Here is a web-site that shows some of the changes to the Star Wars Trilogy There are some really good changes:
http://perso.club-internet.fr/willow/Index.html

I love the comic where Han Solo goes to court for shooting Greedo, and uses an altered video to 'prove' greedo shot first.

Thanks!!

I really needed that nice shot of 3P0 for my project!

The changes look good!

Greedo still shoots first?
Lucas is still a stupid f@<k.

Exactly. Lucas, who supposedly listens to the fans and what they want, apparently doesn't realise how stupid the "new and better" Greedo shoots first scene is. First of all, it's unnecessary. And secondly, why would Greedo miss? He's a few feet from his quarry and yet misses - what a terrible bounty hunter! I'll get off my nerd soapbox now.

Oh, he's saving that change for the Super Duper Extra Special Gold Plated Edition Boxed set.

why would Greedo miss? He's a few feet from his quarry and yet misses
Han is OBVIOUSLY using the force:dude:

AHHHH!!!!!!

I can't stand it any more! There is nothing here for me now! I wanna learn the ways of the force and become a jedi master like my cat! :freak:

^^^Silly Earth Human. Your planet hasn't produced a true Jedi since Lassie died.

And secondly, why would Greedo miss? He's a few feet from his quarry and yet misses - what a terrible bounty hunter!
I'll preface this by noting that I hate the newer version of the scene and wish the original would be restored. However, watching the SE not long ago and trying to keep an open mind, I noted that Han shifts to the side just before Greedo fires, and he would have been hit otherwise -- so it could be said that Han "ducks" -- and more of us would see that, I suspect, if we didn't remember the way it used to be.

And for what it's worth, in EU lore Jabba knows Greedo is inept -- he sends him after Han as a message, to let Solo know he is serious about collecting what Solo owes him. He knows Greedo is no match for Han and will likely be killed. He doesn't want Solo dead at that point.

Qapla'

SSB

On the other hand -- Hooray! They've finally fixed the lightsaber animation! I was perplexed as to why that wasn't fixed in the theatrical SE.

Qapla'

SSB

Han Solo shoots sooner :) it's not as bad as before.
http://perso.club-internet.fr/willow/SW_Changes/SW_Changes_16_2004.jpg
Jaba looks alot better in A New Hope.
http://perso.club-internet.fr/willow/SW_Changes/SW_Changes_10_2004.jpg
The Rancor scene in Jedi looks a lot better than the SE & original version.
http://perso.club-internet.fr/willow/SW_Changes/ROTJ_Changes_04_DVD.jpg
I like the graphic change on the tractor beam controls
http://perso.club-internet.fr/willow/SW_Changes/SW_Changes_08_2004.jpg
The picture quality seems to be greatly improved on all the films.

I wasn't broke. He never needed to fix it.

I wasn't broke.Weren't you? :cool:

No, I wasn't!
(I swear I hit that T key.... grumblegrumble...)

Ah, the "T" doesn't make any difference!

Don't be a it!:jest:

He he!

Huzz

That's a shiy thing to say!

I agree that the Rancor sequence does look much, much better now -- in my opinion, that one was broke and needed fixing. I don't see it at that link, but I think the speeder bike sequence could use a similar repair.

And what a surprise -- no change in Sebastian Shaw as Anakin in Vader's unmasking scene. Some swore he would be replaced with Hayden Christensen. I suspect this probably means Shaw has not been replaced in the final "ghost" scene either; I never believed that one seemed likely.

Qapla'

SSB

I saw pics somewhere that make his eyes 'dead', and got rid of the bushy eyebrows, for a less santa look.

jabba is an improvement. The old one looked like a talking horse penis.

I really don't have a problem with George and his Special Editions. The problem I do have, is with these "new, improved versions" taking the place of the original releases, and, therefore, losing them to history. I believe that he has an obligation to both cinematic and cultural history to maintain original editions of the Star Wars films dating back to the premieres. When they were released, they were products of the time they were made - a timecapsule of the cinematic state-of-the-art. Whatever so-called "flaws" and technical imperfections existed within the films were the happenstance of budget vs. time vs. technological limitations that every filmmaker faces with any project that is made. That's where imagination, craft and artistry comes in - to fill in those gaps and make the movies work in spite of those imposed limitations.

It's a shame that our children and grandchildren will not have the opportunity to see these pictures as they originally existed - warts and all. These films were mega-blockbuster hits because they were great escapist entertainment with solid stories and charismatic characters blended with the best talents and technologies that one could muster at the time. It's a shame that filmmakers are now using current technology to do what vandals use to do with cans of spraypaint.

