Travis McClain

As I've said, I've found several commentary tracks rewarding that weren't scene-specific. I hate to keep going back to the Bond DVDs, but the commentary tracks recorded by Roger Moore were often not even film-specific, but it was insightful to hear his reminisces and remarks nonetheless. As to why not present those recordings elsewhere, audio interviews don't really play well on a TV without some kind of visual and the film is as good as anything. And, as I've said, I don't think an aggregate of full video interviews would be nearly as rewarding as the premise sounds.

The pipe dream of the OOT was debunked months ago by Lucasfilm; no one should have still been expecting their inclusion here. Further tweaks to the films, I suspect, will be kept quiet so that in September there will be a rash of "OMG! Did you see that?!" reactions to spur sales.

The Roman numerals have been prominent on every release since The Phantom Menace VHS. The OT DVD box in 2004 had big, fat Roman numerals on its spine. This isn't to spite anyone; it's just part of the marketing design.

Travis McClain

Already noted. Our fingers are crossed that the ambiguous wording simply glosses over their inclusion, but it seems likely that they weren't carried over to this release.

DarthMarino

It looks like they updated it to say that it's not lenticular.

GenPion

I knew that the inclusion of the original trilogy was debunked. I have closely followed the story. However, when you issue a press release to every media website on the internet about counting down to full details on the release... part of me was still hopeful for a nice surprise.

As for the roman numerals on the spines -- Yeah, I know they did it before. Yet it doesn't change the fact that it still looks weird for people who only want to purchase the original trilogy set. It's almost as if it's there to taunt people with OCD who will then feel compelled to get the Prequel set. It's a reminder of the prequel's existing.

Granted, I'm going to buy the Complete Saga set for the extras anyway. It's just a bit depressing to me that this is still the route we are heading in for these releases.

Doctorossi

So, when Star Wars was first re-released in 1978 and its scroll read, "Episode 4" and when The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980 and its scroll read, "Episode 5", these were also 'reminders of the prequels existing'?

georgec

The 7th and 8th discs don't mention specifics and it's very possible they include film-specific docs from the older dvd releases (e.g "Within a Minute"), although "Empire of Dreams" is an unlikely inclusion anywhere.

b2net

I told myself I would not get on this band wagon.. but 1 time I will state.. I see no reason they couldn't include the Original Theatricals on a Blu in SD that was at least animorphic.. just that alone would appease the fans.. I also think the non inclusion of various lengthy good making of type documentaries is rather sad as well..

georgec

From the blu-ray.com forum...

milo bloom

There's plenty of them, enough that when they dumped those old laserdisc transfers on DVD a few years back, the "Star Wars" disc had the Episode IV removed from the text crawl at the beginning of the movie. But you're point about the 5 and 6 being there from day one is also valid, this is a minor point considering all the other missed opportunities in this set.

lamphorn

Is it annoying for me to ask in this thread how you did that, as in what are the discounts? I assume you have to be a member and have paid the $25 fee to join.

Blu-ray-collect

Soooo...how many times have you bought "Star Wars" on various formats? This will be my fifth (and hopefully the last) time I've bought Episodes 4 - 6:

1) VHS
2) Laserdisc (The original versions)
3) Laserdisc (Special Edition)
4) DVD's
5) Blu-ray

Am I a stupid or what?

georgec

Online price is $90. I went into the store and used a 50% off coupon for the preorder, so it was $45 + tax = $50. To pay for it I had a Groupon ($20 voucher cost $10), so net cost was $40.

I haven't paid for a membership - just a free trial that I will cancel this month.

Timber

I've changed my mind. Now I think the Complete Saga cover looks like shit and the other 2 are actually pretty decent.

Dan

I only bought the originals on laserdisc, and that was a little while after they showed up on DVD, IIRC.
No VHS or DVD copies in my house.

Kal-El

I wonder why they chose Yoda to be the prominent face on the prequel set. Anakin's would make sense since the OT's is Vader's visage.

I pre-ordered this months ago and while I'm just whelmed (as other are) by the extra's, it's Star Wars on Blu. I just hope they fixed Vader's pink saber in Jedi.

milo bloom

I have two sets of the Faces VHS (both box types, I didn't set out to collect both types, it just happened) and then the blue hologram VHS box set, all three are in widescreen.
I also have one copy of the SE trilogy on LBX VHS (the original silver release), I also have a copy of ANH from the 2000 VHS LBX release that had a Episode II featurette and a very neat little promo for StarWars.com that uses footage from the four released movies at the time set to Duel of the Fates to show some of the parallels between the PT and OT. It's actually a very neat little bit of editing, and I'd love to have it in DVD quality, 16x9 of course.

