Star Wars: Original Trilogy

[OriginalLadders]

I've been debating starting this thread for a while now, because it could so easily devolve into seeing how many people can insult me per minute. But I'm in a good mood so I might as well try to ruin it.

A couple weeks ago thanks to a friend who, for some mystifying reason, owns a laserdisc player I watched the original unaltered cut of Star Wars Episodes IV, V & VI. Yes, I am part of that poor deprived generation who saw the remastered version first and since I love Star Wars there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity. Now, I want to make it clear that I think the original version are better overall, it's very important to read the rest of my post with this in mind. So here are my opinions of the changes between original version and the remastered version.

The special effects in the remastered version are better, they've smoothed everything out. This is a fairly minor point, but I do think it counts in the favour of the remastered version that starfighters viewed with a ship in the background don't have a black halo. Also Kenobi's lightsaber not suddenly turning on and off when he fought Vader.

The CGI in the remastered version is really obtrusive, it's worse in some scenes than others but it always detracts from the scene. So, a point in favour of the original.

The change in the noise Obi-Wan made to scare off the sand-people is completely irrelevant to me.

The replacement of some aliens in the Mos Eisley cantina is, I think, a small point in favour of the remastered version, they seem a bit more animated than the ones they replaced (the halloween costumes they used just so that Tattooine wasn't massively over-represented with Humans). Though, at best, it's just a minor change in tone.

Han/Greedo shooting first. I honestly don't care about this, it's a minor change in tone; in the original he murdered someone to get out of a bad situation, in the first remastered version it was self-defence, and in the recent blu-ray version it's more like a Western quick-draw situation with the shots being nearly simultaneous.

The Jabba the Hutt scene in A New Hope has not aged well since it was introduced, but overall I can't say that I care one way or the other. Again, it's a minor change in tone; in the original it seems that part of why Han took Obi-Wan and Luke to Alderaan was that he was running away from trouble, whereas in the remastered version it's just to pay Jabba back.

A small point, but the Death Star's tractor beam power controls being changed to Aurebesh from English. I think it's a minor improvement, stylistically I think it fits better for "a long time ago in a galaxy far far away" and if you can't figure out that Obi-Wan's shutting down the tractor beam as he said he would, then I really doubt you have the intelligence (or at least attention span) to be watching films.

With Luke hanging upside down in the Wampa's cave there's (again) a minor change in tone. Both seeing the massive creature ripping into raw flesh and just seeing glimpses of it approaching are both menacing in different ways. I can't really say that either's better.

Boba Fett's voice being changed to that of the actor who played Jango Fett is yet another thing I don't care about. I can see why it was done. He was a secondary character, nothing more.

With Oola in Jabba's palace in the original version... it was a lot easier to tell just how much of the actress' body they painted green... I'm not going to say whether or not I thought that was a good thing, since it has no bearing on the plot or the characters.

The Sarlacc in the original version was better in my opinion, such a sedentary predator that relies on things stumbling into a pit then being dragged down to a point where they cannot escape makes much more sense if it doesn't have a beak thrashing around to scare things off.

Blinking Ewoks are better than Soulless death-stare Ewoks. The remastered version takes that.

Palpatine's death in the original was better; Vader's "NO!" strips the scene of subtlety, but I don't think it ruins it.

The Ewok's celebration song in the remastered version was better. It just fits better with their squeaky little voices than having them sound like a human choir when singing "yub-yub" over and over again.

The celebration scenes on other planets, in the remastered version, after the second Death Star was destroyed don't make sense in my opinion, yes the Emperor is dead but the Imperial Fleet would still control most of the galaxy, and a member of the admiralty would definitely try and seize power. Celebration everywhere just doesn't fit.

And finally, Anakin's force ghost being Hayden Christensen is, in my humble opinion, better. I think it makes more sense for him to appear as he was before he fell to the dark side than as he would have if he hadn't been horribly burnt and made into a quadruple amputee.

I think the worst part of the remastered version is easily the CGI, it just doesn't blend in. However the worst part of the films is the Ewoks; a primitive tribe of midget bears who don't even have any form of metallurgy defeating a legion of the Emperor's best troops is just pants-on-head retarded. In my opinion none of the changes can ever be as bad as that original decision.

So what do other Escapists think? If you disagree with anything I've said here, please say why and not just "you're an asshat".

Also if I've missed any changes, please let me know.

 

[The Madman]

I don't mind the Ewoks myself, especially when the rest of that movie is just so damned good. I still think the space battle there was the best in the movie industry, I certainly can't think of any others which matched it, and the fight between Luke and Vader was stunningly well shot. Very emotional and some seriously beautiful music. Goes to show all the fancy choreography and CGI can't make up for solid characters and cinematography.

As for the whole 'revamped and changed' thing I don't particularly care as I have no intention of buying those versions anyway. Pity that kids wont get to see it the way I did but if they ever get really into it they'll undoubtedly end up seeing the original versions eventually anyway.

