5. CGI Clean-Ups
Call it cheating, but number 5 on the list goes to the CGI tidy ups that were made to some of the more dated elements of the original Star Wars trilogy, particularly A New Hope.
No, we’re not talking about inserting huge creatures randomly walking across frame in Mos Eisley. We’re talking about the more subtle changes that add a bit of nuance and texture to the films.
The Battle of Yavin is one of the franchise’s most memorable sequences. Luke Skywalker leads a band of brave rebels in an attack on the Empire’s super-weapon: the Death Star.
The original release utilized state of the art model work to create the X-Wings and the Death Star’s trench. The Special Editions maintained the iconic models and spirit of the original, but updated the scene with smoother effects. The result was a cleaner, more polished battle, capable of keeping up with today’s standard of set pieces.
Another element that got a much needed upgrade was the lightsabers. In 1977, some of the sticks used on set weren’t even roto-scoped out. In some frames, the white stick of wood is still visible.
Lucasfilm rectified this with the Special Editions. Gone were the washed-out opaque blades of old. Instead they were sharp, bright, and much more suited to a Jedi or Sith Lord.
This just goes to show, if Lucas had kept his changes to a minimum, and strayed away from gratuitous additions, the Special Editions may have been universally adored and viewed as the definitive Star Wars experience.
