I vividly remember seeing Return of the Jedi in the movie theater with my older cousin and her date. I was ten and was more interested in checking out whether she was holding hands with the guy than seeing the movie. Of course I’ve since seen all the Star Wars movies and enjoyed them, but they were never my thing. I’ve had boyfriends, though, that have seen the original films over a dozen times and can recite all the lines. (I’m a geek lover, what can I say?)

These are classic science fiction movies that were groundbreaking and showcased the best in special effects at the time. So there are people that are understandably upset that the massive Blu-ray release of the Star Wars saga, featuring over 40 hours of extras, messes with the original movies to make some noticeable changes. It’s not out in stores until September 16, but I guess the Blu-ray editions leaked and that’s how people noticed the differences. To me the differences seem relatively minor and cosmetic, but I’m not a Star Wars fan, and that series has some pretty hardcore fans. Here’s more, and I’ve linked the noted changes to YouTube videos that show them:

So George Lucas is coming in for some heavy criticism for altering several scenes in the Blu-ray edition of ‘Star Wars: The Complete Saga,’ which is scheduled to hit stores on Sept. 16.

At the center of the controversy is the addition of audio to the scene at the end of ‘Return of the Jedi,’ when Darth Vader throws Emperor Palpatine down a shaft; in the original, Vader was silent, but now he cries out “No!” foreshadowing the end of ‘Revenge of the Sith.’ There’s other changes, too, that are bothering fans, such as CGI versions of Yoda and the Ewoks (their eyes now blink) as well as audio changes for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Krayt Dragon howl when he rescues Luke Skywalker from a Tusken Raider attack.

One of the major beefs has to do with the fact that the original versions of the first three ‘Star Wars’ have not been released since the days of VHS — the first DVD versions already had been altered by Lucas, who added scenes and spiffed up some of the special effects. (Most notoriously, he added in Jar Jar Binks and Hayden Christensen prequel references; clearly merchandising efforts for the new films). You would think that — like other directors who have tinkered with their work with director’s cuts — Lucas would at least include the originals along with his new cuts on DVD? Not so.

Now the folks over at SaveStarWars.com have reprinted a speech given by Lucas before Congress, on March 3, 1988, to argue for the preservation of films and to condemn those who would change films without the creator’s permission (this was at a time when the studios were colorizing black and white films to increase catalog sales).

Here’s some of what Lucas said:
“The destruction of our film heritage, which is the focus of concern today, is only the tip of the iceberg. American law does not protect our painters, sculptors, recording artists, authors, or filmmakers from having their lifework distorted, and their reputation ruined. If something is not done now to clearly state the moral rights of artists, current and future technologies will alter, mutilate, and destroy for future generations the subtle human truths and highest human feeling that talented individuals within our society have created.

In the future it will become even easier for old negatives to become lost and be “replaced” by new altered negatives. This would be a great loss to our society. Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten.”

Of course, Lucas was lashing out at corporate entities, not directors such as himself who want to change their original vision (or product) to make it better (or re-merchandise it).

[From Moviefone]

The videos I’ve seen as evidence of the edits just show these changes and not the originals. In one the Ewoks have eyes, in another there’s a cheesy cheap-looking light emanating from Han Solo as he emerges from a suspended animation thing in carbonite. (Apologies to fans for having no clue about this.) However, the list of changes from the originals to the earlier releases are very massive.

SaveStarWars.com has more information about it, and apparently Lucas has been tinkering with these films with every release and “has refused to have the original versions of the films be seen in high quality.” Even Steven Spielberg has mildly called him out on it.

I understand the urge to make changes when you’re a perfectionist and new technology makes it possible, but it does sound like Lucas is a hypocrite for speaking out for film preservation on one hand, but messing with his massively well known classic films on the other. Still, I don’t have a dog in this fight and I probably won’t see the films again until my seven year-old is old enough. He just loves Lego Star Wars and can’t wait to see the real movies. I told him to wait until the 3D versions come out. You know Lucas is going to mess with those versions even more.

Vader cries out “no!”

The Ewoks have eyes:

This song is overdone, but this parody version of the Blu Ray changes cracked me up:

George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, are shown in Cannes in 2010. Credit: WENN.com