..Movie Reviews..

There's the amazing opening chapter, A New Hope, the dark middle, Empire Strikes Back, and the thrilling conclusion, Return of the Jedi. The DVD set also includes an extra disc of extras, including a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary. Unfortunately, it serves more as an homage to George Lucas than a real documentary. Lucas has also done plenty of tinkering with his originals, trying to pair digital wizardry with the original, award-winning special effects. It doesn't work so well and makes you pine for the VHS originals.

But despite the shortcomings, it's still Star Wars on DVD.

I have to say, the commentary is pretty lame. Lucas himself adds some interesting bits here and there, but he often seems full of himself. Carrie Fisher chimes in only occasionally with the most innane comments. Then there's Irvin Kirshner in Empire. The man has to explain every joke as it happens, in case you missed it or why it was there or what its purpose was. Shut-up, man!

Overall I think the commentary tracks suffer because they were all recorded in a vacuum. Nobody interacts with anyone else which really kills it.