Copyright © 2023 Rick and Ruth Coy

Star Wars The Original Trilogy

This is were it all started. During the original run the fist one - episode 4 was called “STAR WARS” 5 “Empire Strikes Back” 6 “Return of the Jedi”. It was during a 1981 re release that A New Hope was first used. The first Star Wars I’ve had in the following formats Super8Sound(15 minute fun reel) Beta, VHS, Lazer Disc and DVD. I held off getting bluRay, and now with 4K -will be the format, if I decide to upgrade. I have the Prequel in BluRay and the final trilogy in 4K.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

1977

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse.

Written and Directed by George Lucas

PG

20th Century Fox/ LucasFilms

2H 1M

This started the whole Star War Saga, although its episode IV, it was the first movie. I remember watching it for the first time in the Cinema 70 Theatre in West Palm Beach, FL the first day it came out. On the screen is the biggest Space Ship I had ever seen in a movie.  Then behind it is a Star Destroyer. The ride began and didn’t end till the closing credits. This was the first of close to 20 times I went to see it, in the 12 months that it was at the Cinema 70 (Yes 12 months... Line for every show the first ten months, then it was like a normal hit movie for the last two). For you young uns not born when it came out... NO MOVIE had the effect like it did.  It did things we didn’t think we would ever see in a live action movie. Then it came out that it was number 4 of 9. That we would see 4,5,6 then 1,2,3 and finally 7,8,9. Now it looks like we will only get six episodes - a shame. (2022 Update) We got 7,8,9 plus side films, plus TV series set in the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

1980

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch

Directed by Irvin Kershner Written by George Lucas

PG

20th Century Fox/ LucasFilms

2H4M

Episode V, the empire is a little upset with what they had done to the death star is looking for the rebels.  Luke starts his training with Jedi Master Yoda. (who we know from the first three episodes - which hadn’t come out yet when this first came out). I always felt this was just a bridge episode between IV and VI, not as much fun as either, but needed as it cave us important information... After seeing the first three episodes this gave much more importance to this, as we now know who Luke and is and we are pretty sure who Leia is (if you saw III before this you would know for sure) And it ends on a cliff hanger.. Han being captured by Vader and being sent to Jaba the Hut

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

1983

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Alex Guinness, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Jeremy Bulloch

Directed by Richard Marquand Written by George Lucas

PG

20th Century Fox/LucasFilms

2h 11m

Some time has pasted since the last episode and Luke is now a JEDI and he comes along with the rest to rescue Han from Jaba the Hut. I feel this is the best of the bunch and since now it is the end of the Saga in movie form, its a fitting end. A new Death Star, the return of Anakin to the Good side of the Force. The end of the Empire. This is a ride well worth taking.  And we can now look at the Star Wars Saga as the Life and Death of Anakin Skywalker... And for years we though the movies were about Luke, Leia, and Han…(2022 update) As we know now, this was not the last -