Twentieth Century

Starring:John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Ralph Forbes, Charles Lane, Etienne Girardot, Dale Fuller, Edgar Kennedy, Billie Seward, Pat Flaherty, Frank Marlowe, Nick Copeland, Steve Pendleton, Fred 'Snowflake' Toones, A.R. Haysel, Anita Brown, Mary Jo Mathews, Kid Herman, Irene Thompson
Director: Howard Hawks
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

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

Description

For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus, these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983.

Customer Reviews:

george come on!.......2007-06-25

com on George why don't you stop giving everybody this cheesy stuff? If you are going to remaster them, make everything better! picture sound, lightsaber and blast improvmets. and if u r going to sell the unre,astered then sell it Untouched! the only button u should press is the ''copy button''

Original version is important........2007-06-19

Personaly, I just wish to have both versions in good remastering in Anamorphic and DTS sound. Special verion is important but the Original is more important beause it has all the footages from 1977 release.

Special edition is important because it has Mr. Lucas real vision, which is being unabled to creat at that time. It is understandable but i was hoping to see the original in good picture and sound because i do agree with all reviewers that it was good enough and no needing for improvment. Changing the original for better might fix some part while destort another. The 1977 opening title was very simple and wonderul which was truly unforgttable watching it at theater as it apeared very new look, by adding new titles like IV New hope it felt destort that simplicity and add complexity, sometimes it felt like watching a TV series rather than a motion picture.

About new added footages of Jabba, the more i realized that im watching an animated picture the more i loose apatites to watch it more. Same thing to spaceships in last battle scene, i dont know if they are worthy and not staying with old ones. The more reshaping picture for better the more it become unrealistic and loose its powerfull effect.

But perhapse adding new footages without deleting old ones in order to expand the scene in general, it would be a good idea and interesting, especially in the last battle scene in my opinion.

Finaly, about the information displayed in beginning when louding DVD discs. Please can anyone inform the manufactures to disable these and just let the movie begain like old VHS and Laser Discs? Theses menues add more headache and complexity. A desire to watch one small part in the movie and leave, will require long time just pressing bottums and skipping.

Thanks for nothing, George........2007-06-14

I am just guessing here, but I think I know what's going to happen. In about 12-24 months we're going to get word that the Star Wars movies are scheduled to be released in High Definition. But they will only be available in a gorgeously-designed glossy 9-DVD Box Set, with all of the films (special editions), extras. Maybe it will have the original Star Wars illustration of Darth Vader across the box -- and it will be something around $200 list, $140 on Amazon.

Then once again people will voice their fury at Lucasfilm's arrogance. We will be stuck with Hayden Christansen digitally inserted into the finale of Return of the Jedi, a ridiculous CGI Jabba, the slobbering Max Reebo band, and everything else we detest.

Then in about 2010 an ageing Lucas will relent, say he has listened to all the hearfelt pleas, and to much ballyhoo announce that yes he will indeed be releasing the original versions, and yes, because he cares so much, he will even clean them up and release them properly. He will be a compassionate hero while at the same time make umpteen millions more.

Don't give this guy any more money. What he has done here is shameless and rude to the original fanbase. Non-anamorphic tranfers in this day and age is ridiculous.

A Long, Long time ago . . . The World was soon to be completely amazed and I just turned 13 in May 1977.......2007-06-11

The magical accending words that opened this phenomenon back on May 25th, 1977 @ SpringField Mall (VA) theatres; sent this 13 yr old 70's child into an endless STAR WARS fandom. I became instantly obsessed with bubble gum trading cards, comic books, action firgures, Jedi Knights and Light Sabers.

Originally, my family and I viewed our 1st screening of STAR WARS IV @ the 1 & 2 cinemas that use to reside in Bailey's Crossroads - Falls Church, VA (sad to say the theatre is no longer there). Massive long, long lines as all can remember, but much fun and laughter . . . all worth the wait. Not long after the 1st viewing, my mum would drop me off @ Springfield Mall w/my pals and we would make a day of seeing STAR WARS a few times; and then off to the arcade playing STAR WARS pinball, space invaders and air hockey. As the saying goes . . . those were the days.

Here we are at the 30th Anniversary of EPISODE IV and my where the time has gone. Sometimes it seems just yesterday, when I was basking in the bright sun standing within a long line at the neigborhood ice cream truck, looking at what STAR WARS trading cards I had in my hand and what I was going to soon own. And the glorious feeling I had once I purchased a few pacs of those magical fantastic cards. Thou sometimes it seems (as the opening words go) - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away . . .

After I received a stero system from my dad on that B-Day, I purchased an 8 track tape of IV and would listen to it every night faithfully. As I would drift off to sleep, the STAR WARS world came alive in my mind and a smile always laid upon my face. The tape was a condensed version of the movie and it too was extraordinary.
I can remember fading to black with the sounds of RD-D2, C-3PO, Chewie, Han, Luke, Ben, Leia, Tie-Fighters & X-Wings, the infamous M-Falcon, Sand People, Gran Moff Tarkin, the Death Star and the wonderful music. The best for last was the sounds of Vader's breathing and James Earl Jone's voice commanding the Dark Sith Lord.

The daily hustle & bustle of the modern world as a child seems incoherent. For a childs mind is always filled with play and or mischief and adventure. As an adult I am reminded of those times and long hours of role playing games. So, when I put EPISODE IV in the vcr, instantly I venture back to those days and of my wonderful memories that Mr. Lucas so kindly injested immortal memroies into my creative vortex.

Still after all these years and with the enhancement of special effects, I have and will evermore enjoy STAR WARS- A NEW HOPE. Always will I remember the monumental movie making experience it gave leading us into the 21st century.

Some of my favorite quotes:
"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope" - Princess Leia
"Into the garbage chute, flyboy." - Leia

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid" - Han Solo
"Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.' - Han Solo

"This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire." - Obi-Wan
"A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi knights. He betrayed and murdered your father." - Obi-Wan
"You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine." - Obi-wan
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened." - Obi-Wan

"Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease." - C-3PO

"The Force is strong with this one" - Darth Vader
"Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed; the ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force." - Vader

"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters." - Luke
"I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you!" - Luke

"Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that is to be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan." - Moff Tarkin

I still posses a few original trading cards from IV, mostly thou from V & VI. I have the original wrappers the cards came in. My SW collection consists of: Action figures, VHS, DVD, CD, old fan club newsletters, stickers, light sabers and books.

