Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray delivers great video and reference-quality audio in this must-own Blu-ray release
Star Wars Blu-ray: All six films of the Star Wars Saga (Episodes I-VI), each presented on one Blu-ray Disc to ensure maximum picture and audio quality, plus threeadditional discs of extras, with more than 30 hours of in-depth bonus supplements and extensive special features, including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes, an exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives, and much, much more, united in one complete 9-disc set.
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See individual titles for their synopses.
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20th Century Fox | 1999 | 136 min | Rated PG | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
Sci-fi adventure which takes place before the birth of Luke Skywalker, featuring the friendship between the
young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who would later become Darth Vader. The galactic government
has been...
20th Century Fox | 2002 | 142 min | Rated PG | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
Set ten years after the events of 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace', not only has the galaxy
undergone significant change, but so have our familiar heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala, and Anakin
Skywalker, as they...
20th Century Fox | 2005 | 140 min | Rated PG-13 | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
The galaxy is weary after three long years of war. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have become
legendary heroes in their campaigns against the droid forces of the evil General Grievous. Anakin and his secret
wife, Padme...
STAR WARS
20th Century Fox | 1977 | 127 min | Rated PG | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
In a distant galaxy, a long time ago, young Luke Skywalker assembles his motley crew of allies, including space rogue Han Solo and two "droids" -- C3PO and R2D2 -- to rescue Princess Leia, the rebel leader of her planet from the...
20th Century Fox | 1980 | 124 min | Rated PG | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
Luke Skywalker and his loyal band team up to do battle with Empire's forces who decide to
enact revenge. Yet, Luke is empowered by the Jedi master Yoda in learning to master the
Force, something he will need when he meets...
20th Century Fox | 1983 | 135 min | Rated PG | Region A (B, C untested) | No Release Date
Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian and their small army of friends rescue Han
Solo from the clutches of the menacingly ugly Jabba the Hutt and go on to do battle with the
Empire, even after Darth Vader has broken...
It's Star Wars. On Blu-ray. Take a deep breath. One more. And again. Slowly. That's good. Nice and easy, no need to hyperventilate.
Now, go
grab a snack, fix yourself a drink—a stiff one if you need it—and come back when you're ready. We're about to dive into what's arguably the
most
anticipated home video release of the past twenty years, and maybe ever. For the most part, this isn't going to be a conventional
review. I'm
not going to give a pithy plot synopsis for each film or argue the merits of Episode III. I won't get into details of characterization, and
I'm not
going to talk about the actors or discuss the technological feats that George Lucas and Co. accomplished in the process of bringing these six
films to the
screen. There's no need. You've probably already come to your own conclusions about Star Wars, and I'm not out to change them.
And on the
off chance that you haven't seen the Star Wars films yet—and there are a few of you oddballs out there—here's my quick
capsule
opinion: The original trilogy is all kinds of awesome and the prequels are mostly disappointing, but all of the films are worth watching, if only
so you can
finally understand what your nerd friends are rabidly arguing about. If you're reading this, the odds are you're a longtime Star Wars
fan who
simply wants to know how this release of The Complete Saga stacks up against previous editions. And that's what we'll try to cover
here. I'll
spend a
few paragraphs on the changes made to the films for their Blu-ray debut, and then we'll get down to the nitty-gritty of the video transfers,
the audio
presentation, and the bonus features.
Chewie, Han, Leia, and Luke...
A long time ago—1973—in a galaxy far, far away—Los Angeles—a young filmmaker named George Lucas started working on a script
treatment for a
story called The Star Wars. Drawing inspiration from the Flash Gordon space adventure serials he loved as a boy, and
sketching out
a
plot loosely borrowed from Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress, Lucas penned a short 14-page synopsis that, over the next few
years and
several drafts, became its own entity and took on an epic, legendary scope. It was a sci-fi story, yes, but also a sweeping fantasy that
incorporated
an
ancient dualistic religion devoted to an all-pervasive Force, light-sword toting warrior monks known as the Jedi, and a young protagonist—
initially
named Luke Starkiller—who would leave his outer-rim planet as an orphan and embark on a quest to fulfill his destiny. Using anthropologist
Joseph
Campbell's seminal work of comparative mythology Hero with a Thousand Faces as a narrative guide, Lucas essentially created a
modern
universal myth, one that has since spanned six main feature films, not to mention assorted TV spin-offs, animated movies, and an extensive,
world-
expanding series of books. There's no way George Lucas could've ever envisioned the impact his story would have on pop culture, genre
filmmaking,
and yes, the lives of the millions of fans who would come to embrace Star Wars as a rite of passage and formative part of their
childhoods.
To
these people, Lucas is a kind of god—literally, a universe creator. That said, while he's certainly all-powerful when it comes to all things
Star
Wars—he can do, and frequently does, whatever he wants with the franchise—this has led to a backlash among many fans, who
have
come to view Lucas as an increasingly out-of-touch and non-benevolent deity who tinkers recklessly with his creation, giving little thought to
those
for
whom it means so much.
Of course, you know exactly what I'm talking about—the numerous changes Lucas has made to Star Wars starting with the 1997
"Special
Editions," where he added or altered several sequences in the original trilogy in order to bring them closer to his vision for how the films
should be.
