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Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) (Packaging May Vary) [Blu-ray]
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Additional Blu-ray options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Blu-ray
October 13, 2015 "Please retry" | No enhanced packaging | 9 |
—
| $69.00 | $42.99 |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | Kids & Family, Kids and Family |
Format | AC-3, Dolby, Blu-ray, Dubbed, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen |
Contributor | Harrison Ford, Hayden Christensen, Mark Hamill, George Lucas |
Language | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese |
Number Of Discs | 9 |
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Product Description
Product Description
Star Wars: The Complete Blu ray Saga will feature all six live action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation.
Please note:packaging may vary
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
(32 Years Before Episode IV) Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master discover nine year old Anakin Skywalker, a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
(22 Years Before Episode IV) Ten years after the events of the Battle of Naboo, not only has the galaxy undergone significant change, but so have Obi Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, and Anakin Skywalker as they are thrown together again for the first time since the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Anakin has grown into the accomplished Jedi apprentice of Obi Wan, who himself has transitioned from student to teacher. The two Jedi are assigned to protect Padmé whose life is threatened by a faction of political separatists. As relationships form and powerful forces collide, these heroes face choices that will impact not only their own fates, but the destiny of the Republic.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
(19 Years before Episode IV) Three years after the onset of the Clone Wars, the noble Jedi Knights have been leading a massive clone army into a galaxy wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand year old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor's new apprentice Darth Vader. The Jedi are decimated, as Obi Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda are forced into hiding. The only hope for the galaxy are Anakin's own offspring.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi Wan begins Luke's Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Empire.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Luke Skywalker and his friends have set up a new base on the ice planet of Hoth, but it is not long before their secret location is discovered by the evil Empire. After narrowly escaping, Luke splits off from his friends to seek out a Jedi Master called Yoda. Meanwhile, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and C 3PO seek sanctuary at a city in the Clouds run by Lando Calrissian, an old friend of Han’s. But little do they realize that Darth Vader already awaits them.
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
(4 years after Episode IV) In the epic conclusion of the saga, the Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
Amazon.com
Episode I, The Phantom Menace "I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.
Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.
Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson
Episode II, Attack of the Clones If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon
Episode III, Revenge of the Sith Ending the most popular film epic in history, Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith is an exciting, uneven, but ultimately satisfying journey. Picking up the action from Episode II, Attack of the Clones as well as the animated Clone Wars series, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), pursue General Grievous into space after the droid kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).
It's just the latest maneuver in the ongoing Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist forces led by former Jedi turned Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). On another front, Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) leads the Republic's clone troops against a droid attack on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. All this is in the first half of Episode III, which feels a lot like Episodes I and II. That means spectacular scenery, dazzling dogfights in space, a new fearsome villain (the CGI-created Grievous can't match up to either Darth Maul or the original Darth Vader, though), lightsaber duels, groan-worthy romantic dialogue, goofy humor (but at least it's left to the droids instead of Jar-Jar Binks), and hordes of faceless clone troopers fighting hordes of faceless battle droids.
But then it all changes.
After setting up characters and situations for the first two and a half movies, Episode III finally comes to life. The Sith Lord in hiding unleashes his long-simmering plot to take over the Republic, and an integral part of that plan is to turn Anakin away from the Jedi and toward the Dark Side of the Force. Unless you've been living under a rock the last 10 years, you know that Anakin will transform into the dreaded Darth Vader and face an ultimate showdown with his mentor, but that doesn't matter. In fact, a great part of the fun is knowing where things will wind up but finding out how they'll get there. The end of this prequel trilogy also should inspire fans to want to see the original movies again, but this time not out of frustration at the new ones. Rather, because Episode III is a beginning as well as an end, it will trigger fond memories as it ties up threads to the originals in tidy little ways. But best of all, it seems like for the first time we actually care about what happens and who it happens to.