Hats off and an endearing bow to you Mr. Lucas! How could you have ever known that you had created a phenomenon. The writing deserved the Pulitzer in my opinion. And as a writer, I know it can be most difficult to lay the whole story out on parchment when it roams in your mind for what seems an eternity. . . but when it is finally adapted to parchment, a masterpiece is thus born. The added element of glory, as I can only imagine, is to finally see the tale adapted to film and to live thru it's grand success.

STAR WARS - A NEW HOPE . . . escape to another time & place, explore worlds both small & grand, experience FORCES of good & evil, ancient religions, sci-fi & fantasy, jedi, farmboys, wookies & wizards, droids, saber duals, blasters, tie fighters & the Falcon, A Dark Lord who made the top of villian lists everywhere and so much more you simply must see.

The power of the FORCE will lure you in, enticing you to follow the chapters here after (and the prequels) in to this extrordinary Lucas realm.
Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

May The FORCE be with you . . . as it has been with me for 30 years.

LadyGray
Author of the Yuletide Tale - White Holly

George, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Rated: *(****).......2007-06-07

I agree with any of a number of previous reviewers: Would somebody PLEASE take STAR WARS away from George Lucas before he ruins it completely?

Like Francis Ford Coppola, who messed with THE GODFATHER trilogy over and over again trying to "perfect" it, Lucas keeps coming back to the original STAR WARS trilogy and adding enhanced effects and formerly deleted scenes.

In what is now known as STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE, (let me catch my breath a minute, please), Lucas decided to add creatures to the Mos Eiseley spaceport scene, alter the classic cantina scene, throw in a scene between Jabba the Hutt and Han Solo in the hangar of the "Millennium Falcon," add a sappy reunion scene between Biggs and Luke just before the Battle of Yavin, make the battle scene explosions more "dramatic," do a score of other little tweaks, and clean up the print.

Lucas has done this so many times over the past three decades that it's now impossible to figure out which film is the "real" STAR WARS. Of all the questionable "improvements" he's made, cleaning up the print is the only worthwhile effort. Most of the added scenes add nothing to the film, the "extra" creatures are interesting but unnecessary, and some of the changes actually degrade the movie, because the dialogue is repetitious. For example:

IN THE CANTINA:

Greedo---Jabba has no use for smugglers who dump their cargoes at the first sign of an Imperial ship.

Han---Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?

and

IN THE HANGAR:

Jabba--- I have no use for smugglers who dump their cargoes at the first sign of an Imperial ship.

Han---Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?

Not only was it repetitious, but the hangar scene immediately followed the cantina scene, making the repetition even more obvious. DEAR LORD, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, MR. LUCAS??????

Fortunately, this two-disc set contains the original theatrical release with all the nicks and imperfections it was born with. The print's a bit dim, and the special effects are showing their limitations after thirty years, but this is the STAR WARS that will remain STAR WARS. It is what it is, and it never needed changes. Given the immense amount of material that has grown up around STAR WARS since it was first released, Lucas would have been smarter to release one or the other or both versions as he did, but added an Extras disc with all kinds of "The Making Of.." and "The Legacy Of..." goodies. I was disappointed that this isn't that set.

I was one of the first people to see STAR WARS when it debuted in the summer of 1977. At age 17, this now-classic movie became and remains a benchmark of an era in my life. While I never became a "Jedihead" (the original tag for the STAR WARS version of a Trekkie), I liked the film a great deal.

STAR WARS is not CITIZEN KANE IN OUTER SPACE. It's not a "great" film, but it is a true "classic." At the end of the first film you might even wonder what all the hype was about. Yet the movie has a engaging and endearing quality that makes you want to keep coming back for more, the true basis of success and the core of meaningfulness for any story. STAR WARS is clearly derivative. THE LORD OF THE RINGS has a "Dark Lord." STAR WARS has a "Dark Lord of the Sith." Lightsabers are yet another nod to the film's Sword & Sorcery roots, as is the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (a little Gandalf, anyone?). STAR WARS' "Corellians" appear in Isaac Asimov's FOUNDATION as "Korellians", and "Han Solo" is also there as "Hari Seldon." The space war elements are a mishmash of STAR TREK, FORBIDDEN PLANET, AMAZING STORIES, pulp fiction, and a hundred other sources. George Lucas was able to take these well-used pieces and combine them into something that is both very original and yet archetypal.

STAR WARS is a sci-fi retelling of the Mythos of the young Hero. Aided by a mentor (Obi-Wan), an older, more seasoned companion (Han), and his own court jesters (See Threepio and Artoo Detoo), the young Hero (Luke) is introduced to his special (Jedi) birthright, saves the beautiful Princess (Leia) from the clutches of Evil (Darth Vader), and then must confront that Evil himself (the Battle of Yavin).

Since STAR WARS is so mythic and archetypal, it survives some really bad acting by the background characters, a few missed beats here and there, and even Lucas's post-theatrical obsessive-compulsive changes to remain a modern classic.

FIVE STARS FOR "STAR WARS", ONE STAR FOR LUCAS' DECISION (OBSESSION?) TO "IMPROVE" IT.

DIE HARD - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (DVD MOVIE)

Average customer rating:

Great Movies, who's the swelled head that packaged them?
Die Hard - The ultimate Collection
Top Notch Action in LA, D.C. & NY
Die Hard = Action At Its Finest
Awesome action

DIE HARD - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (DVD MOVIE)

Manufacturer: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Lethal Weapon - The Complete Series
Beverly Hills Cop - The Complete Line Up
The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)
Alien Quadrilogy (Alien/ Aliens /Alien 3 /Alien Resurrection)
Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Extreme DVD)

ASIN: B00005K3LX

Product Description

"Die Hard" - (1988, 131 min.) - Bruce Willis stars as a lone cop locked in a desperate battle against terrorists who have taken over a Los Angeles high-rise in the blockbuster action thriller that started it all! "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" (1990, 131 min.) - A rogue U.S. special forces unit celebrates Christmas by hikacking an entire Washington, D.C. airport. Their plan to crash all in-coming flights until an imprisoned dictator is released is flawless except for one detail: off-duty cop John McClane. "Die Hard 3: With a Vengeance" (1995, 124 min.) - When a psychopathic criminal who calls himself "Simon" plants bombs throughout the city of Manhattan, washed-out cop John McClane finds himself in a race against time: not only to defuse the bombs but to uncover the truth behind Simon's madness.

