Disney’s standalone 4K releases of the Star Wars films are a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t have room on their shelf for the massive Skywalker Saga Deluxe Boxed Set. We decided to take a look at the individual 4K release for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and even put together an unboxing video for you!
Thankfully, the individual 4K releases contain the same discs as the boxed set, with the exact same bonus features. That means you aren’t missing any content from the boxed set, except the packaging and goodies that come with it. In addition, buying the movies individually is much cheaper than buying the boxed set at this point. No need to drop several hundred dollars when you can wait for a sale on individual disc!
The individual 4K release of A New Hope contains three discs: A 4K disc with the feature film, a Blu-ray disc with the feature film, and a Blu-ray disc of the bonus features. A code for a 4K digital copy of the film is also included. Our unboxing video of the 4K set is included below.
Our copy was purchased from Amazon, and did not include an embossed slipcover. It appears only the first batch of 4K discs released by Disney came with the embossed slipcovers, so if you find one, we suggest you pick it up.
You can click here to order Star Wars: A New Hope on 4K from Amazon.
Following is a breakdown of what is on each disc.
Disc One: 4K Disc
The 4K disc includes A New Hope in 4K with no additional bonus features.
Disc Two: Blu-ray Feature Disc
The Blu-ray disc includes A New Hope in high definition and two commentaries, both carried over from the 2011 Blu-ray release. The first commentary features George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren. The second commentary is made up of audio from archival cast and crew interviews edited and synched to relevant scenes. Participants include George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Ben Burtt, Richard Chew, Peter Diamond, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Stuart Freeborn, Alec Guinness, Paul Hirsch, Gary Kurtz, Ralph McQuarrie, Dennis Muren, Norman Reynolds, Phil Tippett, and Robert Watts.
Disc Three: Bonus Features Blu-ray Disc
The third disc includes all the special features from the 2011 Blu-ray release, as well as the handful of new extras produced for the 2015 digital release.
The following bonus features are from the 2015 digital release.
*Conversations: Creating a Universe: Joe Johnston and set decorator Roger Christian discuss their work on A New Hope. Running Time: 8:25
*Discoveries from Inside: Weapons & the First Lightsaber: Set decorator Roger Christian and author J.W. Rinzler look over original props from the film, with Christian discussing how he designed many of them. Running Time: 3:14
*Star Wars Launch Trailer: An original trailer from 1977 (note the original version of the logo used in the trailer, which is not in the final film. Running Time: 1:09
The following extras are “Legacy” bonus features from the 2011 Blu-ray release.
*Anatomy of a Dewback: The making of a new scene from the 1997 Special Edition – specifically the “Dewback” scene – is explored. Running Time: 26:16
*Archive Fly-Through: A tour of the Lucasfilm archives, featuring many of the key props, models, masks, and costumes from the first six films is included. Running Time: 3:42
*Tatooine Overview: Concept artist Ralph McQuarrie discusses his designs for the Tatooine sets, and other crew members discuss their work. Running Time: 3:42
*Mark Hamill Interview: Luke Skywalker himself discussed his experiences on the set. Running Time: 2:15
*Anthony Daniels Interview: The man inside the C-3PO suit discusses his character. Running Time: 1:21
*Aboard the Death Star Overview: Sound Designer Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and other crew members discuss how they approached the Death Star. Running Time: 5:47
*Carrie Fisher Interview: Fisher discusses her role in this vintage interview. Running Time: 1:45
*The Battle of Yavin Overview: Crew members including Dennis Muren discuss their work to shape the climatic battle. Running Time: 4:22
*Deleted Scenes: Among the deleted and extended scenes included are “Tosche Station,” “Old Woman on Tatooine,” “Aunt Beru’s Blue Milk,” “The Search for R2-D2,” “Cantina Rough-Cut,” “Stormtrooper Search,” “Darth Vader Widens the Search,” and “Alternate Biggs and Luke Reunion.” Total Running Time: 15:58
*The Collection: Artifacts from the Lucasfilm archives are featured in 360-degree camera sweeps and insights from cast and crew members. Among the items featured are the Landspeeder Prototype Model (1:59), Millennium Falcon Prototype Model (3:16), R2-D2 (3:53), Tatooine from Orbit Matte Painting (:48), Jawa Costume (:55), Tusken Raider Mask (:36), Ketwol Mask (2:51), Death Star Prototype Model (2:12), Holo-Chess Set (3:01), Bridge Power Trench Matte Painting (:34), Luke’s Stormtrooper Torso (:36), X-Wing Fighter Model Prototype (3:15), X-Wing Fighter Model Final (2:57), Y-Wing Fighter Model Prototype (3:13), Y-Wing Fighter Model Final (3:00), TIE Fighter Model Prototype (2:09), TIE Fighter Model Final (2:09), Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter Model (1:50), X-Wing Pilot Costume with Helmet (1:01), Death Star Laser Tower Model (2:24), Yavin 4 Matte Painting (:41)
Here’s our unboxing video.
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