You could watch the original Star Wars movies exactly as you had seen them in the movie theater.
But you couldn't get them on DVD. Well, not legally.
But now you can.
Die-hard Star Wars fans soon can see the original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars films on DVD.
Even though George Lucas adamantly declared 2004's digitally restored Star Wars Trilogy DVDs the definitive versions of his movies, fans have held out hope for DVDs of the originals.
Their wishes will be granted Sept. 12 when Fox releases new two-disc DVDs ($30 each) of Star Wars (since retitled as Episode IV: A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that include the films as they first appeared in theaters, along with the new, restored versions (now available in the four-disc $70 Star Wars Trilogy).
The individual DVDs will be taken off the market on Dec. 31, a strategy that Disney uses on many of its classic releases.
Why didn't they just release them this way in the first place?
Back in 2004, Lucas told the New York Post, "The special edition is the one I wanted out there."
This new set of DVDs does not constitute "George changing his mind," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward.
Nope. Lucas just decided he wanted a few extra bucks.
I hate to be cynical, but...Lucas has gone from giving fans what they want to duping them into buying what he wants them to buy, when he wants them to buy. It's almost as if he believes that he's doing the right thing, but has become blinded by his own passions. It's eerily similar to ... some famous film character. Darth something or other. Has Lucas lost his way? Has he fallen down that dark path, seduced by the Dark Side?
I know. I know. My lack of faith is disturbing.
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