STAR WARS ORIGINAL TRILOGY [Episodes IV – VI] [1997 / 1980 / 1983 / 2013] [Limited Edition SteelBook] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . .
Relive the adventure... discover every detail... experience the epic story of STAR WARS as never before... now on Blu-ray in spectacular high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy!
The STAR WARS saga includes: STAR WARS: Episode IV – A New Hope; STAR WARS: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and STAR WARS: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, aided by an unforgettable assortment of courageous characters, lead the Rebellion to bring balance back to the Force!
The first three STAR WARS films were reworked by the creator George Lucas intended. Using state-of-the-art technology, STAR WARS Lucas and his team cleaned up the prints, updated the special effects and added new footage.
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FILM FACT No.1: STAR WARS: Episode IV – A New Hope: Awards and Nominations: 1997 British Society of Cinematographers: Nominated: Best Cinematography Award for Gilbert Taylor. 1978 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Art Direction and Set Decoration for John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley and Roger Christian. Win: Best Costume Design for John Mollo. Win: Best Sound for Bob Minkler, Derek Ball, Don MacDougall and Ray West. Win: Best Film Editing for Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew. Win: Best Effects and Visual Effects for Grant McCune, John Dykstra, John Stears, Richard Edlund and Robert Blalack. Win: Best Music and Original Score for John Williams. Win: Special Achievement Award for Ben Burtt for sound effects for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices. Nominated: Best Picture for Gary Kurtz. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Sir Alec Guinness. Nominated: Best Director for George Lucas. Nominated: Best Writing and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for George Lucas. 1978 Golden Globes: Win: Best Original Score for a Motion Picture for John Williams. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Drama. Nominated: Best Director in a Motion Picture for George Lucas. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Sir Alec Guinness. 1978 American Cinema Editors: Nominated: Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film for Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew. 1978 Directors Guild of America: Nominated: DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for George Lucas. 1978 Hugo Awards: Win: Best Dramatic Presentation for George Lucas (director and screenplay). 1978 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen for George Lucas. 1979 BAFTA Awards: Win: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for John Williams. Win: BAFTA Film Award for Best Sound for Sam Shaw, Robert R. Rutledge, Gordon Davidson, Gene Corso, Derek Ball, Don MacDougall, Bob Minkler, Ray West, Michael Minkler, Les Fresholtz, Richard Portman and Ben Burtt. Nominated: Best Costume Design for John Mollo. Nominated: Best Film. Nominated: Best Film Editing for Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew. Nominated: Best Production Design/Art Direction for John Barry. 1979 Evening Standard British Film Awards: Win: Best Film for George Lucas. Win: Best Actor for Sir Alec Guinness. 2007 Jules Verne Awards: Win: Jules Verne Légendaire Award for George Lucas.
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FILM FACT No.2: STAR WARS: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back: Awards and Nominations: 1981 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Sound for Bill Varney, Gregg Landaker, Peter Sutton for Steve Maslow. Win: Special Achievement Award for visual effects for Brian Johnson, Dennis Muren and Richard Edlund. Nominated: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Alan Tomkins, Harry Lange, Leslie Dilley, Michael Ford and Norman Reynolds. Nominated: Best Music for an Original Score for John Williams. 1981 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Original Score in a Motion Picture for John Williams. 1981 BAFTA Awards: Win: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for John Williams. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Production Design/Art Direction for Norman Reynolds. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Sound for Ben Burtt, Bill Varney and Peter Sutton. 1981 Hugo Awards: Win: Best Dramatic Presentation for George Lucas (story), Irvin Kershner (director), Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay) and Leigh Brackett (screenplay). 1981 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium for Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett. 2010 Jules Verne Awards: Win: The Jules Verne Award for George Lucas and Mark Hamill.
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FILM FACT No.3: STAR WARS: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi: Awards and Nominations: 1983 Jupiter Award: Win: Best International Film for Richard Marquand. 1984 Academy Awards®: Win: Special Achievement Award for visual effects for Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Richard Edlund and Phil Tippett. Nominated: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Fred Hole, James L. Schoppe, Michael Ford and Norman Reynolds. Nominated: Best Sound for Ben Burtt, Gary Summers, Randy Thom and Tony Dawe. Nominated: Best Effects and Sound Effects Editing for Ben Burtt. Nominated: Best Music for an Original Score for John Williams. 1984 BAFTA Awards: Win: Best Special Visual Effects for Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Kit West and Richard Edlund. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Make Up Artist for Phil Tippett and Stuart Freeborn. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Production Design/Art Direction for Norman Reynolds. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Sound for Ben Burtt, Gary Summers and Tony Dawe. 1984 People's Choice Awards, USA for Favorite Motion Picture. 1984 Young Artist Awards: Win: Best Family Feature Motion Picture. 1998 Hugo Awards: Win: Best Dramatic Presentation for George Lucas (story/written), Lawrence Kasdan (written) and Richard Marquand (director).