Episode III is easily the best of the new trilogy--OK, so that's not saying much, but it might even jockey for third place among the six Star Wars films. It's also the first one to be rated PG-13 for the intense battles and darker plot. It was probably impossible to live up to the decades' worth of pent-up hype George Lucas faced for the Star Wars prequel trilogy (and he tried to lower it with the first two movies), but Episode III makes us once again glad to be "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." --David Horiuchi
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV - VI) The Star Wars trilogy had the rare distinction of becoming more than just a series of movies, but a cultural phenomenon, a life-defining event for its generation. On its surface, George Lucas's original 1977 film is a rollicking and humorous space fantasy that owes debts to more influences than one can count on two hands, but filmgoers became entranced by its basic struggle of good vs. evil "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away," its dazzling special effects, and a mythology of Jedi Knights, the Force, and droids.
In the first film, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) gets to live out every boy's dream: ditch the farm and rescue a princess (Carrie Fisher). Accompanied by the roguish Han Solo (Harrison Ford, the only principal who was able to cross over into stardom) and trained by Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Luke finds himself involved in a galactic war against the Empire and the menacing Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones). The following film, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), takes a darker turn as the tiny rebellion faces an overwhelming onslaught. Directed by Irvin Kershner instead of Lucas, Empire is on the short list of Best Sequels Ever, marked by fantastic settings (the ice planet, the cloud city), the teachings of Yoda, a dash of grown-up romance, and a now-classic "revelation" ending. The final film of the trilogy, Return of the Jedi (1983, directed by Richard Marquand), is the most uneven. While the visual effects had taken quantum leaps over the years, resulting in thrilling speeder chases and space dogfights, the story is an uneasy mix of serious themes (Luke's maturation as a Jedi, the end of the Empire-rebellion showdown) and the cuddly teddy bears known as the Ewoks.
Years later, George Lucas transformed his films into "special editions" by adding new scenes and special effects, which were greeted mostly by shrugs from fans. They were perfectly happy with the films they had grown up with (who cares if Greedo shot first?), and thus disappointed by Lucas's decision to make the special editions the only versions available. --David Horiuchi
DVD & Blu-ray Versions of Star Wars
Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition with Bonus Disc)Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition Without Bonus Disc)
Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I - III) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV - VI) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray] Release Date September 21, 2004 December 6, 2005 November 4, 2008 November 4, 2008 September 16, 2011 September 16, 2011 September 16, 2011 Format/Disc # DVD (4 Discs) DVD (3 Discs) DVD (6 Discs) DVD (6 Discs) Blu-ray (3 Discs) Blu-ray (3 Discs) Blu-ray (9 Discs) + 16 page booklet Blu-ray 3D No No No No No No No Blu-ray No No No No Yes Yes Yes DVD Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Digital Copy No No No No No No No Original Theatrical Version No No Yes Yes No No No Bonus Features Star Wars, Episode IV: Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher
Star Wars, Episode V: Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher
Bonus Disc: All-new bonus features, including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced on the Star Wars saga, and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films
"Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy"
Featurettes: The Legendary Creatures of Star Wars, The Birth of the Lightsaber, The Legacy of Star Wars
Teasers, Trailers, TV spots, Still Galleries
Playable Xbox demo of the new Lucasarts game Star Wars Battlefront
The making of the Episode III videogame
Exclusive preview of Star Wars: Episode III Star Wars Episode IV: Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher
Star Wars Episode V: Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher None Star Wars, Episode I: Commentary by George Lucas and company
Star Wars, Episode II:
From Puppets to Pixels
State of the Art: Previsualization of Episode II
8 deleted scenes with intros
Music Video
Visual Specs Breakdown
12 Web Documentaries
4 Trailers
12 TV Spots
Easter Egg
Still Galleries DVD-ROM links Star Wars, Episode I: 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 Crew
Star Wars, Episode II: 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 Crew
Star Wars, Episode III: Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
Star Wars, Episode IV: Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis MurenAudio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
Star Wars, Episode V: Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and CrewStar Wars, Episode VI: Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren, > Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
Same as Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I-III) [Blu-ray] and Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) [Blu-ray] plus:New! Star Wars Archives, Episodes IV-VI: Includes deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more
Star Wars Documentaries: NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes)
NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes)
NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes)
The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes)
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes)
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes)
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes)
Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes)
Set Contains:
Despite how you feel about George Lucas's repeated tinkering with the Star Wars saga, this Blu-ray release could never be called disappointing. No, the original cuts are not included. Yes, he did add a few more touches (the most glaring one being an audio track added to Return of the Jedi such that Darth Vader now says "Nooooooooo!" when Palpatine is trying to kill Luke Skywalker). Yes, purists want the versions as they were originally released in theaters, where Han shoots first and the ghost of Anakin doesn't look like Hayden Christensen. But it's clear from the interviews with Lucas that he was frustrated that his original visions were hampered by the limits of technology ("I had an opportunity to pull out all the thorns in my side," he says of the decision to restore certain scenes with digital effects). If you can forgive that--and understandably, some will never be able to--the six-movie collection is a stunning achievement. The films make a spectacular transfer to Blu-ray, and included with each film's disc are audio commentaries from the previous DVD release.
