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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #221 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-20
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 361 minutes

DVD Details
Four-disc set includes:

• Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition)--with commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (Special Edition)--commentary by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher; Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)
• Bonus disc: all-new bonus features, including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced on the Star Wars saga, and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films

Subitles (all material across all four discs): English, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

Click here to see detailed information on the special features included on the bonus disc.

Amazon.co.uk Review

George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy is a clever synthesis of pop-cultural and mythological references, taking classic fairy-tale themes, adding more than a dash of Arthurian legend, and providing cinematic high adventure inspired as much by Kurosawa's Samurai epics as by Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. As a result, audiences of all ages can find something to identify with in Luke Skywalker's journey from disaffected teenager dreaming of adventure to Jedi Knight and saviour of the galaxy. He not only rescues a Princess, but discovers she's a close relative. And 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.

Originally released in 1977, Star Wars, the first film, was made as a standalone. Perhaps that's why Obi-Wan Kenobi seems a tad inconsistent in his attitude towards his old pupil Anakin Skywalker, and perhaps also why Luke is allowed to develop a guilt-free crush on Princess Leia. Lucas's story, told from the point of view of the two bickering droids (a device taken from Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress), also borrows freely from Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, as does John Williams's seminal Korngold-inspired music score.

Thanks in equal part to Leigh Brackett's screenplay and Irvin Kershner's direction The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the most grown-up instalment in the series. The basic fairy-tale is developed and expanded, with the principal characters experiencing emotional turmoil--blossoming romance, mixed feelings and confused loyalties--amid a very real threat of annihilation as Darth Vader's motivations become chillingly personal. Luke's quasi-Arthurian destiny is complicated still further by the half-truths of his wizardly mentors; and swashbuckler Han Solo finds the past catching up with him, quite literally in the form of bounty hunter Boba Fett. The film is graced by more fabulous landscapes (ice, forest, clouds), more unforgettable new characters (Yoda), more groundbreaking special effects (the asteroid chase), and John Williams's finest score.

The difficult third film, 1983's Return of the Jedi, seems schizophrenic in its intentions, hoping to please both the kiddies who bought all the toys and an older audience who appreciated the narrative's epic and mythological strands. The result is a film that splits awkwardly into two. One thread, which might be subtitled "The Redemption of Anakin Skywalker", pursues the story of the Skywalker family to a cathartic conclusion. The other thread, which might be described as "The Care Bears Go to War", attempts to say something profound about primitivism versus technological sophistication, but just gets silly as furry midgets doing Tarzan whoops defeat the Emperor's crack legions.

In 1997 Lucas re-released the three original films in digitally remastered "Special Edition" versions, in which many scenes have been restored and enhanced (some would say "unnecessarily tinkered with"). Despite loud and continued criticisms from fans, these Special Editions are now considered definitive, if only by Lucasfilm. --Mark Walker

DVD Description
4-disc DVD box set containing Special Editions of all three films in the original Star Wars trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), plus a bonus disc of brand new special features.

Special Features
Episode IV, A New Hope (Special Edition):

• Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher
  
• Easter Egg: credit roll (2 mins)

Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition):

• Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher
  
• Easter Egg: credit roll (2 mins)

Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (Special Edition):

• Commentary by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher
  
• Easter egg: credit roll (2 min)

Bonus disc containing all-new bonus features, including:

• The most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced on the Star Wars saga
  
• Never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films

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Customer Reviews

The BEST Star Wars Trilogy...
I found these 3 films to be very enjoyable.
You could tell straight away that a lot of effort was put in each and every film.
The idea of using a sabre that has a field of light around it which can almost cut through anything is incredible.
Most adults or customers say that these films are really more for children but it can be interesting because this story is about a sweet little boy which becomes the cruel and treacherous Darth Vader.
Watch the intense fights as dramatic music come on.
Who will win will be the question that will be ringing inside your head.
This is what each and every film is mainly about...


A New Hope: Luke Skywalker meets an old Jedi who claims himself as Ben Kenobi + whilst new sith Darth Vader tries to get a word out of Princess Leia.

The Empire Strikes Back: Luke Skywalker tries to train without the help of his mentor who passed away in 'The New Hope' + Luke finally finds out about a member of his family who had no idea they were related just like Luke + he has to be trained by the great Master Yoda!

Return of the Jedi: Intense battle between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker + is Darth Vader completely evil after all? + who destroys darth sidious + finally the Sith are destroyed and everyone parties down + a few old friends might pop in as imaginative characters at the end.

Hope you enjoy this spectacular trilogy which has the unique abilities of George Lucas inside.
I would recommend to buy these films, if you don't you will seriously

Still one of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time
I can't really begin to do justice to how much I absolutely adore the original 'Star Wars' trilogy but they rank among my favourite movies and still have the power to sweep me away on a fantastical tide of pure excitement and escapism. This first release on DVD only featured the Special Edition versions of 'Star Wars IV: A New Hope', 'Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi', which has bizarrely had many fans up in arms over their sentiment but, quite frankly, who cares? None of the changes have altered the effect of George Lucas' finest work, though admittedly Han Solo DID shoot first! In fact, one change even improves things, with Ian McDiarmid now appearing in place of Clive Revell as The Emperor in 'Empire Strikes Back'. Any criticism over Lucas' tinkering boils down to nitpicking in my humble opinion. All that Star Wars goodness is baked right in, so just immerse and enjoy yourself in that galaxy far, far away!

The magic of the original films is still gloriously evident, no matter how many times you watch them. The story is simple but captivating, the characters engaging and memorable and even the 'unique' dialogue works a treat. The effects, while a little dated, remain fabulous and still make you feel as though you're in a different universe. And Darth Vader has got to be the best damn movie villain of all time! I still tingle when I hear the immortal line, "No! I am your father..." WHAT? No way!

'Empire' is arguably the best of the trilogy, feeling slightly edgier than the other two, but all are great films and the 'Star Wars' experience is best viewed as one epic saga, rather than three separate stories. Forget the bloated CGI of the so-so prequels, forget the additional Stormtroopers and revisit cinema's greatest feat of escapism. A truly wonderful collection that any 'Star Wars' fan should want to own.

Sci-fi goodness
I can't boast about having seen the movies when they were released in cinemas.
However, I can safely say, that the original Star Wars-trilogy is one of the best collections you can buy.
Sure, you have to accept some changes from the 'original' movies, like Hayden Christensen being digitally plastered into the last scene of Episode 6, Greedo shooting first and stuff like that.
However, while die hard fans might find these changes inexcusable, more casual fans can ignore them.
And the disc with extra materials is quite good to. A feature length documentary depicting the creation of the saga gives a nice, and neutral, look on the troubles and hardships George Lucas, ILM and co. faces.