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Original Trilogy Coming to DVD!
Entered on: February 8, 2004 9:58 AM by Ross
From TheForce.net:  
 
We've received information from a reliable source that an official announcement regarding the much rumored Trilogy DVD is expected soon. Our source says next Tuesday (2/10) will bring official word that the Special Edition versions of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return Of The Jedi will be released in a four disk set on September 21 of this year. No mention was made of additional footage, or the contents of the fourth disk, but more information will likely be known next week.  

NEWS 168 - 22 Comments
From: Ross Entered on: February 8, 2004 10:08 AM
In other sweet DVD news, the original 60's Spider-Man cartoon is coming to DVD as well:  
 
http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=3249
 
 
"Buena Vista have also sent us over the first details on Spider-Man: The '67 Classic Collection which brings together all fifty-two fully restored classic Spider-Man episodes from the original 1967 TV series. It will be available to own from the 29th June this year and should set you back somewhere in the region of $19.99."
 
From: John Entered on: February 8, 2004 7:08 PM
Sweet price, Bert. I will definitely be adding this to my collection for nostalgic purposes if nothing else. I used to rush home from school to watch these back in the 70's. Ah, the good old days. A few years later Bert and I would watch a crappy rendition of Spidey called Spiderman and his Amazing Friends. The show sucked but we watched it anyway if only to assuage the need to see Spidey in action. After the show we would walk to Collectors Corner to purchase comics. Then we would retire to either mine or Bert's room to read our comics, those were the days.
 
From: Ross Entered on: February 8, 2004 8:29 PM
I know, I don't know how that price can be accurate. They're talking about 52 episodes for $19.99? That kind of price is usually only for 1 disc type deals - I can't believe that that many episodes could fit on a single disc. More like 10 discs. Granted, they could compress those things pretty well, but I have serious doubts on that one.
 
From: Ross Entered on: February 10, 2004 4:32 PM
It's official:  
 
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/02/new
s20040210.html
 
 
Some other articles:  
 
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,13471,00.html
?tnews
 
 
http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=3382
 
From: Ross Entered on: March 23, 2004 3:16 PM
They're showing off the packaging for the Trilogy DVD set. Say what you will about the prequels, but if you call yourself a movie lover, you WILL be buying these on September 21:  
 
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/news/2004/03/new
s20040322.html

 
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 23, 2004 3:51 PM
Saw it already.
 
From: John Entered on: March 23, 2004 6:18 PM
I'm down with that, Bert. I've seen the original trilogy more than any other movies and I can't wait for them to come out on DVD. Skippy's ADD kicks in at the mere mention of rewatching a movie no matter how good it is.
 
From: The Bone Entered on: March 23, 2004 7:50 PM
I'm afraid I'm ging to have to add this to my collection. I only collect films which I find superbly sweet (I only have about 10), and this box set will have to join the exclusive ranks of my collection.
 
From: John Entered on: March 23, 2004 9:28 PM
Damn skippy it will have to join your collection! You're right about the original Star Wars being superbly sweet too. I find I'm not quite as discerning as you when it comes to collecting films. I love movies and I love to collect them as I have 165 DVDs. What can I say, I just can't help it.
 
From: Ross Entered on: April 1, 2004 9:46 AM
Episode III's title has been been revealed:  
 
The Creeping Fear  
 
I think it sucks. But what did I really expect? If you want proof, go to www.starwars.com and hover over the "movies" link on the right, and it will be there.  
 
DISCLAIMER: This could be an April Fool's prank too. This title has been floated on the internet already. It could be a legit rumor, or it could be a prank. Who the hell knows.
 
From: The Bone Entered on: April 1, 2004 11:28 AM
It has to be pure bullshit. There's no fucking way they are going to end the prequels with a title that lame. If it is the case Lucas should be banned from Earth.
 
From: Ross Entered on: April 1, 2004 11:56 AM
Dude, I don't know... I really hope it's a prank but in the words of many a Star Wars character, "I have a bad feeling about this."
 
From: Swerb Entered on: April 1, 2004 1:02 PM
Hmm. I'm taking everything on April 1 with a grain of salt, but didn't we all think "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" were kind of lame when we first heard them? And still think they're kind of lame?
 
From: Ross Entered on: April 1, 2004 1:08 PM
The name "Attack of the Clones" doesn't bother me. Phantom Menace, both in name and in deed, sucks ass. The Creeping Fear at the very least sucks in name.
 
From: Ross Entered on: April 2, 2004 12:29 PM
Well, if you go back to starwars.com and click the "Movies" link , the title is gone, it now says "In Production". So maybe it was a joke after all. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
 
From: Ross Entered on: September 16, 2004 9:42 AM
Here's a pretty good review of the Trilogy DVD from DVDTalk:  
 
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=12228  
 
I dunno about the rest of you pansies (except Roche and presumably Swerb), but I'm dying to get my paws on this one.
 
From: Swerb Entered on: September 16, 2004 1:31 PM
Hell yeah, I'm excited about getting the Trilogy... even if they're the special edition versions. It looks like Best Buy will have the best price on it, $42.99.  
 
BTW, hold on for the Official Swerb Review of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I'll post a link on Friday. I gave it the thumbs.
 