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Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: English: 6.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 Descriptive Audio
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Português: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, Dutch, Português, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish
Running Time: 126 minutes / 127 minutes / 134 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 3
Studio: 20th Century Fox / LUCASFILM Ltd
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: STAR WARS ORIGINAL TRILOGY [Episodes IV – VI] As the galaxy prepares for the next generation of STAR WARS, and the three original epic films have been released with this commemorative Blu-ray SteelBook. These three highly collectible STAR WARS films were only available for a limited time only.
In addition to the collectible SteelBook packaging, each single Blu-ray disc includes existing audio commentary with George Lucas and the film crew as well as audio commentary from archival interviews with the cast and crew.
This collectible SteelBook packaging is very attractive, featuring the character image of Darth Vader on the front cover and a brilliant illustrated image from a STAR WARS film with a fight to the death between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker on the rear. The STAR WARS logo on the front cover looks amazing. The three Blu-ray discs inside are held securely in place by a standard push button release holder. All in all it is a very handsome package and indicative of SteelBook packaging we have seen before. Here is a brief synopsis of each of the three films and they are as follows:
STAR WARS: Episode IV – A New Hope [1997] The Jedi Knights has been exterminated and the Empire rules the galaxy with an iron fist. A small group of Rebels have dared to fight back by stealing the secret plans to the Empire's mightiest weapon, the Death Star battle station. The Emperor's most trusted servant, Darth Vader [David Prowse], must find the plans, and locate the hidden Rebel base. Princess Leia [Carrie Fisher], a captive Rebel leader, sends out a distress signal that is intercepted by a simple farm boy, Luke Skywalker [Mark Hamill]. Seizing his destiny, Luke Skywalker takes up the challenge to rescue the princess and help the Rebellion overthrow the Empire, along with such unforgettable allies as Obi-Wan Kenobi [Sir Alec Guinness], the cocky Han Solo [Harrison Ford] captain of the Millennium Falcon, the loyal Chewbacca [Peter Mayhew], and the droids C-3PO [Anthony Daniels] and Kenny Baker [R2-D2] to rescue the beautiful Princess Leia Organa, to help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), David Prowse (Darth Vader), James Earl Jones (Darth Vader voice) (uncredited), Phil Brown, Shelagh Fraser, Jack Purvis, Alex McCrindle, Eddie Byrne, Drewe Henley, Denis Lawson, Garrick Hagon, Jack Klaff, William Hootkins, Angus MacInnes, Jeremy Sinden, Graham Ashley, Don Henderson, Richard LeParmentier and Leslie Schofield
Director: George Lucas
Producers: Gary Kurtz, George Lucas and Rick McCallum (1997 special version)
Screenplay: George Lucas (story)
Composer: John Williams
Cinematography: Gilbert Taylor, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
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STAR WARS: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back [1980] It is a dark time for the Rebellion. After a devastating attack on their ice base on the frozen planet of Hoth, the Rebels are scattered by Imperial pursuit. Luke Skywalker [Mark Hamill] seeks out the mysterious Jedi Master Yoda [Frank Oz Yoda voice] in the swaps of Dagobah, while Han Solo [Harrison Ford] and Princess Leia [Carrie Fisher] outrun the Imperial fleet to the beautiful Cloud City of Bespin. In an attempt to convert Luke Skywalker to the dark side, the evil Darth Vader [David Prowse] lures young Luke Skywalker into a trap. In the midst of a fierce lightsaber duel with the SITH Lord, Luke Skywalker faces a terrible truth about the Skywalker legacy.
