In case some of you don’t know, in the original Star Wars movie, the hero Han Solo had an argument with bounty hunter Greedo, and shot him. In the re-released version, the scene was changed so that Greedo shot first and missed (sitting across the table from Solo). This made the scene very artificial and was a highly unpopular move on the part of Lucas. In fact, the only good thing about Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was the line “that’s the stupidest idea since Greedo shoots first!”.

Well, Bill now tells me they’re going to restore the scene in yet another version of the movie (a version in which the crusty old man under Vader’s mask is going to be played by the abysmal Hayden Christiensen). Similarly, the recently released version of E.T. has the extra-terrestrial being chased, not by men with guns, but by men with… walkie-talkies!?

I’m not sure I agree with this idea of adapting movies to modern times. They are a testament of the period at which they are made, and though they age, this is often what makes them enlightening to watch. I lent a friend The Godfather recently, and he said it was good, but would never fly nowadays. Too slow, too long. I agree, but are we supposed to make a 90-minute, 2003 version? What’s next, Marilyn weighs 90 pounds in Some Like it Hot? Ilse leaves with Rick? Pretty in Pink v3.0, service pack 4?

Even worse, DVD technology is now keeping directors from having to make difficult decisions altogether. In the LOTR trilogy, Peter Jackson has admitted he doesn’t know what to do with the death of Saruman scene. For pacing reasons, the scene doesn’t work anywhere in Return of the King. So he’s decided to put it in the DVD version only. Hence, the most important villain of the two first movies doesn’t get killed off in the theatrical version.

I think Peter Jackson should do what all directors have had to do up to now, and find a way to make his movie work. I think what he’s doing is cheating. And he won’t be the last.