From: Jackzilla Entered on: September 16, 2004 1:55 PM
Swerb - As in "I loved it! I give it the thumbs!" or as in "Sky Crapton is more like it! I give it the thumbs!" ?  
 
Guess we'll have to wait for the review...
 
From: Swerb Entered on: September 18, 2004 10:31 PM
I thought giving something "the thumbs" was a joke just because of its ambiguity. Actually, I wouldn't give it thumbs up or thumbs down, but thumbs sideways:  
 
It?s easy to see where writer/director Kerry Conran gleaned his inspiration for ?Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.? The film makes numerous references to ?Star Wars,? the Indiana Jones series, the original ?King Kong? and ?The Wizard of Oz,? and visually resembles a musty old pulp comic book that?s been in the attic for half a century.  
There?s no debating the ambitiousness of the project, Conran single-handedly creating an entire computer-animated world that?s a bit grainy, sepia-toned and soft-focused, like a hazy memory of a simpler, more idyllic time. But while the look of the film is inventive, the story is pedestrian, and the script awkward.  
I recall Harrison Ford?s incredulity when first handed the screenplay to ?Star Wars?; I believe his response to George Lucas was, ?You actually want us to recite this dialogue?? Yes, it was cheesy, but endearingly so, evoking the gee-whiz-ness of old serials ? something ?Sky Captain? does pretty well.  
But ?Star Wars? was 27 years ago, before CGI replaced real sets and otherworldy creatures. At least Ford could muster an emotional response while running from a rubber monster, instead of standing in front of a blue screen, eyes on a mark, and pretending the beast is there instead of a post-production construct.  
Such is the predicament Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be in. As ?Sky Captain??s female lead, she doesn?t appear to be buying into the film?s mythology. Her portrayal of investigative reporter Polly Perkins is too detached and nonchalant, the same ho-hum look painted on her face whether sitting at her desk and typing a story, or riding shotgun in a fighter plane during a wild chase through New York City. Perhaps Polly has seen it all; personally, I think Paltrow is bored.  
Thankfully, Jude Law provides some exuberance as Joe Sullivan, a heroic and rugged fighter pilot the public has dubbed Sky Captain. He and Polly have a romantic past sullied by infidelity and bitter reprisal, and they therefore engage in pointed verbal back-and-forth while investigating the kidnapping of influential scientists and their link to a legion of giant, menacing robots that are pilfering energy resources.  
Behind the mayhem is, of course, a Man Who Wants to Destroy the Earth. Joe wants to save it, and Polly wants the big scoop. Their banter pops and fizzles by turns, urged on by the addition of Franky (Angelina Jolie), an old ?colleague? of Joe?s, to the mission. With her eye patch, sultry smirk and phony British accent, Jolie looks, well, ridiculous.  
Silliness and character clichés are acceptable, especially in ?Sky Captain??s context, but Conran, although providing a smattering of thrills and laughs, doesn?t elicit enough urgency or suspense in the film. The characters are flat, defined only by their actions on the screen; annoyingly, they pause to chat while the world is crumbling around them and a robotic voice counts down to destruction slowly. Very slowly.  
I?m not saying Conran should suck up to the audience?s short attention span. Indeed, developing the characters more doesn?t play to the film?s visual strengths, and slows the pace a bit, but the ironic result is the audience?s ? and, arguably, Paltrow?s ? detachment. Added character dimension and even the slightest twist of a well-worn plot would more successfully submerge us into the filmmaker?s fantastic world.  
Remember, Luke Skywalker was a sympathetic character; in comparison, Polly Perkins and Joe Sullivan are talking action figures with pull strings for one-liners.  
Despite its flaws, ?Sky Captain,? with its splendid and imaginative technical achievements, evokes a sense of wonder, admirable for a first-time filmmaker who wears his influences on his sleeve.  

 
From: The Bone Entered on: September 19, 2004 1:44 AM
Good review Swerb. Speaking of reviews, I finally saw Kill Bill volume II. It was definately an improvement over the unwatchable turd that was volume I, however I give a marginal rating. Tarantino is slipping. Sure he does some creative shit but it doesn't make up for a mediocre story. I was mildly entertained but couldn't help thinking how much better Resevoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown were. Too many peaople are holding Tarrantino's nuts based on the strenghts of those films. I garauntee that had Reny Harlan's name been affixed to Kill Bill, the majority of film critics would have shat all over it. Why, cause Harlen is gay.  
 
Too bad Kerry Conran didn't make a secret deal with Tarrantino to slap his name on Sky Captain. It would have been received with critical acclaim.
 
From: Jackzilla Entered on: September 19, 2004 7:45 AM
Bone - My thoughts exactly regarding Kill Bill! Making it two movies is a real scam too, and at the detriment of what would have been a better, leaner single movie.  
 
Swerb - Excellent review, though not enough "sweet"s for my taste.
 
From: Ross Entered on: September 19, 2004 8:45 AM
Bone - I agree that the influence of Tarantino's name may have skewed the Kill Bill reviews to be somewhat more positive than the otherwise would have been, but I still think you're a bit off your rocker about Kill Bill - they're entirely enjoyable films. But we've been down this road before.  
 
Swerb, your review of Sky Captain is about on par with other reviews I've read (save for the super geek crowd, who seem to like it more). I'm actually looking forward to seeing it anyway even though my enthusiasm has been tempered. I'll see if I can get some sweets into my review.
 

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