(Cover artwork pictured here by DM247)

Hal9000’s Custom Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition

(This is Version 3 of this project. It has been remastered using two projects from OohTeeDee: his partially restored 1977 version and recoloring of the 2019 transfer. Most visual changes are achieved merely by alternating between these two projects of his. The 2019 version made a handful of the changes made in V1 and V2 unnecessary.)

If the following strikes you as esoteric, I invite you to peruse the forums of Originaltrilogy.com.

First and foremost, credit is due to OohTeeDee for presenting the 1977 and 2019 versions of the film; CapableMetal, Jetrell1969, and SilverWook for their combined efforts at making the theatrical DTS audio from the 1997 Special Edition available; Harmy for producing the famed Despecialized Edition (used in V1 and V2); Team Negative 1 for producing 4K77; NeverArGreat for producing his technicolor version; Sir Ridley for visual FX work; ChainsawAsh for encoding a DTS mix; and MalàStrana for assisting with subtitles.

Having satiated my restlessness with the Star Wars prequels, I wanted to put together a custom ‘Special Edition’ of the original trilogy to place on my shelf alongside the original, theatrical versions (currently represented by Harmy’s Despecialized Editions). I thought about calling them the “So You’ve Decided To Watch The Special Edition” version, because they wouldn’t be intended as one’s sole version of the films. Rather, a companion piece to the original versions, as a Special Edition should be.

I do not consider this a full-blown fan edit, as I am primarily hybridizing existing official versions of the film, keeping changes I can appreciate and excluding those I feel hinder the film. Of course, this is highly subjective, and everyone’s perfect blend would be slightly different.

The primary video source is the ‘19SE’ as presented by OohTeeDee. The primary audio source is the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio. Exceptions are described in the list of changes.

This project is presented in 1080p BluRay-compliant video, with DTS and AC3 audio tracks, and subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

Available as a 1080p BR-compliant mkv, 720p mp4, and a DVD5.

Here follows a list of changes made to the primary video and audio sources for this project.

***Video Changes, beginning from OohTeeDee’s color corrected ‘19SE’ transfer

With help from Sir Ridley, retimed the “look sir droids” scene to the original theatrical version while retaining Special Edition imagery. The scene feels like the original version without resorting to its footage or shortening the scene to remove added shots (The following scene’s opening shot of the sandcrawler remains in its Special Edition version.)
The ‘cone of light’ missing from the Special Edition version of R2 projecting Leia’s image in Luke’s garage has been restored (Sir Ridley provided FX to achieve this for V2, though in V3 this is achieved by using D+77)
The entrance to Mos Eisley has been reconceptualized to feature as close as possible to the best of both the original and Special Edition versions. The intended effect is to retain some of the improved visuals while avoiding the poor pacing and tone of the Special Edition.
Restored two shots of the Wolfman alien, who had been replaced for the Special Edition
Removed an added ugly CGI stormtrooper dismounting a dewback outside the Cantina
New subtitles for the Greedo scene have been added, borrowing from Catbus’ Project Threepio in order to match the look and feel of the originals as closely as possible
Removed the added floating CGI droid to the stormtroopers’ search of the streets
Removed the scene between Han Solo and Jabba The Hutt added for the Special Edition, using a wipe transition rather than the original theatrical version’s crossfade in order to retain quality
Thanks to Sir Ridley, a new FX shot depicts the Falcon traveling through hyperspace toward the Death Star, and the following cockpit interior has been updated to correctly appear to be traveling through hyperspace (this was done for continuity with a subsequent change)
Restored blaster damage to the chests of Imperial officers in a few shots which were censored for the Special Edition
Restored the original dianoga
Thanks to laborious work from Sir Ridley, the Falcon’s interior is properly depicted as traveling through hyperspace, with a blue flicker present in the cockpit and through its windows. The establishing shot of the following scene has been gently modified without altering sync to depict the Falcon exiting hyperspace as it approaches Yavin IV.
Recreated the original theatrical timing of the closing iris wipe, avoiding an awkward point at which the frame freezes during the Special Edition version

***Audio Changes, beginning from the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio mix:

As a nod to the original mono mix, the Cantina band can be heard softly outside the Cantina, leading into the point at which the song has progressed when cut into the interior
Used a line from the mono mix as Wedge flies to assist Luke, going from “Blast it, Biggs, where are you,” to “Blast it, Wedge, where are you?”
Added a brief line from the radio drama after Biggs is killed, allowing Luke to react to the death of his friend to provide greater continuity to the scene between the two of them establishing them as friends in the Special Edition

(I have included an alternative audio track that omits the following audio change.)

Altered Kenobi’s line to Luke introducing the lightsaber for continuity with the prequels. Rather than, “Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough,” it now reads, “I wanted you to have this when you were old enough.”

Hal9000’s Custom Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition

(This is Version 5 of this project. The 19SE remains the primary video source, but it has been color corrected using OriginalTrilogy.com’s DrDre’s Color Matching Tool to resemble Adywan’s 1997 SE Reconstruction project. I am very satisfied with the results. DrDre’s tool also allowed me to use Aydwan’s Revisited footage to fix a continuity error introduced in the SE with Cloud City’s window during the ‘Vader dinner’ scene. I also included a 2.0 stereo track which maintains ProLogic II compatibility throughout.)

If the following strikes you as esoteric, I invite you to peruse the forums of Originaltrilogy.com.