 

[SamHC]

I grew up watching the original versions on VHS in the mid 90's and the only change I really find objectionable with the Special Editions and the even more recent releases is that damn singing CGI bug alien thing in Jabba's Palace in Return of the Jedi. It just doesn't mesh with the rest of the shot, at all. I actually really like the inclusion of the CGI Jabba in A New Hope, even though he also doesn't mesh with the rest of the shot, but I feel it helps establish Han's situation with him more firmly, and yes I realize I'm probably the only person who feels this way.

 

[Little2Raph]

I haven't seen the new Blueray versions myself - I've only the DVD box set from about the time ROTS was released. I've never really had a problem with any of the changes - the whole Han/Greedo thing niggles slightly (just seemed like an exercise in political correctness to me) but not really enough to care about. I agree with the whole ewok thing. Not only does it not make sense for a primitive race of furry critters to best "an entire legion of my [the Emperor's] best troops"; but it doesn't make sense either to me that this primitive race who haven't discovered metallurgy have nevertheless somehow figured out the basics of heavier-than-air flight (the hang glider) and ballistic weaponry (the catapult). It's the one reason I didn't automatically hate the gungan battle in Phantom Menace, because I thought "it's not like they haven't pulled this cutesy crap before".

 

[Asita]

Hayden Christenson as a force ghost makes NO sense to me. I can buy the 'he appeared as Anakin instead of Darth Vader', but the thing is that they had that in the original cut when we see Anakin as a man who could have convievably been Luke's father. Even the 'no dark side allowed' clause for the Force Ghosts falls flat as an excuse to shoehorn Christensen in because the defining moment for the character in Return of the Jedi was his rejection of the dark side and re-embracing of the light. Even with the light-side criteria in mind, it is that moment that should have defined his image as he had once again rejected the dark, and what's more by appearances he'd done so far more thoroughly than he ever had as a youth. He met the needed criteria at the end of his life, there's no reason that his appearance should have regressed upwards of 20 years. I can see him losing the massive scarring, but not the time lapse, especially when all the other ghosts appeared as they did at death.

 

[Smiley Face]

I grew up watching the original versions on VHS in the mid 90's and the only change I really find objectionable with the Special Editions and the even more recent releases is that damn singing CGI bug alien thing in Jabba's Palace in Return of the Jedi. It just doesn't mesh with the rest of the shot, at all. I actually really like the inclusion of the CGI Jabba in A New Hope, even though he also doesn't mesh with the rest of the shot, but I feel it helps establish Han's situation with him more firmly, and yes I realize I'm probably the only person who feels this way.

That singing alien is an addition? I always hated that (I also grew up with VHS versions in the mid-late 90s, but they were a remastered set).

Speaking up on the whole Han/Greedo thing, I think that changing it does make a difference, because it's your actual first impression of him - but having grown up with the Greedo shoots first, I can appreciate the advantages of either option. Having Han not shoot first makes him a more relatable character, while having him shoot first makes him seem more competent. While I think the difference is relatively small, for people who grew up with one version, I can understand their frustration at making a change that doesn't actually improve anything. That said, I don't think it really makes a serious difference to your eventual perception of Han's character - more telling of Han's competence is in V when he walks into the room with Vader and shoots him within the second.

 

[viranimus]

Honestly? Remastered or not I loathe the original trilogy. To me personally I cannot think of a more undeservingly over hyped piece of garbage and honestly that includes the prequel trilogy. I remember watching the original films back in the very early 80s (on HBO i think) and as a kid it bored me to sleep every time I saw it.

No, for me honestly I find that what was laid out in the prequel trilogy (IE the sith) and the Knights of the old republic franchise is the entire IPs saving grace.

Now OP I dont think your points are off at all. Hell I even agree with the Hayden Christiansen in the remastering because like it or not it only makes sense considering he IS Anakin skywalker, and the force ghost in the un remastered is simply a place holder until the actor who would play the role was decided. Not sure why people want to cling to the 83 incarnation as infallible. I mean the guy who they put in it looks like just some random late middle aged guy they found on the street. At least Hayden looks the part and has his own distinct style instead of looking like Obi Wans 2 years younger and infinitely more bland clone.

Anyway. utterly dislike the original trilogy because really its not that good and its certainly not as godly as people make it out to be.

