I have had a few random prequel thoughts recently…
Regarding AOTC, I have mentioned this idea before but I think one of the weirdest continuity issues between the PT and the OT is how Owen, Beru and Anakin are practically strangers when in the OT they seem to have had some kind of relationship. Yes, you could say, *“well Shmi told Owen and Beru all about Anakin and they felt like they knew him”. It just feels weird. Would it really be so weird if when Anakin and Padme go to Tatooine, they go straight to the Lars homestead? It has been 10 years since the Phantom Menace, and nothing in the movies really says that Anakin couldn’t have gone back to see his mother.
If you change the way 3PO greets them, make it like he actually recognizes them, and cut the introduction with the Lars family, there could be the implication that Anakin has been there before. Also, if you could find some Anthony Daniels dialogue where 3PO calls Padme their liberator or savior, you could get the idea across that Padme went back and freed Shmi right after TPM. Apparently in the new canon novel, Queen’s Shadow, she actually does go back to try and free her, but when she goes back she can’t find Shmi. (Why didn’t she just talk to Watto like Anakin did?). Again, I know this might be confusing for the audience, but it has been 10 years, and I think there would be enough for the audience to infer that things have just changed during that time and pick up on the context clues.
Another thought regarding ROTS, I’ve noticed that a lot of edits that cut out Yoda ever using his lightsaber seem to leave in the moment Yoda cuts the clones heads off. I can see how that might be okay since it is a very quick moment, but I feel like it kind of defeats the purpose if you’re wanting Yoda to never use a lightsaber at all. There may be an edit that does this, but if you wanted to remove that moment too, you could do something like this.
- Have Yoda sense the beginning of the purge and drop his cane.
- Next time we’re on Kashyyyk, have it be when the walkers are stomping around looking for Wookies at night, but change the dialogue to something like, “No sign of the Jedi, move to the east.”
- Then, have Yoda’s escape pod scene (but maybe cut around Chewbacca…)
I think the idea would get across that Yoda just sense what was happening and got away before the clones got a chance to strike. Maybe this kind of edit would just not flow well, which is why it has never been done.
A while ago I tried and edit where all the Tattooine scenes are moved to the end of the movie, with Anakin remaining on Naboo fulfilling his duty as a Jedi, and regretting it later when after Geonosis he has some spare time, goes to Tattooine and finds out he’s arrived too late, thus having Vader’s fall be caused by repressing his love and attachment in the name of duty, and not the other way round, which is what we got today.
The eliptical timelapse implied is open, so he could have been and remained there with Padme for months. The movie would end with him departing to fight in the recently started Clone Wars, just as Owen in ANH implied, and living his wife alone in the planet.
Back then the VFX required to replace one of hayden’s hands with the mechanical arm was difficult to achieve, I think today would be doable.
EDIT: Somehow youtube authorized the video now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sELBlXUMPew