Written By: Dan Geer
The original Star Wars films are probably the most influential movies in the history of film-making, and are definitely the most referenced in pop culture. They have formed an incredibly relatable modern myth that movie-goers have fervently latched onto for over 30 years. Since the original film’s conception in 1977, a franchise was created that quickly became a “force” to be reckoned with, through its various popular sequels/prequels, animated series, TV movies, books and countless amounts of collectables. To this day, Star Wars is an unstoppable marketing machine, having birthed into existence the biggest, most passionate fan base on the planet when it comes to movies, and showing absolutely no sign of fading away. Like it or not, Star Wars is forever.
So it goes without saying that, ever since Star Wars creator George Lucas officially announced the release of all all six flims in one Blu-ray Set last year at the Star Wars: Celebration V convention in Orlando, FL, it became the most anticipated Blu-ray box set from that point on – right up to its release a little over a week ago on September 16th (Sept. 12th in the UK). In its first week of release, one million sets were sold around the world, raking in $84 million dollars – making it the bestselling catalog Blu-ray set of all time.
And yet, along with the release of the new set has come a vicious swarm of controversy. Fans are all over the map with this one, varying from embracing all the great special features and accepting the new changes made to the films, to flat out rejecting all of it simply because the original theatrical cuts of the original trilogy are not included. Because of all the insane debating and nitpicking going on over the set, I felt compelled to give my own take on it – after having already viewed what’s on the box set, unlike many who immediately dismissed it without even giving it a fair chance. I can only offer my reasoning behind why I chose to purchase the set, and from there the reader can evaluate (or reevaluate) whether or not this is a set worth owning. Sure, it is not really that important in the grand scheme of things. But, this is a movie website after all, and it’s Star Wars, so the following commentary on this set was pretty much inevitable.
You ready? Let’s get geeked…
The following analysis has been divided into two parts: The Special Features, where I give an overview and opinion on each of the main supplemental features included with the set, and The Films, where I give my personal my opinion of the new HD versions of the films with the new revisions and the controversy surrounding them. That way, if the reader is just curious about one of these two aspects of the set, he or she can easily skip right to it.
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Special Features:
– New Star Wars Archives Content: I cannot imagine hardcore fans of Star Wars not wanting this set when the archival content included with it is quite substantial – especially the 45 deleted/extended scenes. This alone is enough reason to purchase this. The deleted scenes from the original trilogy are essentially old Star Wars that is new to most of us. Watching these is like discovering long-lost friends you never knew you had in the first place. They are a part of something so beloved by so many people around the world, and yet are now just being discovered for the first time by most. Things like the Tosche Station scene, the wampa attack on Echo Base, or the Return of the Jedi Tatooine sandstorm scene are things we perhaps have always heard about over the years but have never actually gotten a glimpse of until now. These are scenes that those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s talked about while hanging out in tree houses when we were kids and always wanted to see, and now Lucasfilm has finally given them to us to own and enjoy. Fans just live for this stuff, as was totally apparent when Mark Hamill introduced his deleted scene from Return of the Jedi at Celebration V where Luke, while constructing his new lightsaber, appears to be moving towards the dark side of the Force while being summoned telepathically by Darth Vader. Fans went ballistic when that was unveiled, and now we can get just as excited 44 more times with this set.
The Cast & Crew Interviews are great as well. As far as I could tell, this is all new as well and will perhaps enlighten fans more about various aspects of the creation of these films. As a fan myself, I was never bored watching these. I have yet to peruse through all the Props, Maquette and Costume Turnarounds as well as the Matte Paintings and Concept Art sections, but from what I have seen thus far, they are all quite extensive and well put together. Star Wars art enthusiasts are sure to get quite a kick out what is sure to be hours on end of pure fanboy enjoyment – especially when they take a “First Look” at the Boba Fett prototype costume.
– In-Depth Documentaries and Featurettes: Admittedly, there is a bit left to be desired here. I found it to be a bit disappointing that this set does not include great documentaries that have been included on past DVD sets, such as The Phantom Menace documentary called The Beginning, or the Empire of Dreams original trilogy documentary – although I suppose their exclusion only means that buying those past sets was still worth the money. I would say my main disappointment is the exclusion of The History Channel’s Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, since the channel’s other Star Wars documentary, Star Wars Tech, is included here. The Legacy Revealed has to be one of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen on Star Wars, and I don’t understand how it didn’t make it on here. It’s also somewhat of a disappointment that no prequel documentaries are included (unless you count the Cast & Crew Interviews from the prequel bonus disc).