And later, to give additional continuity between the original movies and the generally panned prequel trilogy, even more modifications were
made for
the 2004 DVD re-release, newly angering a wide swath of fans. Many of the changes were restorative and cosmetic—like fixing certain
special effects
that never really worked in the first place—but others blatantly shifted the tone and tenor of the films. The most infamous example is
probably the
whole "Han Shot First" debacle, where Lucas went in and re-edited a scene in the Mos Eisley cantina to make it look like Han Solo shot the
bounty
hunter Greedo defensively, and not pre-emptively. I get it, Lucas was trying to make Han more sympathetic, and less of a roguish badass,
but we
like Han precisely because he wouldn't hesitate to shoot first in A New Hope. Inevitably, this change diminishes the arc Han
makes
as a character between the first film and Return of the Jedi.
The worst amendments, though, are those that seem designed to make the original trilogy more consciously "kid-friendly." Specifically, I'm
thinking
of the frankly ear-grating funk song that was added to Return of the Jedi, featuring a lippy CGI soul singer and a chorus of alien
freaks. This
scene serves no purpose whatsoever—besides being a tech demo for now woefully outdated tech—and worse, it's cringe-inducingly awful. I
have no
idea how anyone could've ever thought this was a good idea. And then there are the multitudinous examples of Lucas just throwing in new
CGI
creatures and spacecraft into the frame in an attempt to give the scenes more life and activity, when in reality they end up becoming digital
distractions that stand out awkwardly from the surrounding practical effects.
I have a theory about George Lucas, and it has to do with third-world cult-of personality dictators. Hear me out. Why is it that dictators
always wear
the most ridiculous outfits? In his green jumpsuit, Kim Jong-il looks like an elevator repairman. General Idi Amin Dada wore a kilt and
pretended he
was Scottish. Colonel Gaddafi is a veritable anti-fashion show of sartorial blunders. Why? Because there's no one to tell them, "No. You look
like an
idiot. Put some real clothes on." I never thought I'd quote a Kanye West lyric in a review, but "No one man should have all that power." And
I think
that's what's happened with George Lucas. He has too much power. He can toy around with his creation as much as he'd like, and there's
no one to
tell him, "No, George, stop. You're only making it worse." You've probably already heard that all six films are now in the process of being
retooled for
3D theatrical re-releases. Sigh. What's ironic and self-condemning is that, in 1988, Lucas once issued a statement to the assembled U.S.
Congress,
asserting that, "People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians." I'll
let that
one speak for itself.
If you were holding out hope that the original trilogy in all its untouched glory would be included here on Blu-ray via seamless branching
technology,
I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. Almighty George has seen fit to base the new Blu-rays exclusively on the 1997 "Special Editions,"
including most of the additional changes from the 2004 re-release. But this isn't a straight port of the DVDs. Several new adjustments have
been
made, some of them seemingly arbitrary and many inconspicuous unless you know Star Wars like the back of your hand. In
Return of
the Jedi, Wicket now blinks and has more expressive CGI eyes. (I can't tell which is creepier, the dead doll eyes from before, or the
humanoid
ones put in their place.) Obi-Wan's siren to scare off the Sand People in A New Hope has been switched to a more piercing,
immersive "Krayt
Dragon Call." (I might be in the minority, but I kind of like this new effect.) More noticeably, the puppet Yoda from The Phantom
Menace
has been replaced with the more convincing CGI model that's included in the following prequels. By and large, these switcheroos are
unobtrusive,
but—and no surprise here—there is one addendum that's already caused a flurry of online controversy. If you've been following the news of
this
release, you already know what I'm referring to; in Return of the Jedi, when Darth Vader grabs the Emperor to throw him over the
railing,
he now lets out a goofy cry of "NOOOOO," a mirroring of the scene in Revenge of the Sith when he's first reborn as a dark Sith lord.
It's silly
and over-obvious and completely unnecessary. I'm sure hardcore fans will be cataloging the differences between the DVDs and Blu-rays for
weeks to
come, but these are the big ones.
Here's the thing; ever since the The Complete Saga was announced, I was aware of the controversies, I had a hunch the original
trilogy
wouldn't be included in its untouched state, and I knew any new changes were going to be debated far and wide. This left me rather
indifferent to
the whole idea of revisiting Star Wars. But when I actually got the set in my hands, something changed. At pains of sounding like a
sap, I
started to feel that inner childhood giddiness bubbling up. And then, when I popped A New Hope into my Blu-ray player and heard
John
William's iconic fanfare over that familiar yellow text crawl, it hit me—I wasn't going to let any residual bitterness over George Lucas' endless
alterations bother me. I was going to have a blast watching these films. And I did. Sure, there were moments when I winced the wince of a
man
getting a cavity filled without anesthetic, and yes, I still think the prequels—for the most part—are a monumental disappointment, but given
the
choice between a Star Wars that isn't exactly to my liking and no Star Wars at all, I've decided to be happy with the former
and
bide my time. Like Anakin Skywalker finding redemption in his dying breaths, I'm convinced George Lucas will one day realize the cultural and
historic value in preserving the original films in their original form. Until then, I'm going to enjoy this epic Blu-ray box set and try my best to
ignore
the bits that bother me. I like this approach; I feel like, in my own mind at least, I've brought a certain balance to the Force.
