STAR WARS TRILOGY

Review By Jonathan Hicks

Well, to be honest, I guess if I had made three popular films to the best of my ability twenty years ago, I would want to go back to them later on and try to improve the way they looked. Kind of like a celluloid facelift.

George Lucas said that he wanted to get his original vision on film by going back to the first prints and cleaning them up, improving the sound and adding several effects shots to improve the look. With the release of Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, it was excellent timing. The advances in effects technology would make the new Star Wars film appear far superior to it’s twenty-year-old predecessor. Considering the new film is a prequel... well, figure it out. The films now share a common look and content.

But did Lucas go just a little bit too far with the Special Editions?

I’m not against what he achieved; let’s face it, the entrance to Mos Eisley in A New Hope is fantastic. Now the Tatooine spaceport is a lot bigger than it originally appeared. Ships buzzing the sky, more people walking the bustling streets. An excellent addition. We’re treated to new creatures and background shots, and then when they walk into the cantina it’s a dream watching it on the big screen.

And then Greedo turns up. ‘Oota Goota, Solo?’

The conversation unravels. Greedo threatens, Han shrugs and acts cool. Greedo threatens some more. They face off...

And then Greedo shoots first!

What the...? How the hell did he miss from that range? I get the impression Lucas wanted to show that Han shot Greedo in self-defence. This, for me, lost the essence of the moment, that Han existed in a dirty dangerous world and had to shoot first and ask questions later. Him shooting second kind of lost the image I had of Han. At first he was ‘quite a mercenary’, but then he realised his role with his new friends and joined them in their fight.

All the other scenes in the first film are excellently done. The additions to the backgrounds (especially the Han Solo chases stormtroopers down a corridor sequence), are brilliant and add a whole new depth to the film. The improved dogfight sequence at the end is quite dynamic.

The Empire Strikes Back starts with very little to impress you, other than the new footage shot for the Wampa Ice Creature sequence. Although the additions were unnecessary, it was good to finally see the creature in all it’s glory instead of trying to imagine it’s presence. The tidy-up of the AT-AT sequence and improved sound was well done.

The part that stands out is the flight into Cloud City. The new approach sequence captures the same effect as the new approach to Mos Eisley; there’s plenty more to see and experience. The film then progresses at it’s usual pace, with some excellent additions to the background inside Cloud City, with huge vistas of the exterior now visible.

The fighting starts. The lightsabre battle is conducted.

Vader reaches out to Luke...

‘I am your father’.

The drama of the moment increases. We all sit forward in our seats, although we don’t know why, we’ve seen the original film a thousand times.

Luke lets go of the platform and falls, an act of defiance...

What the...! He’s screaming as he falls! Why the hell is he screaming? I thought it was an act of defiance, and his fall in silence was grim determination - he would face his death like a Jedi. What happened? Did he let go and suddenly thought ‘what the hell am I doing? I’m going to die!’ The scream took away the drama of the moment, mainly because I didn’t want to hear him scream, but also because the scream was so pathetic-sounding.

And then, as I remember, Vader walks from Cloud City and as he is flanked by his officers he issues one demand. ‘Bring my shuttle’. That’s all he had to say to his men. It was dark, brooding. You get the impression he’s angry and a little jerked off.

But now it’s ‘inform my star destroyer to prepare for my arrival’ or some such thing, and the moment is lost. The sequence that follows shows a shuttle flying up to the Super Star Destroyer, which is impressive, but... unnecessary? And when you see Vader walk on board - I’ve seen that reception committee somewhere before. See below.

Although Return Of The Jedi is the weakest of the trilogy, and appeared to be the film that was touched-up the least, it was still the film that impressed me the most on the big screen. The additions to the sarlacc’s pit were excellent, with the beak that was added appearing to have been there since the original. Other smaller additions, such as the herd of bantha and the new musical scene with Sy Snootles, don’t detract from the atmosphere but don’t really add to it either. The wonderful parts are, of course, the final sequence with the new sweeping footage of three celebrating worlds - Tatooine, Bespin and (my personal favourite) Coruscant. A really good ending with a very good new musical score.

That’s it. The whole three films re-touched and re-released. But was it worth it? Did Lucas go a little bit too far?

Of course not. Sure, there are several things I have a problem with, but, hey, for him to get this job done is a dream. To see the films on the big screen again, and also to help a new generation of Star Wars fans live the original wonder we had when seeing them those many years ago, is fantastic. Hats off to Lucas and his team of geniuses at Lucasfilm. We got our Star Wars appetites wetted for future projects, and Lucas realised his vision; a grand, sweeping sci-fi world of strong personalities and great adventure.

Just remember, though - Greedo never got a shot off, Luke never screamed and Vader said ‘bring my shuttle’. One day, I’ll get permission to edit my perfect Special Edition.

One day. When the devil wears ice-skates to work.