So Star Wars hits Blu-ray on September 16th, doesn’t include the theatrical editions, and has enough special features (some new) to consume an entire weekend (+40 hours), with a few hours of that being new content (though some of the old documentaries have refreshed CGI, digitally modified lighting, alternate interview takes, and more Lucas improvements!). One of these is a feature-length doc about the 501st, another is all about how one of the shitty CGI Special Edition updates was done.
I enjoy and appreciate the original trilogy, but I’m the wrong guy if you’re looking for excitement or hate on this one.
Regardless, there are folks out there who will grit their teeth trough the Special Edition scenes and enjoy the rest of the beloved films in the High-Definition they deserve. That will cost you $44.99 per trilogy, or $88.99 for the whole shebang. For the completists who will force themselves to purchase the prequel trilogy as well, note that they couldn’t help but tart them up with a gradient on their cover, instead of the classy black and blue of the other two sets.
Take a look at the press release below- it has the full details.
If you’re the type to buy or pre-order these though, consider doing so with these following CHUD links, so that your frustrated tears can at least be put to good cause in keeping this site running (to deliver happier news than this). Also, it’s inevitable that you’ll want to talk this out with others — we understand, it’s okay — so make your way into the message board circle to express your feelings and stay on the bandwagon and get assigned a sponsor.
Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars™ with your whole family – when STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments – in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.
Special Features:
STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:
DISC ONE – STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC TWO – STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC THREE – STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC FOUR – STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC FIVE – STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC SIX – STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewDISC SEVEN – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and moreDISC EIGHT – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and moreDISC NINE – THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES
NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) – Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures…these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) – George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) – The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more – and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) – Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Go behind the scenes – and into the costumes – as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) – See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) – Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.
13 comments
Greedo wept.
I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a special feature that began with “ANATOMY OF A…” but maybe, just maybe “ANATOMY OF A DEWBACK” will change that.
I still hold out the fool’s hope that Lucas will reveal that the Theatrical Versions -are- included, but I guess that will be saved for the 3D boxed set of the saga that comes out six years from now in whatever format they’re using then. I know he’ll never release them separately for fear that they’d outsell his special editions and prequels, but still…throw people a bone, George, seriously.
Yeah, the only way Luca$$ is ever seeing my money again is if he gives us the theatrical cuts on blu. Are you reading this, George? Give ’em up you fat old fuckstick before you die and your library is inherited by your useless children who won’t do anything with it.
I feel sorry for anyone who can’t find something to be excited about by these releases, in a completely non-aggressive/ judgmental way. Let go your conscious selves and act on instinct, I say.
I am actually looking forward to these set releases. I have had mine on preorder since the day they were announced (I’m stupid that way). Anyways the covers you include in the news piece is not correct. Blu-Ray.com has what I believe is the final artwork uploaded on their site. Thought I’d mention it for those who are interested. http://images.blu-ray.com/news/upload/196_tn.jpg AND http://images.blu-ray.com/news/upload/197_tn.jpg
Have fun feeling sorry for me, then. Shelling out $45 for movies that are inferior to the originals isn’t my idea of excitement, even if they are in HD.
Give it up, guys: the Theatrical Versions you seek are but a myth
Han wept first!
Talking down to me about being excited about this release doesn’t make me want to order through Chud, Renn. I don’t think I’ll be doing that,
The 10 year old in me is jumping down in anticipation to see these on my brand new Samsung plasma, but little does he know that the older cynical me is not falling for George – show me another dip I didn’t like – Lucas. I KNOW there will be another BD release before I would get the shrink wrap off this one. I am embarrassed at this point how many versions of this movie I have had. Thankfully I did not purchase the DVD’s as they were a gift. Greedo shot first, period. (Really, is there ANYONE besides the big guy himself that believes otherwise?) The Original Trilogy was something that was big in a lot of people my age – early 40’s – and I have been looking forward to showing them to my boys soon, but the fact of the matter is George is a hack, and the way he treats and releases these movies proves it. (Don’t get me started on Crystal Skull) I have said before if he was hit by a bus after Empire, he would have been seen as a visionary genius. Now we know Empire’s quality had more to due to Irwin Kershner than Lucas who still thinks the prequels are as good as the old ones. Over the years he has come to expect us to keep ponying up the $$$ because he knows he has us, and by and large he does.
Thanks George, but I will wait this one out. When you are ready to release re-mastered OT regular editions (Special editions can tag along too, I guess) All of the fabled deleted scenes we have heard about, and maybe the rough cut of SW. For laughs Hardware Wars & Troops, and to admit you are not a god, the TV special. (Okay, fine as an Easter Egg)
Give me a call then and maybe I will consider upgrading to HD.
No originals? Well I guess that was unreasonable. I once talked to a guy who worked on a fairly elaborate reconstruction of MAJOR DUNDEE. But that was a mainstream slam dunk, not a niche thing like STAR WARS.
No OT, no money.
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