29 Years Ago, Star Wars Made Even More Confusing Changes Permanent (And They Still Don’t Make Sense)

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When the original Star Wars trilogy was re-released in 1997, it caused a lot of debate among fans. While many were excited to see the classic films in theaters again, changes made by George Lucas sparked controversy. He claimed the alterations brought the movies closer to his initial vision, but longtime fans criticized the increased use of computer-generated effects and how some scenes were altered, changing their original impact. Some of the most debated changes included the Han Solo and Greedo encounter, the added Jabba the Hutt scene in A New Hope (which felt unnecessary after the Greedo scene), and a new song added to Return of the Jedi.

The 1997 special edition of The Empire Strikes Back is often considered the most successful of the revised films. It likely benefited from George Lucas’ respect for the director, Irvin Kershner, resulting in fewer noticeable changes compared to other films in the trilogy. Many fans appreciate improvements like the reworked wampa attack and the expanded Cloud City scenes. However, one alteration remains particularly controversial: Luke Skywalker’s added scream as he falls from the platform in Cloud City after his fight with Darth Vader.

Luke Skywalker’s Empire Strikes Back Scream Made No Sense

The added scream from Luke in the Empire Strikes Back special edition is a particularly noticeable and unwelcome change. It diminishes a truly powerful moment: the revelation that Darth Vader is his father. This shocking news completely changes Luke’s understanding of everything, and he bravely chooses to defy Vader, even if it means certain death. Luke jumps, not knowing if he’ll survive, because he feels it’s the right thing to do. This act shows he’s accepted whatever fate awaits him, even if that fate is death.

Luke’s scream as he falls down the shaft makes the scene unintentionally funny. It suggests he didn’t fully consider the consequences and immediately regretted his decision. Similar to how changing who shot first between Greedo and Han Solo affected Han’s character in A New Hope, adding Luke’s scream in The Empire Strikes Back negatively alters a crucial moment. Originally, Luke falling silently was seen as a brave, selfless act—a complete rejection of the dark side. But the updated version feels more like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon.

The scream in this scene is jarring for two reasons. First, it clashes with the scene’s original purpose. Second, longtime Star Wars viewers will recognize it as the exact same sound effect used when the Emperor dies in Return of the Jedi. Given the extensive work done on the Star Wars special editions, it’s strange Lucas didn’t simply have Mark Hamill record a new scream instead of reusing an old one that doesn’t fit. It’s hard to imagine a more unusual choice – the only thing that could have made it stranger would be adding the Wilhelm scream.

Over time, Lucas appeared to acknowledge some of his past decisions. When the Star Wars trilogy came out on DVD in 2004, a change made to The Empire Strikes Back was reversed: Luke’s scream was restored. This brought the scene’s original meaning – Luke’s determination to die rather than embrace the dark side – back to its original form. While the initial alteration from 1997 still seems odd, it’s good that Lucas chose to fix this one.

Did The Empire Strikes Back Have Any Other Confusing Changes?

While Luke’s scream is the most significant change in The Empire Strikes Back, several other alterations are a bit puzzling. Some lines of dialogue were modified; for example, Luke says “You were lucky to get out of there” to R2-D2 after the Dragonsnake ejects him, whereas the original theatrical release had him saying “You’re lucky you don’t taste very good.” Later, Darth Vader’s line, “Bring my shuttle,” was changed to “Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival.” These edits don’t seem to have a clear purpose and feel arbitrary rather than improving the film.

The lines from the original theatrical release still fit the scenes well and are likely more effective. For example, Luke’s playful comment about Artoo not tasting good adds personality and lightens the mood after a frightening scene. Similarly, it makes sense that Vader would be short and harsh with his officers. James Earl Jones delivers the line “Bring my shuttle” with a clear, angry tone, perfectly reflecting Vader’s frustration. He’d just lost his opportunity to turn Luke to the dark side and take over the Emperor, so being furious feels natural. The special edition version, where he seems to politely request the shuttle, doesn’t quite match his usual character.

Luckily, most of the other changes in The Empire Strikes Back are improvements. Expanding Cloud City feels natural and uses updated technology to make it a more impressive, lively city. Adding more shots of the wampa also helps make it seem scarier. Plus, the refreshed visual effects are generally positive. While some might argue the original effects by Industrial Light & Magic should have been left alone, these changes modernize the film, removing noticeable lines around spaceships and improving the Battle of Hoth’s visuals.

Although the special edition of The Empire Strikes Back has a few odd changes – like the removal of Luke’s scream – none are as puzzling as the alterations made to the Han and Greedo scene or the addition of “Jedi Rocks” in other films. George Lucas continued to update the movie with each new release (even bringing in a new actor to re-record Boba Fett’s lines), but the version most people see today is likely more similar to the original theater release than the special editions of the other two original Star Wars films. Even after all these years, The Empire Strikes Back is still considered the best Star Wars movie, and the fact that it didn’t require as many changes shows how well it has aged.

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2026-02-21 21:43