You can have them, but we copied them off the Laserdiscs. Stupid fanboys.

[schild]

Die-hard Star Wars fans soon can see the original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars films on DVD.
Even though George Lucas adamantly declared 2004's digitally restored Star Wars Trilogy DVDs the definitive versions of his movies, fans have held out hope for DVDs of the originals.

Their wishes will be granted Sept. 12 when Fox releases new two-disc DVDs ($30 each) of Star Wars (since retitled as Episode IV: A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that include the films as they first appeared in theaters, along with the new, restored versions (now available in the four-disc $70 Star Wars Trilogy).

The individual DVDs will be taken off the market on Dec. 31, a strategy that Disney uses on many of its classic releases.

Lucas re-released his original three Star Wars films in theaters in 1997 with inserted scenes and improved special effects. Those "special editions" were further enhanced for the four-disc DVD set. With the original versions coming to DVD, here's what you'll see again:

• In Star Wars, Han Solo shoots a bounty hunter named Greedo. Lucas changed the scene later so it seemed that Greedo draws first, and changed it again for the DVD so that they appear to shoot simultaneously.

• In Empire Strikes Back, the ice creature that captures Luke Skywalker gets less screen time.

• In Jedi, Sebastian Shaw returns as Anakin in the movie's final scene. Lucas substituted Hayden Christiansen, who plays Anakin in the more recent films, for the 2004 DVD.

Back in 2004, Lucas told the New York Post, "The special edition is the one I wanted out there."

This new set of DVDs does not constitute "George changing his mind," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "What we've always said is George viewed the revised versions of the films as the definitive versions."

Fan attachment to the originals is strong. The movies topped entertainment website IGN.com's recent chart of Top 25 Most Wanted DVDs.

"People want the option of having the movies that they remember and people are opposed to George Lucas' revisionist tendencies," says the site's Chris Carle.

The original films' video quality will not match up to that of the restored versions. "It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that's not as good as state of the art 2006," Ward says.

Apparently, Lucas needs to fund another shitty movie. Lazy bastard. Didn't even remaster them. This has to be the pinnacle of robbing people blind in the marketplace. Not only does he not remaster them, he guarantees moratorium. So buy them while their hot. Or whatthefuckever.

[Triforcer]

STFU and get in line for your fix, junkie.

[Merusk]

Nobody expected special features or any of the other crap the "Special Editions" had when they asked for SW on DVD.  All the majority of the hardcore fans wanted was something more lasting than magnetic VHS tapes. Plus it has the bonus of play-your-favorite-scene without the fast-forward/ rewind stress on the media.

The folks who really wanted this have all the other crap on the billion other DVDs, CD ROMs, Picture Books, "Definitive" encyclopedias, etc.  I'll be buying it just so I can stop worrying about my tapes demagnetizing before I can put them on something more permanent.

[Jeff Kelly]

Apparently, Lucas needs to fund another shitty movie. Lazy bastard. Didn't even remaster them. This has to be the pinnacle of robbing people blind in the marketplace. Not only does he not remaster them, he guarantees moratorium. So buy them while their hot. Or whatthefuckever.

I don't get that. They DID remaster the old movies for the VHS rerelease in the mid 90's (before the special edition) so why not use these remastered files?

[Miasma]

They announced a new toy today, we always knew he was on the dark side.

[WindupAtheist]

I'm me, and even I don't care about this topic.  Why are the rest of you so excited?

[Ironwood]

Because once again Lucas has proved that's he's an enormous douche that is so predictable it's not even funny.  We said this was coming ages ago and now we're having our moment of 'Told You So'.

Which, unlike your moments, has a basis in reality.

[Samwise]

Shit.  I may actually buy this.  I am weak.   

[Abagadro]

I don't get that. They DID remaster the old movies for the VHS rerelease in the mid 90's (before the special edition) so why not use these remastered files?
 

There is a beautiful transfer of the originals for the Definitive Collection Laserdisc (likely the one referenced in the thread title) with all sorts of extras on them.  Should just use that. 

[WindupAtheist]

Because once again Lucas has proved that's he's an enormous douche that is so predictable it's not even funny.  We said this was coming ages ago and now we're having our moment of 'Told You So'.

Which, unlike your moments, has a basis in reality.

Yeah, yeah.  What a bastard, selling his shit in a method designed to maximize profit, instead of whatever method you'd like to see.  I'm not buying it because I don't really give a shit at the moment, but if you do, shell out and STFU.

[Murgos]

So, he's going all the way back to the prints with the noticible square cut-outs around the superimposed ships?

Nice.  I guess I'll wait another 18 months for the version that fixes that.

[HaemishM]

What a fucking douchebag. Fuck him in his Greedo.

[WindupAtheist]

Wait, which version IS he using?  The article says "state of the art 1993".  The hell does that mean?

