This is the one I bring up whenever someone tries to make the “George’s vision” argument. His true original vision was . . . a couple of extra rocks? More than anything else (besides maybe the door to Jabba’s Palace), I think this is the best illustration of how George was just changing stuff for the sake of changing it towards the end.
I’m still pretty sure any '11 additions were for the 3D release. Foreground rocks, deeper Jabba door matte, more poke-out-of-the-screen bits when R2 gets shot.
That’s actually a pretty good point. Hadn’t thought of it before. But it’s the only explanation I’ve heard of that makes sense for the rocks and door. Maybe even the Ewok blinking. Anything they had the actual 3D model files on hand for (presumably not the 97 fx as they rendered 2004 Jabba on top of 1997 Jabba’s model) could be rendered in stereo. The dug coming down the stairs fits as well, and the extra reflection and sparks added to ESB, though modest changes, could have been done with 3D viewing in mind.
Changing the ANH pod door to black was probably done because it was accidentally made neon blue in their weird attempt to make R2’s blue color ‘pop’ in many shots in that film.