{"id":12913,"date":"2011-09-12T05:44:33","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T04:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/?p=12913"},"modified":"2011-09-12T05:44:33","modified_gmt":"2011-09-12T04:44:33","slug":"star-wars-on-blu-ray-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2011\/09\/12\/star-wars-on-blu-ray-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Star Wars on Blu-ray"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Star-Wars-on-Blu-ray.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12914\" title=\"Star Wars on Blu-ray\" src=\"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Star-Wars-on-Blu-ray.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"280\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>All six <strong>Star Wars<\/strong> films are released on Blu-ray for the first time today.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is you can buy each trilogy separately (<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/r80Y2u\">at around \u00a333<\/a>), but the bad news is that to get all the decent extras you need to buy the complete saga (<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/paFonR\">at around \u00a360<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>I suspect that fans will buy it for the first trilogy, although it would have been better if the extras had been made available individually on each set.<\/p>\n<p>After all this is the last chance to put these films out on optical disc before everything (probably) goes to streaming and digital downloads in the next few years.<\/p>\n<p>However, this Blu-ray release does mark the best quality version of the films yet, with 1080p versions featuring DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 surround tracks.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uz6p1xZS_JE\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"560\" height=\"345\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Star Wars now exists in its own universe, with its own <a href=\"http:\/\/starwars.wikia.com\/wiki\/Main_Page\">fan sub-culture<\/a>, but it occupies an interesting place in film history with roots in the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Hollywood\">New Hollywood<\/a> era, before going on to change the business of how movies were made and released.<\/p>\n<p>Its legacy can be seen every summer and Christmas when studios release big budget films laden with spectacular visuals.<\/p>\n<p>When <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Lucas\">George Lucas<\/a> directed the dystopian sci-fi <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/THX_1138\">THX 1138<\/a> (1971) it was a box office disappointment, but when his next film <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/American_Graffiti\">American Grafitti<\/a> (1973) was a major hit, he set up his own production company &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucasfilm\">Lucasfilm<\/a> &#8211; in Northern California.<\/p>\n<p>After developing a sci-fi story heavily influenced by <a title=\"Akira Kurosawa\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Akira_Kurosawa\">Akira Kurosawa<\/a>&#8216;s\u00a0<a title=\"The Hidden Fortress\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hidden_Fortress\">The Hidden Fortress<\/a>, both\u00a0<a title=\"United Artists\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Artists\">United Artists<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a title=\"Universal Studios\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Universal_Studios\">Universal<\/a>\u00a0passed on making it and Lucas instead did a deal with\u00a0<a title=\"20th Century Fox\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/20th_Century_Fox\">20th Century Fox<\/a>\u00a0to release the film.<\/p>\n<p>The resulting film became the biggest grossing film in history (until E.T.) and spawned a further two films, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sbweBDnViyA\">countless rip-offs<\/a> and a huge merchandising operation (post-1980).<\/p>\n<p>Lucas had essentially created his own universe as general audiences embraced the films, which in time embedded themselves deep into pop culture, triggering spin offs and ultimately <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Star_Wars#Prequel_trilogy\">a second trilogy of prequels<\/a> which came out between 1999-2005.<\/p>\n<p>But the lasting legacy of the first trilogy is the quantum technical leap they inspired in visual effects and filmmaking technology.<\/p>\n<p>After creating the visual effects company <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Industrial_Light_%26_Magic\">ILM<\/a> in 1975, Lucas essentially kickstarted the boom in visual effects movies with Star Wars.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oOga2Mf8KQI\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"560\" height=\"345\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Although the first film relied on the application of old school techniques (such as models and optical printers) in new ways, as the trilogy progressed ILM set the benchmark for many of the effects that helped pave the way for the CGI revolution in the 1980s and 1990s.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the early ILM team went to pioneer the next phase of visual effects on films like <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Abyss\">The Abyss<\/a> (1989), <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Terminator_2\">Terminator 2<\/a> (1991) and <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jurassic_Park_(film)\">Jurassic Park<\/a> (1993)<\/p>\n<p>The computer graphics division of ILM was bought by <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steve_Jobs\">Steve Jobs<\/a> and became <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pixar\">Pixar<\/a>, who would go on to make several groundbreaking animated films starting with Toy Story (1995) &#8211; more information on the history of that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2011\/08\/26\/the-history-of-pixar-computer-history-museum-2005\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Although not the first release to shown with Dolby Stereo, it did mark\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.in70mm.com\/news\/2003\/star_wars\/index.htm\">a revolution in cinema sound<\/a> as every print in cinemas across the country was capable of being played in stereo with surround sound.<\/p>\n<p>The enormous theatrical success of the film meant that, unlike today, it played for several months rather than weeks and persuaded theater owners to upgrade their sound systems.<\/p>\n<p>In 1997 Lucas went back to the trilogy and &#8216;upgraded&#8217; the visuals using newer digital techniques before re-releasing them at cinemas.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i0WJ-8B6aUM\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"560\" height=\"450\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>With the subsequent DVD release in 2004 and now with the Blu-ray version, this has <a href=\"http:\/\/www.slashfilm.com\/star-wars-bluray-controversy-george-lucas\/\">proved controversial<\/a> with some fans who think Lucas has tampered with his original vision and continues to milk the fanbase.<\/p>\n<p>Given that Lucas created these films I think he can do what he likes, although he should have put the original theatrical cuts on here for the fans who want it.<\/p>\n<p>But that said, there is plenty on these discs including over forty hours of special features, along with some rare content from the Lucasfilm archives.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>COMPLETE BOX SET DETAILS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Disc 1: Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 2: Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 3: Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 4: Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 5: Star Wars: Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 6: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren<\/li>\n<li>Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 7: Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deleted, extended and alternate scenes<\/li>\n<li>Prop, maquette and costume turnarounds<\/li>\n<li>Matte paintings and concept art<\/li>\n<li>Supplementary interviews with cast and crew<\/li>\n<li>Flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives<\/li>\n<li>Additional Content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 8: Star Wars Archives: Episodes IV-VI<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deleted, extended and alternate scenes<\/li>\n<li>Prop, maquette and costume turnarounds<\/li>\n<li>Matte paintings and concept art<\/li>\n<li>Supplementary interviews with cast and crew<\/li>\n<li>Flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives<\/li>\n<li>Additional Content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disc 9: The Star Wars Documentaries<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Star Warriors<\/strong> (2007, Apx. 84 Minutes): A tribute to the 501st Legion, an organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts which shows how fans help promote interest in the films with charity and volunteer work at events around the globe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later<\/strong> (2010, Apx. 25 Minutes): George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wars Spoofs<\/strong> (2011, Apx. 91 Minutes): A collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Making of Star Wars<\/strong> (1977, Apx. 49 Minutes): The behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in a documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX<\/strong> (1980, Apx. 48 Minutes): Behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Mark Hamill, which offers glimpses into how the special effects were achieved.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi<\/strong> (1983, Apx. 48 Minutes): Behind the scenes production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of techniques used to create the creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anatomy of a Dewback<\/strong> (1997, Apx. 26 Minutes): George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the films for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Star Wars Tech<\/strong> (2007, Apx. 46 Minutes): Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, with contributions from experts to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&gt; <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/ooUbSV\">Buy the Complete Box set<\/a> or the <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/r80Y2u\">First Trilogy<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/nWnAnj\">Second Trilogy<\/a> separately<br \/>\n&gt; <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Star_Wars\">More on Star Wars at Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Details on the Star Wars Blu-ray box set<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12913"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12913"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12913\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}