Star Wars: Episode VI - "Return of the Jedi", what did they do to the end of this?

[Steve Hoffman]

My gang was really in to STAR WARS back in the day and I remember going to the Egyptian in Hollywood to see the third STAR WARS film in 1983. I remember waiting in that long line the first night and my girlfriend Clair Marlo ran across the street and brought us back pizza slices to tide us over. After, we walked over to the Tick Tock and pigged out. Wow, 25 years ago? Ugh! In fact, I saw it about four times there with different people. Haven't seen it all the way through since until tonight. It was on TV, on the Lo-Fi channel but there was nothing else on. So, holy geez, what did they do to the ending? They added a bunch of "rejoicing scenes" and they morphed out Luke's daddy and put in the dude from the later films? The ending music is also different, that's for sure. Not even in friggin' sync. Wow. Are they allowed to do that?:)

So, what else was changed in the second and third films? I must admit, watching them on a 60" screen is nothing compared to the big screen 70mm mag thrill of the original versions wayyyy back in the old daze which is why I don't bother. STAR WARS was so soft looking picture-wise when I saw the revival at the Chinese about 11 years ago that I lost faith..

[bhazen]

I don't really remember, Steve (it's the trauma), but that sort of stuff Lucas did to his masterpiece(s) is as bad as remixing "Tomorrow Never Knows" and adding digital drum samples to "update" Ringo's drum sound.

[lukejosephchung]

Fortunately, the original versions of Episodes 4 through 6 are available on DVD, so if you want to see them, you still can!:)

[Squealy]

Most of those changes were for the 1997 rereleases of the movies, but they didn't add Anakin in until the DVD release (obviously, as the rereleases came out before the second trilogy was even made).

[GeoffC]

Hi Steve

A fairlly comprehensive list of changes to Jedi can be seen here.

http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-three.html

The others are here.

http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html

http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-two.html

Regards
Geoff

[BrianH]

IIRC, Anakin looks younger then Luke at the end of the updated ROTJ.

Yeah they bascially massacred it.

I know that Lucas said he wanted to see the ice monster at the beginning of ESB. Bad move. But Lucas has lost his mind, we all know that.

Lucas wrote the screenplay for the latest Indy film too. :shake:

The celebration scene at the end of RotJ was supposed to be a teaser for episode 1.

It's why so many people hate George Lucas now.
He's destroyed Star Wars.
Han saying to Jaba "you're a wonderful human being".

The simple fact that he saw Jake Loyd and Hayden Christensen and said "there's Anakin!" tell you all you need to know about how far he's gone.

Oh and the all-time fav "Annie?!" :hurlleft:

[Roscoe]

The other most obvious change to ROTJ was the scene in Jabba's palace. They replaced the band and song they were playing from the original (admittedly) primitive puppets to ghastly CGI characters.

[JamieC]

Heck I still cant get over the fact that in A New Hope(you know, the first one, Episode 4...?) Han Solo no longer preemptively blows away Greedo. They CGI'ed a first shot from Greedo next to Hans ear that amazingly doesn't even make a mark on the wall.
And Lucas is so arrogant to the fans of his films.

[jojopuppyfish]

Lucas has no respect for the 1970s look.
Actually the one change that I liked was in ESB, cloud city, as they are walking around the hallways, the windows show alot of the city.
But I began to realize that directors need to respect the film for what it is.

[RexKramer]

Fortunately, the original versions of Episodes 4 through 6 are available on DVD, so if you want to see them, you still can!:)

These are the same non-anamorphic transfers used for the last round of laserdisks before the newer editions. I refused to double dip. From CED, VHS, laser and DVD, I think I've owned six editions of Episode 4&5 and five of Jedi.

Quick summary of the major changes. I'm excluding digital additions or background changes:

Empire is arguably the least of the tweaked films story-wise.

* More Wampa footage of a guy in a silly suit. There's an exhibit in Philly with that suit and while I have to say they did a nice job on it, the new footage feels like it came from a different set.

* They changed a line of Luke's after R2D2 is spat out by the Dagobah (sp?) creature. But the line is changed from previous video releases - I understand that 70mm prints often had different dialog than other prints.

* The emperor's hologram was replaced with Ian McDiarmid.

* Boba Fett's voice was replaced with the actor who played Jango Fett.

* In the 1997 re-release they added a scream when Luke plummets down the shoot, arguably the most offensive change of the trilogy (I found it even more insulting than Han shooting first because the Bespin lightsaber battle is the heart of the series). It was thankfully removed in the DVD revision.

