Differences in different media formats: Theatrical version, DVD version, and the BD version.
Okay, now we're on episode 3, so here come some more changes!
LucasFilm officially stated that there were absolutely no changes made to the theatrical version of the movie. Well, that's not entirely true because there's only 3 (possibly 4) changes in the entire movie.
The Screen Transition
This change (the most well known) happens when Obi-Wan Kenobi is leaving Mustafar aboard Padme's skiff with C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) after defeating Darth Vader. In the above picture you can see an optical wipe that takes us back to Mustafar where we get to see Vader clawing his way up the lava bank. This was in the original release.
For the DVD release, the wipe was replaced with a traditional cut.
For some strange reason, the optical wipe was reinserted into the BD version onwards. I'm not quite sure which is better, so I'll let you be the judge.
Darth Vader's No
Okay, I obviously don't have a recording of this change, so just bear with me. At first, I didn't believe if this change was real or just a prank. But now that I've heard about it from more than one source, I now believe in its existence. If you're wondering why I had doubts about it, it's because I never got to see the theatrical version of it. Anyway, the change is shortening Darth Vader's "No" when he finds out about Padme's death. I heard that it was LAUGHED at by audiences all over the world! How embarrassing! But hey, at least it was cut down to a point where it isn't laughable. That means, the No you've been hearing for the past decade now, is only a small fraction of the FULL No from the theaters! Now THIS is a change we can ALL live with, right?
Yoda's Arrival on Dagobah?
Now, I'm pretty sure you all know what this is a shot of, right? Now, I heard that this WAS in the movie, but only in the UK release (something Rick McCallum would be SO happy about). Then it got removed all the same.
Now, let's move on to ANH!
