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Topic:
Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Blur
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
4/18 6:48am
Subject:
Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
- Date Edited:
4/18 6:52am (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Blur
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Hi everyone. Since it's been over 11 years since the theatrical release of the "Star Wars: Special Editions", I just wanted to start a thread for people to post any memories associated with this specific release of the films, and I thought this was the best area on the boards for this.
Anyway, I remember really looking forward to seeing these versions of the films in the theatre in the months prior to their release. I actually was suprised that Lucas was going to update the effects and re-release them theatrically. Though this has happened to a greater extent since then (i.e. older movies getting upgrades), at that time (late '96/early '97), this was unusual, and therefore something new and exciting.
When I saw the Special Edition of "SW: ANH" in the theatre in January 1997, I was blown away - not only was the print of the film the best and sharpest I had ever seen, but I really liked most of the updated special effects, especially the expanded Mos Eisley, the scene when Han ran into 50 troops instead of 10 on the DS, and the final DS battle, which put the previous DS battle (from the original film) to shame. It would have been enough just to see the original film in the theatre again (since I hadn't seen it that way since '79), but the enhanced effects were the icing on the cake. I've always thought that the theatre is the best place to see these SW films, and this was definitely an incredible movie experience!
Seeing "Empire" in the theatre in February 1997 was superb, almost as good as seeing ANH (though most fans prefer "Empire" over ANH, ANH is still my favorite). I liked how they didn't add/enhance too much to this film, since it was perfect when it was first released in 1980. The scenes they did add (including a more extended scene with the Wampa, and more extended Cloud City sequences) were so seamless that if you hadn't know they were there, they seemed like part of the original film.
Seeing ROTJ in March 1997 was great as well, though this is my least favorite SW film (even counting the prequels). However, I liked the whole Jabba the Hutt/Tattoine sequence (even the additional scenes), and didn't mind the added snout onto the Sarlaac. The DS space battle near the end of the film was mind-blowing to see on the big screen!
It was also cool to see SW getting attention again in the media (newspapers, TV, etc.) because of the Special Editions, after being out of the mainstream for many years.
From a collecting perspective, I enjoyed getting some of the Fast-food related toys associated with the films, the new Special Edition CD soundtracks which had all of music in the order it was in the films, as well as the Hasbro figures (but that's another thread).
In a way, I actually enjoyed seeing these Special Editions in the theatre more than the prequels, since I'm of the generation that saw these films in the theatre when they were first released. So, the nostlgia aspect was very strong with these re-releases.
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solojones
Registered:
Sep '00
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Date Posted:
4/18 8:22am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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The changes... meh. The updated print... 
The coolest thing for me was that I was born 10 years after the release of ANH, so though I was a die-hard SW fan who could quote them all by heart, I'd never seen them in theatres. I was 9 and boy were they amazing. I only wish they'd come out again so I could see them multiple times. Since my parents had to pay I only saw them once each 
-sj loves kevin spacey
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6 x 9 = 42 Proud member of the Colbert Nation  Obi-Wan Kenobi and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Ghost Ship Executor All Hail Cliegg's Blue Leg!
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TwiLekJedi
Title: Classic Trilogy & YJCC Manager
Registered:
Jun '01
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Date Posted:
4/18 8:26am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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I was a SW n00b back then and while I knew I had seen the SW movies before (on TV, as a kid) I didn't remember them all too well. For a school trip, I bought the novelisations (yes, I was one of the kids who read on most school trips). I also thought they would be remakes as I had no conept of "Special Editions" 
Strangely enough, I remember ANH more than RotJ. As for TESB... well... yeah... ahem...
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zombie
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
4/18 8:57am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Seeing Star Wars on the big screen in 1997 was one of the all-time great moments of moviedom in my life. It was an incredible experience. In retrospect, the SE is really where things started to unravel in the films, but at the time it was such an exciting event that none of that really entered my mind.
