Star Wars Trilogy with Exclusive Best Buy Tin (original theatrical releases) - Widescreen Review

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(More customer reviews)I had a chance to watch the Star Wars disc from this supposedly unaltered set and was bummed out that even these are not the version that were in theaters back when I saw them. I know this because when I was 8 I got to watch a bootleg Beta Max version of the first film nearly 50 times at a friends house. I had also seen it the year before in theaters in 1977.
This disc is missing 3 items that were in the original theatrical release. I will list all three.
1. When they are all in the control center(in the death star), C3P0 points and tells Kenobi where to release the tractor beam in 3 different points at the same location. (This was not on the DVD)
2. This one is the most obviuos ommission. When Luke and Leia are at the Chasm before Luke throws the grappling Hook to swing across. In the theater version , he puts the grappling hook in his gun and fires it at the ceiling so it will hook on. Unfortunately it misses for them and it falls down. Luke then needs to coil the whole cord up again with the hook and this time he tosses it and it catches. If you watch any version of the film you will see a really poor edit of Luke pulling up the cord from his belt multiple times as if it had fallen once. But Lucas couldn't just shorten the scene because it would have thrown off the music so he copied and pasted Luke pulling up the cord 2 times. For what ever reason, he felt the first time using a gun was not needed to be left in.
3. This one is minor but when they get through the blast door in the death star to avoid Vader, you can hear the Storm troopers tell the door operator (somewhere) to "Close the blast Doors" and then after it closes, you hear someone say "open the blast doors". In all the versions since the movie came out in theaters the "Close the blast Doors" line has been edited out. It is possible it is still on the non THX version of the Laser Disc.
There is also a shortened scene in the Return of the Jedi but that is for another day. George shortened that as well.
George if you are reading this (And I know you are not) Why don't you actually put the "REAL" theatrical version on DVD and not this Psuedo version of Theatrical. All these DVDS are is of a transfer from the THX Laser Disc Version. I think the original Laser Disc version might have a little more in them, but I am not sure.
BTW, George even did this with Episode III as well. He took out a 15 second scene of General Grevious climbing out side of the crashing ship as it was going down at the beginning of the film. he deleted it because he later realized that General Grevious could not breath outside in space. We know he breathes because of his coughing all through out the film. Those 15 seconds never made it to the DVD or the deleted scene section. Woops ;o)
I don't knwo why he does this to all of his films.
I wish my friend still has his Beta Max copy but it has been long gone for 20 years.

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All three original Star Wars film (episodes IV, V and VI) in the original theatrical form, presented in widescreen with Dolby 2.0 Stereo. Includes six DVDs, two versions of each film (new enhanced versions, as well as the theatrical versions). This was an ultra rare set sold at Best Buy that included an exclusive tin that holds all six discs! Also includes tons of extra features, including commentary tracks and more!

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Faerie Tale Theatre - Thumbelina (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Thumbelina" is a fantastic retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, "Little Thumb".
Produced in 1983 (and released the following year), as part of Shelley Duvall's charming live-action "Faerie Tale Theatre", the narrative is told with good humour, imagination, and a great sense of fun. The magnificent cast adds much colour and warmth to the proceedings. In particular, Carrie Fisher, in the title role, delivers a captivating performance. She makes an extremely attractive heroine, not to mention one who's "more than just another pretty face". She's an absolute delight, adding her unique qualities to the role. Not only is she pint-sized in real life (although not quite as tiny as a thumb!), she has a lovely, deep voice that is quite at odds with her diminutive stature. When she sings, it is a beautiful and rewarding experience. Indeed, she sings with "an angel's voice". (This is also a highlight for any Carrie Fisher fan, as she began her career as a singer, and yet she only sings briefly in "Hannah and Her Sisters", 1986, and in the Walt Disney live-action comedy, "Sunday Drive", also released in 1986.)
Carrie Fisher is supported by equally delightful character actors. The late Burgess Meredith is in top form as Mr Mole, the second would-be husband of Thumbelina. Likewise, William Katt makes a very positive impression as the Prince of the Flower Angels.
This wonderful fairy tale is further enhanced by excellent production values, including great music, atmospheric sets, and good costumes and creatures like Mother Toad, her hapless son, Herman, the Fieldmouse, and the Swallow.
The script faithfully follows the original story, although the gender of the Fieldmouse has been changed, making for a more convincing friendship with Mr Mole to exist, as well as creating a heartfelt guardianship of Thumbelina along strictly platonic lines.
This well-written and perceptive tale ("I'm always the bride, but never the bridesmaid") makes for enchanting family entertainment. "Thumbelina" delivers a great message, too, but above all, it's storytelling at it's most memorable.
I applaud executive producer Shelley Duvall, and all involved, for giving such a wonderful gift. It's up there with Jim Henson's equally engaging "Storyteller" anthology series, produced in the late 1980s, and the "The Doll", an Emmy Award winning episode of "Amazing Stories" (of the same era).
For me, it's an extra special treat because Carrie Fisher became much more than just Princess Leia with this performance. Besides, she continues to melt me every time she smiles as the Ultimate Flower Angel! Let's hope that this "Faerie Tale Theatre" production, along with my other favourites like "Beauty and the Beast", are re-released soon. Preservation on DVD for future generations is highly recommended.

