Wouldn't want to overdo it in the OT-- but definitely it needs to raise its head in the "return of Anakin" duel of ROTJ somehow. Probably it would add texture to a lot of what happens between Vader, Luke and the Emperor from the time Vader and Luke meet again at the elevator.
Kind of like putting the Imperial march into ANH a little -- we don't want to screw up what's done well, but add continuity and texture to the whole Saga.
Sharing some more ideas:
I've been looking for ways to keept more suspense in the action -- looking for places to make things look desperate for our heroes. Here are some:
When Jar Jar leads the Jedi to Gunga -- let their arrest be more rapid, give the guards some smarts: "So, Jedi. We know how to deal with your kind." Zap. The Jedi don't resist and we cut on a real downbeat--
TO NABOO -- The droids pour in and LASER BLASTS and EXPLOSIONS fill the soundtrack. The resistance is being wiped out. Ships fly over the castle. More BOOMS. There's a shot from the parade at the end looking up as Naboo fighters fly over Naboo and confetti flies -- add BLASTER SOUNDS and BOOMS and it looks like war footage -- hear SCREAMS, make this violent. Show the army approaching through a window and finally (moving this shot to the end) show us Amidala at the window, looking defeated...
Back to Gunga -- the Jedi face Boss Nass -- he says "Two Jedi? That's all the council sent? They are blind. This is a time of prophecy..." Etc. He gives them a Bongo and they go. They get chased by fish, then head for that outcropping... CUT TO:
Ext. Naboo, establishing-- cut away before Bongo surfaces. THen Nute marches the queen. Still hear muted Explosions, lasers and Screams. Nute orders the Queen "processed" and they march her away -- outside, down the street -- as long as we can make it seem WITHOUT cutting to the Jedi. We can still hear distant sounds of Battle. Then, just when it looks like no one can help, we see the Jedi heads pop into frame and they leap down from the walkway to devestate the droids and save teh PRincess. With the sounds of a war in the background it makes the Jedi attack feel like there's anger that they wish they could do more.
This surprise activates all the interchange between the Jedi and the Queen's guard. They actually catch us up on what's going on rather than just repeating what we all know so freakin' well already.
They viciously destroy the droids in the hanger and get on the ship and go-- saving what few Naboo they can. With battle sounds in the distance, Qui Gonn's warning that the Nemoidians will "kill you if you stay" seems a lot more accurate. They blast off.
Then when they approach the droid control ship, recutting this for more tension will mean avoiding as many shots of that pilot as possible. His shots all look like a guy sitting at his PC playing a video game. Shortening a lot of shots will help too. Then, as Artoo gets the shields back up, add a shot of Fighter Droids approaching (there's one in particular from the final battle that we can reverse and use) -- the Nemoidians aren't just letting them go. Keep the laser sounds and explosions Booming as they have a briefer discussion about how the hyperdrive is leaking and they should go to Tatooine (cut Panaka's B.S. objections) and then they escape by flying off (into hyperspace? Just cause the hyperdrive is leaking doesn't mean they can't make the jump, does it?) Anyway -- we can maybe assume they just outrun the droid ships which is basically what's there now anyway.
Adding these sources of tension will help a lot, I think.
Thoughts?