True enough. I guess what I was trying to get across was more of the style of approach: doing this like it's the first time coming out and no one knows what's going to happen. Not necessarily that they don't, but do it like they don't. Now, this may not be the way you want to do it, and that's fine, but if you do, then that would allow for creative touches like keeping the stormtroopers a surprise that would be really nice. I've already heard talk (either here or at Starkiller Ranch, I'm not sure) of people thinking Anakin becoming Vader should be edited so that it's still a surprise in ESB. It would be along those lines. I personally think those things would be a nice touch. At the same time, it depends on how you're handling it--like this is the first trilogy that came out, or like this came out afterwards, and you already know everything and want the coolness of seeing stuff happening and KNOWING that it's happening. Both approaches have their benefits. It's your edit. I'm just throwing out ideas.
However, after thinking about it, I do want the Imperial March reveal to be at either the end of the film or in the next film. Not during that particular scene.
Yeah, I think that's the way to go. If there were bigger statements of the Imperial Theme from ANH, I would recommend that for the end of AOTC, and then finally you get Imperial March in ROTS during the temple march. Unfortunately we don't, and we also don't have access to the original "orchestral blowout" finale (as one of the LSO players referred to it), which I think would be the best thing to use. The way I understand it, JW was wanting to keep the big Imperial March statement for ROTS, but Lucas wanted it at the end of AOTC, so that's what happened. It's unfortunate. It would've been nice if Williams had been able to do more in how the thematic material was setup and everthing, because I think he really wanted to, judging by the unused material that's out there. But I digress.
And I agree, CC, that it is great music. I would prefer the original piece, but unless you're going to change the pitch on the KOTOR march and use that again, then there aren't really many options.