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), David Prowse (Darth Vader), James Earl Jones (Darth Vader voice), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Frank Oz (Yoda voice), Sir Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, John Hollis, Jack Purvis (Chief Ugnaught), Des Webb (Snow Creature), Clive Revill (Emperor voice), Kenneth Colley, Julian Glover, Michael Sheard, Michael Culver, John Dicks, Milton Johns, Mark Jones, Oliver Maguire, Robin Scobey, Bruce Boa, Christopher Malcolm, Denis Lawson, Richard Oldfield, John Morton, Ian Liston, John Ratzenberger, Jack McKenzie, Jerry Harte, Norman Chancer, Norwich Duff, Ray Hassett, Brigitte Kahn and Burnell Tucker
Director: Irvin Kershner
Producers: Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, James Bloom, Rick McCallum (1997 special version) and Robert Watts
Screenplay: George Lucas (story), Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay) and Leigh Brackett (screenplay)
Composer: John Williams
Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
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STAR WARS: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi [1983] In the spectacular final chapter of the Star Wars Saga, Luke Skywalker [Mark Hamill] and Princess Leia [Carrie Fisher], team up with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian [Billy Dee Williams], must travel to Tatooine to free Han Solo [Harrison Ford] by infiltrating the wretched stronghold of Jabba the Hutt, the galaxy's most loathsome gangster. Reunited, the Rebels team up with tribes of Ewoks and the androids C-3PO [Anthony Daniels] and Kenny Baker [R2-D2] to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor to also combat the Imperial forces on the forest moon of Endor. Meanwhile, The Emperor [Ian McDiarmid] and Darth Vader [David Prowse] conspire to turn Luke Skywalker to the dark side, and young Luke Skywalker is determined to rekindle the spirit of the Jedi in honour to his father. The Galactic Civil War culminates in the ultimate showdown, as the rebel forces gather to attack the seemingly defenceless and incomplete second Death Star in the battle that will determine the fate of the galaxy.
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz (Yoda voice), David Prowse (Darth Vader), James Earl Jones (Darth Vader voice), Sir Alec Guinness, Kenny Baker (R2-D2 / Paploo), Michael Pennington, Kenneth Colley, Michael Carter, Denis Lawson, Tim Rose, Dermot Crowley, Caroline Blakiston, Warwick Davis (Wicket), Jeremy Bulloch, Femi Taylor (Oola), Annie Arbogast (Sy Snootles), Claire Davenport (Fat Dancer), Jack Purvis (Teebo), Mike Edmonds (Logray), Jane Busby (Chief Chirpa), Malcolm Dixon (Ewok Warrior), Mike Cottrell (Ewok Warrior), Nicolas Read, Adam Bareham, Jonathan Oliver, Pip Miller, Tom Mannion, Margo Apostolos (Ewok), Ray Armstrong (Ewok), Eileen Baker (Ewok), Michael H. Balham (Ewok), Bobby Bell (Ewok), Patty Bell (Ewok), Alan Bennett (Ewok), Sarah Bennett (Ewok), Pamela Betts (Ewok), Danny Blackner (Ewok), Linda Bowley (Ewok), Peter Burroughs (Ewok), Debbie Lee Carrington (Romba Ewok), Maureen Charlton (Ewok), Willie Coppen (Ewok), Sadie Corre (Ewok), Tony Cox (Ewok), John Cumming (Ewok), Jean D'Agostino (Ewok), Luis De Jesus (Ewok), Debbie Dixon (Ewok), Margarita Farrell (Ewok), Phil Fondacaro (Ewok), Sal Fondacaro (Ewok), Tony Friel (Ewok), Daniel Frishman (Ewok), John Ghavan (Ewok), Michael Gilden (Ewok), Paul Grant (Ewok), Lydia Green (Ewok), Lars Green (Ewok), Pam Grizz (Ewok), Andrew Herd (Ewok / Jawa), J.J. Jackson (Ewok), Richard Jones (Ewok), Trevor Jones (Ewok), Glynn Jones (Ewok), Karen Lay (Ewok), John Lummiss (Ewok), Nancy Maclean (Ewok), Peter Mandell (Ewok), Carole Morris (Ewok), Stacie Nichols (Ewok), Chris Nunn (Ewok), Barbara O'Laughlin (Ewok), Brian Orenstein (Ewok), Harrell Parker Jr. (Ewok), John Pedrick (Ewok), April Perkins (Ewok), Ronnie Phillips (Ewok), Katie Purvis (Ewok), Carol Read (Ewok), Nicholas Read (Ewok), Diana Reynolds (Ewok), Daniel Rodgers (Ewok), Chris Romano (Ewok), Dean Shackelford (Ewok), Kiran Shah (Ewok / EG-6), Felix Silla (Ewok), Linda Spriggs (Ewok), Gerald Staddon (Ewok), Josephine Staddon (Ewok), Kevin Thompson (Ewok), Kendra Wall (Ewok), Brian Wheeler (Ewok), Butch Wilhelm (Ewok), Dalyn Chew (Jedi Rocks Dancer) (special edition), Celia Fushille-Burke (Jedi Rocks Dancer) (special edition), Mercedes Ngoh (Jedi Rocks Dancer) (special edition) and Jennifer Jaffe (Jedi Rocks Dancer) (special edition)
Director: Richard Marquand
Producers: Howard G. Kazanjian, George Lucas, Jim Bloom, Rick McCallum (special version) and Robert Watts
Screenplay: George Lucas (screenplay/story)
Composer: John Williams
