Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT EAN: 0024543263739 Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Number Of Items: 2 Publisher: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Region Code: 1 Release Date: 2006-09-12 Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: 1977-05-25
Rating: - What ORIGINAL Star Wars Fans Wanted All Along
This review is for all ORIGINAL Star Wars fans (I was 14 when it was released). This is what WE have wanted all along. The original Star Wars movie we saw in 1977 (no "Episode IV - A New Hope" in the crawler - never thought I'd get to see that again). This is the untampered with version, no computer generated alterations to the visuals and storyline, no special sound, no special format, but ALL THE ORIGINAL FUN!!! The quality of the DVD is actually quite good. Much better than your old VHS versions you've worn out. Take it from "one of you"...you WILL love this DVD. (Those who hate this DVD are the ones who think it's cool that a young Anakin replaced the old Anakin in the "special edition" of ROTJ...unbelievable!). And by the way...get it right once and for all people...the argument isn't "Han shot first", the truth is "Greedo never shot".
Rating: - Always a classic!
The original, history-making Star Wars trilogy is a worthy investment for anyone's library. The digital update makes for a more intense experience. The background disc is so loaded with information and stories, you feel as if you were there from conceptualization to final edit. Don't miss out on this. Get your own copy before it's on EBay for hundreds of dollars!
Rating: - Stand Up and Cheer
Star Wars ranked number 15 on the AFI's top 100 list of Amberican films. It's been the inspiration of countless film-makers, writers, video game programmers, and peopel who dream of becoming the "next George Lucas".
It's a simple story of good vs. evil and Imperialism vs. Rebellion, a boy's coming of age, and the power of the spiritual in a universe that makes a big show of techneological force. But somehow it has come to mean much more than that.
The making of Star Wars was part genius and part luck, and I've read the making of books to prove it. Part of you wants to say that George Lucas would have made a masterpiece no matter what and another part of you looks a the rough cut of the film and knows it could have been just another space fantasy film, but all rights should have been. No matter how it got made, Star Wars is a perfect example of what can go right in a film to make it transcend its genre.
The cinematography is wonderful. The editing is long where it needs to be, short where it needs to be. The acting is endearing (if silly and cheesy at times). The characters are archtypes, not stereotypes. The special effects are the best of what stop-motion can accomplish, legendary. The music is my pick for the greatest movie soundtrack of all time (and I've listened to it plenty). The script may not be shakespeare, but it's still great stuff. Everyone can relate to these characters, and many feel almost as if they knew them themselves. A lot of people love Han Solo. As for me, Luke Skywalker was always my hero.
I think inside of most people there is a hero who longs to make a difference in the world, to fight against evil and triumph with their friends to thunderous applause. Everyone wants to be that hero of a thousand faces. George Lucas gave us the ability to see that hero on the big screen, as never before.
You could write whole books about the influence that Star Wars has had on the space fantasy genre, blockbuster movies, and people around the world. Countless debate has gone back and forth on continuity, expanded storylines, what characters, books, and films influenced the film's making, and of course, whether the widescreen, unaltered, or special editions are the best way to watch. People will even argue whether or not the three prequels should be considered part of the official story and Star Wars Universe. But for all that, the original Star Wars stands on its own, as a cinematic achievement and a cultural one, and as a doorway that opened countless imaginations.
The story is universal. It has been told many times before. A young boy dreams of becoming a hero and fighting against evil, with the help of a mentor he rescues a princess and saves the day. I think deep down just about everyone loves this story. This movie isn't perfect. No movie is.Someday this story will be told better. But for now, Star Wars is the definitive space fantasy for the entire planet.
Rating: - Must Own Box Set
What can I say about this set that hasen't already been said. If you are a fan of the movies and don't own episodes 4-6 then I highly recommend buying this. The bonus 4th disc is a very nice touch. I found this set alot cheaper at a local retail store for around $40.
Rating: - Don't Be Afraid of the CGI
I've wanted to add this title to my DVD collection for a while, but hesitated when I saw the controversy about the changes. Still, at $25 for the set, I thought I'd take a chance.
Personally, I think the CGI is great. It looks crisp on an HD screen, and not grainy like all movies would be from this period. It breathes new life into a good, but old movie.
I even wish they would have taken it a step further and updated some of the lo-res computer graphics in the movie. They look like Pong.
The puppets seem kind of campy looking today, and maybe they could have done a little something with those too.
I guess there's no way to cover up some of the stupid dialogue between Han and Lea, but that's another matter.
I do agree with others that both versions should be available, but I'm guessing that would be expensive. The whole "Greedo shot first" thing is pretty bad, and completely changes Han's character, but whatever.
The changes make the two trilogies fit together better, and make modern viewing a little bit nicer.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing"
-Darth Vader
Instead of focusing solely on the search market, where Google generates most of its revenue, the company plays in multiple other markets -- leaving it vulnerable if it spreads itself too thin, analysts say.
All About N-Gage have the dirt on a game that looks like it has a lot of potential: Asphalt: Urban GT. I can't say that I've played much more than some FIFA and other random stuff on the N-Gage, but a good racer can add a lot of value to a gaming platform. Of course I'm still waiting to see if Call of Duty rocks as much as it should.
Ted Shelton: "Frankly I felt that BlogOn was a waste of time and money."
I think the BlogOn conference was overproduced. In the name of professionalism the organizing firm turned off potential speakers, oversubscribed sponsors, etc.
I would have liked a debatable topic (aside from *blogging = journalism*. Two people slugging it out. Or a devil's advocate taking challenges from the floor.
I would have liked more hard numbers. Facts. Charts. Diagrams. We have the analytic tools to BS-check them; harder on vague opinions and single-points-of-observation.
I found it disturbing how much money was being commanded (from both attendees and sponsors) for a conference at a university. Maybe it was because it was at Berkeley? Maybe we should have taken over a community college or a Cal State or a DeVry. The facilities costs would have been cheaper at least. I heard an organizer apologize and say the next one would be at a hotel, like that would have been better.
Cost wasn't the whole problem. We're at a stage where early adopters are meeting folks who want to leap the chasm. Huge gaps in knowledge, experience, context, culture, vocabulary. It's the gap.
There are huge ideas to be explored, even in the world of applying blogs to media strategy and the enterprise. And most of the big ideas weren't even on the agenda at BlogOn. Probably because it was catering to those who want to commercialize, fund, and otherwise exploit (excuse me, "get in on") the emerging medium.
Let's fork these conferences so advanced topics on business and technology and culture fit the participants.
I've heard it said by Dave Winer and many many others: if only Dean had reinvested half the money raised into the Internet, then ...
OK, so you're the Dean Campaign Chief Information Officer in August 2003. The money starts to roll in. $20 million over six months, $2-4 million per month.
What would you spend the money on?
What does your monthly budget look like?
What is your application and infrastructure portfolio?
How much will you allocate to maintenance?
You're building from scratch, so what problems do you hope to avoid through wise architecture?
What are your big milestones?
Who are your key vendors?
How do you spend in consonance with the campaign strategy?
How will you use the Internet to bring offline voters into the campaign at the same numbers as radio or television broadcasts?
What is your online strategy for responding to attack ads and opposition pundits in radio, television and print?
Online community takes time to build and is very hard to organize geographically. What will you do to match the state-by-state primary schedule?
What can you do with online services to serve the campaign in caucus states?
You are preparing for Bush to launch in Spring 2004. What are your countermeasures to reach out to moderate Republicans online while the GOP uses its advanced voter email systems to barrage 200 million validated email addresses?
- What ORIGINAL Star Wars Fans Wanted All Along