There are also three additional bonus discs. The navigation is a little clumsy (you must pick an Episode, then a planet, then the interviews menu within that planet, then each individual interview). A "Play All" option only exists across the entire disc, but there is a healthy mix of old and new material. Even the "Archive Fly-Through" is a thrilling walk through the saga by way of panning around a prop room. The truncated interviews with various cast members could have easily been edited into one piece and reveal little, other than the exchange between Samuel L. Jackson and Lucas when Jackson requested a purple lightsaber ("Good guys are green and blue, bad guys are red. That's just the way it works," Lucas initially tells him with a smirk). There's an arsenal of deleted/extended scenes, mostly unfinished and in the case of the prequels, completely unnecessary (it should be noted that deleted scenes from previous Star Wars releases are not on this release). But there are several notable deleted scenes from the original trilogy: Luke hanging out with his friends at--yes--Tosche station (where he wanted to pick up those famous power converters); a longer version of the Han/Leia argument at Echo Base ("I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee") and a near-kiss between Luke and Leia that, in hindsight, was wise to leave out, as it fleshes out a love triangle that would've made the sibling revelation particularly icky. A handful of scenes featuring Rebel leaders filming their flight scenes also make the cut (trivia: an A-wing pilot was actually female but her one line was dubbed over by a male voice). A 2010 bonus feature shows Lucas in a writers' room for the Clone Wars TV series doing a sermon on the Force; there's also a featurette interviewing scientists on the plausibility of Star Wars technology. Verdict? Landspeeders and Darth Vader are plausible ("[Anakin] could survive [losing his limbs and falling on a volcano] if he were in shape… I'd be concerned about his lungs burning" says one), but light speed and lightsabers--not so much.
Star Warriors, a documentary about the global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts known as the 501st Legion, is a love letter to fans around the world, and a touching must-see for any superfan. "A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later" is a new documentary interviewing Lucas, the late Irvin Kershner (who directed Empire), and Lawrence Kasdan (who cowrote Episodes V and VI). Lucas reveals he brought in psychologists to assess whether the big "I am your father" reveal would seriously mess up the kids who watched the film (their conclusion: those who could handle it would, and those who couldn't would simply think it was a lie). Finally, a 90-minute montage of spoofs, tributes, and commercials shows the extent of Star Wars' influence on pop culture: Bill Murray's Saturday Night Live song "Star Waaaaars"; the numerous clips from Robot Chicken; the 2011 Super Bowl Volkswagen commercial featuring a pint-size Darth Vader; clips from Spaceballs, Fanboys, and Family Guy; Mark Hamill on The Muppet Show, and much more. What's missing? The stellar documentary Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy that was included in the 2004 DVD release, and the hidden bloopers from previous releases. Still, this set is one for the ages --Ellen A. Kim
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 2.35:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 10.56 ounces
- Item model number : 794043180613
- Director : George Lucas
- Media Format : AC-3, Dolby, Blu-ray, Dubbed, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Run time : 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Release date : September 16, 2011
- Actors : Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Harrison Ford
- Dubbed: : French, Portuguese, Spanish
- Subtitles: : English, Portuguese, Spanish, French
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- ASIN : B003ZSJ212
- Number of discs : 9
- Best Sellers Rank: #9,269 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #354 in Kids & Family Blu-ray Discs
- Customer Reviews:
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phenomenon, a revolutionary franchise, a highlight in Hollywood's history and more. With an
excellent entertaining story, endearing characters (at least in the first three), spectacular and
revolutionary special effects, epic action sequences and the best score ever, this saga is truly
unique and amazing.
