OVERALL: Draw

Between the "Limited Edition" ("Special Edition"-version, with NON-Anamorphic "Theatrical Version") or "The Star Wars Trilogy" box set for the best set of extra features. All releases (box sets and Limited Editions) are basically language and subtitle differences.

General note:
A few audio/mixing errors on the DVD (Special Edition) version of A New Hope have been detected. These are as follows:

1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.

2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost as if the master sound element was damaged.

3) Also, John Williams' score for the film seems to have been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear channel seems to be playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels - instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear instead of the right rear. It's hard to notice, but we're getting a number of reports from people hearing this.

This applies to the English soundtrack on all regions ("Limited Edition"-releases also). At this point, the official word from Lucasfilm is that "..any changes that you hear on the all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX tracks on the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set are deliberate creative decisions. We can confirm that there are no technical glitches as reported."

See the DVD Active link for the differences in each version.

CUTS:

• R1 America- Fox - The Star Wars Trilogy - No Cuts. Special Editions of the movies which has had digital enhancements.
• R1 LE America- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts. Includes:
  -2004 Special Edition, with digital enhancements.
  -The original 1977 Theatrical Version.
• R2 Holland- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - The Star Wars Trilogy - No cuts - DVD version (119:37 PAL)
• R2 Scandinavia- Fox - The Star Wars Trilogy - No Cuts. Special Editions of the movies which has had digital enhancements.
• R2 United Kingdom- Fox - The Star Wars Trilogy - No Cuts. Special Editions of the movies which has had digital enhancements.
• R2 LE United Kingdom- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts. Includes:
  -2004 Special Edition, with digital enhancements.
  -The original 1977 Theatrical Version.
• R4 Australia- Fox - The Star Wars Trilogy - No Cuts. Special Editions of the movies which has had digital enhancements.
• R4 LE Australia- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts. Includes:
  -2004 Special Edition, with digital enhancements.
  -The original 1977 Theatrical Version.
• R4 Brazil- Fox - The Star Wars Trilogy - No Cuts. Special Editions of the movie which have digital enhancements.

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Jari_Kovalainen on 25/09/06
Comparison last updated by Anthony_DiPaola on 06/02/11

UPDATE LOG:

06 Feb 2011: Fixes to the LE releases.
06 Feb 2011: Mergement of the Original Trilogy Box Sets