Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[JAL4U2C]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

LOL It's funny but it's sad too because it's true!!

[Scarface32]

One cool thing about the 2006 DVDs (besides the UOT), is that if you bought them new at the time, instead of someplace like eBay later on, they came with comics in boxes.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I was so annoyed by the 2004 DVDs. I knew they wouldn't be original, but I figured they'd be the 1997 Special Edition, which I was mostly ok with (except for the Han Solo thing) but nooooooo, they screwed it up with more edits! Replacing Anakin's ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi was the biggest offensive. I was super pissed. Even more upsetting was that I had to buy the DVDs again in 2006 just to get the original versions, and even then they weren't anamorphic.



Not pictured: My VHS copies. I never bothered to get the Blu-rays, due to the extra changes (why the heck do the Ewok blink their eyes now?)

I've actually been pretty good with selective buying so far, but I've still bought a few editions:
1) The first set I ever bought was the 1995 "Faces" VHS set.
2) The VHS re-release of the Special Editions that included preview footage of Episode II (I got this for only 20 bucks as VHS was pretty much gasping it's final breath at this point).
3) The 2004 DVD trilogy set and the Prequel DVDs.
4) The Prequel Trilogy Blu-Ray set (I actively refused to buy the Complete Saga set, as I won't watch those versions of the originals).

At this point, all I'm really interested in is a restored UOT release, but I'd also buy a remastered edition of the original '99 cut of Phantom Menace.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

4) The Prequel Trilogy Blu-Ray set (I actively refused to buy the Complete Saga set, as I won't watch those versions of the originals).

Do you think when the UOT is released on Blu-ray, Disney will re-issue the prequels in their original theatrical cuts as well? They've all had edits done (the last only have 1 minor one, but the first two had quite a few)

[Scarface32]

I'm guessing all the retailers went live at the same time. Here's iTunes



No bundle yet though (that I could find).

[Jumpman]

Gotta admit, you could almost jettison the DVDs of the films considering the amount of Legacy Content provided with these purchases.

If I had never bought Star Wars on home video, these Digital HD copies, with the content provided, ain't that damn bad.

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Do you think when the UOT is released on Blu-ray, Disney will re-issue the prequels in their original theatrical cuts as well? They've all had edits done (the last only have 1 minor one, but the first two had quite a few)

I don't know if people really care enough about the theatrical versions of the prequels for that to happen.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Gotta admit, you could almost jettison the DVDs of the films considering the amount of Legacy Content provided with these purchases.

If I had never bought Star Wars on home video, these Digital HD copies, with the content provided, ain't that damn bad.

Except they have DRM on them, which means you'll never truly own them. The word "own" in the digital copy world really means "lifetime license"

When I buy a disc, I can do whatever I want with it; including reselling it or giving it to a friend. You can't do that with digital copies.

[RBBrittain]

For those of you questioning the distribution rights: At all the retailers I've seen so far (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes & Vudu), the studio on Ep IV is Fox; on the others it's Lucasfilm. And at DMA, Ep IV is unavailable; the other five are available for preorder at DMA retailers.

Evidently, Disney & Fox came to some sort of agreement that allowed Disney to assume full Digital HD rights to the films other than Ep IV, with Fox holding those rights for Ep IV (but included with the others in bundles). Presumably this results from the core copyright belonging (as it always has) to Fox for Ep IV vs. Lucasfilm for the other five; apparently Fox's distribution rights to the other five thru 2020 either didn't apply or were waived, at least for DHD.

Whether that affects future BD rights to any episode, future ownership of Ep IV's copyright, or even whether or not the Fox fanfare remains on episodes other than Ep IV remains unclear. It's even unclear if Fox will keep Ep IV away from both UV & DMA (as it is now), let UV have it, or let Disney bring it into DMA with the others.

[kidglov3s]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

One cool thing about the 2006 DVDs (besides the UOT), is that if you bought them new at the time, instead of someplace like eBay later on, they came with comics in boxes.

I bought mine from Circuit City, so I got big lithographs.

