‘Phanton Menace’ Blu-Ray Will Feature Fancy New CGI Yoda, Angering All the Usual ‘Star Wars’ Dorks

Tim Grierson
·Editor
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We're as guilty of it as anyone, but we do find it amusing when film sites get all up in arms complaining about how George Lucas has permanently tarnished his "Star Wars" films with his little "improvements." For a couple generations now, "Star Wars" has been the one thing that's cut across genders, races, economic classes: It used to be a thing we all loved together, but now it's a thing we all enjoy moaning about together. So with the Blu-Ray release of all six films nearly upon us, it's time to get irritable once again: Look, Yoda looks different! Grrrrrrr!

Slashfilm delivers the news that Yoda, who was a puppet in the original "Phantom Menace," has been replaced by a CGI creation for the Blu-Ray release. This apparently is a violation of a sacred trust that we "Star Wars" fans had with Lucas because, uh, we forget why. Nonetheless, it makes us angry because it is different! And to prove that point, Slashfilm showed us a before-and-after clip of Yoda from the film.

Here's the original "Phantom" Yoda:

Here's the new Yoda:

We know, right? It's sacrilege! This is easily the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone ever!!!

Look, a lot of George's tinkering over the years has enraged us -- although we do enjoy that at least one common complaint, known simply as "Han Shot First," has made its way to Lucas -- but this Yoda business seems pretty trivial. To be honest, we like Digital Yoda better. (What's up with Puppet Yoda's googly eyes?) So cool it, OK, folks? Grave Ape for one has had it up to here...

(Man, Grave Ape will seriously be happy when August is behind us.)

Compare the New CGI Yoda in 'The Phantom Menace' With the Original Version [/film]