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Is the 1997 Special Edition important?

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 (Edited)

I’ve been going back and forth on this question for a little bit.

On the one hand, it’s the last time the Star Wars trilogy had a big theatrical re-release, it’s the last time a big effort was made into changing the film (imo), and it’s the version that the O-Neg’s conform to.

On the other hand, it’s neither the original version nor the latest edition, which with Lucas gone will most likely stand as the final version of the trilogy, for better or worse. Basically it’s just a stepping stone that only those who saw it at the pictures when they were young care about.

Thoughts?

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The fact that it was the last major re-release of the movies in theaters is reason enough to consider it important.

Like I’ve said before, if the OT were ever to get the Blade Runner treatment it honestly wouldn’t bother me if the ‘04 and ‘11 versions were jettisoned. They could easily be branched onto the same disc as the ‘97 version (just as the ‘92 Blade Runner was branched onto the same disc as the ‘82 cuts), but the ‘97 version takes priority. It’s the first and still the most significant round of revisions to the films. It’s what got us into this whole mess in the first place, which gives it historical value. For seven years it was the final version of the films, George’s “vision,” until he changed it again while finishing up the PT. The stuff he introduced in ‘04 like TPM Jabba, Temuera’s voice as Boba and Hayden as Anakin’s ghost reminds many viewers of movies they don’t like while they’re trying to enjoy movies they do, and the ‘97 cuts at least take advantage of cgi without actively reminding the viewer “hey, this trilogy is part of a longer saga now.” Even if the SE was created in large part because the PT was right around the corner, it’s still a pre-PT version.

But at the same time, I acknowledge that any change to the content of these movies is going to put off fans of the OT as it existed originally. Had the SE been basically the same films we remembered, maybe with just the fx shots re-comp’d and the wipes re-done, this site wouldn’t exist. But since they decided to flat out erase the groundbreaking vfx work of many talented artists in order to “modernize” these movies, any improvements that come along with that is soured. I didn’t even get into the Han and Greedo / “Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival” / Jedi Rocks of it all.

The ‘97 version was the expensive $20 million restoration of Star Wars even if it introduced a lot of changes we don’t like. It was the first time I saw the OT on the big screen after only seeing it on tv throughout the early-to-mid 90’s via home video and USA network airings. I was eleven, and don’t remember noticing Greedo shooting first until I saw it again almost a year later on letterboxed vhs! I wasn’t hip to internet fan culture at the time (we didn’t even have internet until late ‘97, and that was 28k dial-up), so I don’t think it even dawned on me how big of a deal that particular alteration was until I saw Ben Affleck commenting on it in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

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Seven years is plenty of time for a first-time viewer to become a devoted fan, so yes. Also interesting that it’s the one version never to be released on DVD.

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darklordoftech said:

Seven years is plenty of time for a first-time viewer to become a devoted fan, so yes. Also interesting that it’s the one version never to be released on DVD.

Were the 2011 DVDs BD editions or were they still 2004? I forgot.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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LexX said:

darklordoftech said:

Seven years is plenty of time for a first-time viewer to become a devoted fan, so yes. Also interesting that it’s the one version never to be released on DVD.

Were the 2011 DVDs BD editions or were they still 2004? I forgot.

BD editions.

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 (Edited)

Where are all the 1997 Special Edition fans? 😉
 

They would be quite useful in voicing their opinion that this version should be preserved and released on a modern format!

Which is quite easy and cheap to do… with Disney+ being a free and viable platform to showcase these particular versions - upon which the 2019 Special Edition release is based on - in 4K quality.

So, basically there is a beautiful 4K print of the 1997 Special Edition available, with no additional work to do, ready for release…
 

And then, if there is then enough demand for a physical release of the 1997 Special Editions…
 

Those 20th Anniversary versions of the Original Trilogy are “the Final Cut” after all, according to George himself 😉

The version of the films he released in the cinemas in 1997 with much publicity & fanfare - and also made hundreds of millions of $$$s from around the world from in cinema ticket sales alone…

For some fans, the 1997 Special Editions are both memorable and exceptional in their own right, and they certainly performed very well at the box office outperforming some very notable movies:-

20 Years Ago, ‘Star Wars: Special Edition’ Made ‘Star Wars’ Special Again - a 2017 article at the Forbes website.
 

George spent a lot of time and effort justifying the changes he made at the time, and since, yet never made this ‘Final Cut’ version available on a digital or HD format since.

It is high time to change that… and also officially release the 1997 special Editions in 4K quality!

 

(Plus, a few preservatioinsits on here wouldn’t mind getting their hands on 4K quality 1997 Special Edition release - to use as a base for an unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy movies…)
 

50 Cent is just an imposter

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I was born in April 1995. I do not remember the first time I saw Star Wars. All I do know is that when the 97 SE (Fullscreen) trilogy set released in the UK my Dad bought it immediately. I do not remember seeing Star Wars. By the time I was 3 and able to form long-term memories, I already KNEW Star Wars.

