My personal favorite is the special edition where Darth Vader reveals he is also a fucking scorpion.

The special editions aren't the problem. George Lucas' refusal to have the original theatrical cuts released and make the special editions the only version available is.

Fun fact: the Library of Congress doesn’t have Star Wars in it. George refused to give them the original print, and tried giving them the Special Edition

I really want to make the “customizable special editions” idea you had real so bad

You know what was unforgivable? Replacing Sebastian Shaw with Hayden Christensen as a force ghost in Return of the Jedi. That still annoys the hell out of me.

The changes in of themselves weren't the main issue for me. The main issue was that they took the original versions out of print at one point, and never reissued them.

For someone called "Angry Videogame Nerd" this is one of the chillest dudes I've ever watched on this website

Four years later we have Maclunkey to add to the mix on the Greedo scene.

how does killing an alien bounty hunter who is pointing a gun at you and telling you hes going to enjoy killing you make you a "cold blooded killer"? lol

You left out the worst change of all. Vader shouting "NOOOOOO!" before he saves Luke.

"Star Wars: Special Special Edition where all the guns have been digitally replaced with walkie talkies"

My least favorite change by far was making Vader say "No." when he sees Luke getting electrocuted. The magic of that scene was that Vader is wearing a mask, and you can't see his face, but you know what he's thinking and how he's feeling. You see the way he looks at Palpatine, his face contorted in anger, he's just trying make Luke suffer. Then he looks back at Luke, his son, laying on the ground begging his father to save him, and he takes one last look at Palpatine before silently betraying his master and killing him. No words, no facial expression. Just pure, raw, body language. Then Lucas shit all over it by making him say "Noooo!" like a whiny child.

I absolutely HATE the CG Jabba scene. We get enough background information about Han's situation, but more importantly we get the build-up to the Jabba reveal in Return of The Jedi. I remember as a kid thinking, "Who is Jabba the Hutt? What is a Hutt?!" Seeing him right out of the gate in Ep. IV ruins that.

Putting young Anakin in the place of the old one as a ghost fucking sucked.

the disney+ version of a new hope is "Maclunky!".

No one: Absolutely no one: Disney+ version: MACLUNKEY

shoutout to the De-Specialized Editions

I am okay with the special editions, I am not okay with forcing EVERYONE to buy this version and not letting people get the original updated theatrical release.

Star wars was originally on the big screen in 1977. 20 years later, in 1997, it was on the big screen again. Its been 20 years. Its 2017. Bring it back again!

I suspect that most would agree some of the Special Edition changes worked and some of them didn't, but what Lucas ultimately failed to realise was, the fans who had supported him all these years really needed a choice, the chance to make their own mind up what to watch, because no matter how unfinished Star Wars was to him, those original movies turned out to be a lot more special to us than he realised.

The one change I cannot stand is Darth Vader's "No!" scream added into his redemption scene in Return of the Jedi. What made that scene work so well was that you didn't need words or facial expressions to see that Vader was feeling conflicted as Palpatine was shocking Luke. That was the most important scene of the movie, and it was perfect the way it was originally and didn't need any unnecessary additions like that "No!" scream they added in.

The NOOOOOOO is Return of the Jedi ruins the great moment.

I actually like that they changed Yub Nub. That was a fun little song but Victory Celebration just felt more on a Galactic scale and it really hits hard when they showed all the other planets celebrating the fall of the Empire. It just feels more like a conclusion than Yub Nub.

I’d love if AVGN made a video doing the “customized version” of the Star Wars movies, talking about every single change

It wouldn't even make sense for Greedo to shoot. I'm pretty sure Jabba wanted him alive.

The new Jabba scene was the point where I realized something was wrong. Jabba is a threatening mob boss, but in that scene he comes off as a wimp. Han uses a patronizing tone and very deliberately steps on Jabba. Showing disrespect like that, especially in front of Jabba's men, should have gotten Han killed for it.

In the New Hope SE I found Han stepping on Jabba's tail questionable. One of the recurring themes was the Hutts being a real threat to the main characters, non-force using characters. Yet when he was face to face with his very unbosslike gangster boss; Han punks Jabba with physical disrespect, a move that would surely draw a very hostile reaction from the gangsters bodyguards.