System Requirements:
Starring: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De'voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alan Rickman, Franco Nero, William Sadler, John Amos, Dennis Franz, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Graham Greene, Colleen Camp
Directed By: Renny Harlin, John McTiernan.
Running Time: (total) 386 Min., Color.
These films are presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Christmas is not a good time of year in the McClane family. Especially for John McClane, who always happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if it weren't for the heroics of this rugged, resourceful cop, many lives would be lost and megalomaniacal terrorists with various European accents would be having their evil way. In 1988, director John McTiernan and the phenomenal hit Die Hard introduced the world to maverick Sgt. John McClane (Bruce Willis) of the New York Police Department, and in the course of this film and two blockbuster sequels McClane was frantically saving lives, buildings, airports, schools, cities, and even his marriage from the threat of international terrorists, psychopaths, and cagey mercenaries. Now you can watch antihero McClane blast his way through all three movies. Witness his transition from a happy-go-lucky, slightly cranky cop to extremely burnt-out, partially alcoholic cop with a propensity to attract extreme violence and catastrophe. Yet the one thing that always overshadows his character flaws is his uncanny ability to spoil the schemes of stylish villains with slick names such as Hans Gruber (the nasty terrorist from the first film, played to perfection by Alan Rickman). Sit down, pop some corn, grab a bottle of Coca-Cola, and get ready to watch (in any order you please) the Die Hard Trilogy--a must for any action buff or fan of Bruce Willis, who owes his film career to the enduring appeal of these global box-office hits. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

Great Movies, who's the swelled head that packaged them?.......2007-01-13

The Movies, what can I say they are great as always. The problem I have is the packaging. This collection of three Willis' films (6disks) takes up more shelf space than a five film "007" collection, or the 4 film (9disk) Alien collection. Now these are good/even great action flicks, but they are not 007, who has the swelled head in the production company?
Guys, I do buy DVDs because the quality is better, I also buy them because they take up LESS shelf space. So lets get with it?

Die Hard - The ultimate Collection.......2007-01-10

I bought it as a gift for my grandson. He was very pleased with it.

Top Notch Action in LA, D.C. & NY.......2006-09-03

Bruce Willis stars as NYPD Officer John McClane in the action packed "Die Hard" Collection- "Die Hard" "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" "Die Hard with a Veagence" Great brilliant action movies, the best action movies ever made, Willis is terrific & funny. Buy this action packed triumphs before ya see "Live Free or Die Hard" next summer

Die Hard = Action At Its Finest.......2006-08-31

The original 'Die Hard' is one of those rare movies that come around once every 10 years or so. If you look at any of the AFI lists of the greatest movies ever made, you will see this film make their list, the amazing thing being that the lists I am referring to are not meant for action but movies IN GENERAL. With an amazing cast, wonderful script, solid directing, this is a rare example of the perfect movie. If you love action movies and haven't ever seen Die Hard before, stop reading this review and go pick up the film. Even 18 years later, the movie had stood the test of time with barely a bump in the road, and it's the quickest 2+ hours that will go by.

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

Die Hard 2 is another fine movie and a wonderful sequel. The writers could have easily copied the same storyline as with the original Die Hard (see the Under Siege films), but instead they go a different route with another fine script. This movie only gets better with age for me. Another solid performance by Bruce Willis, fine directing and you have a sequel while not as good as the original, it's enjoyable to say the least.

**** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

'Die Hard With A Vengeance' is an odd film. Wonderfully acted and written at times, there are scenes which I think are even better than the original Die Hard. But then you have ridiculous moments like Bruce Willis and Samuel Jackson falling 100+ feet and not killing themselves where the movie just falls flat. I think the script itself is even better than the Die Hard 2 story, but with 5 years time between the 2nd and 3rd films, this just doesn't have the same enjoyment as the other movies. Deciding to make Bruce Willis a divorced down and out drunk cop doesn't help you connect as well to the character as in the 1988 and 1990 films either, so this movie gets the lowest rating of the bunch.

*** RECOMMENDED

Awesome action.......2006-07-22

First, I love Bruce Willis! I love movies that portray the "bad guys" getting what they deserve in the end. Bruce Willis movies do a great job showing fans that. I also enjoy the fact that he is a family guy. Not a perfect father but he really does love them. In "Die Hard" (Collection) there are some corny parts but you can get past them quickly because they are so action-packed. The "Die Hard" (Collection) is NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT! Go Bruce!! :)

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

My Favorite of the Original Trilogy.
4 for the latest version 4.5 for the original version
George, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Rated **(***)
Good Movie
SLY SNOOTS ROCKS!

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , and Billy Dee Williams
Director: Richard Marquand
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000FQVX78
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of Return of the Jedi is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Jedi as it originally played in theaters in 1983. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So Sebastian Shaw reclaims his spot as the man behind Darth Vader's mask, and we don't see the otherworldly celebration (including the Gungans) at the end of the movie.

What do you lose by watching the 1983 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. 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 Jedi, however, on a widescreen TV 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 Return of the Jedi, and the 1983 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

Description

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite of the Original Trilogy........2007-07-05

Star Wars Episode VI is mine(and my best-bud)'s favorite star wars movie from the original trilogy.

4 for the latest version 4.5 for the original version.......2007-06-30

I watched all the remakes of the trilogies and i can honestly say they did more taint then to improve.. The CGI effects look like a cartoonish fake texture.. THe original special effects do stand the test of time in my opinion and look more authentic then the CGI. the CGI mixed in with the hand made models they used in the trilogies look off.. Anybody with a keen eye can see the differences.. As far as return of the Jedi goes, not much notible CGI aside from the celebration scene but, the main notable scene which i think is completely stupid is redoing annikan's ghost as the young prequal annikan then the middle age annikan as in the original star wars.. What doesnt make sense is why Obi is old and annikan is young as a ghost.. I think if they kept it as it was in the originals of annikan being middle aged, people would have just assumed that it was him at his current age had his physical body not been in that deteriorated state when he was in the Darth vader outfit..
Overall great movie.

George, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Rated **(***).......2007-06-10

I agree with any of a number of previous reviewers: Would somebody PLEASE take STAR WARS away from George Lucas before he ruins it completely?

Like Francis Ford Coppola, who messed with THE GODFATHER trilogy over and over again trying to "perfect" it, Lucas keeps coming back to the original STAR WARS trilogy and adding enhanced effects and formerly deleted scenes.