I have two laserdisc sets, the Fox widescreen editions and the Faces version.

And I bought the first DVD box set of 4-6 and the individual 2 disc sets of the PT. I also have all of both Clone Wars series on DVD.

I have no current plans to buy this Bluray set, not with this feature-set anyways. Maybe if I had scored that $40 dollar B&N deal.

Matt

1. 1990 (?) VHS box (pan and scan)
2. 1995 THX VHS box (pan and scan)
3. 1995 THX VHS box (widescreen)
4. 1995 THX laserdiscs (individuals) (and I've never owned a laserdisc player!)
5. 1997 SE VHS box (widescreen)
6. 2004 DVDs (widescreen)

And I bought two different bootleg DVD sets of the original trilogy years before the official release in 2004.

Nick Martin

My first set of the trilogy was the box set with the side flaps noting the Oscar win / nomination information. That was Christmas 1992:

(image of the set found online)


After that I needed upgrades because those tapes were worn out and partially eaten, so I picked up individual re-releases in 1995 or so:

(I didn't get the box as shown in this photo)


Then came the 1997 Special Editions, which I got in widescreen:



and after the 2004 DVD set, I found this in a used shop, but the set was actually new:

b2net

The more I look at the cover art.. the more I like the Original Pre-Release Blu-Ray Sets Cover Art... with no pictures...

slop101

Shit, I don't even wanna think about it, but here we go (I'm including $ spent on theatrical movies not adjusted for inflation, and no merchandising, which would probably double the total)!

1977 - Star Wars (first movie I ever saw in a theater): $2
1980 - Empire (first movie I ever saw twice): $3 x 2 = $6
1982 - New Hope (re-release) $3
1983 - Jedi (saw twice) $4 x 2 = $8
85 - 88 - used VHS tapes of original trilogy: approx. $15 each x 3 = $45
1990 - new VHS box-set of OT: $60
1997 - theatrical special editions: approx $6 x 3 = rounding up to $20
1997 - VHS box-set of OT (widescreen): $60
1999 - Phantom Menace theater: $7
2001 - Phantom Menace dvd: $20
2002 - Attach of the Clones theater: $8
2002 - AotC dvd: $20
2004 - OT Special edition box-set dvd: $40
2005 - Revenge of Sith theater: $9
2005 - Revenge of Sith dvd: $20
2006 - OT dvd with original versions on bonus discs: $30
2011 - blu-ray set: $90

Though I didn't start spending my own money until after '83, it comes out to about $450!
And I can't even get the versions I really want on blu-ray...

Spottedfeather

I've got.....
1. versions of all 3 I taped off of tv back in the 80s
2. VHS
3. Special edition VHS
4. Trilogy dvd set

and.....that's the last time I buy the series unless George comes to his senses and realizes (or starts to care) about what real movie fans want.

Breather

Actually, the "Episode IV: A New Hope" banner was not added until the 1981 re-release.-Wikipedia


•When the original theatrical version was first released, it was simply titled Star Wars.The opening crawl was changed to "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" during the 1981 re-release. According to Sterling Hedgpeth, Lucasfilm film archivist: "I found a box with all the positive elements for the 'revised' opening crawl, and the assorted trim boxes are dated from October through December 1980. This, then, is consistent with the view that Episode IV: A New Hope was added for the first time to the opening crawl for the April 10, 1981 re-release."-IMDB

Breather

I think you might be onto something there. I remember the "From Star Wars to Jedi" doc fairly well and it, along with the commentaries on the "Definitive Collection" LD set, does offer up some contradictions of this grand vision nonsense we're fed today. I hope I'm wrong and I might be saying something crazy, but could it even have something to do with the mention of the word "saga" in the title? Lucas is very anal and even OCD'ish about such minor details. I could almost see him not liking the title on that old doc anymore.

Doctorossi

'78... '81... either way, I think you'll find the prequels weren't around at the time.

BambooLounge

Came here to say the same thing...I have the complete saga pre-ordered and I really wish it would've been the all black cover instead of having to see little shit Anakin.