The STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK SPECIAL EDITION FAQ by Jay Pennington (datalore@jax-inter.net) v. 4.1 May 3, 1997 WHERE ELSE TO FIND IT: In addition to my own Web page, loaded with lots of before & after pictures... Treadwell's Techdome: http://www.jax-inter.net/users/datalore/starwars/swindex.htm ...the Web sites below have honored me by featuring my SW SE FAQs. Deluxe HTML version, courtesy of Lost Scenes guru Ryan Silva: The Star Wars Cutting Room Floor: http://www.usticke.org/lost_sw/ Text versions: Dr. Daniel's Movie Emergency: http://www.stairwell.com/doc/ The Star Wars Home Page at UPENN: http://stwing.resnet.upenn.edu:80/starwars/index.html Rod's Star Wars Page: http://members.tripod.com/~RodneyT/index.html The Star Wars Archives at BGNETT : http://www.bgnett.no/~mwold/sw/index.htm Dave's Star Wars Page: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/3315/starwars.html Docking Bay 94: http://www.sound.net/~mlanio Belgian Star Wars Page: http://studwww.rug.ac.be/~ndgraeve/ Some of these sites are still displaying older versions, however. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PURPOSE: To list the differences between the Special Edition of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and the original version. (For the purposes of this document, I'm assuming the home video versions, which I'm the most familiar with, are identical to the original theatrical release. This might not be the case, however, especially when it comes to the sound mix.) At the time of this writing, the Special Editions are a recent memory in America, and have only just been released in Europe, so the page serves as a guide to what we haven't seen before. As the SE's gradually take their place as the definitive versions of the Trilogy in the mass consciousness, (and this will happen whether or not you think it's a good thing), this page will be just as useful for those who are curious about what the films used to look and sound like. Several of my comments are just new observations about the film, and thus aren't strictly about SE changes, but it's my FAQ and I'll ramble if I wanna! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The official Star Wars web site has posted an authoritative list of changes to the Trilogy. Since I want to be as thorough as possible, I've encorporated that information into this FAQ, designated as WWW. No designation means it was by me (JP). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPOILER WARNING: If you haven't seen the film yet, don't read on if you want to be surprised. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GENERAL COMMENTS: •It was great fun, of course! (Especially after the loudmouths behind me finally piped down.) •Image quality was better than the SW SE, but still a little grainy. I think I'm becoming hypersensitive in this matter, though, so the print was probably fine. (A little negative dirt and such, but nothing major.) I didn't notice any errors in color timing this time. •A few more Chewbacca grunts here and there. •The new sound mix at times places different emphasis on certain sounds, music or dialogue. •Nice bassy rumbles from the subwoofers during explosions, etc. •Nice use of the surrounds. •On a few occasions, different voices were used for unseen and masked characters, and different or extra lines of dialogue appear. I believe the source of these differences is the original 70mm mix. •As with the SW SE, garbage mattes and the like are blissfully gone. (For the most part. See below.) •Red glows on TIE engines enhanced. •Most of the music is the same as always (except, of course, where they repeat or track music to cover new footage). However: Hiphats@aol.com writes: "I have to say that there WAS unused music restored in ESB SE!...if only for one minute. The tail ends of the cues "The Magic Tree" and "Yoda And The Force" (instead of tracked music from the Imperial March), the opening violin motif for "City In The Clouds" (before we see the Falcon attached from the Star Destroyer) and ten seconds of "Departure Of Boba Fett" (when we see Leia, etc. chasing Boba Fett's ship) from the soundtrack album were restored to their proper positions. I do wish that more unused music would have been reinstated, though." (Allen Newman observed some of this as well.) As for the Boba Fett cue, I think he means that the bits that were originally cut to make the cue end earlier (as Chewie opens fire on the Slave I) have been left in, so the cue, while still ending with the same notes, now covers the rest of the scene until they cut to Luke and Vader. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AND NOW, IN MOVIE ORDER: Two trailers were part of American prints (most theatres added more, and some might have even cut these out): a new one for Volcano, and a new one for Return of the Jedi!! New footage: • A breathtaking shot of a T-16 Skyhopper above a huge, cheering crowd on Tatooine. • A few seconds of the new Max Rebo Band number, with the new CG Yuzzem accompanying the CG Sy Snootles, plus new dancers/backup singers, etc. • One more shot of the new Sarlaac gobbling up Fett. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Again, the Fox logo used is the new one, but it doesn't rotate. The Fanfare is the one that John Williams recorded just for ESB, not the newly recorded performance Fox has used recently. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Lucasfilm logo is the new design used since, oh, _Willow_, I guess, but augmented. It starts out green, as before, then the "surface" of the letters sorta morph to a metallic, reflective surface (silver, then gold). