Favorite Special Edition changes?

I have quite a few. At the top of my list is the cloud car fly-in to start the 3rd act of ESB. It 'rhymes' well with Kershner's revised ending to the film.
Also, the battle of Yavin. Big improvement over the original cut (sans the pink they put in the 2004 dvds).
On the non-cgi side, Biggs was my fav.

 

I liked the addition of the Cloud City CGI effects.It made it feel like a city in the clouds and the added windows in the hallways made it more open. The battle of Yavin was much improved and the addition of Biggs was cool.

 

The 1997 Victory Celebration. The only scene where i liked the special edition version more than the original one!

 

As has been stated, the best things added were those that were subtle. Things like changes to scenery in Bespin and Yavin, and simple graphical changes like redoing the Falcon leaving Mos Eisley, etc. Overall cleanup and general improvements that one would notice something different, but couldn't put their finger on until they compared to the original.

The CGI does tend to show its age, but even with that I like things like the added Rebel X-wings and others to the approach of the Death Star, as well as some much improved shots of the actual attacks. Also the dewbacks and stormtroopers added to the "Look sir, droids!" scene.

Other than that, I'm trying to remember what is a SE change and what else was for the DVD and finally the blu-ray.

 

Tough question. I would say the X-Wings taking off from the Yavin base is a cool improvement over the original, which was just a bunch of lights zipping away. Things like the Falcon, leaving Mos Eisley and landing at the Yavin base were cool. I don't really agree with the final Yavin battle, because the whole thing wasn't redone. You have old shots right next to new shots. Disorienting.

I think the shockwave ring around the exploding Death Stars was pretty cool.

I just remembered probably the best "fix". The lightsaber battle between Obiwan and Vader. In the original the lightsabers looked horrible.

I'm deffinately in the Originals camp. But I agree with Muren, if the originals are always there, why not?....the problem is that the originals are gone...

one more. I think they fixed the two Star Destroyers that looked like they were going to run into each other chasing the falcon from Tatooine.

Just had another thought... One effect from Jedi that always bothered me was the bad compositing that happens during Luke's battle with the Rancor. But I can't remember if they fixed that in the SE. Anyone know?

 

Definitely the Cloud City changes. It creates a certain atmosphere and character that didn't exist in the original version. It's weird to pull out the VHS tape and not see it. That being said... Just release the original versions of the damn films. I mean, come on. Disrespecting the legacy of American cinema...

 

I generally like many of the changes in ANH and Empire (with some very obvious, cliche exceptions--I'm looking at you Han/Jabba hangar scene) which many of you have already mentioned--Battle of Yavin, Cloud City, etc.

That said, I will accept every, single Special Edition change, even the most egregious and inexplicable, if they please, PLEASE, for the love of everything sacred and holy, give us back the original song/dance scene from Jabba's palace in ROTJ. I grind my teeth to darn near cracked nubs when I watch the CGI alien singing TO THE CAMERA to an awful faux-blues-rock song with a *BLFDJEUKDING* frog-alien playing harmonica backing him up.

If not for me, do it for Max.

 

I think Max would agree.

 

I aggree. Lapti Nek was sooo much better than Jedi Rocks!!!!!

 

There were a few great elements added to the updated OT films.
I too like the Rebel attack: Battle of Yarvin in ANH. The SFX and colors are great.
The swing across the Death Star I shaft scene was much better too. The danger was heightened and the echo sound FX were better.
I liked too when Han runs directly into 100s of storm stroopers rather than 10 or so.
Bespin Cloud City looks a lot cleaner and more artistic in the special editions.
I also noticed how Lucas/ILM cut Luke's shrill girl like scream when he falls in some of the newer versions of TESB.
I watched the 1997 theater version and thought Luke sounded really stupid.

 

The Wampa eating Luke's Tauntaun was pretty cool.

 

I love being able to see some more of Cloud City.

 

I liked the subtle addition of some dogfight shots in the Death Star Battle. I think they matched the original composite effects well while still adding an extra amount of energy to the sequence. Here's a good comparison video:

 

I liked Vader revealing he was Luke's father.

 

One that I forgot to post earlier but that I remember noticing in the Theater was seeing the tow cable unraveling behind Wedge's snowspeeder as they're wrapping up the ATAT. I remember thinking...."why is there no tow cable?" in the original.

 

That was great! I also like this guy in a black robe. Vader worships him like a good, do you know why Grand Master Galen Mark?

 

It make him intimidating?