ok, but buy only if you are a die-hard SW fan...
921386
Episode 2 got me going with the star wars fever again so I ordered a bunch of star wars comics and books... just getting into the expanded universe stuff, so that's where I'm coming from now about this book... there are some interesting bits in this book, namely Darth Bane who seems like a cool character based on the back-story Lucas came up with and he does deliver here proving to be worthy of the name Darth. Unfortunately, Bane's appearances are all too brief and you're left wanting for more while we have to wade through the story of the great jedi/sith war in which the other Sith quickly prove to be quite inept... no wonder they were all wiped out!  Anyway, I will say that this book is darker than any other star wars story I've encountered (which is basically just the movies).  I was surprised, honestly, about the fates of the three children.  The writer wasn't pulling any punches with these kids that's for sure.  I think the author laced the story with the makings of a solid foundation for sequels and I would be interested to see more of Darth Bane and his new apprentice...
all and all... not too bad... decent art and story, but doesn't quite catch the 'star wars' magic IMO.  Good read but save your money unless you are an absolute die hard SW fan...
3195133
I was playing the game all last night and I am afraid I must say I am a little disappointed.  I loved the first SWBF and played it for countless hours and hours.  If you were the same way this review is for you.

Here are just a couple things that bugged me:

-You can do a lot more in the starfighters but I can't believe they brought over the flight control method from the Star Wars "Starfighter" series of games.  You need both thumb sticks to fly.  One turns you and the other rolls you.  It is extremely awkward to fly this way and I think it is the main reason those other Star Wars games didn't do so well. I don't know why they messed with the SWBF 1 controls.  If it was because they wanted you to be able to loop and barrel roll they should have used the same system Halo uses with the Banshees.  That works pretty well with one thumbstick.

-In the SWBF1 the AT-ATS were pretty scary.  Their main guns had a slow fire rate but they had a large area of damage.  They just had to hit close to a soldier and he was dead as well as any others standing close.  In SWBF2 I was standing there with a Vanguard working on an AT-AT and this thing is firing like a machine gun at me but doing no damage.  I actually had to walk up the hill behind me to let it hit me directly before I died. It was laughable.  The dread you felt when an AT-AT in SWBF1 turned its head towards you is completely gone.

-Playable Jedi's: I thought the genius of the SWBF1 was that you were just a grunt trying to effect the outcome of the battle.  You could die easily and that gave the game some challenge.  Now you can be some all powerful Jedi flying around the battlefield killing everything.  If I wanted to do that I would have just played "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" or "KOTOR: Sith Lords".

I am going to keep playing the game to see if it gets better but if you were a big fan of the First Battlefront don't automatically assume this one is just as good and run out and buy it like I did.  You might want to rent it first and see.  I wish I had.

However, you are a 12-14 year old kid who likes to watch things "blow up real good" as you mow down countless enemy soldiers with no challenge and no real strategy required...this just might be your game.
2471551
FYI On September 12 the original trilogy prints will be released on DVD with new artwork (shown above).

The good - Each film will have their original print release ('77 for "Star Wars", '80 for "Empire", & '83 for "Jedi") on the first disc with the bastardized DVD 2004 counterpart on disc 2.

Limited Edition means limited edition. Available only through 12/31/06.

The bad - no special features. none. zero. -  2.0 Dolby Surround(the f**k?!) - $29.98. Each. From what it looks like these won't be available as a six disc set.

The end - definitley won't be the last release of "Star Wars" on DVD. May 25th 2007 marks thirty years of everything "Star Wars". 5/25 also lands on a Friday that year. Big screen re-release, instead of DVD? "Star Wars" in 3-D, I must see, mmm, yes.
751361
Let me first say that I don't own this trilogy.

I loved the orignal 1977 film, and have been really looking forward to it's release on dvd. I didn't know that the release was only going to be the "special edition", and from the reviews here it seems it is special only to Lucas.

I am also a fan mostly of the first film. ESB and ROTJ are also great, but Stars Wars will always remain my favorite.

I resent the fact that not only has he altered all of the films, but that they are only being released as a boxed set.

Why? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ That is why.

I only wanted the first film, and not this new butchered version of it anyway, so needless to say I won't be buying this.

