The Many Versions of Star Wars

An Argument Against Alterations

 “People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians.” ~George Lucas delivering a speech to the US congress in 1988 urging them to pass laws to hinder people from

 altering films in any way.

I just finished watching the "Special Editions" of Star Wars with my wife and it reminded me just how much I dislike the changes he made to the Star Wars films in 1997 and how he continues to alter these films.

There have been at least four major updates to the Star Wars Trilogy since their original release. Hundreds of little changes have been made. Dialogue, sound effects, and music cues have been fiddled with endlessly. Different takes can be seen in different versions of the film. Eventually you have to ask yourself. What is Star Wars? Which version is the real one?

Does Luke say “Blast it, Biggs, Where are you?” or “Blast it, Wedge, where are you?”
Does Threepio say “Oh, this is suicide” or “There’s nowhere to go”

Does Luke say “You were lucky to get out of there?” or “You’re lucky you don’t taste very good.”

Various versions call for various takes as if Lucas can not make up his mind. I’m not sure if I like all that tinkering, but it was alright up until the special editions in 1997, when Lucas spent 10 million dollars to “fix up” his trilogy.

A New Hope

Above = 1997 Jabba (Special Edition)
Below = 2004 Jabba (DVD Release)

In these special editions there are jarring differences, and nowhere are those differences more jarring than on Tatooine. CGI dewbacks & banthas are roaming the deserts. Mos Eisly is bigger and Jawas are falling off of Rontos. The aliens in the cantina have been replaced with new ones. Dash Rendar’s ship is present. Han talks to a horribly animated Jabba the Hutt. And, of course, there is the most debated scene in which Han shoots Greedo.

It isn’t even a question of who shot first because in the original version Han is the only one who shoots. The fact that we are suppose to believe that Greedo missed from two-meters away is ludicrous! Greedo must be the worst bounty hunter in the galaxy! Also, why was he there in the first place if Jabba was right outside!

Why is this necessary?

The question we have to ask ourselves is WHY?  Why digitally add a rock in front of R2-D2 to make it seem like he is hiding from the Sand People? A special effects crew won an Oscar for this film, is it really worth replacing all their models with new CGI ones in the Death Star run? 

Tie Fighter and hundreds of
troopers added for comedic effect

Empire

Empire Strikes back was not changed much for the special edition, which I am thankful for, but there have been a lot of annoying changes since. For example, in the DVD release they change the actor who plays “The Emperor” to match the rest of the trilogy. The Emperor is noticeably more evil & sadistic. Many fans might think this isn’t so bad, but they also change Boba Fett’s voice to match with Jango Fett’s. He went from sounding like a brutal killer to sounding like Steve Erwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Did we really just recast two characters? Was it really necessary?

Above : 2003 DVD Update with Ian McDiarmid
Below : Original throne room scene, voiced by Clive Revill. 

Jedi

While I have mixed feelings about ANH & ESB getting a makeover, it is indisputable that what they did to ROTJ is unforgivable. It is a totally different movie for Force sake!

It is so obvious that this isn't a part of the original film.
The CGI is horrid

Let’s start with Jabba’s Palace. Apparently Max Reebo’s Band was a little boring. But did that really mean they had to add nine characters, replace the puppets with animations, compose a song called “Jedi Rocks” and have Boba Fett flirt with the dancers? Did Sebulba really need to be added to the Bluray version? Did the Sarlacc really need dozens of CG tentacles and a beak? Why the hell does a Sarlacc need a beak? Isn’t it suppose to take one-thousand years to digest prey?

Alright, lets move on to Endor. If you have the bluray edition of the film, you might have noticed that Ewoks blink now. Also, you might have noticed that Vader screams NOOOOOOO before throwing the Emperor down the shaft. Not only does it totally ruin the moment, but it also brings up memories of that horrible “Birth of Vader” scene in Episode III. Later when Luke takes off his helmet the actor who use to play Anakin has been altered to look more like Hayden Christianson.

After the Empire is defeated, scenes of celebration on Bespin, Tatooine, and Coruscant are shown in addition to the original celebration scenes on Endor and the musical theme "Yub Nub" has been replaced with an entirely new John Williams composition, "Victory Celebration." In the DVD release they even added Naboo to the mix and Jar Jar Binks shouting “Weesa free!” in the background.

Above: Original film with Sebastian Shaw
Below: 2003 Update with Hayden Christiansen 

Alas, adding Jar Jar to Return of the Jedi is not the worse thing Lucas has done to the film. Just before the credit’s roll when we see the force ghosts, we do not see the Anakin Skywalker that just conquered the dark side of the force- that learned from his mistakes. No, no- we see Hayden-Fucking-Christianson.

