Star Wars to Ship on Blu-Ray in 2011
PrintGood news for Star Wars fan who, after picking up various VHS copies, DVD releases, special edition DVD releases, and every other version of their favorite sci-fi flicks, feel as though they need yet more copies to add to their collection, they'll soon (and finally) be able to watch the classic series on Blu-ray.
"Blu-ray is the absolute best way to experience Star Wars at home -- in pristine high definition," said George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars saga. "The films have never looked or sounded better."
All six movies will ship in the Star Wars Blu-ray Box Set in Fall 2011, and of course you can expect plenty of extras, like documentaries, behind-the-scenes shots, interviews, retrospectives, and never-before-seen footage from the Lucasfilm archives.
As for price, that still remains a mystery.
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Talcum X
August 18, 2010 at 5:20pm
THey siad they wouldnt release SW on DVD as it would show the tricks they used for the special FX. Well, the got around that now, didn't they.
nightkiller
August 17, 2010 at 11:28am
In context of my comments, purchasing a Blue Ray version would not be worth the money if the transfer process resulted in an inferior reproduction relative to the original theatrical release.
tinnerdxp
August 17, 2010 at 4:41am
I have seen the BD edition of the StarWars saga, all in 1080p...
Although the sound seems "better" - yet it sounds fake. But the image quality is simply rubbish... It looks like an upscale DVD rather than BD edition... Then again I have seen a year or two ago so it could have been some a different version...
n0b0dykn0ws
August 17, 2010 at 5:34am
Something tells me you saw rips from the HBO/Cinemax screenings.
Chances are that whoever captured it, ripped it, probably transcoded it, causing bit of quality loss.
Unless Lucasfilm screws up, it should look much better on Blu-Ray.
n0b0dykn0ws
nightkiller
August 16, 2010 at 7:05pm
I bet that the image quality of the original films (even shown in the theaters) is less than what Blue Ray is capable of delivering. If crap is being transfered to Blue Ray, then then Blue Ray is a great way to display crap. Do I really need to see the acne on Hamill's face?
roninnder
August 17, 2010 at 2:07am
The 35mm cameras that movies were filmed on captured much higher than 1080p resolution. Being analog they weren't captured in pixels, so the quality of the digital copy is dependant on the quality of the digital transfer hardware. I bet Lucasfilm has a pretty good one. All you need to do is a simple google search in order to avoid looking like an idiot in the future. By the way, even my grandfather has figured out that it's spelled Blu Ray at this point.
Did you really call the original Star Wars films crap?
Keith E. Whisman
August 17, 2010 at 8:18am
Although the technical name for the BD format is in fact called Blu Ray, here in the USA and most of the rest of the English speaking world can't handle a misspell like that so I will always refer to Blu Ray as Blue Ray or BD and if you don't like then the heck with you. I'll defend anyone that spells correctly. Now whoever came up with the blu ray standard really doesn't know how to freaking spell or they were trying to be trendy or chic in some fashion by leaving the E out of Blue. To me when I read blu ray it looks like it's saying bl-uh ray.
And I'm really starting to get annoyed, I find your lack of faith disturbing, as I use the schwartz to crush your balls. :)
mrvander
August 16, 2010 at 12:19pm
Just in time for Blu-Ray to become obsolete in a few years and you can pay (again) for a DRM-controlled digital download in 3D with sense-o-smell technology!
Keith E. Whisman
August 16, 2010 at 12:47pm
I probably would buy the 3D versions when they become available. What I've got now is just fine, but 3D is adds additional value so I probably would buy and watch all of the Star Wars movies again. Perhaps G.L. Can made a special addition of the prequels where Jar Jar Binks is killed early on in a horrific bloody death, and perhaps while they are at it they can get rid of the whole midi clorian and little 9 yeal old Anakin as well. How about a reinvention of the Episode I, that would be great.
ProtoJMB
August 16, 2010 at 10:20am
Yeah if they aren't going to include the ORIGINAL THEATRICAL versions, I'm not gonna bother. I bought the dual DVD set that has the original versions a couple years ago, and will stick with that.
Keith E. Whisman
August 16, 2010 at 8:31am
I have finally watched all of the Star Wars films so many times that I actually don't care about it anymore. I never ever thought that I would reach a time in my life where I wouldn't care about Star Wars any longer but it's happened. I don't care about Star Wars anymore. Star Trek is a different story altogether.
athlon11
August 16, 2010 at 8:29am
Well, it appears that Greedo will still be shooting first then :( Either way I will have to buy them as I don't own a copy of any of the movies, but I am disappointed that Greedo still shoots first.
