I have a very complicated question for all of you Star Wars fans and COLLECTORS 😃
We all know that George Lucas is NEVER satisfied and keeps messing with his (and other peoples) movies from the Star Wars universe. That’s the reason why there are many different versions of each of the movies. Before 1997 the changes were done only in changing the color palette or doing a slightly different sound mix, or a different frame cropping, but after 1997 he went completely crazy and keeps even changing the lenght of the movies and the visual effects.
That leads me to 2 questions :
-
How many versions of each movie are there ?
-
What is the currently best available source for each version ? That including both the bootlegs AND the official releases
I’ll try to “summarize” what I remember from the time when I was a frequent reader of this forum, PLEASE CORRECT MY MISTAKES AND FILL ALL THE MISSING INFORMATION, Thanks !
Star Wars Episode 1 : The Phantom Menace< :
Version 1 : shown in some theatres, Darth Maul falls in 1 piece
Best source : ???
Version 2 : the “common” theatrical version, Darth Maul falls split in 2 halves
Best source : ??? (I know it was released on VHS, I have it, but it’s 4:3)
DVD version : extended pod race, + a few deleted scenes added
Best source : official DVD, HDTV version
BluRay version : see this for list of changes http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=123195
Best source : official 2011 BluRay
Star Wars Episode 2 : Attack of the Clones :
Version 1 : the original theatrical version
Best source : ??? (again, the official VHS is 4:3)
DVD version : a couple of visual changes, especially Anakin’s hand at the end
Best source : official DVD, HDTV version
BluRay version : list of changes http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=929191
Best source : official BluRay
Star Wars Episode 3 : Revenge of the Sith :
Theatrical version : almost identical to the DVD version except one shot
Best source : official BluRay for video ??? and what about audio ?
DVD version : video almost identical to the theatrical version, what about audio ?
Best source : official DVD, HDTV version
BluRay version : video “should” be identical to theatrical version, audio should be different
Best source : official BD
Star Wars (NO Episode IV) :
70mm 4.2 version : video identical to all versions, audio is a unique 4.2 remix
Best source : for audio - the hairyHen re-creation ?
35mm 2.0 version : video identical to all versions, audio is the common theatrical stereo mix
Best source : well - DJ V3 ???
35mm 1.0 version : featuring the wonderful mono mix
Best source : DJ V3 ???
A BIG QUESTION : In SOME early versions of the movie a different colour palette was used - e.g. the binary sunset scene was more orange/red (later versions had it blue/red), the R2 capture scene was bright etc. I always thought that these are the ORIGINAL colours - am I correct ?
Star Wars Episode IV : A New Hope :
1981 version : new title crawl, new starfield in the opening scene, new colours in the binary sunset and R2 capturing scenes (???)
Best source : ???
1985 version : Ben Burrt created a new sound mix, but was the video the same ?
Best source : ???
1993 version : new sound mix again, desaturated video with DNVR
Best source : GOUT ?
1997 version - “Special Edition” : new scenes, new visual effects, new sound mix
Best source : ??? Again, I have a VHS but it’s 4:3
2004 fucked up DVD version : the bad Star Wars parody with fucked up colours, fucked up sound, fucked up continuity …
Best source : the official DVD, the HDTV broadcast
2011 fucked up BluRay version : the bad Star Wars parody with fucked up colours, fucked up sound, fucked up continuity … which suddenly makes the 1997 edition look brilliant
Best source : the official BD
Star Wars Episode 5 : The Empire Strikes Back :
70mm theatrical edition : unique 6 channel mix, unique ending shot …
Best source : ???
35mm theatrical edition : reshot ending, stereo sound mix
Best source: ???
1985 edition : was this even different from the theatrical 35mm edition ?
Best source : ???
1993 edition :</span> was this even different from the theatrical 35mm edition ?
Best source ???
1997 Special Edition : many visual and audio changes
Best source : ???
2004 DVD edition : many audio/video changes
Best source : official DVD, the HDTV broadcast
2011 BD edition : many audio /video changes
Best source : official BD
Star Wars Episode VI : Return of the Jedi :
70mm theatrical edition : 6 channel mix, but video should be the same
Best source : DJ V3 ?
35mm theatrical edition : was the video different ? There was a stereo mix
Best source : DJ V3 ?
1985 version : was it ANY different ?
Best source : ???
1993 version : was it ANY different ?
Best source : GOUT DVD ?
1997 Special Edition : tons of changes
Best source : ???
2004 DVD version : tons of changes
Best source : the official DVD, the HDTV broadcast
2011 BD edition : tons of changes
Best source : the official BD
Any changes / corrections / additions ? Thanks a lot