Getting them to complete the set. Not happy that they are Non-Anamorphic BUT at least it is the original version.

I will be buying all three of these on Sept 12th.
Here’s my take:
In 1982, I bought the CEDs of both Star Wars movies (which I found out yesterday were SPED UP in order to fit !!!) Both are P&S. Then the “new” format war was won by VHS, and George FINALLY released them and the third film on tape (which were also P&S) – I bought all three the day of release.

About a decade or so later, the Wife bought me the effed-up 1997 versions (which are letterboxed at least) and then seven years later she gave me the even-more-effed-up 2004 DVDs. I would have never ever bought either versions for myself.

So, you see, I’ve been wanting letterboxed versions of these three films since home video began. If I had bought the Laserdisks, I might be thinking differently, but I MUST buy these, on the chance that they will never be available again (animorphic or not). Yes, they should be stand-alone releases, with original poster coverart. Yes, they should be the highest possible quality available to the format in 2006. But this is George Lucas we are talking about. He conciders these classic films bonus material to the second repackaging of his 2004 versions (which I’ll bet aren’t even his “Final” visions yet) He has been trying to wipe these films out of existence since 1997. Now there is a letter, fax, and e-mail campaign, and between boycotting and just plain old consumer confusion (“Didn’t we already buy these on DVD?”) and the resulting lackluster sales, he will probably say “to Hell with it – never again”.

Will eventually buy them during a 2006 Black Friday sale. It's bound to be cheap by then

Confirmed.

NON-ANAMORPHIC.

Hell to the No.

Yes, I will be buying them when Spetember comes. Just yesterday I sold the three 2004 versions but kept the box and the bonus DVD.

I believe Lucas' definitive vision of the films are the special editions, so I don't blame him for giving the special editions the full job. At least we will be able to have the theatrical versions in a better shape than we ever were able to before. Much better than having nothing at all.

I was going to buy them for the anamorphic originals, but I guess I'll stick with my current official DVD set and the anamorphic-ized LD copies.

I picked #3

Not a huge SW fan, don't own any copies currently. Now that there's an opportunity to get the original 3 on DVD I'm interested. My interest is only on the level where I'll wait for a great sale or coupon, or pick 'em up used on e-bay.

I voted no. I have no interest in half-assed shovelware.

Speak for yourself, dude.

I'd much rather have a pile of DVDs than drop a few grand on a widescreen TV and have a scarce few discs to play on them.

Besides, most people can afford to buy DVDs here and there (and one, or a few, at a time), but how many of us have a few thousand dollars just lying around to throw down on a new TV set that.

IMO, I think it's more weird for you to think people should run out and pay the "early adopter" (well, now "early, early" but still earlier than most) prices for the technology when a). we all know the costs are going to come down in a few years and b). TV stations are still kinda slow to hop on the HD bandwagon, let alone cable and satellite programming providers.

Nope, my 32" CRT set will be just fine for now.

#3 for me as well. I don't have an HD tv and won't be getting one anytime in the next few years and only have the VHS versions so anamorphic or not it won't make a difference to me. But i don't want to pay for the 2004 edition and i'd buy it only for 10-15.

Clicked the threads, voted yes, read the 1st post... Non-Anamorphic?!?! the hell you say.... (hadn't heard)

I may change my vote to #3. They would look like crap on my widescreen TV, but better than my widescreen VHS (The 4 tape set with making of book and the hologram on the cover) or my Laserdisc-boots.

(At least I assume they will look better, hence my change to #3. Lemme hear the reviews before buying.)

It blows my mind that someone would release something (ESPECIALLY something so high-profile) non-anamorphic in the year 2006.

I was sooo excited when these were first announced, and so utterly disappointed when I heard they were non-anamorphic.

The SEs hold no interest for me, and I have boots of all three OTs so, no.

(Typicial exchange recently at work between me and a colleague: Me: Did you hear the original Star Wars DVDs aren't going to be released in anamorphic widescreen? Him: Huh? what's that mean??)

Well, it doesn't get any more official than this:

George Lucas raped my childhood...and he is still sticking it to me today!

I almost plopped down $200 for a laserdisc player and the trilogy on laserdisc. This one's a no-brainer for me since I don't have a widescreen TV anyway.

Nope, I've got plenty of other of DVDs to waste money on.

Probably not, because I already have the LDs, backup copies that are about as good as can be expected. But who knows. I'm a sucker for anything Star Wars. Depends on how much better the DVDs may look.

Good to know George's "artistic vision" trumps historical preservation.

Even moreso the *entire* reason people wanted the discs in the first place is looked upon as a bonus feature.

I hope his kids FURTHER butcher the films after he dies.

It’s tradition.

Not only am I not buying them, I'm going to tell anyone I can not to buy them either.

You'll probably have about as much luck trying to explain to someone why they shouldn't buy this release as you would trying to explain to someone why the "black bars" don't suck.

I will probably end up buying this. As it is, I have a TV that has a 16X9 enhanced option, but my TV is not a widescreen television. So, even if it's non-anamorphic, I'll still get a full screen and won't have to resort to zooming in or anything. That being said, I'm sure when I finally invest in a HDTV that I'll be kicking myself for not waiting for the inevitable anamorphic release.

The fact is, for most people, even those concerned with having their movies in widescreen and the correct aspect ratio, anamorphic enhancement isn't something that is a concern. I don't have any friends that have a widescreen TV, and correct if I'm wrong, anamorphic enhancement doesn't mean a thing unless you have the wide TV.

I'll definitely be buying the new set. I like the Special Editions, but the original versions of the movies will always be my favourites. I've been hoping that they would be released on DVD, so that I could stop relying on my VHS Trilogy set.