2004 - Good or Bad year for the Star Wars line?

[Vader]

Okay, well lets try to get back on topic (or at least close to it ;) ).

Alot of people have said that the re-releses caused lego to have a bad year (myself included), but what i would like to know is what do people feel about the re-releses i.e do you feel that they improved the sets or were you happy with the orignal sets???

[jonfett]

I thought that the original x-wing (7140/7142) was great, it is one of my favourite sets!

But there was no need to re-release it in a different colour.. just to include a small hut :/

Again, same with the ties.. they have had a few minor changes and pieces added to them. Probably changes that Lego fans could do themselves.

But IMO, the snowspeeder needed changing. It has a better cockpit, includes the harpoon, the wings are slightly better and I like the colours on the new one better. It also seems a little smaller, but not to much.

Jon.

[Vader]

Gotta agree the xwing was pointless, ok the colors a little better but the hut was poor, i love the new snowspeeder and of course the falcon was IMO a massive improvement (apart from the fact that han & chewie still cant sit beside each other).

[ApophisV]

Can't say anything about the re-released sets, hadn't had any of them in my hands.... From what I can see the X-Wing looks very good, less blocky than the old one... No idea about the Snowspeeder, but I don't really like the pinkish tone of the new Landspeeder.

From what I saw I liked the old MF better than the new one (I don't like the flower-like roof), but maybe I will like the new one when I see it in real at christmas....

[Vader]

To me the roof of the new falcon was the only think that let it down, its a shame that they couldnt come up with something better :(

[Jipay]

I have the old tie and the new falcon. The new one is way better, and it just doesn't break all the time. I also like better the minor changes.

For the x-wing, from what I saw from the old one, I much prefer my white one. It looks better, has a real mechanism for the wings (like the UCS one :oD ). The nose is like 200% better.

I also like my falcon, I find it less blicky than the old one. And it fall into pieces like the real one :-D

[Orlego]

To me, the old sets and the re-issues are both great. They all have there good and bad areas. I personally was very happy with the originals and don't really care for re-releases. I just want to see Lego making more SW models that have not been out yet. The sail barge would be really cool as well as the sand crawler. Princess Amidala's all chrome ship would be sweet. Lego doing re-issues just reminds me of George Lucas and his many alterations of the original films.

BTW... Did anyone notice that Vader (dvd version) dies in the emperors room instead of at the base of the ship where Luke drags him to in the original? Just one of the many changes.

[Jipay]

damn... *runs to take his dvd out of the box*...

[Vader]

Vader dies in the throne room??? i watched them the other day but i didnt notice that. Ill have to watch it again later to see it.

Lego could do a sailbarge (and fingers crossed they will) but it would probably be alot dearer than the new falcon, still i for one would buy it :) .

[Orlego]

Vader dies in the throne room??? i watched them the other day but i didnt notice that. Ill have to watch it again later to see it.

Yeah, I had to take out my old VHS (Original, before special edition version) just to make sure I was not seeing things or if I just forgot?? how vader died. But nope, my memory was fine. Lucas strikes again! :'(

[Vader]

Orlego ive just looked at my dvd and init vader still dies on the ramp of the shuttle that like escapes in.

[Orlego]

Hmmm, I wonder if it is just the US version? I just watched it again and Vader dies in the throne room. It is the same exact shot, just different background and you don't see Luke draging Vader.

[Vader]

On mine you see luke holding vader up as stormies and other officers run around, like then lays vader on the shuttle ramp. |-/

Anyone else out their have a view on this????

[Orlego]

Hmm, on mine Vader drops after throwing the Emperor down the shaft then it cuts to Vader having his helmet removed dieing right there. All the scenes in the background are of the throne room and you don

[Vader]

Have you tried play the dvd on another player because in between vader taking care of the emperor and dying theirs shots of the rebels attaking the death star, so IMO your dvd might be skipping chapters.

[jonfett]

On mine you see luke holding vader up as stormies and other officers run around, like then lays vader on the shuttle ramp. |-/

Anyone else out their have a view on this????