[Scahom1]

Originally Posted by JAL4U2C

Disney learned well from George and his "release it again" mentality. They will milk Star Wars for every cent. So after they think everyone has bought the just released digital versions, they will announce the blu rays of the UOT, probably with new digital versions to coincide. Then, i'm sure we'll get a brand spanking new box set when Episode VII comes out. And with a new movie coming every year until the end of time, i'm sure there will never ever be a "complete" box set until Disney throws in the towel and stops making more movies. So there's a potential for a new box set every year going forward. So, just how many times can we buy the same movies again and again?

I learned my lesson with LOTR. There is no way I am buying another SW box set until Episode 9 is released.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

For those of you questioning the distribution rights: At all the retailers I've seen so far (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes & Vudu), the studio on Ep IV is Fox; on the others it's Lucasfilm. And at DMA, Ep IV is unavailable; the other five are available for preorder at DMA retailers.

Evidently, Disney & Fox came to some sort of agreement that allowed Disney to assume full Digital HD rights to the films other than Ep IV, with Fox holding those rights for Ep IV (but included with the others in bundles). Presumably this results from the core copyright belonging (as it always has) to Fox for Ep IV vs. Lucasfilm for the other five; apparently Fox's distribution rights to the other five thru 2020 either didn't apply or were waived, at least for DHD.

Whether that affects future BD rights to any episode, future ownership of Ep IV's copyright, or even whether or not the Fox fanfare remains on episodes other than Ep IV remains unclear. It's even unclear if Fox will keep Ep IV away from both UV & DMA (as it is now), let UV have it, or let Disney bring it into DMA with the others.

Even if it affects future rights, it won't stop future BD releases. FOX likes money.

VUDU uses UltraViolet, so it's already in UV.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by kidglov3s

I bought mine from Circuit City, so I got big lithographs.

I didn't know that different stores had different exclusives. I assumed they were all the same. Darn, I would have liked lithographs.

Can you take a picture of yours?

[Scarface32]

I just noticed in iTunes it says this for "A New Hope"



With the 1997 copyright, does that mean these are the 1997 Special Editions?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I just noticed in iTunes it says this for "A New Hope"



With the 1997 copyright, does that mean these are the 1997 Special Editions?

I think LucasFilm is going to default to the SE's for the digital copies, and use the unaltered versions as a carrot for future physical media home video releases.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Do you think when the UOT is released on Blu-ray, Disney will re-issue the prequels in their original theatrical cuts as well? They've all had edits done (the last only have 1 minor one, but the first two had quite a few)

I'm not sure, but I would hope so. Episode I especially needs a different remaster anyway.

Not that I really like Phantom Menace anyway, but I definitely thought the DVD version onwards was just a little bit worse-- I didn't like that they extended the pod race sequence, which I thought made the scene run on too long with a bunch of unnecessary "racer intros."

I'm much more doubtful about Episode II though. I guess they could put out the original digital version and maybe restore the original color-timing, but what about the earlier version that was cut for film prints? Would they even have access to that version to release? And would it even be worth the effort if they could?

For the record I like the Blu-Ray version of Episode II. As far as I know the only change is adding additional dialog with Shmi Skywalker during Anakin's nightmare, which I felt DRASTICALLY improved that scene and stopped it from being unintentionally funny.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by JAL4U2C

Disney learned well from George and his "release it again" mentality.

Lucas learned it from Disney and the Vault first. "The circle is now complete."

[kidglov3s]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I didn't know that different stores had different exclusives. I assumed they were all the same. Darn, I would have liked lithographs.

Can you take a picture of yours?

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

but what about the earlier version that was cut for film prints?

I didn't know it was on film, I thought II and III were just on digital; only episode I of the prequels being on film. That's why theaters needed special digital projectors (which are now standard, but back then few had them).

[GuruAskew]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

*pounds head on desk*

Fox...only...releases...what...LucasFilm...tells them...to release. Do you people think the good men and women who drop off the USA Today newspaper at your hotel room own USA Today?

Distribution....is ....not...ownership....

*bang*

*bang*

*bang*

Boy you're sure confused about a lot of things.

Lucas's approval of how the films were presented is not uncommon. It's essentially the "final cut" privilege that many filmmakers get and its not synonymous with ownership by any stretch.

Spielberg had enough say over how KOTCS was released to get the HD-DVD-aligned Paramount to release it on Blu. Doesn't mean he owned the movie.

I'm sure Fox has dozens of other movies in its library in which a filmmaker has various different assurances of approval over presentation. They're still Fox titles. Like Star Wars.