I just thought of a change to ROTS here, but I was wondering if it was at all possible to do in an edit, and if anyone had tried it before.
It seems like it would be possible through cuts. Here’s what I’m imagining - The end of the film is changed so Anakin never murders the Younglings or even goes to the temple. He leaves directly for Mustafar to end the war, and Order 66 happens en-route. Obi-wan then concocts the Youngling killing lie to get Padme to go to Anakin, whereupon they have their tragic fight.
Changes to the Chancellor’s office:
“What have I done?!”
“You’re fulfilling your destiny, Anakin.”
“Just help me save Padme’s life…I can’t live without her.”
“To cheat death is a power only one has achieved, but if we work together, I’m sure we can discover the secret.”
“I pledge myself to your teachings.”
“Good. Good. Henceforth, you shall be known as…Vader. Rise.”
“Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate, show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough to save Padme.”
“What about the Jedi spread across the galaxy?”
“Their betrayal will be dealt with. Go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Then…we shall have peace.”
Cut the scenes of Anakin at the temple, and any mention of the Temple attack.
In the scene where Anakin leaves for Mustafar, cut the talk of the attack and of the Jedi already killed. Anakin’s hope that Obi-wan remains loyal to the Chancellor could be sincere. His mission to kill the Separatists is now the act which will make him strong enough to save Padme, which is why he promises that things will be different when he returns.
After this scene, Palpatine orders 66. The Jedi are killed and Anakin feels their deaths before he arrives on Mustafar. Anakin doesn’t kill Younglings and Obi-wan doesn’t find a recording to this effect. His conversation with Padme however does have him say that he has found such a recording, which the audience knows to be a lie since Anakin left before the temple attack. This goads Padme into trying to find Anakin to ascertain the truth, and Anakin’s anger at Obi-wan’s lie is genuine. The end of the film is far more tragic now that Obi-wan can be said to have torn the two apart…from a certain point of view.