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Wanted: Looking to buy laserdisc set

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 (Edited)

I am looking to buy the laserdisc set of the original trilogy.

I found many of them for sale on eBay, but I’m not sure exactly which one to buy as I am really only a passive addict to the ‘real’ original cut. I don’t remember exactly how many seconds Han stood above Lea before they started talking and all that and I don’t know that I really care that much. Whether it’s the first or second definitive edition isn’t a huge deal to me, though the second is considered ‘more definitive’ I guess.

If anyone has a set for sale (good luck, I know) or even if anyone would like to help me find the right one to buy on eBay or something, then I’d drop some coin your way via paypal or something for your time. I just don’t have the time to scour the bowels of Star Wars history to sort out all the fodder out there. I see definitive editions, special editions (with original content), etc… and I’m just not sure which is which.

As for price, I see eBay is full of buy it now $25-$50 sets as well as some higher. I’m not locked to any price though, I’m not a .99 cent shopper. I value quality over a ‘steal’. If you don’t have the set, but know how to help me find one on eBay then name your price and we’ll talk.

Bottom line is that I want the laserdisc originals so my kids can see them the way I saw them. I bought a laserdisc player and ‘The Last Starfighter’ for just that reason and I’d like to add ‘Star Wars’ to the list.

…as an asside, not to start some flame or anything, but I’ve always seen Han’s shot as defensive in the bar. Whether or not Greedo actually got a shot off is beside the point to me (I swear I remember the sound of a shot though), he was locked and cocked and would have shot regardless. It’s been a while since I watched the originals though, and memory changes over time, but there you have it.

…also, Hayden is a pretty boy and can’t act any better than the air duster on my desk. I’ll be damned if his image will be displayed on my theatre screen… sorry, had to get that out…

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After spending a little time in Wikipedia, I've leaned a little bit more and have some questions.

Are there letterbox versions on laserdisc with unaltered story?

Wikipedia stated that laserdiscs with the CBS/FOX logo on them have an aspect ratio problem that was fixed with the ones with just the newer FOX logo.

Is there any version of the films on laserdisc that are not time compressed? It wasn't clear to me if only the pan and scan versions were compressed and not the letterbox ones.

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If you want the original editions in non-time-compressed, letterboxed format, I'd recommend you look for either the Definitive Collection boxed set:
http://japanld.free.fr/laserdisc.php?id=5091

or the "faces" discs:
http://japanld.free.fr/laserdisc.php?id=11011
http://japanld.free.fr/laserdisc.php?id=11013
http://japanld.free.fr/laserdisc.php?id=11014

And isn't The Last Starfighter available on DVD?

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Yes, I believe The Last Starfighter is available on DVD, but the whole point here is preservation of what I saw when I first saw it. *smile* That particular movie night as a child was a good memory the fact that it was on LD is farily key to the memory. It was my first LD/big screen projection tv experience (remember the red green and blue flood lights?) so I've chosen to keep future viewings of the movie from LD. I've of course moved on past the old projection tv to a DLP projector, but LD is easy to hang on to.

As for the links, thank you, that helps a lot.

There is a LaserRot warning for the box set though, is this a major concern? Are the 'faces' discs any better about that or just not reported?
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You might want to read through the SW preservation thread a bit for more info on these. Another good option is the Japanese Special Collection, which is more untouched than Definitive Collection or "Faces," or the PAL THX editions for the best resolution.