Star Wars - A New Hope: Possessed

Finally got to watch this and had a great time with it.

It checks most boxes towards an ideal ANH fanedit for me.
Like many, I've always liked the discreet SE additions such as Obi's new hut, the Mos Eisley dock departure or the ROTJ hangar - but been annoyed as well by CGi womprats and dewbacks (and equally surprised as to how many popular faneditors choose to keep them). Possessed manages to achieve this delicate balance into his edit like no one else. There's also some inventive quick trims, used inconspicuously to omit some clunkiness in the original, as is the case with Luke's training and the Death Star duel. Personally I still don't care for Biggs, but him having his own scene doesn't offend like Jabba (who's not featured, to be clear). So in light of those elements (and an impeccable Battle of Yavin), ANH by Possessed takes a spot in my selection I've been long looking to fulfill.

As others have said, audio is crisp and clear, even to an untrained ear like mine, although I'm pretty sure it gets slightly delayed around the 1h8min mark and it stays that way for about fifteen minutes until it normalizes (actually there's a minor video glitch exactly at 01:07:52.691 that might be related to that) [EDIT: issues fixed].

Video looks good for the most part, but it gets occasionally fuzzy - reflecting the sources used and the transitions between them. The reworked lasers go a long way to freshen up the experience and certainly elevate the edit, but there are noticeable seams - particularly when Luke is handling the lightsaber.

Essential bonus features bundled with the BluRay ISO, props for that too.

I enjoyed this very much and recommend it.

Thank you!

A 10 score across the board... Thank you for the fantastic edit!

Nostalgia is a funny thing. Even with some of the obvious additions from the Special Editions, this is how I remember STAR WARS when I saw it at a drive-in in 1977. In my memory the colors aren't muted, the effects are bright and loud...everything this fanedit brings to the table. The included Special Edition content fits perfectly, without the jarring dissonance of some of Lucas' broader edits.

All in all, if you want a version of A New Hope that matches what you remember from your childhood, this is it :)

Tens across the board. This is very nicely presented.

Objectively, I have no real complaints. Possessed has done a great job of merging different visual and audio elements from different cuts in order to create a balanced hybrid between the theatrical and the special editions, as well as additional tweaks to FX, regrading etc.

On a subjective level, there are some things I'd rather were kept (eg. the stormtrooper head bump) or left out (Yavin SE shots), but practically everyone who isn't a total purist has their own variations on what their ideal combo would be, and you can't please everyone. (I also like having the option of a proper 5.1 track, rather than a stereo track that can be up-mixed; but this too is personal preference, and what's there still sounds great.)

Adywan's ANH Revisited is obviously excellent, but with the HD version still pending, this sits alongside that as a great option; and even with the eventual release of the final version of that in HD, Possessed's cut may still be preferable to some that feel some of the former's changes go a bit too far.

While this didn't 100% meet all my preferences, enjoyment still gets a 10 because it was a joy to watch. I often hold ESB very high up, with ROTJ being the flawed, "fun" one and ANH being the one I appreciate more than I enjoy; but I really dug it this time around. I'd forgotten just how much is crammed into the runtime and how well it's put together. I was also struck by the grading right off the bat - amazing how much of a difference that makes to the experience.

Thanks for your hard work, Possessed. I look forward to checking out your version of ROTJ sometime soon.

What a wonderful way to revisit an old classic.

Hats off to Possesed, their work on this conservative edit enriches the viewing experience in multiple subtle ways so much so that watching this was like watching A New Hope for the first time again. A real joy.

A/V Quality - Top notch. Possessed really has done a fab job here. I watched the blu ray version and the picture was wonderfully crisp. The regrade really makes the image pop while the gamma adjustments reveal a whole host of detail in the background. If nothing else the edit is worth watching just for that. The audio mix, which has been enhanced, is rich and clear. What more could you want?
Visual editing - Technically faultless. A highlight for me was the editing of the lightsaber duel.
Audio editing - Possessed has used a custom mix for the edit and the audio editing was seamless. Great job.
Narrative - This is a conservative edit. You've seen the film, you know the story. There are a few notable changes that I personally enjoyed namely the Han and Greedo sequence and the removal of Jabba the hut. It felt like an authentic Star Wars experience.
Enjoyment - If it wasn't clear already I really love this edit. What's more I really love the release. I was lucky enough to receive a handmade blu-ray from Possesed with custom artwork and special features. It really made the viewing experience that little bit more special and it now sits proudly on my shelf. I am very much looking forward to watching Possesed edit of The Empire Strikes Back.