Info Wanted: The many releases of Star Wars...

Hiya!  New here.

After being introduced to fan edits (via FanEdit.org, and directed here from there), and having my love of Star Wars reinvigorated by Ady’s ANH:R, I’ve been immersing myself completely into this site. And wow, it’s a lot to take in. But after a few days I feel like I have my bearings, and now that I do, I’d love to have on my shelf a complete collection of all the versions of Star Wars (fan edits aside). So, as I understand it, here are all the versions of the Original Trilogy. Please, correct me if I’m wrong…

The original theatrical releases - These can now be found on the 2006 DVD’s.<span> </span> I understand the quality leaves a lot to be desired, but that they are the preserved originals nonetheless – and canon. Plus, the quality kinda sends one back to ’77 so to speak. If there’s a better way to watch these, let me know.

• If I want to watch the original theatrical releases in a cleaned up form (which sounds preferable to me), there’s the Dark_Jedi GOUT v3, which seems like its nearing completion. Any other versions I should consider, or will these be pretty definitive? If so, why?

• I also realize there’s the ’81 release of Star Wars with the adjusted crawl, the laserdisc editions, the VHS versions, but I don’t think there’s enough of a difference from one to the other to really take into account here, right?

I saw these in the theaters as a kid. I know there are VHS versions out there, but I heard there’s a loss of quality, and what am I gonna do with a VHS anyway? I’d love to know where I can find a good version of them on here.

The 2004 special editions. These are hardly worth mentioning, but I guess if I’m trying to list the versions, it’s one of them. I have these DVD’s (unfortunately).

• If I want a watchable version of these, it’s Adywan’s. ANH:R is my absolute favorite version of Star Wars.

The 2011 Blu-Ray releases - God help us all…

Again, if I’m missing anything important let me know, I’m new to all this.  Any/all comments welcome!

There are also 3 different mixes which were used in 1977.

pittrek said:

The 2006 DVDs don't include the theatrical versions, but the 1993 laserdisc versions. They have a new audio mix (from 1993), different color timing, different editing (missing frames) ... The SW DVD is actually a merge of the 1993 laserdisc version with a 1977 theatrical opening crawl. 

To call a few missing frames lost when making the telecine for "different editing" is very misleading. IIRC the '93/"GOUT" telecine is the one that have the most frames intact out of all SW-releases on video so far.

pittrek said:

You're of course correct. For somebody who is not an native English speaker it is sometimes a problem to find the correct English terms :-) That's why I added the "missing frames" part

Ok, I just thought it was important to point it out so we don't get any misunderstanding, my english isn't that good either, at least we try. ;)

Ok so the 2006 DVD's are actually the LD transfer, not the original theatrical editions. 

So what do you think the closest versions of the original are?  Adywan's and Harmy's reconstructions, or Dark Jedi's?  What's the difference between the two? 

I've also looked at Puggo's stuff, which is an actual transfer from old film reels, correct?  Wouldn't that make this version the closest to the original?

TV's Frink said:

dark_jedi is working on (nearly finished?) a 1997 SE set as well.

Awesome

adywan said:

I'm going to be doing ANH reconstruction after ESB:R is finished

Awesomer

RedFive said:

I've also looked at Puggo's stuff, which is an actual transfer from old film reels, correct?  Wouldn't that make this version the closest to the original?

Opinions differ on the meaning of "closest to the original".  My editions have sometimes been labeled thusly.  However, in my mind, the various Puggo editions are not at all close to the originals.  When I saw Star Wars in the theater in 1977, it was pristine sharp, ultra-high definition, with colors that leaped off the screen, sound that blew you out of your seat... not all grungy and grainy like the GOUT or like mine!  So to me, efforts such as Harmy's (and Adywan's reconstructed ESB, ocp's classic editions, dartheditous' ANH, etc.) are the closest to my memory of the original theatrical experience. George's special editions, even though they have the kind of detail I remember, ruin some of the original experience because of the inclusion of inappropriate computer graphics that are out of place amidst the earthy realism of the original films (notably on Tatooine and in Jabba's Palace), and are more reminiscent of the PT.

My purpose for doing the film transfers was to create reference material that people could use to research what was likely on the screen in 1977 (etc.).  They are full of grain, wobbliness, dirt, fuzzballs, faded colors, assorted mouse droppings, etc.  To my amazement, some people have claimed to actually enjoy watching them :)

TV's Frink said:

dark_jedi is working on (nearly finished?) a 1997 SE set as well.

I did some lurking and apparently they are finished (as much as he's planning on finishing them, anyway).  Anyone know where I could get a hold of these?  As I said before they're what I grew up with and I'd love to be able to watch them again.

I want to watch this movie!