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Comment by HeckFeck | Hacker News Reader

I've deliberately sought the DVD edition of the unaltered original trilogy. The editing that makes Greedo shoot first looks cheap. It also doesn't make sense; someone pointing a gun at you is a clear sign of intent, and Han was simply defending himself. Han's decision to shoot first was also in line with his character as the rogue for hire.

Agh, I know the series is still raking in millions. But I can't enjoy the edits because my brain cries 'blasphmeny!'

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> I've deliberately sought the DVD edition of the unaltered original trilogy

The best you are likely to find is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmy%27s_Despecialized_Editio... – I don't think the unaltered editions were ever released on DVD or BluRay at all, just VHS and LaserDisc.

There was a single run that included the THX LaserDisc version of the original Trilogy on DVD. I own it specifically because it included the original release and it’s the version I shown my kids. https://comic-cons.xyz/star-wars-original-trilogy-unaltered-...

At the time the excuse was that there were no longer any masters for the original trilogy to rescan for rerelease, so the LaserDisc version was the best that could be done.

No! For purists, those DVD releases don't cut it because they messed with the sound mix and the releases are not in the original frame format.

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_War...

Their video quality is also terrible, even for DVD, being derived from a scan made for a Laserdisc release.

When TVs were 4:3 and media playback was sending signals to control an electron gun, letterboxing was how you presented a 2.39:1 panavision feature. You’re screwed on resolution, but the framing is correct. HandBrake and other tools recognize and crop the matte giving you back a video in the correct aspect ratio (albeit still interlaced).

Edit: With the exception of getting LaserDisc releases of various vintages, the DVD release is the best, most accessible (excluding rarity) home video release of the original, unedited trilogy. They are not the highest quality, no doubt, but they are the best that was released. It could be argued that the despecialized editions are better for this reason or that, I personally consider them an incredible novelty, rather than a reference release.

4k77 also exists.

No they were released in the 2006 DVD set, quality is very poor though.

When I tried those I found the brightness and colour balance odd in places. I'm told this is because they are optimised to look as close as possible to how they would in a cinema in 1977 (hence the name) so are optimised for viewing via a projector not an LCD TV.

There's a DVD "limited edition" of the trilogy that is 2 discs each, and the "extras" disc has either the original or laserdisc edit. This is good. The downside is that the black levels and audio are obviously dated/untouched. There's just no market for "remastering" without the content changes.

There are DVD rips of each LaserDisc, not sure if that torrent is still in circulation, but the video quality isn't as good as Harmy's.

I've got them (well my brother stole them) sold along with the rerelease so 6 discs total.

Digitally remastered but otherwise the cinema release

They are (unfortunately) not remastered. They are 480i letterboxed scans of an earlier LaserDisc release.

The whole point is that Han Solo is badass. So he doesn't need high bar to shoot. Luke is the crybaby. The original trilogy Han will totally opportunity shoot Grido in the back if he knew he was sent for him and Grido was walking the street. And the only thing he will feel is recoil. And I know blasters don't have any recoil.

Even flashlights have recoil. Not that Han would feel it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/c206f2/do_laser...

Am I the only one who finds the end of Return of the Jedi to be the most horrible edit among all of the edits? I mean... I just want the song from my childhood not the garbage found in the blurays...

That and the insertion of Hayden Christensen. I know they wanted continuity, but it just throws me off every time I see him. It is as if the ghost represents the worst excesses of the prequels seeping through time.

Also don't start me on that 'thing' they have singing in Jabba's palace.

https://youtu.be/qb6UGbRlsgE "Thanksgiving" - Paul and Storm

It spoils the twist, but:

> And everybody knows that Greedo never even fired

> when Han shoots first it sets up his entire moral journey

> Plus it's cool

Entertainment media seem to have significantly different use-of-force standards than any real life legal or moral statutes. Maybe because the drama of protracted Mexican standoffs would be undercut if people reacted realistically to having guns pointed at them.

The Greedo scene has been tweaked multiple times. In the most recent version available on Disney+ (confirmed to be Lucas’ work), Greedo exclaims “macklunkey!” just before the shooting starts, which I find hilariously absurd.

In the book Tales from The Mos Eisley Cantina, the other two Rodians in the Cantina at the time of that scene were present to execute Greedo (for a clan rivalry). Solo shooting Greedo let them claim the bounty. Every story in that book centers around the scenes from the film that took place inside the cantina.

0 - https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Eisley-Cantina-Star-Wars/dp/055...

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