Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: George Lucas
Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $10.48
You Save: $9.50 (48%)
New (43) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $10.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  806 reviews
Sales Rank: 1456
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 121
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2236373D
UPC: 024543263739
EAN: 0024543263739
ASIN: B000FQJAIW
Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 1977
Release Date: September 12, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Complete with original case, disc(s), and artwork. In stock and ships right now.
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Amazon.com
The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of George Lucas's epic space fantasy Star Wars is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Star Wars as it originally played in theaters in 1977. What does that mean exactly? Well, for starters, the initial title crawl proclaims that this is just Star Wars, not Episode IV, A New Hope. Second, the film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more critters and droids scurrying around the port of Mos Eisley when Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi first arrive, no meetings between Han Solo and Jabba the Hut and between Luke and Biggs (extraneous scenes that were cut in 1977), no enhanced explosions during the final reel, and--most importantly to some fans--no more of Greedo shooting first in the bar. Instead Han is free to be the scoundrel and not even let Greedo squeeze off a shot. What do you lose by watching the 1977 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here). Digital cleanup for another--Tatooine looks like it's been coated with an additional layer of sand cloud. 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 Star Wars, however, is not anamorphically enhanced (sometimes referred to as "4:3 letterbox"), so on a widescreen TV it 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 Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope, and the 1977 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
Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/20/2007 Run time: 127 minutes Rating: Pg
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| Customer Reviews: Read 801 more reviews...
 One of my favorite Sci-Fi Movies November 22, 2008
Star Wars 4 Limited Edition includes the original theatrical release and the 2004 tweaked version. There are some fans who refuse to watch the 2004 edition. They prefer the original version where Han shoots first. Then there are people who prefer the 2004 release because it looks more realistic and updated. This DVD will please both fans.
The only reason this DVD does not get five stars is the lack of special features. There are no deleted scenes or inside looks. It just includes commentary.
If you already own the 2004 DVD, it is up to you if you want to spend 15 dollars on the original. You might want to wait for the Absolute Blu Ray Star Wars Episode 1-6 set becasue it will probably be made.
Note: For those of you with widescreen tvs, you will have to zoom in on the original disc because it is non-anaphormic. No biggy.
 Episode IV: A New Hope (Be thankful) October 25, 2008
I am also perplexed at the many whining reviews of this DVD set. I understand that LucasFilm had originally said that they would never release the original theatrical release on DVD, but they did, and we should be thankful, even if it isn't "perfect." All the whining isn't going to persuade Mr. Lucas to restore the original to modern-day brilliance. I think it adds a bit of charm to the set. Like an old-time movie, which it is becoming, and plot changes or significant editing to the story-lines are not always good, but Mr. Lucas does have a right to edit his movies as he sees fit. And again: MR. LUCAS DID NOT HAVE TO RELEASE THE ORIGINAL, UNEDITED TRILOGY. I'm just thankful that they released the original with English subtitles.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... October 17, 2008
STAR WARS! Or Episode IV: A New Hope as it's now known. It's one of greatest films ever, barnone! May the force be with you, always.
Star Wars (Episode IV - A New Hope) Original & Update #1 September 19, 2008
This is the classic sci-fi film, folks. If you are any kind of Star Wars fan, this DVD is a must for your collection. I've heard that George Lucas did not want to produce a DVD of the original theatric version of Star Wars, but felt compelled by fan demand. Even though the 1977 version is a mediocre-quality dub of the original film (& not anamorphic), it is wonderful to see it much the same way as I did when it was in the theater. Get it while it's still at a decent price, & still available!
Restoring hope September 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was born in April of 1972. My earliest memory is of the Bicentennial celebrations. I seem to remember watching people playing around with fireworks at our neighbor's house. But I'm not 100% sure these memories are accurate.
The first memory I know for sure is accurate is seeing "Star Wars" in 1977. This was back when it was just "Star Wars". Not "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope". No, it was just a simple, single film.
But what a film it was! I am pretty sure I'd seen movies in theatres before this one, but I don't remember doing so. The first movie I remember seeing after this one is "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". When I got a little older, I remember being very happy every time I went to visit my Aunt Judy because she had HBO, and there was a decent chance they'd be showing Star Wars, so I'd get to see it again. When Christmas and birthdays rolled around, one of the things I'd always ask for was "Star Wars" action figures. My mom always made me use a magic marker to color their feet black so they wouldn't get mixed up with any owned by any of the neighbor kids.
Through the 1980's a lot of my life centered around the "Star Wars" films. I remember seeing "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" when they were first in theatres. Hell, I've even seen the abortion best known to the world as The Star Wars Holiday Special!
I provide this rather lengthy digression because I want to make it clear that this movie has had a huge impact on my life, and that's something reasonably common to my generation. We're called "Generation X", but in many ways we're really the "Star Wars" Generation. The earliest members of the generation would've been only twelve or thirteen when the first movie came out. The last ones were born when "Return of the Jedi" was still fresh.
With Star Wars George Lucas managed to take several diverse elements (mythology, Japanese cinema, westerns, etc), and combine them into a film that was truly universal in nature. You can take the movie to just about anywhere in the world and people will recognize elements familiar to them, even if they've never seen the movie before.
Even now, thirty-one years after the movie first premired, it's casting a shadow over the world of film. Along with such movies as "The Birth of a Nation" and "Citizen Kane", it completely recreated the way movies are made. Certainly it's one of the most influential films ever made. It's also far more accessible than either of those other two great movies.
Of course no real reflection on this movie could go by without taking notice of the amazing score by John Williams. Even now, I bet you can remember the sound of the music playing as Luke looked out at the twin suns setting, or the music playing as everyone but Chewbacca got medals, and of course you'll remember the amazing theme to the film's opening titles. The film's score gave a gravitas to science fiction music that had been previously reached only by "2001 - A Space Odyssey" (a film not nearly as good and very overrated), and even that movie's score was made impressive by the fact that it was lifted from the classical masters.
Of course back in 1997, many fans screamed, "Murther! Murther most foul!" when George Lucas released the special edition versions of the movies with enhanced special effects and the like. Me, I like the special edition versions of all three movies, especially the first. They don't change the story any, they are prettier to look at, and it was nice to see the movies in the theatres again.
The film is not without flaws. The dialogue is a little clunky and wooden (to those bitching about the prequels being shallow on the dialogue, I suggest you go back and listen to the first three films again). The characters are pretty one-dimensional for the most part.
But despite those flaws, the movie is spectacular, and even now has an impact that cannot be underestimated. I remember a few years ago, after it had first come out on DVD, I had a couple friends over for Christmas. We were talking, playing video games and just generally goofing around. While we were eating, I popped on the movie, and even though we'd all seen it a half a gazillion times, we were still enthralled and gave it our almost undivided attention to a film that came out in 1977. Now that's praise!
This isn't the best film in the sextology. That honor goes to The Empire Strikes Back. But it is the most important film, and one of the best movies ever made.
With this DVD you get the original film and you get the special edition version that was created for the original DVD release back in 2004. Which is better? Eh, honestly I prefer the special edition version, but that's just me. Either way, it's a wonderful buy.
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