If there's one subject that causes more controversy than any other when it comes to Star Wars, more even than the dreaded Binks, it's the Special Editions.

For a beautifully-restored re-release, in full digital clarity, with maybe five minutes of altered footage in total, they've attracted a remarkable amount of vitriol.

It's understandable why. Fans have enormously nostalgic feelings towards these movies, and don't like to see them spoiled.

There are basically two questions that need answering when it comes to Lucas's tinkerings - Is it right to meddle with a classic after it's release? And are these meddlings an improvement?

The first question is easily answered by putting yourself in the artist's shoes:

If you had created something that was going to be seen the world over, for generations, but there was some little thing that bugged you about it, wouldn't you try to correct it? Wouldn't you feel it was your right to make your legacy to the world exactly as you wanted it before you went?

Of course you would.

Star Wars, Special Editions and all, is George Lucas's vision. Ours is the only generation that have treasured childhood memories of its original incarnation. If it survives, future generations won't give a damn about a few seconds of footage being slightly different at one point in history to another.

Would anyone living today care if Shakespeare had added a few extra rhyming couplets to Hamlet a couple of years after its first round of performances? Or if Michaelangelo had popped back to the Sistine Chapel a few years later to fix that angel that he hadn't got quite right the first time?

I think not.

Which leads me to the second question - Are the Special Editions better than the original versions? And on balance, I'd have to say, "Yes."

I'm going to have to address it sooner or later, so I'll placate those who are still reeling from my last sentence by saying that, yes, Greedo shooting first is a horrible, horrible alteration. It lessens both Han's character arc (from untrustworthy pirate to loveable scoundrel), and also the running gag that his answer to every problem is to shoot it. The change also, let's face it, makes that scene much less badass than it was before.

I'm also far from convinced about Hayden-as-Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi. He looks out of place next to the aged Obi-Wan and Yoda. I want to see the redeemed father who just saved his son's life, not the messed-up young punk who massacres whole villages and slaughters younglings for his own selfish ends.

But, those two major lapses in judgement aside, the Special Editions have done wonders. I love the galaxy-wide celebrations at the saga's end, finally getting to see the Wampa properly, the opening up of locations like Mos Eisley and Cloud City, the deleted scene with Biggs, and so on.

Aside from the merits of individual scenes, another important argument in favour of having Special Editions is, at the time, Star Wars was still a work in progress. Three new films were expanding the saga, and revisiting the old while making the new helps tie the whole thing together.

Of course, prequel-haters will argue that this shouldn't be necessary. But for a story written inside-out over thirty-odd years, Lucas's fantasy epic has come together remarkably smoothly with very little alterations needed. The prequels bend over backwards at times to join all the dots, so isn't it fair that the original Episodes meet them at least part-way?

Before I alienate anyone again, let me say how much I recognise that long-cherished memories are a powerful force when it comes to Star Wars fans. Don't think I don't empathise.

Take another film that's had the 20th Anniversary facelift treatment - Spielberg's E.T. This is a film I hold possibly even more nostalgic affection for than I do for Star Wars. And I loathed its Special Edition:

One of the beauties of E.T. was that you never got to see the little wrinkly guy until he came face-to-screaming-face with Elliott. Now the effect is ruined by having him wander around in full-screen close-up at the start of the film.

There is also no longer any sense of danger whatsoever during the end chase. It took me a while to find out why this was - For reasons best known to himself, Spielberg digitally erased all the guns carried by our heroes' pursuers. What was a life-or-death race now feels like a weekend bike ride through the neighbourhood.

Sure, I like that E.T.'s face is slightly more expressive; the deleted scene with Elliott pretending to vomit down the 'phone is a hoot; and it's nice that his cape now flutters in the wind. Unfortunately, for me, these don't outweigh the damage done by some of the other changes. I know a lot of people feel the same way about the Star Wars Special Editions.

And so, I fully support any calls asking for the original Star Wars Trilogy to be released on DVD alongside it's vamped-up newer incarnation. Only recently has the original E.T. been available on Region 2 DVD. I snapped it up straight away and sold my "E.T. 20" copy off second-hand the very next day. I can see why other people would want to do the same with a different film.

Choice is great. But the Star Wars Special Editions are definitely here to stay. And, as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing.