, it dropped $30 in price since the time I ordered (was $89.99, now $59.99), so yay for me, I guess.
I already have: -3 separate VCR sets -the Laserdisc-to-DVD bootlegs of the original & special edition versions -the DVD set that was released a year ago
Eh, I actually have held off on buying the DVD versions of the Original Trilogy (in fact the only DVD I have of the entire series is Episode I), but I may just do so this time around. Or I may not. Haven't had much in the way of spending money recently, so...
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I'm a sucker. I'm buying them, probably at Best Buy as soon as I can tomorrow.
These releases are the ones I've been waiting for ever since I bought a DVD player. Even if it's the most simple, cheapest transfer LucasFilm sprung for, I just want my original trilogy on DVD the way it originally was.
And, yeah, I bought them 2 years ago, too. I still see the value in that, though because that 4th disc had a lot of cool stuff on it.
I was actually pretty good with the VHS releases, and only bought the 1992 (or was it '94?) VHS releases with the final version of the OT before Lucas started going to work on them.
But, unless there's some super duper DVD release on the horizon, these will probably be the last copies I buy for quite some time. I'm not jumping on board the HDVD revolution until it's affordable.
I'm going to pass initially. There are rumblings of a SUPERMEGAWOWAWESOME 30th anniversary box set of all six films, so I'll probably wait for that. If for some reason the original theatrical versions aren't part of that set, I'm sure I'll still be able to find these discs somewhere. (Even though they're supposedly only out "for a limited time".)
I've got the laserdiscs in a closet somewhere. I just don't have a player.
Yeah...I'm gonna bite. I'm going to buy the original theatrical version of the first trilogy, and will promptly toss the enhanced edition that comes along with it.
I've been waiting far too long for this set to come out. THe only way this could get better is if there was a "making of DVD" for each movie.
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I don't feel the need. I'm perfectly happy with the "improved" editions, regardless of Han's distorted-but-shot-second-anyway head, and Anakin's them-kids-look-yummy "warm smile" at the end of VI.
Originally posted by CRZAnd now, the more than One Question: are you sucker enough to buy these, and if so, are you getting one, all three, or something inbetween?
I'm getting all three, but I can't consider myself a sucker because I patiently waited through the last VHS releases and the 2004 DVDs for these puppies. Conventional wisdom holds that they'll just rerelease them again before long, but I'm willing to bet these will suit me for ten years or so.
Originally posted by ZeruelThe only thing that is stopping me is that these are letter-boxed and not anamorphic and I'm geek enough that I have a 16:9 TV and obsess over such things.
Oh, so that's the difference between anamoprhic and letterboxed. I wondered why the reviewers on Amazon were pitching a bitch about it, and I guess now I can see their point. I try to get widescreen DVDs on the assumption that I'll eventually have a 16:9 TV, but I think in this case I can't wait that long to see Ewoks singing.
Count me in the crowd that doesn't feel the need. I have the Special Editions from the Prequel Trilogy, and bought the boxed set of the original trilogy when it came out. So I'm set.
I always thought they should have released them separately at first anyways, they could have made an extra 10 bucks for the person buying all three opposed to the set for 50 bucks, but I'm not complaining that they didn't neither.
I'm probably getting the Tin set at Best Buy, but being the comic geek I am, might take a longing look at the Wal-Mart sets with the Comic reprints. Of course, I already have the original comics, but I'm so weak and easily parted from my money for Star Wars. (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5142758)
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Originally posted by Jim SmithOh, so that's the difference between anamoprhic and letterboxed. I wondered why the reviewers on Amazon were pitching a bitch about it, and I guess now I can see their point. I try to get widescreen DVDs on the assumption that I'll eventually have a 16:9 TV, but I think in this case I can't wait that long to see Ewoks singing.
Well, the difference between anamorphic and letter-boxed means that in a letter-boxed DVD, the mattes (black bars) are actually part of the video. Lines of resolution are actually used to save the mattes.
With anamorphic, just the movie is saved to the DVD. With a 16:9 TV (or a 4:3 with a 16:9 mode) you get a better picture. I assume someone with a 16:9 TV will have to "zoom" in on the movie to avoid displaying the mattes and distorting the picture.
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I'm still undecided, myself. What I found truly funny, though, was all the complaints from the fanboys on the Amazon link. The same people who were pissing and moaning because they couldn't have their "original" versions of Star Wars are now pissing and moaning because the video quality of said versions is shit. I would say that this should teach George Lucas to try and cater to fanboys, but then again, I'm sure he's crying into his sack of money over that one.
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I am satisfied with the 'original three' dvd box set. I will wait until the six disc edition of I-VI comes out before I give Mr Lucas any more of my cash.
I think I will only get A New Hope, wasn't it the most tinkered with of the originals? Thanks for the heads up on the WalMart thing Drew, I had not heard about that.
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I got "A New Hope" after staring at the display for seemingly forever trying to make sure it was the first movie.
This will be only the second home video copy of it I've ever owned. The first was a VHS tape long since lost.
I've never even seen "Empire Strikes Back" or "Return of the Jedi", save for snippets of each on cable at some point.
I'm sure this copy will be fine for years to come...or until I get a HDTV, at which point I'll probably be annoyed at the non-anamorphic transfer of Disc 2.