That 97 VHS set sits on my bookcase pride of place. Star Wars and RoTJ are both pristine (Though I loved them both dearly) but the slipcover for Empire is all beat-up because the tape was rarely in the slipcover - it lived in my VCR.

They are not perfect - and I love the original theatrical versions - but the 97SE films are MY Star Wars. I hope beyond hope for a proper 4K97 treatment for all 3 films.

Thank you for attending my TED Talk.

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 (Edited)

V.I.N.Cent said:

Where are all the 1997 Special Edition fans? 😉
 

They would be quite useful in voicing their opinion that this version should be preserved and released on a modern format!

Which is quite easy and cheap to do… with Disney+ being a free and viable platform to showcase these particular versions - upon which the 2019 Special Edition release is based on - in 4K quality.

So, basically there is a beautiful 4K print of the 1997 Special Edition available, with no additional work to do, ready for release…
 

And then, if there is then enough demand for a physical release of the 1997 Special Editions…
 

Those 20th Anniversary versions of the Original Trilogy are “the Final Cut” after all, according to George himself 😉

The version of the films he released in the cinemas in 1997 with much publicity & fanfare - and also made hundreds of millions of $$$s from around the world from in cinema ticket sales alone…

For some fans, the 1997 Special Editions are both memorable and exceptional in their own right, and they certainly performed very well at the box office outperforming some very notable movies:-

20 Years Ago, ‘Star Wars: Special Edition’ Made ‘Star Wars’ Special Again - a 2017 article at the Forbes website.
 

George spent a lot of time and effort justifying the changes he made at the time, and since, yet never made this ‘Final Cut’ version available on a digital or HD format since.

It is high time to change that… and also officially release the 1997 special Editions in 4K quality!

 

(Plus, a few preservatioinsits on here wouldn’t mind getting their hands on 4K quality 1997 Special Edition release - to use as a base for an unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy movies…)
 

If someone wants to make a “Respecialized Edition” 2.0 they could use the '19 cut as a high quality source for the Y-Wings disappearing too early in the one shot of the Death Star attack. So that’s a plus. And we have the proper “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” for that version.

Luke astro-projects himself to Salt Lake Planet, gets shot at by gorilla walkers, has a non-lightsaber duel with Darth Millennial, then dies of a broken heart, inspiring broom boys throughout the galaxy to get creative with their sweeping. - DuracellEnergizer

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I saw them in high school so they have a certain nostalgia, though i find nearly every single change objectionable. Except for restoring the picture, removing matte lines and expanding and restoring the sound of the films for multi track digital audio. I’m sympathetic to fixing the Landspeeder shot, but very little beyond that. The dinosaurs in the city are a joke. The quasi videogamey 90’s effects don’t hold up one bit.
The Jabba scene relays the same exact information as the Greedo scene. Preserve it for those who want the 1997 cut. I also want the original version of Phantom Menace so i can finally retire my Laserdisc.

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JadedSkywalker said:

I saw them in high school so they have a certain nostalgia, though i find nearly every single change objectionable. Except for restoring the picture, removing matte lines and expanding and restoring the sound of the films for multi track digital audio. I’m sympathetic to fixing the Landspeeder shot, but very little beyond that. The dinosaurs in the city are a joke. The quasi videogamey 90’s effects don’t hold up one bit.
The Jabba scene relays the same exact information as the Greedo scene. Preserve it for those who want the 1997 cut. I also want the original version of Phantom Menace so i can finally retire my Laserdisc.

I’d love to see the '97 versions be properly preserved. I’ve been dying for it for YEARS man. Same with Phantom Menace. The closest we have other than ZigZig’s LD upscale and his PAL SDTV cap is Adywan’s version which uses outdated LD footage (in the sense we have better upscales) and it still has one or two shots from the original DVD release. I still greatly prefer the theatrical pacing/audio though. Apparently ZigZig got his hands on a 35mm print so fingers crossed on that one.

TN1 plans on doing scans of the '97 cut after the 4kxx projects are done. I’m excited for those as well.

As a response to OP, the '97 cut is important because it was widely theatrically released for the 20th Anniversary. It was also released to satiate our appetite before the prequels were released. And they’re the only versions we don’t have proper a HD preservation of yet. For that reason alone they’re important.

Luke astro-projects himself to Salt Lake Planet, gets shot at by gorilla walkers, has a non-lightsaber duel with Darth Millennial, then dies of a broken heart, inspiring broom boys throughout the galaxy to get creative with their sweeping. - DuracellEnergizer

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I grew up during the mid 1990’s Star Wars Renaissance so as a young kid this era was for me what 1977-1983 was for the generation before me. In my lifetime thus far, this was the most exciting time to be a Star Wars fan. I would often watch the films casually when they aired on Sci-Fi or whatever in the earlier 90s, but the Special Edition campaign and all of the hype surrounding it was what turned me into a ride or die Star Wars nerd for the rest of my childhood. I saw all 3 Special Editions in the theater as they were released and My mom bought me the Faces box set for my 9th Birthday in March of 1997. I’m honestly surprised that I even got the SE VHS Trilogy the following Christmas, as my parents were generally the type who didn’t see the point of owning more than one version of the same movie in the pre DVD era.

