Star Wars: A New Hope [1977] [VHS]

Hope I can all ways get to it now I payed for this

Like many other Star Wars fans i was not that impressed with many of the changes George Lucas made in the digitally remastered versions, even if the overall quality of the image was improved. My old from-TV VHS recordings are long gone, and i've been waiting since then (circa 1990) to get hold of a DVD version of the original, pre-remastered, films for the original triology.This is that version. A two disk set with both the remastered and original film version in the case. With the slew of Star Wars re-releases we've had over recent decades it's been hard to tell the wood from the trees in relation to getting the original films, so here are a few pointers to help. For the first film, Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope:1. The ASIN code is: B000FMH8UI2. The code on the base of the spine is: 33919010013. The cover is as shown in the amazon listing for this review, with the 'Limited Edition' banner in gold along the top.4. On the back it will say: "Disk 2: Original theatrical (1977) version of Star Wars"Now i've seen people remark that the quality of the original version is terrible, and i can't agree. Maybe we have become too used to over-saturated HDR and computer enhanced visuals? Certainly my viewing of the original versions in this set was no different to the VHS version i had previously or the countless times i watched it on TV as a kid. It's an old film, and these are old recordings of an old film, but in no way is the quality so bad as to ruin your enjoyment of the best of sci-fi stories in film.It is also possible to adjust the settings on most modern TV sets, or even in the software you use if viewing on your PC to get the 'best' viewing you can, i had to darken it slightly to suit my TV, but in general these are not destroyed by blurring or artifacts, certainly no more than the original film was.And finally, thank you George Lucas for eventually listening to the many Star Wars fans that really wanted these versions, it's been a longtime coming, but awesome none the less.

For a start, this edited, or restored, or whatever-the-case-may-be version, in no way detracts in the slightest regard from the original movie. Having watched it a number of times now, I can certainly conjecture that if you liked something in any way of the original, you will not like it any less in this 2006 version. At least that was my experience. I can only speak for myself. The whites are all just as white and clean. Everything shines and gleams as though it had been taken out of hermetically sealed lab-casing just moments before the shoot.The story itself, mind you, is not what you would call a deep and profound allegory. No offence intended. I don't think it was ever meant to be. But it does have a good plot. A storyline that hangs together in the classical sense. And the technical wizardry and attention to detail are phenomenal. Quite astonishing. Just as R2D2 gets to bleeping at C3PO aboard the Rebel Ship, it suddenly occurs to you that a whole new droid language could have been written for just this one scene. And when the Stormtroopers come in, their shining white armour against the shining white walls instantly alert you to what a great film this is. And Alec Guiness and Carrie Fisher's acting really make Jedi Powers seem like they have a reality apart from fiction, even though in a strange way it is always clear that this is just a story - only a work of fiction.Totally ahead of its time back in '77, and it still looks totally ahead of its time, even as I watch it now. Normally I prefer films to be a little more ironic, perhaps a little bit more intellectually layered, but I can honestly say that I have no problem making an exception for this techno-masterwork. Easily the best of the Star Wars Chronicles, I see no easy way how anybody could ever tire of watching this film, which may well be my favourite movie ever. Too many good points to list. A real classic.