And much to my surprise I learned that I prefer the SE's of each. Go figure.
After being reminded of how utterly perfect the theatrical ESB was recently I needed to see SW and ROTJ to see if the same held true. Almost for ROTJ, definitely not for SW.
Star Wars was certainly charming and I much preferred the original Greedo scene and lack of any Jabba (or Boba Fett) appearance whatsoever but it was just so darn rough it almost was like I *was* watching a work print.
My favorite scenes all survived the SE intact (opening on the Blockade Runner, Luke staring at the suns, pretty much everything from the Death Star escape and later). It loses a little ground in Mos Eisley (I think I like having a badly rendered Jabba with a badly done voice even less than the new Greedo scene) but oh does it soar during the Death Star attack.
The theatrical DS attack is certainly entertaining to "observe" as an exercise of 1977 technical brilliance but doesn't draw me into the actual battle nearly as well as the updated attack in the SE. What can I say, I like real looking spaceships.
ROTJ was more bittersweet. I like *everything* better in the theatrical version...until that freaking ewok song. I much prefer the animatronic Sy Snootles to the silly CGI characters in the SE. The song in the original seems more otherworldly and unsettling--and appropriate for a performance in the alien underworld of Tatooine.
I like the original Sarlacc pit much more than Audrey II in the SE and even little changes made to to the sounds of the engines on Wedge's X-Wing when he cruises toward the DS's main reactor are a bit of an annoyance in the SE. And though I didn't notice it as much with SW, once again those *colors* are just so much more natural and atmospheric in the original ROTJ, particularly in Jabba's palace.
But oh goodness that ewok celebration song. To go out on such a note gives such an air of silliness to the entire trilogy (or saga.) The ewok "singers", party favor whistles and noises, blech. The music in the SE finale is *so* much better and really validates the saga as worthy of a more epic and sentimental finale. And as a PT lover I have to admit that Hayden Christensen's ghost also gives the end an extra emotional punch, a definite plus.
So I'm glad to have the original OT finally on DVD and I do hope that George one day will allow them to be fully restored.
As for my average viewing of the saga it'll go: PT, ANH SE, original ESB, ROTJ SE.
I really wish I could get an ANH SE without the new Greedo and Jabba scenes, and an ROTJ SE with *only* the new celebration sequence added, but oh well. I can still enjoy and appreciate the entire saga.
After being reminded of how utterly perfect the theatrical ESB was recently I needed to see SW and ROTJ to see if the same held true. Almost for ROTJ, definitely not for SW.
Star Wars was certainly charming and I much preferred the original Greedo scene and lack of any Jabba (or Boba Fett) appearance whatsoever but it was just so darn rough it almost was like I *was* watching a work print.
My favorite scenes all survived the SE intact (opening on the Blockade Runner, Luke staring at the suns, pretty much everything from the Death Star escape and later). It loses a little ground in Mos Eisley (I think I like having a badly rendered Jabba with a badly done voice even less than the new Greedo scene) but oh does it soar during the Death Star attack.
The theatrical DS attack is certainly entertaining to "observe" as an exercise of 1977 technical brilliance but doesn't draw me into the actual battle nearly as well as the updated attack in the SE. What can I say, I like real looking spaceships.
ROTJ was more bittersweet. I like *everything* better in the theatrical version...until that freaking ewok song. I much prefer the animatronic Sy Snootles to the silly CGI characters in the SE. The song in the original seems more otherworldly and unsettling--and appropriate for a performance in the alien underworld of Tatooine.
I like the original Sarlacc pit much more than Audrey II in the SE and even little changes made to to the sounds of the engines on Wedge's X-Wing when he cruises toward the DS's main reactor are a bit of an annoyance in the SE. And though I didn't notice it as much with SW, once again those *colors* are just so much more natural and atmospheric in the original ROTJ, particularly in Jabba's palace.
But oh goodness that ewok celebration song. To go out on such a note gives such an air of silliness to the entire trilogy (or saga.) The ewok "singers", party favor whistles and noises, blech. The music in the SE finale is *so* much better and really validates the saga as worthy of a more epic and sentimental finale. And as a PT lover I have to admit that Hayden Christensen's ghost also gives the end an extra emotional punch, a definite plus.
So I'm glad to have the original OT finally on DVD and I do hope that George one day will allow them to be fully restored.
As for my average viewing of the saga it'll go: PT, ANH SE, original ESB, ROTJ SE.
I really wish I could get an ANH SE without the new Greedo and Jabba scenes, and an ROTJ SE with *only* the new celebration sequence added, but oh well. I can still enjoy and appreciate the entire saga.
Welcome to the club.
