Changes to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

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!

Changes to The Walking Dead

Differences between different media formats: Pay-TV: FOX, USA version, European version (e.g. UK BD), UK DVD/BD version, FOX TV version, International BD version, US HD-TV, TV version, Extended version, and the BD version.

Which episodes in 3 seasons got these changes? Well, let's find out, shall we?

 

Basically, these episodes got lengthened to make them more fun to watch.

 

SEASON 1:

 

Episode 01. Days Gone Bye

 

Episode 02. Guts

 

Episode 03. Tell It to the Frogs

 

Episode 04. Vatos

 

Episode 05. Wildfire

 

SEASON 2:

 

Episode 11. Chupacabra

 

Episode 16. 18 Miles Out

 

SEASON 4:

 

Episode 44. After

 

Episode 49. The Grove

 

Episode 51. A

 

Even without these additions, the series is still terrifyingly terrific!

Changes to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the TV Series

Differences between different media formats: TV version, and the Director's Cut.

 

Yep, even the CGI TV series has undergone some changes, but which episodes got them? Well, let's take a look-see, shall we?

 

 

 Yes, it's only the first season, but only 7 episodes (because that's how many episodes got the "Director's Cut").

 

Film Size

 

Now, on the left is the original TV version, while on the right is the director's cut version. Now, the DC version actually shows more of the picture than the TV version does, as shown.

These episodes have slightly extended shots & scenes along with new scenes & audio changes; & the credits have either been slightly accelerated and/or almost completely cut out of the TV version! Boy, am I glad that the DC version has all of them in there!

 

Episode 02. Rising Malevolence

 

Episode 03. Shadow of Malevolence

 

Episode 05. Rookies

 

Episode 10. The Lair of General Grievous

 

Episode 19. Storm Over Ryloth

 

Episode 20. Innocents of Ryloth

 

Episode 21. Liberty on Ryloth

 

Okay now, on to ROTS!

Changes to Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Differences between different media formats: VHS, DVD, German DVD, BBFC PG, and BD.

Okay, here we are on the 2nd movie, so get ready to see some more changes.

 

Chasing Zam

What you're seeing here is a slightly different version of one scene in the chase sequence. The pictures you see are from both the DVD version (left) & the BD version (right); so what's the difference between them? Well, the two middle pictures have switched positions. The BD is better because before, it looked like they were going through multiple power couplings.

 

Where Are the Speeders?

This is another part of the chase-sequence in which Anakin (Hayden Christensen) loses his lightsaber while trying to apprehend Zam Wesell (Leeanna Walsman), & thanks to Obi-Wan Kenobi he plucks it out of the air. Yay! But actually it's the speeders that I'm going to explain. This is another "blink and you'll miss it" moment. Do you see the long white light above Obi-Wan's head in the left picture? That's a speeder; one of the many in the shot. Look at the picture on the right, the speeders are gone! Why are they gone? It's probably because the very quick movement of the speeders drew focus away from the falling lightsaber.

 

Anakin's Nightmare

 

 

Now, this is the ONLY DVD/BD audio change in the whole movie. When Anakin sees his mother in danger, he only talks in his sleep in the original release as heard here. When the BD version came along, the sound of his mother calling out for him can now be heard. I don't really have an audio recording of it, so just believe me. One more thing about this change is the fact that Anakin just talking in his sleep wasn't all that great.

  

Jango Fett Head-butts Obi-Wan

 

This is so far the ONLY BBFC cut in the entire Star Wars saga. You see, the UK really had this thing against head-butts because they're an imitable technique as they call it. A 2 second long shot of Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) head-butting Obi-Wan during their duel on Kamino was excised.

 

 

The bottom picture WAS included in UK release of the movie. Now this is where it gets really funny! As you can see, Obi-Wan seems to fly backwards FOR NO APPARENT REASON! LOL! At least the head-butt was reinstated for the BD release.

 

 

Anakin's Confession

 

 

When the original release of the movie was shown, the dialogue for Anakin's confession of the slaughter of the Tusken Raider tribe to Padme sounded like this. The dialogue was briefly extended so that it now sounds like this. I actually like this version, because now Padme forgives Anakin's crime.

 

Jango's Malfunctioning Jet Pack

 

 

I've heard that for the DVD release of the movie additional sparks & smoke have been added to Jango Fett's jet pack just shortly before his death to better present its malfunction. It IS hard to tell, isn't it?

 

Padme's Reply

 

 

If you think that this is a most welcoming change, YOU ARE SO RIGHT! In the original release of the film, when the clone trooper asks Padme "Are you alright?" she says yes. You'd be right in thinking that when Padme says yes, she sounds like she wasn't hurt all that badly even though she fell 70 feet or so. When the DVD version came along, it was changed to a much more convincing pained expression of uh-huh.

