CT Something is really bugging me about some changed dialog in Empire's special edition.

If you recall on Dagobah after R2 gets swallowed by that thing whatever it was and then spit back out the original dialog by luke was. (you're lucky you don't taste very good)

In the special edition it was changed to... (you were lucky to get out of there)
I've been dying to know. What in the bloody hell was the point in changing that line which i thought was funnier in the original. I'd love to hear what lucas would have to say about this. Everybody just talks about the Han shot first seen but this bugs me more.

 

The dialogue change isn't from the Special Edition actually.
Back in 1980 Empire had two different sound mixes, for two different releases: the May 1980 release in 70mm, and the June 1980 release in 35mm (with an extended version of the final scene). Both mixes used different takes and even alternate dialogue (including the case you refer to). It was the first "special edition" version of the film, just a month after the movie was released!

(same with ANH, were some lines were included or deleted depending on the sound mix, and Aunt Beru had a different voice....)

 

What I've heard is that the "don't taste good" line was unavailable in a good clear audio format, so GL chose to use the other line, which for some reason had not degraded as much as the funny line. As with so many of GL's choices, I disagree. I'd rather have lively humor than technical perfection.

 

Honestly, I think "You were lucky to get out of there" tracks better rythmically. "You're lucky you don't taste very good" is forced as Star Wars humor goes. It's a generic joke inserted into Star Wars rather than something that emerges naturally from the characters and lore.

 

you're lucky you don't taste very good is a good line and got a laugh in the theater. Sad to see it go.

 

Oh i did not realize this! The first time i noticed was when i watched the special edition. That line always made me chuckle as a kid and i was very confused when i didn't hear it in the 1997 version. I never saw it in theaters until then. I was a year old in 1980. Thanks for ending the mystery!

 

Hans change in line as he finds Luke and puts the shelter up bugs me too. Seems an unnecessary change and seems obviously tacked on now.

 

What was the original line, and what is the new line? I looked up List of Special Edition Changes on Wookieepedia and it didn't mention any change there.

 

I feel sure that the original line was

“This may smell bad kid, but it’ll keep you warm, until I get the shelter built”

Changed to

“...shelter up”

 

I checked both newcanon novelisations. One says "shelter built" the other says "shelter up". Maybe the change was in the Blu-Ray rather than the special edition?

EDIT: While Wookieepedia itself doesn't mention it, I've found a claim that it was the 70mm version that had "Shelter up"

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/70-mm-print-of-the-Empire-Strikes-Back-Differences/id/2321

70mm prints of "The Empire Strikes Back" differed from the 35mm version in that some editing differences, additional shots, alternate takes, and extra dialogue can be detected through a comparison of the two versions.

Han says "until I can get the shelter up" instead of "until I can get the shelter built."

 

I’m not sure when the change happened. I’d have to check back on my old videos, but certainly “built” is the one I grew up with so it could well have happened either when the special editions were released in 97 or when the dvds came out a few years later.

 

The 2004 novelisation retains "shelter built" and "lucky you don't taste very good" while also including "Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival" and "The young rebel who destroyed the Death Star."

Which might suggest that even when changes are made, novelisation writers don't notice all of them - they were hired to write novelisation to put in major new dialogue, rather than to put in every single subtle change.

 

I always assumed reprints of the novelisations were just that, reprints without any additions, that’s why I’ve never bought them again from when I got the originals back in the early 80’s.

 

The 2004 novelizations weren't reprints - they were written by a different author from the 80s ones, followed the movie script a bit more closely, and were released specifically as Special Edition tie-ins.

 

I have multiples of the unaltered 2006 dvd release versions of the films so I only ever watch the originals. I have the VHS but unfortunately they will degrade in time. I think the 2006 dvd versions will be the only way to get the originals on disc other than despecialized. I really think George had it in his contract that the special releases were the movies that would be released in future releases.

 

My understanding is that “you’re lucky to get out of there” was the scripted line, “you’re lucky you don’t taste very good” was improv’ed by Hamill. Yeah I like the “taste” version better too.

 

The original line was "...shelter up." It was changed for the 35mm wide release. The Special Edition and later versions restored the original line.

Really, though, who cares?

 

I didn't realize they made new novelizations for the OT. Anyone have a link?

 

The new ones:

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/A_New_Hope:_The_Princess,_the_Scoundrel,_and_the_Farm_Boy
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Empire_Strikes_Back:_So_You_Want_to_Be_a_Jedi?
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Return_of_the_Jedi:_Beware_the_Power_of_the_Dark_Side!

The post-PT-released OT junior ones, which received a re-release with updating to the "newcanon":

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_A_New_Hope_(paperback_novel)
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Empire_Strikes_Back_(paperback_novel)
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Return_of_the_Jedi_(paperback_novel)

 

Star Wars sure has some quirky goings-on, in the weirdest of places. As frustrating as it is bemusing. Even the tiniest of changes - justified or not - can really play with your head in terms of scene integrity that's embossed in your memory, and jerk around ones suspension of disbelief when trying to lose themselves in the fantasy.

 

Bring my shuttle vs. alert my Star Destroy to prepare for my arrival.