While the first three films are all classics and modern masterpieces, the prequel trilogy is
somewhat of a mixed bag that does not achieve the heights of its predecessors but they are not as
bad as many have claimed and they are still enjoyable in its own right.
This BD set is one of the most, if not the most anticipated release in the HD format. When it was
first announced, many sentiments circulated around the net: joy, anger, anxiousness, etc. Star
Wars is such powerful that we, the people have strong reactions towards it. Of course, with a new
release, there is also new controversy. First the bad news: the films presented here are new
"Special Editions" that are "closer to the vision George Lucas have for his films". I really don't
mind when directors go back to their previous work and do some changes as long as they give as
the option to choose the new version or the original release that everyone likes. George Lucas has
never give us such option and that's what bothers me the most. I wouldn't mind the special
editions if the original were also included (completely restored of course) and we were given the
option to choose. With Star Wars that has never been the case but, as mad as I may be, I have
learned to live with the pain and live with the changes that can be very subtle or very obnoxious and
stupid.
I should warn you that if you absolutely don't tolerate the changes then don't buy this set. If you,
like me, have learned to tolerate them or don't care about them then this set is very
recommended.
I will review each film, their picture and sound quality and some of the changes that have been
made.
Prequel Trilogy (1999-2005)
Ep. I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
After Ep VI was released in 1983, the world has lived happily without a new Star Wars film for 16
years. But when George Lucas announced that he was going to release a new Star Wars film that
was going to be the first of a new trilogy, the world jumped with joy. Ep. I was one of the most
anticipated movies ever and the excitement was visible everywhere. When it was finally released,
Ep I was not proclaimed as an instant classic like the previous film and many people felt
disappointed with what they saw on the screen. To be fair, the first three films were sacred goods
and Ep I had to reach impossibly high standards. But, that it's no excuse to deliver a film that was
a mixed bag from beginning to end. The picture has a lot of problems, the main one been the actors. I
don't know what George saw in Jake Lloyd but he is not a good Anakin Skywalker. He is one of the
main detractions of the film, which is bad because he is the main character and if you don't like
him, then the whole movie is hard to follow. The other big detraction and this may be the biggest
one is the inclusion of the creature Jar Jar Binks. Many people have complained about the Ewoks
on Ep VI but the whole group of them are not as annoying as this creature. Jar Jar is such a bad
character that comes close to ruining the whole film. Natalie Portman is an amazing actress but here
she seems a little out of focus and uncomfortable. The best characters and performances are from
Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor as the two jedi knights that save the day. Other problem is that
some sequences are too long like the pod race which begins very good but then drags a lot and
ultimately becomes boring. The plot is too political and lacks the excitement that the previous films
had and overall, you never feel connected to the characters. On the positive side, the visuals are
amazing with spectacular special effects, the action sequences are exciting, the lightsaber fights are
fun much more dynamic and of course John Williams score is always of great help to all the films.
TPM has a lot of issues but ultimately is still watchable and sometimes, it is genuinely fun.
Recommended.
Movie: 3 stars.
Ep II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
After the lukewarm response to Ep. I, Ep. II was supposed to be a return to form for the franchise
and while is definitely an improvement over the previous film, it still has some troubles, mainly
one which can be summed up in two words: Hayden Christensen. How can you enjoy a movie when you
absolutely hate the main character? That's the main problem I have with this film, I can't stand
Anakin Skywalker. While the action sequences are better, the battles are bigger and more
interesting and is great to see Yoda in action, Anakin is a real pain in the a**. Again, Ewan
McGregor is the best character in the movie and you root for him instead of Hayden. But, not
everything is Hayden's fault. A lot of blame goes to Lucas who wrote the character as a stupid,
stubborn, whiner. Natalie Portman is good but when she is with Hayden, their lack of chemistry is
very palpable. The love scenes are very ridiculous and you just can't help but laugh sometimes.
