Using WookieGroomer's 1080p splitscreen of the 1993 & 2004 versions of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, I have attempted to recreate, upgrade, and expand on the official visual comparison. I hope this compiles all of the changes between the 1993, 1997, and 2004 versions of Empire Strikes Back. I also hope this will convince people that we should have the original version, even with its flaws. ---------------------------------------Individual descriptions are taken from the official list and marked so each change is attributed to which Special Edition. Descriptions marked with an "*" are entries not in the official listing. ----------------------------Several of these changes may only be differences in the 1993 print of the original version used for the 2006 DVD.
"The original 1980 version of The Empire Strikes Back began with the painted 20th Century Fox logo, which was updated in 1997 to the new digital logo that identified Fox as a News Corporation company." (1997 Change)
"The plain green Lucasfilm Limited card was replaced in 1997 with an animated presentation, though the 'new' logo had been in existence since before 1977." (1997 Change)
The preface was rendered in a different font with wider spacing in 2004. (2004 Change)*
In 2004, Probe Droid Pod arrives one frame early. (2004 Change)
In 1997, In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. (Exit wipe) (1997 Change)
"The composite shot of the probot floating across the frozen plains has been reassembled to better retain the translucence of the smoke, and to raise the probe droid to a height that better fits the perspective of the background plate." The Probe droid animation also starts one frame later. (1997 Change)
"The bluescreen shot of Han's tauntaun was recomposited, and the shot was also cleaned up significantly." (1997 Change)
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. (1997 Change)*
"The miniature tauntaun was digitally recomposited into the hangar bay, allowing it to better match lighting." (1997 Change)
"New shots of the wampa were created practically, as a man-in-a-suit creature effect, for the 1997 Special Edition release." The original shot was completely replaced. (1997 Change)
"New shots of the wampa were created practically, as a man-in-a-suit creature effect, for the 1997 Special Edition release." Adding the new shot also replaced a few frames of the original. (1997 Change)
For some reason this shot is zoomed in for the 97 Special Edition, then zoomed back out for the 04. (1997 Change, 2004 Change Back)
The Special Edition is a few frames later than the original as Luke picks up his lightsaber and cuts himself down. (1997 Change)*
"The new wampa was digitally composited into this shot." The Special Edition is also a few frames later than the original and lacks the bright flash. (1997 Change)
"New shots of the wampa were created practically, as a man-in-a-suit creature effect, for the 1997 Special Edition release." Adding the new shot also replaced the last half of the original. (1997 Change)
In 1997, clean up of film glue occurred. (Exit) In 2004, Ben's ghost fade in starts a frame or two later. (1997 fix, 2004 change)
In 1997, Han on Tauntaun was recomposited. Han arrives a frame earlier. (1997 Change)
In 1997, Han on Tauntaun was recomposited. The Tauntaun's feet are less snow covered. (1997 Change)
In 2004, Luke's face was recolored to show frostbite and impact from Wampa attack. (2004 Change)
"Almost all of the composites against the white snowy background were redone to better preserve the color quality of the model and its blurred edges." (1997 Change)
In 2004, the Snowspeeder cockpit frame was recompositioned. The snowspeeder leans attempt to reflect the changing background. (2004 Change)
"In the original composite, models such as this snowspeeder were printed with less-than-full opacity to minimize the harsh black matte lines. With digital compositing, the model can retain its full opacity." (1997 Change)
"Another digital recomposite, now including a redone shadow that better matches the perspective of the background plate." (1997 Change)
"Another digital recompsite, benefiting the blur of the moving snowspeeder." In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. (1997 Change)
"When the snowspeeder was recomposited into the hangar, the glare of the entrance light was taken into account to 'blow out' the image of the model." (1997 Change)
A shadow was also added to the floor when it was recomposited. (1997 Change)*
In 1997, In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. (1997 Change)
In 2004, the close up of Luke in Bacta Tank is recolored. (2004 Change)
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. It was redone again in 2004 due to the new compositing in the following shot. The 97 source used is framed incorrectly. (1997 & 2004 Change)*
The Super Star Destroyer bridge has been recomposited in this shot to cover up the Star Destroyer engine glows that were still visible. It was also re-timed and the Star Destroyer at the bottom of the frame has been angled differently and no part of it is covered by the bridge section later in the shot. The shot may had to have been recreated due to the previous wipe having to be done from scratch. (2004 Change)*