It goes without saying that just because this is Star Wars, it doesn't mean that this set is going to be the best looking Blu-ray
release
of all time. So, temper your expectations. That said, we do expect a lot from George Lucas and THX when it comes to cutting edge
home video
technology. I'm happy, then, to report that, for the most part, these films look wonderful. Not all of them might be described as "reference
quality,"
whatever that means—although Episode III probably qualifies—but the transfers/restorations the films have been given represent an
exponential leap in picture refinement, integrity, and clarity from previous DVD releases. While watching The Complete Saga this
weekend
there were several instances where I felt compelled to rewind and just bask in how beautiful certain scenes look in high definition.
Let's get the bad out of the way first. Namely, The Phantom Menace. Somehow it seems appropriate that the worst film in the series
would
have the worst picture quality of the set, but it's still disappointing. The main culprit here is digital noise reduction. Unlike the other two
prequels,
Episode I was shot on 35mm, but here it's been fairly strongly filtered so that grain is scrubbed out, giving a more video-ish
appearance. I'm
assuming this was probably done to give a sense of visual continuity to the prequels, but it frequently results in softened textures and
smeared over
detail. The application of DNR isn't nearly as egregious as it was in the notorious Predator re-release, but the image does look a bit
off
at times, with faces taking on that distinctly smooth, waxy quality that always accompanies excessive filtering. It's not all bad
however; the
predominately CGI scenes—like the battle on Naboo—look excellent, if a bit outdated and cartoonish, and there are no issues with color or
contrast.
Edge enhancement isn't a concern either—which is kind of surprising given that DNR is usually accompanied by oversharpening to compensate
for the
inherent softening—and there are no blatant compression problems. The main improvement here, aside from the obvious increase in clarity
from
standard definition, is that there's actually more of the image onscreen now. Let me explain. When the DVD was being prepared, the
producers
slightly magnified the picture—essentially cropping on all sides—in order to avoid frame edges and artifacts like hairs stuck in the film gate
from
appearing. This missing screen real estate has now been restored, for a more faithful representation of the original compositions.
Attack of the Clones fares better all around, but noise reduction still dampens the level of clarity. Episode II was the first film in
the
series
to be shot, processed, and edited with an entirely digital workflow, but it was felt at the time that some of the digital footage was too
sharp,
so it was softened in post. (Not specifically for this Blu-ray release.) The CGI-heavy sequences aren't as affected, but most of the live-action
footage
has that characteristic filtered look, and sometimes the actors almost seem to have a kind of hazy glow around their bodies, especially when
they're
clearly standing in front of a digital backdrop. That's not to say there isn't any fine detail on display here—there certainly is, especially in the
intricacies
of the computer generated imagery—just not as much as there is in Revenge of the Sith, where Lucas and Co. fully embraced digital
filmmaking.
Episode III is on a whole different picture quality plane of existence. This is the outright stunner of the prequels, with a degree of
clarity and
color that approaches Avatar and other high-profile eye-candy releases. You can see instantly how much crisper and more detailed
everything is here, CGI and live-action material alike. The filtering has been abandoned in favor of an exceptionally resolved picture.
See the
fabric of General Grievous' cape. The clean lines of the nascent Darth Vader's shiny new helmet. The wrinkles on Yoda's weathered face.
Count
Dooku's eyebrow hairs, individually visible. This is impressive stuff. Just as striking is the brilliance of the film's color. The first two prequels are
far from
washed out, but Episode III takes the vibrancy up a notch, with tighter contrast, darker blacks—though not too dark—and
some
gorgeously vivid hues, like hot magenta spacecraft exhaust ports and, of course, searing neon lightsabers. All of the film's environments—from
Kashyyyk to the climactic lava world—look fantastic. I'm not big on scores—they're too arbitrary—but if The Phantom Menace is a 3/5
and
The Clone Wars is a 3.5/5, Revenge of the Sith gets full marks.
But, if you're like me, you're probably more interested in how faithfully the original trilogy has been ported to Blu-ray. We've already covered
content,
of course, so I'm talking cosmetically. Unlike the prequels, which look quite different from one to the next—especially in the jump from the
second to
the third—the 1080p/AVC-encoded transfers of the three "classic" Star Wars films are fairly consistent with one another and, in a
word,
amazing. If you need a number, I'm comfortable giving 4.5's across the board for the integrity and simple gorgeousness of these three
transfers. If you grew up watching these films on VHS you're going to be blown away. I don't say that lightly. When I popped in A New
Hope
and saw that first great close-up of R2 in all his worn-in glory—the scuff marks finely resolved in high definition—I knew I was in good hands.
And I
kept having moments like this. Seeing the weft of the fabric of Obi-Wan's cloak as he tells the stormtroopers "these are not the droids you're
looking
for." The level of detail inside the Millennium Falcon. The mottled facial texture of the Yoda puppet in Empire. The almost palpable
ripples of
Jabba's skin in Jedi. You'll notice background details you've never noticed before. Imperfections in the model work. Aspects of the
costumes
that previously escaped your attention.
