Star Wars DVD information
 

This is the place to post specs, pics, info on what's been added etc.

This is not the place to discuss whether or not you like the additions, are pissed that the OT isn't coming out etc.

Do that in this thread.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=377413

This thread is simply for those wanting to read up on what's on the DVDs what's been added etc., and not giving a rats ass whether DVD Talkers think the changes are great or that Lucas is further destroying the trilogy. Those discussion go in the above thread.

Fine, I'll start (and I can keep this updated if people prefer to get this all in a central location)...

Here's the changes that were made in 1997: http://www.theforce.net/swse

Here's the ADDITIONAL changes that'll be on the new 2004 DVDs:

Episode IV: A New Hope
* Greedo still shoots first, but the scene has been altered to improve it (can someone point me to more information?)
* Jabba (added for the '97 SE) has been replaced with a new render.
http://img63.exs.cx/img63/5941/thejabba.jpg
* Death Star corridors have been digitally altered:
http://www.photodump.com/direct/bboisvert/leia.jpg
* Dianoga in the trash compactor scene has been enhanced. He now blinks and has a different pupil.
* Tractor beam writing is now in Aurebesh
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ractorbeam.jpg


Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
* Taun-tauns have had subtle tweaks to improve the animation.
* Palpatine's hologram has been replaced with new footage of Ian McDiarmid and altered dialog. (http://s90708385.onlinehome.us/mille...perorvader.mp3)
http://s90708385.onlinehome.us/mille...d_emperor2.jpg
http://www.swfanclub.nl/images/nieuw...patine_esb.jpg
* Boba Fett's dialog has been replaced by Temuera Morrison (http://s90708385.onlinehome.us/mille..._fettvoice.mp3)
* Luke's scream (added for the '97 SE) has been removed when he jumps.


Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
*Matte lines for Rancor / Skiff scene (and other scenes) greatly improved
http://aesop.thrillinghill.com/batca.../rancor002.jpg
http://aesop.thrillinghill.com/batca.../rancor003.jpg
http://img42.exs.cx/img42/1720/rotj-remaster8.png
* Anakin's unmasking has been changed -- it is still Sebastian Shaw, but they've digitally removed his eyebrows and changed his eye color.
http://aesop.thrillinghill.com/batca...vd/shaw001.jpg
* Hayden Christiansen is now shown as the "spirit Anakin" at the end, replacing Shaw (http://www.elgarsplace.com/millenniu...hristensen.zip)
http://img24.exs.cx/img24/7783/rotj-remaster1.png
http://img24.exs.cx/img24/6352/rotj-remaster2.png
* Changes to Coruscant in ending celebration (adding Jedi Temple, etc.)
http://aesop.thrillinghill.com/batca...bration002.jpg
* Naboo has been added to the ending celebration... you see some gungans on a rooftop and can hear one shout "Wesa Free!"
http://aesop.thrillinghill.com/batca...bration001.jpg

Thanks bboisvert!

I'd love to be able to keep up to date on what's being added without having to skim over all the bickering as I really don't care about either side's opinons on the matter. :D

Has R2 been colored blue during the ANH space battle? Have yet to see any pics of that.

Any pictures out there of the Rancor difference in ROTJ??

Just listened to the Boba Fett voice change and quite frankly, it ain't bad. In fact it sounds more like a synthesized change rather than a redub.

The Darth-Emperor exchange is not bad either. Kinda sounds eire in a way. That the emperor knows who destroyed the Death Star. Almost makes you wonder how he knows. Inside spy? Or is it just the Force?

Any truth to the rumors of a new transfer/revamp of the Ep. I disc? I know several of the Naboo cruiser/Tatooine shots had terrible compression artifacts.

According to the guy at MF.com, the taun-tauns have had subtle tweaks to improve the animation. Also, the dianoga in the trash compactor scene has been enhanced. He now blinks and has a different pupil.

Add this as well. The writing on the tractor beam is now in Aurebresh.

Has there been any word on changes to musical cues...like adding the Imperial March to Star Wars?

The Imperial March has not been added to Star Wars. Also, the choppy music caused by the added scenes of Vader leaving Bespin for his Star Destroyer, have been reportedly smoothed out so that transitions sound more seamless.

Thank god...that irritated the hell out of me.

What about when Boba Fett's ship leaves the platiform in Empire...do you know if they restored the silence that was originally there? In my opinion not cutting off that cue really disturbs the mood of the scene.

Has this been confirmed? I know it was on many "assumed changes" and wish lists... but I hadn't seen confirmation. A link to a picture or witness?

