* * * Please note - This review originally appeared on dooyoo under my dooyoo alias of dlb74 * * *

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I'm not exactly sure where to start when writing a review for the original (well... sort of original!) Star Wars trilogy... Love or hate the changes that George Lucas has made to the trilogy, it IS still magical and it IS still Star Wars!!!

This DVD box-set comprises of 4 discs. Discs 1 - 3 Contain the movies (Episodes IV - VI) and disc 4 contains an extensive array of extras.

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DISC 1:
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

THE PLOT:

This story introduces us to Luke Skywalker, (Mark Hamill) a simple farm boy who lives with his Aunt and Uncle on the desert planet of Tatooine. Between carrying out his chores on the moisture farm, Luke dreams of escaping his dreary life-style - unaware that his wishes are about to come true.

His uncle buys two droids (robots to those who aren't familiar with Star Wars lingo) - R2D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) that unbeknownst to the family are carrying plans for a massive space station. The droids are being pursued by the evil Imperial Empire - who are trying to recover the stolen plans before they can be delivered to the Rebel Alliance who are trying to find and exploit a weakness to this dreaded 'Death Star' at any cost.

Leading the hunt for the missing droids is Darth Vader - a sinister agent of the Empire. The search for the droids leads the Empire to Luke's homestead - while he is hunting one of the droids, who has gone AWOL. Luke's Aunt and Uncle are killed by Imperial Storm Troopers - forcing him to leave behind Tatooine with the droids and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness) - a strange old hermit who has lived for years in the desert wastes of the planet. Kenobi was once a Jedi Knight - a defender of the galaxy - whose kind has been all but entirely wiped out.

When it is discovered that as well as the Death Star plans, one of the droids also contains a message from Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), they gain passage from Tatooine on a spaceship called the Millenium Falcon, which is piloted by the cocky space-smuggler, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his 7' 3" Wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).

This is the start of a great adventure that leads the group across the galaxy to the dreaded Death Star itself, where they discover the Princess is being detained following her capture.

Will the rebels stop the Empire unleashing the full destructive power of the Death Star and save the Princess in peril? You'll just have to visit that "galaxy far, far away to find out!

MY HISTORY OF THIS FILM:

I remember seeing Episode IV for the first time on television when I was very young. My parents let me watch it though it likely finished past my bedtime.

I remember feeling so awe-struck at this incredible film and felt very upset and disappointed when the end credits rolled - as I wanted more... Little did I know that George Lucas was going to deliver more. Much more and lots of different versions of that very same more (Damn you, Lucas - I still love it despite you milking us for all you're worth - over and over again!!!).

THE DVD:

Audio commentary with writer/director George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and special effects supervisor Dennis Muren.

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (PAL)

English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

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DISC 2:
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

THE PLOT:

After scoring their first victory against the Empire, the majority of the Rebel forces are based on the ice-world of Hoth.

Determined to wreak revenge on the Rebel Alliance, the Empire has sent probe droids into the far reaches of space in order to find and flush the rebels out.

A probe droid lands on Hoth and sends information of the rebels' whereabouts to the Empire and Darth Vader who is hell-bent on crushing them. A vast army of ground troops and enormous AT-AT (All Terrain Attack Transport, if my memory serves me correctly) Walkers. The Rebels engage the Imperial army with their own ground forces and Snow Speeder spacecraft - lighting the fuse on the battle for Hoth while the remaining Rebels (including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and the droids) are forced to evacuate their hidden base and flee into the depths of space.

This splits up the Rebellion team - sending Luke Skywalker and R2D2 to the swamp planet of Dagobah to find legendary Jedi-Master, Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) in order to train Luke in the Jedi arts so that he too may become a Jedi Knight.

Meanwhile, Luke, Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO end up in Cloud City - which is run by Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) - and old associate of Han's. Lando gives the group santuary from the Empire in his city... but can he be trusted?

During a confrontation with Darth Vader where the pair engage in a Lightsaber duel, Luke is confronted by a terrible revelation (which is still one of the pivotal plot twists despite being completely undermimed in the second trilogy of 'prequels') that will change his life - and destiny forever.

The Empire Strikes Back is arguably better than the previous installment of this 'space opera' and is certainly one of the best sequels ever made.

