1. Victory Celebration
Number 1 on our list is an admittedly controversial one. The end of 1983’s Return of the Jedi features joyous celebration at the Rebel’s victory over the Empire. George Lucas kept the scene mostly intact for the Special Editions, but made a few alterations.
There’s the infamous Anakin force ghost switch up (definitely the most controversial change in this scene). He also added in a few CGI shots of different planets celebrating the victory; ones we would later see throughout the Prequel Trilogy, such as Coruscant and Naboo. As a result of these additional shots, something had to give, and that something was “Yub Nub”.
“Yub Nub” was the Ewok anthem that played over the final moments of the movie. Lucas decided to remove it for the Special Editions, and instead, John Williams composed a brand new piece to see out the saga.
Honestly, “Victory Celebration” might be one of the best pieces of music Williams has written for a Star Wars film. It’s beautifully rousing, with a gorgeous melody complimented by powerful orchestrations.
“Yub Nub” is cute on its own, but it never quite feels epic enough to signify the end of the trilogy. This was the finale of years of storytelling, and until recently was the finale to the entire saga. “Yub Nub” just doesn’t quite capture the impact and importance of this occasion.
Fans were upset to see it removed, and many feel it’s still the definitive way to end the film. Still, there’s no denying the beauty of “Victory Celebration”. The way that it complements the final shots of the movie more than earns its spot on this list.