In what is now known as STAR WARS EPISODE VI: THE RETURN OF THE JEDI, (let me catch my breath a minute, please), Lucas decided to "enhance" the film by inserting extra scenes and dialogue. Lucas decided to make the battle scene explosions more "dramatic," do a score of other little tweaks, and clean up the print.

Lucas has done this so many times over the past three decades that it's now impossible to figure out which film is the "real" THE RETURN OF THE JEDI. Of all the questionable "improvements" he's made, cleaning up the print is the only worthwhile effort. Most of the added scenes and lines add nothing to the film, and some of the changes actually degrade the movie. At the very end, Lucas chose to insert a whole sequence of CGI planetary capitals celebrating the fall of the Galactic Empire, an artificial-looking addition that was hardly worth the effort. Far more annoying is the eleventh hour closing scene replacement of the spirit of Anakin Skywalker (originally David Prowse) with the twentysomething Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin in Episodes II and III. Standing next to the glowing green Yoda and the elder Obi-Wan (Sir Alec Guinness), Christensen's Anakin looks like a Yuppie punk wrapped in a bedsheet.

Fortunately, this two-disc set contains the original theatrical release with all the nicks and imperfections it was born with. The print's a bit dim, and the special effects are showing their limitations after twenty-four years, but this is THE RETURN OF THE JEDI that will remain THE RETURN OF THE JEDI. It is what it is, and it never needed changes. Given the immense amount of material that has grown up around STAR WARS since it was first released, Lucas would have been smarter to release one or the other or both versions as he did, but added an Extras disc with all kinds of "The Making Of.." and "The Legacy Of..." goodies. I was disappointed that this isn't that set.

I was twenty-three when THE RETURN OF THE JEDI debuted in 1983, a full six years after STAR WARS. It was a long time to wait for the cycle to end, and the rumors of a second trilogy (and a possible third trilogy) went unanswered for an unconscionably long time.

I never became a "Jedihead" (the original tag for the STAR WARS version of a Trekkie), but THE RETURN OF THE JEDI, while not as good as THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, was an eagerly awaited coda to the tale.

The STAR WARS films are not CITIZEN KANE IN OUTER SPACE. Overall, they are not "great" films, but they are true "classics." THE RETURN OF THE JEDI is a crucial part of the cycle, and does entertain and excite, all the true bases of success and the core of meaningfulness for any story.

The STAR WARS universe is clearly derivative. THE LORD OF THE RINGS has a "Dark Lord" and a RETURN OF THE KING. STAR WARS has a "Dark Lord of the Sith" and a RETURN OF THE JEDI. Lightsabers are yet another nod to the film's Sword & Sorcery roots. STAR WARS' "Corellians" appear in Isaac Asimov's FOUNDATION as "Korellians", and "Han Solo" is also there as "Hari Seldon." The space war elements are a mishmash of STAR TREK, FORBIDDEN PLANET, AMAZING STORIES, pulp fiction, and a hundred other sources. George Lucas was able to take these well-used pieces and combine them into something that is both very original and yet archetypal.

THE RETURN OF THE JEDI closes the sci-fi retelling of the Mythos of the young Hero. Having faced his demons in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and suffered traumatic, life-altering injury and loss as well as the acquisition of his unique Secret Knowledge, Luke Skywalker has grown into a powerful Jedi. By the time of THE RETURN OF THE JEDI it is becoming clear that Luke has transcended the seductions of the Dark Side, and is now using his powers for unselfish purposes, including perhaps most profoundly, the redemption of his own father, Darth Vader.

Nevertheless, one challenge remains. When Vader discovers Leia's existence, he declares Luke a supernumerary and decides to turn Leia to the Dark Side. The ensuing lightsaber battle between Vader and Luke for Leia's soul is the most profound and most critical moment in the entire sextology. Luke's positive urge to protect his sister meshes with the negative rage he feels at his father's betrayal. Luke Skywalker never comes closer to the Dark Side than at that moment when he maims his father and has the defeated, clearly weakened Vader at his feet. His decision to toss away his lightsaber and renounce the Dark Side at that moment is not only the key to his own salvation but to that of his father, who is then called upon to act on behalf of all that is good, and does. In doing so, father and son together redeem their entire universe.

While not as complex as THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE RETURN OF THE JEDI is a far more sophisticated story than the straight-ahead A NEW HOPE. It brings Lucas' modern myth of the Hero to the only close that it could have. Thank heaven that THE RETURN OF THE JEDI even survives Lucas's post-theatrical obsessive-compulsive changes to remain a modern classic.

FIVE STARS FOR "THE RETURN OF THE JEDI", TWO STARS FOR LUCAS' "IMPROVED" VERSION.

Good Movie.......2007-05-12

I have the whole series of the Star Wars and I enjoy watching them often.

SLY SNOOTS ROCKS!.......2007-04-20

I bought this because I never liked the changes made to Jabba's Palace in the special edition version.

The original was well done for Jabba fans, and I will always like the 1983 version the best.

Go Sly Snoots!

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

George, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Rated ***(**)
Good Movie
Wonderful!!!!!!!
I have a good feeling about this...
BEST MOVIE EVER

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Billy Dee Williams , and Anthony Daniels
Director: Irvin Kershner
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FQJAJG
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of The Empire Strikes Back is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Empire as it originally played in theaters in 1980. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more of Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) replacing Clive Revill with slightly revised lines, or Temuera Morrison rerecording of Boba Fett's minimal dialogue.

What do you lose by watching the 1980 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. 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 Empire, however, on a widescreen TV 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 The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1980 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

Description

Customer Reviews:

George, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Rated ***(**).......2007-06-08

I agree with any of a number of previous reviewers: Would somebody PLEASE take STAR WARS away from George Lucas before he ruins it completely?

Like Francis Ford Coppola, who messed with THE GODFATHER trilogy over and over again trying to "perfect" it, Lucas keeps coming back to the original STAR WARS trilogy and adding enhanced effects and formerly deleted scenes.

In what is now known as STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, (let me catch my breath a minute, please), Lucas decided to "enhance" the film by inserting extra dialogue in several scenes, apparently in order to strengthen the film's connection to the prequels. He should have done it the other way around when Episodes I, II, and III were first released. This attempt at backward compatibility just proves that time travelers should never try to change the past. Fortunately, the changes aren't jarring.

Lucas also decided to expand the scenes with the Wampa Ice Creature on Hoth. These changes ARE jarring. The updated Ice Creature doesn't look anything like the original, and the quick intercuts don't hide the disparity. The fact that Lucas chose to "improve" the creature despite having to retain the original footage doesn't demonstrate his creativity, it demonstrates his hubris. Why not just replicate the original? Clearly, his desire to make the change overrode any considerations of film continuity and audience expectations.

This is the kind of thinking that brought us the ridiculous Jar-Jar Binks and his race of Rastafari amphibians in THE PHANTOM MENACE. George Lucas isn't really trying to give us a better cinematic experience, he's just totally into playing with his favorite toys. It's a form of selfishness.

The same goes for the rest of his changes. Lucas decided to make the battle scene explosions more "dramatic," do a score of other little tweaks, and clean up the print. Lucas has done this so many times over the past three decades that it's now impossible to figure out which film is the "real" THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Of all the questionable "improvements" he's made, cleaning up the print is the only worthwhile effort. Most of the added scenes add nothing to the film, the "extra" dialogue is interesting but unnecessary, and some of the changes (like the Wampa Ice Creature) actually degrade the movie.

Fortunately, this two-disc set contains the original theatrical release with all the nicks and imperfections it was born with. The print's a bit dim, and the special effects are showing their limitations after twenty-seven years, but this is THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK that will remain THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. It is what it is, and it never needed changes. Given the immense amount of material that has grown up around STAR WARS since it was first released, Lucas would have been smarter to release one or the other or both versions as he did, but added an Extras disc with all kinds of "The Making Of.." and "The Legacy Of..." goodies. I was disappointed that this isn't that set.

I was twenty when THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK debuted in 1980. At age 20, this now-classic movie became and remains a favorite of mine. It is arguably the best of the six STAR WARS films, because it takes the STAR WARS universe completely out of the realm of pulp science fiction. The appearance of Yoda and his Zen-like philosophy of The Force changes the entire tenor of the sextology. The Force ceases to be a kind of parlor magic useful for tricking Imperial Stormtroopers and becomes a form of bushido. The Jedi become Samurai, imbued with all of that caste's Warrior Ethos.

I never became a "Jedihead" (the original tag for the STAR WARS version of a Trekkie), but I did become a student of Zen and the martial arts. My personal decision was not at all made because of STAR WARS, but the films certainly brought such concepts into the mainstream consciousness.

The STAR WARS films are not CITIZEN KANE IN OUTER SPACE. Overall, they are not "great" films, but they are true "classics." THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in particular engages the viewer. Entertaining, exciting, and yet contemplative, the film makes you want to keep coming back for more, the true basis of success and the core of meaningfulness for any story.

The STAR WARS universe is clearly derivative. THE LORD OF THE RINGS has a "Dark Lord." STAR WARS has a "Dark Lord of the Sith." Lightsabers are yet another nod to the film's Sword & Sorcery roots. Yoda is a short green Sensei, straight out of the 1970s TV show KUNG FU. STAR WARS' "Corellians" appear in Isaac Asimov's FOUNDATION as "Korellians", and "Han Solo" is also there as "Hari Seldon." The space war elements are a mishmash of STAR TREK, FORBIDDEN PLANET, AMAZING STORIES, pulp fiction, and a hundred other sources. George Lucas was able to take these well-used pieces and combine them into something that is both very original and yet archetypal.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK carries the sci-fi retelling of the Mythos of the young Hero a step farther. Having been initiated into the Mysteries by Obi-Wan, Luke is now called upon to take up the discipline his craft requires. Immature and impatient, he ignores his Master Yoda's advice, and makes his own determination that his training is complete. However, he is unready, unready to face his external enemy (Darth Vader), and unready to face his even more potent internal enemy (his own impulses toward the Dark Side).

Classic mythic elements abound: Luke has a mysterious birth, a hidden twin, and a direct blood link to the Evil he is trying to overcome (as the son of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader). He suffers a horrific wound (the loss of his hand), is forced to face the Darkness within himself, and must decide how to confront his Enemy who is also his Dark Father.

A far more sophisticated story than the straight-ahead STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is so mythic and archetypal that it suffers none of the "beginner's jitters" of A NEW HOPE. Although the first film had some really bad acting by the background characters and a few missed beats here and there, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK brings forth the best from all the cast (including even Yoda who, despite his very real humanity, is, after all, a puppet). The story sustains itself through it all.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK even survives Lucas's post-theatrical obsessive-compulsive changes to remain a modern classic.

FIVE STARS FOR "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK", THREE STARS FOR LUCAS' "IMPROVED" VERSION.

Good Movie.......2007-05-12

I have the whole series of the Star Wars movies and I enjoy them very much.

Wonderful!!!!!!!.......2007-05-11

This is an master piece and one should watch it. The star war series is a must have. Love the story and the way the film draws your attention...Love the cast.

I have a good feeling about this..........2007-04-13

This is easily the best of all the Star Wars movies. For once we have the right balance of action, mystery, humor, romance and swash-bucklingness, if that's a word. The dialogue is crisp and smart (Han steers the ship into an asteroid field. Leia: You don't have to do this to impress me!) The acting this time is actually quite good, particularly between Ford and Fisher. The special effects are incredible, but they serve, rather than overwhelm, the story. (Oddly, there are a few moments that look fake, such as the bits with the taun-tauns, but George chose not to redo them.) This one is closest in style and content to the old-fashioned movie and radio serials, which is what the whole thing was supposed to be based on. The first ten minutes are a little wobbly, as it seems to be trying to find its tone, but things soon pick up, and the evacuation from Hoth has to be one of the best moments in the whole series, climaxing in a Millennium Falcon that won't start. ("Would it help if I got out and pushed!?") I know in the past I've said it might have been better if George had just given us one movie and been done with it, and artistically for his career it would have been, but at least, before the franchise got stale, we got this wonderful, smartly-done fairy tale directed by the very underrated Irvin Kershner.

Here, as in the other DVDs featuring before and after versions of the original trilogy, George chose to give us terrific-looking enhanced-for-widescreen-TVs redos (among the best-looking DVDs I own, if not THE best) and unenhanced original versions. Fortunately for me I have an upscaling DVD player and television, so it doesn't look *as* bad for me as it does for a lot of other people here, but still, this is just George being spiteful--there was no reason for this. The commentary track is terrific, and justifies this purchase alone if you're a big fan. We hear from most of the major creative forces, including director Kirshner, the only Star Wars director who really "got it" as far as I'm concerned. (And the one Lucas was most upset with initially, thinking he was taking too long and doing too many takes. But the quality shows. Could you imagine the love scenes between Han and Leia directed by Lucas? Actually you don't have to; just watch Attack of the Clones.)

