Star Wars (1977) - a general Random Thoughts thread — Page 6

Mocata said:

Yeah it’s not that obvious, although he just calls him a strange old hermit earlier on, rather than anything more formal.

That’s part of what confuses me, I feel like there’s a bit of a mixed message as to how well he knows him. The way he talks to him when he calls him “Ben” feels like he’s addressing someone who’s been a mentor figure to him for years, whom he has a lot of respect for.

Maybe he has, but he still thinks of Ben as “strange” because he doesn’t talk about himself or his past very much? The way he says it does sound like he’s not too familiar with him.

I love how this film’s major plot point of the villains intending for our heroes to escape the Death Star characterizes Vader and Tarkin. They sent a bunch of troopers to die just to pretend to kill our heroes. That’s cold.

I really wish the SE version of the “I don’t like the look of this” shot with the stormtrooper and dewback didn’t have such ugly CGI because while it sticks out like a sore thumb, the original shot has so much empty space on that side of the frame that it makes me appreciate the concept of the change.

Damnit George, would it have been too much to just redo the CGI?

Two of the SE edits during the Death Star chase actually contradict the original plot.

The stormtroopers leading Han and Chewie into the barracks and “Close the blast doors”. Since they’re only pretending to try and kill them, and are actually allowing them to escape, it’s odd to lead them to a barrack since Han will then wonder why more troopers didn’t pursue them. And if the plan to close the blast doors on them worked, what are they gonna do then? It’s gonna be really awkward to make them think they escaped because of their own skills when you literally have them trapped.

And yes, I’m sure that plan was devised by that point. As indicated by Vader’s line, “[The princess] may yet be of use to us.” That’s why they didn’t terminate her immediately.

I like how Luke doesn’t join the Rebellion or become a Jedi because he wants revenge against the Empire for killing his Aunt and Uncle. He doesn’t blame himself, he accepts that it was out of his control and let go. He’s not shooting down stormtroopers out of rage. It’s for a noble cause, and out of self-defense.

A good contrast to his father.

Mocata said:

Very true, although he doesn’t show remorse at all after they leave the farm. He also seems only briefly upset about Obi-wan. Possibly just straightforward characterization, possibly just how the hero is written in this genre. Even Leia just says ‘we have no time for our sorrows’ before the final battle and moves on. Then again perhaps this is better than these days when every lead has to be full of trauma and regret.

My interpretation is that he inherited a natural tendency to go cold when experiencing extremely vulnerable emotion from his father. It’s one of the ways the ESB reveal adds a layer to SW77. Tendencies in emotional regulation have a genetic component.
The difference between father and son is that Luke then allows himself to feel and then lets go, so he gets to remain that warm hero we know and love. Vader doesn’t, so he remains stoic.

The people who go cold are actually the most sensitive, because they’re too sides of the same coin. I relate to that deeply with my ADHD.

Mocata said:

It could just be the traditional stoic character type though. Emotions, particularly in male heroes, are expected to be kept inside. ‘True heroes shed blood not tears,’ etc.

It’s admittedly just my interpretation, as someone very into psychology.

I’ve heard several stories about how the reason for the Death Star II in ROTJ is because Lucas originally wanted to save the Death Star for last, but didn’t think he’d be able to make more then one movie.

That just leaves me to wonder: what would it even be like if he had stuck with that plan, saving the Death Star for the 3rd film in the trilogy, and thus ANH was without the Death Star? A huge chunk of the plot revolves around it. It almost seems impossible to imagine the film without it. In that case, what was he thinking the movie would be about?

G&G-Fan said:

I’ve heard several stories about how the reason for the Death Star II in ROTJ is because Lucas originally wanted to save the Death Star for last, but didn’t think he’d be able to make more then one movie.

That just leaves me to wonder: what would it even be like if he had stuck with that plan, saving the Death Star for the 3rd film in the trilogy, and thus ANH was without the Death Star? A huge chunk of the plot revolves around it. It almost seems impossible to imagine the film without it. In that case, what was he thinking the movie would be about?

Some possibilities:

• We’d have seen an incomplete Death Star (possibly resembling the Death Star II).
• Instead of being obliterated by the Death Star, Alderaan would’ve been nuked from orbit by the Devastator.
• Leia’s imprisonment/rescue would’ve been staged on the Devastator instead of the Death Star.
• The movie would’ve been shorter, ending an a cliffhanger with the Falcon’s escape.

Presumably the events of TESB could’ve happened sooner, days or weeks after SW, with Vader remaining subordinate to Tarkin, who would’ve survived to the end of the trilogy.

I’m a Jabba scene hater as much as the next guy, but am I the only one who kinda finds the theatrical transition awkward and sometimes wishes there was still a scene in between? Maybe with Vader/Tarkin, or a Jabba scene where he’s portrayed with a practical effect.

As a person who grew up with the special edition, its odd having a very quick crossfade between two shots that look almost identical in composition yet are very different in mood.

Mocata said:

The awkward part is the repeated exposition and the first reveal of the Falcon being changed.

The Jabba scene is still bad.

When I was a kid I thought Han said “Even I get bored at sometimes.” All the insinuations in that scene totally went over my head back then.