asterisk8 said:

.Mac. said:

Their purpose is for a little extra detail and excitement

I think this deserves to be repeated. Let's not let reality get too far in the way of entertainment. I want to watch ESB:R and say, "YEAAAHHH!" not, "Those speeder flaps are conforming to the laws of physics perfectly." This is art and entertainment, not a documentary.

Totally, all the flashes and bangs and what not are what give the OT it's exhileration. I also like when ANH just cuts to white frames. I don't care what the EU explanation is for them being there.

But I still contend that that particular flash was a mistake and not a deliberate visual flourish like all the rest. Like I said earlier, I haven't come to that conclusion recently, 5-10 year old me in the 80s thought it stood out as an error, even on a blurry and worn-out 4:3 hometaped VHS.