The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread — Page 238

Something else I was thinking about: Anakin receiving his name of Darth Vader is such a non-moment, while it's the kind of moment we had all been waiting for to see. We don't know what the name means or where it comes from, so I was thinking, what if we could add a little extra legacy to the name of Vader?

I was thinking that during the opera scene, we could change Palpatine's story about a powerful Sith Lord to be about Darth Vader, instead of Plaguis. In the reworked story, Darth Vader could have been a mythical (no one is really sure he really existed) Sith Lord, wise and powerful, and on the bring of discovering the secret to cheat death.

When Anakin receives his Sith name after turning, the name Darth Vader could be used by Palpatine as another persuasive tool to get Anakin to be loyal to him by promising him to get him what he wants. It might also add another layer to Anakin's death in ROTJ: he discovers how to cheat death by turning away from the Dark Side.

It might also work to change some statues in Palpatine's office to statues resembling Darth Vader's suit. I've seen a video mockup of this on here, but I would try something a bit more subtle.

I tried doing that, but I'm not too good at sound editing yet.

coinilius said:

So here it is used as an introduction to the Pod Race.  The Pod Race preperations have also been edited, based on edits done by Yads (who I think took his cues from another edit but I'm not sure) but rearranged to fit the new music.

I didn't take the cues from another edit. I think (it's been a while since I edited it) I used "Anakin's Dream" from episode three for the race build up, which gave it a nice epic feel.

Your race day scene is interesting - I just don't like the TPM celebration music. At all.

daneditor said:

I didn't take the cues from another edit. I think (it's been a while since I edited it) I used "Anakin's Dream" from episode three for the race build up, which gave it a nice epic feel.

Your race day scene is interesting - I just don't like the TPM celebration music. At all.

Thanks for the comments and corrections :)  The music you used did indeed help create a more epic and moody feel for the scene - your pod race edit was quite an enjoyable one, which is no easy task!

At the moment I'm actually tossing some ideas around for an edit that cuts out the celebration scene AND the Pod Race scene!

Agreed. It would be nice to see Tarkin as a force during the Prequels already. Vader treats him too much of an equal for him to have come far later than the birth of the Empire.

SilverKey said:

When Anakin receives his Sith name after turning, the name Darth Vader could be used by Palpatine as another persuasive tool to get Anakin to be loyal to him by promising him to get him what he wants. It might also add another layer to Anakin's death in ROTJ: he discovers how to cheat death by turning away from the Dark Side.

hmm interesting. Anakin cheated death by holding on to his physical body with the dark side of the force & mechanical replacements. His physical presence was necessary to help take control of the galaxy, afterall. whereas Obi-Wan & Yoda let go of their physical selves and cheat death too and hold power in a different way.

maybe i'm stating the obvious. it just never occurred to me.

It's funny because they sorta randomly threw in Chewbacca, R2 & 3Po...but really Tarkin would have been more fun to see in action as a younger / sinister up and comer.

Anyway a few more Tarkin cameos would be interesting but it's a shame he can't be integrated into the story somehow.

I was on the road today and had a lot of thoughts.  One had to do with restructuring the PT and an earlier discussion of Anakin being an assassin for Palpatine.  Here's the gist for the whole trilogy:

Ep I would actually be comprised mostly of AOTC (maybe with a little TPM for backstory).  It would of course be a nice edit eliminating most of the rubbish, including the majority of the romance.  The fact that Anakin and Padme get married would of course be central to the plot (they have kids after all), but the courtship and prevention of her death would not.

Ep. II (and this is where it would get extremely controversial, I imagine) would be comprised of the CGI Clone Wars show (once it's all completed).  A smart edit could include elements from different episodes to make a single, full length film that would serve as a bridge between the Eps I and III, and would show the Clone Wars we were all hoping for when we heard Lucas was finally going to make the PT.  This would hopefully show Anakin as a Jedi, but also on a very dark road, engaging in activities that were not sanctioned by the council but were assignments from Palpatine.

Ep. III would include mention in the opening crawl about a secret assassin of Palpatine's named Vader.  We would never learn who this was throughout the film, but we'd also see Anakin seemingly different from Vader, but still a personal hit man.  Ultimately we'd learn that Anakin was already a Sith before the movie began, well aware of Palpatine's role as his master, and only feigning innocence and trying to be a good guy at the same time.

Yeah, this is probably too crazy to pull off, but I thought it was an interesting notion.  Not sure it sounds as good now that I've typed it, but there ya go.

The idea of starting with Ep II and using the Clone Wars cartoon series to create an entirely new Ep II is an interesting one, I think - obviously it wouldn't be an edit for everyone since some people might not take to the idea of switching between live action and cartoon, but there is certainly a potential wealth of material to draw from.