Now that Disney owns Star Wars I beg them, BEG THEM, to release versions of the film that do not make fans want to cringe. In fact, if I were JJ Abrams, I would make it a part of my contract that I get to release my own directors cut of the original trilogy. I grew up watching these films and it sucks knowing that Lucas did indeed take memories from my childhood and pretended they never happened. Yes, Lucas edited and rewrote my childhood. It’s not rape, but it does feel like he violated something.

Shadows of the Empire

Not all Star Wars fans dive deep into the Expanded Universe, but if you were a Fanboy in 1996 then "Shadows of the Empire" would have been hard to miss. Lucasfilm wanted to explore the period of time between "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi", so they hired Steve Perry to author a novel. But they didn't stop there. They wanted the release of "Shadows of the Empire" to feel like a film was releasing- they wanted something no Wars fan could ignore. So, along with the book, they released a video game, comics, a toy line, trading cards, and -yes- even a soundtrack.


Shadows of the Empire is memorable (not only because of the merchandise) but because of the rich story and characters. Lucas himself said that he loved the story and Lucas does not usually speak highly of the Expanded Universe. 

Prince Xizor

The Novel introduces a new villain named Prince Xizor (pronounced Sheezer). His species is Falleen and he looks humanoid, but reptilian. He is the leader of a crime organization known as the Black Sun and is taking orders directly from the Emperor himself. In the book, Xizor assists with construction of the second death star. He also tries to seduce Princess Leia with his natural Falleen-pheromones and for a while it actually works!

Dash Rendar

Another new character which is important to the story is Dash Rendar. He is essentially Han Solo's replacement (since Han is frozen in carbonite) and he is also the star of the Shadows of the Empire video game. Rendar is a smuggler who aids the alliance in the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Gall. He also has a battle with IG-88 in the game. Rendar has an awesome ship called the 'Outrider' which actually makes a cameo in the Special Edition of A New Hope at Mos Eisley Space Port.



In addition to new characters, Shadows expands on some characters we see briefly in the films- the Bounty Hunters. The  comic focusses on Boba Fett's journey to Jabba's Palace and the trouble he finds along the way. Fett must battle Bossk, Zuckuss, & 4-Lom if he wants to claim Jabba's prize. "Shadows" also features Leia & Chewbacca disguising themselves as the bounty hunters Bouschh & Snoova. 

Guri

Another character worth mentioning is Guri. She is described as a Human Replica Droid (basically a Cylon) almost indistinguishable from humans. She is Xizor's right hand and she has been trained and programed to kill. Guri takes center-stage is the comic series "Shadows of the Empire: Evolution" a 1998 sequel to Shadows. Guri is another example of a strong-female warrior, which are so prevalent in the expanded universe, but not so much in the Star Wars films.

Dash Rendar's Outrider

Shadows was a epic project and will not soon be forgotten. It introduced new characters and new ships. The story was fast-paced and exciting. It is probably the best example of a Star Wars book really channelling the feeling of the films. It was also the last good thing to happen to Star Wars before the 20th Anniversary Editions and the prequels.

Chewbacca as Snoova

Next week I focus on the many, many versions of the Star Wars films
 (specifically the Special Editions)

Toys

        When I was in second grade I discovered Star Wars. I had already seen both Ewok films and I guess my mom thought that I was ready for the big leagues. I don’t remember much of my first viewing of the trilogy, but I remember after watching the first film, I quickly went to the Copps Grocery video store and rented Empire Strike Back and Return of the Jedi. Star Wars quickly became the favorite thing in my childhood. I think so many of us can claim that.

            My first Star Wars toys were the Star Wars Bend-Ems. JustToys released about twenty figures in 1993 and I owned almost all of them. There is nothing particularly great about these figures. They didn’t have accessories- although there was a lightsaber pre-attached to Luke’s hand and they did come with a Topps trading card. I will always have fond memories of these figures because they were my first.

            By my tenth birthday I had started to receive Star Wars Micro-Machines, which remain my favorite Star Wars toys to this day. It was probably the ships, the locations, and the tiny characters that made the set so great. The largest Micro-Machine sets were the Falcon & the Death Star, yet every location and scene in the movie was covered.

            Eventually, I was collecting the Kenner Action Figures as well. Occasionally, I could find ones from the eighties at rummage sales, but most of mine were the new Hasbro figures. I think my favorite was the Rancor, but the X-wing and exploding Tie Fighter were also pretty amazing. I was playing with these toys throughout my sixth grade year and my brother even made references to the games we played in his speech at my wedding.

           My Star Wars Toy collection probably began to peter off in Middle School but in eighth grade when The Phantom Menace released I remember owning quite a few of the figures (now with voice chips that quoted lines from the film). By the time Episode II released, I was 17 and I was not buying toys anymore, but I do remember purchasing a single figure: Arena Pame with midriff showing and chain attached (Hey, I was 17)

            In 1999, Lego began releasing Star Wars sets as well. I never had many, but I loved playing through both trilogies of Lego Star Wars on the Playstation. I have recently really got into the Lego Architecture sets (Legos for adults) but I have not taken my eye off of the Lego Star Wars sets (The $400 Executor set looks amazing!) Perhaps I will soon find an excuse to own more of them.

