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Rive's Uncharted Settlements
by: Rive Caedo
date posted: Feb 17, 2006 3:27 PM  | 
updated: Feb 17, 2006 3:49 PM
Star Wars: The Extra-Special Edition!
I took a little liberty with the title, so what? :p
It's obvious if you take the time to read the blog, but I'll make this disclaimer anyway:
No such re-release has been announced.
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I'll start off with a little honesty I suppose. My original VHS tapes are one of my most treasured possessions, the ones before any real changes were made.

I also have considered buying a "Han Shot First T-Shirt" :D

However I also own the Special Edition VHS tapes, and the 2004 DVD set. They probably get just as much viewing as the version I remember... Sure I find some of the changes questionable, but I'm far from a bitter fan who would sooner gnaw off my own leg than admit that some of the special effects could use brushing up for new generations and that the Prequels are new, Lucas couldn't have known how they would turn out almost three decades ago. Some new bridges between the trilogies are needed (Hayden Christiansen's head, Palpatine's new hologram, etc).

I'm also fully aware that it's George's universe and he can do whatever he wants to it. I'm fully aware he was never really happy with the Cantina scene (though some changes have been made making him a bit happier, no doubt) and other scenes.

But why don't we make everyone happy?

There's a new generation out there who hasn't seen the Original Trilogy on the big screen. Or perhaps not at all in some rare cases. This is doubtless one of the primary reasons George and Rick are talking about doing the 3D re-release in 2007 or so (if there's enough Digital theaters to make it worth going through the 3Dizing process).

Why doesn't George go all out this time, while he has the chance? Make the films match up with the Prequels.

Do one final cleanup, make sure everything looks brand new (which it almost does already in the 2004 DVD set :) ). Then redo almost everything with digital effects.
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Opening shot - Yep, it's still iconic, it still looks great, but let's get it up to top notch levels, the giant star destroyer chasing the tiny Tantive IV over Tatooine, but now the Tantive IV will be able to shake a bit when it gets hit and the like.

Overhaul all current Special Edition Era effects (Mos Eisley, etc)

Replace as many of those rubber costumes in the Cantina with CGI creatures as you want George. I'm sure they're getting of tired of being in the same bar for 30 years. :)

Make Han shoot first... For me? :p

Hyperspace effects look so much crisper with a computer. :D

Yikes that Alderaan explosion looks a bit pathetic nowadays... ILM?

Same with the Alderaan dust field :D

TIE fighter attack on the falcon...
"They're coming in too fast!"
Could be much more literal now :)

Yavin IV battle against the Death Star? Yeah, it looks pretty good now with it's newish 1997 effects, but let's do it again. No more flying in a perfectly straight line, now the ships can dodge a shot or two in the trench before being mowed down by Vader.

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Ok I think that gives you an idea. The basic idea is to bring the Original Trilogy up to the effects level of the Prequels.

And lo' a cry from the purists went up: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

And I would join them to a degree. I'd honestly rather see my nostalgic version back up there on the screen. But this is a different day and age.

So I mentioned making everyone happy.

Take the original prints... Hand them over to Lowry (company that restored the films to there 2004 DVD crispness)

Don't make any changes, just restore the picture to a crisp DVD quality level.

Then sell 'em leading up the Extra-Special release. Or even put them in the same DVD set as a "bonus".

If you want to go even further release them in a few major theaters as a "Special Presentation".

It's a new day and age... Accept it fully... But don't forget the past.
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Rive Caedo
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