‘Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’ Limited Edition Box Set Review

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

Now that the Skywalker story arc has come to an end, culminating in nine films over 40+ years, it makes sense that a full box set (causing Star Wars fans like me to drool), would emerge. Packaged in several different ways, the full saga comes in HD, Blu-Ray and 4KUltra/digital formats, with each of the physical disc sets housed in a decorative box. Nevertheless, the HD box set (not currently available in the US that I could find beyond eBay and Amazon.UK) contains only the feature length films (9 discs), whereas the Blu-Ray box set includes the films and the Bonus Material discs (18 discs). Neither include the digital format that’s automatic with the 4K box set. Additionally, in the digital version of The Rise of Skywalker (TROS) Bonus Material, there is an interview with the legendary composer John Williams not found elsewhere. Therefore, looking at each version individually, then compiling them, leads to the granddaddy of them all – the Best Buy exclusive I ultimately settled on. Sold as a Collector’s Edition featuring the Blu-Ray and 4K/digital formats plus the Bonus Material (27 discs!!), I immediately strained my budget to pick up this beautiful set. So, just over $270.00 later (includes tax), let’s take a look at what I got…
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Features (Slide Show Below):
Similar to the other box sets, the Limited Edition outer shell is donned with the infamous Death Star. However, of great note, this box, when compared to the others, is a completely different shape and considerably nicer. It slides open from the center like a solid set of black movie curtains to reveal a chrome looking hard cover book. Also unique to this set, it features the iconic name/symbol “Star Wars” emblazoned on the cover. A small sheet of paper with directions and the digital codes lies just inside the box. Opening the book’s cover, you see the beloved stars in space image and “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far way.…” shown to the left, followed by the same name/symbol “Star Wars,” this time in its traditional yellow, on the right – sparking feelings of love, imagination and youth. Inside, with each turn of the very thick pages, all of the nine films are individually featured through beautiful end to end full-color concept art while the Blu-Ray and 4K discs are each tucked into their own slots. Once you’ve flipped through the films, the final pages housing the Bonus Material, include black and white set photos from all the films depicting two films per turn with TROS receiving its own full section at the back. The book ends with the stars in space, this time with no words or images and the back of the book simply sports the iconic LucasFilmLTD symbol we’ve all come to know and love. Finally, as with all the box sets, there is a lovey kind of hard card, semitransparent letter penned by none other than Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. It also has “Star Wars” watermarks. A nice touch to say the least! So, now that we know what the Limited Edition piece looks like, let’s take a look at the pros and cons shall we?

Pros and Cons:
First, let’s discuss price. Rounding to $272.00 with tax, including the Bonus Material, this basically makes every disc just over $10.00 each. For me, that’s a pretty decent price since the more basic 18 disc Blu-Ray collection is approximately $146.00 before taxes. Additionally, buying the individual discs, all now available in a Blu-Ray and 4K/digital combination, would be approximately $30.00 a piece before tax. So overall, you’re getting all three formats for about the same price wrapped in a special edition box and book. Therefore, it’s definitely worth pointing out that having all the latest formats at your fingertips in one set is pretty nice. Particularly since this is the only box set to contain all nine films in the 4K format.

Further, the digital format of the films are also in 4K which is a nice feature that I didn’t expect at all. The Bonus Material, on both the discs and digitally, is Blu-Ray. The drawbacks? Well, as noted above, all nine films are now individually available for purchase in 4K which makes this a considerably less “special feature” in the box set. It’s also important to note that these discs can be rather difficult to remove from the book which wouldn’t be the case with the individual discs. I recommend using clean hands and gently lifting the disc from the bottom with just a couple fingers then gripping it between your fingers and palm while sliding it straight out. Gloves will also better protect each disc reducing fingerprints and overall wear and tear. Thankfully, the book pages are fairly sturdy. Still, they, and the discs, unquestionably require special attention as not to damage them through manipulation.  

Next, as already described, along with the book inside, one of the biggest pros is the outer box. Yet, though thick and beautiful, the box is somewhat delicate and easy to damage. In fact, I received mine via mail after an online purchase from Best Buy and it was dented in three places – damaged during shipping. Thankfully I was able to exchange it. Additionally, the black paper covering the box is quite soft and easily shows fingerprints after handling. I also envision that any scratches will most certainly stand out on its jet black surface. Basically, this box seems to be designed for display rather than use. Of course, all this is fine, since I likely will not go in and out of it too often. But for those that want the full box set to access all the discs on a regular basis, they may not like this at all. Looking closer at the book itself, its cover is quite sturdy and very aesthetically pleasing. Though it should be noted that the material feels somewhat similar to the outer box and could potentially be just as delicate overall. Simply put. Dropping either one a solid surface at an angle is sure to dent and/or scratch them.

Inside the book, the conceptual artwork is absolutely stunning and the set photos conjure nostalgia and wonder. Yet, from the best of my memory, I’m quite sure that none of the artwork or set photos are new. I believe I’ve seen every one of them, including from the newer films, somewhere before. Whether it be photos in an article or video, on social media, or even from previous VHS or DVD versions, I’m certain all of these details have been released at one time or another. And save for TROS, the same goes for the Bonus Material. Though completely fun to watch and pour over, especially in one set, I am again, pretty sure I’ve seen all the footage before. Furthermore, it stands to reason that if ANY of the footage beyond TROS was new, Disney would most certainly have advertised it this way, right?? In fact, I haven’t done this for all the discs, but when comparing The Phantom Menace Bonus Material to that of the individual DVD from many years ago, the older DVD not only contained virtually all of the box set material, it also contains a little bit more than the newer disc. Seriously?!? This is definitely one the biggest cons of the entire box set. The other negative that’s quite noticeable is the fact there’s no menu/guide to be found anywhere which would be particularly helpful for the Bonus Material discs. This means that you actually have to pop in the disc to know what’s on it. A simple small book wouldn’t have cost that much to create and could’ve been a great way to add a few extra set photos making the menu or guide itself a collectable. It also could’ve served as a feature to market as “all new” and “unique.” Truly a missed opportunity in my opinion!!

Finally, other than TROS, all of these films as well as some of their Bonus Material, are available on Disney+ (until May 4th, when TROS debuts on Disney+). And let’s face it, any major Star Wars fan will likely have a life-long relationship with this platform… LOL!! So basically, buying any box set with or without the Bonus Material is pretty much for your own love of the genre anyway, right?

Conclusion:
Overall, purchasing this box set will ultimately add a specific and beautiful feature to any fan’s collection. However, due to the delicate outer shell and book, as well as the difficulty removing the discs, buying the individual ones might be a better way to go if you’re interested in accessing the discs on a regular basis. For the collector, like myself, this box set is right up your alley! The price is excellent for what you get and the artwork is spectacular. As noted, beyond TROS and the special letter from Mark Hamill, this box set doesn’t offer anything new in the ways of content nor does it come with any sort of menu or guide. These things, for me, are the biggest let down, but I love the box set anyway! Though honestly, I would’ve surely paid more for a little something extra from each movie – something I suspect Disney  will find a way to capitalize on down the road, No?

What about you? Did you purchase this or any of the box sets? If so, what do you think? Let me know if the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… May the Force Be with You… Always!!

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