Today marks 28 years since the Star Wars: Trilogy: Special Edition: Boxset, with Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983): Special Edition videos were released on Australian home video. (15/10/97 is the exact release date in case you’re wondering).
These three Star Wars videos were the very first ones to use the new 1997 theatrical restored Special Edition versions of the films, instead of the original theatrical versions of the films.
I’ve also included both, the Fullscreen and Widescreen versions, as they were possibly released at the same time as each other.
Back In 1997, Episodes IV, V, and VI were all re-mastered and theatrically re-released as the "Special Editions." For the re-release, in addition to extensive clean-up and restoration work, Lucas also made a number of changes to the films in order to "finish the film the way it was meant to be" (as Lucas said in a September 2004 interview with Associated Press).
Many of Lucas' changes for the Special Editions were cosmetic, generally adding special effects which weren't originally possible.
Other changes, however, are considered to have affected plot or character development.
These changes, such as the change referred to by fans as "Han shot first," have proven to be controversial.
The "Han shot first" situation can be generally described as this.
In the original release of Episode IV, the character Han Solo shoots and kills a bounty hunter named Greedo, after Greedo threatens to kill him in order to collect a bounty which had been placed on Solo's head by Jabba the Hutt.
In the Special Edition of the film, however, Greedo shoots first at close range.
Only after he misses does Solo return fire.
George Lucas has been quoted in Entertainment Weekly as saying that this version of the scene was meant to be the original, as in the original storyboards (Greedo fires first at Han Solo).
In 2000, this version had box art redesigned to match the Box Art of Episodes I–III except the front of the box was white for Episodes IV and VI, while Episode V retained the black used for the Prequel box art.
Also the Star Wars logos on Episodes IV–VI used the logo design as featured for Episodes I–III.
This was done to create a more uniform look for all 6 movies.
Special coverage on CNN in 1997 notes that Lucas spent $10 million to rework his original 1977 film, which was roughly what it cost to film it originally.
$3 million of that was spent on the audio track for the special edition.
Lucas also spent $2.5 million each on Episodes V and VI.
The following is a partial list of changes aside from overall audio and visual alterations.
If you know any other Australian Videocassettes that were also released on (15/10/97), please let me know in the comments below.
Lukas D
Today marks 28 years since the Star Wars: Trilogy: Special Edition: Boxset, with Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983): Special Edition videos were released on Australian home video. (15/10/97 is the exact release date in case you’re wondering).
These three Star Wars videos were the very first ones to use the new 1997 theatrical restored Special Edition versions of the films, instead of the original theatrical versions of the films.
I’ve also included both, the Fullscreen and Widescreen versions, as they were possibly released at the same time as each other.
Back In 1997, Episodes IV, V, and VI were all re-mastered and theatrically re-released as the "Special Editions." For the re-release, in addition to extensive clean-up and restoration work, Lucas also made a number of changes to the films in order to "finish the film the way it was meant to be" (as Lucas said in a September 2004 interview with Associated Press).
Many of Lucas' changes for the Special Editions were cosmetic, generally adding special effects which weren't originally possible.
Other changes, however, are considered to have affected plot or character development.
These changes, such as the change referred to by fans as "Han shot first," have proven to be controversial.
The "Han shot first" situation can be generally described as this.
In the original release of Episode IV, the character Han Solo shoots and kills a bounty hunter named Greedo, after Greedo threatens to kill him in order to collect a bounty which had been placed on Solo's head by Jabba the Hutt.
In the Special Edition of the film, however, Greedo shoots first at close range.
Only after he misses does Solo return fire.
George Lucas has been quoted in Entertainment Weekly as saying that this version of the scene was meant to be the original, as in the original storyboards (Greedo fires first at Han Solo).
In 2000, this version had box art redesigned to match the Box Art of Episodes I–III except the front of the box was white for Episodes IV and VI, while Episode V retained the black used for the Prequel box art.
Also the Star Wars logos on Episodes IV–VI used the logo design as featured for Episodes I–III.
This was done to create a more uniform look for all 6 movies.
Special coverage on CNN in 1997 notes that Lucas spent $10 million to rework his original 1977 film, which was roughly what it cost to film it originally.
$3 million of that was spent on the audio track for the special edition.
Lucas also spent $2.5 million each on Episodes V and VI.
The following is a partial list of changes aside from overall audio and visual alterations.
If you know any other Australian Videocassettes that were also released on (15/10/97), please let me know in the comments below.
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 11