The Star Wars Trilogy.

Here is to all of us fans who love the original versions of The Star Wars Trilogy.
On
April 23, 2007
Star Wars has been around for 30 years and even to this day I would have to say that the best part of being a Star Wars fan is loving all three of the original theatrical versions of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.


Star Wars, released to movie theaters on May 25th, 1977, is what really started it all. Not only did it change the way we look at movies. It also changed the way movies were and still are made.


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The Empire Strikes Back, released to movie theaters on May 21st, 1980, became one of the best sequils ever to be made in all of movie history.


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Return of the Jedi, released to movie theaters on May 25, 1983, six years after Star Wars was released, is what created the whole trilogy of Star Wars.


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A little after George Lucas was finished with all three of his Star Wars movies, he and 20th Century Fox released all three of the movies onto Video Cassette (a.k.a. VHS) for the very first time in 1988 by CBS/FOX Home Video. Then again in 1992 by FOX Video.


Star Wars.


The Empire Strikes Back.


Return of the Jedi.








The Star Wars Trilogy.

On August 23rd, 1995, the original Star Wars Trilogy was released onto video for it's last time. This video release of came with special interviews of George Lucas being interviewed by well-known movie critic, Leonard Maltin. In addition, all three Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi were digitally remastered with Lucas's new invention, THX, which gave all three of his movies and many other well known movies better sound and picture.















On the back of this video case of The Star Wars Trilogy, there is a message from Mr. George Lucas, himself. It reads...

"The appeal of Star Wars has gone beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I am pleased that for the final video release of Star Wars in its original version, we can present it with the best sound and picture quality yet available, thanks to THX Digital Mastering.

In the years to come I hope you, your children, and your children's children will enjoy not only this trilogy but also the adventures yet to come in the continually unfolding Star Wars Universe.

George Lucas."



In 1997, both 20th Century Fox and Lucas released the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition for the 20th anniversary of Star Wars. I was glad to see all three movies on the big screen, which was in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska at the Stewart Theater in Downtown Lincoln.



That following Christmas/Holiday Season, the trilogy was released in its Special Edition version, which many Star Wars fans didn't seem to enjoy watching as much as the original theatrical release version of the trilogy.

In 1999, 20th Century Fox and Lucas introduced us Star Wars fans to the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, released to movie theaters on May 19th, 1999, introduced a new look at the Star Wars Universe.


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Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, released to movie theaters on May 16th, 2002, started to slowly connect to the story of the original trilogy.


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Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, released to movie theaters on May 19th, 2005, showed how the prequel trilogy connected to the original trilogy after Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader.


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On September 12, 2006, 20th Century Fox and Lucas released Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi as individual 2-Disc DVDs. Came with both the 2004 DVD Release Version and their Original Theatrical Version which were shown in theaters the year they were released.


Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Disc 1: The 2004 DVD Edition
Disc 2: The 1977 Original Theatrical Version


Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Disc 1: The 2004 DVD Edition
Disc 2: The 1980 Original Theatrical Version


Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Disc 1: The 2004 DVD Edition
Disc 2: The 1983 Original Theatrical Version




These 2-Disc DVD copies of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi were sold only for a limit of time. Kind of like what Walt Disney Pictures has done with some of their DVD releases like Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Disney's Aladdin, or any other timeless Disney movie.




"I, Tim am proud of George Lucas for all that he has done throughout his career as a movie maker as either director or executive producer. Other then his six Star Wars movies, or nine if you include the Original Theatrical versions of the trilogy, I like his other movies he's done which include THX 1138, American Graffiti, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Ewok Adventure: Caravan of Courage, An Ewok Adventure: The Battle for Endor, Labyrinth, The Land Before Time, and Willow.

I've enjoyed watching Star Wars endless times since I was able to talk and walk. Which was sometime either in 1987 or 1988, I think. Now that I have the 2-Disc DVDs of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, I am hoping that next time George Lucas markets them, he will release episodes I-III, the 2006 DVD release of episodes IV-VI, and the Star Wars: Bonus Material DVD that came with the 2004 trilogy release altogether as an 'Ultimate Star Wars Saga Collection,' which would have thirteen DVD discs. That is my idea for his next marketing plan for his Star Wars movies.

If I were to meet with George Lucas, how would I feel? Me? I would be so happy to see him. In fact, I would tell him how much I have enjoyed Star Wars and his other movies he has done with either Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Jim Henson, Ron Howard, Don Bluth, or any other movie maker who has worked with him. In addition, I don't know how often he uses the internet, but I hope that he will see this article I did for him and for us really old Star Wars fans who grew up with the original, classic, and best versions of the Star Wars Trilogy.

On May 25th, 2007, I plan to have myself a big Star Wars Marathon starting with the original version of Star Wars, then continuing with the original version of The Empire Strikes Back, original version of Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, special edition/dvd version of Star Wars, special edition/dvd version of The Empire Strikes Back, and ending with the special edition/dvd version of Return of the Jedi."


Happy 30th Anniversary to Star Wars -- May 25th, 2007.


This article is dedicated to George Lucas, the cast of each Star Wars movie, and all who have helped out through the whole creation of the Star Wars Universe.
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