Han shot first


 * I happen to like to shoot first, Rekkon. As opposed to shooting second. - Han Solo to Rekkon in Han Solo at Star's End

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. 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.

Thirdly, the scene change also represented a noticeable drop on cinematic technique. The original version is framed tightly and claustrophic, cutting between close-up shots of Han and Greedo as they exchange hostile quips, heightening the tension of the showdown. When Han fires, it happens suddenly and loudly but without visual explanation until Greedo falls forward dead. In the altered scene, a different perspective was used, a middle-distance shot in which both characters are visible simultaneously. Combined with the noticeable gap between the two shots, and the new emphasis on the bright and colorful computer-generated laser blasts, the scene becomes much more turgid.

Finally, the change is seen by some fans as being symptomatic of an overall "dumbing down" of the series, as Lucas made the prequel trilogy. Additional examples include the removal of several frames from scenes of Imperial Officers being shot, to censor the "flames" of their clothing exploding from being shot in the chest by blasters (one officer's take was missed in editing and the flames on his uniform can still be seen), the inclusion of a slapstick Jar Jar Binks in the prequels as well as shifting the explanation of The Force away from a mystical unifying force of the galaxy and towards something that can be detected by a simple blood test.

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.

Parody and use in Popular Culture
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 and 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.

Following their treatment on the Dick Cheney hunting incident, the creators of the Political/Gaming webcomic Sore Thumbs released a T-shirt - parodying the ones mentioned above, as well as humorously comparing the two controversies - with the inscription "Cheney Shot First". They followed this up in a subsequent strip by portraying a character wearing said shirt. (Link)