It's hard to "recommend" or "not recommend" something like this. It has its built-in audience--it's doubtful anyone buying this has never seen the film before. It is nice to have the two versions side by side to compare what's new, however, which is why I chose to go this route.

(P.S.: George, who the heck is "Lando Clarissian"? Also, Venus isn't a gaseous giant; it's a rocky planet just like earth. You folks will have to listen to the commentary track to understand what I'm talking about.)

BEST MOVIE EVER.......2007-03-28

Best Star Wars movie! No wait, best movie EVER!!!!! Ironically GL didn't even direct it.

Average customer rating:

The best Woody Allen collection
The Woody Allen Collection - 8 pack
not able to run them in European dvd-s
It doesn't get much better than this...
Excellent Collection with a reservation. See Below!

The Woody Allen Collection - 8 pack
Starring: Woody Allen , and Mia Farrow
Director: Woody Allen
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century-Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Deconstructing Harry

ASIN: 0792846052
Release Date: 2000-07-05

Amazon.com

Starting with 1971's Bananas, Woody Allen's second film as director, this set of eight movies includes all of Allen's work as a director up to 1980, when he wrestled with his own popularity in the Fellini-esque Stardust Memories, showcasing the distinctive arc of a filmmaker who moved from lighthearted movies to more serious fare that still remains breathtaking after 20 years. In between those two movies, there are wonderful trips of comedy, tragedy and romance to be had. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask is a hilarious set of vignettes based on the popular instructional manual, the most notable a segment featuring Gene Wilder's infatuation with a female sheep. The futuristic Sleeper and the underrated Love and Death showcase Allen at his funniest, especially the latter, which tackles the weighty subjects of Russian novels and Bergman films with adroit parody.

Allen's Oscar-winning Annie Hall is one of the most joyous (and melancholy) romances ever made, with a star-making turn by Diane Keaton and a witty screenplay (cowritten with Marshall Brickman) that remains one of Allen's best. Allen did a 180 with the Bergman-esque Interiors, a sometimes stilted drama that nonetheless presaged the dysfunctional-family drama of films like Ordinary People and featured outstanding performances by Geraldine Page and Mary Beth Hurt, as well as unparalleled cinematography by Gordon Willis. The last two films in the set--the romantic Manhattan and the acidic Stardust Memories--are both gorgeously shot in black and white and represent Allen at the peak of his creative powers, as he wrestles with the meaning of life in terms of both love and art, albeit from different perspectives. Indispensable to any film fan, this boxed set represents nothing less than a landmark of American cinema. --Mark Englehart

Description

Disc 1: ANNIE HALL Disc 2: EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK Disc 3: INTERIORS Disc 4: LOVE AND DEATH Disc 5: MANHATTAN Disc 6: SLEEPER Disc 7: STARDUST MEMORIES Disc 8: BANANAS

Customer Reviews:

The best Woody Allen collection.......2007-03-19

Enjoyed Annie Hall again last night - Best Picture, 1977? My husband loved Bananas and all of the earlier movies.

The Woody Allen Collection - 8 pack.......2007-02-08

Great collection of early Woody Allen titles. Nicely presented in slip cover box. Great value for money. Can't wait to get started on them!

not able to run them in European dvd-s.......2007-01-23

Totally disappointed!!!
I love Woody Allen, love his films
BUT - dvd-s are coded for US market and are not possible to be viewed on our European dvd -s
total waste of money
you should have warned me on that

Barbara Kalas, architect from Croatia

It doesn't get much better than this..........2005-06-18

No one will doubt that Woody Allen is the only director who has consistently mastered the art of writing and directing intelligent, funny, unforgettable stories. These films are great examples of that. Fromk Annie Hall to Sleeper [I haven't viewed Stardust Memories yet], you will be completely satisfied with your purchase. Here's an overview of the films:

Annie Hall: Allem's best film, hands down. The story of a couple who meets in a New York tennis club. Allen plays Alvy Singer, a carbon copy of Allen's stereotypical self [neurotic, clumsy, "suave"], while Keaton, who gives a stunning performance, plays Annie Hall, a country girl from Wisconsin trying to find a life in New York. A great story about relationships. The last paragraph that Allen narrates is fabulous. Don't watch this film first, or you may not appreciate Allen's other work as much!

Bananas: On the sillier side, this film is about Fielding Mellish, another character based on himself. Mellish works for a large corporation. Testing products. If you are at all familiar with Allen, you already know that there is a witty scene coming up. Mellish travels to the small Latin American country of San Marcos to find something to do. He ends up becoming the communist dictator there, and that is all I will say.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* *But were afraid to ask: A great satire on the popular book. This is a series of seven small sex stories, varying from Gene Wilder's affair with a sheep to a giant, deadly mammary. Watch for Allen's coolest role as Fabrizio, the Italian.

Interiors: A stunning film [very serious] about a wealthy Long Island family that steers away from the mother. This film is beautifully shot, and it really pays a lot of attention to showing every aspect of every character. Tension builds quickly, and it stays until the end.

Love and Death: One of my personal top five Allen films. This one is about Napoleon trying to take over Russia. Allen plays Boris Grushenko, a Russian Catholic, who falls in love with his distant cousin, Sonja [Keaton]. This one is nonstop laughs, but only if you are familiar with the war and the works of Russian writers. It is still very funny otherwise, but not as deeply funny.

Manhattan: Similar to Annie Hall, but a little different. Allen plays Isaac Davis, who falls in love with a seventeen year old [Mariel Hemingway], and also with Mary [Keaton], an overly pretentious New Yorker at the same time. This story is again about relationship, but this one is extreme. Shot in black and white, and accompanied by a George Gershwin soundtrack, many Allen fans consider this film his love letter to New York City. It is also considered his best by many people. I think he has made better, but this is a stunning film.

Sleeper: Sleeper is 'Love and Death' set in the future. A great film about Allen, who is frozen in 1973, and defrosted 200 years later. Great jokes, chase scenes, and more. In one scene, Diane Keaton and a leader of a revolutionist underground organization re-create scenes from his childhood. Another joke about the NRA. Sleeper is probably the best film to see if one wants a good introduction to Allen's style.

