Topic: Five major changes in the 'Star Wars' DVD

[Gambler]

CNN.com

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Lucas made several changes in "Star Wars" when the film was re-released in 1997. With the "Star Wars" trilogy on DVD, he's tinkered a little more. Here are five changes Lucas made:

5. Jedis don't scream

The 1997 special edition version of "The Empire Strikes Back" was changed so Luke wails as he jumps off the platform in Cloud City. In the only instance of Lucas undoing a later alteration (sadly, Greedo still shoots first on the DVD of "A New Hope"), he's taken it off the DVD edition. Maybe he realized Jedis (even ones in training) don't scream.

4. Boba Fett has a new voice

Since Boba Fett is a clone of Jango Fett, and Jango Fett is played by Temura Morrison, doesn't it make sense that he should sound like him, too? That's exactly what George Lucas thought, so Morrison was brought in to revoice the four lines of dialogue (yes, believe it or not there are only four!) Boba spoke in the original trilogy.

3. A new and improved Jabba

Remember that dodgy-looking computer-generated Jabba they inserted into the 1997 re-release of "A New Hope"? Well, he looks a little less dodgy this time around thanks to some improved CGI.

2. The emperor's new clothes

In the original version of "The Empire Strikes Back," the emperor Darth Vader speaks to via hologram was played by a woman in a mask (!) and voiced by Clive Revill. Again, in the interests of consistency, Ian McDiarmid -- who portrays the emperor in "Return of the Jedi" and the prequel trilogy -- now appears in that scene with an added line or two of dialogue.

1. The big finale

The 1997 special edition of "Return of the Jedi" added a few "Star Wars" worlds joining the celebration of the Empire's demise at the end of the film. For the DVD, they've added Naboo, a planet that figures prominently in the prequel trilogy. Also, Anakin Skywalker is noticeably different this time around. When he removes his Darth Vader helmet, he now has no eyebrows! It's probably safe to assume he singes them off in his battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi in next summer's "Return of the Sith" and a change had to be made.

But the most noticeable change -- and perhaps one some "Star Wars" diehards will have a tough time stomaching -- is Hayden Christensen (who plays young Anakin in the prequel trilogy) now appearing in the scene where the "force ghosts" of Anakin, Obi Wan, and Yoda smile at Luke. One thing's for sure, there's plenty for fans to debate -- that is, until the trilogy comes out yet again on another format in the future and Mr. Lucas makes his inevitable changes ...

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I can handle most everything except for the last one.  Hayden Christensen shouldn't be at the end of Return of the Jedi.

(The typo in episode 3's title is not mine but the original story author.)

[Dash Jones]

Well, at least this time round all the changes seem for the better overall.  It makes the series mesh better with Hayden there, and I always thought Luke screaming when he fell was strange...almost as if he meant to say yes to Vader...but slipped!!!

I'm excited to see what they did to Jabba, and hope it looks a heck of a lot better!  Also, perhaps the emperor will be recognizeable this time in ESB.  At least Lucas didn't add any new musical numbers to ESB or any of the other numbers which seem way out of place.

[Sirgod]

Not too mention, Who Shot first Solo or Greedo.

Stephen offering Change # 6.

[Just plain old Punisher]

Who cares?

Punishers rules of engagement: If it doesn't have eyelids fry it!

[Rat Boy]

Lucas will never get another dollar out of me for anything he produces.  His tampering with the classic trilogy and dreadful prequel trilogy have killed Star Wars.

Say what you will about TPTB at Trek, but they at least don't take episodes of TOS and completely re-edit them to unrecognizability while destroying every copy of the originals.

[jualdeaux]

Here is an interview with Lucas about the new DVDs.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132871,00.html

The part that really gets me is this part.

AP: Why not release both the originals and special editions on DVD?

Lucas: The special edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. ... I'm not going to spend the, we're talking millions of dollars here, the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn't really exist anymore. It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I'm the one who has to take responsibility for it. I'm the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they're going to throw rocks at me, they're going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished.

Millions of dollars to to get the original version on DVD? Please! All they had to do is take out all the extras and change just a couple of scenes back. I mean how many DVDs out there have the option of playing the theatrical or extended version of the movie. I don't think it would have been that hard to do, and it would have created even more sales as those who want the original version would actually buy it.

[Dash Jones]

I admire Lucas.  There is only one items that really bothers me about all this stuff he says about Star Wars being his...

