Star Wars IV: A New Hope (Limited Edition) [DVD]

Great movie

Love it

For a start, this edited, or restored, or whatever-the-case-may-be version, in no way detracts in the slightest regard from the original movie. Having watched it a number of times now, I can certainly conjecture that if you liked something in any way of the original, you will not like it any less in this 2006 version. At least that was my experience. I can only speak for myself. The whites are all just as white and clean. Everything shines and gleams as though it had been taken out of hermetically sealed lab-casing just moments before the shoot. The story itself, mind you, is not what you would call a deep and profound allegory. No offence intended. I don't think it was ever meant to be. But it does have a good plot. A storyline that hangs together in the classical sense. And the technical wizardry and attention to detail are phenomenal. Quite astonishing. Just as R2D2 gets to bleeping at C3PO aboard the Rebel Ship, it suddenly occurs to you that a whole new droid language could have been written for just this one scene. And when the Stormtroopers come in, their shining white armour against the shining white walls instantly alert you to what a great film this is. And Alec Guiness and Carrie Fisher's acting really make Jedi Powers seem like they have a reality apart from fiction, even though in a strange way it is always clear that this is just a story - only a work of fiction. Totally ahead of its time back in '77, and it still looks totally ahead of its time, even as I watch it now. Normally I prefer films to be a little more ironic, perhaps a little bit more intellectually layered, but I can honestly say that I have no problem making an exception for this techno-masterwork. Easily the best of the Star Wars Chronicles, I see no easy way how anybody could ever tire of watching this film, which may well be my favourite movie ever. Too many good points to list. A real classic.

Star Wars: A New Hope, is one film everyone knows about and to some extent it merits it praise and enthusiasm. In the 70s apocalyptic and dystopian Sci fi was mostly in fashion and some the best science fiction came out of these genres (Soylent Green, The Omega Man, Andromeda Strain): these are classic and highly intelligent films that painted a bleak and at the time realistic depiction of the future: as overpopulated, destroyed and ruled by intense fatalism. However Star Wars to some extent attacked that form of sci-fi and delivered a more light-hearted and fun approach: it mined the idea of intergalactic war, heroes and villains, aliens, good versus evil and large space battles-its everything a fun sci fi needs and it delivers the goods. Star Wars is not attempting to be serious, profound or clever like the films it competed with but present an alternative view of the future as populated with adventure, excitement and new frontiers rather than decaying cities and bleak landscapes. There's a lot to like in Star Wars a New Hope: plenty of compelling and exciting set-pieces, a sympathetic if fresh-faced hero and an exciting plot that is at times silly but also entertaining and gripping (most notably the brilliant Death Star escape sequence). The film tells the tale of Luke a young farmer on a distant planet who goaded by a search for adventure enters a war between the powerful and evil Empire and the good Rebellion. Along the way he develops from fresh-faced and naïve youngster to experienced and clever youngster and meets some interesting characters: the cool rogue Han Solo and Chewbacca, wise Jedi master Obi-Wan and the irritating but endearing C3PO and R2D2. When it comes to depth, the film is not highly intelligent and thematically rich, however it is a clever re-working of the fantasy and fairy-tales of youth (the brave hero, the beautiful princess who needs to be saved from the evil villains). Whilst the characters aren't particularly well developed they are still well handled and are indeed made up of a collection of compelling caricatures (wise mentor, rogue captain, comedy-duo, beautiful princess). Its very much a film that deals with archetypes and genre characters but that doesn't make it any less interesting. Some of the weak aspects include some poor quality dialogue, a problem with slow-pacing in the first 40 minutes of the film and under-developed characters but the film excels at special affects, excitement, plot and action and is indeed a lot of fun. In a recent interview George Lucas explained how his friends, which include auteur directors Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola asked him, "why don't you make a film expressing an artistic statement like Taxi Driver, why are you making kids films?" He simply replied because that is what, "I like to do" and Star Wars is all the better for it and in some ways a light-hearted and compelling antidote to the bleakness of brilliant films like Taxi Driver.

What a blast.This movie rocks and is great nostalgia.Both versions of the movie were fantastic.I have a love for this movie and these DVDs are a great buy.I would recommend them.

Very good classic sci fi movie, still awesome even today. One of my favourites 😍 ❤️ ♥️ 💕

Over the years we have all bought DVDs of films which have suffered from the addition of extra scenes which damage the 'film experience' in a couple of ways. Timing is everything. The taut, well-edited, original theatre release which established your liking for the film can easily be trashed by the addition of extra scenes or more CGI material. The budgetary and technical constraints on the original production to the Star Wars (a new hope) led to a spare and well-paced story unfolding before us. The addition of extra, largely CGI based, 'footage' has in my view done real damage to the enjoyment of this film. Sadly this is not the only example of Studios/Distributors failing in their dabbling with our memories of what was a good night out at the cinema. I've been caught out with the same thing with Lord of the Ring 'boxed-set' releases. Some films have, I'm sure been destroyed in the cutting room but if a studio has been lucky enough to find they've got a box-office hit film on their hands then I think they should set up any later repackaging by driving the menu on the DVDs to first the original release, then, feel free to list the beefed-up (generally watered-down) versions further down the menu.

I recently bought all 3 of these "Limited Edition" movies, and have already watched them countless times. What can I say? There are still hugely enjoyable, and just wonderful escapist fun! I once felt a bit apprehensive about the added CGI elements in these movies, but actually after a while you start to forget they are there. Besides, they are only really noticeable in Star Wars: A New Hope, and not so much in the other films (though, there is quite a bit of added CGI stuff at the very end of Return of the Jedi). Just to make sure people know: each DVD consists of 2 discs - one contains the "new", brushed up, improved picture and sound quality version with added CGI elements (Jabba the Hutt talking to Solo; Greedo firing the first shot in the bar when confronting Solo; additional CGI animals and characters in the Mos Aisley spaceport), and all in a new 16:9 widescreen format (should go fullscreen on most widescreen tvs). The other disc contains the discernibly older, unaltered "Theatrical version", with no CGI elements. Basically, the film you remember from your childhood before those stupid prequels. It is in 4:3 format. This is also the same for the other 2 titles in this collection (you know, the REAL movies, RoTJ, ESB). I just have to say, watching them in 16:9 with improved picture and sound, it's hard to believe they were made 30 years ago, they look so contemporary. For anyone new to the Star Wars universe, and wants to know what the fuss is about, just buy these three movies: Star Wars:A New Hope; Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back; and Star Wars:Return of the Jedi. Do NOT waste your money on the so-called "prequels" which Lucas made later. They are all utter rubbish and an insult to the real Star Wars fans. May the Force be with you, always!