There are certain scenes that look soft—I'm specifically thinking of the first few shots when our heroes land on Endor's forest moon—but any
softness
seems inherent in the cinematography, not introduced later due to DNR. Any filtering of the original trilogy is minimal; there are no clay-like,
Vaseline-
smeared faces to worry about here. You can tell occasionally that the image has been lightly cleaned up, but grain is visible and better yet,
the prints
are absolutely pristine. I don't think I spotted a single white speck or bit of debris. The fluctuations that appeared on the DVDs are also a
thing of the
past; color is more stable now and better balanced. Remember how the lightsabers' hues sometimes shifted? Not so here. Color reproduction
in
general is astute; rich and vibrant without looking boosted or oversaturated. There are times when black levels seem like they could be either
a hair
darker or lighter, but contrast seems carefully considered for the most part, with an emphasis on preserving detail in the shadows. And aside
from
some light noise, I didn't see any real signs of depreciatory compression. I can't imagine these three films looking much better than they do
here. I
suppose it's possible, but I'll leave that for Lucas to figure out.
Yes, yes, and yes again. I don't even need to write up separate audio reviews for each of the films. You know why? Because these lossless
DTS-HD
Master Audio 6.1 surround tracks are perfect. Not perfect like, "Yeah, they seem generally true-to-source and, no, there's no muffling
or
anything," but perfect like, "Yes. Hell yes. This is what sci-fi should sound like." Perfect as in completely exemplary in all the
ways
you'd hope they'd be. Superlative. Grade-A. Certified Gold.
Okay, let me calm down for a second before I fly off in a tornado of hyperbole. Really, though; these tracks are that good. If you've yet to
experience
John Williams' Star Wars theme in glorious 6.1 channel lossless audio, you've got quite a treat coming. Williams' cues are some of the
most
recognizable and hummable in the known universe, and they sound spectacular here, from the lilting and quiet heartswelling of Leia's theme
to the
balls-out, brash militancy of Vader's unstoppable death march, which feels like the brass section of the orchestra is clubbing you in the face
with their
instruments. In the best way imaginable. All of the music is grand, filling every channel, with distinct placement of the instruments in
the
soundspace. Rich, dynamic, full—you name it, that's what these scores are.
And that's before we even get into the good stuff—the sound effects. Sound design has been a part of the movies since the late
1920s, but
the Star Wars series emphasized it in a way that few films had previously done. The audio really is integral to the storytelling. Think
"Star
Wars sounds." What do you hear? The electric hum of swinging lightsabers. The crisp pew-pew of laser blasters. The low ambient,
oscillating rumble inside the Death Star. The high-pitched language of the Jawas. Darth Vader's heavy, respirator-assisted breathing.
You
could go on and on. How many films can claim to have made noises iconic?
But that's only the start of it. What makes these new 6.1 tracks so wonderful is how precisely and expressively they're mixed. Sound design
and score
achieve an ideal balance, each forceful and clean without drowning the other out. And the action sequences. Oh, the action sequences.
Lasers criss-
crossing the soundfield. Spaceships swooshing in every direction, their pulsing engines roaring past with a kind of down-shifting Doppler
Effect. Massive
explosions that send concentric arcs of debris spreading out from front to back. The thunderous LFE roar of an Imperial Star Destroyer drifting
overhead. Even in the quieter moments there's ambience in the rears; the bleat of a tauntaun on Hoth, pouring rain before the Obi-
Wan/Jango Fett
fight in Clone Wars, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Obviously, the effects in the prequels are a bit more sophisticated, but you'll be
surprised
by how epic the original trilogy sounds. Throughout it all, dialogue is always easy to understand, and I didn't hear any disconcerting crackles,
hisses, or
dropouts. Fans couldn't have asked for more.
Each film includes English Dolby Digital 5.1 descriptive audio, Spanish, French, French-Quebec, and Portuguese dubs, and optional subtitles in
English
SDH, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
To start, a quick note on the packaging. The Complete Saga is housed in case that's nearly identical, structurally, to last year's Alien
Anthology release—the same height, width, depth, and material. (Only less glossy this time around.) The cardboard pages are thick and
have
embedded semi-circle slots for the discs, which are easy to slide out, but not so easy that you'd ever worry about them falling out on their
own. Each
page features painted artwork, and in the back you'll find a "Guide to the Galaxy" booklet that provides a break-down of what special
features are
included. I'm not incredibly fond of the cover art, but this is definitely a handsome Blu-ray set, one that will look great sitting next to the
Alien
Anthology on your shelf.
Now, on to the good stuff. I'll give a detailed listing below of everything that's included, but it will probably be beneficial to first give a
breakdown of the
types of special features that are spread out across these nine discs.
Audio Commentaries: Each film includes two audio commentaries, and these are the only bonus features actually on the discs for
the
films
themselves. In addition to the tracks that were included on the DVDs—featuring George Lucas and various members of the cast and crew, all
recorded
separately—six all new tracks have been created especially for this release, comprised of archival interviews with, well, just about everyone
who ever
played a role in the creation of Star Wars, in front of or behind the camera, from George Lucas on down. These are more hodgepodge
than
typical commentary tracks, but despite the fact that they were sourced from various interviews, they manage to stay fairly scene specific.
There's a
wealth of Star Wars-related knowledge to be gleaned here.
