|
|
|
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
|
|
|
Large Photo
|
Starring: Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill
Director: Richard Marquand
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Running Time: 134 minutes
Format: Full Screen, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4675
Average Customer Rating: 
UPC: 024543263937
List price: $19.98
|
Save 25%
off list price
Price Range: $14.96 - $19.99
|
|
|
16 Merchants
|
|
|
|
Compare Prices
|
|
Product Description:
For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus, these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983.
From Amazon.com:
The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of Return of the Jedi is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Jedi as it originally played in theaters in 1983. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So Sebastian Shaw reclaims his spot as the man behind Darth Vader's mask, and we don't see the otherworldly celebration (including the Gungans) at the end of the movie. What do you lose by watching the 1983 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Jedi, however, on a widescreen TV will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference. Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of Return of the Jedi, and the 1983 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi
Skip Jabba's Palace -
|
Star Wars Episode VI DVD Review
|
|
|
The Jabba's Palace scene is pretty shoddy, with a bunch of fake-looking puppets and costumes. It only became worse with the new "special edition" musical number. However, skip this, and the rest of the movie is awesome. Great space battles over Endor, and a spine-chilling Emperor. Also, the revisions after the first 44 minutes (or Jabba's death) are pretty much for the better.
|
|
Harison - 
|
Star Wars Episode VI DVD Review
|
|
|
It is great original one that was seen in the theater when it was first released
|
|
The End of an Era -
|
Star Wars Episode VI DVD Review
|
|
|
With this ends the original Star Wars, as all future installments would be done with excessive (though impressive) CGI. And again, I'm reviewing the theatrical version, even though compared to the other two, this had the least improvements (until the 2004 DVD release). Luke (who gets a new colored lightsaber) and friends rescue Han from Jabba, Yoda reveals to Luke that there's another Skywalker (Leia) and the Emperor finally shows his face. The Emperor really is (next to the Joker and Vader) one of the greatest cinematic villains. Why? I'll reveal that when I get to Episode III. The only other new introductions to the franchise is the toy marketable Ewoks, who I'll never understand how they could take down the Empire's best (though then again, weren't we more technologically advanced than the Vietnamese yet they kicked our butts because they knew the terrain?). And fan favorite Admiral Ackbar, who utters one of my favorite lines from any film (It's a trap!) The effects and models are second to none (even by Lucas' CGI standards). With so many ships during the attack on the Death Star, you forget that they're models. ILM came a long way from the rather static, though impressive, movements from the first film. The speeder chase, again, is one of my favorite sequences from the films because, like the space fight, you forget about all the technical stuff as it blends so well into the film. And the lightsaber duel is one of the most emotional, like the duels in Ep. III, as father and son duel to the death, to the amusement of the Emperor. And Williams, who I've run out of adjectives with which to describe him, has another rousing score. One of my favorite bits is when the Rebels come out of lightspeed and are about to attack until they realize "It's a trap!"
|
|
I got it just for the newer cover art! -
|
Star Wars Episode VI DVD Review
|
|
|
And you know that most of you were tempted to do the same thing to. But that's completley alright , it's Star Wars! The Star Wars movie saga are the most rerelease motion picture's in cinema history. Now some people bitch and moan about the 2nd disc (which contains the 1983 theatrical release) not being anamorphic , and I understand there plight. But for most players and projector's and television's today it's very easy too find a way around this. The outside Jacket and the inside disc and artwork will make any old schooler smile with delight when they open it. Even back in late 2005 and 2006 when these (this particular release) originaly came out , too coincide with the Star Wars nastagia mania that folowed Revenge of the Sith. We all new that down the line Lucasfilm Ltd. would probally release the Star Wars trilogy on Bluray along with it's theatrical conterparts. But you really can't beat the fun , the magic and the adventure for an incredably low price Today.
|
|
Original Theatrical Version - Definitive -
|
Star Wars Episode VI DVD Review
|
|
|
The Original Theatrical versions are in their original 2.35:1 Widescreen aspect, letterboxed within a 3x4 screen format - not anamorphic - which is clearly indicated on the packaging. You can view this "full-size" on your 16x9 TV by setting your DVD player's HDMI output to 3x4/pillar-box if necessary, and then setting your TV to "zoom" so that the screen is filled side to side with the picture. There will be slim black bars on the top and bottom, just as there are on anamorphic DVD's with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
Even with the zoom in effect, the picture is crystal clear and the color great. I'm using an upconvert DVD player with HDMI output (1080p), and a 50-inch plasma HD television. Some have said in reviews that the picture quality is poor, even "VHS quality", but that's totally false. I've read that the originals here were taken from the laser-disc masters done in the early 90's; well, they look great however they were sourced. The sound is Dolby 2.0 Stereo (as indicated on the package) and sounds excellent. I get some center-channel and sub-woofer action as well as the stereo music and sound-effects on my system.
If a blu-ray/HD version is ever issued, that will be great and an improvement; but this is the only way to get the original films on DVD at this time, and they look great, so this set is essential for fans who saw these movies in theatres when they were released between 1977 and 1983 and want to see them once again in their original glory.
|
|
 See more customer reviews...
|
|
|