One change I can get behind is when they added a sound effect to that storm trooper hitting his head on a door in A New Hope.

The "Han isn't a cold-blooded killer" excuse is the most bullshit excuse for changing that scene. Greedo had a gun pointed at Han and was threatening to deliver him to a crime lord so he could collect his bounty. Han had every right to pull that trigger for self-preservation. Plus, doesn't it really add to his character arc, making the guy who'd do anything to survive end up as a respected member of the Rebel Alliance?

Wasn't the fact what we DON'T SEE the Jabba, we only hear about him being very scary - pretty important?

I found a fan-made (from laser discs?) "Despecialized Editions" of the Star Wars Original Trilogy and they're good to watch. And unfortunately that's the closest you'll likely get to an HD original theatrical version of the Star Wars trilogy.

One of the big problems, is that the CGI that they used in 1997, is starting to look really outdated. Like the womp rats in Mos Eisley and the dewbacks on Tatooine are really not holding up any more.

I just want an ultimate edition of StarWars where you can turn on what special editions you want and don't want.

Empire was mostly alright EXCEPT why, why WHY did Lucas add a scream to Luke's fall? It changes the tone from a noble sacrifice to like... He fucking slipped. Oops.

Thank God for the Despecialized Editions!!

Fun story: I was in a film class at uni around 2006 or so and I was in a lecture of about four hundred, watching Return of the Jedi. When it came to the end, where Lucas replaced old Anakin with young Anakin, some dude in the back of this massive lecture hall yells out "What the fuck??!"

There is no more special edition than Harmy's despecialized

I think they can skip Jaba, it gives it more of a mystery until you see him.

There's a great Semi-Specialized edition floating around that keeps what the Specials did well and leaves out the more ridiculous changes, all in HD.

Ah yes, they added one new rock to the scene with R2D2 on tatooine in a new hope

I like that idea of custom movies.

Every scene, so dense... Like poetry...

Han shooting Greedo under the table was my dad's favorite scene in the movie when we saw it in the theater in 1977. He laughed out loud!

Honestly Yub nub sounded like a teletubies song and changing it showing other planets celebrating really enforced the idea that the empire was defeated instead of having some dumb bears dancing around

I didn't mind the 1997 changes, after that...... it was a bit overboard. And they need to rerelease the original despecialized

The restored Jabba scene hurts the continuity of the series. Jabba looks and acts different in the scene compared to the way he is in Return of the Jedi.

The added CGI to me just looked out of place in many of the scenes. I'm somebody who prefers practical effects instead so that could be why. The prequel to The Thing wasn't as good as the original because of its reliance on CGI. The original was so much more terrifying because the alien things looked so real.

I'm sure it's been mentioned, but the band in Jabba's palace was added specifically to show off 3D. I remember seeing all of the SE releases in theaters in 3D.

Oh my God, someone make Interactive Star Wars happen!

Wow, no mention of Lucas's ex wife receiving royalties on the of trilogy thus he had to make all the odd changes to stop paying her? That's an important fact, telling of his motivations.

Biggs reuniting with Luke is my favorite scene that they put back in

I loved the end of Return of the Jedi, the score was my favourite and they they scroll through all the planets and star systems that celebrated the emperor’s death, then on Corruscant where the old Jedi Temple stands alone like it’s seen some shit...it was a really powerful and intimate moment for me.

Thank God for Harmy's Despecialized editions, it's all one would ever need.

They aren't bad on their own, but not having access to the original versions makes the Special Editions cultural vandalism.

The quality of the special editions is irrelevant. They could be a massive improvement on the originals, making them all twice as good. It doesn't matter. The point is that the original Star Wars is a massive milestone in the history of film, one that a lot more people than just George were responsible for. It's horrid that there's a potential for the original version of the film to not be legally seen ever again. Star Wars is one of the most important films ever, and it's incredibly frustrating that because of one man's ego, you can't see them. Part of why Star Wars was so successful was the special effects, pacing and set design. The Special Edition changes or obscures all of those. The Library of Congress asked for a print of the film, for preservation, and George is only willing to give them the 1997 version. The 1997 version isn't the one that got nominated for 10 oscars and launched the largest franchise in history! As a student of film history, studying the 1997 version is pointless, unless you're specifically looking at remasters.