All in all, this collection is a must-own. Also, at less than ten dollars per DVD, no fan should pass this up. Separately, they cost more. Buy this today and you will be granted a good taste in motion pictures!

Excellent Collection with a reservation. See Below!.......2005-04-30

This collection of Woody Allen written and directed movies is well chosen in that it begins with his second writer / director effort and includes all eight in a row from that point on. The included films are:

Bananas
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask
Sleeper
Love and Death
Annie Hall
Interiors
Manhattan
Stardust Memories

This selection is great for a complete Woody Allen fan, but it has some drawbacks to people who are entertained by his comedies, but find nothing of interest in his other movies. And, there is no more `other movies' film than `Interiors', which has not a single joke, gag, laugh, or snicker. That is not to mean it is not pure Woody, as all of his most popular themes such as sex, death, creative freeze-up, parents, and relationships between partners.

`Stardust Memories' is also an `other movie', however, it is on more familiar ground as a parody with jokes. If fact, one can say that the object of parody in `Stardust Memories' is the earlier seven movies and Allen himself.

The one other movie worth noting in this context is `Love and Death'. Amazon's published review of the collection describes this movie as underrated. I think it is more accurate to say that it is much less well known, almost totally overshadowed by the earlier comedies and the great success of `Annie Hall'. In fact, I am almost inclined to guess that some of the changes toward more serious characters and plot may have come as a result of critical ennui with `Love and Death', even though these are by far two of Allen's most pregnant topics. I believe it is not `Love and Death' but `Stardust Memories' which is underrated.

For Allen fans and wannabe Allen fans, this is a great collection. For people who just happen to like his funny movies, do the math to see if the discounted price for the collection means you are getting `Interiors' and maybe `Love and Death' for free. Personally, I feel there are no losers in this collection, but that's me. I just don't know why they didn't bother to start with the first movie, `Take the Money and Run', since it is distributed by MGM, just like all the others.

Average customer rating:

DVD movie: BLOWN AWAY
Sort of ok - watchable definitely
What a weird Irish accent
Not up to Hopkins' usual standards.
"I'm not a destroyer, I'm a creator."

Blown Away
Starring: Jeff Bridges , Tommy Lee Jones , Suzy Amis , Lloyd Bridges , and Forest Whitaker
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century-Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Amazon.com

Before he made the man-eating lion thriller The Ghost and the Darkness and the special- effects-laden Lost in Space, director Stephen Hopkins helmed this ludicrous and critically panned thriller pitting a cop on the Boston Police bomb squad (Jeff Bridges) against a mad Irish bomber (Tommy Lee Jones) who's still holding a grudge from their early years in the Irish Republican Army. A showcase for the explosive skills of demolitions experts, Blown Away has got some impressive action sequences, although the story is somewhat convoluted and mean-spirited. Suzy Amis (Titanic) costars as Bridges's endangered girlfriend, who becomes a target of Jones's destructive scheme. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

DVD movie: BLOWN AWAY.......2007-01-16

The DVD movie: Blown Away, starring Jeff Bridges & Tommy Lee Jones arrived @ my shipping address in good condition. The DVD movie is in great shape.

Sort of ok - watchable definitely.......2006-08-17

Ok - this would come under your typical action movie, where the effects and stunts are perfect excuses for seemingly glaring loopholes in characterization and plot. A bit of stereotypes too make their presence in this movie, in terms of character and situation. For example, the character that Jeff Bridges plays is often a bit artificially constructed - its like building it in blocks. So what we have is a kind of jerky movement of character-creation, from loving-husband-to-be, to superhero ultracool fireman plagued with an inexplicable revulsion to his job, to son of an Irishman, to detective blessed with omniscience, to I-see-flashbacks-in-black-and-white; you get the drift! The plot is your typical "I'm your friend, now back for revenge" & how Jeff Bridges overcomes all the hurdles and faces his tormentor. Throw in some pretty interesting camera angles (outdoors especially) and some interesting fireworks, you've got the movie wrapped up.

What makes this movie really nice and rescues it from a probable disaster is Tommy Lee Jones & U2. Jones' character is built right from the first scene where he escapes from prison till the very end. He also plays the role well, acting menacingly insane and dedicated to revenge. That he builds complex bombs with U2 in the background is a real interesting treatment & this movie is worth watching for just those sequences, if not anything else - especially if you're a U2 fan!

Blown Away - definitely watchable once, dont expect much and just sit back and relax and enjoy this movie.

What a weird Irish accent.......2005-09-10

Am I reviewing the right film? Definitely not the Corey Haim film? Right, lets get started.

This was released at the same time as Speed, and did not fare as well. Which is understandable considering it doesn't have a certain Keanu Reeves in it. Instead we get the guy who will forever haunt my nightmares when he was naked during Starman, and a weird but funny, leprachaun-esque accent from Tommy Lee Jones. I challenge you not to smile when he's dancing around making a bomb (?) singing a U2 song.

Although not as fast-paced as Speed, it's a slow ticking bomb, just waiting for the right moment to explode. With a reasonable cast, including Suzy Amis, who I actually had to ask who she was. Duh, she only stars in my favourite film, Titanic! She's virtually unrecognisable.

The only thing I wasn't keen on about this movie was I did not think Jeff Bridges' character's background was well-explained. I didn't understand what happened in his past, or what really was the connection between him & Tommy Lee Jones. And the fact that he kept most of his past secret from his wife, Suzy Amis. Some relationship.

It's not a movie I'd particularly watch again, but it was enjoyable at the time. I'll always prefer Speed over this, but I'll stick to my Starman nightmares thank you.

Not up to Hopkins' usual standards........2005-06-02

Blown Away (Stephen Hopkins, 1994)

Blown Away is a rare thing, a moment in Stephen Hopkins' career where he dips below the standard he has set for himself throughout his career. Blown Away is surrounded by better films in the director's oeuvre, coming just between the underrated Judgment Night and the mediocre, but fun, The Ghost and the Darkness.

Jeff Bridges stars as Jimmy Dove, a member of Boston's bomb disposal unit who has a shady past. That shady past, in the guise of Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones), catches up with him after Gaerity escapes from prison in Northern Ireland and tracks Dove down, starting to play a deadly game of one-upsmanship with him while the Boston bomb squad tries to bring Gaerity down.