Keith E. Whisman
August 16, 2010 at 8:42am
That's always bothered me about the Greedo and Solo shootout. At the range Solo and Greedo were shooting there is no way they could have missed, even blind folded they couldn't miss. In order to win that fight you have to get that first shot out. Greedo had his gun aimed at Solo point blank. I really don't have a problem with Solo shooting first, it's what I would have done if someone had a gun aimed at my chest I would have shot at my earliest opportunity.
If Lucas is worried about Solo looking bad then he should have cleaned up Solo's back story. Solo was an Imperial Star Destroyer Captain that rescued Chewbaca from death and threw away his career in the imperial navy. Solo then became a smuggler and at times a privateer operating with a letter of mark and worked with the Jabba crime family on Tatooine. So Han Solo doesn't exactly have a clean and flowery history. In fact Han Solo had to be put through Guilt trip after Guilt trip and sexually allured by Princess Leia and her brother Luke Skywalker into joining the evil rebellion that represented total galactic anarchy.
SleepyCatChris
August 16, 2010 at 7:32am
From the linked article:
what won't make it to Blu-ray are the original versions of the movies; Lucas told the New York Times that only the special editions will be included, since restoring the original versions in high enough quality would cost too much.
Cost too much?! George, you're a bazillionaire. Just be honest and say you don't want to show the originals anymore. (Jerk!)
Slugbait
August 16, 2010 at 12:02pm
Lucas once said that the original versions of IV-VI would never be released on DVD. At the time, I was feeling better about my $270 Definitive Collection investment (Indy and BTTF series also had not yet made it to DVD yet, either).
Of course, he heard deafening silence coming from the cash registers, and now my lasers are completely worthless.
Don't trust what he says, trust what he does: the originals WILL be released on BD as soon as the suckers have all paid for the SE version.
aviaggio
August 16, 2010 at 7:52am
I know, it's retarded. No one wants the "special" editions. We all want the original theatrical versions. Yet another billionaire who's completely out of touch with what his fans want. George, we don't care what YOU want.
orca11
August 16, 2010 at 6:35am
Some of the special effects in the special editions just look cheesy and really needed to be cleaned up (or removed!)... I'll be waiting for the reviews to see what edits make it in.
I would like an HD copy though...
chronium
August 16, 2010 at 7:01am
The discs are big enough that they should include the theatrical versions and the special editions. Heck I just want the original song during the celebration on Endor to be put back in.
Mighty BOB!
August 17, 2010 at 1:02am
Yub Nub for the win!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np6vAuS0KNs
I'm not buying this. The special editions suck.
perryra1968
August 16, 2010 at 6:23am
Lucas is making a killing, which he should, but he needs to hand over the directing to someone else. He should have hired Irvin Kershner(Empire Strikes Back) to do EP1,2 & 3. Anyway, I have been a fan all my life and will definetly add this to my collection. Another $100.00 or so of my hard earned money going to Lucas ltd. I can't resist...
richbears
August 16, 2010 at 9:14am
Actually, it wasn't so much of Irvin Kershner that made Empire successful as it was the influence of Gary Kurtz. An interesting article on latimes.com where Kurtz finally talks about Lucas selling out.
Exarkun1138
August 16, 2010 at 6:46am
While I agree about EP 1-3 having a different director, Irvin Kershner hasn't directed much since the early 90's, so I doubt he'd have been a choice. But Lucas should just stick with writing and producing. His directorial skills are not that great! I love the original trilogy, and Episode 3. Episode 1 and 2 are OK at best, but do have their moments!
greencpu
August 16, 2010 at 1:32pm
no amount of direction could fix those horrible scripts. the prequels are pretty much garbage on all levels.
Exarkun1138
August 16, 2010 at 2:35pm
Episode 3 is actually really good, for the most part. At least it was more like Empire, which is a good thing. I think that is where George should have STARTED the prequels, cutting out the Jedi Purge until later in the trilogy, and showing Darth's rise to power and the fall of the Republic on a larger, grander scale! Then the Purge of the Jedi could take place over 2 episodes before we see the original Death Star being built. THAT would have been far better than anything in EP1 or 2!
Keith E. Whisman
August 16, 2010 at 2:33pm
Amen!
However, the battle scenes from the end of Episode 2 and about half of episode 3 are pretty good. But yeah the scripts and story are just atrocious. The Prequels need to be reinvented like the Last Star Trek Movie. George Lucas really needs the assistance of his friend Steven Spielberg and some really good Fan/Writers and a good director.
What would really be neat is to see someone like Quentin Tarantino direct all three prequels. That would be awesome. Kill Bill in space and a long long time ago............
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