Prequel Trilogy - Special Editions?

Been a long time since I posted a thread, but here goes

VFX and CGI, thanks to Lucas and Spielberg, have become quite possibly the most important parts of the blockbuster genre. We all know Lucas already released Special Editions of the Original Trilogy, and while some updates were nice and minor, others entirely adjusted major scenes (controversially, in several important ones). But good updates engage most fans, as seen in this wonderful fan-made scene for ANH, where Vader and Obi-Wan duel, easily the clunkiest fight in the entire saga, is reworked. Rebels has established Obi-Wan as being more efficient and focused as a duelist, and while this may be over the top, it does elevate the emotions of the scene fairly well-

Furthermore, with CGI Tarkin and Leia in Rogue One, Lucasfilm has shown a willingness to use CGI-created characters when necessary. While done fairly well, the uncanny valley still exists with these two creations. In the superb Blade Runner 2049, a CGI model of a younger Sean Young was made so well that it was actually reinserted into the original movie, and was then shown to Denis Villeneuve, who was hesitant about a CGI character in 2049, until he was blown away by the dupe.

http://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/blade-runner-2049-vfx-replicant-sean-young-rachael-1201889072/

Now to the main question - Could the PT benefit from updated VFX? We've had fairly recently TPM puppet Yoda replaced by CGI Yoda in the Blu-Ray Complete Saga, so there is already "special editions" of the prequels. More specifically, however, updates to set design, characters (Dax anyone?), and even entire battles could really improve upon the visual creations in the PT. Rogue One may itself get updates to improve Tarkin and Leia in the future, so why not attempt to improve the overall consistency of the Prequels. I understand the idea of "Special Editions" near Star Wars raises quite a few alarms, but when done well, it can really improve upon the weaknesses of PT's CGI and CFX, if not the saga's as a whole.

 

No, as a prequel fan myself, I just think the CGI has not aged well in action scenes. In terms of landscapes and establishing shots, it still stands fairly well.

 

I'd say the scenes that stick out the most to me are the land battles outside the Geonosis arena and Obi-Wan and Mace walking through the Jedi Temple. The Geonosis red sand could look really amazing with an update, imo, looking more like this consistently, at the very least.

 

It would also just be near impossible to have everyone of the same exact height, to be fair. I definitely think the CGI would be lifelike today, and just have a sense of CLARITY

 

I agree, the battle is still very impressive, though it is a bit cartoonish, even when it first came out. The camera work is what still holds up the best imo, by having us have our two Jedi Knights navigate through the battle (a bit too artfully haha), it showcases the extent of the battle and their individual skills and banter. I think the Battle of Scarif is now my favorite space battle, however.

I agree with the Gungan battle looking off now. The biggest thing I attribute that to is extensive CGI on film, not digital. With age, it'll only become more obvious, whereas AOTC and ROTS can easily be manipulated and updated without any issues.

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 8, 2018, Original Post Date: Jan 8, 2018 ---

Of the lightsaber fights, Obi-Wan and Vader deserve a small update of sort. The camerawork doesn't have to be drastically different, and the fight can be as careful and delicate as in the original. In Rebels, Maul and Obi-Wan fight, and the fight is done very quickly, but is still very impressive. I think adding a few moves where the raw power of Vader is showcased, and Obi-Wan's methodical approach is even more careful and calculated now, would make the fight both more important as a delaying mechanism for Leia's rescue, as well as simply more believable. I don't know about a dialogue change, many theories now make it seem that Obi-Wan and Vader met again once more, but again, just theories. I find that ESB's fight holds up very well, whereas there are only 2 shots in ROTJ's lightsaber fight that are improvmenets in speed, technique and power over ESB, but Luke here is trying to avoid fighting his father. Maybe clean up some of the clunky strikes when his rage takes over him and he initially restarts the fight with Vader are in order, but besides that I'm not sure. I think the Qui-Gonn idea is nice, but unnecessary. Luke doesn't need any connection to Jinn, and if anything, Jinn's connection to his father's rise and fall is established and settled in the PT. Ahsoka is canon, maybe a nod to her would be cool, as well as Captain Rex. Maybe a mention from Obi-Wan or Anakin after they return to Coruscant about how they wonder the capture of Maul went, etc. Or maybe when the Jedi council is discussing the war movements (in this case a person's voice could be added, no character would have to be shown, which would be simple). As a whole, it's more fan-service that important to the plot of Anakin's emotional instability and the final crack in the armor of the hero, which turns him to darkness to save his love. Grievous, imo, has to be seen as the whiny, powerful but incomplete villain for this movie. Dooku, the perfect CIS leader, is killed by his opposite, Anakin. Grievous is a great warrior, but as a strategist and lightsaber wielder, he's more flash than real power, even in the CGI Clone Wars series. His voice also makes him more pathetic than powerful, unlike his 2003 animated cartoon version. At this point, if any change is made, it's to highlight how Grievous as a leader is pathetic, the CIS is doomed, and the real power still eludes the Jedi. The original stuntman for the Mace and Sidious fight was actually put aside since Lucas wanted Ian McDiarmid to do his own stunts, which is why it's not a really convincing fight, so fixing that would be really nice. I would like the addition of that scene of laying waste. We see him lead the clones up the stairs, and into the temple. Then we see him slaughter children. Add a scene of massacre, of all ages, species, etc, would show his fall even more.