The Greeks had "The Iliad." The British had "Wuthering Heights." The grandparents had "Gone With The Wind." Thankfully, we've got "Star Wars."
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Star Wars: The Special Edition At Briarwood and Showcase |
With the reinstatement of two deleted sequences, countless new visual tidbits, and a complete sonic and scenic overhaul, "Star Wars: The Special Edition" has made an amazing enhancement, and possibly even an improvement, over a nearly flawless original. The colors are more colorful, the special effects are more special, the explosions are more explosive, The Force is more forceful and the jawas mumble more clearly.
Like Oil of Olay to an aging starlet, Industrial Light and Magic, Lucas' special effects firm, has touched up "Star Wars," generously applying digital technology unthinkable in 1977 and even adding new material to enhance the film's original glory. Who wants to grow old gracefully when you've got ILM?
Purists have nothing to fear, however. The extensive cinematic facelift has not soiled or compromised the integrity of the original. If anything, the restoration has made "Star Wars" even more of an event, giving a still-kicking legend a little more kick.
For all the nuances and nip-and-tucks "Star Wars" has undergone, its inherent charm has not been altered - yes, Luke still whines incessantly, and no, Princess Leia's hair buns have not become digitally-enhanced cornrows.
Its charm is rather basic and average: Girl sends Droids to find Hermit. Droids find Boy instead. Boy helps Droids get to Hermit. Hermit teaches boy secret religion. Hermit sets off to save Girl, who has been captured by Tall Evil Guy. With Boy and Droids, Hermit hires Smuggler and Wookie to fly and save Girl.
On Smuggler's ship, Hermit and crew break into Tall Evil Guy's space station and steal Girl back. Girl meets Boy. Girl meets Smuggler. Girl spews insults. Boy and Smuggler both love Girl. Upset, Tall Evil Guy whacks old Hermit with a light sabre. With help from Rebels, Boy, Girl, Smuggler, Droids and Wookie blow up Tall Evil Guy's station. They all live happily ever after ... until the sequel.
All right, so basic and average are two terms that should never be used to describe "Star Wars" - bombastic and amazing are more appropriate.
Speaking of amazements, the real stars of "Star Wars: The Special Edition" are the almost innumerable changes that once again make the epic shocking and awe-inspiring in an age when dinosaurs move and pigs have emotions.
Perhaps most hyped about the anniversary re-issue are the sequences that were left on the cutting room floor when the original was released, due to either lack of technology or lack of interest.
With newfound techniques and passions, "Star Wars" now harbors a scene in which bulbuous Jabba the Hut, previously not introduced until the third installment, confronts wily Han Solo about his debts.
Digitally created, Jabba slithers around the docking bay, surrounded by his goons, including cult hero Boba Fett. He speaks in his native tongue, making idle threats as Han literally walks all over him.
Not only is this scene visually astounding, but it also adds an air of freshness to the first half of the film, making this viewing feel like the first time.
The second noteworthy restored scene depicts Luke exchanging stories of home with old friend Biggs, as they prepare to do battle with the Empire.
Though this sequence is not pivotal to the plot or all that memorable, the interaction fleshes out Luke's motives and allows for more sympathy when Biggs goes down in battle.
Other than those two sequences, most of the changes are rather blink-and-you'll-miss-them subtle - a skeleton in the desert, more creatures and buildings in Mos Eisley, more mobile animals, greater topography on planets, an entire army of stormtroopers confronting Han and so on.
The true highlights of "The Special Edition," aside from the witty one-liners and that tense garbage compactor scene, are the rousing Death Star battle scenes, which are earmarked by remastered sound effects and more state-of-the-art backgrounds and visuals.
Astounding and in-your-face exciting, the new high-tech battle scenes strap you right into Luke's X-Wing fighter, as he evades Darth Vader and annihilates the Death Star, not letting you go until you reach the medal ceremony.
Groundbreaking, earth-shattering, sweeping, romantic and enormously fun, "Star Wars: The Special Edition" allows audiences to remember why they go to the movies in the first place - to escape to another world. And the mythical galaxy of "Star Wars" is so full of life, history, romance and intrigue that you tend to forget all the planets, wookies, X-wings and stormtroopers are all but one man's vision.
Beware of Sandpeople don't kiss Princess Leia and don't think Darth Vader is dead. Just indulge yourself in the regressive futuristic masterpiece that is "Star Wars," and see why Homer has nothing on George Lucas.
In the new computer-generated "Star Wars: The Special Edition," creatures that were absent in the original 20 years ago (top), are now present in today's version (bottom).