The biggest disservice to Star Wars ever?! Oh wait, this was published before Episode 8...

If you wanna watch the original cuts go on porn hub and type in Star Wars I'm serious

For me, I hated when Obi Wan and Luke were riding into town. Every scene just had so much crap going on and blocking them.

The Jabba scene was just completely pointless. We already got what we needed to know from the Greedo scene before, and the CGI is just terrible.

All of the Jabba scene info in Star Wars is in the Greedo subtitles, and it's a very bad inclusion.

A customizable version sounds good.

I disagree with the Jaba scene. I think less is more and not knowing what he looks like until Jedi adds a lot more I think.

I have the Harmy's Despecialized Edition edition, look it up it's pretty good

The two changes I hate the most are the dubbing of Boba Fett in The Empire strikes back (the actor for Jango Fett now says the lines) and Hayden Christianson in Return of the Jedi (originally it was the Actor who played Vader without the scared and deformed makeup) these people were a piece of Star Wars history that, over time, were edited out. It seems rude, even if they are George’s movies.

By FAR the most infuriating thing about the Special Editions was the Jabba scene added to A New Hope. The Jabba I know from Return of the Jedi would not go ANYWHERE. He would bring YOU to HIM. And he sure as hell wouldn't let you just step on his fucking tail and make him squeal like a bitch. Han would have lost his nuts over a thing like that.

Great review! Very funny! As for Lucas saying "Films are never finished - only abandoned."? Fuck that. Sure, I get it. Songs are never finished, as there is always another way to arrange it, mix it, etc... The same goes for paintings. But you can't take the Mona Lisa and keep adding stuff to it and expect it to have the same artistic expression. Art thrives on restrictions, and the original Star Wars cuts reflect that. The more shit you throw on top of the movies, the more they suck.

I totally disagree with James about the Yub Nub change. I prefer Victory Celebration 1000 times over that song, despite how iconic Yub Nub is. Victory Celebration works much better as an end to the Saga and gives a more emotional tone to the scene.

Looks like Han can use the force too. That dodge was super fast.

Sadly, the Special Editions of the original Trilogy is all I know :(

Some changes are good, other are pointless. Some of them are pretty subjective and will differ from person to person like Hayden Christiansen at the end of jedi.

I respect the great and powerful Jabba but that new scene was horrendous and unnecessary. Solo's debt to Jabba was implied in the original.

The 1997 special editions, were pretty cool at the time. We were all excited about the new CGI stuff, and it was new then. It was cool to try and compare the two versions. I picked up a DVD set when I lived in Alaska that (supposedly) has the original theatrical cuts on them. Honestly, at this point - aside from CGI add-ins, as far as edits go I'm not sure I'd remember what the differences are, without looking them up. I absolutely detested the CGI re-hash of Jedi, with Hayden at the end. I refuse to watch that edition.

The problem with the edited Han and Jabba scene is that it's nothing but a big spoiler for The Return of The Jedi, as you now already know from the beginning who Jabba is and what he looks like. Also the ice creature scene is much more thrilling in the old version, where you don't see all of it while it's approaching Luke.

"Films are never finished, if you can earn more money from them" - George Lucas

I love the idea of check your own options on the movie some day. He just throws it in there at the end, but it's a great idea and I do think it will be available like 20 years from now when George is gone.

I actually have the original trilogy on VHS, and they are some of the oldest versions around. Probably not THE original, but they don't have Hayden Christianson at the end of RotJ.

(Pstt.... the despecialized edition.... Google it ;D )

James, I don't have a problem with the special editions as stand alone "editions" of the films. I think the problem many Star Wars purists have, including me, is what they point out in "The People vs. George Lucas": During the process of making the special editions, he physically DESTROYED the original film reels. So now (at least according to the people who made the documentary) its literally IMPOSSIBLE for someone like 20th Century Fox or Disney to go back and re-release the original -- or at least the MOST original -- version of the films using the original reels... Thats fucked up, and George's reasoning is that the special edition is how it was supposed to be all along. Even though its his work, he literally destroyed a piece of film history to feed his ego. I don't think people would appreciate Francis Ford Coppola going back and destroying the reels for The Godfather to add a CGI version of a horse's head

Even before the 2004 DVDs were released many bootleggers from Asia poorly transferred the Laserdisc releases to DVD, and before the GOUT DVDs were released in 2006 many fans transferred the Laserdiscs on the internet (2:42)

"Very cool." - Mike Stoklasa, Rich Evans and Jay Bauman

How about just don't fuck with good art.

the part that bugs me the most is where they changed anikian to match the on from the "new prequels" in the ending of a new hope. the basically gave the finger to the original actor.