 

Count Dooku's Escape

 

This is yet another switcheroo done by the BD that shows Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) escaping. Although, I do have to admit that the DVD version (left) is much better than the BD version (right) because with the BD, Yoda just stands by while Dooku flees. The first 3 pictures are the beginning for both the DVD & BD versions. Pictures 4 through 7 come after pictures 8 through 10 in the BD version, then pictures 1-5 come next. The last 2 pictures are the ending for both the DVD & BD.

 

 

Hand in Marriage

 

In the original release of the movie, just before the camera pans upward, there's a shot of Anakin's mechanical hand during his & Padme's wedding. Now, despite a few ticks and twitches, it remained relatively still. For the DVD release onwards, Anakin's hand now takes Padme's. Also note that this version of Anakin's mechanical hand is more animated.

 

Now, let's make a quick pit stop to the CGI TV series before we go to ROTS.

Changes to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Differences between different media formats: VHS, DVD, BD, and 3-D.

Yes, George Lucas is still updating his own space opera saga. In fact, he's doing so many changes, that it's hard to keep track of them! Never fear, I'm here to help you out! Let's start with the first movie, shall we?

 

The 20th Century Fox Logo

On the left is the logo they used in 1999, both on the VHS, the DVD, &, sadly, the BD (Blu-Ray) releases. Hey, at least the 3-D re-release FINALLY got the new updated Fox logo, which is the one on the right! (Now doesn't that look better?) But, that didn't last long though, because it went bye-bye in the year 2015 leaving just the Lucasfilm logo (see below). Oh well!

The Lucasfilm Logo in 3-D

Okay, okay, I know what you all are thinking. How could I have possibly gotten a picture of the new 3-D logo if it was only shown in theaters? Well, truth is, I didn't. I just had to find a picture close to it, which is the picture on the right. The logo supposedly does its usual sparkle & color change from emerald green, to silver, & finally, gold, but now, it slowly pops out at the audience! Now is that cool or what?!

 

Opening Crawl

On the left is the old opening crawl to the movie, in which it appears in the VHS & the DVD releases. On the right is the new opening crawl, in which it appears in the BD release onwards. I know it doesn't look like anything has changed, but if you look close enough, you'll see that it's composited against the star field, as well as the change of the relative position of the text. It now looks a lot like the crawls of Episode's II & III!

Jedi Force Speed

I know, I know, you can only see the lightsabers in the left picture. It appears in the VHS & DVD releases. Well, now you don't see them.... & now you do! They're still blurry, but at least you can see their bodies now! The picture on the right appears both in the BD release onwards. The new effect can also be seen while the jedi are running down the corridor.

 

Hey, Look at Our New Viewscreen!

Take a look at this! They're the exact same shot (sort of), & yet they're very different. The one on the left (which, BTW, is used in the VHS & the DVD releases) has Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson) & Rune Haako witnessing the Jedi being pursued by the droideka (or, more commonly, destroyers). It's the same in the picture on the right (which, BTW, is used in the BD release onwards), but now it's a wide shot, & features a brand-new view screen, which, in my opinion, looks a LOT better! Don't you think?

More Podracers!

 

This is just one of the many extensions of the introductions for the champions. This is, BTW, Mawhonic (top) & his GPE-3130 Podracer, while on the bottom is Clegg Holdfast & his Volvec KT9 Wasp Podracer. If you want to see the full podracing, stay away from the VHS!

 

XXXXXX- Sebulba
 

 

There's a brief moment where Sebulba (Lewis MacLeod) jumps up onto his Podracer & sends kisses to the audience. Too bad this doesn't appear in the VHS release, whereas it appears in the DVD release onwards!

 

 

Hidden Warwick Davis Cameo

 

Okay, remember when I said that you should stay away from the VHS release? Well, I take that back! Sort of! Warwick Davis (you know, the guy who plays Wicket Wystri Warrick the ewok in Return of the Jedi) makes a brief cameo appearance as Weazel in this picture, right smack dab next to Watto (Andy Secombe), who is cheering on Sebulba, which you can hear right here. It's a HUMONGOUS shame that they had to cut that little scene out of the movie, as heard right here! It didn't even make it back in the 3-D re-release, or the 2015 release, which sucks big time, because it would've been a great sight to see Mr. Davis before he makes his full appearance in Episode VI! It can be viewed in a deleted scene AND Mr. Davis can briefly be seen in other shots during the podrace. I do miss this little segment though, because basically Watto is saying "Hey, look who I've got sitting next to me! It's WARWICK DAVIS!!" LOL.