It'd be your typical fun, mindless thriller were it not for some really, really badly overlooked details, like Jeff Bridges' accent. It's about the worst it could be for a person trying to imitate half-Irish half-Boston. Tommy Lee Jones' brogue isn't all that much better, but Jones is playing such a stereotype that one's not really noticeable. (A mad Irish bomber who's obsessed with U2? Oh, please.)

Not a bad way to kill two hours if you want to turn your brain off, but you'll have to turn it farther off than normal for this one. **

"I'm not a destroyer, I'm a creator.".......2005-04-17

Liam McGivney (Jeff Bridges) learned how to be an expert in bombs as a member of the IRA in Belfast, North Ireland. But when his best friend (an IRA bomb maker) Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones) went out of control, tragedy resulted and Ryan was arrested and sent to Castle Gleigh prison in Northern Ireland. Liam, who then changed his name to Jimmy Dove, fled to the United States where he became a respected member of Boston's bomb removal squad. He also married a beautiful woman (Suzy Amis) and started a family.

But now Ryan Gaerity's escaped from prison and has come to Boston looking for "Jimmy", and revenge. Refusing to forget the past, Ryan starts killing Jimmy's closest friends with bombs, and it doesn't take Jimmy long to figure out that these killings aren't the work of an amateur, but of his former friend, now an out-of-control killer and psychopath. Ryan gives Jimmy a chilling phone message after killing one of his best friends:"I've come here to create a new country for you called chaos, and a new government called anarchy...all for you." Jimmy then tries desperately to find and stop Ryan before anyone else is murdered. The ending is one of the best showdowns ever!

Although slammed by critics and ignored by many viewers, I found this explosive thriller very entertaining, keeping me on the edge-of-the-seat right up till the end. Tommy Lee Jones gave an extraordinary and chillingly realistic performance and really stole the show from Jeff Bridges, who wasn't very believable as an Irishman but was nevertheless cool. Also, the music, special effects, and cinematography were very impressive. Highly recommended.

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)

Average customer rating:

Star Wars V
This is the spirit of Star Wars.
Buy the VHS
You're throwin' away a fortune here, don't be a fool
NOT so ABSURD!

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Starring: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Billy Dee Williams , and Anthony Daniels
Director: Irvin Kershner
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000FQJAJ6
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

What do you lose by watching the 1980 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. Yes, it's true that fans who want spectacular sound and 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 The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1980 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

Description

Customer Reviews:

Star Wars V.......2007-02-12

This was by far the best of the 3 original movies. Of course I like the theatrical version best. Sometimes the enhanced version throws you off - you're not expecting stuff. Good show.

This is the spirit of Star Wars........2006-10-31

The best movie of the entire saga, even if this was evaluated as a stand alone movie it would be considered as a classic of the Sci-Fi genre. It has all the elements characteristics of a classic tragedy: the heroes triumph, but the villain 'strikes back', the heroes are defeated, and then, when at the mercy of the villain, a terrible secret is revealed, come on, it even depicts the tragical confrontation of father against son.

The Empire Strikes Back is the most 'alien' of the movies of the Saga, first we are taken to Hoth an ice planet were the Rebel Base is displayed as a technologically advanced outpost, like if this was not enough to amaze you we are presented with the gigantic Vader's Super Star Destroyer, a spaceship that only the ancient Hindus could have imagined in their sacred texts; after the exciting asteroids field chase we are taken to the floating city, gas processing facility on Bespin, a concept even more amazing, in my opinion, than the planet city of Coruscant.

Also, it is thought provoking the whole sequence on Dagobah, where, like out from a fantasy novel, Luke learns the ways of the Force from the unassuming Master Yoda.

I hope having achieved writing an objective review, because I'm a fan of this movie, but the truth speaks by itself, this is a great movie, deserving to be part of any Science Fiction collection.

Buy the VHS.......2006-10-04

I now own 5 versions of this film, and this is the first time I truely felt like I wasted my money. Each version I had previously purchased had been a clear upgrade in quality from past versions, and I was so excited to see the original theatrical versions (as they should be seen)finally available on DVD. Sadly, the picture and sound quality on this is worse than my VHS versions from the 80s. This set is a total rip off and George should be ashamed of himself.

You're throwin' away a fortune here, don't be a fool.......2006-09-16

The only reason a fan is tempted to buy these dvds in the first place is for the "bonus" discs, so the original theatrical versions are the ones to which I am referring. I made a big mistake yesterday when I dropped sixty plus on what I suspected might be trash. Video quality is horrible. Gritty and grainy with horizontal lines in places, vertical in others. Don't be like me and jump at the chance to get these. Let them rot on the shelves. I was a believer that these couldn't possibly be as bad as everyone said. Now I must admit that I was wrong. I have no complaints about the sound, but the picture made me wake up with a headache which still lingers even as I write this. Save your hard-earned cash and join the crusade to get these done right.

NOT so ABSURD!.......2006-09-12

To the review who "hates everything" that claims these new releases are ABSURD, I think you need to take a look in the mirror. First, George Lucas is not asking you to buy anything. He released these new DVD's because people were angry that 1) original versions were not included last time and 2) that you had to buy all 3 in a set and not everyone could afford them. So stop your whining and don't buy it (though I have a sneaking suspicion that you WILL. People like you like to complain but you're all bark and no bite).

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)

Average customer rating:

Spectacular!
Star Wars VI
Buy the VHS
You're throwin' away a fortune here, don't be a fool
DO NOT BUY THESE DVDS!

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Starring: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , and Billy Dee Williams
Director: Richard Marquand
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000FQVX6Y
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

What do you lose by watching the 1983 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. Yes, it's true that fans who want spectacular sound and 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 Return of the Jedi, and the 1983 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

Description

Customer Reviews:

Spectacular!.......2007-05-14

Seeing this at home on my big plasma with the enhanced sound was nearly as spectacular as it was in theaters.
A great job!

Star Wars VI.......2007-02-12

All of the reviews for Star Wars - the original trilogy say that this one was loopy because of the Ewoks. I enjoyed it however, it had it's moments. The enhanced version helps to show more of the City in the Sky and makes it more realistic than the original. Overall - a good movie and a good ending. I like the way the enhanced version updates for the new characters in the Episodes 1-3.

Buy the VHS.......2006-10-04

You're throwin' away a fortune here, don't be a fool.......2006-09-16