VHS Videos: Star Wars Trilogy Video

Average Rating:

Rating: - The best release (so far) of these immortal movies
Well, most of the world is still waiting for this classic trilogy to be released on DVD, and will likely be waiting for a few more years. Until then, we have to content ourselves with this VHS Special Edition release. The DVD release will mark my 4th purchase of the trilogy, and I have to admit that I don't regret buying these movies 3 times already one bit. They are just that good.

This epic tale of the saga between good and evil is every bit as entertaining as it was 25 years ago, though the new added scenes (for the most part) have not improved the films much. Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and especially Yoda and Darth Vader have become household names thanks to this great trilogy. As far as epic scope and storytelling grandeur, there are few movies that can rival the Star Wars trilogy.

George Lucas forever revolutionized the film industry with his release of Star Wars: a New Hope (in 1977). Every so often, a film is released that forever changes the world of cinema, and Star Wars was such a film. This movie, along with its sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (all 3 included in this release), was very deservant of all the credit it received. Say what you will about the new films--there are very few people who don't have a special place in their hearts for the original Star Wars trilogy.

Don't be too put off by the die hard fans rating this as a terrible disappointment simply because it's not the much-awaited DVD versions. The sound and picture qualities in this version of the trilogy is by far the best yet. Oh yes, let's not forget John Williams' awe-inspiring scores for the films! These films have been my passion since childhood and always will be. May the Force Be With You, George!

EPISODE IV, V, & VI: TIMELESS CLASSICS

It was history in the making in the world of Hollywood, before

George Lucas went over to the Dark Side with the prequels. In

1977, Lucas created Star Wars Episode IV-A New Hope, little

expecting that this movie would go to box-office light-speed and

gain him a name in cinema history. This was the saga of an

idealistic farmboy named Luke Skywalker, son of a fallen Jedi

Knight, and his quest to seek out not only a princess but his

own destiny. Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, two droids, the squat but

very versatile R2-D2 and the cowardly Tin Man, C-3PO, Corellian

space pirate Han Solo and the Wookiee Chewbacca immortalized

themselves in the psyches of Boomer and Generation-X'ers. The

Mos Eisley Cantina, with its plethora of exotic creatures, the

desert world of Tatooine, the moon-sized planet-destroying Death

Star of Grand Moff Tarkin, the rickety saucer-shaped Millennium

Falcon, and dogfights between X-Wings and Tie Fighters set the

standard for science fiction films thereafter. Viewers would

also meet Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, who would

symbolize the evil that was the Galactic Empire. Menacing in

his skull-like helmet, armour, black cloak, and his ominous

breathing apparatus, Darth Vader became my favorite Star Wars

character.

Indeed, he gained prominence in The Empire Strikes Back, the

best of the trilogy, featuring Snow Walkers, asteroid fields,

some hot-shot flying by Han Solo, cities in the clouds, and

wizened Jedi Masters from whom we learned that "luminous beings

are we, not this crude matter." Yoda demonstrated the triumph

of the human will when he levitated Luke's X-wing from the

swamps of Dagobah. Luke's harrowing adventure in the cave was a

clue to what he would learn later. Empire featured the proper

debut of the bounty hunter Boba Fett, whose armoured array of

weaponry, cunning, and guile served the Empire well. A pity the

other bounty hunters were seen all too briefly.

The trilogy wrapped up in Return Of The Jedi, where Luke, Lando,

Princess Leia went to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, then

prepare in time for the climactic battle against the Empire and

Death Star Mark II, and a shot at getting Emperor Palpatine

himself. Luke learned the truth about his father and readied

himself for the confrontation with Vader and the Emperor. The

monsters at Jabba's palace exceeded the cantina scenes, with

Jabba representing the ultimate in Phil Tippett's creations.

However, I do prefer the original Max Rebo music number. And as

for the Ewoks, yes, "short help is better than none," and at

least the revamped edition did away with their cutesy dance

number. And the space battle was the perfect special effects

triumph with just the right excitement, not the numbing digital

blast of sound and noise that permeates today's movies.

All three of these movies played a formative role in my

childhood. These three videos are the revamped editions, and

most of the new scenes add to the original cuts of the movies

without ruining them. It is the triumphant dialogue and

appealing characters that make the original trilogy classics in

their time. Who can forget such memorable lines as "I felt as

if millions of voices had cried out, and were suddenly

silenced," "Don't you call me a mindless philospher, you

overweight blob of grease!", "Garbage! What a really wonderful

idea! What an incredible smell you've discovered!", "Look at

the size of that thing!" and "He's got to follow his own path,

no one can choose it for him."

So remember, a Jedi's strength flows in embracing the Good

Trilogy, A New Hope, Empire, and Jedi. But beware the Dark

Trilogy--Menace, Clones, and the one yet to come. Once you

start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your

destiny. So trust your feelings, and may the Force be with you.