In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie and, as bonus material, the theatrical edition of the film. That means you’ll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983. #
Thanks Joen for putting me on the trail of this one. I’ve gotta admit, I hadn’t seen that one coming so soon. And to be honest I don’t know how I’ll find the space on my DVD shelf for even more Star Wars stuff, but I guess I’ll find a way.
This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st. International release will follow on or about the same day.
How odd though, why would they want to do that? Just put the thing out there and let it cook for a few years until you put out the blu-ray…
Glad you picked up on this. I knew you’d like it :)
Edit: It seems you already picked up the official confirmation. My bad.
By the way, I think I’ll personally wait for the larger box set that’ll most likely have both editions.
Check the links dude, they’re already starwars.com ;)
Anyone who is interested in modern pop culture should take a look at this: When Yoda Meets Gandalf. Funny Mashup.
Finally! Greedo will not shoot first.
Of course, there’s a whole argument now of how much remastering the originals can handle before they are ‘new’ versions. Sure, they might not have the Jabba scene in ANH, but do you really think that the ‘original’ version isn’t going to be cleaned up a bit? I’d be really surprised to see an orange blob underneath Luke’s speeder on these new releases.
Anyone who is interested in modern pop culture should take a look at this: When Yoda Meets Gandalf. Funny Mashup.
That is good, good stuff! Hilarious…
YAY! I finally have a reason to purchase the Star Wars DVDs! :D
Hopefully that means people will stop complaining about the music change at the end of Jedi.
In a way, it makes perfect sense.
On one hand, Lucas can make even larger bucks on his franchise.
On the other hand, since the original versions are now soon available on DVDs as fans have cried for, he can go on to make even more dramatic changes to the “altered versions” and worry less about fan reaction (if he ever worried). After all, “if you don’t like the new versions, get the old ones”.
I wonder if this means a digital Yoda for the altered ones.
Wow. I never thought I’d see the day.
There is a god.
About bloody time, it is!
This calls for a Penny Arcade Classic:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/09/22
Lucas is definitely finally doing this more for his wallet than for the fans .. that said, this is still the ultimate DVD release for this year, and I’ll definitely buy in!
Is it really unaltered? Cos in this one, Lucas shoots first!
Well, I never thought I’d see the day. This rocks more than just a bit.
A friend of mine bored me senseless this evening talking about it. Long live VHS tapes.