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Info Wanted: Looking for a “middle-ground” edit of the Original Trilogy.

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 (Edited)

Now, this is a slightly specific post, but what I’m looking for is a fan-altered version of the Theatrical Original Trilogy that includes the minor visual effects improvements and digital cleanups of the Special Editions, without all the clunky inserted scenes and CGI rubbish. Examples of what I mean include:

  • Added subtitle of “EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE”.

  • English text repalced with Aurebesh.

  • Prison Hallway Matte replaced/repositioned.

  • Re-colored lightsabers during and slightly after the Vader - Kenobi duel.

  • New outside look of the Yavin IV Rebel Base replacing the old Matte.

  • Rebel Officers Matte replaced with real people during the ending ceremony of ANH.

  • Black R2 recolored blue.

  • Recomposited and digitally cleaned up Snowspeeders from Hoth.

  • Improved Jabba goons walking on the top of the Sail Barge.

  • Recomposited starfighters and spaceships during the Yavin and Endor space battles.

These are just the more noticeable improvements I can remember off the top of my head (there’s probably more minor ones I can’t remember haha). As someone who’s grown up with the Special Editions and vehemently hates the new CGI additions, I struggle to watch the Despecialized Versions without noticing the VFX errors that are a product of the time. I’m hoping that there’s a fan edit or fan revisited version of the OT that cleans up these errors while also keeping the heart of the theatricals in-tact! If you could point me in the direction of any fan-made versions that accomplish this task, it would be great! Cheers!

Use the Force, Joh Yowza.

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Seconding Adywan’s work.

For seventeen years the renegade Pfhor scoutship jumped between the closely packed stars of the galactic core. And all over the ship, dancing through the wreckage of the Pfhor computer core, Durandal was laughing…

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It sounds like Adywan’s Revisited edits might do more to alter the movies than our OP is looking for. If that’s the case, then I second the recommendation for Hal 9000’s “Custom SE” edits.

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Movies Remastered said:

Adywan’s attention to detail was one of the main reason I got into fan editing. I strongly recommend his work. Phenomenal stuff!

The fact that he built and filmed new sets, miniatures, actors, and props like Han frozen in carbonite still blows me away. Plus it was all to keep some of the Special Edition improvements, while getting rid of the over the top new stuff, then including his own new stuff to better improve what Lucas gave us. Def can’t wait for ROTJ. Don’t believe hes going with Yub Nub either sadly. Which is a fav of mine too

Muclunkey!
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/The-Prequel-Trilogy-Revised-Trailer/id/70831

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The fact that he built and filmed new sets, miniatures, actors, and props like Han frozen in carbonite still blows me away. Plus it was all to keep some of the Special Edition improvements, while getting rid of the over the top new stuff, then including his own new stuff to better improve what Lucas gave us. Def can’t wait for ROTJ. Don’t believe hes going with Yub Nub either sadly. Which is a fav of mine too

I have MAJOR respect for Adywan on what he did (his videos lead me here), but his revisited films go a little overboard for my tastes. His new Alderaan explosion doesn’t hold up all that great, and trying to make the Ben Kenobi - Vader Duel “more epic” just doesn’t work all that well for me. Hal9000’s edits for A New Hope & Empire Strikes Back are great, and really accomplish the task I’m looking for. I think for Return of the Jedi I’ll stick with 4K83 or Harmy’s Despecialized ROTJ, as my main issues with the OT’s VFX lie in Hope and Empire, not so much Jedi (apart from the Jabba Goons on the Sail Barge and the Emperor’s Slugs, but they can be overlooked). That’s the beauty of fan-edits, isn’t it? You can pick and chose which to watch!

Use the Force, Joh Yowza.

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Hoop28 said:

The fact that he built and filmed new sets, miniatures, actors, and props like Han frozen in carbonite still blows me away. Plus it was all to keep some of the Special Edition improvements, while getting rid of the over the top new stuff, then including his own new stuff to better improve what Lucas gave us. Def can’t wait for ROTJ. Don’t believe hes going with Yub Nub either sadly. Which is a fav of mine too

I have MAJOR respect for Adywan on what he did (his videos lead me here), but his revisited films go a little overboard for my tastes. His new Alderaan explosion doesn’t hold up all that great, and trying to make the Ben Kenobi - Vader Duel “more epic” just doesn’t work all that well for me. Hal9000’s edits for A New Hope & Empire Strikes Back are great, and really accomplish the task I’m looking for. I think for Return of the Jedi I’ll stick with 4K83 or Harmy’s Despecialized ROTJ, as my main issues with the OT’s VFX lie in Hope and Empire, not so much Jedi (apart from the Jabba Goons on the Sail Barge and the Emperor’s Slugs, but they can be overlooked). That’s the beauty of fan-edits, isn’t it? You can pick and chose which to watch!

Yea im hoping he tones back some things on his ANH:HD edit but really love his Empire one. So i can def see where you are coming from. And yes agree on the fan edits too, i know a lot of people with differing views on what they like and or would change, if anything. Couple of my friends are purist and not at alllll into any edits haha even Lucas edits lol

Muclunkey!
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/The-Prequel-Trilogy-Revised-Trailer/id/70831

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Hoop28 said:
… but his revisited films go a little overboard for my tastes.

Yes, but most of these things are being reigned in for the ANH:HD release.

For seventeen years the renegade Pfhor scoutship jumped between the closely packed stars of the galactic core. And all over the ship, dancing through the wreckage of the Pfhor computer core, Durandal was laughing…