Let the new editions be new additions - existing alongside the original versions, as the originals themselves were pretty darn special. They have a right to exist as well.

jabba is an improvement. The old one looked like a talking horse penis.:lol: That's funny

I
And what a surprise -- no change in Sebastian Shaw as Anakin in Vader's unmasking scene. Some swore he would be replaced with Hayden Christensen. I suspect this probably means Shaw has not been replaced in the final "ghost" scene either; I never believed that one seemed likely.

Qapla'

SSBI saw footage on-line somewhere with Hayden as the ghost at the end of Jedi, wheather it's used or not is another story.

Any word yet on the Ewok movie special editions?...

Any word yet on the Ewok movie special editions?...
The word is "Poop"
:)

I saw footage on-line somewhere with Hayden as the ghost at the end of Jedi, wheather it's used or not is another story.
I saw still images myself, but I believe they were faked -- they showed him as he looks in Revenge of the Sith, which would make no sense.

Qapla'

SSB

Any word yet on the Ewok movie special editions?...
Digitalbits has shown artwork for it (as well as collected episodes from the Droids and Ewoks crapfests ... I mean, cartoons -- but mercifully, not full season sets for those). The Ewok movie disc features both productions as a "double-feature."

Qapla'

SSB

The problem I do have, is with these "new, improved versions" taking the place of the original releases, and, therefore, losing them to history. I believe that he has an obligation to both cinematic and cultural history to maintain original editions of the Star Wars films dating back to the premieres.
Despite reports and rumors to the contrary, I'd be very surprised if the originals haven't been saved.
Let the new editions be new additions - existing alongside the original versions, as the originals themselves were pretty darn special. They have a right to exist as well.
While I more-or-less agree -- I'd like the originals to be available as well as whatever tweaks Lucas desires to make -- let's not get carried away. Movies don't have rights.

Qapla'

SSB

[QUOTE=Trek Ace]It's a shame that our children and grandchildren will not have the opportunity to see these pictures as they originally existed.[/QUOTE

Children and grandchildren fear not; the Force will be with you... and with you... and with you...

George Lucas is a master at marketing his movies. I have no doubt the original theatrical versions of the "Star Wars" saga will eventually be made available (By Popular Demand!) just as soon as Lucas has milked every penny he can from the updated incarnations.

For the record, I was present at Grauman's Chinese Theater on May 25, 1977 for the 8PM screening of "Star Wars", and it remains the single most memorable night at the movies I've ever had. I even remember the trailers which preceeded the film: "Exocrcist II", "The Sorceror", and "The Other Side of Midnight" (the latter was expected to be Fox's Big Film for `77). Thus, for largely sentimental reasons the original, unaltered "S.W." will always be my favorite.

However... fans who accuse Lucas of "raping their childhoods" by toying with his films need to take a jumbo-sized chill pill. What Lucas is attempting with "Star Wars" -- i.e. telling a cohesive six part serial over a span of thirty years -- is unprecedented. I for one think it's a grand experiment, and I look forward to being able to watch the entire epic from start to finish.

I'm sure many of you know that Lucas has given the same "special edition" treatment to THX 1138. I see that two DVD editions are being released next week, but I can't seem to verify what the differences are. One is a 2-disc special edition with extras, the re-edited, re-mastered print, etc. The other appears to be a single disc of the movie with commentary, but I can't determine if it is the original version or the re-done one. StarWars.com doesn't even acknowledge that changes were made to the movie. Other sites don't seem to recognize that there are two versions coming out. Does anyone have any definite information on this?

What will Lucas do with his time after he's done tinkering with the Trilogy anyway? Go to the drawing board and see what he can do to Howard the Duck?

José

I'm sure many of you know that Lucas has given the same "special edition" treatment to THX 1138.
... Does anyone have any definite information on this?
There's a short article at the NY Times which doesn't answer your specific question but might be worth a read nonetheless.
Free, but you gotta register.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/05/movies/05KEHR.html

What will Lucas do with his time after he's done tinkering with the Trilogy anyway?
Tinker with the prequels for the inevitable "Full Saga" boxset?
Maybe script Indy 4.
People judge for yourselves whether ghostly Hayden is at the end of the ROTJ DVD or not.
http://www.sicqnus.com/news/DVDJedispirits1.jpg
http://www.sicqnus.com/news/DVDJedispirits2.JPG

Could be faked. I hope.

Re: THX;

http://www.thx-1138.org/

http://www.davisdvd.com/bin/extras3.html

So is the single disc edition coming out next week the "special edition" or the original version? I'm amazed that a week before release I can't find a definite answer.

