"The Empire Strikes Back," originally released in 1980, is the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy. In 1997, George Lucas released a Special Edition of the entire trilogy, which included various alterations to the original films. For "The Empire Strikes Back," changes ranged from minor visual and audio tweaks to more noticeable additions and alterations. Here are some of the key differences between the original 1980 release and the Special Edition (later changes in subsequent DVD, Blu-ray, and digital releases may also be noted): 1. **Wampa Ice Creature**: In the original version, the Wampa creature that captures Luke Skywalker was only partially seen. For the Special Edition, new scenes were filmed to show the Wampa in full view, eating and being disturbed by Luke's efforts to escape. 2. **Snowspeeder Effects**: The transparency of the Snowspeeder cockpits' during the Battle of Hoth was corrected for the Special Edition. This change improved the visibility of the speeders, making them appear more solid against the snowy landscape. 3. **Dak's Body**: The Special Edition added a shot of Luke’s gunner, Dak, slumped over dead in the cockpit, which either wasn't clearly visible or included in the original cut. 4. **Cloud City**: The Special Edition significantly expanded the scope and visuals of Cloud City on Bespin. This included adding more windows to the buildings, showing expansive vistas of the sky and landscape, and including additional shots of the city to establish it as a more open and inhabited place. 5. **Cloud City Hallways**: New sequences were added of people in the hallways of Cloud City to show a more bustling atmosphere. This included a scene where the characters narrowly avoid a group of Stormtroopers. 6. **Ian McDiarmid as The Emperor**: In the original 1980 release, the Emperor’s holographic message to Darth Vader was portrayed by actress Marjorie Eaton (with the voice of Clive Revill). For the 2004 DVD release, these scenes were replaced with Ian McDiarmid, who played the Emperor in "Return of the Jedi" and the prequel trilogy to maintain continuity within the saga. 7. **Boba Fett's Voice**: In the original version, Boba Fett was voiced by actor Jason Wingreen. For the DVD release, Boba’s lines were re-recorded by Temuera Morrison, who portrayed Jango Fett (Boba's father) in the prequels, in order to maintain the continuity of Boba Fett's voice. 8. **Luke's Scream**: When Luke falls down the shaft in Cloud City after the revelation from Darth Vader, the Special Edition briefly included a scream. This was later removed in the DVD release, as it was out of character for Luke to scream in that moment. 9. **Music and Sound**: Some of the audio was remixed or altered to enhance the surround sound experience. This included changes in music cues and sound effects. It's worth noting that some fans are particularly fond of the original versions and have not fully embraced the changes. The Special Editions—and the subsequent alterations seen in the latest releases—have been a subject of debate among the Star Wars community, with some feeling that certain changes altered the original spirit and aesthetic of the films. Overall, the modifications aimed to utilize the then-latest in visual and audio effects technology to update and expand on the filmmakers' original vision for the Star Wars universe.