Special Editions: Yea Or Nay?

When the Special Editions first came out in 1997, I enjoyed most of the changes for ANH and ESB at the time (though other than the new ending scene, I could have done without almost every change in ROTJ.)

As time has passed, though, the Special Edition changes have become more and more distracting for me. I would really like to have the option of owning primo restorations of the OT films (possibly with a few clean-ups like removing the vaseline smear under Luke's landspeeder.) Things that didn't originally bug me have begun to - like the Wampa in ESB. I've come to realize that one of the things that made the Wampa so creepy in the old version was that he was treated like the shark in Jaws... you never really saw him until he finally came at Luke in the cave. I miss that. And Mos Eisley being so desolate and in line with Luke's "planet furthest from the bright center to the universe" statement... I really miss that too, what with SE Mos Eisley being packed to the gills with creatures, critters and bad slapstick gags.

What I think would make for an excellent Blu Ray collectors edition would be one where fans could choose which of the SE changes to play when viewing each OT movie. I don't even know if that's possible given current Blu Ray technology, but a submenu with a checklist for each SE change where you could turn each of 'em on or off prior to playing the movie might be a fun way to address the issue (and it'd provide a legitimate excuse for Disney to sell yet another Blu-Ray OT set.) Just a thought.

 

Hm, that's not an easy question to answer. Being too young to have seen the unedited originals, the 1997 Special Edition was my personal introduction to the Star Wars universe. I did get a chance to watch the original version of Episode IV in the meantime, so I do have some idea of what I'm talking about. While I did enjoy most of the visual additions (except for one certain blaster shot in Episode IV, you know the one!) to the old films, I remember that even as I child I noticed how bad some of the new CGI shots were. Over all, I liked the 1997 Special Edition, though, especially the addition of a Coruscant shot in RotJ and "Victory Celebration" instead of that strange Ewok-song.
Also, while the German dub wisely omitted Darth Vader's "Nooooo!" in RotJ, there was an incredibly jarring change in Vader's dub voice during one of the extended Cloud City shots (the "Alert my Star Destroyer" scene) on account of Vader's original german voice-over artist having died between RotJ and the Special Edition.
As for the Blue-Ray-changes, well... Adding Ian McDiarmid into ESB was a good idea and it pleased me. Putting Hayden Christensen into RotJ, on the other hand did not.

 

50/50

The Adywan Version of ANH was quite well done in perspectiv to the work that was done in the Special Edition, but Adywan also added some strange things and shots...I hope to see a restored version with only the effects and colors updated...

 

I started watching Star Wars on VHS originally, so i have seen the original versions. I'm ok to making small changes to a flim, "not to the existent of changing whats going on in the scene". A few of the changes are good as in, celebration Return of the Jedi, the updated emperor The Empire Strikes Back and the ships flying around in the sky of Mos Eisley in A New Hope. I'm going to going to have to hit no on that vote because most of the changes were unnecessary in my opinion and in some cases, the films would have held up and aged better if not for some of them. What they should of done was spent more of that time and effort in the enhancement of the already existing practical effects. They did do some enhancement of them but not much and it really should have been the main focus, fixing up the great movies that they had and not neglecting the things that need to be fixed, as opposed to to adding or completely changing scenes. Remember if it isn't broken don't fix it and if you're going to try, do it right & well.

 

I have woted that "let them be they are fins as they are".

The original versions is all I need. Please change them if you like I don't care and I woudn't wast funds on them.

Besides I have the orginal version on DVD.

And yes Han shoots first.

 

I voted Divided.

The updated effects and restoration are fine, but the alteration of other things make me cringe and bring me out of the experience.

Changing things like the Greedo/Han sequence, the Krayt Dragon roar are annoying. Adding comical sequences while entering Mos Eisley really annoys me. I wouldn't mind the Jabba scene in ANH if the effects could pull it off, but after two versions of the CG it still doesn't look right, especially Han standing on his tail. And interfering with the very emotional scene at the end of Jedi, by having vader shout NOOooooooo! is a tragedy. And Sly Snootles song and the Ewok celebration song should never have been changed in my opinion.

