Customer Reviews
Joy! Another Cash in DVD. 
2008-02-01
I love the Star Wars movies. They have proven to be the greatest Sci-fi movies ever and I love them.
I own the movies DVD and VHS. I own the 1977 versions on VHS AND the 1997 versions. And trust me, the 1997 version was NOT needed, yet they still proved to be good.
Now there's this "2004 Special Version" that was relesed over a year and a half ago. This is NOT the special edition, IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE THEATRICAL 1977 VERSION, just with bad CGI effects added in.
Lucas, STOP CONTRADICTING YOURSELF. Us fans have already seen the 1977 versions and we don't need another cut. You just want our money, no matter what currency. We already have seen what we need to see.
Now, I own 2 VHS sets and 2 DVD sets. I feel I wasted my money on the 2004 Special Editions. Plus, the other DVD set showed the films the way they were meant to be seen: 5.1 Surround Sound, Anamorphic Widescreen, and amped up picture.
In Closing: DAMNIT LUCAS, LEAVE IT THE HELL ALONE!!!!!!
Spectacular! 
2007-05-14
Seeing this at home on my big plasma with the enhanced sound was nearly as spectacular as it was in theaters.
A great job!
Star Wars VI 
2007-02-11
All of the reviews for Star Wars - the original trilogy say that this one was loopy because of the Ewoks. I enjoyed it however, it had it's moments. The enhanced version helps to show more of the City in the Sky and makes it more realistic than the original. Overall - a good movie and a good ending. I like the way the enhanced version updates for the new characters in the Episodes 1-3.
Buy the VHS 
2006-10-03
I now own 5 versions of this film, and this is the first time I truely felt like I wasted my money. Each version I had previously purchased had been a clear upgrade in quality from past versions, and I was so excited to see the original theatrical versions (as they should be seen)finally available on DVD. Sadly, the picture and sound quality on this is worse than my VHS versions from the 80s. This set is a total rip off and George should be ashamed of himself.
You're throwin' away a fortune here, don't be a fool 2006-09-15
The only reason a fan is tempted to buy these dvds in the first place is for the "bonus" discs, so the original theatrical versions are the ones to which I am referring. I made a big mistake yesterday when I dropped sixty plus on what I suspected might be trash. Video quality is horrible. Gritty and grainy with horizontal lines in places, vertical in others. Don't be like me and jump at the chance to get these. Let them rot on the shelves. I was a believer that these couldn't possibly be as bad as everyone said. Now I must admit that I was wrong. I have no complaints about the sound, but the picture made me wake up with a headache which still lingers even as I write this. Save your hard-earned cash and join the crusade to get these done right.
DO NOT BUY THESE DVDS! 2006-07-26
For the first time ever and for a limited time only the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes for the first time ever on DVD the original films as seen in theaters in 1977 1980 and 1983.System Requirements:Running Time: 135 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: PG UPC: 024543263982 Manufacturer No: 2236398
Return to the original version. 2006-06-19
3 cheers for George Lucus selling the original version of his star wars movies. People have to insult him but that is BC! They have no hearts and no life. They got nothing to give but hate. Them people need to buzz off!
This release is not worth owning, even if you're a die hard 2006-06-15
I love the original Star Wars movies. I owned them on the original VHS release. When Lucasfilms released the trilogy on VHS in the `special' THX format I was more than happy to oblige, and bought the entire trilogy. Then came the special extended versions of the movies-great! I saw those in theaters and rushed to buy them when they came out on VHS. I missed the Laserdisc version and didn't buy anything else on VHS, but then came the DVD release of the trilogy (the extended versions of the film). Hey, I thought, I already own these movies in 3, yes 3, versions. But what the heck-Lucas and co. are saying they'll never release the original versions of the film on DVD anyway, so why not make it 4?
Now we're looking at yet another release of the films. This is promised to be a "Limited Edition," which probably means it will only be out until demand subsides and they can release another version. If this were a new Dolby or Hi Def release of the original movies I may consider them, but its not. It's a rehashed release of the Laserdisc version of the films from 13 or so years ago, hideously outdated and ignorant of the technological advantages of DVD. I'm not going to bite on this release-I've had enough for the time being.
