Well I don't care much about Star Wars, but I can see where people are coming from on this issue and as a writer Greedo shooting first doesn't make sense in the context of the plot. As stated by Boba Fett in Empire Strikes Back, he needed Solo alive and presumably so did Greedo. Him shooting to kill Han would be completely against the motivation of the character, he'd get no paycheck and being a bounty hunter that's not in keeping with the character. Writing that contradicts itself is never well received.
That's really the only problem I have, but I don't care enough to get up in arms about it.
I agree with you. I can accept almost anything that happens in a sci-fi or fantasy film as long as it doesn't contradict itself.
The whole "original vs remastered" thing has been blown out of proportion. All that was needed to be done was to improve the film quality and the special effects. That's it. Instead we got a version that changes things for no real reason. That may or may not matter to you, and that's fine.
I agree with you. I can accept almost anything that happens in a sci-fi or fantasy film as long as it doesn't contradict itself.
The whole "original vs remastered" thing has been blown out of proportion. All that was needed to be done was to improve the film quality and the special effects. That's it. Instead we got a version that changes things for no real reason. That may or may not matter to you, and that's fine.
It should be important to everybody that Han shoots first. It's of quintessential importance that Han is seen as completely without scruples to begin with. Just surviving for the moment, and lacking foresight beyond making a credit.
That one little change completely alters the original character completely.
It should matter, because it's important #.# It's almost as if the character of Han Solo that is fleshed out was by accident given that george Lucas doesn't realize that the character itself is severely compromised by 'such a small change' ...
Jandau: Lucas is releaseing Star Wars in 3D. Films that weren't recorded with 3D technology are getting converted into 3D. Now let your mind wander over other recent releases that were converted into 3D. This won't be the Star Wars Avatar, this will be the Star Wars Clash of the Titans...
GrinningManiac: Still don't understand the significance of whatsisface shooting first or not. Why does it matter?
In the original release, Han Solo shot Greedo while they were talking. It set him up as a badass. In the "updated" version, Lucas decided that it made Han look too mean and edited the scene so Greedo shoots at Han first, and then Han fires back in self defence. It was the principle of the thing that pissed people off. There was no need for the change, nobody was bothered and it was basically a symbol of Lucas doing everything waaaay to family friendly.
GrinningManiac: Still don't understand the significance of whatsisface shooting first or not. Why does it matter?
In the original release, Han Solo shot Greedo while they were talking. It set him up as a badass. In the "updated" version, Lucas decided that it made Han look too mean and edited the scene so Greedo shoots at Han first, and then Han fires back in self defence. It was the principle of the thing that pissed people off. There was no need for the change, nobody was bothered and it was basically a symbol of Lucas doing everything waaaay to family friendly.
That... makes perfect sense! I've also never known why it mattered, and never cared. But I can see why that would effect people. Is it also true that guns were removed from the hands of the fbi agents in E-T? :3 Ala South Park parody?
I agree with you. I can accept almost anything that happens in a sci-fi or fantasy film as long as it doesn't contradict itself.
The whole "original vs remastered" thing has been blown out of proportion. All that was needed to be done was to improve the film quality and the special effects. That's it. Instead we got a version that changes things for no real reason. That may or may not matter to you, and that's fine.
It should be important to everybody that Han shoots first. It's of quintessential importance that Han is seen as completely without scruples to begin with. Just surviving for the moment, and lacking foresight beyond making a credit.
That one little change completely alters the original character completely.
It should matter, because it's important #.# It's almost as if the character of Han Solo that is fleshed out was by accident given that george Lucas doesn't realize that the character itself is severely compromised by 'such a small change' ...
Can you sorta see why now? ;|
I was trying to stop this from becoming yet another flame war. Han is self-obsessed bastard and he definitely shot first. I know that, you know that, but the legions of people out there that haven't seen the originals don't know and judging from most of the comments don't care.
George Lucas will never live down "Greedo Shoots First". And I have to say he truly deserves every bit of backlash he'll receive for it for the remainder of his life and long after he's gone down the reactor shaft.
I actually thought that Han in this comic was pretty funny. I'm also a bit sleep-deprived at the moment. But I think the hilarity is coming with the not-give-a-fuck-even-though-someone-is-shooting-at-me-and-buddy-you-really-don't-want-my-springy-fist-of-doom attitude Solo is displaying.
