For the Star Wars fans here...Han shoots first!!!!

[lizziebith]

A long dreamed-for press-release we NEVER thought we'd see...

"Fans can look forward to a September filled with classic Star Wars nostalgia, led by the premiere of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game and the long-awaited DVD release of the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy.

In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie, as well as the original theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.

See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.

This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st. International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.

"Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in theaters," said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. "We returned to the Lucasfilm Archives to search exhaustively for source material that could be presented on DVD. This is something that we're very excited to be able to give to fans in response to their continuing enthusiasm for Star Wars. Topping it off with a new interactive adventure makes September 12 a red-letter day for Star Wars fans."

Edited to add that starwarsshop.com is already selling a commemorative shirt, with two others to follow. Lord, I would love to be in the Lucasfilm marketing meetings just to see what they're coming up with next.

[€uroMeinke]

I might actually get these

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I hate to be a wet blanket, but that sounds a little too good to be true. Where did this come from?

[flippyshark]

Appears to be the real thing - it's in the USA Today headlines. (Okay, that is not the fount of all knowledge or anything, but at least it's a mainstream source.)

I KNEW the bastards were going to do this eventually, right about the time George said that he would never ever ever. He's such a lying scum. That said, I can't wait to get 'em. I haven't gone anywhere near these titles on DVD heretofore. Now, dare I dream that one of the extras will be the amazing Star Wars Holiday Special?

http://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com/

[Snowflake]

Okay, I'd buy these. No question!

[CoasterMatt]

YAY! No more watching my LaserDiscs of the original trilogy!

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't think I'll be buying these. I mean, I've bought these films 5 times already: Beta, VHS, VHS Widescreen, Special Edition VHS, Special Edition DVD... No thanks. Besides, I think I'm officially burned out on all of the SW movies.

I actually wish there was a way to combine the two editions. There are things I like much better on the orginals and other things on the SE versions.

Better in the original:

- Han is a dick. He shoots first. He changes through the course of the film to become a hero. The man has no conscience at the beginning.

- No Jabba. And no cartoon reaction to Han stepping on his tail.

- Hate the big robot hitting the small robot in Tatooine. Original is better.

- Luke without the scream as he falls in 'Empire'.

- I like the 'Lap Tinek' (sp?) song better in the original. Hated the 'Jedi Rocks' song in the SE.
--------------------------
Special Edition:

- Love the far away shots of Mos Eisley with the ships taking off. Nice.

- The trench battle is much better.

- Han gag on the Death Star funnier with a room full of stormtroopers.

- I liked the SE Bespin. Lando's announcement is much better. Love the Falcon flying over the city scene...

- I like the enhanced Bantha herd and Sarlaac Pit in 'Jedi'.

-Hated the original ending to 'Jedi'. I like the non-Ewok song, old Anakin ending.

- I liked the new ring explosion and the sound that follows it.

[Moonliner]

I think I'll pass on this and wait for the HD or BlueRay versions in a few years. I might be ready to watch them again by then.

[Moonliner]

..... Although it would be nice to finally have some backup evidence to show all the little Star Wars geeks that Star Wars was in fact called "Star Wars" and not "Episode IV" when it first came out.

[innerSpaceman]

Drool.


I'm buying them at 12:01 on Sept. 12, following a ritual burning via jetfuel explosion of my special edition DVDs at 11:59 on September 11th.