Is it possible to buy the unfettered, original Star Wars trilogy?

[meltdown75]

We all did, and that is what is sad.

lmao so true

 

[3chordcharlie]

That looks like the boxed set I picked up last year, with the new versions in anamorpic widescreen, and the original release in letterbox widescreen.

I wasn't too big on the updated versions either, but the quality of the original release versions leaves a lot to be desired.

Strangely they also had a boxed set of three other 'Star Wars' movies that I'm pretty sure shouldn't exist.

 

[T9D]

...

 

[Platypus]

I kept my original VHS copies from the original box set because I'm not down with Lucas' raping of the classics. We'll probably never see a proper restored version for sale.

Sadly I don't even own a VCR any more

 

[K1052]

Honestly I think it's just a money thing. He'll wait until the market totally saturated and everyone has the new redo ones on DVD and blu-ray and then release the originals untouched. Everyone has to double-dip. That would be millions and millions of extra dollars. You can tell me till you're blue in the face that he said this or that but I bet he's got some greedy plan.

I mean I can't even watch the new redone ones. I wont even buy them on Blu when they come out anyway though. I got rid of my ones on DVD. I did have the originals on laserdisc though. I remember them being totally awesome.

I think you're underestimating how much of a douche bag Lucas really is. He's even convinced Spielberg to go back and fuck up some of his movies and totally ruined the last Indiana Jones.

Thank god for Howard the Duck which got Pixar out of his inept clutches and into the arms of the another enormous asshole who at least is smart enough to let them do their thing without meddling.

 

[coloumb]

Yes - ebay.

I have the original 3 on LaserDisc [still have a high end laserdisc player stored safely away]...and I think I've still got them on VHS tape [or DVD] as well.

 

[Analog]

Yes - ebay.

I have the original 3 on LaserDisc [still have a high end laserdisc player stored safely away]...and I think I've still got them on VHS tape [or DVD] as well.

The laserdisc versions can still be had for not too much $$

 

[K1052]

Yes - ebay.

I have the original 3 on LaserDisc [still have a high end laserdisc player stored safely away]...and I think I've still got them on VHS tape [or DVD] as well.

The answer is still no since even those are non-anamorphic.

There is nothing that you can buy today that would give you the same film that played in 1977.

 

[brblx]

and that's exactly as lucas wants it.

face it- lucas is a hack and the original trilogy was a fluke. if it had originally turned out as lucas claims he wanted it to, it would've been complete shit like episode 1.

 

[JDub02]

episode 1 killed star wars for me. i still haven't seen 2 or 3.

 

[Platypus]

episode 1 killed star wars for me. i still haven't seen 2 or 3.

don't bother, it only gets shittier.

 

[zerocool84]

episode 1 killed star wars for me. i still haven't seen 2 or 3.

don't bother, it only gets shittier.

I don't understand why people like part 3 so much. Sure it's the best of the "new" trilogy but that's not saying much. It still isn't a good movie.

 

[3chordcharlie]

The answer is still no since even those are non-anamorphic.

There is nothing that you can buy today that would give you the same film that played in 1977.

That boxset gives you the theatrical release.

The colour is lousy, and the resolution isn't too good, but it's as good as the VHS versions. The trouble is your TV is better now.

 

[dwell]

That boxset gives you the theatrical release.

The colour is lousy, and the resolution isn't too good, but it's as good as the VHS versions. The trouble is your TV is better now.

I ordered the boxset from Amazon. Already having the laserdisc rips I know what to expect in terms of image quality.

 

[PingSpike]

I don't know. They're probably equally offensive. The Han Solo thing pretty much undermined the entire character. Really bad. The Anakin thing was pretty bad but at least he didn't piss on Alec Guinness' grave and replace Obi Wan with Ewan.

The Han this was retarded, and of course totally out of character. But maybe, I can imagine that Greedo was just slow on the draw and Han was going to gutshoot his ass no matter what. I'll pretend that.

The Anakin thing doesn't even make any god damn sense. I mean, we already have an actor playing Anakin when he's old in the suit. He has supposedly redeemed himself so the ghost SHOULD be the old guy. Obiwan isn't a young guy ghost so we can't even say that there's a retarded rule that star wars ghosts get to be young. This whole thing is so stupid and insulting to the original actor that when I originally saw a still shot of it I just assumed it was a funny photoshop shot made up by angry fans. I mean, he'd almost have to go back and super impose Hayden's face into the unmasking scene to even make this collosal fuck up consistent in its stupidity. I'm sure that is planned for the re-re-re-release where they still don't fix the matting fuck ups around the tie fighters though.

 

[jagec]

I don't understand why people like part 3 so much. Sure it's the best of the "new" trilogy but that's not saying much. It still isn't a good movie.

The lightsaber fighting in 3 is the best in the entire series, originals included.

Of course, the originals are better in every single other way, particularly acting...but let's give credit where credit is due.

 

[K1052]

That boxset gives you the theatrical release.

The colour is lousy, and the resolution isn't too good, but it's as good as the VHS versions. The trouble is your TV is better now.

The box set is as close as you can get I'd say. The viewing still isn't right because they used the non-anamorphic LD rip (which itself is a poor master of a an old print).

My point being is that Lucas could have very easily made a DVD/BluRay edition that looked every bit as good at home (and untampered with) as a fresh print in 1977 but he never will.