Along with the disc for each film, the set includes three bonus Blu-rays, where you'll find a substantial collection of old and new material. The
third disc
contains an assortment of documentaries, most of which we've seen before, while the first two contain film-specific supplements, arranged by
the
locations within each film. You'll see what I mean below. The layout for discs one and two is fairly easy to peruse, but if you enjoy watching
special
features in bulk you might want to hit "play all," as the transitions between each section can get repetitive. Here are the main kinds of
features
you can expect:
Interviews: All told, there's a little over two hours of interview footage here. Each major setting in each film has an "overview,"
where
various production designers discuss the particular challenges of creating and/or shooting in that location, and there are also several vintage
interviews
with other members of the cast and crew. These are all technically presented in 1080p, but some of the material is clearly from standard
definition
sources. Not that it matters much.
Deleted/Extended Scenes: In total, there's about an hour and a half of deleted footage, almost all of it new. Worth noting is that
the
deleted
scenes previously included on the DVDs is not included here, so you might want to hang on to those if you're a completist. It's clear
that
instead of trying to be comprehensive, the focus in compiling this material was to bring as much new footage to the table as possible. And
there's
some great, previously unseen footage here. For the prequels it's mostly in the form of rough animatics and generally unfinished sequences,
but the
original trilogy includes several alternate cuts and excised scenes that we be of real interest to fans, including Luke's trip to Tosche Station.
(No, we
don't see any power converters.) Additionally, all the film footage has been scanned in 1080p.
The Collection: In "The Collection" you'll find scores of props, CGI models, prototype maquettes, costumes, matte paintings, and
more.
Click
on any item and you'll be taken to a view of it that can be rotated 360 degrees. You'll also be able view close-up details and a brief
informative text for
each piece. Better yet, most of these items are the subject of mini video featurettes that include interviews with model designers, costumers,
animators, artists, and others. Between the first and second discs, this amounts to almost two hours and forty five minutes of footage.
Concept Art Gallery: Here you'll find hundreds of pieces of preliminary artwork, covering character design, locations,
vehicles,
props,
and more. You can view these individually or choose "play all" and watch them as a self-playing gallery, which lasts thirty minutes on each
disc.
Archive Fly-Through: On discs one and two you'll find an item labeled "Archive Fly-Through," which is exactly what it sounds like, a
visual
tour through the LucasFilm archives, a warehouse where every conceivable prop, model, and costume is stored. I really hope this stuff ends
up in a
permanent Star Wars museum someday. Each clip is about three and a half minutes long, in 1080p.
Easter Eggs: It's rumored that there are several in the set, but I haven't found any yet. Let me know if you make any discoveries
and
we'll add instructions here on how to find them.
Now, onto the full breakdown of everything that's included:
Bonus Disc 1: Prequel Features
Episode I - Naboo
Interviews
Naboo Overview (4:52): Design Director Doug Chiang and others discuss the the look/style of Naboo and the CGI battle.
Liam Neeson Interview (2:21): Neeson talks about the message of the film.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Trash-Talking Droids (00:36)
The Battle Is Over (00:29): Look out for The Wire's Dominic West!
Anakin's Return (00:26)
The Collection: Includes sections for Jar Jar Maquette, Trade Federation Battleship Model, Republic Cruiser Model, Queen Amidala Throne
Room
Costume, Full-Sized Battle Droid, Naboo Starfighter Model, Sando Aqua Monster Maquette, Darth Maul Costume, and Palpatine's Shuttle
Model.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode I - Tatooine
Interviews
Tatooine Overview (3:41): A look at the franchise's return to Tatooine.
Rick McCallum Interview - Podracers (1:04)
Rick McCallum Interview - Filming in Tunisia (2:32)
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Battle on the Boarding Ramp (00:28)
Extended Podrace Wager (1:35)
The Collection: Includes sections for Queens Royal Starship Model, Eopie with Anakin Maquette, Watto Maquette, Sebulba Maquette, Dud
Bolt
Puppet, Anakin's Podracer Model, and the Sith Speeder Model.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode I - Coruscant
Interviews
Coruscant Overview (4:35): An intro to the design of the home planet of the Republic.
George Lucas on Preparing to Write Episode I - 1994 (3:05): Lucas talks about the technological advances that allows him to portray new
things
on screen.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Bail Organa of Alderaan (00:28)
The Collection: Includes sections for Coruscant Air Taxi Model, Queen Amidala Senate Costume, Pre-Senate Address Costume, and Senate
Guard
Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode II - Coruscant
Interviews
Coruscant Overview (3:56): A look at the process of going down to "street level" on Coruscant.
Ewan McGregor Interview (1:12): Ewan talks about how Episode IV was the first film he saw in the cinema.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Extended Speeder Chase (1:10)
The Lost Twenty (1:05): An interesting scene where the librarian on Coruscant tells Obi-Wan why Count Dooku left the Jedi council.
The Collection: Includes sections for Dexter Jettster Maquette, Zam Wesell Speeder Model, Youngling Outfit, and Zam Wesell Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode II - Naboo
Naboo Overview (3:09): A look at the evolution of the planet since the previous film.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Anakin's Nightmares (1:07): Anakin dreams about his mother in danger.
Anakin and Ruwee (00:54): Anakin talks with Padme's father.
The Collection: Includes Sections for Shaak Maquette, Anakin Peasant Costume (with and without cloak), and Padme Peasant Costume
(with and
without cloak).
