Old Topic - Han shoots first!

noel · Post by **noel** » September 15, 2003, 3:31 pm

This is an old topic, but I'm kind of curious how many people knew about it, and how many people think it was a gross mistake on the part of George Lucas. Clearly, Lucas is a director who has had some moments of brilliance and moments of utter stupidity. Perhaps his greatest error was during the re-edit of the original trilogy to create the rereleased 'Special Edition'.

In the original release of Episode 4, 'A New Hope', the scene with Greedo and Han Solo appears as below:

INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

As Han is about to leave, Greedo, a slimy green-faced alien
with a short trunk-nose, pokes a gun in his side. The creature
speaks in a foreign tongue translated into English subtitles.

GREEDO: Going somewhere, Solo?

HAN: Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your
boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money.

Han sits down and the alien sits across from him holding
the gun on him.

GREEDO: It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the
chance. Jabba's put a price on your head, so large that every bounty
hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you
first.

HAN: Yeah, but this time I got the money.

GREEDO: If you give it to me, I might forget I found you.

HAN: I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba...

GREEDO: Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who
drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.

HAN: Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?

Han Solo slowly reaches for his gun under the table.

GREEDO: You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship.

HAN: Over my dead body.

GREEDO: That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for
a long time.

HAN: Yes, I'll bet you have.

Suddenly the slimy alien disappears in a blinding flash of
light. Han pulls his smoking gun from beneath the table as the
other patron look on in bemused amazement. Han gets up and
starts out of the cantina, flipping the bartender some coins
as he leaves.

HAN: Sorry about the mess.

But in the Special Edition, Lucas changes the scene. He has Greedo pull a gun and fire first at Han Solo from across a Bar Table, and he misses. Then Han pulls his gun, and shoots Greedo.

I'm curious how many people knew this, how many people think it's bad, and how many don't care at all. It is my personal opinion that this is a travesty, and it really diminishes Han Solo's character. Shooting first (like he does in Ep5 when he sees Vader in Cloud City) being brash, and looking out for himself, is what he's all about. Lucas changing the scene serves no purpose other than to be politically correct etc.

Again, I realize this is a very old topic. Just kind of curious how many people even knew about it.

Post by **Xouqoa** » September 15, 2003, 7:19 pm

Pizza the Hut > Jabba the Hutt

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » September 15, 2003, 7:26 pm

It was stupid. How could Greedo miss? Not to mention the fact that the job they did adding in Greedo's arm and gun and the firing.. just looked amateur as hell. Probably another suggestion his kids made to "make it better".

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » September 15, 2003, 7:32 pm

Sucky change imho, not a big deal to me but it sure didn't improve anything.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » September 15, 2003, 8:09 pm

Aside from nifty additions to Mos Eisley (more creatures, etc..) I thought the additions were glaringly bad... re: Jabba scene at port, Greedo shooting first, etc. Lucas makes descisions based on how he feels things should be--which is his call, of course. However, it seems he doesn't give a shit about the fans... re: Ep1, Ep2..

Also the fact that the 4-6 episodes aren't due on DVD till 2005 is pretty annoying....I figure there will be the same payoff of what fans have been getting since the '97 re-releases...blech

For instance, I rate the 80's cartoon series 'Droids' way higher than Episode 1.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 15, 2003, 9:42 pm

Lucas sucks.

That is all.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » September 16, 2003, 11:51 pm

I didn't know about this topic before. I also didn't realize this change was made in the movie mainly because I still own the original versions and not the newer ones. You are correct in that this is somewhat of a travesty. What was Lucas thinking? He could make Han look honorable because he didn't shoot first? That's bullshit.

Kithyen · Post by **Kithyen** » September 17, 2003, 1:51 am

If that's his choice to make Greedo shoot first....Fine and Dandy. I just thought Han Solo was a more interesting character when he blew Greedo away without a blink of the eye. That's the way I figured he was supposed to be. A bad ass smuggler who took out anybody who got in his way.