What this movie does right, aside from the battles and special effects is that gives us more stellar
performances from supporting characters like Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker,
Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson and of course there is no more Jar Jar. It's also great to see
the jedi order in its splendor, fighting as a strong group. And of course Williams score is as always
excellent.
Ultimately, AOTC is fun to watch despite its problems and is better than Ep I. Recommended.
Movie: 3.5 stars.
Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Now this is a return to form for the franchise. Ep III, which is easily the best of the prequel trilogy, provides a satisfying conclusion to the saga and I can easily say that is a great film. The story is much darker and the action sequences are great. The battles between Anakin and Obi-
Wan and between Yoda and The Emperor are simply amazing. Surprisingly, Anakin is not as
annoying as it was on the previous film and he fares better here. For a movie that you know what
will happen, Ep. III is a fun ride and almost equal to Ep. VI. Highly Recommended.
Movie: 4.5 stars.
Original Trilogy (1977-1983)
Star Wars (also called-Ep. IV: A New Hope 1977)
Countless of things have been said about the original SW so I won't delve to much in it. Suffice to
say is that while no movie is perfect, this one comes pretty darn close. It's a classic with
unforgettable characters, a great story and special effects that are still spectacular to watch until
this day. A masterpiece.
Movie: 5 stars
Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
My favorite SW film and one of the best movies ever made, TESB is as perfect as the first film and
even better. Darker, with great performances, a wonderful twist and an unforgettable villain, this
movie is perfection 100%. Very Highly Recommended.
Movie: 5 stars
Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
While this is the weakest film of the OT, is still a great film that gives a great conclusion to a great
trilogy. The main problem it seems to be the Ewoks but I don't find them that annoying (again
watch Ep I and we'll talk about who is really annoying). Ep VI is lighter than V but is also full of
thrills like the triple final battle, one in Endor, the other in outer space and the most important one
inside the Death Star. Ep. VI provides a perfect completion for a perfect trilogy. Very Highly
Recommended.
Movie: 4.75 stars
Video & Audio
Ep I is the worst looking movie in the whole set. Much blame goes to DNR that makes the picture
look weird. Faces are sometimes soft, night scenes are sometimes crushed but overall is not a
bad transfer. In fact, it has never looked better but it could have looked better if a better effort
was given.
PQ: 3.5
Attack of the clones look much better but still has some problems again with softness and some
colors are not well reproduced. But, overall is a godd transfer and I'm sure it will satisfy everyone.
PQ: 4
Revenge of the Sith is completely demo quality. Is as perfect as anything you will see. A
spectacular transfer.
PQ: 5
The original trilogy looks uniformly excellent. I was surprise that they did not eliminate all the
grain in the film like in Ep. I and there is a layer of it throughout the three films. Skin tones are
warm, colors are well reproduced and detail and contrast are spectacular. You will marvel at how
good the movies look. Some DNR is apparent in some scenes but overall the three movies have
stellar transfers. I'm very happy with the results.
PQ: 4.5
Sound is spectacular in all six films. The 6.1 DTD-HD MA in the whole saga is dynamic, strong,
clear and completely amazing. There is no sign of damage or hiss. This is a stellar mix for all the
films.
AQ: 5
Changes:
This edition has some new changes in the films:
The best one and the only one that feels appropriate is the replacement of puppet Yoda for a CGI
one in Ep. I. Is far more pleasing than in the original release.
The other changes unfortunately are again done in the OT. Fortunately two of them are not very
annoying. The first one is is Ep. IV where Obi-Wan's screams in the desert was changed and
enhanced. The other is Ep. VI and now the Ewoks blink. Both changes are hardly noticeable.
Unfortunately, the most annoying change, also happens in Ep. VI and now Darth Vader screams
"Nooo!" before throwing the Emperor down the Death Star. This change is very stupid because the
original scene was perfect but you know what they say "this comes close to George's vision..."
As for the previous changes, they are still there but now Han and Greedo shoot at the same time.
At least now, this is closer to the vision we had of the scene. But for me, the most awful change
was the replacement of Sebastian Shaw for Hayden Christensen at the end of Ep. VI and
unfortunately he is still there ruining the end of the movie. Thanks a lot George.
