Been looking at the Start of the film and here is some things that I noticed.
So In the SE DVD Menu we have the complete shot of “the escape pod” (actually there should be 2 of them) detaching from the Tantive and flying off whilst under the Devastator (Star Destroyer). This Pod should be destroyed.
When we see the pod flying away When R2-D2 and 3P0 are in the escape Pod the Tantive should be secured in the underbelly of the Star destroyer. i.e locked in the clamp.
Basically the shot of the escape POD flying away on the underbelly view was never at any point when it was shot the POD that R2-D2 and 3P0 are in because of the position of the BLocakade Runner not being locked in the underbelly of the Star Destroyer… So that shot in the film was always one of the decoy pods or simply somone trying to escape and it is obvious when it was meant to happen (before the Blockade Runner get’s clamped in).
The next thing in this part I noticed was that when Captain Antilles is strangled. I think a very good enhancement would be to remove the wire from his Helmet so as the Illusion is complete that Vader is picking him up in such a way by the throat. The Next point regarding this scene comes in the way of sound. Was listening to the radio drama and Captain Antilles is thrown in to a sort of Gas tank or something. In the Radio Drama when he hits the Tank it Makes a “Donk” noise… In the German Version (at least) it seems to use this same “Donk” noise from the radio drama. But in the Original sound mix it has on set audio for him hitting the wall… So the suggestion was to also swap that out as it seems like an audio editing goof for the original sound mix. Also the Radio Drama features some Gasping sounds which may have been intended to go in between the cracking of his neck upon him being strangled. Anyway you understand the Deal here. This could be a vast improvement.
The next part that had me thinking was C3-P0 waving to the Sandcrawler… Actually it is a black triangle with a flashing light. But what got me thinking was perhaps merging the original theatrical Sandcrawler model shot into this scene where he sees it then a smaller version roto-scoped in when he waves his arms and you can see the horizon… This way the Theatrical version is re-purposed in a honorable way and is not lost. But given how far away the Sandcrawler is in the original version it would not surprise me if it was actually intended to go in this scene.
Some food for thought but these are none the less interesting ideas I think. And I Guess I am just trying to evaluate the possibility of what can be kept from the theatrical cut also from any country for that matter. Can special edition and Theatrical version co-exist in the same film? Should we mourn a black triangle with a flashing light?