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I'll swallow your soul! --------------------------------- If you're gonna die, die with your boots on! -------------------------------- author of The Secret History of Star Wars http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com
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SkottASkywalker
Registered:
Jan '02
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Date Posted:
4/18 12:03pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
- Date Edited:
4/18 12:08pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
SkottASkywalker
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I was extremely pleased that STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE, STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI were being re-released in theaters in 1997 and with updates, including new/extended scenes. I was able to get, at this time, two of the three STAR WARS exclusives that were released at the theaters with THE STAR WARS TRILOGY SPECIAL EDITION, including the shipping box and accompanying letter that one of the STAR WARS exclusives came in.
Seeing the movies in theaters in their original release years and during re-releases in the 70's and 80's and during a charity showing of all three movies back-to-back-to-back in the 90's before THE STAR WARS TRILOGY SPECIAL EDITION was amazing and I really missed seeing them in theaters.
In 1997 I saw STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE SPECIAL EDITION 12 times in theaters and STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK SPECIAL EDITION 6 times in theaters and STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI SPECIAL EDITION 4 times in theaters. I was absolutely amazed with the updates and additions.
And STAR WARS was back in theaters! 
I also remember seeing the trailers in theaters for THE STAR WARS TRILOGY SPECIAL EDITION movies.
And, of course, I also bought food chain STAR WARS merchandise and a lot of other STAR WARS merchandise that came out during this time. It really was a big STAR WARS explosion.
I remember THE STAR WARS TRILOGY SPECIAL EDITION doing extremely well at the Box Office and I remember crowded theaters for each movie. If I remember correctly, this re-releae did so well that the date for STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI SPECIAL EDITION to start it's run in theaters was moved back a week and I have THE STAR WARS TRILOGY SPECIAL EDTION posters that reflect this (the original planed date for the start of it's run and the changed date for the start of it's run).
It was like STAR WARS of the 70's and 80's and this time I was far more able to spend money on STAR WARS. 
And it continued with STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES and STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. Just amazing times. 
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_Sublime_Skywalker_
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
4/18 12:25pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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I had seen the SW films before the SE, but I was too young to appreciate the movies and be captivated by them. I would've been about 7 or 8 when when the movies came out for SE, and my dad took me to all three. One each week.
I loved them, though we went back to see ANH for a second time and I fell asleep. I will never live down that dissappointment as a loving star wars fan. But after seeing them, I fell inlove with them. I remember the christmas the following year, my mom bought me a Luke skywalker ROTJ Hasbro lightsaber, that I practiced with and played with all the time. I even remember dueling with my cousin, same age, in my pool with tennis rackets. He was always Vader, and I Luke. I loved the idea of being the hero.
After those years, I had rogue squadron on N64 and my love for SW only increased in the years. To the point where I bought my first EU book [Heir to the Empire] when I was about 9 or 10.
The SE is what really made me love SW like I do. Before hand I had liked the movies, but the SE came out right in the age that was needed to truly introduce me to the greatness of what is SW.
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'You don't know the Power of the Darkside!'-Darth Vader
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Chiss_Insight
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
4/21 11:16am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Great thread.
I was a freshman in college when the SE ANH hit theaters. My friends and I (all SW fans) made plans to go see it. I had an assistant professor at the time who was on the younger side. I had to miss his class and attend a make-up session to go see ANH with my buddies. I remember telling the prof. that I woudn't be in class and I would have to attend the make-up because, "Star Wars was back in theaters and that's more important than your class." That was exactly what I said to him with a big smile on my face. He took a beat and started laughing. Then he said, "I respect that. See you at the make-up session." I always think back to that conversation when the topic of SE ANH comes up.
I don't care for any of the changes in SE ESB, except that the negative was MUCH cleaner than what I remeber growing up with on videotape.
While I have come to like it, my friends and I were all a bit stunned by the SE ROTJ celebration sequence. All I can hear in my mind when I think of SE ROTJ, is one of my buddies saying, "Where the *&^% was the nub nub song?"
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Jango10
Registered:
Sep '02
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Date Posted:
4/21 1:15pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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ANH SE was the first Star Wars film I saw in theaters.
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Darth Dark Helmet
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Dec '99
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Date Posted:
4/21 2:27pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Seeing ANH SE in theaters, opening night when it came out, was and is the greatest movie going experience of my life, and nothing will ever top it. Nothing will compare to seeing the movie that I had seen so many times on a TV screen on the big screen. The atmosphere of the theater, full of other Star Wars fans was amazing. I don't think any other movie will ever even come close.
