Okay, here’s part three of my Ultimate Edition Wishlist (read Part One and Part Two). This time, I tackle Return of the Jedi. Here’s what I’d like to see:

  • Return of the Jedi: The Archival Edition – The original edit of the film upgraded to the best possible HD, with some of the compositing cleaned up (essentially, remove the noticeable matte lines around things such as the  rancor, starships and such) to match the original intentions of the theatrical cut.
  • Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi - This would be the “definitive” special edition of the film, with new special effects, restored scenes, all of the compositing cleaned up, etc. As with the Archival Edition, it would be a completely new digital master, in the highest resolution possible, and with correct color timing. Here is the list of changes I would like to see:
    • All of the laser blasts for the star ships and laser guns re-rotoscoped to showcase their original, vibrant colors.
    • All of the lightsaber blades, in every shot and in every scene of the movie, re-rotoscoped to remain consistent throughout the film and to match up with all of the others throughout the rest of the saga.
    • Reintegrate the “Luke building a lightsaber” deleted scene into the opening of the film.
    • Redo the Max Rebo Band’s musical number. I don’t mind the addition of the new background dancers, Joh Yowza, or the new musicians, but update the CGI and restore the song “Lapti Nek” to the sequence.
    • Expand the space battle above Endor. More ships, more fighting. Make it bigger. And also, redo the Executor crashing into the Death Star while you’re at it to make it more visually impressive.
    • Expand the ground battle on Endor. More stormtroopers killing Ewoks. Make the Ewoks more vicious and more of a threat.
    • Restore the deleted scenes of the Emperor’s instructions to Jerjerrod to blow up the Endor Moon and Jerjerrod’s struggling with that decision to show that not everyone in the Empire is bad.
    • Remove Darth Vader yelling, “Noooo!” when he chucks the Emperor down the shaft on board the Death Star.
    • Expand the final celebration showing the Rebellion’s victory over the Empire. Show more planets, maybe Imperials surrendering to Rebels, and give an idea of the large scale ramifications of such an act.
    • When Luke sees the Jedi ghosts, include Qui-Gon. And maybe also some of the other prominent Jedi from the prequels (I know that doesn’t make sense from a story point of view, but it’d be a nice visual nod to the balance of the Force having been restored and give it an even more happy ending).
  • Return of the Jedi: The Special Edition – The 1997 theatrical edition of the film, upgraded into the best possible HD.
  • Multiple audio commentaries for both the Archival and Ultimate Editions, featuring the filmmakers, the actors, and the special effects crews that created the movie.
  • Deleted and/or alternate scenes of the original film, including those from the Special Edition which were upgraded/replaced by the Ultimate Edition.
  • Before Return of the Jedi – A new documentary looking at the intervening years between Empire and its sequel and the levels of anticipation for the next adventure of Luke, Han, and Leia, including fan reaction to both Vader’s reveal from TESB and Yoda’s mention of an “other.”
  • Richard Marquand, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Ian McDiarmid, and David Prowse – Biography featurettes on the director of Return of the Jedi and the cast of the original trilogy.
  • Finishing the Trilogy – A documentary regarding the challenges of wrapping up the most successful science fiction movies of all time.
  • The Making of Return of the Jedi – An Empire of Dreams-style, multi-part comprehensive documentary showing the preproduction, production, and post-production of the original film.
  • Updating a Classic – A new documentary covering the work that went into the making of the 1997 Special Editions, as well as other updates to the film.
  • Trailers and television promotions, featuring the original theatrical trailer and the Special Edition trailer.
  • Stills gallery featuring behind the scenes and promotional images, as well as merchandising images, including a complete gallery of the original Kenner Star Wars line.
  • Vintage documentaries, interviews, and news coverage

That covers it for Return of the Jedi. Next week, I’m hitting The Phantom Menace, and I’m really looking forward to it.

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PHOTO SOURCE: Fanboy Heaven