Whats the hate with the Star Wars Special Editions?

[Doc]

I never really got that. Sure some alternations are distracting but, its not like they are changing the plot or continuity. Please don't think I'm a little kid who just likes, the new editions and the prequels because they have 'better effects'. I do prefer the original theartical versions of the films more but, I do admit seeing the SEs more because of better quality. The way I see though, the fanbases hate of the SEs is really overblown....then again, I didn't grow up in the 70s and 80s with SW....

[bassman]

When you take anything as iconic and loved as Star Wars and start tinkering with it....of course people are going to be mad. I think what REALLY pisses off most of the fans is that Lucas refuses to release the original films on any new formats. So from now on, all people can view are the special editions. I don't have a huge problem with what Lucas did. Some of it didn't need to be changed and some of it works well, but just like you said....in the end it's the same film.

[SymphonicX]

anyone see the episode of south park where they remade all the old movies and replaced the guns with cell phones? I guess that's how people feel

[DjfunkmasterG]

I have the originals on DVD... They came as part of the TIN boxset from 2 years ago I bought at Best Buy it included on disc 1 SE, and on disc 2 the Original Cuts

[Danny]

its a crazy old man lucas movie?

[EvilNed]

I think what REALLY pisses off most of the fans is that Lucas refuses to release the original films on any new formats. So from now on, all people can view are the special editions. Actually, the original versions have been out on DVD for some time now.

[bassman]

I didn't realize the original films were on DVD. Last I heard, Lucas went on record as saying the Special Editions ARE the films now and he wouldn't release the originals.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Yep, 2 years now Bassman, at least 2 years. however, they are from Digibeta transfers and look like shit, but still they are on DVD

[darth los]

When you take anything as iconic and loved as Star Wars and start tinkering with it....of course people are going to be mad. Exactly. Just Imagine if someone took something equally as iconic a Star Wars like say.... Night of the living dead and started tinkering with it making it an....unwatchable.....stomach turning...hot....mess. HEY!!!!! WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! RUSSO ALREADY DID THAT !!! My bad. Yeah so how did that feel?

[bassman]

That's a perfect example! But I think we can all agree that Lucas didn't f*ck up the original trilogy as bad as Russo f*cked up Night.

[clanglee]

I really didn't have TOO much of a problem with the changes in the special edition, with the very large exception of the very end on Jedi. Replacing David Prowse with stupid Hayden Christensen was unforgivable. And it made no freakin' sense!! Why didn't they replace Alec Guiness with McGregor while they were at it!??!? Ohhhhh that still makes me mad.

[Doc]

Exactly. Just Imagine if someone took something equally as iconic a Star Wars like say.... Night of the living dead and started tinkering with it making it an....unwatchable.....stomach turning...hot....mess. HEY!!!!! WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! RUSSO ALREADY DID THAT !!! My bad. Yeah so how did that feel? Never seen the 30th annivesary just clips here and there. I was thinking of actually buying it but, negative response is so strong against the edition I decided not to. Replacing David Prowse with stupid Hayden Christensen was unforgivable. And it made no freakin' sense!! Why didn't they replace Alec Guiness with McGregor while they were at it!??!? Ohhhhh that still makes me mad. Yeah, whats up with that? Lucas gave some crap explaination for it but ,I can't remember though. While, we're on the subject on Jedi don't forget 'Jedi Rocks'. I have no problem with the song itself but, the horrible cgi thats a different story. But, other than those alternations nothing really bothers me much. The one that confuses me til this day though...is the Who Shot First one? Can some explain this to me? What does it matter who shot first? So, Han shoots first so what? What does it prove? He's a faster draw?

[EvilNed]

As for "Who Shot First", in the original version Han Solo shoots first and asks questions later. It's an important part of his character introduction. But when you have him shooting in self-defence, that also changed the character introduction... And the character.

[MoonSylver]

I didn't HATE them. Some changes were cool, some were *meh* & some I did hate, so it was uneven overall. The Jabba scene was a bit cool in ep.4. Oddly, some of the things I hated worst were very minor changes. As Luke falls: "Aaaahhhhhhh...."= Lame. Vader (after Luke falls original) "Bring my shuttle!" (delivered in voice full of barely controlled rage & fury) New: "Prepare my shuttle for immediate departure." (Delivered in a voice full of bored courtesy & politeness)= Lame. I really didn't have TOO much of a problem with the changes in the special edition, with the very large exception of the very end on Jedi. Replacing David Prowse with stupid Hayden Christensen was unforgivable. And it made no freakin' sense!! Why didn't they replace Alec Guiness with McGregor while they were at it!??!? Ohhhhh that still makes me mad. Actually, they replaced Sebastian Shaw. Prowse was the "man in the suit": he got no face time. I saw what they were going for with it: you want him to match up w/ the actor who played him. Fair enough. Obviously he's going to be un-scarred & undamaged. But why didn't they age him any? Anakin "died" in the figurative sense when he became Vader, not literally. He was a middle aged man when he died. They could've aged him up a bit (or just left Sebastian Shaw in there...) As for "Who Shot First", in the original version Han Solo shoots first and asks questions later. It's an important part of his character introduction. But when you have him shooting in self-defence, that also changed the character introduction... And the character. Yup, that's why Lucas changed it. I still think it's lame though. In the original, I Had no problem w/ Han shooting first. You know Greedo has the drop on him, you know he's getting ready to shoot Han, it's not like Han had him unarmed & helpless & gunned him down in cold blood or anything, so really, unnecessary IMO, plus it kinda detracts from the Han-outwitting-him part of it.

[clanglee]

As for "Who Shot First", in the original version Han Solo shoots first and asks questions later. It's an important part of his character introduction. But when you have him shooting in self-defence, that also changed the character introduction... And the character. Indeed. . .I forgot that one. Yeah, that was a crappy change too. I much prefer Han shooting first.