CT The Lapti Nek Controversey

Lapti Nek was goofy, but catchy, and it fit the scene well. Jedi Rocks was a cringe-inducing sequence, particularly when that one alien mugged the camera.

 

I also like ''Yub Nub'' song better than the replacement song better. That shouldn't have been changed either.

 

Is there a way to gauge consumer demand for releases of remastered unaltered OT? I.e., consumer demand for more or less what despecialized Star Wars is doing? Does a poll of this kind exist?

 

There should be such a poll. If I were working out, I would enjoy listening to Lapti Nek.

 

Leapt Nek is on I-tunes.

 

Lapti Nek is an eerie musical number that heightens the atmosphere of discomfort. Jedi Rocks is...I don't know. Like the California Raisins bust in for an unscheduled intermission.

 

You also have to remember that the title, "Jedi Rocks" was never said in the films, so it really isn't canon. It's simply a title the producers came up with to identify the piece of music.

 

Let's all be honest, as in me, neither song is really good. What I prefer on between the two version of the same scene is the editing, in which I think Lapti Nek wins here. It has a much better balance of focus on Jabba, Oola, and the band. Jedi Rocks seems to focus too heavily on the band because of the new members and the CG, but I do think the new footage of Oola in the pit is an improvement.

 

From an "in-universe" point of view:

Jabba the Hutt liked music like "Lapti Nek", if somebody felt the song was too "sluggish" it was nevertheless compliant with Jabba's personality.

In contrast "Jedi Rocks" rather feels like the "Fourth Wall" coming down. Rather than to please an in-universe character the new song contains several allusions to a song Tina Turner-style and is apparently meant for the audience, but not necessarily Jabba the Hutt.

 

Thanks for the clip with the original Sy Snootles Lapti Nek song - I haven't seen this in that correct widescreen version in years (the 2006 DVD's were non-anamorphic widescreen). Great song & sequence.

Jedi Rocks sucks - both the terrible song and the excremental CGI alien(s) in the sequence. Very cartoonish & really sticks out like a sore thumb in the film. This is one of the worst additions to the OT SE's - I despise this even worse than the "Greedo shoots first" sequence in ANH.

For what it's worth, here are the other versions of Lapti Nek - I prefer these to the original version in ROTJ - you not only hear the full song, but the vocals sound different....& superior....to the version in the actual film:

 

I find the Lapti Nek version a limp and uninspiring piece, with a weak tonal shift created by Oola's sacrifice. Sy Snootles puppet is really weak, and can barely move.

The Jedi Rock's scene is much better at creating the tonal shift, with the surprise at Oola's sacrifice. The scene feels more dynamic, and the alien singers better realised. I especially like the little detail of Snootles noticing Oola being pulled by Jabba just before the drop.

With the music, I could go either way, though Lapti Nek doesn't really sound fast enough for a song and dance number.

 

I think both songs go to fast. Let's face it Oola was doing a dirty dance (sans a male partner). The music should of bin slower & louder.

Both songs r inferior to the instrumental song played on the way to the Sarlac Pit IMO.

 

This is the problem with Jedi Rocks. It turns the scene into an actual song and dance number for the audience. I don't mind the song itself, but the sequence within the film really takes me out of the movie. Lapti Nek felt like something we were observing play out within Jabba's lair; but with Jedi Rocks, it seems like the movie is being paused for a musical intermission. And the close-ups are so obnoxious:


And this is coming from someone who grew up on Jedi Rocks. I have no childhood memories of Lapti Nek, but once I discovered the Despecialized ROTJ, I just couldn't go back to watching that out-of-place sequence.

 

I agree. I also like the Baroque chamber piece played earlier with the space-harpsichord effect (or whatever it is) better. It certainly sounds more exotic and arguably more sinister, and it probably fits the mood of a stranger stepping into Jabba's court better than a rock song. For the record, I don't hate either.