* They added a shot or two of Vader issuing orders when leaving Bespin.

There probably are others but these are the ones that stick out in memory.

In Jedi (again, major tweaks only):

* A whole new open in Jabba's palace. Elton John was originally supposed to write it but didn't. It's the typical Lucas mistake of shoving digital effects in your face that ultimately add nothing.

* The ending, as you saw, dropped the Yub Yub song and made it more epic, incorporating a different Anakin and adding scenes from the other planets. No sir, don't like it.

Mark

[alfarkel]

The South Park guys did an episode on the changes and mightily ripped in to Lucas.

Some hilarity for discontented fans.

Empire Strikes Back
Season 6
The boys go to see the "Empire Strikes Back" re-release. They are outraged by all the PC changes and plan to take action.

Full episode is here:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/103540

[Solaris]

Fortunately, the original versions of Episodes 4 through 6 are available on DVD, so if you want to see them, you still can!:)

Yeah but they look like crap. My brother's laserdisc has better picture quality.

[crimsoncing]

Lucas just pulled a Frank Zappa and changed everything he did not like about the orignal releases. It did not bother as much as I thought it would.

[I Am The Lolrus]

empire is OK, just put the original boba lines in and its a decent update(though the cgi really stands out at cloud city, unfortunately).

[C6H12O6]

Someone must've tampered with the print Steve saw, because he didn't mention the last shot where George Lucas gives us the finger.

[Anthology123]

The new DVD of Star Wars is different in the Orginal version. All other previous versions of it on video always start with Episode IV - A New Hope
while the new version completely Omits that title.

As for Jedi, the ending is changed to show celebrations in various locations of the rebel victory, Bespin, Mos Eisley, Coruscant. The story of changin Anakin at the end to Hayden Christiansen was according to GL, he died at the moment he turned to the dark side, so he turned back and was restored at his last age. Of course, the next big task is to graph his head into the scene when Luke takes off his mask.

[gener8tr]

I would have been thrilled to death if the entire saga ended after EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

I watch the first two (4 and 5) on Laserdisc several times per year. I never watch any of the others, and may never again. Well, maybe R.O.T.J. if I'm in an original trilogy mood some rainy day, but not the rest (1 - 3).

Just my own personal preference.

[Squealy]

I would have been thrilled to death if the entire saga ended after EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.


You didn't want to find out how they rescued Han Solo?

[gener8tr]

You didn't want to find out how they rescued Han Solo?

It would have left me wondering for sure. Actually, I guess you're right, R.O.T.J. is necessary, but I wish it was made a bit differently. Parts of that film are great, parts are terrible IMO.

But nothing is as terrible (mentioned aboved) as Anikan being called "Annie." That one literally had me cringing in my seat and ready to lob Bon-Bons at the screen :) He's not Annie... HE'S FREAKING DARTH VADER! :)

[ZappaSG]

Seeing the brand new CGI of the band in Jedi really, really soured me. Especially when that lead singer opens his mouth real wide...very lame.


:thumbsdn:

[Matthew B.]

The new DVD of Star Wars is different in the Orginal version. All other previous versions of it on video always start with Episode IV - A New Hope
while the new version completely Omits that title.

If so, then it's the same in that respect as the original theatrical version.

[Squealy]

It would have left me wondering for sure. Actually, I guess you're right, R.O.T.J. is necessary, but I wish it was made a bit differently. Parts of that film are great, parts are terrible IMO.

The acting is appalling, even for Star Wars. Even Harrison Ford is terrible in it. Just picking up a paycheck.

[gener8tr]

Perhaps this is a case whereby the original (#4) was just SO darn good there was really nowhere to go but down? I like Empire a lot, but if I could only keep and watch one for the rest of my life the choice for me is simple (really no choice at all).

Sorry if I ventured off topic.

[Director]

Lucas wrote the screenplay for the latest Indy film too. :shake: :hurlleft:

No he didn't. David Koepp did.

[Spirit Crusher]

So, what else was changed in the second and third films?
The list is huge, and constantly being added to with each new release. I've seen the "Special Editions" (now not, as the original versions have been replaced by these) once and that was enough.
(and I would hardly call the puppets in Jedi or Empire "primitive")

The original versions (opening day original? Doubtful) may be available, but they are transfers from 1993 laserdisc masters.

Lucas didn't write the script for the new Indy; I believe it was David Koepp. Lucas "came up with" the story for all the Indy films.