I remember for several years into the late 90s the Faces tapes were still readily available at a lot of places so I proudly displayed both on my shelf and never really thought much more into it until sometime in 2000 whenever the first re-release of the SEs came out on VHS with no mention of them being the SE on the box. It was during this time that I noticed all video rental chains which had previously stocked both versions in mass quantities were now only stocking the SE exclusively.

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Is the Holiday Special Important?

Take some time, it’ll come to you…

He big in nothing important in good elephant.

"Miss you, I will, Original Trilogy..."

"Your midichlorians are weak, Old man." -Darth Vader 2007 super deluxe extra special dipped in chocolate sauce edition.

http://prequelsstink.ytmnd.com/
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if Disney wont give us the original edition then why not give us the 1997 special edition there better then what we have now

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If one is to use the ‘preservation of film history’ argument, then yes, to be consistent, the 97 SE is important.

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For the eventual Blade Runner-esque “Final Cut” boxed set we’ll never get but I’d like to see:

Star Wars (Original Theatrical version)
97 Special Edition
2019 Special Edition
Special Edition-Lite version (mostly just recomposited special effects, no new scenes, etc.)

I can live without the 04 and 11 Special Edition versions as they are already readily available on disc.

So to answer your question, yes the '97 Special Edition is important. It was the way many people saw it in the theater for the first time.

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It sure is. They saved a pretty penny on that Phantom Menace budget thanks to it.

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The 1997 versions were what my family rented from the video store when I was a kid, so I do have a lot of nostalgia for those versions of the films. Since they never made the jump to DVD, despite supposedly being George’s “final cuts,” they now exist in this awkward limbo state, and will likely keep on fading into obscurity, but I’d definitely like to see them preserved in some form as a sort of curiosity. Because, despite the many poor decisions George made with them, they were a landmark in the history of the franchise, for better or worse.

But we can’t turn back. Fear is their greatest defense. I doubt if the actual security there is any greater than it was on Aquilae or Sullust. And what there is is most likely directed towards a large-scale assault.

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I think they’re absolutely important. They allowed ILM the opportunity to practice inserting then-relatively-new CGI into live action shots and (and create entire shots out of CGI) so they could perfect their skills for the prequels, which as we all know would end up using a lot…A LOT…of CGI. I think the backlash towards the prequels overshadowed the fact that they were important leaps forward for CGI technology in cinema, and paved the way for the recent CGI-heavy blockbusters like the MCU films (whether or not that’s a good thing is subjective). The point is, the 1997 Special Editions were perhaps almost as influential on modern (as of late 2019-early 2020) Hollywood as the original versions were.

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe they were also the last time Ben Burtt personally worked on the audio mixes before handing the torch over to Matthew Wood for the 2004 DVDs, which is why the 2004-present mixes of ANH sound, to put it lightly, nothing like the original and not in a good way.

I hate the Disney Channel Live Action Universe

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 (Edited)

They are, and ideally I’d want it to also be preserved. But that said, if they released box sets of the theatrical versions and the 2019 versions from now on, I wouldn’t feel as strongly about its preservation as I do about the unaltered movies and as I would if the 2019 versions were erased.

Reading R + L ≠ J theories

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If you think about it if they didnt do the SE in the first place theyd probably take longer in restoring the films cause in the SE documentary that you can find on youtube they showed a picture of the un restored negative and it didnt look so good. So although I hate the SE its pretty important.

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It wasn’t a restoration though. They cut up and butchered the negative to conform it to the 1997 edit. The original effects were replaced by either recomped or new cgi shots.

Nobody would be complaining if all they did was restore the faded color, created a new faithful multi track digital mix. Or replaced that Landspeeder shot with vaseline on the lens.

Imagine if Han did not shoot second, if he was the only one who fired.

So many unforced errors, like the worse cgi X-wing shots instead of the original motion control photography.

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I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one that likes the 1997 SE versions.
I got to see Star Wars & Empire in 77 & 80 but never got to see Jedi in theaters until 97.
This was such an exciting time for me in my early 20’s & I saw each film multiple times in the theater.
I don’t have to like all the changes, but I remember the feeling I had being able to see the Trilogy on the big screen again.

I sometimes watch the SE trailers on YouTube.

I’ve been able to find copies of Harmy’s ReSpecialized and another version of Empire in the 97 SE format.

Hope to get Jedi in its 97 SE format someday as well.

Yes, the 97 SE versions are important.

I hope others feel the same & a 4K project happens!