Look at the credits sometime...for some reason, several hundred people behind the creation and production of the Movie Star Wars seems to say that there was a lot more input from a lot more people than just Lucas, whether it was in the creation of effects, to muppetry, to just pure design...

And when Lucas says things like that, though he has every right to in his creation, he is spitting on a lot of others and their ideas that were put into place many years ago. 

On the otherhand, I admire Lucas for his intelligence and the way he got the movies as his...as well as how he is almost a self made man and has a keen business sense...at least thus far...as far as money is concerned.

[Just plain old Punisher]

Yea like that brilliant guy who used those egg-shell panty hose cases for the star destroyer thruster nozels!

Thank god for crossdressers!

(Outside of a eddy murphy, don't think I was ever gonna say that)

[Iceman]

Not too mention, Who Shot first Solo or Greedo.

Stephen offering Change # 6.

Han did. It ruins the character from the beginning if he didn't.

[Don Karnage]

Lucas he's a moron who only for the money, he's the creator of starwars but he did not do it alone, the change he speak of are stupid and there not what he wanted in the first place because there would have Ben in the first version of the movie, the fact that greedo shout first his because of 9/11, the USA are the good guy and never shoot first, sure the remake from 1997 are only the image Ben recolored and put the music with Dolby, but to release on DVD the original trilogy would have Ben good for the fan, but he want to change the story to what he want just so he can make more money out of the starwars name that very stupid of him, sure we will trow rock at him for doing that to the starwars trilogy, Lukas you don't care fine but take a look at your next starwars movie, you might see that your fan will boo your movie and you will loose money, if you think that the fan will swallow your stupid idea because you suddenly wanted the movies to be like that?, i doubt it cause you would have made it like that long before, when the starwars name loose interest in the fan perhaps you will realise that it was a bad idea to change the story to your biding.

[Hstaphath_XC]

Not too mention, Who Shot first Solo or Greedo.  Stephen offering Change # 6.

As I heard it, in "A New Hope," they have now rewritten it so that Alderaan shoots first. 

[Gambler]

Would we think any less of Han if he fired first?  He knows that Greedo is after him dead or alive.  It's stupid to think that he cannot fire first.  Does it make him any better of a person if Greedo took the first shot?

[Don Karnage]

tell that to lukas, he seem to think so, he's the dark side 

[GDA-S'Cipio]

Does it make him any better of a person if Greedo took the first shot?

No, it makes him stupid.  Greedo is less than three feet away with a pistol pointed right at his head.  HOW CAN HE MISS??!!  You don't give someone in that position the first shot.

Besides, Han wasn't exactly a "good guy" at the beginning of the first movie.  I rather thought his evolution was the point of his character being in the story.  (As much as any character can evolve in a Space Opera.)

-S'Cipio

[J. Carney]

Would we think any less of Han if he fired first?  He knows that Greedo is after him dead or alive.  It's stupid to think that he cannot fire first.  Does it make him any better of a person if Greedo took the first shot?

Why would we? At this point, Han is a scoundrel who would sell his own parents- if he knew them- to make a profit. He really thinks nothing of a little bloodshed... them ain't pop-guns on top of the Falcon. I seriously think that his character would would be averse to shooting preemptively in self-defense.

That was part of the appeal of the character, he was an Old West gunfighter/gambler come to life in space. Gunning people down was his stock and trade, as was anything else that turned a profit.

[Aldaron_Nirantani]

I think the fact that Han tip's the bartender like nothing serious happened and says "Sorry about the mess" says a lot about his character. He just killed someone in a crowded bar to save his life and he acts like it happens every day. Do you seriously think he would hesitate to shoot first?

[Don Karnage]

lukas wanted the character to be llooking less evil buy shooting after greedo shoot and miss him, (peraps greedo is a bad shooter that why he miss han).

[Iceman]

the fact that greedo shout first his because of 9/11,

Are you insane?

[Strafer]

the fact that greedo shout first his because of 9/11,

Are you insane?

Seeing how Greedo shot first as of 1997, arguing 9/11 was caused by Greedo would make more sense.... (it'd still be senseless but)

[GDA-S'Cipio]

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Ahhhh....... screw it.  I've got the originals.  What do I need to buy them again for, anyway?  I did like the fact that the re-release added in the Han/Jabba scene, but it was better in the novel anyway.

-S'Cipio