Having said that, what we have been given is still quite exquisite. The Making of Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back SPFX (1980) and Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983) – are great vintage documentaries and it is wonderful to finally have them in good quality. We’ve also been given Anatomy of a Dewback (1997), which is now practically a vintage documentary in and of itself, chronicling the addition of the CGI dewback creatures in the Special Edition of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
A curious, but interesting inclusion on this set is Star Warriors (2007), a documentary on the 501st Legion, which is a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization formed for the purpose of promoting interest in Star Wars, facilitating the use of Star Wars costumes, and to contribute to various charities, fundraisers, etc. This particular documentary focuses primarily on the lead-up to their march in the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade, but it also dives a bit into some of their personal lives and what they do to be a positive influence in society. Say what you want about these guys (and girls), but there’s more to it that just dressing up in cool costumes. The smile brought to a sick child’s face when a Star Wars character visits him/her in the hospital is priceless, and these guys do this kind of thing all the time. In fact, I’d say that the majority of their work is devoted to various charitable deeds. So this documentary is a nice inclusion to this set, acting as a reward for the members of the 501st and all they do. It’s also just fascinating how much work goes into Star Wars costuming.
The History Channel’s Star Wars Tech (2007), while not as intriguing as Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, is still interesting nonetheless. As kids growing up with Star Wars, we’ve all wondered whether or not certain technological wonders from that universe might be possible to create someday. This documentary does a great job speculating on certain iconic technologies from the films such as lightsabers, lasers, droids, the ability to travel at “lightspeed,” etc. – theorizing on whether or not they can actually become realities in the future. Great stuff for geeks who have always wanted a real lightsaber or Astromech!
One that is quickly becoming a fan favorite is A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later. It is a wonderful, albeit bittersweet documentary to watch, seeing as it was made in 2010 by Lucasfilm not to long before the film’s director, Irvin Kershner passed away. Not only to we get great commentary from Kershner here, but also from George Lucas, Empire Strikes Back screen writer Lawrence Kasdan (who also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Star Wars music composer John Williams. It’s not a very long documentary, clocking in at under 30 minutes, but it is still great to see these guys reminiscing about the most beloved Star Wars film of all time and their involvement with it. This is just pure geeky gold here.
Finally, the set includes over an hour and a half of Star Wars spoofs strung together for one gigantic barrel o’ laughs. There is some really great material on here, including Weird Al’s The Saga Begins music video, Saturday Night Live skits (yes, Bill Murray’s is on here), the Volkswagon and Tom Tom commercials, and clips from various sitcoms and animated series like How I Met your Mother and Family Guy. While I was a bit let down by the fact that you cannot access each spoof via chapter selection, it is great to be able to pop this in your blu-ray player and laugh your butt off for an hour and a half. Sitting through this, I realized that it serves as a great reminder that Star Wars is all about having fun. Fans tend to take it so seriously and wind up forgetting why they fell in love with the films in the first place. Take the lightsaber out of your butt, lighten up and have some laughs, man!
While this set may not be perfect when it comes to special features, it still has quite a bit to offer, especially for old-school fans of the original trilogy (and I didn’t even touch on the archival commentaries for the films themselves that include never-before-heard commentary from various cast and crew members from the films – even Alec Guinness!). I guarantee fans will have a great time with all of it!
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The Films:
While all the magnificent special features included on the Complete Star Wars Saga Blu-ray set are already well worth the price, they are merely secondary compared to the films themselves. Having all six Star Wars films remastered in 1080P high-definition picture and 6.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound in one Blu-ray box set is what every die-hard Yoda-head in the world has always wanted, especially when it comes to the original trilogy. It is hard to argue against the most influential movies in film history being given such high quality treatment.
Now, I’m not here to give my opinion on the films themselves. I think it is safe to say that we’re far beyond that point now when it comes to Star Wars fandom. We like what we like, and despise what we can’t stand. Sure, fine, whatever. The real reason you’re reading this is either because you are perhaps considering buying the set but wondering if it is worth the money because of all the fan negativity surrounding it, or because you are simply curious how I could be so insane as to shell out my hard-earned cash to buy this when George Lucas keeps tinkering around with these films without giving us the original theatrical cuts of the original trilogy in hi-def as well.
We all should know by now that Lucas has stated many times in the past that he does not prefer the original theatrical versions of the original trilogy, as they are not up to par with what he originally envisioned for the films, therefore he doesn’t want to re-release them. I may not agree with him on this, but he basically stands by his opinions and methods of doing things, and he has every right to do that. So we really shouldn’t expect him to release them. [It should be noted that Lucasfilm did give in back in 2006 when they released the Limited Edition DVDs, which included direct Laser-disc transfers of the original theatrical versions, although they were non-anamorphic widescreen. But at least they’re available to watch]
I have faith that the original versions will somehow get restored and released in hi-def anamorphic widescreen some day. But for now, the 2011 hi-def Special Editions are what we have been given, so we must accept that fact, move on and evaluate what is – not through knee-jerk reaction (like the thousands of trolls reviewing the set over at Amazon.com), but by putting our opinions in the context of actually watching the latest versions of the movies, taking everything in as it plays out, and simply allowing time for it all to sink in. Understandably, it can be jarring to experience changes to something that you cherish so dearly, but I think it’s only fair that we at least actually watch the current versions before we flat out crucify them (and I don’t mean just watch the video clips of the alterations online). Sure, this means you’ll have to buy them, but there’ s really no other way to properly critique how the films currently play out without watching them.
