Personally, I feel that the reveal is not something that is "broken" in the saga. As THX said, having the audience know what Luke doesn't, does not ruin that moment. If you've seen the PT, you're just waiting for Luke to find out what the truth is. Seeing his reaction, seeing the look of betrayal and confusion on his face, that is what the scene is about.
I can understand the opinion that it's not broken since it is a much beloved part of the OT. But this point, along with the others you raise, have to be looked at in the context of the ENTIRE story of the Saga.
And that begs an analysis of the entire Saga upon which we can agree. In some respects, we may seem to disagree until we get more specific -- For example: Anakin is not the Main Character of the entire PT -- and I don't think anyone can seriously argue that he is as things stand. The reason I say this is that, although he's the Main Character of Episode II and III -- Qui Gon is the Main Character of Episode I. Anakin doesn't even show up until Act II of that story. He doesn't mean anything to that story until deep into Act II. But the PT is, I agree, SUPPOSED to be three movies about the fall of Anakin. That's the kind of problem I want to solve.
Originally, the OT was released as three movies about Luke Skywalker (with Han Solo getting his own Main Character Story tucked into Episode V). But that changed with the release of Episode I-- then came a second way of looking at the OT: as the second half of Anakin's story -- the redemption of Anakin Skywalker.
From that point of view, the shift to Luke in Episode IV is undermined -- Episode IV is no longer "ACT I" in any way. It's more like Act II of the saga.
I don't agree that waiting until Episode V for Luke to find out something we already know is a good enough reason to sacrifice Obi Wan and Yoda's integrity. The BIG PICTURE is exactly what I'm trying to protect -- Big Picture character arcs should take higher priority over protecting any story beat -- no matter how beloved. If we have a beat that violates a character's arc then it should go. The idea that they are "protecting" Luke from the truth is just nonsense. Protecting him from what? Would he be less likely to want to help Leia and the Rebellion if Obi Wan treated him like an adult and told the truth? Of course not. It is not honorable, serves no purpose, and makes Obi Wan and Yoda chumps when their little lie nearly destroys the Galaxy. It was a necessary evil in the design of the "Reveal" as done in 1980. But it is not central to the Saga and I'd like to see it go.
The Parallels between the OT and PT Episodes are mere echoes -- thematic notions. They are not structural and fall apart at any high-resolution examination. Luke at the tree can hardly be equated with Anakin ACTUALLY killing Sandpeople babies in any serious way. These echoes or parallels will still be there anyway. But Luke's vulnerablity to the Dark Side would now come from his inexperience and from the sheer power available to him from the Force. It shouldn't come from exposing a lie told to him by Obi Wan. Preserving anything like that at the expense of character is what I consider getting caught up in details and missing the big picture.
I love the "migraine maker" and can't wait for that edit. I know we have a lot of talented and insightful minds posting here. There are many edits that will preserve the Obi Wan lie and attempt to justify it and leave in Luke's surprise discovery of his parentage. I hope that we can find a different way with this one.
A big reason for me comes during ROTJ. When you look at that movie on its own, it's a structural mess. It has wide gaps in any Main Character story, created by its various sub-plots. Luke's story lacks the cohesive feel of the first two movies. Han's not a Main Character in his own sub-plot anymore as it gets picked up from Leia's point of view. Lando gets a sub-plot that has very little character development. Vader suddenly acts as if he mourns the loss of his life as "Anakin" -- a past we didn't even know existed and which makes him very different from the villain he was for the first two films.
This last part was the weakest part for me when the movie came out. The Star Wars films so far had been excellent in great part because Vader was so bad -- strangling people and cutting down Jedi. It was hard for me to accept a Vader who said things like "It's too late for me, my son."
But...
With the PT -- all that material took life. Suddenly ROTJ had a Main Character -- VADER/ANAKIN. His story is not interrupted. He appears in the first scene and goes through a clear dramatic arc-- the completion of which brings a cap to the whole Saga. We were not aware that he could be a Main Character in the first release because we had no way of getting into his head. But watching it "in order," there's no way to stay OUT of his head. All those close ups and pauses as he leads Luke to the Emperor are now full of meaning -- Anakin, deep inside, is having second thoughts. That didn't work for Darth Vader -- but it works fine for Anakin Skywalker.
So the Saga has a clear "intended" arc. But each Episode has its own issues screwing things up.
Episode I has no Anakin story -- the kid just blunders his way into the Naboo battle and wins the day without a hint of awareness of anything important happening around him.
Episode II has a truly unlikable Anakin going through the motions of a crisis without generating any real emotion.
Episode III has a great sense of emotion and completion to Anakin's fall (despite various opinions about the details). But it completes a story that wasn't working and which doesn't really mesh with...
Episode IV -- a nearly perfect movie, which in itself is violated by the continuity grafted onto it by the sequels. Suddenly and without any sensible motivation, Obi Wan lies to Luke about Anakin's life. Anakin, meanwhile, murders his old mentor and demonstrates in every way possible that there is no good left in him.
Episode V -- Obi Wan pulls Yoda into his lie and refuses to let it be exposed even as Luke rushes off into battle with Vader. Then Vader demonstrates in every way possible that no good remains in him.
Episode VI -- Luke starts talking about all the good he sees in Vader. Then, without half-trying, he gets Vader to all but admit it. Obi Wan tries to excuse his own lies and Luke intuitively brings about Vader's redemption without the benefit of anyone's tips, help or guidance. He just concocts a whole plan on the battlefields of Endor and jogs off to go redeem his dad. Lucky for the Rebellion, it works perfectly.
These Episodes could hold together nicely if they really were the fall and rise of Anakin Skywalker -- a gifted Jedi who was seduced by the Dark Side only to be redeemed by the power that his son finds in using the good side of the Force.
That story's just not really there... yet.
InfoDroid:
I love so many of the cuts in that little clip. Thank you! I love when Ben says "he was a good friend" and we cut between Anakin and Obi Wan. I love the image of Anakin's android hand as Ben says "he's mostly a machine now." The impact of it all mixed together is whopping. Excellent job!
I believe, however, that going from Ben's story to Ben handing over Anakin's lightsaber is a mistake. I think after hearing about his father, Artoo might interrupt with the message from Leia. This is the one thing that can stop Luke from pressing for more info.
Then Ben and Luke could go from hearing the message to Luke deciding to join Obi Wan-- without his declining first. Luke doesn't have to say "yes, I'll go with you"-- he can leave it hanging and we'll still know he says "yes" if we just don't hear him say "no." If we cut to them coming across the Jawas, we can tell that he's joined Ben without him saying so. Then we can go to Owen's homestead, find them burning and cut from that scene to Luke and Ben looking over Mos Eisley -- more or less. The missing beat of "I'll join you to Alderann" can be cannibalized in a way that sews it all together.
Sorry to say, perhaps, but your clip put me in mind of a way of doing the whole Ben's hut scene without flashbacks. I'm nearly through a version like that-- I'll post it as soon as I can.
I'll try to get an Episode I thread going soon. I've been real busy with sick people running around my house all day. Don't they know I've got important business!?