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ROTJ is worse than I remember. — Page 2

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Mostly, I hate the transfers because of the horrible treatment of the lightsabers and several shots that simply lack any color, like when the snowspeeders blow up the downed AT-AT in ESB (the explosion use to be so red). So many random errors in the video presentation. Sure, some of it looks great, incredible even, but there's such an unevenness, I can't believe these were actually released as the finished DVDs.

But I respect your opinion on them.
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I didn't notice, as I was half asleep when I watched ESB.

And there is this really ugly yellow radiation stain that runs diagonally up my 30inch Magnavox and becomes a 12inch blur in the middle of the screen! Never noticed it until I watched ESB and all that snow on Hoth.

So thanks Lucas. Thanks a lot! Why couldn't Hoth have been a yellow-snow world?

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As for me I will never ever buy any altered version of the OT. I will never cave.

As for ROTJ, I think people are being too harsh. True it is the worst of the 3 films in the OT, but it is still a good movie and much,much better then any of the movies in the PT. I had no problem with with the Ewoks I always liked them. I found them to cute and funny. As for Han, I would agree he is flater in this movie than the others, but I still think ROTJ did a good job completing the change in his character for a rogue who only cared about himself and making money to a rebel who would risk his life for the cause. Would the Han of ANH or ESB have volunteered to lead the mission on Endor? IMHO No. Athough would agree however the Radio Drama does a better job with the Han character. As for Luke, would it be believable if Luke was shown to be able to fall to the darkside at any time, that he could: resist the temptation from Vader and Palp together, defeat Vader in a light saber duel, and turn Vader back to the good side? I don't think so. I think it was important to show a much improved Luke for the one in ESB that got his but kicked by Vader alone. Would it be believable that the Luke from ESB could do all the things meantioned above. No. IMHO the Luke character had to be shown as being closer to becoming and Jedi and that means more being more resistant to being turned to the darkside. I would not want him depicted as the Anakin character is being depicted in the PT.
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About Han, he was not comic relief. His character seems to be the same as it was throughout the other films (he was always funny), except when he's thawed from carbonite. But he was weird like that after torture in ESB too. Remember Han screaming while chasing the stormtroopers in ANH? How can you say he was comic relief in ROTJ?

You can't. It's not limited to the one film.
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Unlike the original poster I am unable to disregard the SE and 2004 'enhancements'. I think ANH has been ruined by the needless introduction of so much CGI. The Sandtroopers on dewbacks, the new Mos Eisley footage, Greedo, Jabba... all of these things ruin the pacing of the film. Empire is clearly the best of the three films, but Jedi has overtaken ANH as my second favourite. I've always liked it though. The Ewoks never bothered me (it helps that they don't speak), and I find the conclusion satisfying (or at least I did until Hayden Christensen showed up).

Technically these DVDs are a work in progress. Quite frankly I was staggered by the number of professional reviewers who missed the glaring audio/visual faults. Lucasfilm/Fox should be ashamed for releasing them in there current state. I have never been so disappointed with a DVD set in my life. After sets like Alien Legacy, Alien Quadrilogy, Nightmare on Elm Street, and even Indy Jones, Star Wars just doesn't cut it. Even Universal reissued Back to the Future when people proved it had problems.
"Whatever! I digitally put Jabba the Hutt back into the original Star Wars movie! I'll do what I want!"
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Let me get this strait. You purchased the DVD’s so you could complain about them?
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Originally posted by: mrbarbar
Let me get this strait. You purchased the DVD’s so you could complain about them?


Well, I don't know about Mentasm and the others, but I bought them because I couldn't resist the temptation of owning them in any form on DVD. I thought I might be able to stomach the changes and find a glimmer of the old movies in there. In Empire, I did. Unfortunately, the other movies have been changed too much IMO.
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I find it fascinating how large an effect little things have. Really, it is just a few little things occupying a few minutes of total screen time out of 100 minutes or so. 95 percent of the movie is untouched, yet the whole thing feels different. Likewise with MagnoliaFan's stuff, so much of it is untouched, but just a few minor changes have a large effect on the whole. What power the editor has...
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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Originally posted by: mrbarbar
Let me get this strait. You purchased the DVD’s so you could complain about them?