"Garbage matte artifacting around the Star Destroyers and TIE fighters has been cleaned up." The position of the TIEs in the background have also been changed and the one on the right is more visible. There also seems to be a new starfield. (2004 Change)
Slightly repositioned TIE fighters and less garbage mattes. (2004 Change)*
"Garbage matte artifacting around the distant Star Destroyer and the harsh edges against the edges of the TIE fighters have been cleaned up." (1997 Change)
In 2004, extra set of Star Destroyer engines below far right Star Destroyer were removed. (2004 Change)
"Garbage matte artifacting around the TIE bombers has been cleaned up." Also looks like the Bombers are repositioned slightly. (2004 Change)
"The edge of the matte painting originally had heavy black seams surrounding the viewport that Darth Vader stands at; the redone composite cleans up these edges." (1997 Change)
"The edge of the matte painting originally had heavy black seams surrounding the viewport that Darth Vader stands at; the redone composite cleans up these edges." The Star Destroyer in the window seems to have moved in the time between shots. (1997 Change)
"A large garbage matte artifact surrounded the Super Star Destroyer in this shot." (2004 Change)
Although hard to tell, it looks like the original image has wider horizontal stripes, which the Special Edition has the smaller dot pattern seen in later shots. (? Change)*
A straight comparison of the 2006 DVD based on the 1993 transfer and the 2004 DVD Special Edition. The dot patterns are the same. (? Change)
The Special Edition of this shot has been redone for some reason (perhaps because of the upcoming wipe). The viewscreen "camera" has been moved to the left and a replacement frame was created for this shot. Also note that Piett's body and rank cylinder can be seen through the wall element in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
"Digital compositing has cleaned up the blurred edges of the X-wing in this shot..." The Official Site's change list from 1997 says that these X-wings are CGI & not digital recomposites at all. (1997 Change)
"... as well as the Rebel transport." It looks like the transport element has been slightly repositioned or retimed, but remains the practical model. (1997 Change)
In 2004, blast fire from Ion Cannon is white. (2004 Change)
"More edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." (1997 Change)
"In the original shot, Luke was translucent (note the speeder visible through his helmet). The other speeders also had heavy matte lines." This is the first shot in the sequence with this translucent issue fixed. It is also one of the last, as nearly every other cockpit shot still has the problem. (1997 Change)
"Digital compositing has resulted in more realistic blurring on high-speed models; also, in recompositing this, the sync of the the turning turret has been altered." (1997 Change)
"The exact sync of the overhead speeders has been changed in the process that has cleaned up their matte lines." (1997 Change)
"More edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing, as well as improved animated shadows." (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." (1997 Change)*
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." The strings gliding the models along are still visible. (1997 Change)
This shot is timed different by a few frames. Also note that the portion of the window to the left of frame is transparent in the Special Edition, but not in the original. (1997 Change)*
The speeder behind the walker was moved and darkened. (1997 Change)*
The snowspeeder element has been recomposited. (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." The lead speeder has also been retimed. (1997 Change)
The elements have been recomposited. (1997 Change)
The speeder passes by the walker later in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
The speeder is missing for the first frame of this shot in the original footage. (1997 Change)*
The speeder that is hit seems to have more electrical damage in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
"The smoke trail behind the distant speeder was originally hand-animated, before being replaced by a more realistic plume." (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. Note that the path of the second speeder on the right has been altered in the composite." The first speeder is also in a different position. Also note that the portion of the window to the left of frame is transparent in the Special Edition, but not in the original. (1997 Change)
The top image is from Puggo's 8mm Preservation (close to the 70mm print), showing small scan lines on Vader's hologram, while the 1993 version has fat scan lines (so do all of the other home video versions). The Special Edition version seems to have the smaller scan lines again for some reason.