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode II - Tatooine
Tatooine Overview (3:55): A discussion about the design philosophy for Tatooine.
The Collection: Includes sections for C-3PO Costume, Tusken Raider Woman Costume, and Tusken Raider Child Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode II - Geonosis
Interviews
Geonosis Overview (3:35): Here we learn how termite dwellings were the basis for the architecture of the Geonosians.
Hayden Christensen Interview (1:29): Christensen talks about fight choreography.
Blue Screen Acting (3:38): Christopher Lee and Hayden Christensen explain the process of acting in front of blue screen.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Raid on the Droid Control Ship and Extended Arena Fight
The Collection: Includes sections for Geonosian Maquette, Acklay Maquette, Nexu Maquette, Reek Maquette, Padme Trip to Geonosis
Costume,
Jango Fett Costume, Super Battle Droid Maquette, Geonosis Arena, Republic Gunship Model, and Clone Trooper Model.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode III - Coruscant
Interviews
Coruscant Overview (5:19): A discussion of the space battle above Coruscant and the cameos that the supervisors and producers make in
the
opera box next to the Emperor's.
Samuel L. Jackson Interview (2:34): Samuel L. talks about how George Lucas let him have a purple lightsaber.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Elevator Antics (1:39): Banter between Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Escape Through the Hangar (2:39)
Changes to the Constitution (2:04)
The Collection: Includes sections for Separatist Cruiser Model, ARC-170 Model, Jedi Starfighter Model, Count Dooku Lightsaber, Palpatine
Trade
Federation Costume, and Anakin Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode III - Utapau
Utapau Overview (4:52): Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll discusses some of the particular challenges of the Utapau location, include
model
work and CGI backgrounds.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Utapau Chase Animatic (8:34): This much longer version of the Utapau chase was actually supervised by Steven Spielberg, who wanted to
get
firsthand experience with the animatic process.
The Collection: Includes sections for Boga with Obi-Wan Maquette, Utapau Sinkhole Maquette, Landing Platform Maquette, General
Grievous
Maquette, and Tion Medon Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode III - Mustafar
Interviews
Mustafar Overview (4:29): Concept design supervisor Ryan Church talks about the process of designing the lava world.
Natalie Portman Interview (2:11): Portman discusses her character.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Mustafar Duel Animatic (3:37)
Mustafar Duel/Lava River Animatic (3:49)
The Collection: Includes sections for Obi-Wan Lightsaber, Anakin Lightsaber, Mustafar Landscape Maquette, and Burnt Anakin Head.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode III - Kashyyyk and Order 66
Kashyyyk and Order 66 Overview (5:43): Ryan Church discusses how his team was actually directly inspired by the Star Wars
Christmas
Special for the design of Kashyyyk.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Kashyyyk Attack and Order 66 Animatic (6:47): A long animatic that explores the fates of some of the additional Jedi.
Anakin Kills Shaak Ti (00:37): Here, Anakin stabs master Shaak Ti with his lightsaber at the Jedi Temple.
Jedi Imposters at the Temple (00:47)
Senate Duel Animatic (5:34): An altered version of the duel between Yoda and the Emperor.
Yoda Communes with Qui-Gon (1:00): Qui-Gon teaches Yoda to merge with the Force.
The Collection: Includes sections for Wookie Tree Maquette, Felucia Maquettes, Chewbacca Costume, Darth Vader Costume, and Imperial
Officer
Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Bonus Disc 2: Original Trilogy Features
Episode IV - Tatooine
Interviews
Tatooine Overview (3:49): Production illustrator Ralph McQuarrie talks about some of his initial paintings/drawings for George Lucas, 2nd
Cameraman Dennis Muren discusses the Tunisian shoot, and sound effect artist Ben Burtt describes how he came up with the Jawa language.
Mark Hamill Interview (2:15): Hamill briefly discusses working with Lucas, meeting Alec Guiness, and having fun on set.
Anthony Daniels Interview (1:21): Daniels talks about the odd couple relationship between C-3PO and R2.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Tosche Station (5:21): Awesome. Ever wonder what Tosche Station is? Turns out it's the local hangout for Luke and his buddies. There's a
great
scene here where Biggs reveals to Luke his plan to join the rebellion. You can see why this was cut--it would definitely slow down the film--
but it's a
great piece of previously unseen Star Wars history.
Old Woman on Tatooine (00:24): An elderly woman tells Luke to drive safely.
Aunt Beru's Blue Milk (00:31): A shot of Beru filling up her pitcher with that gross-looking gray/blue liquid they drink at the dinner table.
The Search for R2-D2 (00:42): Lucas cut this scene because he thought the rear projection visual effects weren't up to snuff.
Cantina Rough Cut (7:18): A preliminary version of the Cantina sequence. Look out for Han-Solo hanging out with a local lady friend!
Stormtrooper Search (00:54): Some of this unused footage found its way into the Star Wars Holiday Special.
The Collection: Includes sections for Landspeeder Prototype Model, Millenium Falcon Prototype Model, R2-D2, Tatooine From Orbit Matte
Painting,
Jawa Costume, Tusken Raider Mask, and Ketwol Mask.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode IV - Aboard the Death Star
Interviews
Aboard the Death Star Overview (5:47): Sound effects designer Ben Burtt talks about how he had a "field day" making sounds for the
Death
Star.