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Opening Sequence: [Recomposite of] Original elements. JP: I learned on the web page that the "Sabre Group" is the team of artists that worked on the digital fixes. (NOT a non-linear editing system as I once reported.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The same music as always (originally scored for the destruction of the Probe Droid) scores the scene where the Star Destroyer deploys the probes. The soundtrack album version with a subtle hint of Vader's theme was *not* used, contrary to rumor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ No new Wampa shots during the its attack on Luke. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wampa subplot *not* restored. (I think it would've been a distraction anyway. See Ryan Silva's Cutting Room Floor above for details.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ First time I noticed: one of the shots of Leia looking up from the console she's leaning over is a flop of the other (not the same take, though). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An extra "razz" sound from Artoo after Threepio says "switch off!". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Wampa shots: 1. Wampa eating as Luke wakens. A wide shot, replacing the old one where all we see are frozen bones and moving shadows. 2. Wampa eating...a closer shot, as Luke stretches out to his lightsaber. 3. Wampa reacting as Luke ignites his lightsaber. This replaces the old shot of the Wampa moving behind stalagtites..the one where you only see the side of the beast. 4. Wampa clutching a bloody stump after his arm hits the ground. Jay Majer wrote: "Also some really nice sound effects to accentuate the Wampa's presence." WWW: New live action has been added to the scene inside the lair of the Wampa, the abominable creature that attacks Luke while he's on patrol aboard a tauntaun. The Wampa is now seen eating carrion when Luke, hanging feet-first from the cave ceiling, awakens. New action shows the Wampa approaching Luke as he retrieves his lightsaber and attempts to free himself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Having recently made a lightsaber by converting a Graflex flash tube, I found it interesting that you can faintly see the lettering stamped on the base of the flash, although it's mostly covered by the metal plate that holds the D-ring in place. Fans who make/sell their own usually cover up the lettering with chrome tape. This detail was invisible to me on laserdisc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Still no explanation of the dead Tauntaun that Two-Onebee is examining just before Han goes out in search of Luke. (Was originally part of the Wampa subplot.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ First time I noticed: the first shot of Luke face-down in the snow is a flopped image: note how his holster is on his left side. They had to do this to match the screen direction of the shots that follow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luke now continues moaning "Yoda...Dagobah" *after* he's in the Tauntaun's guts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jennifer Mitsuyoshi was the first to report: "On Hoth, when Luke is saying 'Yoda, dagobah', Han's line has been changed a tad. instead of saying 'this might smell bad, kid, but it'll keep you warm til i get the shelter built.' They changed the last word to 'up'." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Snow Rescue: Matte lines were removed in new composites. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luke says "Thanks, Threepio" after Threepio says "It's so good to see you fully functional again." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There's an extra "Headquarters personnel report to Command Center", after Threepio says "excuse us, please." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ starman@cnj.digex.net pointed out that you can still see the engine glow of a faraway Star Destroyer even though it's been covered up by the upper section of one that passes just above the camera. Good eyes! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The matte lines between the partial Star Destroyer bridge set and the matte painting are now seamless. (Check out how bad it used to look by watching that Pepsi commercial with the kid sipping loudly. There's a shot of the theatre screen from this scene, and the old matte looks really awful close up.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A different voice says "the first transport is away". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Original elements are combined with CG X-wing models in this scene where the Rebel fleet evacuates Echo Base on Hoth. JP: I'm not sure what they're referring to here; perhaps the transport and its two escorts? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The problem of being able to see through the snowspeeders has largely been fixed with near-flawless results, although starman@cnj.digex.net observes that you can still see through Wedge's cockpit at one point. Didn't notice, myself. Further, Chris Linke says he can still see through *all* of the speeders, but agrees it's much better than it was. WWW: Digital technology was used to clean up telltale matte lines around optically composited elements--where flying Rebel snowspeeders stand out against the icy planet's white snowfields. CG smoke elements were also added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Threepio now says "and" before "do take good care of yourself." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Different voice for the AT-AT driver that says "one seven decimal two-eight", although by the second and third viewings I was so used to the new one I'm not sure any more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ General Veers' demise is not restored. Too bad, it would've been nice to see that speeder crash into the AT-AT head. (The live action portion, at least, was shot originally, according to Julian Glover in an early 80's STARLOG article.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After Han says "I'll get 'er out on the Falcon", he now also says "come on" as he grabs Leia's arm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Retreat from Hoth: Matte lines were eliminated in new composites. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOORAY! Artoo's panels are now BLUE when he's in space!!! (They used to be black because blue would interfere with the blue-screen process.) If they could correct that here, why didn't they for ANH?! WWW: Original elements. Matte lines were erased and color was improved in this scene in which R2-D2 rides in Luke's X-wing just after the evacuation of Hoth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The winding-down prop engine sound when the hyperdrive fails is now mixed much less prominently all three times it occurs. Too bad. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Asteroids: Recomposites reduced matte lines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After Threepio says "this is suicide", he now adds "there's no where to go". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jennifer Mitsuyoshi observes: "In the shot where the falcon enters the cave after doing a loop, the funny reflection that could be seen (in the home video version) has been removed." JP: Cool, didn't catch that! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Landing at Dagobah: Original elements. New CG composites and color fixes were done for the scene in which Luke's X-wing heads through space toward Dagobah. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Evan Thomas points out: "Luke's line 'You're lucky you don't taste very good' has been changed to 'You were lucky to get out of there.' (After R-2 was "eaten" in the swamp.)" JP: Interesting...the "get out of there" line is on the "Story Of" record. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As the Executor pulls out of the asteroid field so Vader can talk with the Emperor, there is an uncorrected garbage matte around one of the asteroids that passes in front of it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Emperor is unchanged, although his voice doesn't echo nearly as much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yoda's teachings about the Force when he's on Luke's back are now much more audible ("anger, fear, aggression....consume you they will...."). (Yes, they were always there.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As we watch Luke walk toward the cave, we hear more Artoo beeps in the background before we cut to the droid's closeup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I never noticed before, but watch Chewie as he walks around the ship to the left when hunting Mynocks. You can see wrinkles in a plastic tarp covering the floor, although I guess it's supposed to be intestinal lining. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Needa's shuttle still looks like a rectangular box. Would've been nice to see a Lamda-class shuttle, like we do later. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A check of the LD confirms it's always been there, but for the first time I noticed that "Force rumble" sound effect occur briefly when Luke levitates a stone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luke's X-Wing is still bone dry when they cut to the model floating in mid-air as Yoda levitates it. Sure, it has gunk all over it, but water had been streaming off of it just two seconds before! I'd hoped they'd add some dripping. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Star Destroyer Piggyback: [Recomposite of ] original elements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Preceding the shot inside the Slave I cockpit, there's a new shot of the Falcon zooming through the wreckage past the camera, with the camera panning with Fett's ship as it passes. WWW: New computer graphic effects are used to create Boba Fett's ship Slave I, the Millenium Falcon, stars, and other space background elements in this scene where the Falcon escapes from a Star Destroyer disguised as "space junk" and is followed by Boba Fett. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pre-existing shots of Cloud City are enhanced with air traffic, and possibly more cloud movement. But Cloud City itself is still a matte painting in the long shots (no CG replacement). Lens flares have been added and/or enhanced as the bright ship engines pass the camera. WWW: Many new additions have been made to scenes in Cloud City. Vistas of Cloud City, the floating metropolis high above the planet Bespin, have been digitally renewed. Moviegoers will now see Han's ship, the Millennium Falcon, zoom in from space and fly past Cloud City skyscrapers. Added to the scene are shots of the Falcon and intercepting cloud cars banking around a large structure and flying toward a landing platform. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The shot of the Falcon and her escorts approaching Cloud City has been recomposited. The city, ships and clouds are in slightly different relative positions, and additional air traffic has been added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 new Bespin arrival shots: 1.Cockpit window view from behind the characters (a re-used shot from elsewhere in the film, if I'm not mistaken); Cloud City looms large just ahead. 