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I don't know if this has been posted already (certainly didn't show up in search results), but just wanted to share this trailer of the fan-effort "Star Wars Trilogy: Despecialized Edition Remastered". Although the trailer was uploaded in 2013, the news surrounding it seems to be fairly recent (August 2014):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHfLX_TMduY&hd=1

Thoughts? I personally am amazed at the effort and resulting quality of the work put in by these fans. I certainly can't imagine the level of difficulty needed to pull this off, especially as a hobby (rather than a paid job).

Truthfully the only issue I had with the special edition was Greedo shooting first. If they removed that scene and remastered the rest then I would be happy.

The new Jabba dance scene was a bit much as well. Some of the SE changes were nice though, like the CGI backgrounds in cloud city. (The original edition cloud city looked pretty boring.)

I actually liked the Special Editions. However, there are things with the changes made to the Blu-Ray versions I can't stand such as the new poorly made CG-rocks hiding R2 in ANH, the remade gate to Jabba's palace in ROTJ and Vader's "No" in ROTJ.

Mange wrote:I actually liked the Special Editions. However, there are things with the changes made to the Blu-Ray versions I can't stand such as the new poorly made CG-rocks hiding R2 in ANH, the remade gate to Jabba's palace in ROTJ and Vader's "No" in ROTJ.

This team has also made a HD recreation of the '97 Special Edition, as well, with it's apparently superior audio track. Apparently fidelity-wise, both the DVD releases and BluRay have terrible audio compared the source audio of the 97 theatrical releases.

One other thing I like about these edition is the much improved picture quality in terms of colours etc. I can't believe the BluRay colours actually look like that.

From a purely historical standpoint, I would like to see the original versions as they were, if only to appreciate the effort put into the original special effects and production. The '97 CGI work is increasingly becoming dated, whereas the original effects are timeless. For comparison, I have the Director's Cut of Star Trek II, and it has all the flaws and limitations of the original special effects, yet I still think they look good; I certainly don't think that adding new CGI effects everywhere would improve the film in any meaningful way.

At the same time, I have to agree that some the SE changes are beneficial, like the reunion scene between Luke and Biggs, which I think made the characters more meaningful. On the other hand, the addition of Jabba, while a novelty at the time, I think in hindset was an unnecessary edition, because the original film ended up in a way where there is mystery as to who Jabba is, thus creating a build-up from ANH to TESB to the final reveal in ROTJ.

In the radio dramatization (and I think the novelization, though I'm not sure) of A New Hope, Han and Chewie are confronted at the docking bay by one of Jabba's lieutenants, a man by the name of Heater. Their conversation is nearly identical to the one Han has with Jabba in the special edition. I think they'd have been much better served doing it that way.

The discussion he has with Jabba is more or less identical to the one he has with Greedo. The whole 'I get boarded sometimes' with the exception of Han trying to weasel his way out of it by promising him extra money, instead of just shooting him.

It's redundant and we still understand what happens in ESB &RotJ without it there at all.

Ambassador wrote:One other thing I like about these edition is the much improved picture quality in terms of colours etc. I can't believe the BluRay colours actually look like that.

The colors are terrible on DVD/BD (both were sourced from the same masters). The color correction is way off with lobster-colored skin tones in some shot and weird effects in others (in TESB, when Piett steps up to Vader to tell him that the Emperor wishes to speak with him, the color tint of the frame changes to match Piett's uniform, it's really weird. Some blaster effects, especially at the beginning of ANH when the ISD chases the Tantive IV, looks very washed out). Apparently the color timing was signed off by George Lucas.

Ambassador wrote:From a purely historical standpoint, I would like to see the original versions as they were, if only to appreciate the effort put into the original special effects and production.

I absolutely agree that the original versions should be available. RMW (formerly Lowry Digital) has done a 4K, 16 bit restoration of the OT (it was up on their site, but was removed. It can be seen via the Internet Archive). Though it's unclear which version it is, there are rumors about an upcoming Blu-Ray release of the originals: [url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wa ... e-evidence]Den of Geek

Ambassador wrote:The '97 CGI work is increasingly becoming dated, whereas the original effects are timeless.

I don't quite agree with you here. While much of the CG work is dated, some of it holds up well (especially the space scenes, though the X-wings are marked wrong). The old effects doesn't hold up very well with lots of garbage mattes and matte lines.

Mange wrote:The colors are terrible on DVD/BD (both were sourced from the same masters). The color correction is way off with lobster-colored skin tones in some shot and weird effects in others (in TESB, when Piett steps up to Vader to tell him that the Emperor wishes to speak with him, the color tint of the frame changes to match Piett's uniform, it's really weird. Some blaster effects, especially at the beginning of ANH when the ISD chases the Tantive IV, looks very washed out). Apparently the color timing was signed off by George Lucas.

Yeah, just it case it wasn't clear, I was referring the recolouring done in the despecialized edition being really good - the "I can't believe the bluray looked like that" refers to how bad the BR colours are, as you pointed out.

I don't quite agree with you here. While much of the CG work is dated, some of it holds up well (especially the space scenes, though the X-wings are marked wrong). The old effects doesn't hold up very well with lots of garbage mattes and matte lines.

To a certain extent, I agree, the CGI space shots have definitely age better than say, the Mos Eisley scene CGI, and the matte lines can be intrusive at times. However, I think even maintaining the original physical model shots while removing the matte lines + general clean-up/enhancement would be more appropriate than outright replacement, like has been done on the TNG BluRays (where the original physical model shot re-processed and enhanced for HD look positively gorgeous). I know that the movement of the original shots isn't as dynamic and flamboyant as the Special Edition CGI, but the basic shots themselves look fine.

ANH:
Han shooting first.
Jabba scene is redundant and fan service to add Boba Fett.

TESB:
The shuttle going from Needa's ship to Vader's is unnecessary.
"Alert my Stardestroyer to prepare for my arrival." is not only clunky and doesn't sound like Vader does in the rest of the movie, but it lessens Vader's presence and scariness. "Bring my shuttle." is fucking perfect.

ROTJ:
I don't really have any issues with Jedi's version.