I love the flickering, pale, imperfect lightsabers in Star Wars.
That said, a recompositing of the original film elements for an OUT wouldn’t offend me, but I also don’t tend to think it is necessary.
Edit: Also, interesting you mentioned Mike. He mentions in one is his videos (I think his restoration of the Death Star approach), that his work approximates what recompositing would accomplish, noting that that would be ideal. Even a purist like Mike doesn’t shy away from improving upon the O-neg so long as the original photographic elements aren’t altered.
Edit 2: I believe this to be the link:
I think what ever happens next the Special Edition is basically for the scrap heap. Just for the Mos Eisley Comedy Dinosaurs part on it’s own it will be comitted to the grave. It’s had it’s time and needs to be Dead and Buried.
In terms of going back to the original elements sure why not… But also how many elements were shot that did not even make it in to the film. So it’s a double edged sword there. You could go another step further…
So I think Lucus needs to be consulted but he also needs to be realistic about his film that he made in 1977. Lucusfilm no longer need to present themselves as CGI effects house on the back of Star Wars.
I would not be opposed to a halfway house or semi specialized version even another version but Lucus does need to accept he went to far but it was not all bad but a lot of damage was done.
It needs to be sorted out with very obvious changes that were made that hurt of the film at the very least removed. But there was much more scope in the film for changes in better places than I had previously even realized myself that actually would restore a small amount original intention but they are at the end of the day quite minor. And the Special Edition was just a CGI shit show really apart from Yavin Battle, The Sandcrawler Model and a few updated matte shots which I don’t mind.
It would be easy for a branched Original Matte vs Updated Matte version.
I am not sure what it will be but anything other than a CGI Fest. Subtle changes are ok.