2.Millennium Falcon and twin-Pod Cloud Cars fly among buildings. 3.MF approaches pad and begins descent, which cuts (the old wipe is gone) to the pre-existing shot of the landing. So the ellipsis of time is no more. 4.The pre-existing shot of the Falcon settling in for a landing now has a new background. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The music during the Cloud City approach continues smoothly, despite the addition of extra shots. The original release had edited out portions of the score for this scene, and the SE has restored this previously-unheard music to pad out the extra time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is more nitpicky than even *I* usually am, but since I noticed it must be recorded. ILM used the same CG model of the Falcon that they made for the Mos Eisley liftoff in the SW SE. I think the amount of landing gear *is* appropriate for ESB, (the underbelly was never seen in the SW SE shot anyway), but the two red stripes on top correspond to the original model used in STAR WARS, and are are not in the slightly relocated position that the ESB model used. Yes, it is embarassing to list something so petty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Cloud City interior has been "opened up" with many windows and open spaces, revealing nice cityscapes and air traffic outside. Almost every shot inside Cloud City has such an enhancement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...although that seems to cause one continuity problem. There's a shot from behind the group when they start their stroll through the city. Far ahead a wall has been replaced with a vast open-air forum teeming with people and vehicles. They pass a man welding something on a wall. Then we cut to an angle from in front of the group; the welder is in the background, and the group passes us as Threepio meets the "echuta" droid. After he's blasted and Chewie looks around the corner, I believe we're looking in the same direction as the new forum, but the wall is back again. A similar problem occurs with the view out the doors of the dining room later. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Threepio now says "hello" only once, and a different voice now says "who are you?". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A wide shot of Cloud City up among.....um, the clouds.....has been augmented with another, smaller platform hovering in a cloud bank in the left foreground. Ryan Silva points out that it's a previously unused Ralph McQuarrie design that can be seen in _The Illustrated Star Wars Universe_. Several people wrote to point out that it's a *mining* platform. I never said it wasn't, but here it is for clarification. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A new shot following a cloud car weaving among city buildings precedes the "Leia looks out the window" shot, which also seems upgraded. Someone (sorry, I forget who) pointed out that the building exterior has been changed to match the shape of the interior set. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Air traffic can be seen outside the skylight as Leia and Han talk. Although it's been pointed out that there was at least one there originally, I haven't been able to spot any on home video. (There have always been sound effects for passing Cloud Cars, however.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An extra Chewie growl as Lando enters to invite everyone for dinner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another new view out huge windows as Lando escorts the group along. A large elevator ascends just outside the window as Lando says "It's always been a danger, but it looms like a shadow over everything we've built here. But I've just made a deal..." Notice the first "but" doesn't make sense, but it's always been there, and still is. (The line had obviously been edited together, and the extra word slipped in.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chuck Kahn contributes: "I noticed that the 'louvered' wipe effect originally used as a transition from Luke's X-wing heading toward Bespin to the imprisoned Chewie wailing at the siren, has been changed to a dissolve. (See THX CAV LaserDisc of TESB, side 4, chapter 20.) Does this create the only dissolve in the trilogy?" JP: Other than the dissolves between Luke and Vader during the flight from Bespin, it just might! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LastGasp@aol.com writes: "I found myself disappointed that they left Han's vest on in the insert shot of him saying, 'I know...' after Leia professes her love." JP:...and the shot immediately following Leia's reaction. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When Chewie chokes Lando, there he now growls loudly the second he grabs him, totally drowning out the last 5 words of Leia's line "Do you think after what you did to Han we're going to trust you?". (At least it seemed so to me in all three prints I saw. Others didn't seem to have a problem.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Many more windows, etc. in the Luke/Boba Fett chase, as well as after Leia and Chewie are freed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When the group runs by Artoo, this formerly closed-in hallway has become a balcony, with a railing on our left. The setting sun backlights the scene, and the characters have been color-corrected accordingly. (Although to me they look a *little* cut-and-pasted at the edges, similar to the old "rotoscope" look. Still a gorgeous shot.