Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
by Irvin Kershner

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $14.99
You Save: $4.99 (25%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $10.49 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill
Director: Irvin Kershner
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); English (Dubbed); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 129 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-12
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Movie Reviews of Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Movie Review: The ultimate Star Wars film
Summary: 5 Stars

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is by far my favorite movie of all time. Once again, I prefer the 2004 version to the 1980, or even the 1997 version of the film, even though I grew up loving the 1980 version. This is the film where the ultimate villian, Darth Vader, shows his true might. If someone fails Vader, he kills them. Love it! This is the film for every fan of Darth Vader. Of course the 1980 version of the film is not in anamorphic widescreen, and is only presented in 2.0 sound. While this might anger people, it does state that these are unaltered. Presenting it in anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 sound would require that the films be altered to present them that way.

Summary of Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

The 2006 limited-edition two-disc release of The Empire Strikes Back is not only the first time the movie has been officially available by itself on DVD. It marks the first-ever DVD release of Empire as it originally played in theaters in 1980. What does that mean exactly? The film is without the various "improvements" and enhancements George Lucas added for the theatrical rerelease in 1997 as well as the DVD premiere in 2004. So no more of Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) replacing Clive Revill with slightly revised lines, or Temuera Morrison rerecording of Boba Fett's minimal dialogue.

What do you lose by watching the 1980 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Empire, however, on a widescreen TV will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference.

Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1980 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi


For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus, these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983.

Science Fiction & Fantasy DVD Video

DVD Video
Movies most talked about in Must have Movies, and TV shows
Waterworld ImageWaterworld
Release date: 1997-12-10; DVD
Best price: $3.88
Price in other shops: $9.99
American Pie 3 Movie Pie Pack: The Franchise Collection (Unrated) ImageAmerican Pie 3 Movie Pie Pack: The Franchise Collection (Unrated)
AMERICAN PIE: 3 MOVIE PIE PACK (UNRATED) (DVD; Release date: 2005-09-27; DVD
Best price: $13.65
Price in other shops: $29.98
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition) ImageThe 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2005-12-13; DVD
Best price: $6.58
Price in other shops: $14.98
The Waterboy ImageThe Waterboy
Team Marketing; Release date: 1999-03-16; DVD
Best price: $4.43
Price in other shops: $14.99
Billy Madison (Widescreen Special Edition) ImageBilly Madison (Widescreen Special Edition)
Release date: 2005-08-23; DVD
Best price: $6.77
Price in other shops: $14.98
Happy Gilmore (Widescreen Special Edition) ImageHappy Gilmore (Widescreen Special Edition)
Release date: 2005-08-23; DVD
Best price: $7.08
Price in other shops: $14.98
Kiss of the Dragon ImageKiss of the Dragon
KISS OF THE DRAGON (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2002-01-22; DVD
Best price: $3.15
Price in other shops: $14.98
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Widescreen Edition) ImageLock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Widescreen Edition)
LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (DVD MOVI; Release date: 2002-11-05; DVD
Best price: $8.77
Price in other shops: $14.98
Snatch (Widescreen Edition) ImageSnatch (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2003-06-03; DVD
Best price: $3.19
Price in other shops: $14.94
Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $13.37
Price in other shops: $19.98
Similar DVD Movies
Star Wars Trilogy Bonus Disc (2004) ImageStar Wars Trilogy Bonus Disc (2004)
Published: 2005; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Star Wars, Episode IV- A New Hope (Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars, Episode IV- A New Hope (Widescreen Edition)
Published: 2004; DVD
Best price: $17.39
Star Wars, Episode VI- Return of the Jedi (Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars, Episode VI- Return of the Jedi (Widescreen Edition)
Published: 2004; DVD
Best price: $13.39
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SI (DVD; Release date: 2005-11-01; DVD
Best price: $12.79
Price in other shops: $19.98
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
STAR WARS: EPISODE 2 - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (; Release date: 2005-03-22; DVD
Best price: $13.70
Price in other shops: $19.98
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2005-03-22; DVD
Best price: $13.29
Price in other shops: $19.98
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions) ImageStar Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $12.32
Price in other shops: $29.98
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions) ImageStar Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (2-discs with Full Screen enhanced and original theatrical versions)
Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $13.36
Price in other shops: $29.98
Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $12.85
Price in other shops: $19.98
Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) ImageStar Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops: $19.98
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners