# Star Wars:"Real" Original trilogy VS "Special Edition" versions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797 "2002-05-25T14:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/1 "2002-05-25T14:56:51Z")
I was talking to a friend about this recently and we both have mixed feelings about the “Special Editions” versions of the original trilogy. Of course we both hated the “Han shoots second” crap. All right-thinking people do. 😉 I didn’t like the revised dance-number in Jabba’s palace but it didn’t make me nuts. It DID make my friend nuts. He loathed it. I thought the original song was better and I didn’t like the furry guy putting his lips on the camera lens, but it didn’t bother me that much. I didn’t like the “bigger” ending of Jedi. I appreciated the technical details and what Lucas was trying to do, but on the other hand, I prefer the more intimate closing number with the Ewok’s “Yub-yub” song. My friend disagreed and liked the revised version far better. I don’t think the insertion of Jabba (over the live actor) in Star Wars worked on a technical level, but I can overlook iffy effects as it added to the story. I loved a lot of the little details Lucas added: the big skeleton on Tattoine and other little touches like that. I can’t remember any major changes to story or music in Empire: were there any? Overall, I’d say the revisions are a mixed bag with only one being unforgivable (“Han shoots second”) BTW: Anyone have a site that lists the differences between the two versions? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/2 "2002-05-25T14:58:18Z")
Crap: This should be in **Cafe Society**. If a Mod sees this, could they move it? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/3 "2002-05-25T15:09:26Z")
No problem. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/4 "2002-05-25T15:11:04Z")
Thanks Czar! (and thanks for the requested title change too!) I hereby dub you “Fastest Mod on the Board!” Fenris, in awe ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/5 "2002-05-25T15:15:47Z")
[Here](http://www.theforce.net/swse/) is a site that describes all of the SE additions and changes in good detail. I hated hated hated the new dance scene in ROTJ. You know how some people hate Jar Jar? That’s how I hate that scene. This is Jabba’s hideout in the middle of the desert, not the Sands in Vegas! I kind of like the bigger ending in ROTJ, though, at least because we’ve now actually seen Coruscant in TPM and AOTC, so it adds a little more connection. (I have no problem with backfitting and retcons when the situation calls for it.) The new Cloud City shots in ESB were nice, if not strictly necessary. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/6 "2002-05-25T15:32:03Z")
I thought the worst change was, of course, Han shooting second. Other than that, the worst change was the added song in RotJ. Not that it was horrid, but it should have been more low-key. Star Wars is not meant to be a musical. The best change was the ending of RotJ. I love love love the new music compared to the yub-yubs. The new scenes of celebrating citizens of the former Empire are great! I especially love the toppling of the statue of Palpatine. It really added a sense of closure to the movies. Before it seemed like the movie ended but the story didn’t - which is cool in one way. But if Lucas isn’t going to make any episodes after VI, then the new ending is a great way to wrap things up. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/7 "2002-05-25T15:46:42Z")
A friend of mine has admitted publicly that for years the Ewoks were singing: “Lug nuts. We got yer lug nuts.” It seems appropriate, since they’ve just (improbably) defeated a group of Imperial Walkers. Hans shooting second _in and of itself_ raised such disgust in me that I never even considered buying tickets for the modified versions of the later two films, nor will I ever buy them on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/8 "2002-05-25T16:21:30Z")
If you’re talking about the big skeleton of the Kryat dragon lying on the sand banks of Tattooine, that’s always been there. In Empire the changes were a little more subtle. There’s added footage so you can see the Wampa a little better before he attacks Luke in the cave. On Bespin, they removed some walls and made windows out of them so you can see the sunset (an attractive touch that I liked.) And there is a brief addition after Luke jumps (oh yeah, that horrible scream was added when Luke jumps) when Vader is walking away and tells his people to prepare the Executor for his arrival. And I liked the new song over the Yub-Yub song. I prefer seeing the other systems celebrate rather than just the Ewoks who hadn’t heard of the Empire until recently. Some complained that how would everyone know about the Empire’s fall, but I figure they gotta have something like CNN. Do you reckon Darth Vader did all the promos for them too? “This…is ENN…[hawwwch…heewwch]” ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/9 "2002-05-25T16:43:53Z")
Is it even possible to buy video tapes (I assume the situation is hopeless with DVDs) of the original trilogy as they were released to theaters any more? I’m not sure I’m ready to have another one of my childhood memories messed with. (Please keep the mods happy and don’t post about bootleg stuff!) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/10 "2002-05-25T16:50:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > Some complained that how would everyone know about the Empire’s fall, but I figure they gotta have something like CNN. Do you reckon Darth Vader did all the promos for them too? “This…is ENN…[hawwwch…heewwch]” \*\* …authorities suspect that the attackers are neo-Republic anarchists supported by a number of outer-ring systems. Once again for those of you just joining us: The Death Star construction site orbiting Endor has been attacked and destroyed in a surprise attack by Rebel forces. The Super Star Destroyer Executor, flagship of the Imperial Navy along with several smaller vessels have also been destroyed. No word yet on casualties, but estimates are in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands. Worst of all…there is no word from Emporer Palpatine…leader of the galaxy…who was overseeing the final construction of the massive station. Officials refuse to comment, but rumor has it the Emporer is feared dead…or at least has been turned into a “Force ghost”. We take you now to the scene…in orbit around the moon Endor. “…Thanks Bob! The scene here is one of utter devastation! Some peices of spacecraft and the station, some miles long, some no bigger than a droids head, continue to burn in orbit. Others, trapped by the moons gravity have begun their decent to the surface. The local inhabitants, called “Ewoks” are cheering…even as the debris falls to the plannet…setting ablaze the massive forests…” Once again - Death Star destroyed…Imperial Navy badly damaged…Emporer Palpatine and his staff feared dead…a sad day for the Galaxy…This is CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/11 "2002-05-25T16:58:44Z")
I had a problem with the celebrations on Coruscant. I mean, this place is the imperial capital, and sure, the emperor is dead, but that doesn’t mean that 1. It’s neccesrily pro-rebel. There must have been some planets out there that liked the Empire. and 1. The Imperial presence isn’t gone. I’d assume Coruscant is pretty heavily garrisoned, and, even without the emperor, I don’t think they’d allow rioting in the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/12 "2002-05-25T18:12:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*I didn’t like the “bigger” ending of Jedi. I appreciated the technical details and what Lucas was trying to do, but on the other hand, I prefer the more intimate closing number with the Ewok’s “Yub-yub” song. My friend disagreed and liked the revised version far better. > \*\* What’s kinda creepy is that I watched the Special Edition on Fox when they aired it a few weeks ago – I’d never seen it before – and I had the “Yub-yub” music stuck in my head all night, though of course they didn’t play it. Probably because I’ve seen Jedi so many times (it was my favorite when I was little) – so the whole thing felt a little off. Although on the whole the bigger ending was sorta cool, even if the part on Coruscant was jarring for the reasons **Captain Amazing** mentions. Of course, now I’m always going to hear it as “Lug nuts!” Incidentally, there’s a minor-league baseball team called the Lansing Lugnuts. Wonder if they need a theme song? Lucas isn’t using it anymore… 😉 **msmith** – Heh. I like it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/13 "2002-05-25T19:05:37Z")
Besdies the change in the meeting between Han and Greedo, the added scene where Jabba and Han talk shortly thereafter strikes me as quite unnecessary. For one thing, they repeat, almost word for word, a couple lines of dialog that Han and Greedo exchanged just moments earlier! ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/14 "2002-05-25T19:25:21Z")
The only change I didn’t like was Greedo firing first. Gee, how original! But seriously, they didn’t even do a good job of it, if he missed Solo by a good three feet, while they were both stationary, sitting down, and he’d had his gun aimed at him for a while, how did he manage to get to the cantina in the first place without tripping over his feet and stabbing himself in the eye with his own finger? If they had inserted some reason for him to miss at that close range it would have made sense, as it was it turned a great scene into a confusing one. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/15 "2002-05-25T20:22:05Z")