Carrie Fisher Interview (1:45): Fischer discusses the audition process and her reaction to her theme in the score.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Darth Vader Widens the Search (00:36): Additional footage that made its way into the holiday special.
The Collection: Includes sections for Death Star Prototype Model, Holo-Chess Set, Bridge Power Trench Matte Painting, and Luke's
Stormtrooper
Torso.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode IV - The Battle of Yavin
Battle of Yavin Overview (4:22): Dennis Muren discusses the process of filming the Death Star trench run sequence.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Alternate Biggs and Luke Reunion (00:36): An extended version of the scene, including a reference to Anakin.
The Collection: Includes sections for X-Wing Fighter Prototype and Final Models, Y-Wing Prototype and Final Models, TIE Fighter Prototype
and
Final Models, Darth Vader's TIE Fighter Model, X-Wing Pilot Costume, Death Star Laster Tower Model, and Yavin 4 Matte Painting.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode V - Hoth
Interviews
Hoth Overview (3:31): Dennis Muren explains how he tried to do as many of the effects in-camera to avoid having to do complicated
composite
work. There's some great footage here of the filming of some stop-motion sequences.
George Lucas on Editing The Empire Strikes Back, 1979 (3:25): A vintage interview with George, who compares editing to
constructing a
house.
Irvin Kershner Interview (3:02): Kershner gives his thoughts on Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Han and Leia: Extended Echo Base Argument (1:43): Nice. In this long version of their arguement, Han tells Leia, "You're as cold as this
planet."
Luke's Recovery (1:16): Additional footage of Luke in the medical tank.
Luke and Leia: Medical Center (2:15): Luke and Leia very nearly end up making out, only to be interrupted by R2.
Deleted Wampa Scenes (2:43): In the script, the Wampa was supposed to rampage through the Hoth base, but Lucas was unimpressed
with the
effects work--it's not hard to see why, the Wampa looks like a guy wearing a shag carpet--and the subplot was cut.
The Fate of General Veers (00:31): Here, General Veers suffers a kamikaze attack from a snowspeeder.
The Collection: Includes sections for AT-AT Walker Fallen Model, Snowspeeder Model, Tauntaun Maquette, Rebel Transport Model, Hoth
Landscape
Matte Painting, Leia Hoth Costume, and Han Solo Interior Hoth Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode V - Dagobah
Interviews
Dagobah Overview (4:29): A behind-the-scenes look at the Dagobah set, which presented some unique challenges to shooting. Frank Oz
also
discusses Yoda's speech syntax.
George Lucas on the Force, 2010 (5:20): Lucas talks about the philosophy of the Force in what looks to be a writer's room.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Yoda's Test (1:21): The special effects were never completed on this sequence, which has Yoda levitating a silver bar and having Luke try
to slice
it in half.
The Collection: Includes sections for Yoda Model, Luke's Severed Head, Dagobah Bog Matte Painting, Dagobah Matte Painting, and Luke's
Tan
Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode V - Pursued by the Imperial Fleet
Pursued by the Imperial Fleet Overview (3:25): Muren talks about the execution of the astroid chase sequence.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Hiding in the Astroid (1:06): Here we see Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reacting to "explosions," which were really just the cameraman
shaking
the camera.
Alternate Han and Leia Kiss (1:59): A longer version of the Han/Leia kiss, with C-3PO ruining the moment.
The Collection: Includes sections for Star Destroyer Model, Millennium Falcon Model, Space Slug, Darth Vader's Star Destroyer Model, Star
Destroyer Hull Model, Executor Bridge Matte Painting, Boba Fett Prototype Costume, Imperial Officer Costume, and Rebel Cruiser Model.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode V - Cloud City
Cloud City Overview (2:54): Production designer Norman Reynolds talks about the influence of the Bauhaus school of architecture on
Cloud
City.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Lobot's Capture (00:57): Here, Lando's aide, Lobot, is captured for his role in the rebel escape.
Leia Tends to Luke (1:03): Leia works on Luke's arm and talks about how Han was taken by Boba Fett.
The Collection: Includes sections for Twin-Pod Cloud Car Model, Cloud City Models, Cloud City Matte Painting, Cloud City Landing Platform
Matte
Painting, Cloud City Core Vane Matte Painting, Core Vane Platform Matte Painting, Lando Bespin Costume, and Slave I Matte Painting.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode VI - Tatooine
Tatooine Overview: A look at the production design for Jabba's palace.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Vader's Arrival and Reaching Out to Luke (2:50): A nearly complete sequence that almost made it into the final cut, with Vader contacting
Luke
via the Force while Luke builds his new lightsaber.
Tatooine Sandstorm (2:15): An impressive sandstorm sequence that never made it into the film. With big goggles and a scarf blowing in
the wind,
Han Solo looks like a badass here.
The Collection: Includes sections for Rancor Maquette, EV-9D9, Salacious B. Crumb, C-3PO's Head, Jabba's Palace Matte Painting, Sarlacc
Pit Matte
Painting, Leia's Boushh Costume, Leia's Slave Costume, Lando Skiff Guard Costume, and Jabba's Radio Controlled Eyes.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode VI - Endor
Interviews
Endor Overview (4:52): Dennis Muren explains how he initially planed out the speeder-bike chase using G.I. Joe models, and how he
simulated
100mph speeds by shooting one frame per second.
