CP3S said:

You are still talking about using modern special effects technology on an old film.

but modern digital cleanup tools are totally fine? My argument is that if you approve of one you logically have to approve of the other. Digital recompositing where possible is not only desireable, its mandatory. Why would you limit your ability to improve on what are basically enforced degradations? If you can get the separate elements you MUST recomp them. You're doing a disservice to the original effects artists by not allowing their cinematography and craftsmanship to be seen as perfectly as it can be. Most effects artists of the time will tell you how much they *hated* the final results. We want the live action cinematographer's work to be seen unimpeded by dirt or other artifacts. Why don't we also want the same for the effects crew? If we applied your arguments to restoring the OOT there wouldn't be any restoration. What about how the film is displayed? They didn't have digital projectors or LCD screens in 1977 either. Would the movie only be available as a 35mm print? Would we all have to invest in 35mm film projectors to "remain true to the conditions in which the film was made" ?