The Star Wars Trilogy.

Here is to all of us fans who love the original versions of The Star Wars Trilogy.

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 realeasd 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/Holliday 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 Prequil 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 prequl 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 Origianal 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 Origianal 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 carrer 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.

Comments

My dad has those movies

Star Wars is one of the most amazing series in movie history. I kind of lost interest after Episode I came out, but i'm luring myself back into the series. I'm thinking of dressing as a Jedi this Halloween.

13 discs?........-_- Only if Fox executes it properly. I just bought the Alien Quadrilogy and its packaging and overall execution is hideous. Five feets of cardboard and plastic digipacks? No thanks. It's nice but I think it could've been handled differently...like maybe the four movies and their bonus discs in four plastic cases and then the ninth bonus laserdisc archive disc in another separate case much like the 2004 release of the original Star Wars Trilogy (which I own). I may design my own packaging if I can find all the necessary supplies and hold a funeral for all the old packaging in a bonfire...HA-HA-HA!!! You dumbasses at FOX!!

i found a website a few years back that had a very in-depth article about the origins of the Star Wars story, unfortunately the site is gone now but i found the article in the internet archives way back machine...most of the pix won't load but the text is still there. it's kinda long but it's a great read, has a lot of interesting stuff.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070220092635/www.spookybug.com/origins/index.html

ooliyo said:

"LOL

Pretty funny article showing that cheap "Pawn Shop" trilogy set on youre bed. I'm serious. George Lucas would like this article too."

Yep, I found those old VHS copies of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi with the old Fox Video logo on them in a downtown pawn shop in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. Then later on I found the ones with the old CBS/FOX logos on them which were the first video copies that were released onto video in 1984.

Great article, I've been in love with the original trilogy since my dad took me to see them at their rerelease in theaters. The new ones (especially the 1st and 2nd) really killed a part of Star Wars for me though. The 3rd one "finally got it right" but still can't hold a match to the originals their amazing.

The article didn't do much for me. Just a list of when all the films came out both in theaters and on tape. Big whoop. And include me on the side against the lameass prequals. Poorly directed, very poorly written, pathetic continuity with regards to the original films, and the scene with Vader shouting "Nooooooooooo!" made me die a little on the inside. I would have four words for Lucas were I to meet him, "Star Wars Holiday Special."

I was going to post a "Happy 30th Anniversary" comment on May 25, 2007. But I'm a few days late for that.

Oh well, I'll post it anyway. Happy 30th Anniversary to Star Wars.

The New Star Wars Trilogy sucked.
I was really ticked when Lucas released The original Star Wars films to DVD, then a year later re-released the DVD's with the original theatrical version included. What a rip off.
I will not buy them out of spite!!

I really like the original Star Wars Trilogy, but the new ones werent as good...I wish the effects would have been done the same way the old ones were done, it would have been a better movie. I still wish to this day I could own a real, working lightsaber...good article, but not the best like you said...not very humble i guess...I still give it the thumbs up

Thank You very much. I like the comments that I have seen so far. Since this is my second article to be posted to the public, I do look forward on writing other articles in the future. I have to say that both this article of The Star Wars Trilogy, and my Return of the Labyrinth articles are some of the best articles here at RetroJunk.

Once again, thank you very much for all of your comments.

I consider myself a fan of the Original, Non-SE Classic Star Wars Trilogy.

I spit on the Special Editions and I spit on the Prequel Trilogy.

Great article I loved the original star wars films but to be honest the new ones weren't as good. I did buy the the star wars DVD'S with the original footage on, the ones that weren't tampered with, which were great to watch again.

You sure are proud of your collection, aren't you?

I love Star Wars and all, but one thing that burns me is the marketing ploy he's using.

Great article BTW, Mr. Lucas would have approved!

I enjoyed the podracing segments in Episode I.

I enjoyed all the Star Wars films... and I am a sucker for special effects... not so much for nastalgia, so I actually enjoyed the FX & enhancements added to each of the original Star Wars films...

I really enjoyed the prequals as well. Most pan it. I don't care for the "senate" segments in the first, but I found the first very watchable. Clone wars turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and of course the final was great... I just don't know why fans seems to deter from it so much. What more did they really want? It answers most of the questions that led up to the original 3 films.

I remember a rumor awhile ago that Lucas was going to do "sequals" to the original 3 (Episodes VII VIII & IX), but I don't think that's going to happen now.

My grandma had the special edition with the gold boxing and then gave it to me and I still keep it safe!

LOL

Pretty funny article showing that cheap "Pawn Shop" trilogy set on youre bed. I'm serious. George Lucas would like this article too.

Mavrick, as far as I know, they have not released a six pack of the Star Wars set. I think he also forgot to mention the Star Wars: Clone Wars Animated Series which bridged up the gap between episodes 2 & 3.

all of them were released in may my b day is may the 4th people joke may the 4th be with u

Well' you can't go wrong when you copy-paste an Akira Kurosawa samurai movie, add in Roman council debates calling it "The Senate" and go futuristic on them now can you? I did love the original trilogy for all it did for the Sci-Fi genre, but the new one...argh. Couldn't Lucas have picked someone better to play teen-adult Anakin? The guy has the emotiveness of a brick wall....

i was 9 when starwars came out back in 77. went to see it 10 times. top 3 all-time movies for me. man that was a long time ago.......lol

Pretty cool article!!!...even though I've never seen a Star Wars movie!

is the Star Wars 6-pack out yet?

Great article! I too am enchanted by Star Wars. I am but a Padawan at age 15, but I started my Star Wars journey in 1997 with the re-releases.