Never knew people cared so god damn much about who shot first. The character development over the issue is minor at best compared to the entire freaking movie. Ah well. Time to ignore the Star Wars fanbase again because they're whinny and irrelevant! Nice comic though.
GrinningManiac: Still don't understand the significance of whatsisface shooting first or not. Why does it matter?
It kind of symbolises Lucas messing with the original, in the original that scene shows Han as a straight up bounty hunter, cold blooded. In the revised one Lucas makes an effort to make Han more of a hero from the start.
Really it just symbolises Lucas messing with the classic.
GrinningManiac: Still don't understand the significance of whatsisface shooting first or not. Why does it matter?
Because it turns Solo in to a justified wimp instead of a dangerous outlaw? I guess...
Pretty much. It defines Han's character for the first film. When he shoots first it shows that he is dangerous and unpredictable. Therefore Luke and Obi Wan have chosen the wrong person to protect them. It brings in uncertainty and doubt, and makes his transformation at the end of the film much more important.
I don't agree, and to be honest I think most of the complaints about the special edition of Star Wars is just pointless nitpicking and whining.
While Han not shooting first may make him seem slightly less unpredictable it doesn't really do anything to impact is overall character. I saw the special edition first, and then years later decided to check out the originals after hearing the Star Wars fanboys talk about how Lucas "had ruined Star Wars" with his Special edition, only to find myself watching the same movies again only with shitty special effects and some missing scenes.
People are being fooled by nostalgia, or they are just being fanboys. And then of course there are also those who enjoy bashing Lucas whenever they can, so they will bash the special edition as well.
Well I think that's just a matter of perspective. If you'd seen the originals first, like the people who take umbrage, you'd probably prefer them.
But honestly, the special editions have some truly horrendous additions in them that clearly demonstrate Lucas was going off the deep end.
For example, he felt this little gem was missing from the original and demanded insertion.
GrinningManiac: Still don't understand the significance of whatsisface shooting first or not. Why does it matter?
Because it makes absolutely no sense. Everything else in that movie is at least theoretically possible, but how do you miss at that range? I believe it's also considered by many to be the first instance of Lucas selling his soul and credibility for a few extra bucks.
Woodsey: Uh, you've given them another chance to blame Lucas for world poverty...
I'm leaving before I (metaphorically) punch a purist.
Hardcore_gamer: I don't agree, and to be honest I think most of the complaints about the special edition of Star Wars is just pointless nitpicking and whining.
While Han not shooting first may make him seem slightly less unpredictable it doesn't really do anything to impact is overall character. I saw the special edition first, and then years later decided to check out the originals after hearing the Star Wars fanboys talk about how Lucas "had ruined Star Wars" with his Special edition, only to find myself watching the same movies again only with shitty special effects and some missing scenes.
People are being fooled by nostalgia, or they are just being fanboys. And then of course there are also those who enjoy bashing Lucas whenever they can, so they will bash the special edition as well.
Woodsey: Uh, you've given them another chance to blame Lucas for world poverty...
I'm leaving before I (metaphorically) punch a purist.
Hardcore_gamer: I don't agree, and to be honest I think most of the complaints about the special edition of Star Wars is just pointless nitpicking and whining.
While Han not shooting first may make him seem slightly less unpredictable it doesn't really do anything to impact is overall character. I saw the special edition first, and then years later decided to check out the originals after hearing the Star Wars fanboys talk about how Lucas "had ruined Star Wars" with his Special edition, only to find myself watching the same movies again only with shitty special effects and some missing scenes.
People are being fooled by nostalgia, or they are just being fanboys. And then of course there are also those who enjoy bashing Lucas whenever they can, so they will bash the special edition as well.
Exterminas: You don't have to go all the way to Star Wars Fandom to consider this change in the scene stupid. Here are two other reasons:
-Any re-release was in an attempt to make money. Do you think they earned that money by adding an additonal blast?
-That Greedo is supposed to be a professional killer. Yet he manages to NOT KILL a person sitting across a table from him... with a one-hit-kill-weapon... That's just silly. Not silly in the Ewooks way, but silly in the "Do you thing we are stupid?"-way.
Greedo tried to shoot Solo's ear off. Luckily, Solo shifted his head slightly to the right... yep.
It really doesn't matter though, because the blasters will be all replaced by walkie-talkies.
Ah! You bastard! I wanted Critical Moss!
*pouts*
(I'm totally kidding about that, though Critical Moss would have been fun to read)