I've seen a pic, either at HTF's thread or the one at MF.com

Excellent question. I heard rumor that Yoda was to be CGI-ed out.

What was it before? English? I swear it amazes me the details you guys notice. Why was it on the wish list of changes?

I guess with these changes, the SE's will be sort after as well. Interesting dialog change with the Palpatine. Kinda wish they hadn't done that though.

Yep, English:

http://www.geocities.com/wermosguide...habetPhoto.jpg

It was on a change 'wish list' because all of the other text in the trilogy is written in Aurebesh, so it creates a continuity problem.

I wonder if they've cleaned up the other instances of english - like the HUGE 94 on the side of the docking bay.

i haven't heard this talked about at all-
but does anyone know if the med bay kiss between Leia and Luke has been altered in any way- or are any of the other ESB scenes that contain a romantic undercurrent altered?

he needs to be cgi'd
that thing hardly looks like yoda
I would have felt different if they would have kept the same yoda for AOTC

I'm getting excited about most of these changes. Some of them seem bad (especially Hayden in ROTJ), but most seem very cool.

I always got annoyed at the matte lines especially, so I'm glad those'll be gone.

this it not a complaint, but the new Jabba seems more cartoonish than the 97 version. Maybee that will change or it will look differenr on a large screen.

There's just no way to fix that scene without butchering it completely. So no, it's not been fixed. It's just one of those things we'll have to live with.

You must be joking?

2004 Jabba:

http://img60.exs.cx/img60/7834/JabbaTail.gif

1997 Jabba:

http://img58.exs.cx/img58/7716/tail2.jpg

The new Jabba is light years ahead of the worst CG character in history, 1997 SE Jabba.

Glad to see Jabba fixed. That was the most annoying thing to me about the 1997 SE.

Thanks bboisvert you did a great summary!

I don't get the whole removing Shaw's eyebrows thing. Is he going to jump up and sing In The Flesh or something?

loss of hair = radiation to treat midichlorian cancer

Because they got burned off in the lava from Episode III, or at least should have. I think it makes him even creepier.

Any word on Ben's light saber being fixed in Episode IV, when he and Darth are dueling? It kind of goes out for a bit. :) Actually I was surprised that wasn't fixed in '97.

The Wall references = always funny.

Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds!

Yes, both have been fixed.

You know, the one thing I cannot wait for in these discs are the commentary tracks. Sure, it would have been nice to have more people on them (especially Mark) but it's going to be nice to sit back and listen to George talk about Star Wars and the changes and such over the years.

What's the point in this change? What was supposed to be wrong with the original shot?

Just wondering, all that looks changed is that the perspective of the corridor has been pushed down.

http://www.photodump.com/direct/bboisvert/leia.jpg

Maybee its just me, but I just dont think he looks right, the color is all off or something.

Something seems odd about the new jabba as well. Guess Episode I is getting an overhall as well since it pretty much looked like the 97 jabba.

could it possibly be the fact that the 2 ton slug character was never, ever intended to be in that shot?

I would agree with you the coloring is somewhat off. Of course, all of these screenshots are rather dark because of low contrast and brightness.

The '97 Jabba has the right color scheme, but is just horrid.

In the original, Jabba was going to be a big fat guy. This is actually a deleted scene, just with the Jabba Lucas made in ROTJ. I think I like the fact that Lucas made Jabba a slug. I wouldn't mind if this scene was removed entirely, but it doesn't really bother me. It's actually a pretty good scene, if a bit redundant. But at least it's light years ahead of the '97 SE.

For what it's worth, the 2004 DVD Jabba is actually the same model as TPM Jabba. But his back is too dark in that scene.

For reference, here's TPM Jabba.

http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/a...bba/jhc-02.jpg

I agree the commentaries should be great listens.

Remember those rumored changes from way back when?
 

I saved a list of all (I think) of the fan rumored changes to the trilogy. The stuff in blue are things either have not been changed, or are not known to have been changed. I updated a few things to reflect the new changes that were made.

Episode IV: A New Hope

1. The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first appearance on Princess Leia's ship.

2. When Obi-Wan is talking to Luke about his father Anakin's Theme plays in the background and then it turns into the Imperial March as he talks about Vader.

3. The lightsaber effects have been redone and the frame jumps of lightsabers being turned on has been removed.

4. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate.

5. In the Cantina, the Duros (green aliens guys) have been replaced with Neimoidians and some aliens from the prequels have been added.

6. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabers cauterize wounds.