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. Note that the animation of the laser effect has been retimed." It looks like most of the laser effects are retimed. (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." More lasers retimed. There is also a background matte where there wasn't one before. (1997 Change)*
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. In the original footage, an animated shadow is scribbled in the ceiling of Luke's canopy." Unsure why the shadow was necessary in the original, but it only lasts for a couple of frames. (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. The order of the speeders' approach has been altered in the composite." (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. The tow-rope has been thickened, and the speeder's shadow redone to better match the color and contour of the land." (1997 Change)
Recomposited and background now 1 frame later than original. (1997 Change)*
The lighting on the speeder looks better in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
Recomposited and slight change in position of cockpit foreground. (1997 Change)*
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. Originally, the speeder element was misaligned so that it did not properly go behind the walker legs." (1997 Change)
Recomposited and background position shifted. (1997 Change)*
Completely different background. (1997 Change)*
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." The trooper is better matted as well. (1997 Change)
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. The speeder on the right now goes behind the explosion." (1997 Change)
"The speeder that flies through the explosion on the right originally had a hand-animated glow applied to it." (1997 Change)
"AT-ST walker opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing." (1997 Change)
Looks like a new background plate with mountains has been added to this shot. (1997 Change)*
"More snowspeeder opacity and edge-fixing thanks to digital compositing. The practical smoke trail is greatly enhanced in the new composite" (1997 Change)
"The AT-AT feet and surrounding miniature ground are more smoothly integrated into the background." (1997 Change)
"The AT-AT foot is more smoothly integrated into the live action background. It has also been repositioned to better match the perspective of the shot." (1997 Change)
"The AT-AT feet are more smoothly integrated into the background." (1997 Change)
In 2004, blue square above switches is now black. (2004 Change)
This is not so much a difference in the Special Edition as it is evidence of the subpar transfer done in 1993, which is what was used for the 2006 DVD. The color of the text is red in only the 1993 transfer and there either are no scan lines in the image or they were lost somehow. *
The Special Edition stays on a solid white screen for a longer period than the original version, for unknown reasons. (2004 Change)*
This image was recomposited from the original elements. (1997 Change)
This cockpit shot has been zoomed in on. (2004 Change)*
"The Rebel transport is better matched to its surrounding, and its hand-drawn shadow is redone to better match the lighting of the scene." (1997 Change)
"The X-wing fighter's opacity and blurred matte edges have been improved through digital compositing." (1997 Change)
"Aside from cleaning up the garbage matte surrounding the foreground element, the new shot also colorizes R2-D2's panels to be blue instead of black." "The black version was used in bluescreen shots in the original trilogy." (1997 Change)
Another example of R2's blue panels. (1997 Change)*
Another example of R2's blue panels. (1997 Change)
Another example of R2's blue panels. He looks a lot more blue in this shot. (1997 Change)*
Another example of R2's blue panels. He looks a lot more blue in this shot and his main eyepiece looks smaller. This could be that they painted the blue too much inside the eyepiece in the SE. (1997 Change)*
"The composite of the bogwing pterodactyl-like creatures has been improved to have a more natural blur." (1997 Change)
The Special Edition cuts to Luke's fighter a frame before the original does. (1997 Change)*
The holograms were recomposited in 2004, note the position of the right-most captain. (2004 Change)*
The holograms have been redone a few times. The top image is from the 1986 Japanese Special Collection Laserdisc. Notice how the scanlines are horizontal in that version, but vertical in the 1993 and 1997 transfers used in 2006 and 2004. The 2004 version has slightly shifted the holograms.
The holograms were recomposited in 2004, note the slightly higher positions of the captains and the additional detail in the right-most one. (2004 Change)*
This shot was recomposited for the 2004 DVD. (2004 Change)*
"The original Emperor has been replaced by Ian McDiarmid in makeup for the 2004 DVD release. Also, the seam between the matte painting and live action set has been softened." (2004 Change)
From top to bottom: - Puggo's 8mm preservation (close to the 70mm print) - 1992 US Pan&Scan Laserdisc (which matches the 1986 Japanese Special Collection LD) - 1993 Transfer (used for 1993 Definitive Collection LD/1995 Faces LD/2006 DVD) -1997 Special Edition - 2004 Special Edition Notice how every other version has scanlines on the Emperor. In motion, the 8mm/70mm doesn't have the Emperor fade in, while all of the other versions do.
"The original Emperor has been replaced by Ian McDiarmid in makeup for the 2004 DVD release." (2004 Change)
From top to bottom: - Puggo's 8mm preservation (close to the 70mm print) - 1992 US Pan&Scan Laserdisc (which matches the 1986 Japanese Special Collection LD) - 1993 Transfer (used for 1993 Definitive Collection LD/1995 Faces LD/2006 DVD) -1997 Special Edition - 2004 Special Edition Notice how every other version has scanlines on the Emperor.