Bonus Features
This set comes with so many bonus material that you will have to see it for days. Everything is
great and interesting.
First, on discs I to VI, you have two audio commentaries, one from the previous DVD releases and
a new one that is a compilation of archival interviews.
On disc VII you have the archives for Ep. I-III where you will find interviews, model collections and
concept galleries for each film. Most important, you have 22 deleted scenes, 6 for Ep. I, 5 for Ep.
II and 11 for Ep. III. This is the highlight of the disc and they should not be missed.
On Disc VIII you have the Archives for Ep. IV-VI again with interviews, sculptures, models,
concept galleries and 23 amazing deleted scenes, 8 for Ep. IV, 10 for Ep. V and 5 for Ep. VI. They
are a must-see for everyone.
On Disc 9 you have a variety of documentaries including three making of documentaries for the OT
films, a documentary about the changes done in 1997 for the films re-release, a homage to troop
501, a documentary about the SW creatures and a very fun one with all the parodies of SW.
The bonus material is excellent and is clear that Lucasfilm put a very strong package. The only
downside is that none of the DVDs bonus material has been ported over, including the excellent
'Empire of Dreams' documentary. Still, this new material, particularly the deleted scenes, is
amazing and will be a great treat to everyone.
Closing Thoughts
The Star Wars saga is one of the most legendary pieces of filmmaking ever made. While not all the
films are perfect, overall the 6 films provide top-notch entertainment and deserve to be seen. This
set is almost perfect with spectacular picture quality (most of the time), superb audio and plenty of
excellent bonus material. The only downside are, as always, the changes done to the films and the
exclusion of the DVD bonus material. Maybe some day we will see a definitive Star Wars set with
the inclusion of the originals but until then, this set comes very highly recommended!!!
Episode I
Visuals & audio: Both greatly superior to the DVD. A grossly over-exposed scene of the city on the DVD was corrected here and the landscaping and architecture are breath-taking. Audio is very good. Sound of explosions have real bass fundementals unlike the DVD. I'll have more to say about the music later.
Story and acting: Probably the weakest of the six in both respects. Neeson and McGregor are always good as you would expect. Natalie Portman is irritating in this one. She mumbles and whines through her dialog and nobody seemed to be there to correct her. I realize that she is supposed to be hiding the fact that she is actually the Queen but at least she could have spoken distinctly. Jake Lloyd as young Anakin Skywalker was a big mistake -- a cute little boy who runs around saying "yippee!"and his characterization is not convincing. A much better choice, for that part would have been young Daniel Logan who played Boba Fett in Episode II; he had the demeanor and appearance far more consistent with the character he would ultimately become and he was still young enough for the part at that time. Every time I see him in Episode II I think, there's the kid who should have played Anakin. The pod race is a little long but for some reason the sound effects are less irritating here than with the DVD.
Special effect are marvelous and what you would hope for with Lucas' technology by this time.
Episode II
Visuals & audio: Some of the night scenes in this are really dark -- probably more like the original film was. I made it a point to watch all of these films in a totally dark room. The DVD probably had compressed contrast to make it more suitable for its time. Audio is very good -- the music and sound effects in the entire series never override the dialog which is clear and understandable at all times. The sibilance components of the dialog are always clear providing better intelligibility.
Story and acting. Portman improved slightly, but the romance scenes are unendurable. Hayden Christensen is awful here, reciting his dialog without conviction and putting stresses on the wrong words. Lucas is to blame for a lot of this: He wrote the story and directed the films. He should not have allowed these sort of things to get away from him.
Special effects are great-- the car chase at the beginning and the monster battles and rescue at the end are unbelieveable and look splendid here. The monster battle at the stadium was, supposedly, a tribute to Ray Harryhausen, the master of stop-action animation.
Episode III
Visuals & audio: Looks wonderful but is not that much of an improvement over the DVD. DVD mastering had come a long way by the time this picture was released although the DTS sound of the Blu-ray cannot be matched by the DVD. The scenes of cityscape and futuristic architecture in this episode and Episode II simply cannot be believed and are especially striking with the resolution of Blu-ray.
