- Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing
- Directors: George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand
- Writers: George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett
- Producers: George Lucas, Gary Kurtz
- Format: Box set
- Language English
- Classification: U
- Studio: CBS Fox
- VHS Release Date: 11 Nov 2002
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004YVEB
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
1,722 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
- #71 in Film & TV > Children's DVD > Ages 9-11 > Characters & Series > Star Wars
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
One explanation for the enduring appeal of George Lucas' "space opera" might be that the Star Wars universe is a clever synthesis of a multitude of filmic, cultural and folkloric references, from Robin Hood (the Errol Flynn incarnation of course) to Tolkien to Samurai legends and Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress in particular (the inspiration for R2D2 and C3PO). As a result, audiences of almost all ages can find something to identify with. Luke Skywalker's journey from disaffected teenager dreaming of adventure beyond the narrow confines of home life to Jedi Knight and saviour of the galaxy is the very stuff of fairy-tale: he not only rescues a Princess, but discovers she's a close relative (one explanation for the relatively cool reception accorded to The Phantom Menace might be that it sacrifices the fairy-tale theme for political machination). If there's a lesson to be gleaned from the Skywalker clan it's that no matter how bad things get in the average dysfunctional family, it's never too late for reconciliation. Little wonder, then, that Star Wars continues to grip our collective imagination.
This box contains, among other delights, the digitally remastered "Special Edition" versions of the movies, restored and enhanced (some would say "tinkered with") by George Lucas in 1997. Star Wars has the most drastic changes, the best of which are the improved effects sequences; the worst the Cantina showdown where Han Solo near-suicidally now allows Greedo to get off a shot before firing back (since he misses at point-blank range, Greedo must be a very poor assassin indeed). The restoration of the Jabba-Solo scene is interesting although the CGI isn't completely convincing. The Empire Strikes Back also has touched-up effects shots, most spectacularly the expanded vistas of Cloud City; Return of the Jedi has a new song-and-dance number in Jabba's Palace (which is just as excruciating as the original) and a revised ending that looks forward (or should that be backwards?) to Episode I. --Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
was five years old when Star Wars first came out. I know I have earlier memories - isolated snapshots of school, of holidays, of little moments in time. But it's odd to realise that some of my earliest coherent memories are of a cultural event which ushered in a new era of marketing to children just like I was then.
I remember standing in the a queue which stretched around the building and down the street, people standing in Star Wars t-shirts, advertising a film which they could not possibly have seen yet - and I remember wanting one myself. I remember my mother distracting a group of fractious, excited children by getting us to go and count how many people were in the queue. I remember my plastic container of bright orange, tartrazine-laden Kia-ora. I remember my heart in my mouth as the Star Destroyer rumbled across the top of the screen. I remember, at the moment when Darth Vader first made his entrance, knowing exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.
And I remember believing.
I didn't see blue lines around spaceships, stormtroopers hitting their heads, and Alec Guinness waving round a stick. I saw aliens and faraway worlds and robots and adventure amongst the stars. I saw just exactly what George Lucas wanted me to see. I saw bravery and honesty and excitement. I cheered with everyone else when the Millennium Falcon returned at just the right moment.
I remember owning an inordinate amount of Star Wars tat. My prized Darth Vader and R2-D2 action figures were the envy of my five-year-old classmates. I remember how my classmates and I would boast about how many times we'd seen the film. I remember Star Wars lollies on a hot summer day in Park Road playground.
I remember standing in the a queue which stretched around the building and down the street, people standing in Star Wars t-shirts, advertising a film which they could not possibly have seen yet - and I remember wanting one myself. I remember my mother distracting a group of fractious, excited children by getting us to go and count how many people were in the queue. I remember my plastic container of bright orange, tartrazine-laden Kia-ora. I remember my heart in my mouth as the Star Destroyer rumbled across the top of the screen. I remember, at the moment when Darth Vader first made his entrance, knowing exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.
And I remember believing.
I didn't see blue lines around spaceships, stormtroopers hitting their heads, and Alec Guinness waving round a stick. I saw aliens and faraway worlds and robots and adventure amongst the stars. I saw just exactly what George Lucas wanted me to see. I saw bravery and honesty and excitement. I cheered with everyone else when the Millennium Falcon returned at just the right moment.
I remember owning an inordinate amount of Star Wars tat. My prized Darth Vader and R2-D2 action figures were the envy of my five-year-old classmates. I remember how my classmates and I would boast about how many times we'd seen the film. I remember Star Wars lollies on a hot summer day in Park Road playground.
I was reminded of all of this by watching the DVD on the big screen in Virgin on Saturday. For all that time and cynicism have overtaken me, for all that I now find suspension of disbelief impossible and I expect a knowing, post-modern wink to the audience from my media, there was something oddly comforting about watching a film I probably haven't seen in a decade or more. There's a part of my childhood there - a big part, from a time when I didn't have to worry about going bankrupt next week. It's an escape to a time when I could just sit and believe, wide-eyed, because everything was going to be all right.
I know that when I'm eighty and my cloned cyber-grandkids think I'm a drooling old imbecile fit only to be rendered into cat food and glue, something of this will remain. Because I remember. Because the force will be with me, always.
And I remember Han Solo shooting first. So there.
I think I have to buy the DVD release.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
As far as I can remember I have always had a copy of the Star Wars movies in the house, My Parents (mum especially) are avid fans and I was bought up on the Star Wars Phenomenon. Try and imagine that when 'a New hope' (Star Wars IV) was seen for the first time at the cinema, people were blown away by the sheer size of the movie, it's Special FX, sound and Music. WOW. Still today we we can marvel at the work that George Lucas, Rick McCallum and the entire cast and crew put in to make these three masterpieces. Some of the cast have carried and had successful careers in the Film industry thank to starring these movies.
Although I feel a little let down by the last two movies (Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones), this due to a few reasons, I can'y turn my back on what is a 'magical' experience when I watch these three movies. If you've never watched Star Wars before, WHY NOT? do yourself the favor and do it today.
Some people might criticise Lucas for 're-making' the Trilogy, call it what you want, but it was his way of finishing the project and adding just a little more to an already amazing Trilogy. Plus it gave many people my age (who were too young at the time) a chance to see these movies on the Big Screen for the first time.
My favorite Movies of all time.........
Although I feel a little let down by the last two movies (Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones), this due to a few reasons, I can'y turn my back on what is a 'magical' experience when I watch these three movies. If you've never watched Star Wars before, WHY NOT? do yourself the favor and do it today.
Some people might criticise Lucas for 're-making' the Trilogy, call it what you want, but it was his way of finishing the project and adding just a little more to an already amazing Trilogy. Plus it gave many people my age (who were too young at the time) a chance to see these movies on the Big Screen for the first time.
My favorite Movies of all time.........
28 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
How can one man, George Lucas, of captured the imaginations of so many people across the World for so long? 23 Years after the original realease of Star Wars a New Hope, and the subsequent releases. The Star Wars phenomenon is still as popular ever. I doubt these films will ever fall out of favour! I just hope Mr Lucas can achieve greater things with the release of Episode 11 & 111, after the disapointing Episode 1. Don't get me wrong, the 'Phantom Menace' was nothing short of a superb roller-coaster ride of a Sci-Fi romp, the effects were wonderful, the characters intriguing. But lets face it nothing could beat the power, genius, brilliance and the heart that went into the 1st three films. Every Childhood fantasy rolled into 6 Hours of unmissable film. Everytime I watch these films it's like watching them for the first time. I'm transported to another world, a world I've never known, never seen, A world I could only ever visit through my TV screen.
''THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU GEORGE, ALWAYS''!
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