Complete Comparison of Special Edition Visual Changes — Page 13

Yeah, that was actually the one who made me suspect they had recomped all lightsabers in this sequence, but I'm still not sure about them all to be honest, so you should not take what I suspected as fact, doubleofive. ;) and you picked the wrong chasm-matte pics, the 2nd and 3rd are identical, the first have a quite visible seam.

Here is what I mean, the two shots after this one uses a slightly better composite.

and as I stated on the last page, the remote laser color glitch is 2004 exclusive. I think this also means that the "tractor beam shaft" mattepainting is the only one left alone, am I right? Thank you Mr. Ellenshaw! ;)

I looked at both saber scenes frame-by-frame stacked on top. While the SE lacks the crackling, the blade is always the same basic shape as the original. I believe the crackling and odd blade shape like that is something coming from the optical compositing, which they didn't recreate when they redid it digitally. I'm not saying nothing was done to it, but then my descriptions say as much. All of the shots of Luke are like that (there's only 4 or 5). The saber battle I did not go through, but may have to grab some examples from there.

The wide shots seem to have all new blades, just like every laser blast is brand new.

1997 has the white laser blast in color? The hard drive I had my 97SE on is dumb, can anyone grab that for me?

Still confused on the matte (it's early). So I have one that wasn't changed, one that was, and I'm missing the other?

I see the matte thing. There's also a slight camera move in the SE. Adding it, and I'm going to post some more lightsaber shots here.

EDIT: Going through the Vader/Obi-wan duel now. Lightsabers definitely recomped, definitely original elements (same flicker/flaws). Also every saber clash flash is redone from the original element. More good stuff here.

EDIT2: First part is going up. Check it out!

Here you go, 1997 SE

and I really don't think you should begin to cover these color issues, because they are everywhere! and you know that, and then you will never be done with this. ;) But that's just my opinion, I just mentioned it earlier to demonstrate how color can switch from scene to scene in these DVD transfers, someone basically sat and played with the color values when making these, so having those color issues on this list is just wrong IMO when they aren't changes per se, there's also a few color glitches on some optical effects in the GOUT, but nothing like the '04 DVD fiasco. Here's a few more subtle color issues, some will not notice them at first glance, but when you're familiar with the colortiming of these films, this really distract you.

a few moments later, the correct green coloring lights on R2 is back

this one, maybe isn't that subtle, but it's one of those before and after shots, just a second apart from each other

And so on... this is how it goes on in the whole film. Some are subtle but when it happens when a lightsaber are on screen, it doesn't get so subtle anymore. That's why you have blue lightsaber turned green, blue lightsaber turned purple and blue lightsaber turned white etc. at least that's my theory. But that's just the color issue, you could basically write a book on all the horrible problems with these DVD's, everything went wrong.

About that chasm-matte, you have three shots of the chasm, the first shot of the chasm is from a slightly different angle, but the same painting is used on all three, that's why the mattepainting didn't lign up so good on that first one as on the other two. Sorry for not explaining it better the first time around. ;) Nice eye, doubleofive! didn't notice that little pan, it must be related to that matte problem.

Different colors between scenes I won't cover, but that remote blows my mind. They rebuilt the entire shot from the original elements, but somehow LOST THE COLOR for the DVD? Crazy!

And that chasm matte having motion, I actually paused the video and swore out loud. I literally added 70 images to the already huge ANH album in the last two days. And there's still more to add! I'm eager to check on the ESB saber flashes.

Nice job, doubleofive! Those saber impact flashes in the battle looks horrible in the DVD, if you look carefully, you can see they only have the core left, and a very dull core that is, what happened to the outer glow? they don't even look like flashes, more like a light-green mess.

Also, all those Vader vs. Obi-Wan changes are 2004 alterations, I compared the '97 transfer with your finds and the flashes are identical to the original film in that one.

zombie84 said:

Here is my rationale to reconcile this: the ANH sabers were largely in-camera. Unlike ESB and ROTJ, the sabers in the first film used reflective blue-screen-like material to produce the glow in-camera. In post, they realised it wasn't enough so they added the coloured feather-glow. So, the glowing cores aren't an effect--they are right on the original raw camera negative. So when you start layering on other elements and re-rotoscoping them, you still have the same flickering cores, because that was actually photographed in real life. My  2 cents.

That is exactly what's going on. You actually see the rotating material underneath in many scenes, more so in the SE.

I know the Falcon saber and battle saber was photographed that way, but what about the cantina saber and Ben's hut?

zombie84 said:

And Msycamore, I have never noticed those colour inconsistencies (but maybe because the only time I watch the 2004 SE is to take frame grabs to show how shitty it is).

That's what I did. ;) But seriously, those are everywhere. They really had fun when they did this DVD set.

Oh gracious, the flashes are 2004 changes? Cripes, this is getting out of hand!

Yes, they are. That scene didn't go through any alterations in '97. Here's comparison pic 149 as it's always nice to see it for yourself.

1997 SE (aspect ratio isn't entirely correct on this one, manually adjusted)

If you want to cover more of those saber-flashes, you also have the later wide shots of that battle etc.

Wow, so the sabers weren't recomped in 1997. They DID put some effort into 2004!

Yeah, I'll get the rest of the battle later.

No, they weren't, but I wouldn't call the '04 alterations an effort. ;)

Edit: Here you have an example of the original sabers in the '97SE

To me it looks like they just altered Obi-Wan's saber in 2004 not Vader's, I may be wrong though...

I just wanna say that the work you guys are putting into these comparisons is very appreciated. I've been showing this stuff to friends who aren't members of this site (yet) and your efforts are appreciated even outside of the borders of this forum.

Keep up the good work!

Glad to help out! There is apparently still so much to be done...

It was probably recomped using the original elements. I'll add it!

Yes, that one above is a great example of the redone holograms, no scanlines and a different angle on the projection light.

You can see those animated little sparks a little better on the JSC.

As doubleofive said, they probably recomped it along with the hologram which is clearly a recomp. Nice little find, we need more people to help spot these little things.