Not to mention the scene looked absolutely horrid with Greedo shooting first, but hey, it's Lucas' "vision" afterall. I'm definitely not losing sleep over it

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 17, 2003, 4:32 pm

Canelek wrote:Also the fact that the 4-6 episodes aren't due on DVD till 2005 is pretty annoying....

I have the "classic trilogy" (ep. 4 - 6) Special Edition on DVD. It is available if you know where to look.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 17, 2003, 6:05 pm

I don't like the change. I don't like it one bit!

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » September 17, 2003, 7:05 pm

We dont take kindly to Lucas 'round here boy

Karae · Post by **Karae** » September 26, 2003, 12:01 am

I noticed this, pissed me off almost as much as the new closing scene in Return of the Jedi. Like a professional bounty hunter could miss from that range. The guy basically kills people for a living and he can't hit a stationary target from 5 feet away? Bullshit.

Fuck George Lucas' kids. Jackass needs to tell them to STFU when they make these stupid suggestions.

Breagen · Post by **Breagen** » September 26, 2003, 2:50 am

It's been awhile since I watched the movies but I my memory of it is different than that.

I guess maybe I am crazy but when I last watched the movie it seemed to me that Han was dodging the shot or something, it looks like his head kind of twitchs to the side and than he shoots Greedo. In either case it was a stupid change to make, same with a lot of the other stuff in the Special Editions apart from scenary stuff.

Anuin · Post by **Anuin** » September 26, 2003, 6:10 am

He dodges the shot... by somehow shifting his neck inhumanly off to the side in a split second. It looks terrible.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » September 26, 2003, 1:09 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:It was stupid. How could Greedo miss?

Maybe he was a stormtrooper before becoming a bounty hunter.

Bumbaz · Post by **Bumbaz** » September 30, 2003, 11:57 am

I will also admit I think it was a lame ass change, but his worst decission will make even more people mad I'm sure. See I could give a rats ass if he decided to change the Star Wars movies, the problem is on top of changing the Star Wars movies he has also decided to NEVER release the originals on DVD. He has said that the original ep. 4-6 were not complete movies, and he will never allow them to be licensed again or released on DVD or I think even Video again. From now on its the Special Editions or nothing unless you have an old copy. Yes I know there are bootleg DVD's out there, but no official releases.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 30, 2003, 12:00 pm

Anyone see the South Park episode that addresses this issue?

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » September 30, 2003, 12:19 pm

I watched Ep4 again the other day (on VHS aieeee my bleeding eyes) and have to agree this is shite. Greedo could have stabbed Han in the eye from that range.

Yeah Jabba looks a bit shit too but at the time that shot was _really_ pushing the envelope on what CG could achieve.

The rest of it still fucking rules.

I noticed in the prison break Chewie was using a Laser Rifle with custom stock and muzzle enhancement. I'd comment on the likely nastiness of the HAM costs on that baby, but I fear it would reveal me as someone playing too much SWG atm

noel · Post by **noel** » September 30, 2003, 6:06 pm

vn_Tanc wrote:I watched Ep4 again the other day (on VHS aieeee my bleeding eyes) and have to agree this is shite. Greedo could have stabbed Han in the eye from that range.

Yeah Jabba looks a bit shit too but at the time that shot was _really_ pushing the envelope on what CG could achieve.

The rest of it still fucking rules.

I noticed in the prison break Chewie was using a Laser Rifle with custom stock and muzzle enhancement. I'd comment on the likely nastiness of the HAM costs on that baby, but I fear it would reveal me as someone playing too much SWG atm

All the wookies I know use flamethrowers.

Oh shit, I'm not anon!

Trek · Post by **Trek** » September 30, 2003, 9:40 pm

It is really the only scene that really bothers me, so much so I may have to edit it again myself just to be able to watch that edition ever again. I wonder if we could get it changed on the dvd release at some point?

shit I forgot Lucas was involved, my bad.

Dexail · Post by **Dexail** » September 30, 2003, 11:04 pm

should something with that much hair/fur really use flamethrowers?

VeeshanVault

Old Topic - Han shoots first!

Old Topic - Han shoots first!

Lucas does suck...