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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Brand: Twentieth Century Fox EAN: 0024543263937 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: September 12, 2006 Running Time: 134 minutes Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 1983 Sales Rank: 3275 MPN: FOXD2236393D
Description: For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus, these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983.
Amazon.com: The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of Return of the Jedi is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Jedi as it originally played in theaters in 1983. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So Sebastian Shaw reclaims his spot as the man behind Darth Vader's mask, and we don't see the otherworldly celebration (including the Gungans) at the end of the movie.
What do you lose by watching the 1983 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Jedi, however, on a widescreen TV will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference.
Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of Return of the Jedi, and the 1983 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Awsome movie
This movie, and the other part of the trilogy, as well, are the best of Lucas Film.
This time the movie was re-edited and digital improvement helping you to see in the new format of DVD and ... Read More
Rating: - 100+ Words on a truly great movie!
Not to get into the whole "Clerks" which movie was better argument here, but I always liked "Return of The Jedi" better then "Empire Strikes Back". The reason I love "Jedi" is that within this film you get ... Read More
Rating: - 2 stars for comedy value
I've been watching the SW movies again lately out of nostalgia. I don't think I;ve seen any of them since I was 10, except the 7-hour long toy commercial known as the Prequel Trilogy. This one, ROTJ, sucks. ... Read More
Rating: - A great ending to a great trilogy!
So what about the Ewoks, it's always been for kids. And this is the weakest of the three, only cause the rest are so great! See it.
Rating: - To restore freedom to the galaxy
RETURN OF THE JEDI was the STAR WARS film which thrilled me most as a kid. I loved the ewoks, though now I find them to be a bit irritating. I loved the scenes in Jabba's palace, though now I think the use of ... Read More
- Awsome movie
- 2 stars for comedy value