Harrison Ford Interview (1:34): Ford talks about Lucas' vision and process.
Deleted/Extended Scene
Rebel Raid on the Bunker (2:22): In this extended sequence, the rebels encounter more resistance as they storm the bunker.
The Collection: Includes sections for AT-ST Walker Model, Speeder Bike, Imperial Shuttle Model, Ewok Hang Glider Maquette, Imperial
Shuttle
Landing Matte Painting, Endor Landing Platform Matte Painting, Ewok Costume, and Biker Scout Costume.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Episode VI - Death Star II Space Battle
Death Star II Space Battle Overview (4:04): Model maker Bill George discusses the added complexities of shooting this attack on the
second
Death Star.
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Jerjerrod's Conflict (2:28): Minor character Commander Jerjerrod was featured in a few additional shots that were ultimately cut from the
film.
Here, we see his reluctance to carry out the attack on the Endor moon.
Battle of Endor: The Lost Rebels (9:40): Nine minutes of footage of rebel pilots who never made it into the film, including two female pilots
and an
Admiral Ackbar-type creature who, at one point, yells out, "Fried calamari tonight!"
The Collection: Includes sections for B-Wing Fighter Model, TIE Interceptor Fighter Model, Death Star Under Construction Model, Imperial
Shuttle
Bay Matte Painting, Admiral Ackbar Costume, Death Star Docking Bay Matte Painting, and Millennium Falcon in Hangar Matte Painting.
360 Degree Turnarounds
Video Commentaries
Concept Art Gallery
Bonus Disc 3: The Star Wars Documentaries
The Making of Star Wars (1977, SD, 49:01): A retro making-of documentary and promo piece that came out shortly after the first
film's
release. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher.
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, SD, 48:05): Similarly, a making-of doc for Empire, which looks specifically at the
then-
innovative visual effects.
Classic Creatures: The Return of the Jedi (1983, SD, 48:07): An exploration of the menagerie of Star Wars creatures,
compared
to and contrasted against the grand tradition of movie monsters. Hosted by Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams.
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, SD, 26:17): A look at the process of turning the rubber puppet dewbacks of the original trilogy into
moving CGI creatures for the special edition release of A New Hope.
Star Warriors (2007, SD, 1:24:00): A tribute to the 501st Legion, an international group of Star Wars cos-play enthusiasts
who
hold "armor parties" and do volunteer work. The cruel part of me wants to ask some of these people, "Aren't you a little fat for a
stormtrooper?" This
is the first time this doc has been included on a Star Wars home video release.
Star Wars Tech (2007, 1080p, 45:36): Another first-time-on-video doc, this one exploring the plausibility of the science in Star
Wars, including interviews with "leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering, and astronomy." Pretty cool.
A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, 1080i, 25:11): This new retrospective will
probably be
of most interest to fans, as it features George Lucas, the late Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, and John Williams looking back on
Empire.
Star Wars Spoofs (2011, 1080i, 1:37:32): An hour and a half long collection of Star Wars parodies in pop culture, from a
vintage Candid Camera clip from 1977 to the adorable "Young Vader" Volkswagon commercial that aired during the 2011 Super Bowl.
Includes segments from SNL, Robot Chicken, That 70s Show, Fanboys, Chad Vader, and
more.
Do note that discs one and two include English SDH, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Portugeues subtitles, while the features on disc three
include subs
in those languages, plus Brazilian Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, and Greek.
No, the "untouched" original trilogy is not included. Yes, there are some goofy new additions, like Darth Vader yelling "NOOOOO" as he throws
Emperor
Palpatine over the railing. I don't think anyone expected this release of The Complete Saga to be free of controversy. But come on. It's
Star
Wars. On Blu-ray. This is a once-in-a-technological-generation event, and if your hatred of George Lucas' revisionist tinkerings keeps you
from
enjoying some of your favorite films in high definition, you're missing out. Believe me, I share your pain. Whenever I hear that stupid funk song
inside
Jabba's palace, I cringe like a man being forced to bite down on tin foil or chew sand. It's almost physically painful. But I'm done being bitter. I'm
playing
the long game. One of these days, Lucas will wise up and realize that the original trilogy—in its original form—is a culturally and historically
important
piece of pop art that belongs to its fans. But until that day, I'm going to enjoy this Blu-ray box set. The films have never looked or sounded
better—
Episodes III-VI are particularly impressive—and they come with a fantastic collection of special features. Highly Recommended!
This October, Warner Home Entertainment will bring Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season Four to Blu-ray. The fourth season of the popular animated television show, which takes inspirations from George Lucas' iconic Star Wars film series, details the ...
Star Wars keeps making news for the Blu-ray format as its successful release, along with the smashing debut of Thor, have led to a new weekly Blu-ray revenue share record. For week ending 9/17/11, Blu-ray's market share of total package media sales was an all time ...
Variety is reporting that the complete Star Wars saga has sold more than one million units in only a week on the markiet, shattering records for the high-definition format and further cementing Blu-ray's dominance as the home video format of choice.
