Han Shot First
From Open Encyclopedia
To say "Han shot first" is to refer, often with distaste, to George Lucas's changes to the original Star Wars trilogy. This phrase refers to the changes made to Star Wars in the scene involving Han Solo and Greedo in the cantina. In the original version, Han shoots Greedo under the table while Greedo is pointing a blaster at him (the phrase "Han Shot First" is thus technically incorrect, since only Han shoots in the original version). In the special edition, Greedo shoots at Han and misses, without explanation, from point blank range, and then Han shoots him. In the 2004 DVD release, it was altered again to have Han and Greedo shooting at almost the same time (though Greedo still shoots first), with Greedo still missing from point blank range.
The principal objection from critics seems to be that the change dilutes and compromises Han's rebellious and ruthless nature. The change is felt to detract from Han's "anti-heroic" qualities, and also diminishes the character's growth and development over the story from a Machiavellian smuggler who cares only about himself (and his copilot Chewbacca) into a committed member of the Rebel Alliance fighting to bring freedom to the galaxy.
A secondary objection considers the improbability that the character Greedo would miss at that range if he fired deliberately. Thus, his gun must have discharged accidentally: a rather unromantic death for such a poignant character.
This retroactive sanitizing loosely mirrors a similar 2002 DVD version of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, in which the firearms held by police officers in the original 1982 film were digitally altered to walkie-talkies.
Although fan criticism of these changes is generally considered to be a legitimate point of view, the incident also provided early inspiration (and ongoing ammunition) for those who engage in verbal attacks on George Lucas, a practice known as Lucas-bashing.
The phrase has been enshrined on T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Han Shot First." Purportedly, the product advertises the wearer's geek credentials and disagreement with Lucas's modification. The NYC-based rock-n-roll band, Han Shot First formed in 2002 and began selling T-shirts with the phrase on them through CafePress.com. The other shirt seller is Scott Kurtz, author of the webcomic PVP. In the PVP strip, Kurtz is shown wearing the T-shirt when he breaks the fourth wall.
In the 2001 film Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, written and directed by Kevin Smith (an unabashed Star Wars fan who often inserts references to the films in his own work), Holden MacNeil tells Jay and Silent Bob that a feature-length film based on their exploits and those of their superhero alter-egos Bluntman and Chronic (which Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in fact IS) would be "the worst idea since Greedo shooting first".
In the bunny reenactment on Angry Alien's website, an outtake shown at the end of the Flash movie has Han shooting first.