Yes this is what mine is like. You see Luke helping Vadar walk with his arm around him.

Then Luke puts him down and he removes the helmet...

I wonder why there are two versions of this scene??

Jon.

[Orlego]

Have you tried play the dvd on another player because in between vader taking care of the emperor and dying theirs shots of the rebels attaking the death star, so IMO your dvd might be skipping chapters.

I think it does cut to the Death Star scene then back to the death scene but the death scene does go down like I said. I'm at work now but I will check it again to see if there is the cut. My friend also has the DVD and I watched it at his house and pointed out the same scene to him. I know that my player did not skip because his is the same way. Very strange. |-/

[Orlego]

It was the first time I seen this scene in this way and it kinda blew me away.

[Vader]

Orlego i have been talking to some friends on other boards about the scenes in ROTJ and none of them have the same dvd as you.

I have also looked for other websites that list the changes in the box set and the one that you have reported is not listed as one of them.

Has anyone else out there have the same dvd as Orlego???

[ApophisV]

Lol, thats wierd.... I'll get the DVDs hopefully at christmas or at least at my birthday (2 weeks later)....

[Orlego]

I have also tried to look on different websites to see if they have this listed and none do. I got home late last night and was not able to review the DVD again. I will try to tonight.

[Vader]

I really think that it sounds like you have a faulty dvd, either that or youve got a unique copy :)

[Orlego]

I really think that it sounds like you have a faulty dvd, either that or youve got a unique copy :)

I don't know about unique, and I know the dvd is not faulty. I will check it again tonight after work.

[Athos]

It was a horrible year, and I will go so far as to say the worst we have seen so far. It is between movies, which isn't Lego's fault. There are somethings, however, that are firmly within Lego's control, so we cannot totally absolve them of the blame.

My analysis: (read in comic-book guy voice): "Worst year ever"

1. We have only 11 sets released (6 system, 4 minis, 1 UCS)

2. Of those 6 system sets, not one was a truly new set.

a. 7262, 4500 and 4504 were complete remakes

b. 4502 is essentially a remake with an addition

c. The set that came the closest to being an actual new set is 4501, which despite its great additions to

the line (Greedo, Sandtrooper, and Dewback) still included a remade speeder and was a bit pricey.

d. The biggest disappointment of the year: 10131 is another remake with an addition, with the

inclusion of two of the same ships, it comes close to being a remake of a remake in the same set!

3. This was the year of the 'shot heard around the AFOL world:' the color change.

4. This was the year of the fleshtones.

5. The minis did not come with the bonus set, this was very disappointing

5. One the positive side

a. The minis were nice, but hardly enough to balance out the negatives especially with the

aforementioned absence of a bonus.

b. The UCS Y-Wing looks really cool. I, however, do not really do the UCS thing (except for really good

clearance deals) and as such it is from purely academic interest and the sake of fairness that I note

it.

6. Comparison to Previous Years

a. 1999: the flagship year; 13 released system sets (all new) and Droid Developer Kit;

b. 2000: 13 released system sets (all new), 2 UCS sets, 3 technic sets and Dark Side Developer Kit;

plus the original Millenium Falcon as a highlight of the year

c. 2001: 6 system sets (all new), 2 technic sets, 2 UCS sets; all in all a weak year, but still 6 entirely

new sets

d. 2002: 13 new system sets, 2 rereleased system set, 4 minis (with bonus), 1 exclusive mini, 3 UCS

sets including ISD, 4 technic sets; highlights of this year include ISD and Republic Gunship

e. 2003: 9 new system sets, 1 arguably system set (Halfire Droid), 4 more minis (with bonus), 1 UCS

set; highlights include AT-AT, Cloud City, and arguably Jabba and Slave Leia

f. I won't even get into the introduction of minifigs broken down yearly.

7. Conclusion = Worst year yet

Steve

[Orlego]

Great overview of the SW Lego history. I have to agree with you, 2004 was very bad for the SW line. 2005 should be great for new Ep. 3 sets, however, the classic sets will probably be more redesigned than new. I really want my sail barge and sand crawler. :D ;)