In addition to several inserts of Vader that are replaced with views of the Emperor and vice versa, most of the long shots of Vader kneeling have been replaced with a close up. (2004 Change)
The aforementioned close up seems to be a flip of this single close up from the original. (2004 Change)
"The composite of the Millennium Falcon has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." (2004? Change)
Though hard to tell in a still image, the asteroid miniature jumped up as the space slug puppeteer ran into it in the original footage. The asteroid has been stabilized in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
"The composite of the bogwing pterodactyl-like creature has been improved to have a more natural blur." (1997 Change)
"The composite of the bogwing pterodactyl-like creature has been improved to have a more natural blur. Its timing has also been slightly altered, so that Luke is in a different position while it crosses frame." (1997 Change)
The lightsaber glow element was recomposited digitally using the original element to keep the quality of the original film element for this scene. (2004 Change)*
The lightsaber glow element was recomposited digitally using the original element to keep the quality of the original film element for this scene. The saber impact looks like it was completely recreated digitally. (2004 Change)*
The explosion is much brighter in the 2004 SE. (2004 Change)*
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. It was redone again in 2004 due to the recompositing in the next scene. (1997 & 2004 Change)*
"Garbage matte artifacting around the most distant TIE fighters has been cleaned up." The ships are in slightly different positions, implying that this shot was actually recomposited. (2004 Change)
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. It was redone again in 2004 due to the new compositing in the next shot. (1997 & 2004 Change)*
"The blue buttons in Captain Needa's rank badge have been colorized; they were originally black in this bluescreen shot." (2004 Change)*
"The edge of the matte painting originally had heavy black seams surrounding the viewport that the officers stand at; the redone composite cleans up these edges." (2004 Change)
"When Captain Needa original stood up, the edges of his image trailed a blue fringe, the result of "bluespill." This has been cleaned up." (2004 Change)
"The blue buttons in Captain Needa's rank badge have been colorized; they were originally black in this bluescreen shot." (2004 Change)
The black buttons are blue, and the bluespill has been cleaned up around Needa's commander. (2004 Change)*
More bluespill cleanup. (2004 Change)*
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. It was redone again in 2004 due to the new compositing in the previous shot. The 97 source used is framed incorrectly. (1997 & 2004 Change)*
"The composite of the bogwing pterodactyl-like creature has been improved to have a more natural blur." (2004 Change)
"The matte painting originally had sunlight streaming through the trees, which did not match the lighting of previous shots. Also, the new version has a shadow added beneath the X-wing fighter." The X-wing is also higher above Luke. (1997 Change)
This shot was recomposited in 1997 to eliminate the black box matting error just to the right of 3PO's head. (1997 Change)*
"New all-CG shots of the Millennium Falcon and the Slave I were added in the 1997 Special Edition." (1997 Change)
"The composite of the Millennium Falcon has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." (1997 Change)
"The composite of the cloud cars has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." (1997 Change)
"The shot has been zoomed in on, to provide a closer view of the principals. The background sky plate has also been replaced with one with a more tranquil flight path." (1997 Change)
"This shot has been zoomed in on, though the sky plate and model elements has remained the same size." The original live action plate has also been shifted down significantly. (1997 Change)
"The composite of the Millennium Falcon and the cloud cars has been improved to reduce their harsh matte edges and better incorporate them in the color of the sky." (1997 Change)
"The shot has been zoomed in on, to provide a closer view of the principals." (1997 Change)
"The Falcon is recomposited, some new cloud cars are added, and the sky is slightly altered to better match previous shots." The Falcon's flight path has also been raised and there is an additional Cloud Car. The sun is also more visible behind the clouds. (1997 Change)
Though the model elements remain in the same position relative to each other, they have all been raised in the frame. There is also an additional Cloud Car. The sun is also more visible behind the clouds. (1997 Change)*
"A new cockpit shot added balloon-like floating spas to the skyline..." The cockpit itself is actually a re-use of an earlier shot in the sequence, also in this comparison. http://picasaweb.google.com/doubleofive/EmpireSpecialEditionChangesHD#5527949742712780018 (1997 Change)
"...the all-digital fly-in sends the Falcon and its escorts through Cloud City." (1997 Change)
"The new Cloud City skyline includes the apartment building where Leia will later be seen in." (1997 Change)
Due to adding shots in the Special Edition to transition, this wipe has been removed entirely. (1997 Change)*
"The background skyline has been changed, though the foreground platform and Falcon elements are reused from the original. What was once hand-drawn retro rockets have been replaced with composited steam elements." (1997 Change)
