Star Wars LaserDisc Box Set Collection

Culturedog Sam Hatch returns with another LaserDisc video - this time giving a tour of his current Star Wars box set collection. Original Recipe, Special Edition, THX, AC-3, NTSC, PAL, US, UK, Germany, Japan... all sorts of variants are on display in this trip through Star Wars home video history.

Chug some blue milk, pick up some power converters, and enjoy the ride!

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
1:52 The Definitive Collection (US 1993)
7:11 The Definitive Collection (Japan 1994)
13:20 The Definitive Collection (Japan 1995)
17:33 Collector's Set (Japan 1995)
21:03 Special Edition (US 1997)
23:02 Special Edition (UK 1997)
26:26 Special Edition (Germany 1997)
28:27 Special Edition (Japan 1997)
34:06 Special Edition (Japan 2000)
39:20 Outro

[GeraldLange]

Thanks for this video. A rabbit hole for sure with many winding paths to a galaxy far away!

[no_name_nor]

Thank you man, I bought 1997 Japanese special edition many many years ago, and now, I got a 1995 definitive collection from Japan today. Thanks.

[jefffan]

This was a welcome surprise. I just woke up and feel awful as am falling down with a cold and now my morning has perked up with a new CD release and a Star Wars one no less!! Thank you Sam for this 😀

[yokaicustoms]

Incredibly useful video. I have considered buying the definitive collection several times and I'm glad I waited because I had no idea there were so many versions. I'm a LD novice and only have the US special edition box set. Price will be the deciding factor for the one I get, but I'm glad I can now make an informed decision. Thank you so much!

[peppersmith]

AWEsome, to see some1 else has the same Boxset as Long live LD...

[LucasGShumway]

Thanks for another new video! I know it must of taken a lot of time to prepare for a video like this. Awesome as always.

[kubrickenigma]

CultureDog Sam "The Voice of the Format" Hatch returns to learn us all something righteous!

[AdamJPestridge]

Nice widescreen review in the back there

[PlanetCHH]

The 2000 Japan set is so shiny. I love it

[THX-EB]

Man, I have 2 Definitive US box sets. Now I have to check if they different all thanks to you! Thanks for all the info, good vidi.

[deslardesslok]

Just started watching the Star Wars 1991 Pan & Scan Japanese LaserDisc and it has the 1977 theatrical mix I got it in the mail at 2:42p.m. 12/24/2024! And also HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE EVE 12:35a.m. 12/30/2024

[adamhockin]

Today I just got the Star Wars Trilogy Definitive Collection Laserdisc boxset from ebay. It's the USA version before I bought the set I messaged the seller if there were any rot issues on the copy the seller was selling along with that error you mentioned in the Empire Strikes Back. Thankfully the seller said there are no rot issues on the copy the seller was selling but didn't understand the error on one of discs for Empire, so it looks like it's up to me to see if it has that error. Overall I'm excited for this Laserdisc boxset to come in the mail soon. I'm also planning on getting the Japanese Special Collection Laserdiscs of the original trilogy soon, I also want to get the Japanese 1997 Special Edition Laserdisc set, & the 2000 Japanese exclusive Laserdisc boxset of the Star Wars trilogy with the sneak peek to Star Wars Episode II, If I can find that one for at least a decent price.

[shortshaker]

I have the American boxset for the Star Wars Definitive Collection, luckily my copy I got from ebay doesn't have rot issues.

[joem]

I've only been collecting a couple years so all I have currently is the 1995 "faces" release. At least for now I'm happy to just have the non special editions.

[StephenClancy-dxjw]

Hi Sam, great video, over the years I've enjoyed many of the stars Wars box sets you have shown. I've noticed on your podcasts with the rest of the wolfpack, and here in this upload, a sense of intrigue around PAL laserdiscs, i'm thinking it would be great if you guys did a 'PAL' special video. Go deeper than the usual '4% speed up, no AC3' comments that are thrown around losely. Would be great to see. Here in the Uk and I suspect across Europe and worldwide PAL areas, PAL and NTSC discs have sat side by side for decades, complementing each others characteristics, working in perfect harmony. An idea perhaps, love the work you and the guys produce. Keep them coming.

[dbanner]

Wow, I knew nothing about the Japanese Definitive Collection set. This Star Wars laserdisc rabbit hole is apparently never ending...

Just a few months ago, I got the Japanese Special Collection of Empire, which completes all three of the Japanese SC discs for me, and honestly those are my favorite LD editions of Star Wars. I'm still surprised those three were never collected in a box set.

Sound wise, I love the Definitive Collection set the most, I love how bass heavy they are, but I prefer the warmer color palette of the JSC editions, and because they are CAV encoded, they look a bit sharper than the Fox Widescreen USA pressings.

[jefffan]

40:18 For this release, was there any uptake in Picture Quality? As the last release and with THX approval. Or was it just the '97 versions with the added Episode II Materials

[punknerd]

Loved your most recent podcast on Episode 1, despite being a fan of it. Im still looking for one of these sets at a good price. One of these days....

[NickMichalak]

My sole box set is the 1997 SE US release. I traded in a bunch of stuff for it and walked out paying $12 for it! I waited around for about an hour for them to get all my stuff priced out, and they gave me a little extra for my patience. Can’t beat that!

I have the VHS & DVD versions of the THX Definitive Collection masters. So, I’ve never been dogged about picking those LDs up. I have the original CBS FOX Widescreen US LDs and the Technidisc of Star Wars ANH.

[MultiPedroAndrade]

i got the NTSC Definitive edition in 1994, US imported from France, awesome !