Which one do you all like more, 1997 SE or 2004 SE?

Author: Director
Time: 8-Jan-2026 5:19 AM
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The title explains it.
I personally would pick the 1997 SE. it is much better with the colours, and the 2004 changes are mostly bad in my opinion, I don’t like the 2004-present hologram of Palpatine, since it looks bad, especially since that’s not his RotJ appearance. I also obviously don’t like the young Anakin at the ending of RotJ, and I hate how the sound mix is in 2004 SE.

-Director
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Author: SonnyGFunk
Time: 8-Jan-2026 5:59 AM (Edited)
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I’d agree that the 1997 SE is better in pretty much every way. The only positives to the 2004 SE over 1997 is the Han “Yes I’ll bet you have” line being added back in and the updated Jabba in ANH and no Luke scream in TESB.

Author: NitroBob
Time: 8-Jan-2026 7:22 PM
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Agreed, the 97 edition is better and also more interesting to me.

Author: JadedSkywalker
Time: 9-Jan-2026 11:39 AM (Edited)
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1997 had better color in the theatrical prints. It had a better overall audio mix. I liked the Clive Revill was still the voice of the Emperor and Jason Wingreen the voice of Boba Fett. Also Sebastian Shaw is Anakin in the ghost scene.

Hate Jedi Rocks, hate Victory Celebration. 1997 Jabba is terrible. I prefer the redo in 2004 for Jabba if he has to be there at all. Did not like Luke’s scream in the 1997 edit.

Hayden Anakin Skywalker added in 2004 is one of the worst ever changes. But the 2011 is even worse. Blinking Ewoks, rocks in front of Artoo. New Krayt Dragon call. Big cgi door at Jabba’s.

I don’t like how Gungans were added to the Special Edition, I don’t like the Dugg in Jabba’s palace. I hate Vader yelling noooo on death star II.

I do not mind, I might actually like seeing the Jedi temple on coruscant. I like Luke hugging wedge from the 1997 cut.

Which years all these additions come from Is a jumbled memory.

I don’t mind cleaned up matte lines or fixing misaligned rotoscope or recomposites. it’s not intended to be the original originals.

which changes would I reverse. I would remove Hayden Skywalker from Return of the Jedi, would restore Lapti Nek and Yub Yub. Vader would not yell nooo. Vader would say bring my shuttle in Empire, again. I’d undo all the post 1997 changes to ESB except removing Luke’s scream.

And In ANH or Star Wars as I call it, Han would the only one who fires in the Cantina. The blaster burns on the soldiers on the death star would be restored.