That's the reasons I voted Divided. I like the new restoration and effects , but the above mentioned changes are not acceptable to me.

 

Adding the revised Wampa and Palpatine to ESB was the only changes I liked. Though the Palpatine change was not part of the special editions, it came later.

 

Totally love the SE's in every single way except one and even that really isn't a major issue to me.

The only Han shoots is the way the scene should be (not Han shoots first as Greedo never shot in the original version) and the only reason I say that is a technical one. IE if Greedo shoots at all he can't miss.

 

I voted for the 50/50 option. I think most of the more subtle changes are great. I think the new wampa is wayyy better. However, Han shot first!

 

I don't think I've seen any of the versions produced after 1997, so I can't comment on those.

As far as the 1997 version is concerned however, I think the changes are mostly positive.

The only time I didn't care for the changes were when they interfered with character and/or plot. So for instance when Greedo shot first, or when Luke screamed after effectively committing a suicide attempt when he chose to fall on Cloud City.

I also didn't care for the update Sy Snootles and Max Rebo band number, as I felt it diminished the seediness of Jabba's Palace and gave it more of a Disney kiddie vibe.

 

Agreed about the Sy Snootles. Definitely necessary IMO.

 

- Added X-Wings during Ep.IV attack on the Death Star - YES!
- Zoo of SGI half-baked creature designs in Mos Iseley Ep. IV - NO!
- Ghost effects removed around miniature space vessels - YES!
- Vader screaming NO and tossing Palpatine into the obllivion - NO!
- Luke disposing of the snow creature extended scene in Ep. V - YES!
- Han jerk before he shoots first - NO!
- Ewoks blinking - YES!

 

I don't like most of those changes, most of them are pointless. With that said, I don't mind them for existing and being available, I just want the pre-SE versions to be available in high quality also and not being viewed as bastard childs like Lucas did. I'm not saying that for nostalgia purposes, but because I think they're the better versions.

 

Early small changes and enhanced CGI weren't to bad. Of course the infamous unforgivable and often nonsensical ones like Han shooting second, Replacing old Darth with Haden, replacing classic Fett's voice with a new Fett, The dance scene in Jabba's palace...

Overall it ended up making me not want to watch that version of the OT anymore just because they simply didn't fit or make sense. It was small to start but it slowly got out of hand. I still voted divided though as it wasn't all bad.

Now all I'm clamoring for is a Blu-Ray picture quality enhanced rerelease of the theatrical versions. Then we'd all have what we want! If Disney can somehow wrangle that... I'd love them no matter how Episode 7 turns out.

 

Having the right Anakin and right voice for Fett do fit though just as having the real Emperor does.

I really doubt that many people gave thought many of these things before they were changed. I never had one ounce of attachment to most of these small scenes and the additions really pointed out how poor some of the portions of the film actually were from the Wampa and Dewbacks, to Cloud City, to the end celebration and the Death Star attack is much better.

 

Well for me Fett was a child who went without a father for a long time. His voice could easily be explained as to why it was different. Not to mention the helmet filters. Plus his lines were iconic. He's no good to me dead etc. You just don't go changing that. As for Anakin it's makes no sense in the fact that both Yoda and Obi-Wan retained their older forms after death and suddenly Anakin goes young. It seems jarring at least to me. I don't care about the emperor aspect all that much. If it stayed the same as the special edition that would be fine. If I were nit picking I'd say it was almost overdone. Like the plastered his face on there. Again though I can live with that small addition.

As for things like the Wampa, Dewbacs... again I don't mind that stuff. It's why I voted divided in the end.

 

On the whole the changes made are minor and In some places major embellishments that In my opinion do absolutely no harm whatsoever. To me the whole Han Shoots first scene is marginally annoying but not the end of the world, the Han / Jabba moment In a New Hope with the Han walking over Jabbas tail looks awful and makes me feel like vomiting every time i see it!
Being a mature Star Wars fan who has seen all versions of the films I can safely say this with confidence "All versions of the films are Great, Its Star Wars after all".

 

I like the great sound mix, the fixed mattes, and the blu-ray quality, but the added CGI in Mos Eisley, and things along that line, I don't like very much. I prefer Harmy's Despecialized editions!