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Laser Disc theatrical editions - which one should I buy?

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 (Edited)

Hi,
I’d like to buy the laser disc theatrical edition. Which one should I buy.
Also, in the meantime, is it possible to get those theatrical rip from these LDs with an uncompressed quality?
Usually I watch DVDs as .VOB.
Thanks!

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Which set you wish to buy can depend on a few things - like your budget, or which box set art appeals to you? Do you want the best picture quality, or sound options, or simply what is generally perceived to be the best all round set?

Do you have a laserdisc player that is capable of playing discs from differnet regions, ie from Japan or PAL (if you are US based)?
 

There are a few ‘laserdisc to DVD’ preservation projects on here in the Star Wars Preservation section of the site, the Index pinned at the top of the section had many of them listed. It also has links to detailed info on each laserdisc set - audio/video information and some ‘pros & cons’ too, and is well worth a read.

50 Cent is just an imposter

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I made an in depth video runthrough of main editions but the easiest cost effective recommendation are the USA Fox special widescreen editions for the trilogy-and especially look for the Technidisc pressing of ANH.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

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The Theatrical Star Wars has never been on home video never mind Laserdisc. But i know what you mean. You mean Episode IV a New Hope the 82 Cinema release. Which is on VHS and Laserdisc.

The DVD version the gout which was released as a 4:3 letterbox transfer only had the original crawl and starfield spliced into the laserdisc master. With the 1993 remixed audio.

I like the Japan Special Collection but of course the image is placed higher up due to Japanese subtitles and is not centered on the screen, and the subtitles for Jabba on Return of the Jedi are missing.

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If not dealing with ebay scalpers:

US SWE trilogy should go for $15-30. JSCs are typically $25 and up per film. The definitive box can go for crazy money these days and is hard to find complete rot free. The Faces single film discs are the same master but on much better pressings-however they are CLV and have all the problems of the DC master.

Unfortunately SW LD prices are crazy these days. Most sellers jack up the price no matter which copy. In fact recently someone posted the original pan n scan time compressed LD for like $1,500 or something!

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

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I have the US release for the Faces trilogy but it was pressed in Japan and has no rot. Of course it is in CLV format and not CAV.

When i bought my Japan definitive set it had no rot of course i have not checked it since 2006, who knows maybe now it does. The US set had rot from the moment i took it out of a sealed box. Not even sure if its the first issue or corrected copy despite the seller telling me at the time it was the later.

The Japanese set i have is the one with the creative impulse book in Japanese and does not have the making of trilogy discs, like the much more expensive to find second issue does.

I got a copy of the digital audio release of SPFX without obi for free with the purchase of Temple of Doom Evergreen also without OBI but with an insert. And that title goes for way too much outside of good squid’s site.

The Star Wars evergreen was nearly impossible for me to find and i had to buy an auction lot to get it. It has the original Dolby stereo mix in digital PCM. Of course it is pan and scan with subtitles. I also got Raiders of the Lost Ark Evergreen which has the original audio in PCM. And the Star Wars Collectors set with the From Star Wars to Jedi digital audio version.

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I have to say that I actually much prefer the way the 93 sound mix is. The special effect sounds and music are very loud (which I love). For this reason I like the definitive collection.

The definitive is a bit too red and blurry (mainly for the first film), but still looks good.

I also enjoy the Fox Special Widescreen Editions. Those have more natural colors and are sharper.