First and foremost, credit is due to OohTeeDee for presenting the 1080 and 2019 versions of the film; DrDre for his color matching tool; DrDre and Sir Ridley for providing color correction LUTs for the prior version; Adywan for producing his ‘Revisited’ and ‘1997 SE Reconstruction’ projects; CapableMetal, Jetrell1969, and SilverWook for their combined efforts at making the theatrical DTS audio from the 1997 Special Edition available; ChainsawAsh for encoding a DTS mix; and MalàStrana for assisting with subtitles.

I utilized three video sources for this project: The ‘19SE’ transfer as presented by OohTeeDee, OhTeeDee’s partial OOT restoration (D+80), and Adywan’s ESB: Revisited. The primary audio source is the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio, though audio from Revisited was used for a few scenes, and 2011 BluRay audio for one scene.

This project is presented in 1080p BluRay-compliant video, with DTS and AC3 audio tracks, and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Available as a 1080p BR-compliant mkv, smaller 1080p mp4, and a DVD5.

Here follows a list of changes made to the 19SE starting point for this project.

***Video Changes

Overall color correcton from OohTeeDee
Used wampa escape scene from D+80, save for one shot
Used the conversation between Vader and the Emperor from Adywan’s Revisited, as he essentially honored the content of the original version of the scene while realizing the potential the 2004 DVD version presents.
Removed added CGI sparks to the Cloud City boiler room which I find off-putting
Used Adywan’s Revisited to avoid a continuity error posed by the Special Edition as an expanded cityscape out a Cloud City window disappears a few shots later.
Used D+80 for the shot of our heroes reuniting with R2 in Cloud City to avoid sketchy work in the SE to introduce a skyline and balcony.
Recreated the original pacing of the escape from Cloud City, removing Vader departing for and arriving on his star destroyer, though leaving two brief shots of the shuttle ascending.

***Audio Changes, beginning from the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio mix:

Reinstated Luke’s line to R2 of, “You’re lucky you don’t taste very good.”
Used 2011 BluRay audio to include updated sound design for Slave I during its first appearance to match Episode II.
Removed Luke’s scream from the 1997 mix as he falls down the Cloud City shaft after his confrontation with Vader.

(I have included an alternative audio track that omits the following audio changes.)

Used the 2011 BluRay audio track to use Temeura Morrison’s voice for Boba Fett’s four lines (for v4.1, replaced some of his dialogue using close paraphrases from two video game sources in order to get superior line deliveries).
Altered Ben Kenobi’s description of Yoda from “The Jedi Master who instructed me” to “A Jedi Master who instructed me” for better continuity with the prequels.

Hal9000’s Custom Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi Special Edition

(This is Version 4 of this project. The primary alteration from the prior version is to use OriginalTrilogy.com’s DrDre’s Color Matching Tool to bring the footage used from 4K83 closer to the primary source. A modest overall color correction has been performed, though it remains very similar to OhTeeDee’s color work on the 19SE source material.)

If the following strikes you as esoteric, I invite you to peruse the forums of Originaltrilogy.com.

First and foremost, credit is due to OhTeeDee for presenting the 1983 and 2019 versions of the film; DrDre for his color matching tool; CapableMetal, Jetrell1969, and SilverWook for their combined efforts at making the theatrical DTS audio from the 1997 Special Edition available; Team Negative 1 for producing 4K83; SkyDude for processing the 4K83 release; and ChainsawAsh for encoding a DTS mix.

The primary video source is the 2020 disc release, or “19SE,” first seen on Disney+, color corrected by OhTeeDee. The primary audio source is the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio. Exceptions are described in the list of changes. (Secondary source is the OTD version of ROTJ, partially restored to the theatrical version.)

This project is presented in 1080p BluRay-compliant video, with DTS and AC3 audio tracks, and English, French, and Spanish subtitles.

Available as a 1080p BR-compliant mkv, 720p mp4, and a DVD5.

Here follows a list of changes made to the primary video and audio sources for this project.

***Video Changes, beginning from 19SE transfer:

Overall color correction from OhTeeDee
Used the original theatrical version of the opening logos
Restored the original, sensibly sized door to Jabba’s palace
Restored Lapti Nek, though the SE extension of Oola falling into the Rancor pit remains (two shots of Boba Fett alongside SE singers also remain)
Used the original effects for Han’s carbonite slab thawing
Removed the CGI dug that was added wandering around Jabba’s palace
Removed the SE Sarlacc, with two shots being “despecialized” by RogueLeader
Removed the added gizmos to R2 as he blows his stack after being shot by a trooper on Endor
Removed the SE shockwave to the Death Star explosion using 4K83
Reinstated Sebastian Shaw portraying Anakin Skywalker’s ghost
New subtitles for Huttese have been added, borrowing from Catbus’ Project Threepio in order to match the look and feel of the originals as closely as possible (these are noticeably fuzzier than the crisp subtitles seen on the 2020 disc)

***Audio Changes, beginning from the 1997 Special Edition theatrical DTS audio mix:

Other than changes needed to reflect the visual changes described above, removed the line “Wesa free” from Naboo during the ending galactic celebration montage

(I have included an alternative audio track that omits the following audio changes.)

Replaced some of Boba Fett’s vocalizations during the Sarlacc action sequence to feature Temeura Morrison in keeping with how ESB was redone

***I have included two versions of this project: One with the SE ‘planet montage’ version of the ending, and one that restores the original ‘Yub Nub’ Ewok celebration ending.