The collection was released in September 2004, coinciding with the release of Star Wars: Battlefront.
The set included:
- Documentary and Featurettes
- Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of Darth Vader
- Star Wars Battlefront Trailer and Playable Demo
- Star Wars: Episode III Making the Game Preview
- Production Gallery
- Posters and Print Campaigns
- Trailers and TV Spots
The movies on the DVDs were based on the 1997 Special Edition versions, including additional changes and revisions.
In addition to an extensive and comprehensive high-definition restoration and remaster job by Lowry Digital, several adjustments were made in order to make the films consistent with the prequel trilogy. For this release, Lucasfilm created new high-definition masters of the three films.
Many reviews praised the DVDs for the exceptional sharpness and clarity of image that resulted from Lowry's cleanup work.
However other reviewers were more critical, and criticized some aspects of the A New Hope DVD such as:
- The new color pass, with saturated blue tones and crushed blacks.
- Audio issues in the new 5.1 mix, including music reversed in the rear channels and the dialling out of important sections of John Williams' score.
- The dirt removal algorithm adversely affecting subtle detail, such as starfields and laserblast glows.
Upon release, many fans were upset by the lack of the original theatrical versions. However, they were later released on DVD in 2006.
In a CNN interview, George Lucas stated that he had originally planned to release the DVDs in 2007, but brought the date forward due to concerns that piracy was affecting market sales.
There is a hidden blooper reel on the bonus material DVD of this boxset. To access it, go to "Video Games and Still Galleries", highlight "Exclusive Production Photos", and enter on your remote: 11, enter, 3, enter, 8, enter.
To activate it on Power Media Player on PC, play a video, right click on the screen, select "Go to" and select Title 38, Chapter 1.