Okay, what did we LIKE about the Special Editions? — Page 7

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Originally posted by: Bossk
A lot of people will realize that they are not the OT. And they may be turned off enough to sell them. However, the vast majority truly does not know the difference and will keep them anyway. Yet that small number of people who do sell may provide enough catalyst for people who don't know the difference to investigate and see why they are being sold and then realize that they do not have the true version.

One can hope...

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The 1997 German 35mm Prints show just how good the 1997 looked in cinemas it was incredible.

Every new release has been worse than the last.

1997 Special Edition trilogy had Greedo shoot first, and Wingreen as Boba Fett voice and original Emperor scene. And Seb Shaw as Anakin as a Force Ghost.

It was far more acceptable to me than the version that has Hayden, Tem as Fett, and the awful Revenge of the Sith Emperor in Empire Strikes Back. But of course, you still have alert my star destroyer instead of bring my shuttle.

Then in 2011 Lucas had to add awful Vader yelling noooo!, R2-D2 behind rocks, the ridiculous cgi door at Jabba’s, and blinking Ewoks. The new Krayt Dragon yell and so many other pointless changes. I also missed the other dumb 2004 ones like Jar Jar saying Weesa Free and a Dug in Jabba’s palace. Adding the Jedi temple is relatively minor and coruscant was added already in 1997.

screams in the void said:

Director said:

screams in the void said:

Director said:

“The special editions were not that bad, but people insult them because after the release of the VHS/LaserDisc/DVD of the 1997 Special Edition”

Well ,the 97 Special Edition was never released on DVD , but even further changes were made to the movies in 2004 for the DVD debut of the OT , and then again in 2011 for the blu ray , and again in 2019 for D+

" people realised the original versions will never be re-released again."…you got that right , its the reason this here site exists .

and the 2006 DVDs were a slap in the face

The Special editon was released on DVD, but not many have the DVDs of them.

^ Ummm…no . The 1997 Special editions were never officially released on DVD .There are bootlegs floating around out there that look like official product , but they are just that…bootlegs , mostly using the 97 special edition laser discs as a source .

Yeah those “Five Star Collection” DVDs that even put “Anamorphic Widecreen” on the front covers even though they were using NON-anamorphic wisdescreen LD versions.

Yep Fake DTS 5.1 mix too because they didn’t have the CDS to work from or a way to extract the audio.

They are factory pressed bootlegs, but the cover art printed on the discs does look printed nothing like a real disc would, and the misspellings and obviously computer printed cover tells you all you need to know.

The only official Asian copies were on VCD prior to 2004 that weren’t on VHS or laserdisc.

I have the official VCD.

Most of these 5 Star Collection shipped in nothing but a sleeve or envelope with the cover, not in a DVD case that tells you all you need to know.

Here’s some of the changes I like…

1. The expanded entrance into Mos Eisley. It really changes the tone of the original film’s first act, because Obi-Wan & Luke hiding out in a bigger place would make it harder for the Stormtroopers to find them.

2. The improved X-Wings during the Battle of Yavin. Most of the older models still hold up extremely well, but its still awesome that they included some new angles along with added lasers and such. It makes the whole sequence feel less repetitive from a visual standpoint.

3. Both enhanced explosions for the Death Stars. Some have nicknamed them as the “Praxis effect”, referring to the opening of “Star Trek VI”. But I think what was done in the Special Editions was even more impressive.

4. No more matte lines or transparent cockpits during the Battle of Hoth. The ships look much more realistic that way.

5. The expanded approach to Cloud City, and the windows added to the interiors. The original version just looked too obvious that it was filmed on a confined set.

6. Ian McDiarmid being added in as the Emperor’s hologram, though I personally wish they’d have made him look as he appeared in “Return of the Jedi”.

7. The alien “beak” and tentacles added to the Sarlaac Pit sequence. The original version just wasn’t too threatening; it was an open mouth with teeth and little else. Having the creature attack our heroes added some necessary tension.

8. John Williams’ new music for the ending on Endor, with all the other planets shown celebrating as well. The original “Yub Nub” song was okay as a kid, but as I grew up it became annoying to me.

9. Hayden Christensen being added as Anakin’s ghost. I know a lot of people will disagree, but since the prequels were still being made at the time and George wanted different things to rhyme, it made some sense for the narrative. Its not like she completely reshot Sebastian Shaw’s “dying Vader” scene; that would’ve been completely disrespectful by comparison.