Yeah, that's my thought.  I also want to expand/alter my thoughts on the new Ep III:

The opening crawl would establish that there is a ring of special assassins working for Palpatine and swearing loyalty.  Anakin would be established as among this ring, and this would be his motivation to kill Mace and defend Palp.  We would never hear  him referred to as Sith in the movie.  He would still kill Dooku, depriving Palp of his apprentice, but we'd never know who took his place.  We'd also hear rumors (established in the crawl) of a deadly assassin called Vader, and Palpatine would even give hints about him to Anakin, but no one would know who he really was or if he existed.  Anakin's loyalties between the Jedi and assassin's ring would be strained, and finally Anakin would choose Palpy, from whom he believes he can learn the secret to immortality.  He knows that Palpatine is seeking a new apprentice from among the ranks of the assassins.  He fights Obi-Wan as an assassin in league with the Sith, not as Lord Vader.  He of course loses and we believe he is dead and we never see Anakin recovered by Palpatine.  In the end, we see an unknown individual in armor identified as Lord Vader, apparently Palpatine's new apprentice, but hopefully we come to believe they are separate individuals.

Just running thoughts late at night, so hopefully it makes sense.

This is what I was thinking.  George Lucas WILL be making a live-action television series focused on events between the PT and OT.  If an edit Ep II could be Ep I and an edit of Ep III could be Ep II, you could (when the tv series ends a long time away from now) create an Ep III out of that.  This would remove TPM totally and could help to bridge the PT with the OT creating a better saga.  Just a thought...

I guess it would depend what's covered in the tv series. I was under the impression that the show would feature young Luke or any of the main movie characters.

In any case I'm sure the Empire would still be a part of the show and something from it could be used for edits. Heck even the ewok movies might have footage that can be used for RoTJ.

nightstalkerpoet said:

Has anyone considered inserting Anakin/Vader and Palpatine in the funeral procession for Padme? Considering there is no longer any reason for the relationship to be hidden, and the fact that Padme is the only thing Anakin truly cares about, I can't understand why he and the Emperor (originally from Naboo) would not make an appearance there.

Vader believes he killed Padme.  He probably doesn't want to think about her again.  People would wonder who the dude in the black suit is.  Although, in my ideal edit, Vader would show absolutely no remorse for killing Amidala.

Perhaps Palpatine should show up for appearance's sake, but I imagine he would be too busy solidifying his rule.  I don't see any compelling reason for either of them to be there.  I'm more into the idea that Padme shouldn't die at all during childbirth.

nightstalkerpoet said:

Vader believes that Obi-Wan is responsible for manipulating her against him,

All the more reason for him to not want to think about her again.  She betrayed him.

Somebody who has taken to the dark side of the force is not suddenly rendered incapable of love

I couldn't disagree more.  The fact that Vader found the love in his heart to save Luke is an exception and is what makes the moment so powerful.

At this point, I'm sure Vader wants to forget his former identity of Anakin Skywalker and he wouldn't want anything to remind him of it.

Here's an idea for those of you who take issue with Obi-Wan leaving Anakin to burn.  Obi-Wan comes off as spiteful or at least merciless.  We need a better reason for him to leave instead of going down and putting his friend out of his misery.

So I thought a good reason might be because he sees Palpatine's shuttle coming.  In that moment, he knows Yoda is probably dead, the Republic is doomed, and he needs to high tail it out of there before he gets double teamed.  His mission to kill Anakin is aborted, and his only goal is survival.  Maybe at the very least he can prevent Padme and the kids from falling into the Emperor's hands.

It turns out there is a good place to put such a scene where Obi-Wan sees Palpatine's shuttle.  Right before Anakin says, "This is the end for you my master." there is a pause in the fight as they stare at each other.  See 5:47 here.. Here you could put in the shuttle flying over.  Right after this shot, Obi-Wan makes his final stand and jumps over the river bank. It's a really good placement because it explains why Obi-Wan needs to end the fight quickly.

I don't know enough to do a mockup video, but here are some poorly photoshopped images of what I'm talking about.

After Anakin says, "This is the end for you my master." Cut to the shuttle landing, and then back to the ending of the duel.  After Obi-Wan leaves, cut to Palpatine discovering Anakin's body.

Anyone think this is possible or worthwhile?

I still don't think that works. Obi-Wan would be running.

Davnes007 said:

Well, here's a video that partially uses your idea. At least it inspired me to get off my ass, and make a video.

Enjoy...if you dare.

http://youtu.be/elO3omkyE5Q  - Oops...already blocked by FOX

 

Dailymotion to the rescue.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnewqb_oh-no-not-another-rots-re-edit_shortfilms

Blocked too.  Vimeo?  Google docs?

I still don't think that works. Obi-Wan would be running.

Yeah, I thought of that.  It could doom the idea.  But if you cut away as much of Obi-Wan's walking as possible, it could work.  A mockup video would be the only way to tell.