"It's the same movie, just enhanced bigger and better."
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The changes, Sherak insists, are subtle but still "amazing stuff."
Snarky Jedi SE review:
'Star Wars' looks different as trilogy returns
IS GEORGE LUCAS TAMPERING WITH HISTORY?
....paywalled unfortunately....
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/03/business/the-old-star-wars-gets-some-new-looks.html
Two decades' worth of dust has been brushed off the film and the static has been removed from the soundtrack. These changes have been welcomed by fans and film historians, unlike the four and a half minutes of new special effects. The changes to the film have some cheering, but purists wonder whether technology should be used to alter the classic.
''I'm a little bit leery about the insertion of new creatures into the film,'' said Vivian Sobchack, professor of critical studies of film at the University of California at Los Angeles.
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''In Star Wars, there are basically four different movies now -- great and bad old effects, and great and bad new effects,'' said Edward D. Sullivan, a freelance writer who previewed Star Wars.
*omit*
Steve Williams, visual effects supervisor and the animator on the new Jabba-Han Solo scene, put the changes in the film into perspective. ''George is just flexing his muscles in this one,'' he said, explaining that this was an experiment before the real work begins on the prequels to the Star Wars saga.
That might be something to track down, when did the public first latch onto the 'Han shot first' thing. Those above are quotes of people remarking on the changes and how that affects the as seen in '77 film. But the 4.5 minutes are generally commented as being 'cosmetic'.