The Biggs scene in Episode 4, as well as most of the visual effects changes to the Death Star battle are both good changes.

if Star Wars had the interactive menu, it would take 3 hours to get pick out what you want and what you don't. There are 150+ changes to Star Wars so that would take a long time to pick and choose what changes you like.

Blade Runner had quite a few different releases, and I believe most or all of them are available in modern formats. Lucas' decision is an insult to fans and the preservation of one of history's most important films of all time.

The changes to Jedi's ending are unforgivable. That movie had the perfect ending, then they go and take away the Ewok song that leads perfectly into the main theme and the credits, they add young Anakin, add in a bunch of cgi celebrations better left to the imagination.... There has been technology on dvd's and blu-rays to have multiple versions of a film. I know New Line did that with some of their Infinifilm disks, and I think the dvd of the horror/thriller Joy Ride let you choose from alternate endings. Basically they'd add in the alternate scenes as chapter stops and the play list would change and skip over certain normal scenes to alternate scenes.

The 1997 Special Edition is okay by me. However I would take the original theatrical version over anything that came after.

Those are the only ones I've ever watched. I love them. It would feel weird to watch different, older versions now.

Han walking over Jabba's "tail" was literally the most atrocious movie scene i have ever witnessed.

The Jabba scene is my least favorite edit in the series (followed by Vader yelling "no" in ROTJ). Not only does it ruin the mystery of what Jabba looks like, but it cheapens him and Han's dynamic when Han steps on his tail. Han fears this guy and I don't see Jabba taking that sort of treatment from someone so beneath him like Han. You think he'd just have his men off Han right there with that show of disrespect. And of course when Boba Fett walks by and looks DIRECTLY AT THE CAMERA, it just feels like cheap pandering.

That Jabba scene was apparently supposed to have a stop motion character superimposed over that guy. He was a stand-in from the beginning.

The special edition of Final destination (I think it's part 3) has this option on the disk, you can choose the option of the movie stopping just before all the death scenes and you can choose options for the characters to perform and in some cases, save thier lives. It's so cool to be in control of the film you're watching, they should do more interactive stuff like this in movies

I liked the improved FX, but didn't like content change. It should have been like Star Trek Remastered - where the only changes were to the FX.

When I saw the "Special Edition" in the theaters, what really bothered me was that a lot of the added on stuff didn't fit and just didn't look or sound right. Scenes like when Luke and Leah was in the Death Star bridge shaft before they swung across the chasm. They changed the damn sounds of the laser guns to sound like shot guns where before they sounded like laser guns. It was things like that that took me right out of the movie. Also all the CGI they added was just too much. There was just too much too look at, taking your attention away from the center of focus. The prequels had the same problem. Shoving too much crap into the scene because of CGI.

I grew up with these and to see that there were this many changes still astonishes me, I never knew they changed them at all until recently.

I own the originals on VHS--I cherish them!

I wish I Am Legend would get alterations. Such a great movie dragged down by terrible CG and a bad ending. I would love for a release to be made with the alternate ending in place with improved CG. Also the film could do without that Mustang commercial in the beginning.

The thing I hate the most is in Return of the Jedi with the ghost scene, there was no reason to put Hayden Christiansen as the ghost. Like, no. He wasn't a young adult when he died, he was a crusty old man like the rest of them. Also in Empire, they changed Boba Fett's voice to match Jango's. No reason.

I remember that we had the original prequal editions on VHS. When I was a kid, my mom would put the trilogy on and I'd call asleep when we would get to the pod races. I loved those movies.

DVD has a branching option that literally would allow you to select the version you want to see. Few movies use it.