I purchased them so I could have them and enjoy them on DVD. It is a version of the film that merits repeated viewing, and it is the only official version on DVD. Despite how certain changes screwed up the story, they are still largely great films. By not purchasing them, however, one does not reserve any rights to recourse against the manufacturer. Unless a truckload of DVDs falls on your head, the DVDs have not wronged you if you didn't buy them. If you did buy them as I did on opening day, and were expecting a flawless transfer as all the advance press and hype suggested, then you were wronged. True creative changes aside, the set has technical flaws that have been better addressed in other threads on this board. If you purchased this disc, you have the right to claim for damages, which you wouldn't have if you hadn't purchased the disc. And if you are bootlegging or pirating the movie without an official license in your posession, then you not only have no rights to claim damages, you are a target for civil litigation AND criminal prosecution. Best defense: Have a legitimate licensed copy in your posession.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Originally posted by: Darth Justin
About Han, he was not comic relief. His character seems to be the same as it was throughout the other films (he was always funny), except when he's thawed from carbonite. But he was weird like that after torture in ESB too. Remember Han screaming while chasing the stormtroopers in ANH? How can you say he was comic relief in ROTJ?

You can't. It's not limited to the one film.


There's a big difference between a real character who says and does funny things and a character who does little more than make you laugh ("comic relief"). Han seemed more like a screwball, silly kind of funny in ROTJ. Not quite as clever and sarcastic as he was in ANH and ESB.

ANH/ESB Han = George Carlin

ROTJ Han = Carrot Top

I agree with your comments on the Emperor though. He's a creepy little smartass, and it's great watching him taunt Luke.
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I guess you're right, I'd never thought of it that way. In the first two movies Han is integral to the plot, transporting everyone and keeping them safe, right in the thick of it. In ROTJ, he's overwhelmed by events. Leia is still big politically, but especially as being a potential Jedi and a sister she gets caught up in Luke's plot. Luke as the title character of course plays a big role. Han gets dwarfed in the struggle; though, without an important role to play. We follow him because we need to know about him, not because he is doing something we need to know about.

Interesting. Poor Han. At least he gets the girl.
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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Originally posted by: Starboy

Interesting. Poor Han. At least he gets the girl.


Poor Han?!?...What about poor Lando??
Now he did get shafted!

He started off Ok in Jedi, but then dissapears for like 40 mins. When you do see him again, you've actually forgot about him and his plot!
Well I do sometimes anyway!

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I still must respectfully disagree about Han in ROTJ. I don't see the big difference in his character. Perhaps if he'd have piloted the Falcon into the Death Star instead of Lando, things would've been better for him.
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I think that would have been a better role for him. Larger in terms of plot, smaller in terms of screen time and lines. That's probably why they sent him down to Endor, to have more of him. Piloting the falcon is his natural element, though.
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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Lucas wanted all the main characters together. That's why Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Threepio, and R2 are in the shuttle together. There's no real point in bringing droids along on a military attack. The problem is that Han's character arc has already played itself out and he is left with little to do. They could have come up with something, but that would probably have required another story thread in addition to the three that were already going on.
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They needed R2 for his sensor and Threepio to tell them what Artoo was saying!

That galaxy could have used some good microprocessing and integration, sheesh.

Do you think Han would have worked as the General leading the attack on the Death Star? Or are you talking within the constraints of having all the characters together?
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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Interesting.

What is Han and Chewie had been up there leading the Death Star attack while Lando was on Endor fighting with the shield?

That would probably scew up the Han/Leia love thing, but...

I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently.

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Maybe Leia and Lando would have gotten it on. Like the sleeper-bet, comes through from behind at the last moment. I don't think Lando and the Ewoks would have been as endearing together, either.

But I'm sure Han would have spiced up the space battle. (I love Lando, but Han is Han after all)
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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Need I say it...? "Once you have black..."
Which is the more foolish, the fool (the OT) or the fool who follows (the PT)?

"Stay back, or Mr...Fett gets it!"
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****RACIST!!!! *** No I'm just kidding you I don't think I really even understand the refference.
"Only in Hollywood could a show called 'That's my Bush' be about the [current] president rather than Clinton"
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I've always thought that Han should have been leading the attack on the second Death Star. It kills me that you have an entire movie where you never see Han at the controls of the Falcon, one of the signature images of the OT. They even tease you during the escape from Tatooine, where they show the Falcon and you hear Han's voice from the helm, but heck. I suppose there's something to be said for mixing it up, and having the Falcon flown by her old owner, but I figure if you had Lando mounting the ground attack with Leia, possible even putting the moves on her, all while Han's fate was up in the air, it would have been a lot more dramatic. But by that point all the main characters just loved eachother, hugging eachother, ribbing eachother (I hate that Lando smirk after Han says "you're the respectable one, remember?" Yeah, we remember. Sheesh.) and whatnot. Doesn't make for great drama. And then you might have been able to illustrate Han's piloting skills during the final assault. Aside from the radar dish getting clipped and the race against the fire, Lando really doesn't have that much to overcome. They upped the ante visually from the trench run in ANH (though that's arguable), they should have tried to up the tension as well.
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I actually find myself agreeing with you. I never even thought about mixing that up....

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Ford wanted Han to lead the attack and die doing it. So blame Lucas.

Always seems to come back to that don't it...