 

[Vivid Kazumi]

Hayden Christenson as a force ghost makes NO sense to me. I can buy the 'he appeared as Anakin instead of Darth Vader', but the thing is that they had that in the original cut when we see Anakin as a man who could have convievably been Luke's father. Even the 'no dark side allowed' clause for the Force Ghosts falls flat as an excuse to shoehorn Christensen in because the defining moment for the character in Return of the Jedi was his rejection of the dark side and re-embracing of the light. Even with the light-side criteria in mind, it is that moment that should have defined his image as he had once again rejected the dark, and what's more by appearances he'd done so far more thoroughly than he ever had as a youth. He met the needed criteria at the end of his life, there's no reason that his appearance should have regressed upwards of 20 years. I can see him losing the massive scarring, but not the time lapse, especially when all the other ghosts appeared as they did at death.

um have you seen the original anakin? https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v78W-_d1P70/Ti_oEC6GfTI/AAAAAAAAAi4/YbVrDpcQklI/Comparition.jpg huge difference in face's

 

[Asita]

Hayden Christenson as a force ghost makes NO sense to me. I can buy the 'he appeared as Anakin instead of Darth Vader', but the thing is that they had that in the original cut when we see Anakin as a man who could have convievably been Luke's father. Even the 'no dark side allowed' clause for the Force Ghosts falls flat as an excuse to shoehorn Christensen in because the defining moment for the character in Return of the Jedi was his rejection of the dark side and re-embracing of the light. Even with the light-side criteria in mind, it is that moment that should have defined his image as he had once again rejected the dark, and what's more by appearances he'd done so far more thoroughly than he ever had as a youth. He met the needed criteria at the end of his life, there's no reason that his appearance should have regressed upwards of 20 years. I can see him losing the massive scarring, but not the time lapse, especially when all the other ghosts appeared as they did at death.

um have you seen the original anakin? https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v78W-_d1P70/Ti_oEC6GfTI/AAAAAAAAAi4/YbVrDpcQklI/Comparition.jpg huge difference in face's

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't follow what you're implying here or how the lack of physical resemblance between Sebastian Shaw (whose face we also saw when Luke removed Vader's mask) and Hayden Christensen is in any way relevant to what I said.

 

[OriginalLadders]

I don't mind the Ewoks myself, especially when the rest of that movie is just so damned good. I still think the space battle there was the best in the movie industry, I certainly can't think of any others which matched it, and the fight between Luke and Vader was stunningly well shot. Very emotional and some seriously beautiful music. Goes to show all the fancy choreography and CGI can't make up for solid characters and cinematography.

As for the whole 'revamped and changed' thing I don't particularly care as I have no intention of buying those versions anyway. Pity that kids wont get to see it the way I did but if they ever get really into it they'll undoubtedly end up seeing the original versions eventually anyway.

The way I look at it is that it's like eating a really good ice cream sundae, and then finding that the layer second from the bottom you thought was vanilla-choc-chip or something is actually pigeon shit. It justs leaves a really bad taste to an otherwise great experience.

I haven't seen the new Blueray versions myself - I've only the DVD box set from about the time ROTS was released. I've never really had a problem with any of the changes - the whole Han/Greedo thing niggles slightly (just seemed like an exercise in political correctness to me) but not really enough to care about. I agree with the whole ewok thing. Not only does it not make sense for a primitive race of furry critters to best "an entire legion of my [the Emperor's] best troops"; but it doesn't make sense either to me that this primitive race who haven't discovered metallurgy have nevertheless somehow figured out the basics of heavier-than-air flight (the hang glider) and ballistic weaponry (the catapult). It's the one reason I didn't automatically hate the gungan battle in Phantom Menace, because I thought "it's not like they haven't pulled this cutesy crap before".

From what I heard they changed it to Greedo shooting first in order to keep a rating that would allow kids to see it. I don't know how true that is though.

Hayden Christenson as a force ghost makes NO sense to me. I can buy the 'he appeared as Anakin instead of Darth Vader', but the thing is that they had that in the original cut when we see Anakin as a man who could have convievably been Luke's father. Even the 'no dark side allowed' clause for the Force Ghosts falls flat as an excuse to shoehorn Christensen in because the defining moment for the character in Return of the Jedi was his rejection of the dark side and re-embracing of the light. Even with the light-side criteria in mind, it is that moment that should have defined his image as he had once again rejected the dark, and what's more by appearances he'd done so far more thoroughly than he ever had as a youth. He met the needed criteria at the end of his life, there's no reason that his appearance should have regressed upwards of 20 years. I can see him losing the massive scarring, but not the time lapse, especially when all the other ghosts appeared as they did at death.

Then he should have appeared bald, severely scarred and limbless. In my opinion a 20 year regression makes more sense than Force photoshop.

That singing alien is an addition? I always hated that (I also grew up with VHS versions in the mid-late 90s, but they were a remastered set).

The singing alien is in the original, as a fairly inanimate puppet, singing a calmer song. Blends in much better.

 

[Asita]

Then he should have appeared bald, severely scarred and limbless. In my opinion a 20 year regression makes more sense than Force photoshop.

Howso? I can't see any logic behind it.

 

[OriginalLadders]

Then he should have appeared bald, severely scarred and limbless. In my opinion a 20 year regression makes more sense than Force photoshop.

Howso? I can't see any logic behind it.

The logic is that Anakin Skywalker actually looked like that at some point, whereas he never looked like a perfectly healthy middle-aged man.