The original Lapti Nek sequence is probably better than the Jedi Rocks sequence (in part because of CG Sy Snootles, but mostly because of the overwrought drooling CG Joh Yowza, which, honestly, is pretty gross and off-color; one of the few times I'd concede the SE introduced a totally unnecessary change, or a change for the worse anyway), or at least it seems less out of place. But "Victory Celebration" in the SE is IMO a definite improvement over Yub Nub and "Ewok Celebration." Yub Nub is... I don't know... dumb? If I'd grown up with "Ewok Celebration" and Yub Nub as the finale to the SW series, I might understand why so many people have thought RotJ is such a drag and why they hate Ewoks so much. I mean, I can imagine that after the cliffhanger ending in ESB, Yub Nub must've been a real eye-roller back in '83.

 

Yeah, I like the 1997 final celebration song much better than "Yub nub" - much more epic in scope, especially since they were showing other planets celebrating the fall of the Empire - not just the moon of Endor. These planets were expanded in the later versions of the film (notably the 2011 Blu, IIRC).

However, that's a completely different discussion. Bottom line is that some of the new edits/scenes worked in the OT, others didn't. As I've mentioned before, it would be great if a future home video release of the OT (Purple Ray?! - LOL) would allow the viewer to pick & choose their own version of the films - i.e., for ROTJ if we so chose we could pick the original "Lapti Nek" 1983 song, and then also pick the 1997/2011 Blu-ray ending sequence/celebration song instead of "Yub Nub".

 

Yes, how out of place, showing us an extreme closeup into a monster's slobbering gullet within the den of over-the-top gluttony and disgusting sensuousness that is Jabba's palace. What could George possibly have been thinking?



Totally obnoxious and unnecessary. It's almost as if he was trying to revolt and unnerve the audience.

 

The part in your image never bothered me at all (yeah I know you're being sarcastic lol). Like you said, it was meant to revolt and unnerve the audience. It was a perilous action scene where our main hero was in danger. Somehow, I don't think we were meant to feel the same way with the closeups on the lips or the singing bug man; certainly, I don't feel anything during those moments except "Hmmm, well that's kinda weird". It also further makes it seem like this song and dance number is meant for the audience, rather than something we are watching play out in Jabba's lair. And whether you like that shift or not is, of course, subjective. Personally, I prefer the more observational style of the original version.

 

"It's almost as if he was trying to revolt and unnerve the audience"

EXACTLY! Say what you will about the execution or the effect the change has on you personally; the intent is perfectly clear. Lucas makes those changes for a specific reason. Not just because he can. And it works as far as I´m concerned.

Not that I care that much or anything. I´ve never seen the original versions of Episodes IV, V and VI in the first place and have no desire whatsoever to ever watch them.

 

I remember watching some of the documentaries on the Blu-Ray release. Lucas says the changes he made to the film were because that was originally how he wanted the movie to look but due to technical limitations at the time he was unable to do so. So when he got the chance he went back in and made changes to HIS PROPERTY in the vision he originally had for the movie.

 

Not even to see how SW has evolved since the 70's? 40 years of history instead of like 5 if the 2011 versions of the movies are the only ones you like?
You're losing out on how many years of SW history?
You don't want to discuss why Lucas decided to change things?
Sounds like the kind of thing you'd like.

 

Thane_Kyrell wrote

Lucas says the changes he made to the film were because that was originally how he wanted the movie to look but due to technical limitations at the time he was unable to do so.

I'm not aware of a technical limitation back in 1976 that prevented him to make Greedo shoot first.

 

I don't know about that in particular but I do know if you watch the original scene when the explosion happens when Greedo is shot you can see a dark spot up next to Han's head on the wall. Now the original explosion is huge so it might have concealed any shot from Greedo but the mark is still there.

I don't know honestly. But frankly it is his property he can do with it what he wants. Same with Disney.

 

Can you identify this "dark spot" using any of the screen caps to be found at http://starwarsscreencaps.com/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977/33/ ?

 

If you look close at 104/180 you can see it right near Han's head. It is small but there.

 

While I see something that perfectly fits a description of what you say and exists in all the SW77 frames, I do not see how it relates to Greedo suddenly shooting first in 1997. Greedo's bolt lands some several inches below the point I believe you are talking about. I'm unclear what claim you are making.