Star Wars: A New Hope

So happy to have finally found this on DVD. The price was nice and the quality was excellent. Just the movie, no extras, but still a great addition to any collection..!!!

I don't understand how some can criticise these movies based on the aspect ratio of the picture, especially when they obviously can't do basic math.There are four different anamorphic, or widescreen, ratios on the market: 16:9, 1.77:1, 1.85:1, and 2.35:1.1.77:1 is the closest to 16:9, converting to 15.93:91.85:1 converts to 16.65:9 ... so the picture is slightly taller2.35:1 converts to 16.45:7 ... so the picture is both wider and shorter, giving it an even wider appearanceFor future reference for the math-impaired, the full-screen ratio of 4:3 reduces to 1.33:1.Based on silly complaints over the aspect ratio and on silly complaints about how many times Lucas will release these films (I don't see George twisting any arms, forcing people to buy them), I've given this 5-stars, to help offset such obviously whacky complaints, and because I'm simply happy to see the original releases now on DVD, and because they're simply great films!EDIT (16.09.06): Okay, so I showed my ignorance with what I wrote above and revealed that I really didn't know what "anamorphic" means. That is, until I did a little bit of research on it. But that's hardly the most important thing, is it?When the first Star Wars film came out, my family had just returned to the US after living in England for 3 years. I was 17, about to start my senior year of high school, and sitting in my grandparents' living room when I saw the first trailer on TV, and I knew right then that I just HAD to see this movie!I for one don't care that these aren't anamorphic or that they don't have 5.1 surround. I haven't even the equipment to enjoy such things. All I wanted was the original films, without the additions found in the later releases, and in widescreen format (letterbox or otherwise and no matter what the bloody aspect ratio, as long as it's not 4:3). I have them in widescreen on VHS, and now I've got them in widescreen on DVD (I think the full-screen format, which these are not, absolutely ruins the composition and art of the original image of any film). With a 31" Hitachi "old fashioned" TV -- a TV that is now going on 12 years old, as a matter of fact -- I'm quite happy with what I've got. It's the stories that I love, not the technology that delivers them.I think that's what has bothered me about a lot of the reviews. People are not sounding like they really wanted the original films on DVD. What they wanted and what they love are the bells and whistles, and now they're pissed that no bells are ringing and that the whistles are lacking those little balls inside. They criticise George for 'hacking' up the original films with those admittedly horrid additions, and they criticise George for going hog-wild with CGI graphics in the most recent trilogy, and then they show themselves as guilty as George of the same sins when what they moan about is the lack of technology with this release. George forgot that the story is primary in his lust for technology (especially with the last three films), and the same now seems to be true of many others. As a writer of fiction, I think that's sad. Story HAS to be more important than anything else. Without that, movies, stage plays, TV shows, novels, and short stories are just a huge waste of time and money.With these DVDs (I purchased all three), you get the original films, and you get them in widescreen format. For me, those are the most important things. If what you want are electronically simulated bells and CGI rendered whistles (who needs those annoying little balls anyway when you can generate them with a computer?), then move on to the next stall. Otherwise, what you'll find here are good, old-fashioned cracked bells, and plastic whistles with plastic balls, but at least you'll know they're the genuine articles, and not "authentic replicas."

I first saw "Star Wars" in the theater with my brother Pat and high school friends Sue, Bunky and Blaise, when it was first released in the summer of 1977, when I was 21. Well, I'm 67 now and got it on DVD and appreciate it more than ever. I first got it on BETA back in the '80's. Then on VHS back in the '90's. This is one of my favorite adventure films. It was nominated for the "Oscar" for Best Picture, (Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" won.) Alec Guinness was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing aging Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi but lost to Jason Robards for "Julia" It won six "Oscars" for Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score by John Williams, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. This was one of the first movies to use DOLBY Stereo. The National Film Registry started by The Library of Congress in 1988 to preserve films as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant," placed "Star Wars' on the list in 1989. One of their first selections. They add around 25 movie to the list every year. There are only around 800 movies on the list. Quite an honor.The American Film Institute, (AFI,) ranked "Star Wars" No. 15 on their list of The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. Writer /Director George Lucas was raised Protestant, his interest in Eastern Religions and Joseph Campbell inspired "The Force." Mark Hamill ,(Luke Skywalker,) called "The Force, " "Religion's greatest hits." That's a good one. And May 4th is International "Star Wars" day, "May the Fourth Be With You." Using the inflation factor only "Gone With The Wind" from 1939 has made more money than "Star Wars." The tagline for the movie poster read... "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."