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Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (271 - 272 of 272 Reviews)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
"Star Wars" represents the fourth chapter in Lucas' stellar space opera, subtitled "A New Hope". The movie as a whole is very entertaining. When you put into perspective that the technology they used, while state-of-the-art at the time, was limited, the storytelling was done to a key. "A New Hope" introduces us to the movie industry's most popular characters, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Han Solo, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader, in an epic battle against oppression. The film stretches across intricate worlds, bringing us to Tatooine and Yavin as the Rebel Alliance figures how to dismantle the Empire's most sinister weapon, the Death Star, an object of destruction. To this day, while the visuals show their age, the idea behind this epic fantasy is completely original and ahead of its time. It mimics our society through space-age technology and a flashy sci-fi setting, while presenting before us all-too-familiar morals and situations that come right from the pages of an illustrated storybook. "Star Wars" is still a legend in our time, special edition or not.

I greatly appreciated Lucas' attempt to theatrically revive the three films. Just being able to witness them on the big screen for the first time would've been enough, but the revised special effects added to the excitement, as fresh details made for a more diverse, more modern type of film, while still retaining everything that made it great in the first place. The main reason I flocked to see it was so I could witness the enhanced footage of Han's confrontation with Jabba, as this prospect had been talked about for some time among fans before ILM decided to put it back in. I agree, it didn't do much to enhance character development, as the overall conversation takes place with Greedo just moments before inside the Cantina; nevertheless, it only adds to the fun. And while at the time I didn't think Star Wars needed a Special Edition, the updated Death Star battle was a welcome surprise.

The only thing the new effects may hinder is the fact that, a lot of people want to look back at the special effects of old. I personally find it difficult to revert to the original version having seen the Special Edition, as it's much more polished. At the same time, the updates don't detract from an already great film, and if anything, it makes the transition that much more easier when you experience the prequels.

By no means is "Star Wars" perfect, but it started the legacy over twenty years ago. And like I said, new footage or not, nothing keeps a good story down.

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away. . .
"I want to learn the ways of the Force and becoms a Jedi like my father."
- Luke Skywalker

A Long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . .

Those words have, in the past twenty-seven years, become synonymous with the names Star Wars and Geoge Lucas. In 1977, the producer/director of American Graffiti and close friend to rising director Steven Spielberg created the premiere movie phenomenon of a generation. Star Wars, a space opera of hither-to unheard-of scope, vision, and creativity created an icon that will survive for decades after its creator, and rightly so. Whatever may become of the sacreligious prequel trilogy, it cannot be changed that Star Wars is, and always will be, the best sci-fi trilogy of all time.

Originally titled "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker" in a novel by Lucas, the story of Episode IV: A New Hope is one of galactic civil war, rebellion, heroes, rogues, princesses, aliens, dark lords, wizards, droids, and the massive backdrop of a galaxy. . . well, you know. Luke Skywalker, dreamer, farmer, rising pilot, dreams of any life but the one he lives. With the arrival of two mysterious droids carrying an even more mysterious message, he gets more than he bargained for. Running into a master of an ancient warrior order, a smuggler, and a beatiful rebel leader, Luke joins the struggle against the evil Darth Vader and the Empire.

It's as cheesy as it comes, with just about every cliche in the book, some used more than once, but it WORKS. The technology was there, making space battling and futuristic swashbuckling seem real in a sense that it never had before. The acting was incredible, particularly of Harrison Ford as the incouragable Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as the feisty Princess Leia, the endearing Mark Hamill as Luke, and the menacing James Earl Jones as Vader. Despite the obvious borrowing from Kurosawa and Tolkien, Lucas's narrative rang fresh because it was so well done, and so lovingly crafted, and it holds up to this day. There are few movies that can claim such after nearly thirty years.

Say what you will of the special editions; I am thankful for them. Some of us were not lucky enough to see the glory of Star Wars on the Big Screen back in the late 70's and early 80's. Return of the Jedi had been out of the cinema for two years before I arrived on the planet, and it was another six before I discovered the Star Wars Phenomenon. The videos were magical, the story put to memory, and it just never got old. However, there is just something about seeing a film in the theater that adds so much to the experience, and, in 1997, I was given that privilege with the Special Edition of the Star Wars Trilogy.

Ignore the fact that Greedo shoots at Hand first in this edition, and the needless encounter with Jabba the Hutt (at least it got Bobba Fett into the first film), the Special Editions add so much more than they subtract. The visual effects that needed it (and some of them REALLY did) have been cleaned up, and there are some new scenes that manage to look at home in the Star Wars universe, despite their digital birthing. And hey, it was nice to see Biggs Darklighter and Luke together before Biggs got blown to firey bits. They WERE supposed to be best buddies, and it's the only time he appears in the movie.

All else aside, I think that the Special Editions of these films are worth it. It was more than worth the Jabba to be able to watch the first in the spectacular trilogy on the silver screen, surrounded by the sounds and sights of a galaxy far, far away.

This is truly something that comes along once in a generation. Despite what you have done recently Lucas, we owe you thanks for this. May the force be with you.

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