In “Star Wars,” the only thing I really liked was the added in bit with Luke and his friend (who’s name escapes me) before going into battle. It makes the guy’s death a bit more meaningful. The addition of Han’s “self defense” shot and the Jabba the Hutt scene both were terrible additions in my opinion. Han’s supposed to be a fucker, that’s his thing, man. And as for Jabba showing up…why would the essential owner of this territory make a personal visit to a guy who ripped him off and NOT break every bone in his body one by one, and then start the very mean stuff. It makes no sense. This guy’s hiring bouty hunters to find him and kill him, so he decides to make a personal visit and LET’S HIM GO!!! Makes Jabba seem like a big pussy in my opinion too. The shit in Empire was alright. I really liked seeing the Wampa more, but the window shots were a little silly. What I HATED was any shot where there was a CGI rendered Falcon. The model looked so cool, and beat up, yet the CGI renderings were smooth, fake, and flat. Every shot of those, the ship looked liked it’d been compressed. As for ROtJ, the ending sucked. Lucas basically put it in there to say “I’m the guy who decides what goes on in this universe, all other stories never existed.” Ego, man, ego. Also, how is it that as soon as the Emperor “dies,” the entire Empire finds out about it immediately? And celebration goes up everwhere? Like **Captain Amazing** said, it wouldn’t have happened that quickly, or in such a grand scale. Oh, and the addition of the venus flytrap mouth in the sarlac pit? LAME!!! ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/16 "2002-05-25T20:41:36Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally Posted by Silentgoldfish:_ > \*\*But seriously, they didn’t even do a good job of it, if he missed Solo by a good three feet, while they were both stationary, sitting down, and he’d had his gun aimed at him for a while, how did he manage to get to the cantina in the first place without tripping over his feet and stabbing himself in the eye with his own finger? \*\* What really annoys me about this is that Greedo was supposed to even shoot in the first place. In ESB, when they are preparing Han to be frozen in the carbonite, didn’t Boba Fett say to Vader “He’s no good to me dead”? So why would Greedo shoot at Han in the first place? Apparently he wouldn’t have gotten any cash from Jabba anyway if Han was dead. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/17 "2002-05-25T21:26:27Z")
Because, if you read the books-(and I stop whining, Lucas said they’re canon, so they’re canon-even if the movies come first!), Greedo is extremely stupid and arrogant. Jabba was playing around with Solo. He wasn’t too fond of Greedo in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/18 "2002-05-25T22:05:32Z")
Actually, I kind of liked the revised Sy Snootles scene and the new song. I keep going into karaoke bars hoping to find it on the song list. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/19 "2002-05-25T22:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > Once again for those of you just joining us: The Death Star construction site orbiting Endor has been attacked and destroyed in a surprise attack by Rebel forces. Of course, that begs the question of why the Empire – the leading superpower in the galaxy – would refer to its battlestation to _its own citizens_ with such an ominous-sounding name. Doesn’t the Empire have any PR people? And I _hated_ the gratuitous insertion of Boba Fett in the revised version of “A New Hope.” Stop making those fanboys cream their pants, Lucas! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797/20 "2002-05-25T22:49:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > Of course, that begs the question of why the Empire – the leading superpower in the galaxy – would refer to its battlestation to _its own citizens_ with such an ominous-sounding name. Doesn’t the Empire have any PR people? > \*\* Well, I think the Empire’s PR people are more dedicated to fear and terror than inspiring warm fuzzies. \ Imperial Bureaucrat #1: Ok, people, you’ve all seen the plans for the new space station, designed to pacify our citizens through sheer terror. Does anyone have any suggestions for names? Imperial Bureaucrat #2: How about “The Happy Fun Ergonomics Research Center and Playland”? Impeial Bureaucrat #1\: Take him out and have him shot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-real-original-trilogy-vs-special-edition-versions/110797.md?page=2)