as to shadows, the SE2004 and original have inconsistent shadows in these two shots.
light is coming from top left if we're looking from behind, but the gas giant underside is lit, when the death star isn't bit silly.I might reverse the orientation of the planet so it's at the bottom of the shot instead. making the shadows more consistent.
at the moment, the camera on the first shot matches the ORIGINAL star wars, not the SE. in the original, it was a static establishing shot and remained so even when the fighters flew past. as was the reverse frontal shot. I'm going to have to introduce some movement I think otherwise like you say, it feels odd.