imperialscum said:
First of all, mind that this is my opinion. Unlike many of you around here, my favourite versions are 1997 SE. The important difference between 1997 SE and the following two releases is in the nature of the alterations.
Majority of the changes in 1997 were related to upgrading the SFX and audio (yes I pretty much love every one of them) and a few changed/additions to some story-related stuff (i.e. Greedo, which I don't like but can live with it, and new celebration song with shots of other planets, which I love - I can't stand YubNub crap).
Well, I respect your opinion but it seems to me you're only seeing the reasoning behind the changes being different because you don't like the prequels and because the '97 Special Edtions happens to be your favorite versions. The nature of the alterations besides the need for restoration in '97 are really no different.
In '97 you had "ESB & ROTJ-parasites" and Shadow of the Empire-products in the first film, likewise ESB received some "ROTJ-parasites" as well. It's just Lucas' hamfisted and embarrassing attempt to connect all the films with each other. In fact, this goes all the way back to his retitling of the first film in 1981.
imperialscum said:
On the other hand, in 2004 and 2011 most of the changes were basically PT related crap inserted into OT. Some of these include: Hayden in ghost scene, "NOOOOO", Boba Fett voice change, Emperor having prequel style make-up in ESB, JarJar screaming "wessa free!" in one of the celebration scenes, Dug in Jabba's palace, etc.
Yeah, but is there really any difference between inserting Vader's "NOOOOO" from the prequels in ROTJ and inserting the Emperor's scream from ROTJ in ESB? To think that he's making these changes just for toying with a whiny fraction of the fanbase who still keeps buying his stuff anyway is just absurd to me. In Lucasland it all makes sense, after all he put it in the prequels first for a reason.
And I guess a few are probably business decisions, you have to remember that he's no artist, he hasn't been a true director since the first SW-film. The guy who made ROTJ, the SE and "directed" the prequels was a studio mogul. His MO has been "good enough" ever since. If he wanted to have new movie related toy sales even if it hurts the film, he insert Boba and Jabba in ANH ("Cool, I only have the Jedi one!"), the shuttle from ROTJ in ESB ("Cool, I only own the one from ROTJ!") except kids doesn't perhaps use the word "cool" these days. ;) I don't know, was/is there any Anakin (Hayden) ghost figure in the stores?