Story and acting: Natalie Portman had improved greatly, bringing real humanity to her character. I can say the same but to a slightly lesser degree for Christensen. Obviously a lot of coaching went on between films. The story is very good and neatly ties into episode IV which follows.
Episode IV
I watched the series in this order because I wanted to see how bad this episode was going to look compared with episode III. Not a bit of it!
Visuals & audio: The restoration of this film is nothing short of a miracle in picture and sound. John Williams composed some his most ravishingly beautiful music for this film. Like the opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelungs" by Richard Wagner (sort of his "Star Wars"), Williams composed specific themes or leitmotifs to pertain to his characters: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader and even Han Solo have their own musical themes which are recalled in the orchestra when they are the center of attention. At 40:48 when Luke sees his dead parents and burned home, the horns (French horns as most people incorrectly call them) sound a theme that is one of the main themes Williams uses in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The film does not seem old at all having rich detail and wonderful sound quality. However, I was a little irked to discover that the average volume level of this episode is a full 8 to 10 decibels higher than episode III. That's a lot and it means you cannot use the same volume setting for all the films in this series and get the same effect, which I find rather irritating. The entire episode, including the dialog, is at a higher average volume level than the preceding episode and the reason why this would be necessary or overlooked eludes me.
Story and acting: Luke Skywalker is portrayed by Mark Hamill initially as a young man with no sense of purpose which is what I assume Lucas wanted him to be. But is does bother me to hear him say, "But it's a whole nother year." This being said on a planet far, far away? Princess Leia Organa: Carrie Fisher is OK here but her British accent keeps coming and going. Harrison Ford and particularly Alec Guinness bring a huge amount to this film. Even at Guinness' advanced age, his dialog rolls out of him effortlessly and totally believably. The special effects were groundbreaking for this time even though Lucas was operating on a strict budget. The final battle scene, no matter how many times you have watched it is still a nail biter. This was of course the first film originally released in 1977 that we all came to know and love.
Changes/alterations: I don't have any qualms over the little additions Lucas put into this film. They enrich it a bit. We get an elevation view and other details of the architecture of the Mos Eisley Spaceport which I regard as a real improvement in helping dispel the impression that it is simply a movie set. The CG of Jabba the Hutt was a good idea -- at least we now know what he looked like. Han Solo walking behind him and stepping on his rear quarter is quite funny if you catch it.
Jabba in this episode seems quite friendly toward Han Solo in this scene. In most of Jabba's other scenes he is a crazed Caligula-like dictator. I'm not sure most people will even catch some of these modifications, except for those who have made a life study of these movies.
Episode V
Visuals and audio: Here I noticed quite a difference in clarity between the scenes shot on set which are crystal clear and the multiple element space battle scene which look a little soft in focus compared to any of the other films. This episode contains some of Williams' most majestic music, showing off the wonderful brass section of the The London Symphony, certainly one of the world's finest orchestras. Who ever decided on that orchestra certainly made the right move. It brings a great deal to these films. So far I haven't seen any reviews mentioning the music or the great orchestral playing of it. It's nice to see they at least got a credit, considering what they contributed to these films.
Story and acting: Probably the best of the lot in most respects. Hamill, Fisher and Ford have enriched their characters greatly. The story is probably the most powerful of the six.
Changes/Alterations: These appear to be limited to the few inserts made in the "Cloud City" scenes, which, again, I think improve on the original film, the the teeth gnashing and moaning of the devotees to the original versions notwithstanding. If there were any other additions, I missed them.
Episode VI
Visuals and audio: Both superb. The most complex space battle scenes ever done up to that time do not have the soft focus problems of Episode V and look absolutely wonderful. The speeder chase through the forest is stunning and beautifully accomplished and looks great on a large screen TV.
Story and acting: Again, the principals in the cast are at the top of their game with the story leading to a smashing finale of the entire tale. The Ewoks were put in, I think, mainly for the kids to appreciate, but it's cute and well-done.
Changes/alterations: The rework of the ending, celebrating the victory over the Empire, is a great improvement visually and musically over the original, which looked and sounded like a Disney kiddie picture. Oh, yes. I guess there was a change to the musical number in Jabba's den to update it a little.