I find it ironic that he whines about piracy, then he goes and does something like this.

This will only contribute to piracy. I don't know if these films were ever available on laserdisc, but if they were, and are still around, someone is surely going to rip them and post them on the net. And there will be a lot of people who, not being able to legitimately purchase them, will be eager to download them.

What an idiot.

He got it right the first time. While I agree that it is his right as an artist to make changes, I think that in respect to the fans who made both him and his films a smashing success, he could have offered the original theatrical versions also.

The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones are both so awful I wouldn't want them if they were being given away free with a large pizza or a Big Mac.

This is Lucas's new "vision"?

If so, then I'd say he needs to schedule a visit to the optometrist.
2213921
To the reviewer yelling at us in all CAPS:

"These are not the theatrical versions you're looking for."

Yes, this is the umpteenth time the the altered/re-edited/prequel-tied in cartoonish versions are being released in a home video format. While this isn't the release that Star Wars fans, who can remember what the original trilogy actually looked and sounded like when they were originally released from 1977-1983, please be a little more patient...

Many online fan sites who have industry contacts in-the-know, are pretty sure that Disney will do the right thing regarding these three beloved films. Disney knows a cash cow when they see one (they paid George Lucas something like 5 billion dollars for the Star Wars/ILM business after all). So it is VERY likely that the theatrical versions of these three films will be released on blu ray before or around the time that Episode VII is released in 2015.

Hold on!
1458954
I can understand a lot of the arguments on these reviews about Lucas releasing edited versions, etc. And thats fine, I imagine if you are a completist/enthusiast of the movies as much as most people, you already have the DVDs with the original versions, not to say you shouldnt desire them on Blu Ray. For someone like me, I remember watching them when I was younger, had the toys, got back into it during the re-releases, played the card game, had the newer toys, but never picked them up on vhs/dvd. And ever since some of the bigger movies have been released on Blu Ray, I eagerly awaited this release, even though I would still consider myself a casual fan. Who shot first is immaterial to me, I'll enjoy them just the same.  Ive also never seen any of the prequels and hadn't intended to, but seeing as how buying the full 6 movie set is the only way to get the special features, I suppose its time to give them a whirl.
4629640
The marketers behind this Blu-ray set would like you to think you're getting HD quality prints of the "Original Series."

I've been a Star Wars fan for all my life.  My fandom doesn't include any of the films or cartoons made since 1997, so I would love to purchase this piece of film history.

Unfortunately, this release includes only the remakes made in 1997 -- digitally touched, edited, and mangled throughout.  Buying these far lesser quality versions of the movies would only feed the problem and prolong their release.
4681171
Hi! I'm a huge star wars fan.
I just finished this game after 2 hours of gameplay.
It's ok, challenging in the last levels (I mean.... 10 levels... that would make the last levels 7 through 10)
It DOES have problems:
It's easy to fall into a pit and loose a life thus making you start from the beggining (it's not like the levels are long) But the last level with Darth Maul is impossible. Not for it's difficulty in fighting, but because it's mandatory to fall into a pit when Darth Maul hits you with a lighting bolt. YOU CANNOT NOT FALL... believe me.
Way too short as well, I finished it in 2 hours, I mean... 40$= 2 hours of gameplay? no sir.
The game's fun while it lasts, but I would rent it if I were you... don't even consider buying it cause once you're done with it you won't pick it up again. Although you can as play Obi-Wan, Qui-Gonn and Mace Windu (with  different moves)... it's really boring to start all over again through the same levels.
Another really bad feature is the fact that the game doesn't have any cut scenes (at least a slide show would have been nice to remind you of the movie and of the storyline to it) It's like, once you beat a level, you just jump to the next one, on a completely different location without any consideration of the actual game's plot. That was really annoying.
Finally, the bosses are ok except for JAR JAR!
Can you believe you actually fight Jar Jar twice? I couldn't beleive my eyes when that boss came on. hahahaha. And no... you don't get any pleasure in fighting him since he doesn't cry or anything... plus... he just runs away after he's beaten.
THQ missed some points but I guess that's cool.
It's not a bad game, as I said... it's good not great.
Rent it... and have a 2 hour break.
1560808
The is a decent Star Wars novel if you are looking for something a little different in the SW universe.  There are not too many SW novels out there that don't have a recurring theme: save the universe from something dangerous and only the main characters from the film can do it.  There was a downer in the story which I will not reveal but overall I thought the story was engaging.  The horror aspects of a SW novel is a great idea and I would love to see other authors tackle something like this again.

