Help, Star Wars DVD, Which one to buy?

[SUP-Ronin]

I want the original Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. The problem is, I don't know if they made a set without the silly add ons. I dig the sounds and enhanced battles they added later but can't stand the silly looking CGI Jabba, the dancing Boba Fett, and that stupid singing freak in the upgraded version. I know I can google this, but I wanted some opinions, before I purchase anything.

Thoughts or recommendations please?

[jwyblejr]

The last batch of DVDs that got released has the Special Edition junk but also has an extra disc that doesn't have any of the extra stuff.

[Hector]

Either one is a masterpiece compared to the new trilogy garbage.

[rche]

Yep, the only non added version of the original trilogy you will see on DVD is the bonus disk from the last release. They are cleaned up transfers with no bells and whistles. Even the crawl in the Star Wars movie is untouched. Find a set of those and toss the touch up versions in the round file.

If you have an LD player, the release with the close ups of Vader, Yoda, and Stormtrooper are nice and clean with no added footage. They did clean up some of the mattes - especially the space scenes. And I think the audio was remixed for that version. But... it is either vhs or LD. No dvd on that one.

[bizzaro megomauler]

the bonus discs are just fancy transfers of the laser discs. avoid the silver box with the embossed package, thems the re-retouched garbage. I got the Best buy exclusive tin, and it has the bonus discs. The ones with the bonus discs are limited, and are available in single packs, I just opted for the fancy tin. I will have a look and see if the dvd place by me has them, they are closing and lots of goodies are half off.

[GlobalObserver]

Here's the version you want.


Amazon.com: Star Wars Trilogy: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill: Movies TV

[bizzaro megomauler]

oh and by the way, they did a number on the dvd releases, replacing Sebastian Shaw in Jedi with Hayden Christiansen, and they re-did Jabba in New hope to look more like Jabba from Jedi. amongst other dialouge changes, music changes, the addition of Gungans in Jedi, so much BS i just watched it this new years, then broke out the Laserdiscs, hugged them and cowered in the corner waiting for George Lucas to take them from me.

[BlackKnight]

I like all the Added stuff,.. Personally.

[JDeRouen]

I do as well.

[thunderbolt]

so Lucas reredid them?? I didn't get the rerelease of Jedi (worst movie of the bunch, so I haven't seen it as the redone version)

[jds1911a1]

Yep, the only non added version of the original trilogy you will see on DVD is the bonus disk from the last release. They are cleaned up transfers with no bells and whistles. Even the crawl in the Star Wars movie is untouched. Find a set of those and toss the touch up versions in the round file.

If you have an LD player, the release with the close ups of Vader, Yoda, and Stormtrooper are nice and clean with no added footage. They did clean up some of the mattes - especially the space scenes. And I think the audio was remixed for that version. But... it is either vhs or LD. No dvd on that one.

or the LD Definitive collection which has great bonuse stuff too

at this point there are 3 "distinct" versions Theatrical release, 98 special ed, and DVD (which is the 98 SE but it removed Jeremy Bullock's voice for fett and replaced it with Temoa Morrisson aka Jango and Hayden Christensen as the spirit of anakin)

[MIB41]

Here's the version you want.


Amazon.com: Star Wars Trilogy: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill: Movies TV

GlobalObserver is right. If you want a choice between the original or the updated effects version, purchase the limited edition set. There are SO MANY versions of this d*mn thing out there, it's easy to get the wrong one. Just make sure it says on the back that the second disc includes the 'original theatrical version'. You might surprise yourself though when you try and sit down to the original effects version. After all of these years of being spoiled with the advancement of CGI, it's very difficult to watch a sci-fi flick with all of the flaws clearly on display. I find that I can forgive a few added scenes on the updated versions because the newer effects make me feel like I did when I was a kid seeing this for the first time. I don't get that feeling when I see the old effects because they no longer wow me. Star Wars has always been about the wow-factor... at least in the old days. Cleaning up the effects seem to be a smart move to keep the film relevant. My two cents.

[clemso]

The way cgi has gone (like in Avatar) Lucas could conceivably do/add even more

[Mikey]

I have the laser disc versions converted to DVDr.

When watching, if I turn the TV tone down it covers up a lot of the bad space matte shots ... (the ghost squares around the ships)

[goldenryan]

The force must you trust.