You know what? I’m going to go out on a limb and say 2004, because of the prequelisms. The argument that the 1997 cut is superior because it doesn’t have the PT references doesn’t really work for me, because if you’re trying to ignore the PT, you should just watch the OUT, because they’re just better movies. The only thing the SE can really claim to bring to the table is smoother visual continuity with the subsequent installments of the saga, and in that regard the 1997 version is kind of obsolete.
This is a refreshing read. Great points!
The 04 is probably the most justifiable in the sense that it has both updated effects and attempts to tie into the PT. I also like the concept of the 97 (using modern technology to “finish” a film that the creator deemed incomplete), but that leaves the 2011 versions. These should have been simply used as a chance to fix the issues with the 04, but instead were changes for the sake of changes.