CLASSIC IMAGE: COLLISION!

Racing past in their Jedi Starfighters to rescue Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin and Obi-Wan don't have time to witness the warfare going on around them-in this case an under fire Republic cruiser crashing into a Separatist ship, in this superb effects shot image seen only in the briefest of seconds during the incredible visual feast that is the opening battle of EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH.

COMMENT: BLU-RAY "CH-CH-CH-CHANGES..."?

So, the next Blu-ray announcement is here, and I applaud LUCASFILM/FOX for releasing three variations (one entire box set and one each for the Classic and Prequel Trilogies). However, despite my foolish hopes, it looks totally unlikely that LUCASFILM will capitulate and put any of the original theatrical release versions of the Classic Trilogy onto the Blu-ray format (whether they are enhanced or not, and even if they were originally used for VHS tapes). Also, despite the welcome three disc of extras, will 30 hours of material covering all six films (five hours for each movie) really be enough?

Interestingly, the trailer for the releases on STARWARS.COM today has allegedly not been sourced from Blu-ray elements, instead put together from the prints/copies used for the last DVD set (2004). However, it looks to me as if at least one scene from the Blu-rays has slipped (?) through the net.

Here it is from JEDI's space battle. Is it me, or is this shot from the trailer been newly done?

If you look at the trailer, the angle the Rebel ships come in from heading towards the Imperial Fleet looks and feels slightly different. I might be wrong but if anyone can confirm this, please get in touch...

If it has been changed, I think we can definitely expect lots more revisions on all the films to come. The optimist in me hopes that the majority of these additions will be subtle and effective more than anything negative, though please bring back Jason Wingreen's Boba Fett voice for EMPIRE! Continuity doesn't matter in this case!

The Blu-ray trailer: http://www.starwars.com/video/view/001175.html

The announcement: http://www.starwars.com/themovies/saga/preorder_bluray/index.html