 

[shortylickens]

I have the original versions on VHS in widescreen. I bought the set right before Phantom Menace came out because it was widely publicized that they'd never be released again. I've only watched them a couple times, so hopefully they're in pretty good shape still.

Remastered original versions on bluray would be beyond awesome. Unfortunately that won't happen until Lucas is declared mentally incompetent or dies.

Edit: I actually think I bought them right before the "Special" editions came out in '97.

I think I know which ones you are talking about, cuz I had them too. The black box edition, right? The ones that had Leonard Maltin interviews at the beginning? In them, George talked about some interesting stuff and eventually he said "look forward to the new movies starting in 1999".
Right before he released the new movie he re-released the old ones with the enhancements. There was a silver box version and a gold box version. One was letterboxed widescreen and the other full screen. (Both were VHS.)

 

[aldamon]

The box set is as close as you can get I'd say. The viewing still isn't right because they used the non-anamorphic LD rip (which itself is a poor master of a an old print).

My point being is that Lucas could have very easily made a DVD/BluRay edition that looked every bit as good at home (and untampered with) as a fresh print in 1977 but he never will.

Were theaters and the projection any good in 1977? I've always wondered about that.

 

[K1052]

Were theaters and the projection any good in 1977? I've always wondered about that.

As long as it was a decent theatre with a good projectionist, sure. It was also prior to the mass adoption of platter systems for projection which are really hard on film prints.

 

[SirStev0]

Hrmm. This is really making me consider buying this box set. I have been saying for years that I wanted a unadulterated version, and if this is honestly going to be my best shot I might have to take it.

My biggest problems with the CGI'ed version:
It seems like ever frame is jammed with silly things for no reason. It is loud and confusing and adds absolutely nothing.

OP: Could you do us all a favor and post any sources you find? That would make my day.

 

[shortylickens]

Hrmm. This is really making me consider buying this box set. I have been saying for years that I wanted a unadulterated version, and if this is honestly going to be my best shot I might have to take it.

My biggest problems with the CGI'ed version:
It seems like ever frame is jammed with silly things for no reason. It is loud and confusing and adds absolutely nothing.

OP: Could you do us all a favor and post any sources you find? That would make my day.

Its not even close to every frame, its just a handful of scenes. But the ones that are fudged up, are fudged up badly.
Mos Eisly (?) is full of crap when they come in, and when they are walking around. The scene where the troopers look for the droids in the dunes, it loaded with junk. Han shoots 2nd and not only is that wrong for story elements, it looks like shit besides. Restoring Jabba wasnt a great idea either. It makes him look like a weenie, (which he is not), and takes away from his scare factor in the third movie. Showing Boba Fett was kinda cool, but since he doesnt actually do anything its sort of a waste. I bet if you dig around the internet, at least one person has taken the enhanced edition and edited out all the extra minutes of crap.

After that its minor stuff really. The Death Star has a little more junk in the explosion. There are tiny little changes here and there, like one of the aliens in the cantina. Most of that is not noticeable or annoying.


Empire Strikes Back: Showing the snow monster so much takes away from its scariness, that was a bad call. The tiny little additions to Cloud City are not at all distracting. After that, I cant think of anything else that was changed.
Anyone? Oh wait, changing Palpatines face in the hologram.

Return of the Jedi: Everything was fine except for the totally borked ending. All of that shit needs to go. Again, I bet somebody somewhere had already done it.

 

[0roo0roo]

Lucas claims to have "lost" all of the source tapes for the real versions, so the laserdiscs were allegedly the best source material they had.

no chance.

but i'm sure he's waiting for the redone version release before any good bluray original version gets put out. to be honest its required, the cg they added back then was subpar by todays standards

 

[SirStev0]

Its not even close to every frame, its just a handful of scenes. But the ones that are fudged up, are fudged up badly.
Mos Eisly (?) is full of crap when they come in, and when they are walking around. The scene where the troopers look for the droids in the dunes, it loaded with junk. Han shoots 2nd and not only is that wrong for story elements, it looks like shit besides. Restoring Jabba wasnt a great idea either. It makes him look like a weenie, (which he is not), and takes away from his scare factor in the third movie. Showing Boba Fett was kinda cool, but since he doesnt actually do anything its sort of a waste. I bet if you dig around the internet, at least one person has taken the enhanced edition and edited out all the extra minutes of crap.

After that its minor stuff really. The Death Star has a little more junk in the explosion. There are tiny little changes here and there, like one of the aliens in the cantina. Most of that is not noticeable or annoying.


Empire Strikes Back: Showing the snow monster so much takes away from its scariness, that was a bad call. The tiny little additions to Cloud City are not at all distracting. After that, I cant think of anything else that was changed.
Anyone? Oh wait, changing Palpatines face in the hologram.

Return of the Jedi: Everything was fine except for the totally borked ending. All of that shit needs to go. Again, I bet somebody somewhere had already done it.

I guess, I don't really remember too much of what was def changed and what wasn't. I went to the theatre to see all the star wars when they were rereleased (I was young and super excited) and even I knew something didn't feel right. It felt like a punch in the face. I got them for xmas the year they were released as a remastered trilogy and watched it a few time before putting them away. I haven't seen the holy trilogy since except for a few times catching a couple minutes on TNT that allowed me to groan and remember why I wouldn't watch them.