Bingowings said:AuggieBenDoggie said:Why the emperor didn't protect the main core from torpedos? He had the shield generator, and the imperial fleet was to keep the rebels trapped while the death star picked off the battle ships one by one. Something that wasn't done in ANH. In the end, the emperor was over confident, just as Luke told him. He didn't expect/accept the strike team on Endor to be able to destroy the shield generator.
Having Lando commit suicide by chashing into the core screaming yeeehaa is pretty funny. It would also create a few problems with Lukes escape, as he wouldn't be able to escape. He wouldn't be able to see his fathers face before he dies. He would also die almost as instantly as Lando would if the death star exploded as fast as the first one did. The rebel fleet might not get the chance to get far enough away either. I think the all ready established ending works best, and has worked for me ever since I first watched it.
The problem of Luke's escape would be solved by the two Death Star scenerio (see the ESB/ROTJ wishlist thread for details), in short Luke is on another Death Star which is destroyed by the Executor.
Without it the problem could be solved by altering the timing, the station could be shaken by bombardment from Rebel capital ships once the shield is down and he could be escape just as the station is about to explode (like Wedge).
Well, for one thing it DOES kinda look like there is a shield on the reactor (not that it does much); my solution was just through editing:
(1) It is the Emperor himself that destroys the reactor shield ala Jeff Bridges jumping into the MCP shaft in TRON; you could have it take awhile to account for:
(2) Luke and Vader do their thing in the hanger BEFORE Lando gets to the reactor; that way they leave the shuttle bay and the explosions are erased.
(3) Lando does his thing (either blows up the reactor or rams it, which I don't care if it rips on ID4 it could still be cool) and the Death Star blows up when the reactor blows up, as it should.
Another way to edit it is:
(1) Lando fires at the reactor and the shots can't penetrate the shield around it.
(2) Vader throws the Emperor over the edge. He plummets; add in an altered scene from TRON described above (to show the Emperor falling into the reactor and shorting out the reactor shield)
(3) Lando sees the shield go down and takes his shot.
(4) you would probably have to cut out the shot of the reactor falling over in the background, but you could show it damaged and in the process of overloading, thus
(5) Luke escapes with Vader, as Lando makes his way back out
(6) you could cut out the scenes with Vader in the hanger, but use some FX work so the conversation is done on the surface of Endor. That may allow for a quicker pace for the simultaneous escapes where Luke makes it and Lando doesn't. Luke does have the Force on his side, so I could see him using the Force to shield the shuttle.
(7) use some of the shuttle landing on the platform, but replace the platform with an open field. Show Luke carrying Vader's body, where he rests him on the ground and begin the conversation that was in the hanger bay. You would have to change the background behind Luke and put some dirt and grass behind Anakin, but it could be done.
I would stay away from the 2 Death Star thing; that would be a little too over the top.