Was I entertained reading this?: yes.

Is this novel an all time great SW novel?: no.

Would I recommend this to a friend?: yes, but be prepared for a bummer halfway through the story.
2518517
Please view this instructional video before buying:  [...]

I guarantee after watching said video, you will prefer to go to the library and borrow any other version of Star Wars.  And if not, I am very sorry for you.

Lucas apparently now just enjoys trolling the movies that he, ironically, created.  The only additional Noooooos that should be associated with Star Wars are people's reaction to Lucas's changes in this release.
3730425
Disney,

I want 3D. I want 4k. I *want* to pay for both, and I know there's little chance you haven't had them all ready to go for some time now. What I'm not willing to do is buy three different sets for $30 a pop as you trickle them out over the course of a year, long after any other studio would have released whatever they had to offer.

As it stands, we've both lost. You lost because you threw the money I would have spent on a reasonably priced release with 3D and/or 4k versions of this film. (I'll give you a little bit of a pass on 4k *this time only* because the format is still new.) I lost because I won't get to enjoy the first Star Wars movie in over 10 years in the best quality you have to offer. Beyond that, you've managed to remove any incentive I might have had to complete my own personal 3D and 4k set, because I'm certainly not going to buy this single movie three separate times and I _know_ you'll be releasing numerous box sets with those versions (and equivalent versions of films yet to be released) in the future. Because what else should we expect from Disney at this point.

So, Disney, in the future please do us all a favor. Don't trickle out even basic editions of your movies that should have been available from the start slowly, over a period of months or even years. Give the fans of the franchises you own the best experience up front, and maybe, if you *really* can't stand to do things any other way, come out with a special edition down the line. If you do right by your fans to start with, maybe they'll be willing to pay a premium on occasion for extended or otherwise enhanced editions in the future.
4018060
WOW.  Where do I start...for one, I am a fan of the original trilogy and am also a fan of the special edition releases in '97 (for no other reason than to see A New Hope and the rest in a packed movie house again).  Too bad that there has been so much damage done to the franchise, not the least of which is the gross myopia of Lucas himself when he defends that awful mess known as Episode II.  I am not going to get into the whole "keep your hands off our trilogy" debate, because I think that is a waste of time -- the changes are here to stay people.  Unless you have 250 million and the rights to the films, you're stuck with what is out there.  I am relieved that Episodes IV - VI are finally coming to DVD and I personally am looking forward to John Williams on my surround sound system at home.  Now if the changes made in this release are typical Lucas myopia, well that only means I'll be using the skip button a little more than normal.  Out.
1312563
Well,to begin this review I have to say that this was the first
SW soundtrack I'd ever bought,and I immidiatley thought it was excellent. But when I later compared it with the scores for the three first SW films,I realized it was not that great.
For the first,the music comes in non-chronological order,which is rather annoying (although it would have been quite chaothic if it did,because the music was so splitted up in the movie). And for the second,the themes are not as memorable and great as the old themes - the new theme for the Trade Federation only appears one time,and Darth Maul is not given a real motif,although he`s the main villain of the film. May be that`s because I was a little disappointed on the movie itself (it felt too much like a children`s movie). The score on itself is a splendid treasure of film music,and in fact, I think that this music should be enjoyed on it`s own,not as a part of the film,if you didn`t liked the film. My favorite tracks are "Duel of the Fates","Captain Panaka & The Queen`s Protectors","The Droid Invasion & Appearance of Darth Maul","He is the Chosen One","Qui-Gon`s Funeral",and "Passage Through the Planet's Core". They are the best ones,featuring what sounds pretty new to Star Wars Episode I. For example,the use of choir is much bigger than in the old films - take the well-known "Duel of the Fates",which is actually the final battle music,as the best example. And the track "Qui-Gon`s Funeral" also sounds better than the sad music from the first films - the use of a deep choir and strings sometimes makes me feel I want to cry!"He is the Chosen One" features Anakin's theme,which,if you listen carefully,is actually an early and light version of what is going to be the Imperial March. This track is both happy and serious at the same time. "Passage Through the Planet's Core" is a mysterious choral track,which ends up quite dramatic as the giant sea monsters appears. The baddest tracks come at the middle of the score,so listen to the first three tracks,then jump to track 10,and you won`t be disappointed.
Over all,this score is quite good on its own,but I think that Williams could have done it even better than he did. Anyway,now when the second movie is just behind the hill,we could always hope that Williams will make a better score for that one. Even the master doesn`t hit the marks all the time!
3182316
50 year old with a 6 year old son here! My dad took me and my brother to see SW-ANH back in 1977 on its 4th day of release! Empire and Jedi were also seen by me on their 4th day of release, and those are the DVD's I will purchase, and none other! Stop destroying the classics and leave the legendary releases as they were originally! I'll hear no arguments or discussions to the contrary!
4903758
For those eager for all the information they can gather on the new EU, there's not a lot here that connects to the rest of the canon. History of Jakku is told in much more detail elsewhere, this is a slice of Niima Outpost with little else tying into TFA or other canon novels. That said, for a quick read, why not? More star wars.
4744641
All right, I'm as nutty a Star Wars fan as you'll ever find.  I still have all my toys, I spent significant time and money as an adult making my own Boba Fett costume, and still seek out those Star Wars rarities on e-bay.  That being said, I must say that, while I'm not a huge fan of the majority of Lucas' changes to the trilogy, many of them are the result of what has occurred in Ep. I and II and probably III.  Ep. IV, V, and VI are now part of this larger saga.  The funny thing is that most of the people who are complaining, sobbing, and threatening the life of George Lucas were most likely peeing their pants in anticipation of Ep. I and II.  Then, when they saw that Ep. I (which was god-awful, I must admit) and II (which isn't nearly as bad as everyone likes to make it out to be) were not carbon copies of the original trilogy they declared their god (Lucas) dead and mourned the loss of their life's purpose.

