Originally posted by: Jumpman
CO,

You know what's the most interesting part of this whole debate? If you read the "Making of Episode III" book, originally, Lucas conceived, wrote, and shot Anakin's turn in the manner to which you suggested. But, he didn't think it jived with what had been done on Episodes I and II.

Plus, he really wanted to show that Anakin, even by choice, was a victim in this whole game. He did choose, but between the Jedi and Palpatine, he was also a victim.

And I can understand the idea of "Darth Vader being a victim" would piss off Original Trilogy fans.

I think this goes to the point as to why for many the PT story of Anakin does not translate well on screen, but better in the novels. Just for the record, I love all 3 PT novels, and have never gotten through one OT novel, but I love the OT movies, and think the PT movies are OK.

This is why Lucas was taking a chance with doing a character study on Anakin as his main theme of the PT, the viewer has to understand and 'buy' the characters motivations for doing the things they do, and in the novels, I bought it, in the movies I didn't. In the novels, the writers were allowed to flesh out important scenes compared to the movies where they are very short edits. I be honest with you, just the ROTS turn scene and lead up to it, could be a whole movie, rather then the first 40 minutes, but of course time is of essence.

The difference between the OT & PT is the OT story is basic, good vs evil, and very easy to understand, and you don't have to understand the characters motivations, their actions speak for themselves. For the PT to succeed, the fan had to buy the turn scene, and you did, and I didn't. The viewer had to buy everything that led up to Anakin turning, or else it would come off as far fetched.

I believe the way Lucas does SW movies, he got it right with the OT, and really had an uphill battle with the PT. The OT movies don't need to show every single emotion of the characters, it just has to get from point A to point B, and the viewer follows it to conclusion. What I am saying is the generality of the OT, the stuff we don't know, the basic story is probably its greatest strength. Lucas was able to tell a basic story of good vs evil, which is done in so many other movies, have your typical characters: Princess, Wizard, Farmboy, Scoundrel, Bad guy in a cape, and make into something much deeper then it really is when you take a step away and just kind of assess the story.

If you think about it, The OT story is not rocket science, but again, if it was, we would be have the same debates where neither of us would budge, because we were either sold on the story & characters or not. We could sit here all day and debate Anakins turn, the bottom line is you bought it, and I didn't.

I will find a quote from the Annotated Screenplays where Lucas talks about how he makes movies, and how he doesn't get too involved with the psychies of the characters.