tomcat32

Has to be the '97 editions for me.

All of the SE’s have some ridiculous alterations of course, but the reasons I keep going back to '97 are that

• the colour grading is at least on par with an actual restoration, and not a quick, botched effort to modernise the films. This is a biggie for me, as I recall that when the SE was first released, it truly was the best the films had ever looked and thus I’m sentimental towards the ‘look’,

• R2-D2 does not miraculously hide behind a large rock,

• the lightsabers are fine,

• fewer ‘prequalisations’; Boba Fett has his original voice, NO HAYDEN at the end of RoTJ,

• Vader doesn’t yell “NooOoOoOooOooo!”

• Vader has eyebrows, aha…

Sure, here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y8JZ_w9a-k

Sorry about the broken links in the original post, I always have trouble with them.

Hey guys, I hope this is the right place to post it but here is a production photograph from Episode VI that I recently found.

[IMG]http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/tomclarke11/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-11%20at%2019.35.07_zpscfg8mlgj.png[/IMG]" />

It was from a video on YouTube all about Technicolor's Technirama process. Star Wars was briefly mentioned as an example of how live action footage was often shot in Technirama/VistaVision in preparation for the SFX shots, which were shot with the same process.

I just thought if was interesting as I've never seen this sequence behind the scenes', so the photo gives you an idea of what environment looked like on the day.

The changes I liked (1997);

- The restoration itself, which for back then was superb and, as is the Lucas way, later ruined by the 2004 colours

- CGI X-Wings during the Battle of Yavin

- Removal of card cutouts during celebration

- Removal of stained-glass windows in Cloud City

- New celebration song at the end of RoTJ

- General clean-up of all the optical effects.

The changes I can't stand (1997 and beyond);

- Ben's new call when saves Luke... lol, I mean seriously?

- R2-D2 hiding behind a rock in same scene

- Han vs. Greedo obviously

- Luke's scream when he falls after the "Nooo!" (though at least this was later removed)

- 'Jedi Rocks'...

- Hayden as Anakin's ghost at the end of RoTJ.

I would take the '97 S.Es over the most recent ones any day, but it's very difficult to choose a happy medium. While the original theatrical cuts are faithful, I would still find it tough to not see some of the genuine improvements listed above. 

Hi guys - I don't know if it's of any use to you but I have a 1986/7 VHS of ANH. Let me know anyway as I can always record it and upload it :-)

Hi guys! I'm a new member so I hope you don't mind me 'butting in' :)

This is a really interesting discussion, and it so happens that I own the original Star Wars movies on their respective VHS's from the 1980's. If these are of any use for comparisons or just general interest, then I will gladly do some screenshots or rip them to a DVD/my PC. They're in very good condition (I hadn't watched them in years till the other day) and provide a startling insight into how the films looked at that point in time.

Great website by the way, I look forward to contributing more!

TC