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The reverse angle as Artoo catches up shows they've entered a hallway again. Windows are on their right, showing a new painting of Boba Fett's Slave One sitting on a landing pad ahead. (Harkens back to that McQuarrie painting of Leia and Chewie firing at the ship through a broken window.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As stated in more detail in "General Comments", the music during Boba Fett's departure now utilizes portions of the score that had been previously been cut. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack observes: "...and speaking of 'Aaarrggghhh!', Vader's yelp when Luke pushes him off the platform has been replaced with the "Ooomph!" when he gets hit by fumes from one of the hoses in the freezing chamber. I didn't like that change." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Many folks wrote in to point out that when Luke jumps off the carbon freezing platform, his head still pops up after he hits a trampoline. I'm of the school that thinks this is not something that needs to be fixed. I don't think he jumped on a trampoline, he was just rising from the natural croutched position anyone would take when jumping off of something. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ During Lando's PA announcement to the Cloud City population, there are two new reaction shots of people stopping to listen. Lando also says "attention" again after identifying himself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Luke's Hand: Two recomposites were done to correct matte edges and retain motion blur. JP: This was actually listed in the SW:ANH section of the official web site's listing, but I think this is where it might belong. (Luke's severed hand tumbling away right after it was cut, and later when he catches the weather vane thing.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luke now screams "YAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" as he falls down the shaft. I don't know why. (I disagree with the postulation that it's the Emperor's yell from ROTJ, however.) The mattes have been improved in this shot as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Instead of "Bring my shuttle", (which, although it was helpful exposition, didn't make sense, since he was already walking onto a landing pad--look at the door frame he walks through), Vader now says "Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival". Too bad he didn't say *Super* Star Destroyer, or even make its name, Executor, 100% canonical by mentioning it in a movie. Definitely James Earl Jones, or a damn good imitation. Steve Zastrow writes: "The part I hate most about this scene is the dialog change. I always liked the "bring my shuttle" line because it was read with a short, snarling tone of voice which would fit the situation well. It showed just how angry he was at himself for failing by not turning Luke to the dark side or destroying him as he had promised the Emperor he would. Now, he makes this much more elaborate statement...and he says it in a tone of voice which is very matter-of-fact, if not 'pleasant'. It seems like he gets over his failure almost instantaneously now." JP: EXCELLENT point. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Immediately after this new line there's a new shot of Vader walking across the landing pad toward an Imperial Shuttle, a vehicle that originally wasn't seen until Return of the Jedi. I think some of the music is repeated to pad out the time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ During the Falcon's approach to Luke, we cut away to two shots of Vader's shuttle leaving Bespin's dark side (of the planet, not the Force!) and approaching the Super Star Destroyer. I think rather than stretch the music they replace two closeups of Leia and Chewie in the cockpit. A very nice picture of this can be found at: http://www.chester-growl.com/starwar.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ YIPPEE! The problem with the Falcon's top hatch has been fixed!! Originally, a hatch opened above Lando, revealing a bright, overexposed area. The wind whips his hair, (but only in the trailer!), suggesting that's the outside, which should look like it's near dusk. But the next shot is from the outside, showing the same hatch opening again, with bright light inside! It has been suggested that it was a sort of decontamination airlock, but any way you looked at it something wasn't right. Now there's no confusion. Just after the hatch above Lando opens, another one above the bright light opens in turn! Likewise, when he's descending with Luke, the upper one closes just before the closer one does. A guy in my row made a "YES!!" gesture when we saw this, and I must agree! WWW: Originally filmed footage of scene in which Lando ascends through the top hatch of the Millennium Falcon to rescue Luke combined with a new CG hatch model. