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Post #1539068

Author
philraid
Parent topic
Anyone else think Empire Strikes Back's Special Edition is actually better than the Theatrical Cut?
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1539068/action/topic#1539068
Date created
14-May-2023, 11:02 AM

Recently I was wondering if I might be feeling that way, but I think that’s probably just because the special edition (the 2004 one that is) was the version I first saw as a kid. Because when I actually think about a lot of the changes that were made, I don’t think they were improvements. They’re less intrusive than the changes to the other two movies, but that’s not hard to accomplish. If I had a choice between just those three special editions, is it the special edition that I would sit down and watch? Of course it is, but I still don’t think the changes were really needed.
I thought that I liked the changes to Cloud City, but on a recent rewatch I realized that they said in dialogue that Cloud City is supposed to be a small outpost. It doesn’t look like a small outpost in the special edition. Also, the CGI has really dated and looks out of place. Especially the shots of people standing around listening to Lando talking on the speaker.
The Emperor change in theory makes sense, but the execution is inconsistent with Return of the Jedi since it’s Revenge of the Sith Ian McDiarmid. There was something a little more ominous and mysterious about the original Emperor even though it is a different looking person. Also the dialogue makes much more sense in the original version.
Boba Fett’s voice change I can sort of understand for consistency with Attack of the Clones, but again, I don’t think the execution was great. Plus Jason Wingreen’s voice was perfect for the character. I like Temuera Morrison, but his delivery doesn’t even compare.
The only change I might keep (and this might surprise some people) is the Wampa scene. I remember that scene freaking me out when I first saw it as a kid, so I might keep that in there for nostalgic reasons. Watching it again, it doesn’t look too out of place (at least compared to these other changes), although it is ultimately unnecessary.
The only addition that I would say is an improvement is fixing some of the matte lines on the ships, but I don’t really care all that much about minor details like that. The movie’s over 40 years old, it’s okay for there to be a few technical mistakes here and there.
So overall, I would say the theatrical version is still better.