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A motley crew of animals help a young girl who is no bigger than a thumb make her way home after she is kidnapped by a toad and taken to live on a lily pad in a swamp.

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Faerie Tale Theatre: Tales from Hans Christian Andersen (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)Collected here are four unforgettable episodes from Shelley Duvall's FAERIE TALE THEATRE. Hans Christian Andersen wrote many of the world's most famous and beloved fairytales; and in this collection you'll see such talented stars as Lee Remick, Carrie Fisher, Mick Jagger and Melissa Gilbert bring his characters to vivid life right before your very eyes!
THE SNOW QUEEN:
Melissa Gilbert and Lance Kerwin play Gerda and Kay, who enter the frozen land of the Snow Queen (played beguilingly by the late Lee Remick) to learn some much-needed lessons about love and friendship.
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES:
Alan Arkin and Art Carney star as the con-artists who fool a vain and ruthless Emperor (Dick Shawn) into believing that they can create the most exquisite of clothes that are invisible to those who are foolish or unworthy. Legendary British songstress Georgia Brown co-stars as a wise innkeeper.
THUMBELINA:
A lonely char-woman (Conchata Ferrall) is given a magical barley seed, which sprouts into a lovely flower. When the flower opens, out pops beautiful Thumbelina (Carrie Fisher). The char-woman's wish to be a mother has been granted, and the pair could not be happier. But Thumblina's happy life with her mother is short-lived when the tiny creature is kidnapped by Mother Toad...
THE NIGHTINGALE:
The Emperor of Cathay (Mick Jagger) lives in a porcelain palace with his courtiers and riches, but completely cut off from any real people. When he hears about a magical bird called the Nightingale and it's exquisite song, he demands an audience with it.

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Includes Four Magical Episodes from Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre Digitally Restored and Re-mastered!
Wicked goblins, a kind-hearted queen, a fashion-obsessed emperor, a girl the size of a thumb and more fill this 4-episode collection from the award-winning series. Some of the most beloved tales from Hans Christian Andersen are brought to life with stellar performances and enchanting characters that you will enjoy… happily ever after.
THE EMPEROR\'S NEW CLOTHES Alan Arkin and Art Carney star as two con men who must convince a self-indulgent Emperor (Dick Shawn) that being a ruler is more than just looking the part.
THE NIGHTINGALE An Emperor (Mick Jagger) finds true friendship from a lowly kitchen maid (Barbara Hershey) and a plain little bird; both of whom are worth more than they appear to be.
THE SNOW QUEEN When her best friend is taken by the fabled Snow Queen (Lee Remick), a girl named Gerda (Melissa Gilbert) begins a perilous journey to rescue him.
THUMBELINA When a toad tries to force Thumbelina (Carrie Fisher), a girl no bigger than a human thumb, to marry her son, the tiny girl must seek help from a variety of forest creatures, including a field mouse and a swallow.

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