Info & Info Wanted: What are the BEST sources for EACH version of EACH movie ?

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 :

1. How many versions of each movie are there ?

2. 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

Akwat Kbrana said:

I would submit that the HD TV broadcasts of the '04 versions constitute better sources than the official DVDs, for obvious reasons.

Thanks for the tip, I added the HDTV broadcast to each film of the original trilogy

Oh .... Yes, looks familiar, sorry :)

pittrek said:

Star Wars Episode 1 : The Phantom Menace :

Version 1 : shown in some theatres, Darth Maul falls in 1 piece

Best source : ???

Sadly, this has yet to be found. I'd be interested if someone actually reconstructed this.

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)

In my opinion, this version is pretty well preserved. Adywan made a high quality reconstruction, and the best quality non-reconstruction (at least as far as video goes) is the TB Digital Broadcast. The LD has the best audio.

Star Wars Episode 2 : Attack of the Clones :

Version 1 : the original theatrical version

Best source : ??? (again, the official VHS is 4:3)

I believe the VHS was the DVD version... Correct me if I'm wrong. The best sources for this are theatrical camcorder bootlegs.

The IMAX cut however seems to be gone... except a few rumors of bootlegs I've heard about.

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 ?

Hairy Hen's recreation is probably the best available; however, he's making a more accurate version now.

35mm 2.0 version : video identical to all versions, audio is the common theatrical stereo mix

Best source : well - DJ V3 ???

Actually, DJ's Project Blu is much better, featuring a bunch of improvements in the scripts used to upconvert the GOUT. The audio is a lot better in this too.

If you don't mind a reconstruction, Harmy's edition is also one of the top sources.

35mm 1.0 version : featuring the wonderful mono mix

Best source : DJ V3 ???

Project Blu, see above.

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 ?

I'm not sure about the binary sunset, but I believe the R2 scene was just brightened for early releases and the original colors are how it appears in the GOUT.

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 : ???

I'm not sure they re-color timed the 1981 version for those scenes. They definitely redid the crawl and star field though. Incidentally, my first post here was making the suggestion that the color inconsistency in the early releases was indeed because the 1981 version was re-timed. :-) The best source would probably be the JSC, if you added the original sound of course.

1985 version : Ben Burrt created a new sound mix, but was the video the same ?

Best source : ???

Minus the brightening used for home video, I believe the video was the same. New sound mix though. I'd think the best version for this is the JSC LD, as that seems to be the 1985 version. The SWE was a new transfer I believe... The Technidisc I think was basically the 1993 version except not desaturated or DVNR'ed.

1993 version : new sound mix again, desaturated video with DNVR

Best source : GOUT ?

I think the GOUT is the best source, though it has the original crawl.

1997 version - "Special Edition" : new scenes, new visual effects, new sound mix

Best source : ??? Again, I have a VHS but it's 4:3

The best source for this is the Reivax Digital Broadcast DVD, I think, as far as video goes. Audio goes to the LD.

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

HDTV broadcast is definitely the best source as it's just the DVD master in HD.

Star Wars Episode 5 : The Empire Strikes Back :

70mm theatrical edition : unique 6 channel mix, unique ending shot ...

Best source : ???

Unfortunately, there is no source for this, AFAIK.

35mm theatrical edition : reshot ending, stereo sound mix

Best source: ???

The best source for this is most likely the JSC or SWE, except with original audio. The GOUT was pretty DVNR'ed, especially in ESB...

For theatrically accurate color timing, the theatrical bootleg is definitely the best or a 16mm transfer when it comes out.

1985 edition : was this even different from the theatrical 35mm edition ?

Best source : ???

Not sure if it was different... perhaps audio wise?

1993 edition : was this even different from the theatrical 35mm edition ?

Best source ???

This isn't really different except heavy DVNR. The best source would be Dark Jedi's Project Blu which is basically a nicely enhanced version of it.

1997 Special Edition : many visual and audio changes

Best source : ???

The best source is most definitely the TB Digital Broadcast DVD. The best audio is the LD.

Star Wars Episode VI : Return of the Jedi :

70mm theatrical edition : 6 channel mix, but video should be the same

Best source : DJ V3 ?

I believe this is the same, and DJ's Project Blu with Hairy Hen's 5.1 is probably the best approximation of this.

35mm theatrical edition : was the video different ? There was a stereo mix

Best source : DJ V3 ?

I don't believe the video was different. The best version is Dark Jedi's Project Blu Disc, and the best reconstruction is Harmy's. It is worth noting that the color timing of the JSC is very interesting for this one, much more saturated.

1985 version : was it ANY different ?

Best source : ???

I think that this wasn't different minus some EQ changes in the audio.

1993 version : was it ANY different ?

Best source : GOUT DVD ?

GOUT DVD is the best for official releases. Dark Jedi's Project Blu is the best since it is merely a bloody good upconvert.

1997 Special Edition : tons of changes

Best source : ???

Though some may argue the G'KAR, I do think that the TB DVD is the best source for video. The best audio is on the LD.

Anyway, that's just what I believe. Hope this helped. A "best source" thread is a good idea.

Thanks, I hope I will find the theatrical bootlegs "somewhere" :) I think I've seen the TB DVDs on myspleen

BTW I am sure the Episode 2 VHS has the theatrical version - I checked the ending a few minutes ago and it has the original hand of Anakin

msycamore said:

The scene with R2-D2 in the canyon where he is captured by Jawas was one of those sequences shot-day-for-night, they turned up the brightness for those scenes in the early days of home video, the '93 DC LD was the first time they didn't. You can even see when it occur as it's done step by step in the wipes.

Other such scenes are the shot of the Sandcrawler just before "Look, sir. Droids.", in Empire you have the scenes with Luke seeing the apparition of Obi-Wan on Hoth, Luke's arrival on Dagobah and his later encounter with Yoda. These were often presented in broad daylight in the old video releases.

But do you know how did these scenes look like in 1977/1980 ? Were these scenes dark in the original theatrical releases, later brightened for the home releases and in 1993 darkened again ? Or were they originally bright on both the theatrical release AND the home video releases ?

msycamore said:

That's what I tried to explain, those scenes should be darker and was originally, and later brightened for video.

Thanks ! My English is definitely not as good as I once thought :-)

Don't forget about the IMAX version of AoTC. There's a version of it floating around somewhere.

I just found Adywan's re-creaction of the theatrical release of Episode I. I haven't watched it yet - can anybody confirm it's an accurate representation of the theatrical version ?