Then on September 14th, the DVD hits shelves. Two versions, actually. A single-disc version containing the Director's Cut with commentary by George Lucas and sound designer Walter Murch. And a two-disc Collector's Edition, containing the following...http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/536/536547p1.html

So we're getting two versions of the modified version.

What reall gets me is that a few weeks ago, Lucas was quoted as being against the colorized versions of THE THREE STOOGES. He felt that color made them look too modern, and they need to be viewed in their historical context.

I guess that means THE THREE STOOGES are of higher artistic value than STAR WARS or THX 1138.

At least with the Stooges you get the original black & white and colorized versions.

Could be faked. I hope.
So do I; while it wouldn't necessarily bother me that the person in the shot was changed, it just doesn't make sense that Anakin would appear so much younger than he was when he died and Obi-Wan would not.

Qapla'

SSB

"Die" young and leave a good looking spectre?
The Rumour Mill 5/19/04
(RE: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17592 )
While some sources are hedging their bets ... yes, we can confirm that this is authentic.

"Die" young and leave a good looking spectre?While I know that Digital Bits had said that, I'm still suspicious. It just doesn't make sense.

I really hope they don't go that way with it.

Qapla'

SSB

While I know that Digital Bits had said that, I'm still suspicious. It just doesn't make sense.

I really hope they don't go that way with it.

Qapla'

SSB

Actually, I can believe it only because Lucas seems more about what he can do with movies these days as opposed to why.

At least in regard to "Star Wars"..

While I know that Digital Bits had said that, I'm still suspicious.
Posted Wednesday, September 8, 2004
http://www.canoe.ca/JamStarWars/sep8_starwars-sun.html
... but, as the DVD editions screened by the Sun reveals,... Most notably, the legendary director has added Canadian Hayden Christensen to the final moments of 1983's Return of the Jedi.
http://jam.canoe.ca/JamStarWars/sep8_starwars2-sun.html
George Lucas has inserted Hayden Christensen into the revised DVD edition of Star Wars: Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi -- a film originally released only two years after the Canadian actor was born in Vancouver.
... Yesterday, the (Toronto) Sun had a sneak peek at the controversial scenes, confirming fanboy rumours...
This next bit is the LOL moment for me,
That apparent lack of logic -- Christensen looks like Luke's brother, not his father -- is ignored in the movie. Luke still smiles warmly, as if he knows who the third ghost really is.
It just doesn't make sense.
On the feature-length commentary for the film, Lucas tries to explain why Christensen appears as the younger Anakin, ... "As we get to the end of the movie, as he joins the force, he is able to retain his original identity," Lucas says of Christensen's character. And the character's "original identity" is not as Darth Vader, Lucas says, "but it was his identity as he was -- when he died as Anakin Skywalker." That sequence is expected to be shown in full in Episode III.

Originally Posted by Bruce Kirkland, TO Sun movie critic
On the feature-length commentary for the film, Lucas tries to explain why Christensen appears as the younger Anakin, ... "As we get to the end of the movie, as he joins the force, he is able to retain his original identity," Lucas says of Christensen's character. And the character's "original identity" is not as Darth Vader, Lucas says, "but it was his identity as he was -- when he died as Anakin Skywalker." That sequence is expected to be shown in full in Episode III.
That possible explanation crossed my mind (considering what Obi-Wan tells Luke about how he "ceased to be Anakin Skywalker") but I still don't like it. Won't stop me from buying the discs, though.

Qapla'

SSB

I always thought the idea was lame. Here's super evil Vader, who's killed millions, then makes up with his son and everythings forgiven.
Yeah right. and Hitlers in Heaven cause he said he was sorry.

I always thought the idea was lame. Here's super evil Vader, who's killed millions, then makes up with his son and everythings forgiven.
Yeah right. and Hitlers in Heaven cause he said he was sorry.

I've always thought that for the notion of redemption to work it had to apply to everyone -- especially those with the most to redeem. The trick is you have to want to be redeemed, and guys like Hitler can be a bit unyielding in this regard.

The redemption of Anakin Skywalker is ultimately what the "Star Wars" saga is all about. Take that away all you've got are a lot of cool spaceships, aliens, robots, monsters, rayguns and green, scantily-clad dancing babes.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure we need the redemption thing after all. Nevermind.

A just redemption would be for the victims to forgive, not the victimizer to forgive themselves.

I'd love to see the ghosts of the billions of Alderaan piling on Anakin at the end there.

A just redemption would be for the victims to forgive, not the victimizer to forgive themselves.

That's not redemption, it's absolution -- a subtle but important distinction.

Maybe Lucas will have the Alderaan billions giving Anakin the 'thumbs up'. After all, he is an Authority Figure.