            A lot of people accuse Lucas of wanting to sell toys, but the fact is that we bought the toys. Everyone reading this blog probably has thousands of dollars of Star Wars Merchandise sitting somewhere - thousands of dollars of stuff just because we enjoyed a few movies. It boggles the mind.  

Playskool Heroes Jedi Force

Of course those of us who do own all these “things” know that Star Wars is more than just a few movies to us. Star Wars was our childhood and it’s going to be a big part of our children’s childhood. 

Star Wars, Toys, and Childhood are three things that just seem to go together and even when you are an adult, Star Wars always seems to bring out that inner-child.

I'll be in Vietnam for Chinese New Year 

but I'll be blogging about "Shadows of the Empire" in about a week, so feel free to brush up!

Star Wars Renaissance: The Thrawn Trilogy

By 1990, the Star Wars Universe was pretty much dead in the water. Lucas had made no developments other than a pair of Ewok films. It had been seven years since "Return of the Jedi" and there had not been one comic or novel published in that stretch of time.

Timothy Zahn

Enter Timothy Zahn, the man who saved Star Wars for my generation. From 1991 to 1993, Zahn released the books now known as "The Thrawn Trilogy". These books would take place five years after “Return of the Jedi” and introduce brand new characters, species and planets.

Not only were these books a breath of fresh air to old Star Wars fans, but they pulled a new generation of fans (my generation) into the Star Wars universe. These three books are the genesis of everything we now know of as the Expanded Universe.  Let’s take a look at just a few of the characters that were first introduced in these novels:

Mara Jade: Perhaps the most popular character in the expanded universe, Mara Jade is introduced as a force-sensitive freelancer. It is revealed that she was once Emperor Palpatine’s “Hand”. Palpatine sent her on a mission to Jabba’s Palace to assassinate Luke Skywalker and Mara is still brainwashed when we meet her in these books. She is struggling, internally, over whether she should kill Luke or not. Ironically,  Mara eventually marries Luke and gives birth to his son, Ben.

Mara Jade

Mara Jade is so prevalent in the Expanded Universe that it is hard to imagine that she will not be included in the Star Wars sequels in some way. Perhaps her exact backstory might change, but if Luke Skywalker is going to have a lover, it’s got to be Mara. She is a strong female that the Star Wars films lack. Yes, Padme & Leia could fight, but there was no edge to them. I hope to see Mara in episode VII.

Thrawn

Thrawn: Grand Admiral Thrawn is another complex character in a universe where Evil is sometimes only evil for Evil’s sake. Thrawn is the leader of a dying Empire five years after Endor. His species is Chiss and he has a love for the study of art. In fact, he seeks to understand his foes through the art of their cultures. He is a firm leader, but never unfair. He surrenders when he has to, but rarely has to. Thrawn is remembered for his final words “But… it was so artistically done”.

Jaina & Jacen

Jaina & Jacen: Leia gives birth to her first children in these novels. Though Jaina & Jacen are only babies when the series ends, they have a rich future ahead of them. Jaina & Jacen have many trials and battles as they grow through the Expanded Universe. They lose friends, family, and loved ones and eventually one falls victim to the dark side of the force (But, I won’t spoil anything.) This is another set of characters that I really hope to see in the sequels.

In addition to these four characters, Zahn’s novels brought us some important additions to the Star Wars universe. It was through his novels where fans first explored Coruscant, the capital of the galaxy.  It was Zahn, not Lucas, who named this planet and paved the way for its usage in the prequel trilogy.

Joruus C'baoth

Zahn was also the first to show how clones function in the Star Wars universe. Clones are central to the plot of his novels. The novels feature "Joruus C'baoth", an insane clone of Jorus C’baoth (a Jedi who died out during the Clone Wars.) Interestingly enough, Zahn originally wanted this character to be an insane-clone of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but Lucasfilm would not have it.

The other clone that pops up during the series is Luuke Skywalker. (Apparently in Timothy Zahn’s mind, all clones must add an extra vowel to their name.) Luke and Luuke have a well-matched lightsaber duel in the final book of Zahn’s series.

"Luuke" Skywalker

There are many parts of Zahn’s trilogy to like, yet the books on their own would not make good movies. One way to make Episode VII work is to adapt some of the characters of the Expanded Universe to screen, but not directly adapt the books (similar to the way that Nolan took a lot of plot points from the Batman graphic novels when writing his “Dark Knight” trilogy).

Anyone else want to see Mara, Thrawn, or the twins in episode VII?