Be Safe.- Shmi Skywalker

 

This is another reason to stay away from the VHS! Shmi (Pernilla August) tells her son to (^), in which he promises it. Good motherly care!

 

Get Ready....Get Set....GO! GO! GO!

 

In the DVD release onwards, the podracers starting up runs a little longer. More time for starting up your engines!

Popcorn! Get Your Popcorn Here!

 

Okay, okay, I know this shot of a tradesman isn't selling popcorn! But at least he gets a chance to be seen in the DVD release onward, that's a good thing, right?!

HEY! GET OUT OF MY WAY!
 

 

Okay, now we come to lap 2 of the podrace, which is a bit longer than laps 1 & 3. Here we see Gasgano & his Ord Pedrovia Podracer trying to block Anakin's path around him. Well, that's too bad! Anakin (Jake Lloyd) barrel-rolls over him and zooms on!

Skywalker's Spinning Out of Control!

 

Oh, no! Anakin's right gas line has detached from his pod, & now he's LITERALLY spinning out of control! Heaven help the poor guy! This looks like it's going to hit you, so watch out! ;)

Regain Control

 

Wow! This kid really IS special! He's using that magnetic wand to take back that gas line! I'd watch my head if I were you, because from the look of this picture, he looks like he'll conk you on the head there if you watch it in 3-D! ;) They altered the picture in the 3-D version so that it not only pops out at you, but looks sharper. WOW!

Why is My Hand Behind My Sleeve?

So for about 6 frames there's a little rendering error where Fode & Beed's hand intersected with their clothing, in the left picture. It was one of those 'blink you'll miss it' moments. This remained unchanged until the BD came along and fixed it, in the picture on the right.

But although they fixed THAT little error, there's yet another error that appears earlier in the movie where part of Qui-Gon's (Liam Neeson) clothing intersects with Jar-Jar Binks' (Ahmed Best) ears! Whoops! I guess they missed that one! It's a shame that THIS one wasn't corrected in the 3-D re-release! It's understandable since it's hard to make out: see if YOU can find it yourself.

A 2nd Moon

Well, what do you think of that? The left picture has just 1 moon, while the picture on the right has 2 moons! Did they add another moon ? It may seem like it, but actually, the BD shows 8% more of the picture. Now wasn't that nice?
 

An Air Taxi Trip

 

  

On the way to Senator Palpatine's (Ian McDiarmid) office, we get a little tour of Coruscant in an air taxi. From this place..........

 

  

.....to this place.....

 

 

.....to this place.....

 

  

..........& to, finally, this place. It was originally a deleted scene, but I guess George wanted people to see more of Coruscant than just that. That was nice of him, don't you think?

 

Senator Palpatine's Office

 

 

Unbelievably, they cut this shot out of the future releases! Why the heck did they do that?! It looks so good!

Yoda's New Look

 

Now we come to the biggest alteration of the BD! They've replaced the Yoda (Frank Oz) puppet (left) with the all-too-familiar older- looking CGI Yoda (right). The puppet is used in both the VHS & the DVD releases, while the CGI version is used in the BD release onwards; AND in a featurette for Revenge of the Sith. At first, I despised the digital Yoda, but now that I think about it, the puppet version looks a LOT like a gremlin; TRUST ME!

Twi'leks or Humans?
 

If you look to the left in the left picture, you will see that Orn Free Taa's aids are humans. Originally his aids were a red-skinned Twi'lek named Supi & a white-skinned male who bore a passing resemblance to Bib Fortuna (who by the way, appeared during the podrace).  It only appears in the VHS release. For the DVD release onwards, the human aids are gone & Supi is back & is accompanied by Pampy in the image on the right. Twi'leks suit Orn Free Taa better, don't you think? Unfortunately, we never did get to see the white-skinned Twi'lek male, but there are tons of images of him all over the Internet.

 

Bad Color Timing

 

In the left shot we see Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) overlooking a sunset. This is from the VHS & DVD releases. Now, let's see what the BD looks like. Well, well, well, what do we have here? The sunset now looks like a sunrise in the shot on the right, & to make matters worse, the blacks have been crushed! This is unbelievable! The only thing that's great about it is that it shows more of the image.

 

Glimmering Eyes
 

They changed Padme's (Natalie Portman) eyes in the picture on the right (from the BD onwards). It has them glimmer a little less than the left picture (from the VHS & DVD), even though I think it's so CUTE!
  

BD and 3-D Hoorays!
 

Well, that pretty much covers every change for this movie. I'll see you in AOTC!