The small-looking Cloud Car in the original shot now flies behind the Falcon as the scale suggests. (1997 Change)
"This shot has more sky traffic, including a commuter tram that zips below the platform." The Special Edition uses the original landing platform matte, which doesn't include any of the elements from the CG matte used in the fly-in. (1997 Change)
"This shot also has more sky traffic, and now has a slight camera move added to it." The Special Edition uses the original landing platform matte, which doesn't include any of the elements from the CG matte used in the fly-in. The Falcon's ramp also remains lowered in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)
"The view from the circular window now has the proper sky to match the previous shot, as well as buildings that move properly through perspective, as opposed to flat artwork." (1997 Change)
"The distant staircase now leads to an open-air concourse, digitally added." The concourse reverts back into the plain staircase as the characters walk up them in the next shot. Also note that the reflection on the floor is still of the staircase. (1997 Change)
"The composite of the X-wing has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." However, stars can be seen shining through the bottom left corner of the planet. (1997 Change)
"The original establishing shot of Cloud City had a cloud car fly towards camera. In the new version, introduced in 1997, the car is gone, but now the camera moves in towards the city, while a refinery platform floats nearby." (1997 Change)
"These new all-CG shots follow a cloud car through the Cloud City skyline." The engine glow is missing in this first part, but appears when it passes behind the building. (1997 Change)
Continued CGI scene. This one contains elements from the original matte, including the Cloud Car lifting off from the platform. (1997 Change)
"Though much of the original matte painting was retained in the new shot, the main apartment building has been changed." There is a pull-in closer and the Cloud Car passes the window much earlier. (1997 Change)
"The original architecture did not portray a penthouse apartment, so the view out the windows had visible spokes, as opposed to open sky with a cloud car." The shadows of the spokes remain however. (1997 Change)
In 2004, TIEs were recolored to grey, from blue. (2004 Change)
In 1997, Garbage matte artifacting around all the ships has been cleaned up. (1997 Change)
In 1997, Garbage matte artifacting around all the ships has been cleaned up. (1997 Fix)
In 2004, Garbage matte artifacting around the Falcon has been cleaned up. (2004 Change)
In 2004, the tunnel was changed from blue to light brown. (2004 Change)
In 2004, Garbage matte artifacting around the Executor has been cleaned up. Shot is zoomed in. (2004 Change)
In 1997, The composite of the bogwing pterodactyl-like creature has been improved to have a more natural blur. (2004 Change)
In 1997, upper Star Destroyer and shuttle recompositioned and retimed. (1997 Change)
In 2004, the composite of the starfield and Executor was redone. (2004 Change)
In 1997, In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. The Special Edition starts one frame later. (1997 Change)
In 1997, Han (carbonite) Imperial Officer and Boba Fett walking up into Slave-1 has been recompositioned. The red aircraft light has been deminished in the 1997, but they've added two white aircraft lights to the building on the left. (1997 Change)
In 1997, the shot of Luke jumping down following Vader has been extended by two frames. The next shot of Luke entering the pipe has been shortened by two frames. (1997 Change)
In 2004, Vader's lightsaber temporarily looses it's color, due to the digital recoloring process getting confused by the floor and lightsabers. (2004 Change)
"The end of this hallway has been opened up to provide a view of the exterior buildings." The original reflection remains on the floor. (1997 Change)
"This wall has been opened up to show the exterior buildings and even a moving elevator." Every shot of this hallway after this point remains the original window. (1997 Change)
"The composite of the X-wing has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." It also starts closer to frame right. (1997 Change)
"This recomposite also recolored R2-D2 to give him the proper blue panels instead of the black ones." (1997 Change)
"The composite of the X-wing has been improved to reduce its harsh matte edge." (1997 Change)
The flight path has also been modified to look like Luke is heading more toward the city. (1997 Change)*
"Though Han is wearing his white shirt in the original version, the lighting created the illusion that he was wearing a vest. Solo's shoulders were lightened in the 2004 version." The bottom of the shot is also cropped. (2004 Change)
"This shot has been transplanted outside, thanks to extensive rotoscoping and a digi-matte painting. Since the whole shot was reframed, moving the characters to the right, the right-side of R2-D2's corridor was closed in, to keep it in frame." The reflection of the sky and buildings are visible through the character's shadows and the railing looks to be knee-high. (1997 Change)
"The outer wall has been turned into a window looking at the Slave I." (1997 Change)
This shot of R2 starting to plug in has been moved to before Lando's address. (1997 Change)
Part of Lando's address are replaced with new shots of bluescreened actors against the same background plate used later in a shot with Leia. (1997 Change)