Cinematography: Alan Hume, B.S.C. (Director of Photography) and Alec Mills, B.S.C. (Director of Photography) (uncredited)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – 20th Century Fox presents these three upgraded Blu-ray discs with a brilliant 1080p image and of course enhanced with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. With the images you get to view, I found the quality both met my greatest expectations. Bright sequences tend to look the best and offer the widest range of eye catching options. The CGI computer crafted effects, are vividly pleasing colours and boldly applied contrast generally make for visually stimulating imagery although the higher resolution makes the seams between live action and CGI more readily apparent. Shadow detail is consistent and revealing of subtle degrees of delineation. Images are crisp with subtle refinement, resolute sharpness and exquisite dimension that at times can be visually arresting. Contrast is boldly applied which energizes the colours, and engages the whites and greys really well. Flesh tones are beautifully textured with subtle description and lifelike complexional depiction. The video has a pleasing and pristine quality that works hand in hand with the film’s stark visuals and provides an incredibly entertaining experience that looks superb regardless of the size of your Television display.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – 20th Century Fox brings these three upgraded Blu-ray discs with a stunning 6.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. Across the board these are reference quality audio tracks each containing demonstration quality moments perfect for showing off the prowess of your home theatre system. These recordings have wide dynamic range and boast superlative clarity and high level detail that is impressive. Dialogue is definitive and appreciably lucid through the centre channel as it reaches far into the room. It’s located just slightly in front of the left/right speakers within the acoustic space it occupies in the sound field. I never had any trouble distinguishing even the slightest changes in even the slightest changes in the pitch or inflection of voices. Front channel separation and imaging is excellent. This draws out both large and small sound elements allowing their directional correlation based upon the onscreen events to be definable. The audio mix makes effective and often aggressive use of the surround channels to elongate the front soundstage and reproduce the spatial and discrete sounds of these demanding soundtracks. The listening position is frequently submerged in a rotating web of sound that occasionally bombards the senses with a combination of well-placed effects and musical ambience. Low frequency effects are applied with authority to underscore the bombastic and aggressive aspects of the audio experience. There is lots of active use of the entire surround platform which delivers a well-integrated audio experience that is highlighted by solid impact, defining clarity, and John Williams' incredible and awesome composed music. Each of these audio presentations adds a defining element that enhances the enjoyment of STAR WARS while at the same time taking us on a nostalgic journey that is reminiscent of seeing it in the cinema.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
STAR WARS: Episode IV – A New Hope:
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew with Kenny Baker, Ben Burtt, Richard Chew, Anthony Daniels, Peter Diamond, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Stuart Freeborn, Sir Alec Guinness, Mark Hamill, Paul Hirsh, Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Peter Mayhew, Ralph McQuarrie, Dennis Muren, Norman Reynolds, Phil Tippett and Robert Watts
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STAR WARS: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back:
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew with Jeremy Bulloch, Ben Burtt, Anthony Daniels, Peter Diamond, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Stuart Freeborn, Steve Crawley, Sir Alec Guinness, Mark Hamill, Joe Johmston, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvin Kershner, Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Peter Mayhew, Ralph McQuarrie, Dennis Muren, Frank Oz. Ken Ralston, Morman Reynolds, Robert Watts and Billy Dee Williams
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STAR WARS: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi:
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew with Kenny Baker, Jim Bloom, Jeremy Bulloch, Ben Burtt, Anthony Daniels, Warwick Davis, Peter Diamond, Richard Edlund, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Stuart Freeborn, Steve Gawley, Mark Hamill, Paul Huston, Lawrence Kasdan, Howard Kazanjian, George Lucas, Ian McDiarmid, Ralph McQuarrie, Dennis Muren, Frank Oz, Ken Ralston, Norman Reynolds, Phil Tippett, Robert Watts, Billy Dee Williams and John Williams
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Finally, the awesome STAR WARS ORIGINAL TRILOGY [Episodes IV – VI] Limited Edition SteelBook is totally amazing and of course, it's finally here and what else is there to say that hasn't been said already? Yes, we all want to have the option of watching the unaltered and ultimate theatrical editions, but it doesn't look like those are coming any time soon, especially in 3D. Until then, this is the definitive high definition set of the STAR WARS ORIGINAL TRILOGY [Episodes IV – VI]. This is the three Blu-ray disc set we have been waiting years for and it is finally here. The image and audio presentations are totally rock solid, and producing superb demonstration material for any Home Theatre system out there. Sadly, there is a lack of special features, of just the audio commentaries; and because it was just too much time and effort to listen to them all, where instead you can find out via other Blu-ray Reviews via the internet. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
