Post by doomedbloodwork on Sept 21, 2004 6:09:15 GMT -5
Regarded by John McCarty in SPLATTER MOVIES as 'splatter comedy', although the sight of the severed alien arm in the cantina and the charred bodies of Luke's adopted family are the most gruesome elements in a perfectly harmless sci-fi classic, STAR WARS finally made it onto DVD this week in a trilogy boxed-set.
Like the contributors to THE FORCE IS WITH THEM supplement on the bonus disc, I remember where I was in 1978 when I saw this, all at a cost of £2.75, which was the combined cost of 2 adult and 1 child ticket at a cinema in my hometown. I remember what seat I was sitting in - hang on a minute, drifted away just then.
My focus this time is on the amazing transfer that has occured here. Interestingly enough, the sound remix this time around has heightened both the original sound mix and the 1997 version.
I did read that a full-frame version of these movies is available on DVD in the US, although I can't understand why this would be so. As in the case of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK in 2.35:1, it is a different experience, so much so that when I saw it in widescreen on video ten years ago, although I had seen it in full-frame on TV and video, it felt like seeing it for the first time since 1982 when I initially experienced it.
As to the modifications made to it (Greedo shooting back is one that has been commented on by fans on the official site), STAR WARS benefitted more than the two sequels, simply because the follow-ups were ground-breaking in their style and were brilliant fx showcases (the asteroid chase in EMPIRE and the Endor space battle, which I noted in my review of SPIDER-MAN 2). The climactic Death Star battle has been enhanced by the CGI.
That said, the heart of the film is as true as it was in 1977. I haven't watched all the supplements yet, but have already enjoyed seeing the trailers on the bonus disc (especially those EMPIRE and JEDI teasers. The STAR WARS teaser looks unusual!!)
Like the contributors to THE FORCE IS WITH THEM supplement on the bonus disc, I remember where I was in 1978 when I saw this, all at a cost of £2.75, which was the combined cost of 2 adult and 1 child ticket at a cinema in my hometown. I remember what seat I was sitting in - hang on a minute, drifted away just then.
My focus this time is on the amazing transfer that has occured here. Interestingly enough, the sound remix this time around has heightened both the original sound mix and the 1997 version.
I did read that a full-frame version of these movies is available on DVD in the US, although I can't understand why this would be so. As in the case of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK in 2.35:1, it is a different experience, so much so that when I saw it in widescreen on video ten years ago, although I had seen it in full-frame on TV and video, it felt like seeing it for the first time since 1982 when I initially experienced it.
As to the modifications made to it (Greedo shooting back is one that has been commented on by fans on the official site), STAR WARS benefitted more than the two sequels, simply because the follow-ups were ground-breaking in their style and were brilliant fx showcases (the asteroid chase in EMPIRE and the Endor space battle, which I noted in my review of SPIDER-MAN 2). The climactic Death Star battle has been enhanced by the CGI.
That said, the heart of the film is as true as it was in 1977. I haven't watched all the supplements yet, but have already enjoyed seeing the trailers on the bonus disc (especially those EMPIRE and JEDI teasers. The STAR WARS teaser looks unusual!!)