The shot of R2 plugging in was moved to before Lando's address and replaced with new shots of bluescreened actors against a CGI background. (1997 Change)
Part of Lando's address are replaced with new shots of bluescreened actors against a GCI background. (1997 Change)
This shot of Lando addressing the city was not in the original version. (1997 Change)
"The outer wall has been turned into a window in this shot." This is the exact same hallway the people Lando was addressing were in, but it was mirrored for them (including the CGI buildings). (1997 Change)
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce his harsh matte edge and preserve the color of his photographic element." (1997 Change)
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." (1997 Change)
"The sky background has been redone to better match the rest of the shots." (1997 Change)
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." Luke's pole is slightly further to the left, as you can see that his head is closer to the light above him. (1997 Change)
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." Luke's pole is slightly further to the left, as you can see that his head is closer to the light above him. (1997 Change)*
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." Luke seems to have more hair in the Special Edition thanks to better matting and the cloud matte has been shifted to the left. (1997 Change)*
"The composite of the Falcon has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." (1997 Change)
"A new series of digital shots tracks Vader's progress from a Cloud City landing platform to the skies above Bespin, added in the 1997 Special Edition." (1997 Change)
This shot was recomposited. (1997 Change)*
This shot begins one frame earlier in the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
"Vader continues his voyage to his Super Star Destroyer..." (1997 Change)
"Vader continues his voyage to his Super Star Destroyer..." The Super Star Destroyer lacks the blue coloring it has in every other shot. (1997 Change)
"The composite of Luke has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges. Also, a large rectangular garbage matte artifact that surrounds Luke's element has been eliminated." The Falcon is also colored better. (1997 Change)
The Falcon is better matted, moves up later, and is a bit further left of frame. Luke is also better matted. (1997 Change)*
"What was originally a blank white space has been replaced with a second set of hatch doors above Lando." (1997 Change)
This shot was recomposited for the Special Edition. (1997 Change)*
"The composite of the TIE fighter has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." (1997 Change)
"Vader ultimately lands in the Super Star Destroyer's spacious hangar." (1997 Change)
"Unused footage from Return of the Jedi stands in for the Super Star Destroyer hangar, resulting in a surprise cameo by Moff Jerjerrod." (1997 Change)
"The composite of the Falcon has been improved to reduce the harsh matte edges." The laser blasts have also been retimed. (1997 Change)
"Because only one half of the Star Destroyer set was built, flopped footage represented the other half; the backwards image resulted in rank badges worn on the wrong side, which have been corrected in the 2004 DVD release." (2004 Change)
"These rank badges have been digitally moved to the correct side, and they have been colorized blue (they were originally black in bluescreen shots)." (2004 Change)
"These rank badges have been digitally moved to the correct side." (2004 Change)
There are more laser blasts in this shot and the TIE fighters have been recomposited so the lasers don't appear on top of them (each fighter in this shot has this fix). (2004 Change)*
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. The Special Edition starts one frame later. (1997 Change)*
While the Falcon, the Falcon's engine glow, and the TIE lasers have been recomposited, the placement of the TIE and the Executor remain the same while the Falcon is in a different position. (2004 Change)*
"This officer's rank badge has been digitally moved onto the correct side of his uniform." (2004 Change)
"The edge of the matte painting originally had heavy black seams surrounding the viewport that Darth Vader stands at; the redone composite cleans up these edges." The bay on the right also runs a few frames early while the left bay remains the same (you can see the man talking to the other on the wall still walking up to him in the SE shot). This is because only half of the bridge set was built and the right bay was simply the left bay flipped in in post-production. (1997 Change)*
"This shot originally had a flat image of the window as the cruiser turned away from the camera, resulting in a very flat image. In the Special Edition, perspective was added to the shot." (1997 Change)
In order to retain image quality by using the original negative, this wipe was redone optically by Pacific Titles. This wipe transitions into the recreated Special Edition credits. (1997 Change)*
"The size of Executive Producer title was reduced to match the other titles." While this is the only official listing, the entire credits sequence was recreated for the Special Edition. All of the titles' sizes were reduced from the original, which were all as big as Lucas' here. The contents of the credits are the same, just recreated to match the rest of the saga. (1997 Change)
"The Special Edition credits run longer than the original theatrical edition credits." (1997 Change)