When (and to me it's a question of when, not if) Lucas finally decides to put forth a bit of effort and release Episodes IV-VI in a format that's not 15 years outdated I'll buy, though by this point I feel I shouldn't. But I see no reason to buy this release. Before the first DVD version came out Lucas said he wouldn't release the original films on DVD until after Episode 3-that turned out to be a lie. Then he said he'd never release the original theatricals on DVD-that, too has proved untrue. I'm fairly certain that we'll get a new version of the theatrical releases soon, maybe one that will be worth owning. Until then I can be patient-Lucas is apparently so willing to bleed his die-hard fans dry that the only true "definitive" release of the films will be the one Lucas does right before he, himself, passes on. Only then will these poor, tired classics get a rest.
It rocks 2006-06-08
You should enjoy these films. They were well made and they deserve to be bought! Buy the movie you want to see the original version of. Thats all he asks. Help him out.
Weakest of the classic trilogy, but still an excellent film 2006-06-08
Star Wars - Return Of The Jedi is directed by Richard Marquand. The film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch, Alec Guinness, Denis Lawson, Ian McDiarmid, and Warwick Davis.
It's been a year since Luke met Vader in Cloud City and Boba Fett took off with a carbonite-frozen Han Solo. Luke, Leia, Lando, and Chewie launch a plan to free their frozen friend, who is now on display at Jabba The Hutt's palace, back on Luke's home planet on Tatooine.
Rescuing Han from Jabba is just the beginning of the problems for our heroes. The Empire has begun work on a new version of the Death Star, one that will be larger and even more powerful than the original. Darth Vader and his Emperor have set a tempting trap for the Rebels. Luke sets off in an effort to restore Vader to the Force's light side, while the rest of the Rebels engage the Empire in a gigantic battle that will once and for all determine the fate of the galaxy.
Return of the Jedi is a great film, but I won't deny it's most likely the weakest film in the original Star Wars Trilogy. There are a lot of great scenes and characters here, but the ever-so-annoying Ewoks get far too much screen time. The movie feels uneven, and drags on longer than the previous two. But don't let that fool you. As a whole, it's a great wrap-up to a great series of films.
The cast is largely unchanged from the first two films. Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are once again excellent as Han and Leia. The relationship they started in Empire is pushed further in this film, continuing to add depth to these already-interesting characters. Mark Hamill gives another incredible performance as Luke Skywalker - but this time around he's gone from a fearful, impatient Jedi in training to a strong warrior, determined to save Vader from the Dark Side. David Prowse returns as the towering, dark-clad menace Darth Vader, the villain feared as much by his subordinates as by the Rebel Alliance. Once again the character's voice is done by James Earl Jones - very well, might I add. Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker reprise their roles as the droids, and Peter Mayhew returns as Chewbacca. An all-important newbie to the series is Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor - who played the role so well here that George Lucas recruited him to play the same character in the eventual prequels
There are a ton of classic scenes in Return of the Jedi, definitely some of the finest moments the trilogy has to offer. Amongst these are the classic battle against Jabba and his subordinates above the Sarlacc Pit, Luke against Vader in another lightsaber duel, and of course, the all-important Battle of Endor that ultimately determines the fate of the galaxy. Despite its shortcomings, there are a ton of great scenes in this film.
In 1997 and again in 2004, the picture quality of the classic Star Wars Trilogy was cleaned up drastically, and George Lucas used modern technology to make some changes to the films. Changes made to the film (other than remastering the picture) include the following:
-Additional footage of the dancing girl at Jabba's Palace.
-New computer-generated footage of the band at Jabba's Palace - and they perform an all new song.
-Minor additions on the Sail Barge ride to the Sarlacc.
-Color correction on the hologram Luke shows of himself to Jabba using R2-D2.
-New celebration scenes on various worlds at the end of the film.
-A change to the line-up of "ghosts" at the end of the film.
The 2006 sold separately DVD features the 2004 remastered/altered version of the film, with a corresponding commentary track, as well as a second disc that includes the original theatrical release of the film. Sadly, the original theatrical release is not an anamorphic transfer, and the picture quality and sound are horrible compared to the remastered version. Could Lucas have at least made SOME effort to clean the picture up? Still, I recommend getting the sold separately version of the film - you don't get the theatrical cuts in the box set.
Despite its being the weakest of the classic three Star Wars movies, Return Of The Jedi is still a great film in its own right. The ultimate conclusion to the storyline is a satisfying one.
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