Why must we accept or get used to it, you ask? To put it plainly, when you watch the Blu-rays, the stories are still the same. The characters are still the same. None of the changes made over the years have been so drastic as to make the films unrecognizable to the viewer. No iconic aspects of the films have been destroyed in any way, thus the films themselves still remain iconic. These are essentially the same films we all grew up with and loved. Are there alterations George Lucas could do to change the iconical impact the films have had on film-making and pop culture? Absolutely. But I sincerely feel that he has not done that here.
Take the most controversial change with Vader’s new line at the end of Return of the Jedi, for example. Whether or not Vader shouts “Noooo!” when he throws the Emperor down the shaft is not really important, unless it dramatically changes how the overall scene plays out. Whether he’s thinking “Noooo!,” or saying it aloud doesn’t change the meaning or impact of the scene. Sure, I had absolutely no problem with Vader’s “wordless self sacrifice,” as actor Simon Pegg so eloquently Tweeted when the change was first announced. The alteration in and of itself is not really necessary. I won’t dispute that. However, Vader being silent also isn’t necessary. The scene plays out the same either way. I personally never found myself in the past thinking, “Gosh, Vader’s wordless self sacrifice is so iconic.” I simply thought, “Gosh, Vader’s self-sacrifice is so iconic.”In other words, this scene and the film itself still remain iconic and have the same impact as before, whether Vader verbally expresses himself here or not (Personally, the more I have watched this scene, the less I have a problem with the new alteration – which, by the way, is not as over the top as the “Noooo!” in Revenge of the Sith).
Sure, it would certainly help if Lucas would release the original theatrical versions alongside these. It would make the changes much more tolerable in the minds of fans, since so many other film directors have released “Director’s Cuts” of their films alongside a corresponding theatrical cut and no one seems to complain. It would make sense for Lucas to do this as well. But I think the biggest problem lies in the fact that fans have forgotten what really makes Star Wars what it is, and they have, for some reason, elevated these new minor changes to the level of replacing the puppet Yoda with a CGI creation for The Empire Strikes Back, or replacing the voice of Darth Vader with Hayden Christensen’s. We’re nowhere near that with this release.
While it’s perfectly fine to like or dislike certain changes (believe me, I don’t like the “Jedi Rocks” music number in Jabba’s Palace any more than you do), it seems awfully silly to boycott the set over the new stuff included here. In the end, these are still 99.9% the same films we grew up with, and they still have the same impact as before. Not only that, but the changes made to this release are the least drastic out of anything Lucas has ever done with the films in the past. In fact, with each new release Lucasfilm puts out, there are less and less changes made. This should actually be encouraging to the fans.
To be quite honest, the films have never looked or sounded better than on this Blu-ray release, and they still emotionally move me the same way they always have. I am totally 100% behind re-releasing the original theatrical versions of the original trilogy alongside the newest versions for film preservation purposes, but I am fine with this release the way it is – even if we never get those original cuts. They’re still great – despite the alterations. They’re still Star Wars. I really think most will be blown away by the experience if they would just give it a chance. We really should be thankful that we even got this release at all.
This is why I bought Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray. I hope that, in the end, the reader can at least understand my justification for buying this set, even if it doesn’t happen to influence his or her decision one way or the other. All I can really hope for is that it help people think twice and give something a chance before so easily crying foul at every turn, especially over the most trivial of things. It’s so easy to immediately react and dish out raw emotion nowadays, with the advent of online social media, blogging etc., and Star Wars fandom (among countless other, more important things) has unfortunately become a byproduct of it. We get so lost in it, losing the ability to distinguish between constructive criticism and downright hateful cynicism. It almost seems like, with the direction Star Wars fandom is headed, fans might start demanding the head of George Lucas on a platter just for digitally removing a speck of dust from the white corridors of Bespin in a further revision. A change isn’t bad just because it’s a change.
I seem to remember once hearing a wise old Jedi Master say, “Don’t give in to hate. That leads to the dark side.” Have we not learned anything?
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Update: TheForce.net has posted a link to this article in their Star Wars is Everywhere segment!
