It has taken forever, seemingly, but the release of the first three (in chronologically filmed-time terms) Star Wars movies onto DVD has been announced. The date is set for September this year. Here’s part of what the press release has to say:
The STAR WARS TRILOGY tops the list of ‘cinephiles’ most-requested titles never released on the format,’ according to a May 2003 E! Online report. Further, the three STAR WARS TRILOGY films – Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi — also hold the top three spots on Amazon.com’s ‘most-requested DVDs’ list.Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi will be available in a four-disc set that includes a bonus disc filled with all-new special features — including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced about the Star Wars saga and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films. Each of the three films in the STAR WARS TRILOGY has been digitally restored and re-mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.
‘First and foremost, the DVDs will deliver the very best possible sound and picture and take advantage of everything the medium can offer. On top of that, we are creating added-value material that gets inside the creation of the Star Wars films in a fresh and fun way,’ Ward said. ‘We want watching this DVD collection to be as memorable as seeing the movies for the first time.’
The films of the STAR WARS TRILOGY will be available exclusively as a collection and all three films will be closed-captioned.
Personally I don’t think that it will recapture the feeling I had in the opening minutes of the first time I saw the original Star Wars in late 1977. But that’s only because I now expect what was then a surprise: surround sound. The opening shot of that huge space ship coming from behind me, over my head, accompanied by real Dolby Stereo surround sound, was quite amazing. As for the rest of the movie: seeing space shots done well for, seemingly, the first time since 2001 was great too, even though I was never especially enamoured of the story itself.
Note that last paragraph in the quoted section: if you want just the original Star Wars, you’re out of luck. You’ll only get the boxed set.
One thing I’d like to see, although I doubt that it’s likely, is the original version of the movie without the later digital effects added.