Star Wars on Blu Ray? *snrk*

[Zabo]

2011: Yes, now you can see all the beepy boopy lights on Vader's mini-chest-fridge... in SUPER HIGH DEFINITION!

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7060BE20110107

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Home Entertainment will release George Lucas' "Star Wars' films in three distinct Blu-ray sets in September.

'Star Wars: The Complete Saga' will feature all six live-action features, along with three additional discs and more than 30 hours of extensive special features including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes and an exploration of the exclusive 'Star Wars' archives.

"A Prequel Trilogy" will include Episodes I through III ("The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith"), and an "Original Blu-ray Trilogy" set will include Episodes IV-VI (1977's "A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi").

"The Complete Saga" will carry a suggested retail price of $139.99, and the "Trilogy" sets will go for $69.99. Amazon was taking pre-orders at lower prices on Thursday.

"The 'Star Wars Saga' is the most anticipated Blu-ray collection since the launch of the high-def format," Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said Thursday. "The epic franchise pioneered sound and visual presentation in theaters and is perfectly suited to do it again in the home, with a viewing experience only possible with Blu-ray."

70.00 for 1-3 or 4-6 or 140.00 for all 6. Yay, maybe they'll add in more TIE fighters this time!

In other news:

2012: You get to see Jar Jar in 3D.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68T1CV20100930

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Like a lightsaber to the midsection, reactions to news that George Lucas is planning to rerelease 3D versions of the "Star Wars" sextet have been swift and, more often than not, deadly.

But when the Force actually is with them, will fans be able to stay away?

For every "I'll be first in line," there are another 20-30 Web comments along the lines of "SW is just a machine now," "I'll stay away in droves," "Lucas is beating a dead horse" or "Never have I seen something so amazing be systematically destroyed."

Lucas and Fox plan to rerelease the "Star Wars" franchise in state-of-the-art 3D conversions beginning in 2012 with one film annually led by the much-mocked prequels. That means the original "Star Wars" and its two sequels won't start rolling out until 2015.

The rolling theatrical releases inevitably would set up 3D DVD versions that would facilitate the ultimate home-viewing experience once 3D-capable televisions have become fixtures in four to six years.

A specific date for the first release, "The Phantom Menace," has not been announced, but sources said Fox and Lucas are looking at a mid-February launch.

On paper, the news should be every fanboy's dream. The groundbreaking nature and scope of Lucas's original trilogy, launched in 1977, have practically begged for a 3D treatment to match its ambitions. But for many of the die-hards, that starship has long since sailed.

A lot has happened in the three decades between the theatrical release of "Return of the Jedi" in 1983 and what will be the first of the new 3D versions. For one thing, Lucas made three other movies in the saga, which were almost universally panned. He also has already done several rereleases and recuts of the original trilogy that updated the effects and added new or deleted footage in ways that many found sacrilegious (see: the widespread "Han Shot First" campaign, or Alexandre O. Philippe's documentary "The People vs. George Lucas," which had its world premiere at SXSW this year).

For those with a negative view of the post-1983 "Star Wars" output, the idea of yet another iteration -- especially using a conversion process many have found lacking in recent releases such as "Clash of the Titans" and "The Last Airbender" -- is cause for great despair.

"People are just too down on conversions," said Jeremy Smith, West Coast editor of Ain't It Cool News. "It doesn't even matter what the film is -- with the exception of animation. The conversations have gone from 'F--- conversion' to 'George Lucas is a money-grubbing whatever.'

"There has been some enthusiasm for the new development. A lot of parents, who grew up during the original fever, are excited for their kids (and grandkids) to see the original films in the theater. And some just can't get enough "Star Wars," no matter what the reservations.

For those on the fence, their loyalty remains partially intact but devoted only to the original trilogy. (NotMalcolmRee'sd comment on Ain't It Cool News is typical: "i will not sit thru the prequels again even in 10 dimensions.")

Many wish Lucas would do something new rather than keep futzing with the existing movies -- even make a seventh film in the series or a whole new trilogy with new characters, in 3D or otherwise. But in the absence of that, just how many fans would be willing to bypass the chance to see what Lucas would do with 3D?

"My gut feeling is that it will do well, on the level of what the '97 releases did," Smith said. "They'll get the die-hards out, they'll get people taking their kids. These kids are as into 'Star Wars' as their parents. And kids don't have the hatred toward 'Star Wars' as people in my generation."

The 1997 "special edition" rereleases of "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" grossed $138 million, $68 million and $45 million, respectively. Notable is the decline in interest as the trilogy progresses (most loyalists place the first two as the only genuine classics), with the second trilogy -- the prequels -- drawing limitless derision despite having grossed more during release.

Returns on a 3D rerelease of "Phantom Menace," the first scheduled, are likely to be significantly less than a 3D rerelease of "Star Wars" or "Empire" and thus a questionable test case for future conversions.

[v6sonoma]

If only they would put out the original movies on BluRay without all the crap scenes they added. :(

[PQ]

I'd like to see them re-do 3-6.

[2ndgenz28]

Long as I get a better shot of Leia walking around braless n bouncin around in part 4.......................

[lafountain]

Originally Posted by Zabo

70.00 for 1-3 or 4-6 or 140.00 for all 6. Yay, maybe they'll add in more TIE fighters this time!

Can preorder the 6 movie blu-ray set on Amazon already (won't be out until September) for $89.99.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by lafountain

Can preorder the 6 movie blu-ray set on Amazon already (won't be out until September) for $89.99.

..90 bucks for Vader and flippy Yoda Bluray goodness? Do want.

[ViperTomcat]

So..this makes me happy.

The scenes they added do help a bit IMO. I know the purists want the originals back..but you can either have the grainy, old, unrestored originals or the very pretty modified ones.

[Berean]

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by ViperTomcat

So..this makes me happy.

The scenes they added do help a bit IMO. I know the purists want the originals back..but you can either have the grainy, old, unrestored originals or the very pretty modified ones.

Are they really any originals you can buy???

All the ones you can buy have already been redone a few times, he re-did 4-6 already long ago to fix some things, then changed a few more things when 1-3 came out like the ending of 6 to show Anakin from 1-3.

And all along they didn't fixed allot, I got the latest edition of 4-6 on reg DVD and like during the space sceens, you can still see the square matting of where they cut the TieFighter in.

[lafountain]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Are they really any originals you can buy???

The Original Unedited Theatrical release was put out on DVD as a 2-disc per movie set. One unedited and one update.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_a

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_c

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by lafountain

The Original Unedited Theatrical release was put out on DVD as a 2-disc per movie set. One unedited and one update.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_a

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Epis...d_bxgy_d_img_c

Lots of talk in the reviews that "These aren't the discs your looking for. Move along. "

They just ripped the laser disc.


Probably gotta go old VHS to get a good original or a laser disc machine.

[Dr.Bender]

I have my originals and pre-ordered the blu-ray!

[AZCamaroFan]

there were a couple things they added i didn't like, and a few things i did.
Jabba added=kinda good
Wampa added=kinda good
Planet celebrations added in ROJT-cool

i don't have a blu-ray, and if i did i don't know if i'd buy immediately. they previewed a ROTJ deleted scene a few months ago-Vader calling out to luke while he was constucting his lightsaber, and that was cool.

[c-dub]

haters gonna hate, I'll get it just because I need all 6 and why not get the blu ray?!