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What's your favorite version of the Trilogy?


Kurgan

Which is your favorite version of the Classic Trilogy?  

68 members have voted

  1. 1. Which is your favorite version of the Classic Trilogy?

    • 2004/2005 DVD editions (by Van Ling and Lowry Digital)
      31
    • 1997 Special Editions
      6
    • 1995 THX Enhanced ("Faces") editions (modified audio)
      7
    • 1980's-1992 Home Video versions (as originally released on VHS, LaserDisc, etc)
      4
    • Old School Theatrical Variants (pre "Episode IV" Star Wars c.1977-1980 in mono!)
      4
    • Some crazy jawa fan edits!
      3
    • No preference.
      13


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A lot of different versions of the Star Wars classic movies have been made and shown over the years. The last DVD set contained modifications to the visuals and audio previously never seen before. The Special Editions radically changed some parts of the movies and did slight tweaks to others. Even back in the early 80's, Lucas was making changes to Star Wars. So what do you think?

 

Okay, I realize that Lucas has chosen only to release his "definitive vision" the Lowry Digital enhanced 2004 set, onto DVD... (twice in fact, including the "limited edition"), but be honest here.

 

What are your favorite versions of the original Star Wars Trilogy, and why?

 

I'm not asking what people own in their collection, though feel free to share if you like (it may be rather difficult to own the original reels for example) but of the stuff you've seen, what's the best to you?

 

No need to get into a big debate over whether or not Lucas is a good director or has a right to change his mind or his work, but tell what you like or don't like about each version and why you chose what you did. ;)

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I probably like the DVD versions the best. I love the improved visuals and cleaned up footage. I also like that if Greedo isn't made to shoot first again, at least he and Han are more or less shooting each other at the same time. I also like McDiarmid being added to ESB. Overall, I'd say that the improvements overshadow the bad parts (poor lightsabers and Hayden at the end).

 

But I'm also glad I still have my copies of the originals. :)

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I also probably like the new 2004 DVD versions. Though there was a lot of stuff in there that they did not improve very well (lightsabers and boxes around the TIE fighers in ANH), but unless you are looking for those, they are hard to notice. Overall I think the new improvements make the movies much better.

 

Though the VHS's are always fun to watch. I have the 1995 VHS set, and then the 2004 DVD version.

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I hear they are still selling the LaserDisc versions on places like Ebay. If you're looking for something more long lasting than VHS you can transfer to DVD for convenience, that might be a good route. ;)

 

Of course you can encode your VHS copies too, but the quality won't be as good!

 

Interesting bit of trivia... Star Wars was officially released in theaters (in the USA) 6 times!

 

1977 (premier)

1978 (re-release)

1979 (re-release #2)

1981 (re-release #3, "Episode IV: A New Hope" added)

1982 (re-release #4)

1997 (Special Edition)

 

The 2004 Editions have only appeared on DVD (not VHS?) but rumor has it the next release will be in '07 or '08 with the "3-D Trilogy." ;)

 

Empire Strikes Back:

 

1980 (premier)

1981 (re-release)

1982 (re-release #2)

1997 (Special Edition)

 

Return of the Jedi:

 

1983 (premier)

1985 (re-release)

1997 (Special Edition)

 

Very interesting, and I didn't know this until I checked, but Episode I: the Phantom Menace did come back to theaters a second time. The movie premiered in the USA in May 1999, and returned in December of the same year (it was the ONLY country it was re-released in). Indonesia finally got the movie on TV (only?) in 2005 (ditto for AOTC)!

 

Attack of the Clones has NOT been back since its first theatrical run. And neither has ROTS (though it's only been six months...).

 

Source: IMDB.com (btw their trivia/alternate versions/goofs pages for the original trilogy are horrible and need editing badly!)

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  • 3 months later...
  • 5 months later...

I have the 'original' VHS release (pre- ep.4), and the TXH version but am wondering why it's referred to as 'faces' edition ??

 

My preference is the THX version widescreen (because I LOVE the music) and Hate the 'ring' around the death star explosion found on all later versions.

They've only been inside a VCR twice (once to view, the second time to put on DVD). Ever since the 'special editions' we're released the music timing has been off IMHO, tho' I havent seen the 2004 releases.

 

I even have the original trilogy music on albums (vinyl baby!).

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  • 2 weeks later...

The DVD versions, aside from the crappy lightsabers, I love Hayden in the ending, Palpatine in the hologram, and A New Hope not actually looking low-budget. And I've never noticed any boxes around the ties...

 

But I was watching a commercial for those new DVDs of the OST coming out, and it shows that scene where the lightsabers hit each other in front of the Emporer, but it actually doesn't look messed up... unless they took this from the original version, they apparently fixed it. If they did, than I'd probably have no "buts" for saying the DVD was my favorite.

 

Oh, and what do you mean by "faces" edition? Is that just because of the box art? I don't think that warrants the name... just 1995 version seems fine.

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I too have no real preferance.

 

In my mind, I like the old Blue Box set from the early 90's best, but I don't mind it being cleaned up and better sound. But some of the scenes, like Greedo shooting first, and Young Anikin at the end of RotJ has got to go. :D

Same with the sound mixing in atleast ANH from the 2004 DVD release.

In my mind, the mixing is not done right, or you have to have a THX system to hear it propperly. Cause you are not supposed to have to turn down your volume from normal when the Falcon exits Hyperspace at Alderaan, just so you won't rumble down everything you got on your walls and tables. And then you have to turn up your sound from what you normally listen to to get the same sound/music volume (and thus the feeling :) I love that particulary peice) when the Falcon is pulled into the Death Star hangars.

The opening scene is also been changed in the later releases, I prefered the original mix, both sound-wise and music-wise. Music is not powerfull enough, and the same with the sound actually. There used to be a calmness higtning your anticipation of what was about to happen, before all hell broke loose as the Tantive IV flew past the camera (only a faint engine sound in the background indicating something is about to happen), which was perfect for the scene if you ask me.

 

Anyway, I'm rambling again. :)

 

I like some aspects of the newer releases, and dislike others, and preferably I enjoy the old ones better, preferable the Blue Box set (I suppose that's the 1995 release?). :)

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They're no crappier than any previous version released on the home market that I know of. These should be as good as the best LaserDisc pre-1997 versions.

 

You can always rent 'em and see for yourself, of course. ;)

 

 

Oh, and what do you mean by "faces" edition? Is that just because of the box art? I don't think that warrants the name... just 1995 version seems fine.

 

Yes, that's just because of the box art, but then I've seen many other fans refer to it that way. I put it in quotes because it was not an official title, just what fans call it. The other covers were based on the original movie posters. These sets used photocollages consisting of a closeup of a face (Yoda for ROTJ, Vader for ANH and a Stormtrooper for ESB) and then some other stuff in the background (ships, fights).

 

Before the internet my friends just called it the "THX Enhanced Trilogy" because that's what it was marketed as. Back then we didn't have a half a dozen versions to worry about.

 

It's funny, now people are referring to the "OUT" (Original Unaltered Trilogy.. which sounds more clever than OOT-- Original Original Trilogy, sort of like calling the 2004 editions "Special Edition: the Special Edition" or SESE!).

 

Blame Lucas. ;)

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  • 1 year later...

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