When I got to the end of this episode and saw the credits start to roll, I unexpectedly felt a chill running up the back of my neck. Maybe it was just the music, but I think there was something else.
I am not going to give any rating of the best and the worst of these films as we all have our own opinions on that.
A word about the "book" container. I think it's fine, using less shelf space. Removing the discs is easy by slightly bending the page downward thus lifting the leading edge of the disc. Then the disc can be easily pushed out by its center hole. The paper-based material, being much softer than the polycarbonate plastic of the discs, is unlikely ever to scratch them. A word of warning though. I would make it a point not leave the book lying open, especially at a page where the disc has been removed. If a foreign particle falls into the disc storage area it could end up scratching the disc. The repolishing devices that can be used to refurbish DVDs and CDs are not usable with BDs, the thickness of the plastic of the playing side being much less. If you scratch a Blu-ray to the point it mistracks, I think you're out of luck.
Amazon's pricing policy: I think I was treated more than fairly in this regard. I pre-ordered the set months ago. Then Amazon reduced the price by $10 and I was given notification that my original price would be reduced accordingly. The set arrived promptly with free shipping and in perfect condition. A great addition to my Blu-ray collection.
Top reviews from other countries
Al momento l'unico film che sono riuscito a visionare è il primo Star Wars (divenuto episodio IV) e relativi contenuti speciali (8° disco blu ray). Che dire? Partiamo dagli extra. Vengono divisi per una selezione di location (per il primo Star Wars troveremo Tatooine, la morte nera e la battaglia finale), che a loro volta contengono interviste, scene tagliate, viste a 360 gradi e galleria di schizzi preparatori e illustrazioni. Questo schema viene ripetuto per tutti gli extra di tutti gli episodi (quindi per ogni location resa disponibile ci saranno le specifiche interviste, scene tagliate, viste 360 gradi e galleria bozzetti). Le interviste spaziano tra i dietro le quinte, effetti speciali, aneddoti e curiosità. Le scene tagliate variano da cose di poco conto e di pochi secondi, a cose invece decisamente più interessanti. Le viste a 360 gradi ci propongono dei filmati in loop dove possiamo visionare una rotazione, appunto a 360 gradi, di modellini delle astronavi (sia nella loro versione definitiva che negli studi preliminari), costumi, mostri e quant'altro partorito dall'universo Star Wars. Per alcuni di questi ci sono anche dei video di approfondimento che ne spiegano la genesi (interessante quello sul Millennium Falcon). Sempre in questa sezione vengono mostrati alcuni mascherini ed il loro utilizzo all'interno del film (tecnica che negli anni è stata sostituita dalla computer grafica). Insomma, negli extra c'è davvero tanta roba!
Passiamo al film. Dopo tanti anni rivedere il primo Star Wars (nonostante si tratta della versione rimaneggiata da George Lucas per collegarla ai prequel) fa una certa impressione. In qualità blu ray sembra che qualcuno abbia dato una "pulita al vetro" per quanto le immagini sono ricche di dettaglio. Per me il restauro è globalmente riuscito (nonostante brevi scene iniziali su Tatooine che presentano il cielo che contorna la testa di Luke Skywalker con tonalità bruciate dal troppo contrasto). Ma c'è una nota negativa che accompagna queste versioni per blu ray e che personalmente riscontro anche in film più recenti: il disvelamento della finzione scenica. Se un tempo potevo credere che la storia si svolgeva in una galassia (lontana, lontana), ora è evidente che ci si trova all'interno di un fintissimo set cinematografico del pianeta terra. Invece funzionano ancora egregiamente le scene di battaglia nello spazio.
Consiglio l'acquisto del cofanetto? Ripeto, ho visto solo il primo Star Wars e relativi extra ma al prezzo a cui viene proposto ora su amazon, praticamente si pagano solo i tre dischi con i contenuti speciali, quindi ... assolutamente sì!
そのため上映順ではなく、エピソードⅠから観始めましたが、音楽はもちろん、細部にまでこだわり抜いた映像美と、迫力ある映像表現には圧倒されっぱなしでした。
エピソードⅠからⅥまでひと通り観終わってから、次はⅣから上映順に観てみようと思います。