MY HISTORY OF THIS FILM:

My recollections of this one on the big screen are somewhat hazy - for several reasons, I suppose. One reason is surely that it was in 1980 - so was only a mere 26 years ago(!)... The other reason was this was back in the bad old days where you were allowed to pretty much walk into a film at practically any point. The problem with this is that I was taken to see it by a baby-sitter (who shall remain nameless but will be on my cack-list forever!) who en-route to the cinema decided to break the world record for window-shopping.

As a result, when we got into the film, Yoda was already onscreen - which is a fair bit into the film. So - because of my babysitter, I was deprived of the spectacle of the Hoth battle on the big screen - which I'm sure I would have been very excited by at 6 years old. Oh well... *Sigh!*

Moving swiftly on...

THE DVD:

Audio commentary with writer/producer George Lucas, director Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and special effects supervisor Dennis Muren.

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (PAL)

English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

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DISC 3:
Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Following the capture of Han Solo by the notorious crime-lord, Jabba The Hutt, the rebels have put in motion a daring rescue plan. Infiltrating Jabba's Palace back where the original trilogy began - on the desert world of Tatooine, the plan fails - with the capture of some of the other key members who have freed Han from being merely a carbon-frozen decoration for Jabba's amusement.

When all seems lost, a solitary figure gains entrance to Jabba's Palace - by-passing the palace guards and Jabba's right-hand man - Bib Fortuna by using the power of The Force and the mystifying Jedi Mind-Trick. It is none other than Luke Skywalker - back from the remainder of his training with Yoda on Dagobah and now a fully-fledged Jedi Knight!

Luke is unable to trick Jabba into releasing his associates as Jabba sentences the rebel group to death. The means of their execution is to be thrown into the vast Sarlaac Pit - a huge living creature deep in the sands of Tatooine. Once in the belly of the Sarlaac, victims "are slowly digested over a thousand years". Not a nice way to go, for sure!

Following a daring escape, the rebels find themselves on the Forest moon of Endor, where they are forced into a climatic show-down with the Empire. The rebels are aided by the Ewoks (love them or hate them), little creatures that inhabit Endor and have an uncannily resemblance to teddy bears. However, behind the cutesy appearance lies a species who can add weight (if not height) to a battle using their primitive but none-the-less effective methods.

Who will win? The Rebel Alliance or The Imperial Empire?

Watch the original(-ish) Star Wars Trilogy to find out!

MY HISTORY OF THIS FILM:

I remember going to see Episode VI with my cousin and her then-husband when I was on my summer holidays.

Unlike my previous Star Wars related cinema excursion (see above), I saw this installment from beginning to end and seem to remember (surprise, surprise!) loving it - not even letting the Ewoks ruin the excitement for me!

I also remember getting Return Of The Jedi pyjamas for my visit to hospital to get my tonsils out. I remember it like it was only yesterday... Can that really be 23 years ago?!? Who says "nostalgia isn't what it used to be"? I suddenly feel very old!!!

And finally...

THE DVD:

Audio commentary with writer/producer George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt and special effects supervisor Dennis Muren.

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (PAL)

English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround

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DISC 4:
Bonus Material

- "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy" feature-length documentary.

- "The Characters of Star Wars" featurette.

- "The Birth of the Lightsaber" featurette.

- "The Force is with Them: Legacy of Star Wars" featurette.

- "The Return of Darth Vader" (Episode III preview) featurette.

- "Episode III: Making the Game" featurette.

- 10 Theatrical trailers, 11 TV Spots, Production Photo and Poster Art galleries.

Plus much more... Think you know everything about Star Wars? Think again!!!

The extras on this disc are pretty remarkable to say the least - delving into the Lucasfilm archives to bring you one massive documentary about the origins of Star Wars (A mind-boggling 150 minutes long!) which is accompanied with several shorter (but equally informative) featurettes and even a preview of Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith - which was still to hit the big screen at the time of this DVD release.

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MY CONCLUSION:

Unsurprisingly, the sound and picture quality of the three films is absolutely top-notch and although purists may loathe the tinkered with versions, (yes... I KNOW... Han should still shoot first!!!) they may still re-visit that 'Galaxy far, far away' re-live some of the magic and tremendous escapism that made these films what they were (and still are) in the first place: Classic entertainment for the whole family - ranging from the kids to the BIG kids!

Remember... The Force will be with you... Always.