The ESB ones are up now. I like how they brag in the article about how they cleaned up the garbage mattes. "*The 1997 Special Edition and the 2004 DVD cleaned up a significant number of these shots"

*We actually did a half ass-job on most of them, and ignored the rest.

http://www.starwars.com/episode-v/release/video/f20060901/

starwars.com: Episode V: "What Has Changed?" Picture Viewer (ad-free)

[web]http://www.starwars.com/episode-v/release/video/f20060901/20060901_picview/pictureviewer.html?imgNum=1&world=episode-iv[/web]

The comparisons show how the starfields have been practically erased during the process of "fixing" the mattes.

The color issues on the 04 disc were evident before but seeing these comparison shots really show just how inconsistant the color timing is on the 04 versions compared to the originals. There's color casts to numerous shots while others are almost completely desatuarated, there's also the diminished starfields. This bothers me more now than some of the SE changes and is why I can't really stand to watch the 04 discs.

You have to remember to the 04' set was rushed since a lot of the fanbase wanted the Original Trilogy on DVD. Infact Lucas actually wanted to wait until after all 3 Prequels were finished (next year) to release the OT on DVD but since it was in high demand it was rushed out onto the market. I bet if people hadn't been so impaitent and waited until next year it's possible that we could have gotten some kick ass restored versions of the 97' set with perfect color restoration etc...

I hope they do have everything perfect for next year's Saga DVD set.

I can't except that as a valid excuse. The problems with the set were the fault of the people who wanted them on DVD (the high demand)? No. I'm pretty sure we all wanted them to be released on DVD at the time. We know this. Given the choice, I'd like to think most rational people wouldn't have had a problem with the release being a few months (or whatever amount of time) later to correct all of the technical issues. Really, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. LFL didn't have their shit straight. There was effort put into the DVD release, but there was also flat out bizarre half-assedness that there just isn't any excuse for.

And of course, as we already know, it made perfect sense because '04 had no other big DVD release. They were probably planning it sinse '00

After seeing these side-by-side comparison shots, it amazes me more than ever that LFL could alter/fix such minute things as shadows, background plate colours, inconsistencies, reversed images, etc., but still miss such things as pink lightsabers.

Well, at least seeing this level of attention paid to most of the film has given me hope that they'll go back and finish correcting the remaining problems for an '07 saga release, if indeed that does happen.

Raveers is right, though. The Original Trilogy was not to hit DVD until after Episode III. That was Lucas' plan from the get go. The '04 Boxset is a work in progress boxset. They haven't stopped working on the film since the boxset was released. The President of Lowry Digital even admitted at the Q and A that he wished he had more time on the restoration and color timing of the films for DVD.

The Saga Boxset should correct the issues of color timing.

Thats news to me.. Good that at least someone can talk openly about it.
Now I´m gonna sell my 04 box and buy the 07 instead.

Actually, if I remember correctly, for some reason many starfields were changed from original ones to completely new in the SE. So the difference seen in the comparision may have little to do with the image fixing processes.

ESB is the only one that wasnt ruined by shot and creature additions or scene changes.

I dont like how they removed the blue glow from the Super Star Destroyer lights earlier in the film though.

How about dialogue change though?

One of my favourite lines was changed for some unknown reason

When R2 is spat out on Dagobah, Luke's dialogue

1980 - "You're lucky you don't taste very good!"

2004 - "You were lucky to get out of there" (or something like that)

That was a terrible change!

On the same subject, I never liked that Vader's "Aarrgghh!" when he falls off the edge of the freezing chamber was changed to that retarded "DANG!" sound from when Luke points the hose in his face 15 seconds earlier. Also, the Bespin stormtrooper saying "Who are you?" to C-3PO sounds oddly comical in the SE version.