The Star Wars special edition cuts have a history of being hated for changes to the dialogues, scenery, and even characterizations. This has led many hardcore fans of the original Star Wars trilogy to seek out demastered versions of the films as they were originally released.
However, despite the backlash, there actually are some edits that not only make sense but enhance the experience for first-time viewers and long-time fans. Some changes were even considered controversial at first but, over time, have proven to be better than originally thought. Here are ten special edition changes that made the original Star Wars trilogy better.
10 Extended Tatooine
Star Wars: A New Hope
There are many quality-of-life changes that made Tatooine much better in Star Wars: A New Hope. If you discount odd CGI rocks and creatures that block the screen, the changes make sense for establishing one of the most iconic Star Wars planets.
Before the updates, it is obvious that Luke lives in a desert with the most defining features being the twin suns. However, in the special editions, there is much more activity going on, and the city is much more lively than it used to be.
9 The Battle Of Yavin
Star Wars: A New Hope
The Battle of Yavin was the first major climax to a Star Wars film. Having delivered the Death Star plans to the Rebellion, the Empire soon s in on the rebel base. The rebels scramble to their ships and try to pull off a one-in-a-million shot to destroy the planet killer.
The new scenes replace some of the old X-Wing models with new CGI models. It also makes the rebel base seem bigger as the ships depart. The new X-Wing models feel more dynamic in the air than the original stiff-looking ships. A small detail that goes a long way.
8 Alderaan And Death Star Explosions
Star Wars: A New Hope
The original Star Wars trilogy has plenty of explosions. Planets explode, ships explode, and the Emperor explodes. However, the special edition cuts add some extra details that prevent them from looking like firecrackers.
For the Death Star and Alderaan, the explosions look a lot more fiery than the originals. They also have a shockwave portrayed as a ring that spreads out into space and, at times, even follows the ships that caused them. These details make the explosions feel more powerful with an expanded area of damage.
7 Biggs Reunion
Star Wars: A New Hope
One small scene that was cut from A New Hope was Luke’s reunion with Biggs, his childhood friend. Earlier in the film and deleted scenes, Luke laments not being able to leave Tatooine like Biggs did. In the special edition, a scene is put back in the film, having the two reunite on Yavin.
Biggs always dies during the Death Star run. However, having them reunited momentarily gives his death just a bit more depth. It also adds a bit more tragedy to Luke’s tale and yet another reason for his fear of losing Han or Leia in The Empire Strikes Back.
6 The Updated Wampa
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke is knocked out by an unseen creature and taken into a cave. As he dangles upside down, he spots his lightsaber and attempts to pull it over. However, he is not alone in the ice cave.
The original reveals the creature for a split second. However, the special editions have the Wampa feasting on the flesh of Luke’s Tauntaun. This is one of the bloodiest displays in the franchise. The tension is still there. Some would say it’s heightened since you know what will happen to Luke if he doesn’t escape.
5 The Updated Emperor
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
One update that most fans agree upon is the one made for the Emperor in The Empire Strikes Back. The original hologram is one of the most dated visuals in the franchise. While at the time the effect did the job well enough, the new one adds so much more detail.
The Emperor is seen as much more intimidating when you can see his Sith eyes and deformed face. Seeing Ian McDiarmid’s face pop up in his prequel appearance ties the films together better than the original version did.
4 Cloud City Remastered
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
In the original cut of The Empire Strikes Back, Cloud City looks a little barren with endless white walls and corridors. The special editions fix this problem by adding CGI windows and balconies that show what the rest of the city looks like.
In addition to these changes, Lando’s evacuation order is also expanded upon with exterior shots of the citizens receiving the message. This clip makes Cloud City feel more alive than ever before and gives the location a more unique identity.
3 The Extended Trap Door Scene
Star Wars: The Return Of The Jedi
The changes made to Jabba’s palace may not be as welcome as other edits to the original. However, there is one small extended scene that adds just a hint of additional foreshadowing to Luke’s plummet into the Rancor pit.
When Jabba the Hutt’s slave dancer tries to free her chains, Jabba drops her into the trap hole. In the special edition cuts, the scene continues as a mysterious gate inside opens and lets out something so horrific she screams. The edit adds more to the ruthlessness of Jabba but also hints that there is something terrifying in the pit.
2 Boba Fett’s Voice
Star Wars: The Return Of The Jedi
A controversial choice made for both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, is the changes to the fan-favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett. The edits remove Jason Wingreen as the voice of Boba, who delivers his lines a bit colder and more ruthless than his replacement.
While this change may have initially been frowned upon, it does make sense narrative-wise. After the Book of Boba Fett solidified Temuera Morrison as the official appearance and voice of Boba Fett, it's harder to go back than before he had an origin.
1 The Endor Celebration
Star Wars: The Return Of The Jedi
The final celebration on Endor marks the end of the Empire, the Redemption of Anakin, and the return of the Jedi. It’s the perfect ending to tie up the narrative of the films and the prequels. However, a few changes made the sequence so much better.
This included replacing the original Ewok song with a more serene and peaceful melody. During this song, a montage plays featuring locations from the prequels, such as Tatooine, Naboo, and Coruscant. If only the original version of Anakin were still featured, it would make the ending perfect.
