Just like with The Beatles on iTunes, it seems that the recent lead-up to the Blu-Ray re-release of the Star Wars movies was met with a sort of ‘meh’ response in the jaded digital media, with many sites majing jokes about changes (Ewoks with bloody fangs and crazed eyes, for example), and others lamenting the price or the prequels or … well, there was much more blathering and nit-picking than excitement – or so it seemed. In fact, there was a very quick side-chat amongst the Gear Diary folks that ended up with no one here indicating that they were buying the new sets.
And yet … like The Beatles on iTunes, the REAL story isn’t about those folks who spent the last week writing about how Star Wars is ‘over’ … but instead it is about those who went to the stores (or on the computer) and BOUGHT the new Blu-Ray collection in record numbers all over the world, according to a press release!
As noted, “The Complete Saga on Blu-ray quickly becomes the #1 pre-order and #1 catalog title since the launch of the high-definition format.”
Here is a snip from the release:
“Once again our fans’ enthusiasm to celebrate Stars Wars continues to amaze us,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director, Marketing, Lucasfilm. “Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would.”
“Star Wars is a franchise with universal stories that resonates as much today as it did 30 years ago,” said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “With the Blu-ray, audiences can go deeper into the mythology than ever before and reconnect with everything they love about the Saga in the best possible quality.”
Although the focus of the press release and coverage at sites such as the begrudging kudos from ‘The HD Room‘ is on the North American results, according to Geeky Gadgets the Star Wars Blu-Ray collection set records in the UK as well!
As I mentioned, the buzz simply didn’t seem to be there – to the point that when I saw the Volkswagen commercial from the Super Bowl with the little kid trying to use his Darth Vader Force powers on various things, it took me until they showed the Blu-Ray set at the end to make the connection. I remember when the DVD set arrived there was moaning, but seemingly much more buzz.
Or maybe it is just me – I am in a different state than in 2007, the kids are older, we own the DVD set, and so on.
What have you experienced? Have you seen the excitement in the new release? Did you buy them? What are your thoughts overall?
You can see the full press release here or read it below!
[showhide]SAN FRANCISCO & LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today that STAR WARS is the bestselling catalog Blu-ray Disc of all time with worldwide sales totaling one million units, including 515,000 units sold in North America in its first week alone. This represents $84 million in worldwide consumer spend including $38 million in North America – unprecedented for a nine-disc Blu-ray collection at a premium price.
“Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would.”
The thirteen-month campaign to launch the SAGA Blu-ray and engage consumers around the globe began in August 2010. From Darth Vader at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a first look at San Diego Comic Con, a first-of-its-kind partnership with eBay, to creating the world’s largest lightsaber in the UK, the power of the Force continued to resonate around the world as fans came out in droves to have fun with that galaxy far, far away.
“Once again our fans’ enthusiasm to celebrate Stars Wars continues to amaze us,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director, Marketing, Lucasfilm. “Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would.”
“Star Wars is a franchise with universal stories that resonates as much today as it did 30 years ago,” said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “With the Blu-ray, audiences can go deeper into the mythology than ever before and reconnect with everything they love about the Saga in the best possible quality.”
The comprehensive collection includes the six movies with unparalleled high-definition picture and sound quality, and features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more.
Episodes I-III and IV-VI are also available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections.
ABOUT STAR WARS
The May 25, 1977 theatrical debut of Star Wars – on a scant 32 screens across America – was destined to change the face of cinema forever. An instant classic and an unparalleled box office success, the rousing “space opera” was equal parts fairy tale, western, 1930s serial and special effects extravaganza, with roots in mythologies from cultures around the world. From the mind of visionary writer/director George Lucas, the epic space fantasy introduced the mystical Force into the cultural vocabulary, as well as iconic characters such as evil Darth Vader, idealistic Luke Skywalker, feisty Princess Leia, lovable scoundrel Han Solo and wise Obi-Wan Kenobi. Since its 1977 debut, Star Wars has continued to grow, its lush narrative expanding from modest beginnings into an epic, six-film Saga chronicling the fall and redemption of The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.
ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.
Lucasfilm, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. [/showhide]
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