[schild]

Laserdiscs were, technically, out in 1993. I don't know if the remastered ones were though. I have the laserdisc for Star Wars (the remaster) but I'm too lazy to google it and I'm far too lazy to get up and look at it having just woken up. Now, I don't know, even time they re-release Star Wars in ANY FORM the guy makes money hand over fist. Shouldn't he have a team of trained professionals constantly cleaning, wiping, making perfect a set of Star Wars remasters? I mean, isn't it practically printing money right now? Or is he just retarded? This whole thing, the greed isn't what's killing me. It's the complete apathy of the situation. I can just see Lucas sitting in his chair wearing a smoking jacket with a fat Padron hanging out of his mouth as his secretary comes in.

"Sir, they're demanding the original movies, you know the one where Han shoots first."

George Lucas spins around in his chair, removes the cigar from his mouth ever so tenderly and in the swiftest motion shakes his hand twice in the air.

"Fine, give them what they want. But don't use the new hi-def transfers. If they don't like what I'm doing to my art, they can watch shit that looked better on VHS."

[Murgos]

See, I got the same image, but with a beret.

[Yegolev]

I think the logic is:
1: Release the original versions on DVD, giving the fanbois the letter-of-your-wish treatment.
2: Halt production, let fanbois come to a boil over time.
3: Release HD-BluRay-ish version of the "official" versions.
4: Release HD-Bluray-ish version of the ones with the bad CGI we got on VHS in the 90's.
5: Release remastered original-cut movies in "response" to consumer demand, DVD format.
6: Start filming of a new version of all six films.
7: Be suffocated by neck fat.
8: Children release original flavor on HD-BluRay to offset excavation expenses for funeral.

[WindupAtheist]

As much as I hate to be the voice of apathy and/or reason in a thread about Star Wars, let me just state this:  I have the original trilogy on videotape.  When those tapes eventually become non-viable for whatever reason, I'm sure I'll be able to buy new copies somewhere at the time.  Until then I don't give a shit.

[schild]

I already have the original Star Wars ripped from laserdisc on dvd. It's called a Malaysian Bootleg. Why do I feel more comfortable supporting them than I do supporting Lucas?

[WindupAtheist]

Mmm, bootleg.  I remember when I had the director's cut of The Professional on VHS, bootlegged from the Japanese laserdisc, years before it came out in America on DVD.  It was my one shining era of cinematic leetness.  When I met someone who liked the movie, but didn't even know a longer cut existed, suddenly I could be That Guy Who's In The Know.

Alas.

[Ironwood]

Because once again Lucas has proved that's he's an enormous douche that is so predictable it's not even funny.  We said this was coming ages ago and now we're having our moment of 'Told You So'.

Which, unlike your moments, has a basis in reality.

Yeah, yeah.  What a bastard, selling his shit in a method designed to maximize profit, instead of whatever method you'd like to see.  I'm not buying it because I don't really give a shit at the moment, but if you do, shell out and STFU.

Don't be a retard.  He can sell his shit in whatever flavour he wishes;  it's when he sells it vanilla and says 'This is IT - Vanilla from now on, I won't EVER be releasing the Berry flavour, so buy THIS NEW ONE' and then changes his mind a mere year or so later for profit.  There's a name for someone like that.

Be aware, of course, that I only own 1 copy of any Star Wars movie in my house and it was my Gran who bought me Attack of the Clones.  Dear god, for euthanasia....


Edit;  typos sometimes make posts funnier.

[Yegolev]

As much as I hate to be the voice of apathy and/or reason in a thread about Star Wars, let me just state this:  I have the original trilogy on videotape.  When those tapes eventually become non-viable for whatever reason, I'm sure I'll be able to buy new copies somewhere at the time.  Until then I don't give a shit.

I am sure you know, but I'll put it out there anyway: you can get a VHS/DVD-W combo machine on the cheap at Wal*Mart.  I have one and it works fine.  Lucas loses again.

[dusematic]

I'm still waiting for American Graffiti 3.

[WindupAtheist]

I'm still waiting for Willow 2.

Seriously.  Warwick Davis for the win.

[schild]

I'm waiting for Star Wars Episode 0

[Samwise]

A movie about Qui-Gonn Jinn, pre-Anakin?  Hells yeah.

[WindupAtheist]

Except Qui-Gon is a nine year old boy who screams "YIPEE!" when discovered by Count Dooku and his wacky Gungan sidekick, Nub-Nub Binks.

[Ironwood]

Except Qui-Gon is a nine year old boy who screams "YIPEE!" when discovered by Count Dooku and his wacky Gungan sidekick, Nub-Nub Binks.

Now you're getting it.  That's exactly what it'd be.

Shite.

[WindupAtheist]

[Numtini]

So, he's going all the way back to the prints with the noticible square cut-outs around the superimposed ships?

I have a transfer of the LDs and you do not see the cut-outs. That's the incredibly bad first VHS version and the one that is shown most on tv. It also has a horrible soundtrack that I'm pretty sure isn't surround.