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Wraith20878
Registered:
Sep '06
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Date Posted:
4/21 8:29pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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My dad found out about the re-release late, so the only movie I saw in the theater was The Empire Strikes Back. It was the first star wars movie I ever saw, and I've been hooked ever since, even though I really didn't understand much then.
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DarthButt
Title: Manager
• Classic Trilogy
Registered:
Jun '03
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Date Posted:
4/21 9:40pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Can't say that ESB was a bad film to start out on. 
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Wraith20878
Registered:
Sep '06
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Date Posted:
4/25 7:51pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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yea, i'm not complaining. I remember waiting the entire movie for the good guys to win, and it never happened. It was the first movie with that type of ending I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Luckilly I had a freind with the originals, and I got to borrow them. Watched them all in order in one day. The next day I turned a broken broom handle I had into my first toy lightsaber.
-----signature-----
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
People are stupid. People will believe anything if they want to believe it's true or are afraid to believe its true.
Your life is yours alone. Rise up and live it.
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Lexi
Title: Classic Trilogy Trivia Winner
Registered:
Oct '02
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Date Posted:
4/29 3:58am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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For some reason, I only saw ANH, but I think it was because they never actually showed ESB and ROTJ in my hometown.
Anyway, I was really excited to see the movie on the big screen. I wasn't a big fan back then, but I had seen the movies several times and I was looking forward to see if I would spot any new or extended scenes.
The thing I remember the most, though, is that me and my brothers, who I saw ANH with, were all alone in the theatre. I guess that was the reason why they never showed the other two movies.
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"The force is strong with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a jedi yet."
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Pithy_Sith
Registered:
Nov '05
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Date Posted:
5/6 6:45am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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I, too, was very excited about these releases. I was 17 at it was my first chance seeing the trilogy on the big screen.
But I thought it was a one shot deal. I figured that Lucas wanted to have some fun for the 20th anniversary by presenting these Special editions. After that, we'd go to the prequels, but the Originals would stay original.
So that following August I was shocked to find that the Special Editions were for sale on VHS. Then, about a year or two later I was also surprised to see that these Special Editions were not 'special' any longer--they were STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI. But these weren't the movies I knew.
Looking back, I should have seen it coming. The promotions for the '95 THX releases warned that this would be the last opportunity to see the trilogy in its original form. I had tried to get a letterbox VHS set of the trilogy that Christmas, '95, but was unable to (sold out), so I forgot about it until the originals were subsumed by the special editions, and I scrambled to find the originals on e-bay.
What upset me, and still does, is Lucas changing these movies without changing the titles. But that's for another thread.
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You must do what you feel is right, of course.
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heathdaniel
Registered:
Sep '04
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Date Posted:
5/11 11:21am
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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I was 9 years old at the time, and my grandfather took me to see ANH. I fell in love immediately.
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zombie
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
5/11 3:45pm
Subject:
RE: Nostalgia for the "Star Wars Special Editions" Theatrical releases: 1/97 - 3/97
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Pithy_Sith posted:
I, too, was very excited about these releases. I was 17 at it was my first chance seeing the trilogy on the big screen.
But I thought it was a one shot deal. I figured that Lucas wanted to have some fun for the 20th anniversary by presenting these Special editions. After that, we'd go to the prequels, but the Originals would stay original.
So that following August I was shocked to find that the Special Editions were for sale on VHS.
This was my experience too. In fact, I'm convinced I read in a magazine that the films would be theater-only deals, one of the reasons I saw the SE like five or six times. I've encountered other people with the same understanding, so I'm thinking maybe this really was reported back then. I remember being shocked when I logged onto the starwars.com website--the first time I had been on the internet--and saw an ad that said the films would be on VHS in August. Maybe this was changed when the SE made $130 million dollars! My understanding was the SE was a fun little thing for the anniversary, a sort of "enhanced" take on the films that showed them in a spiffier, jazzed-up way, and maybe it would be reissued again in a few years or released on video later down the road.
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I'll swallow your soul! --------------------------------- If you're gonna die, die with your boots on! -------------------------------- author of The Secret History of Star Wars http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com
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