Favorite Special Edition changes?

Yes. Correct

 

I would very much say so

 

Almost all changes they made to the IV battle sequences, particularly cleaning up the edges around some of the ships and superimposed images. The Biggs scene is a huge plus too. The additional Wampa shots were nice. That iconic shot leaving Yavin 4 was cool. A lot of the new Cloud City footage and alterations were good I thought.

In general, when the technology was used to enhance, brighten or improve an original shot it worked. When it was used to add clutter to a shot (the HATED promenade in front of the speeder in IV for example, or the cluttered, syrupy CGI added in Mos Eisley) it was awful.

Ironically, I find bad 90's and early 00's CGI looks more dated than many of the practical effects. Even TPM looks a mess now, flat, static CGI that is really showing its age.

The Han introduction scene is, of course, the most hated, not just because it ruins a great introduction to an iconic character, but also because it is very hastily and sloppily changed and looks jagged and terrible.

 

lol those scenes where they add in backround creatures like the dewbacks and some of the camel-like creatures in the backround of the shots around Mos Eisley were my least favorite. They just stuck out like a sore thumb.

I think this is without a doubt the worst addition. Nothing is more cringe-worthy than that scene.

I know it says in the OP to not be overly negative, but the only changes between the SE's and the originals I can recall are the ones I dislike.

Edit: Watched some of that video that was posted. I like the changes in some places, like the overall color quality and some of the CG shots. But some others were kind've meh, specifically the scene introducing the X-Wings. Not terrible but the CG stuck out in that scene. Overall I liked the changes, but they just seem kind of unnecessary. The good changes made are so small it's hard not to resent the bad stuff. But I will admit the good changes and touch-ups are, obviously, good

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about them sticking out, and I agree with you on that. I just feel like in some cases it ended up working more than not working, such as not having simple static dewbacks in the background, even if they did tend to look a little wonky. Pretty much everything else in Mos Eisley was... meh... Even Luke's fixed speeder shots seem to stick out pretty big if I remember correctly.

 

I don't know why people are negging you. Most of the SE "fixes" stuck out like a sore thumb. The most subtle, unnoticable ones are are the best. If I had the choice, though I'd rather have it in its original form. I've seen the OT 100 times in its original form. and maybe twice since the "fixes". I don't really like any of them. But some are better or make more sense than others.

 

My favorite is opening up the Bespin set, but I'm fine with all of the changes except for the "big ones" - Han shooting first and the Jedi music video. I'd prefer less background gunk in Mos Eisley as well. I'm ok with Han meeting Jabba. However, none of the post-prequel DVD changes are acceptable in my mind. I don't want to see Hayden Christiansen or Naboo at the end of Jedi.

 

I watched the Especial Edition in the theaters when I was 13 years old and it was cool to finally watch SW in the big screeen. So....I have good memories about those days. I can say that I prefer the OOT, thats the way I like for sure but I think the SE works in a certain way to introduce (back in 1997) to a new generation and preparing them (and the old fans) for the PT. If I had to pick one scene that would be the Jabba introduction in ANH.

 

I think my favorite special edition change is the addition of The Outrider flying above Mos Eisley in ANH. It's probably the closest we'll ever come to seeing Dash Rendar in a Star Wars movie. (Although it'd be cool if he popped up in the Han Solo anthology film).

 

There is definitely more to complain about than praise as far the Special Editions go, but there were some good things. In ANH I liked some of the scenery changes and the updated Battle of Yavin. I particularly liked the updated Emperor scene in ESB, the original always looked wonky, frankly, ESB is the least affected by negative changes for the Special Editions. I also liked the celebration sequences that were added to the end of RotJ(however I still prefer the original music at the end).

And I'll agree with others on this thread as well, the new musical sequence in Jabba's Palace is godawful and it needs to be removed(although I still find the Han and Greedo sequence to be the most offensive ).

 

Yep Han & Greedo's standoff was great.

 

- I really enjoyed how the Hoth Battle miniatures were cleaned up, all the AT-AT's and the rebel fighters look like they truly belong to the background.
- Ewoks blinking eyes, it's a trivial detail but still was a neat touch and not very intrusive.
- I enjoyed the extended fleshed out Wampa cave scene, the original cut was a bit confusing.
- The extended panorama on Bespin was really great, to this day I don't get why some people Vhlor about it. It still felt very much like the original Bespin.
As a kid I remember thinking, how come there are barely any windows, those white frames looked like they meant to be panoramic window views from
the beginning but were cut short.
- The attack on the original Death Star reads better, more cool shots added. Yes, yes they altered some of the original artists' miniature models but
I still think it reads better from editing point of view.

 

i know a lot of people hate this added scene (& the weird looking Jabba) but i have to say: docking bay 94 scene, because it was in the comic adaption & now we got to see it &. The Jabba/Han vendetta got more depth,.

The only thing i don't like is when Han calls him "a wonderful HUMAN being" (i know he was a fat human in the original movie) but they could easily have solved that with the lines: -Stop calling me human ! [jabba's assistant: ] why did he call you "human"?
-"Human" in huttese is slang for "snail" ! -He thinks his funny calling me "HUMAN" (Jabba growling, looking angrily at Han walking away)

 

It might just be because of how young I was when they came out (which I also tend to credit for why I like the prequels more than most it seems), but I like most all of the changes made in the SE (with the notable exception of Jabba's model in ANH. I like the scene fine, but Jabba is some godawful CG there. Glad it got improved for the DVDs), but if I had to choose one change as my favourite it would be the space scenes in ANH. It's just that the ships just flow a lot better when they were able to use CG instead of just miniatures.

 

If there's one change that I absolutely love, it's the 1997 version of the ROTJ ending. Never liked the Yub Nub song and more John Williams is always good. Plus no CGI or Hayden Christensen. Perfect version IMO.

 

i like them both, so i cant really pick a favourite, so your point is evry good: MORE John Williams

 

This so much! I wish they would release the 1997 version of ROTJ just for the ending! The new ending music with Shaw as Anakin's ghost is the perfect ending imho. The warm, loving smile of redeemed Anakin, the celebration of the end of the Empire and the Sith, etc.

 

My favorite change is they finally fixed the black rotoscope job next to the Emperors face in ROTJ.What were they originally trying to cover up? Bad makeup?
They still need to fix the explosion of the shield generator in ESB... and the roto work on the Rancor.

Honestly,and I'm probably in the minority here....I feel like George didnt go far enough.I think he should have replaced or cleaned up every single effects shot,but left the original in camera scenes and dialog intact.No additional footage or Han shoots first junk.Or not touch the films at all.

 

I don't think it's a matter of how far George went, but rather a matter of what his priorities were. For example, why was adding the Ronto worthwhile when fixing the lightsabers wasn't?

 

Spoiler Alert! Thanks now there's no reason for me to even watch the movies. Ugh!