[civilian_number_two]

DARTH! Welcome. I had the Marvel comics before I had even seen the film, and collected the cards as well. So I was already well acquainted with the look of Jabba and also the Dewbacks. These things I think helped my understanding of STAR WARS as an episodic series, rather than something planned from the start. Reading SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE as a potential STAR WARS sequel, and then learning that they went another way, well that never bothered me. What bothered me was the way George tried to whitewash it after.

Don't sweat the cards. You can get full sets of those in pretty good shape for $40.

[darthwader]

Thanks, sorry about the delay in replying. Well, this is how much of a rock I've been living under; I didn't even realize that Lucas actually DID release the theatrical versions on DVD as a "bonus disc" in 2006! Needless to say, I got 'em. In the commentary over the "fixed" versions, you can hear Lucas drone on and on about how limiting it was to have no CGI, all but admit he made things up as he went along, or indulged in repeated last-minute decisions based solely on whim, then turn around and also repeat the mantra of "I had all of this written out beforehand". My all-time favorite comment? (while discussing the inspiration behind Bespin:)
"...a gas planet, like Venus!..."

He really is in some strange Howard Hughes/Michael Jackson-like state of unreality now, isn't he?

PS I also remember reading "Splinter", and the Han Solo books too.

[Mr Pye]

In my opinion not a single one of the changes Lucas made to these movies after 1995 have been worthwhile. The only thing they ever achieve for me is the recognition that this was changed. Perhaps because I know the originals by heart. There are few things more effective at tearing me out of the story to focus on pointless technicalities. In that sense the changes do ruin these movies for me, and the 95 versions are the only ones I ever watch these days.

Even so I sometimes feel that it is those changes that have absolutely nothing to do with the story that puzzles me the most. Take for instance the scene where Luke and Ben drive into Mos Eisley. Here a number of background life has been digitally added. And not only in the background. At one point the camera lingers deliberately on two completely unknown droids slapping each other. Does anyone else find this as absurd as I do?

What of it? Well it is not that they are droids that make it absurd. 3PO and R2 have a small slapping scene as well. It is that they are completely unknown to us. They have no part in the story of ANH. And yet the camera stops by them as if it want to say this is important. Just imagine if these two droids had been two unknown humans instead, standing there slapping each other. Same thing and just as absurd and just as distracting.

Luke has the luxury of simply passing them by getting on with the story. Lucas does not allow his viewers the same benefit.

[Vesuvius]

Just imagine if these two droids had been two unknown humans instead, standing there slapping each other. Same thing and just as absurd and just as distracting.

Luke has the luxury of simply passing them by getting on with the story. Lucas does not allow his viewers the same benefit.

I found this very funny. I'd actually like to see something this stupid in the movies and watch Lucas just try to explain it away. Ah, too funny.

Listening to Lucas on all the documentaries is unententionaly hilarious.

[steje73]

There doesn't seem to be a standard for how the doors on the Death Star open and close. When Obi Wan opens one it whips up instantly, but in another scene there's plenty of time for Han and Chewie to nip through one as it's shutting. As they're supposed to be blast doors you'd think they'd all shut quickly.
Hey ho.