Erikstormtrooper said:
Mr. Ghostface,
What are your thoughts on the official Special Editions (either the 1997 or 2004 versions)?
Well, now there's a question. I'm almost out of time right now, but I'll elaborate later. Generally speaking, I thought most of the changes to Star Wars were pretty good, but one or two are downright awful. Both CGI Jabbas are dreadful, although the 2004 version is leagues above the 1997 one. That scene adds absolutely nothing to the narrative and should have stayed on the cutting room floor. The reinserted scene with Luke and Biggs was welcome, but seeing as it was damaged there is the dreadful masking near the end with the tech guy walking in front. It should have been kept out, too. The new CGI models were for the most part very nice, but then they look glaringly inconsistent with the traditional model shots that weren't replaced.
Empire, thankfully, had the least done to it. The new CG shots just before and during the Bespin scenes are very nice. The Wampa looks great, too, but I feel the inserted shots break the momentum of the original edit. And again, why replace some but not others? That's just asking for trouble.
As for Jedi, well, I think the original movie is deeply flawed anyway, by far the weakest of the three. So as much as I don't like the changes much (Jedi Rocks!) they don't really spoil my experience of the movie, which I never really liked.
Adywan is absolutely spot on with the issues he has with the colour.
I'll add more later.