 I can't believe I'm saying this, but THESE ARE JUST MOVIES!  They should not be your reason for being.  If you want to go a step further and call them the closest thing we have to a modern mythos, I'm with ya'.  But to not recognize that, without many of these changes, the FULL story would become very confusing and disjointed is to reject the mythos entirely.  If that's what you're willing to do, then I submit you are not a fan of Star Wars, but more a fan of your own conception of what Star Wars is, or was.  This is what we have to deal with.  THIS is Star Wars. From Jar-Jar (puke), to Boba Fett, this is what you have to accept as the full `Star Wars package'.  Besides, isn't there something kind of cool about seeing something for the billionth time and seeing something new?

Look, I can definitely do without the Jabba scene in Docking bay 94 ("Jabba, you're a wonderful human being" what the hell is that?  That doesn't even make sense!) And I can definitely do without the retarded dance scene in Jedi.  But to scrap the whole thing because it's not EXACTLY how you remembered it when you saw it for the first time is just ridiculous.  IF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS TO SEE IV, V, AND VI ON DVD, IN CRYSTAL CLEAR COLOR, AND BRILLIANT SOUND, BUY THIS SET.  IF YOU REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THE TRILOGY IS NOW JUST `A PART' OF A LARGER WORLD, STICK W/ THE CRAPPY VHS COPIES AND PLAY THEM TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT (OR UNTIL THEY SNAP), YOU WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR LACK OF VISION!
3590541
Alright. I love Star Wars: originals, special editions and prequels (plus the novels, toys and others). We are ALL SW fans. If you didn't like the originals, SE, or prequels is your own decision, a PERSONAL PREFERENCE. This does not mean that you were ripped off, it does not mean that the version or trilogy that you don't like is bad. It just means that you don't like it. The original trilogy is a wonderful masterpiece, a gem that should be kept for all time - but... I would rather watch the SE because I PREFER IT! It is not disrespectful to the OT to like the newer versions. And if you complain that GL is ripping you off, save up for this new batch. OR just have them on VHS if you like the old. This silliness with OT vs. SE vs. the Prequels is reidiculous. They are all Star Wars. They all tell the story, just in different ways. No problem. Besides, there are more pressing problems to address I think, hmm? May the Force be with all of us SW fans!