Classic films get the star treatment with new DVD releases

In the unaltered versions of the original "Star Wars" trilogy DVDs, Han shoots first -- as it should be.
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In the course of a single weekend, a pair of DVD releases have rectified two of my major home cinema gripes. The new reissue of the original “Star Wars” trilogy includes the unaltered theatrical versions of each film – the same versions seen in theaters in the 70’s and 80’s. Meanwhile, a new “Blade Runner” DVD finally offers sound and picture worthy of the film’s brilliance.

But hold up there, bucko – before you rush and add these DVD’s to your collection, consider this: We’ll be seeing a final cut edition of “Blade Runner” and a deluxe “Star Wars” set come 2007. So, are these current discs worth it?

Greedo shoots first? Not this time.
Since their release in 1977, George Lucas has tampered extensively with the original “Star Wars” films. The first altered reissues were released theatrically in 1997 as “special editions.” These versions of the films (with some further tweaks) were released on DVD in 2004.

Lucas has persisted that the films no longer exist in their original form, but the fans are relentless. Lucasfilm has yielded to the might of nerds and released the “Star Wars” trilogy in its theatrical form.

Granted, the discs are ’93 laserdisc transfers … and the audio mix is only 2.0 surround … and the picture isn’t even anamorphic. But all of that melts away when you see Han blast Greedo before the bounty hunter can get a shot off. Being a “Star Wars” purist at heart, I enjoyed these new DVDs immensely. These are the versions I watched as a kid on our VCR and, technical gripes aside, I still love them today.

These DVDs also include the 2004 special editions as an added bonus. For the casual fan who doesn’t own these flicks yet on DVD (for shame) or the avid collector who absolutely needs every version, this set is a great buy. All three will cost you a relatively measly $60, which is a small price to pay for two versions of the greatest film saga of all time.

However, as I mentioned, Lucasfilm is releasing a deluxe set for the 30th anniversary of the franchise next year. The set will include the original and prequel trilogies, but there’s no sign of the unaltered versions. So, if you feel like you need to own the untainted trilogy, these DVDs are worth it. They’re available until the end of December.

A sci-fi masterpiece gets the DVD it deserves
For years, fans of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” have dealt with an awful DVD transfer. Released in 1997, the DVD suffered from horrible picture quality and a harsh audio track. But Scott took pity on the suffering fans and provided us with a glimpse of what we can expect from the multi-disc final cut, due out in 2007.

The current release is the director’s cut of the film, an amazingly deep story, rich with imagery and symbolism. This new transfer is fantastic, a visibly vast improvement in both picture and audio quality. The colors are vibrant, the image is clear and sharp. As a longtime appreciator of “Blade Runner,” it’s refreshing to finally own a DVD that serves this masterpiece of a film justice.

With the upcoming final cut DVD and a limited re-release of the film into theaters, it’s a great time to be a “Blade Runner” fan. Coincidentally, it’s also the ideal time for strangers of the movie to check it out – and at only $15, why not pick up this cinematic gem?

Seriously, I don’t understand how you could say no.