7. The shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been redone. Greedo still shoots first though.

8. Jabba the Hutt has been given a better CGI makeover.

9. In place of R2 wobbling down the stairs to the Falcon's hangar, a CG R2 navigating the stairs like he does in Attack of the Clones was added.

10. The white boxes around space ships have been removed and new CG shots have been added.

11. The scene of the Falcon being chased by the two Star Destroyers was modified. The Falcon now does spinning moves, avoiding the Star Destroyers' fire.

12. George Lucas filmed a scene with Jimmy Smits that will be inserted into Episode IV. Jimmy Smits told Wired magazine that George Lucas told him that he would make a brief appearance as Bail Organa in Episode IV before being blown up by the Death Star.

13. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's reaction to the disturbance in the Force that is created by all those deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as well.

14. The Dianoga has gotten a CG makeover and were are now able to see more of the creature.

15. The Death Star's paneling and computers have been slightly altered to show similar displays to those in the prequels.

16. The words "Tractor Beam" with Aurebesh lettering.

17. More stormtroopers have been added to the Death Star.

18. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for use with all the stormtroopers.

19. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been spruced up. It is much more epic and there is much more movement. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is being considered for the scene.

20. The Death Star plans that are taken from R2 have been updated. When the Rebels are reviewing the Death Star plans they look similar to the plans we see in Attack of the Clones.

21. The Death Star battle is much more epic with more Tie Fighters and more Rebels being blown to bits. We get to see old Naboo starfighters being used by the Rebels.

22. There's a new scene (shot during Episode III) where Darth Vader goes to Coruscant and lands his ship in the same building Count Dooku does at the end of Attack of the Clones. Except now the building is all fixed up and it is now Palpatine's palace. He meets with Palpatine to ask for forgiveness for his failure and inform him of a new potential who is strong in the Force.

23. Chewbacca now gets a medal.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

1. The taun-tauns now have more life-like movements.

2. The battle of Hoth is much more epic. We see the Imperial ships land on Hoth and release AT-ATs. The AT-ATs have been sped up a bit. There's a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers featuring new ships and vehicles.

3. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for the older Boba Fett and all the stormtroopers.

4. The white boxes around space ships have been removed.

5. The slug monster is CG.

6. Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations between Vader and Palpatine is now longer and features a few connections to the prequels.

7. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of emotions yet his movements remain the same. Also two deleted scenes featuring Yoda instructing Luke have been restored.

8. A new scene was shot in which the stormtroopers, after they capture Han, Leia and Chewie, bring Vader the box containing C-3PO in pieces. Vader orders the stormtroopers to bring the broken droid to Chewbacca's cell so that he can fix him.

9. The lightsaber effects have been redone in certain parts.

10. Luke's fall from Cloud City has been reshot against bluescreen using a stuntman and his added 1997 scream has been removed.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

1. Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and CG.

2. The Rancor effects have been cleaned up and he looks as disgusting as ever.

3. Yoda is CG. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now.

4. The ewoks are now mostly CG and there are a lot more of them.

5. The plan is to insert the love theme Across the Stars when Luke is talking with Leia about their mother.

6. Temuera Morrison's like before is now the voice for Boba Fett and all the stormtroopers.

7. In the battle of Endor there are thousands of Ewoks and they are more vicious than there midgets-in-suits counterparts. More bite the dust now.

8. White boxes around ships removed.

9. The black blotches around Palpatine's face are gone.

10. Some of the lightsaber effects have been redone. The shadows that the lightsabers made on the floor are gone.

11. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme.

12. Sebastion Shaw who plays Anakin when he was unmasked has been made to look more like an older Hayden Christenson, digitally removing his eyebrows and changing his eye color. Anakin has much more dialogue. He apologizes for the destruction he caused, he thanks his son for turning him back to the light, he tells his son to rebuild the Jedi and he says he loves him and his sister. Just before he dies he says, "It is finished...".

13. We see more planets celebrating at the end of the movie. We see an aged Jar Jar, who is now the leader of the Gungans, on Naboo celebrating with the people of Naboo and the Gungans. We see an old Watto, who is now unable to fly, sitting in a hover chair cheering on Tatooine. During these scenes Across the Stars plays transitioning to the victory celebration music at the Ewok tree village.

14. A new scene with Natalie Portman as Padme's spirit has been filmed to be added at the ending celebration.

15. Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christenson with make-up to make him look his age. He looks on proudly at his son Luke with the spirit of Padme by his side.

No Jar Jar death in Ep. 3= No sale.