I finally got around to buying the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD (well, original in that it's the "special edition" series). Tonight I watched Return of the Jedi to find that there was yet another change right at the end, presumably only for the DVD.
When the galaxy is celebrating and they're having a good time in the Ewok village, you may recall the Jedi ghosts of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin hang out. What they changed is that the ghost of Anakin is now played by Hayden Christensen instead of the guy that originally did Darth Vader, Sebastian Shaw. I think that borders on disrespectful to the guy that we all associate now with the unmasked bad guy, especially since he's been dead for 11 years.
The other thing is, if Hayden gets to be the ghost, then why wouldn't Ewan McGregor be there as a young Obi-Wan? You've gotta figure that Anakin, at the time of his death would be somewhere around 50 at least (the actor was like 78). Even Yoda then should be a spritely 400.
I was never against the special edition version of the films, but at some point Lucas has to stop fucking with them.
There was a huge hoopla about this when the DVD's came out. On the one hand, you have the "old crew", those of us in the scifi community who recall seeing all of the original movies in theatres who find it difficult to adjust to the new ending of Return of the Jedi.
Then you have the much younger set (and I mean the 20 somethings) who like the change.
I guess Lucas feels since that was such a small scene, even considering Luke's removal of his father's helmet during the death scene, making the switch would not be quite as big a deal now that we know what a "younger" Anakin looks like.
I recall seeing Return of the Jedi in Lansing the weekend it came out. It coincided with Midwest Media Con and the convention committee arranged for midnight showings in both of it's theatres for the scifi attendees only. A good 80% of the attendees dressed in costume for the showing.
I really need to pick the DVD set up. I have the original on VHS, but no longer have a tape player.
It has something to do with the fact that we are seeing Anakin's Jedi self - not the Anakin that is/was Vader.