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Cloud City Exit: Recomposite to reduce matte lines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A couple of shots after Leia leads the injured Luke down a hallway, we get two new shots of: 1.Overhead view of the Executor's docking bay as the shuttle lands (the bay is just like the one on the Death Star in Jedi, but the angle is different, and the shuttle seems to be CG). Troopers begin lining up in the bay. 2.A side view of the shuttle ramp lowering and Vader descending. They cut away just as I realized that MOFF JERJERROD awaits him at the bottom of the ramp!!!! This was obviously an unused angle from Vader's Death Star arrival in Jedi. Hey, any excuse to feature a Pennington in another Star Wars movie is good enough for me! Again, check out the cool pics at: http://www.chester-growl.com/starwar.html Nitpicker that I am, this new footage presents some problems for me: •Why would Vader need an honor guard presentation for a routine d-barking? Does everyone have to schlep out to the docking bay every time he takes a joyride? Jay Majer points out that the collected troops (and officers) may have already been on duty there, so just lined up for ol' Darth. Someone else (sorry, I'm getting sloppy with the quoting) said it would be good for discipline. True, but hell on efficiency! •The "Hyperspace" cue is broken up by music tracked from elsewhere in the score for these new shots (the "I am your Father" cue). The rhythm of the score is thus compromised. John Williams should have been called in to re-score the sequence--the music would flow again, instead of it sounding like patchwork. Not that the music editing incompetently carried out, but nothing can replace the "real" thing. •The pacing of the scene is broken up as well, and not just by the music. They try to get Vader on the ship as quickly as they can, but I question the need to actually see him plod down the ramp. I agree that it helps to have a visual reminder that Vader has left Bespin and boarded his ship--in the original, he says "bring my shuttle", and the next time we see him he's on the ship, which was a bit of a jump. But the sequence had a certain flow, and the constant reminders that Vader's a-comin' destroys it (although it might be argued it adds to the suspense). It works better for me after two more viewings, but the music still seems choppy. WWW: Following Vader's appearance and confrontation with the Rebels, there's a new live action scene of the Dark Lord walking to his shuttle. A later CG enhancement shows Vader's shuttle as it approaches his Star Destroyer. Finally, as the Falcon escapes from Bespin, a new shot of Vader's shuttle landing in his Star Destroyer's hangar bay has been inserted, with Vader exiting and walking toward stormtroopers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The first time I've noticed this: when Piett says "ready the tractor beam", it's obvious it's an overdub of him saying something else. ("Deploy the fleet", maybe?) For the record, all of these shots are flops. According to Lukas Kendall in his excellent magazine Film Score Monthly, that scene was created editorally, which would support my guess. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have NO confirmation, but I've always believed one or two shots of Vader looking out the window have BLACK AND WHITE elements; notice how monochromatic he is, even the reflections on his helmet. My SUSPICION has been that his helmet suffered from "blue spill" and thus couldn't be chroma-keyed with a color Vader element. I forgot to check for this in the SE, but since I didn't notice it again, it may have been corrected (if it ever existed in the first place!). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WWW: Ending Sequence: Recomposite to improve color and perspective match. JP: I guess they mean the exterior shot of the frigate with Luke and Leia looking out at us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ James Earl Jones is *not* credited!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Imperial March segment of the end credits music is partially repeated because of the extra credits. (The extra bit has a slightly different tonal quality which suggests it was taken from another source...further, it has flourishes Williams added to the concert arrangement of the March years later, which are *not* part of the concert arrangement on the soundtrack album. I wonder what performance this bit was taken from--a Boston Pops recording? The Skywalker Symphony CD?) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The edit from the end of the March to Yoda's theme is now seamless---used to be pretty choppy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The PHONE-THX statement is included. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAQ history: Version 1.0: posted on February 20, 1997 to rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc as: I saw it! ESB:SE Report (SPOILERS!) Version 2.0: emailed to an ever-growing list and posted on February 24, 1997 to rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc as: REVISED! (was: I saw it! ESB:SE Report (SPOILERS!)) Added a bunch of things I forgot to include the first time, some observations others have contributed, and some clarifications and corrections of errors. Version 3.0: A barely-token effort to make this look more like a traditional FAQ (okay, so there's no table of contents), plus more additions, corrections, contributions, a general cleaning-up and and original and revised material merged into a cohesive whole. I finally ran a damn spellcheck, too, and brought my "English degree arrogance" down a notch as a result. Version 3.1: A single addition to 3.0. Version 4.0: This document. Incorporates the list of changes posted on the Official Star Wars Web Site. Emailed to a list of 91 (theoretically) interested parties (including the seven [now eight] webmasters) and posted on Usenet on March 17. Version 4.01 and 4.011: Minor changes made here and there, emailed to folks upon request. (April, 1997) Version 4.1: This document, edited from my more-current HTML version to feature the latest modifications. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As always, thanks to everyone for their contributions, and I welcome further input. -Jay Pennington datalore@jax-inter.net