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Idea: What if there was only one Death Star?

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Hey, I’m new here so sorry if I’m going about this all wrong. I’m sure this has been discussed before but I was wanting to get some opinions on the possibility of editing the original trilogy to where the Death Star I and II are a single Death Star.

I’ve heard people in the past say that felt that it was lazy writing to just have another Death Star (I think this was what actually made Gary Kurtz leave Jedi). While I know there are arguments for both sides, I think it wouldn’t be impossible to do.

For A New Hope, the primary thing would be to replace Death Star blowing up completely to where it breaks into large pieces, similar in shape to DSII. You possibly could edit the briefing scene as well, but I don’t think it would be necessary.

For Empire, you would need to change the word “destroyed” in the opening crawl to “devastated” or something similar. You also could add a shot of it being rebuilt in the scene where we first see the Super Star Destroyer. It could take away from its reveal possibly, but on the other hand could make the Empire’s introduction that much more intimidating. It shows that the rebel’s victory was only temporary and the audience will know that it will be a threat in the future. That way it feels less lazy and that it was planned. But showing it in Empire isn’t exactly necessary.

Return of the Jedi, first of all, it would need to be made clear in the opening crawl that they are reconstructing the Death Star rather than building an entirely new one. I believe the only other time you would have to alter dialogue is during the rebel briefing. Mon Mothma calls it a “new battle station” and says “construction of this Death Star”. Both her and Ackbar call it “this Death Star” more than once. Luckily, there isn’t a close up on her face when she says “new” and “this” once, so those would be easier to fix. It would also be helpful if “re” could be put before “construction”.

I believe that is all you would need to do. I’m mainly wanting to bring this up for an fan editors who would be interested in this idea, and getting feedback if I decide to do it. I’m hoping this alteration could help tie the original trilogy together more and get rid of any questions regarding the idea of multiple Death Stars.<span style=“color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;”>
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Also, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy following what you guys talk about and I think this is a great community. Thanks for all of the hard works you guys do and I hope I can contribute to it as well in the future. Sorry if I posted this wrong, just let me know if I need to delete it or put it somewhere else.

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It has been discussed before, and is a recurring idea especially in proposed "3in1" edits to create some sort of narrative consistency.

One aforementioned edit suggested that the battle of Yavin could be removed entirely, so when the Rebel's initially escape the DS, they in fact go to hoth, and ESB plays out from there.

I think removing the destruction of the DS would detract heavily from the impact of ANH, but could work in the context of a trilogy.

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Thanks for replying! I really appreciate it.

I see what you're saying about detracting from the impact of the film. I mean, Luke still destroys it, it just breaks into pieces rather than into smithereens. But if it returned I see what you mean. So you don't think there is a problem with the second Death Star? I've just heard people complain about it before, because they think having another one also takes away from ANH, being like a repeat of the first film, and inconsistency issues. If it wasn't the same Death Star, do you think it could at least be foreshadowed in Empire?

If you don't think the second Death Star is a problem though, that is cool. I apprecite you giving me your opinion!

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Short of refilming and redubbing parts of the movie this is the weakest link of the OT.

Stick with what you have and try to work with that to improve it.

You're able to read a lot of posts here, some common things that people do is move Luke on Dagobah to the beginning of the movie and cut a lot of the cutesy dialogue throughout the movie.

In my cut I moved Luke at Dagobah to the beginning of the show.

I also cut Ben entirely.  He doesn't really do anything for the movie and just barfs up a lot of things said in the last two movies - aside from talking about Leia.

NOW Luke doesn't know that Leia is his sister.

Later in the movie I had to trim some of the dialogue when Luke and Leia say goodbye.  No loss, it's a bad scene that goes on too long and really has a lot to lose.  

Now the kicker comes in during the final lightsaber duel.  Vader uses the force and when probing Luke's feelings about his friends pieces together that Leia is Luke's sister. NOW we have the other and it also validates Luke losing his s*** during the final saber battle, it is literally a revelation to everyone in the Emperor's throne room, Vader included.  It also makes a nice call back for folks who like that sort of thing as it was Vader who told Luke in the last movie that he was his dad, now it's Vader telling Luke he has a sister, too.

Just some ideas for you to work with there, cruise through these boards and you will find more.

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Thanks for replying regularjoe! I know I'm a nobody on these forums but I appreciate you guys taking your time to give me your thoughts.

You actually read my mind. I'm wanting to make a Return of the Jedi edit, the reason I brought this topic up, and I've read a lot of forums talking about different edits and ideas for the movie. I've watched darth ender's edit and one or two others. They all have really good ideas, like yours.

I actually want to address the issues of Luke training on Dagobah and the sister reveal also, so it is cool that you've focused on those two aspects as well. I'd definitely love to see it.

Although I think I should have something to show before I say what I want to do, so I'll probably be on here a lot trying to learn more about the technical aspect of fan editing. In that, I'm quite amateur.

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I've always loved the idea only one death star.
I'd love to see the DS explosion at the end of Star Wars changed so that only one half of the thing blasts leaving the rest a burned wreck. Then in Jedi we find out that they're rebuilding it, and still it's a surprise that it's once again operational.

If you're looking for some ideas on a fan edit of Jedi, I got some in my signature. Seems to be in line with the ideas your thinking of.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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Thanks! Yeah, that's what I had in mind. I just would be afraid of it not looking very authentic, depending on how you did it.

I love your ideas for Jedi! Has anyone ever edited the Luke in the cave scene to make it look like Dagobah?

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How? (And I really am asking. I'm not trying to be... whatever the word would be.)
The way I'm picturing it, the explosion would be much more satisfying than the way it just goes 'pop!' and disappears.
Besides, everyone on the thing would still be dead and the Rebels are saved. The victory is just as before, except there's a chunk of charred Death Star left floating in space. That doesn't take away from Luke any more than building a brand new DS does.

RogueLeader said:


I love your ideas for Jedi! Has anyone ever edited the Luke in the cave scene to make it look like Dagobah?

Thanks! I haven't seen that scene done that way, but I've seen the same effect (background replacement) done by others on other projects enough to know that it's doable.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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Thanks for replying timdiggerm! Your point is my main concern with that change. Ray_afraid pretty much is on the same wavelength as I am. 

A part of me thinks it wouldn't take away from Luke's victory because he still saved the Rebellion because he still destroys it. They made the Empire look weak and bought themselves more time to fight back. And does them building another Death Star not take away from his victory anyway? Either way, you end up with an operational Death Star in Jedi, the only difference is they rebuild the original one instead of building an entirely new one. But I think you bring up a really important point. If it takes away from Luke's victory then it needs to be reconsidered.

I know it almost seems like, "what's even the point of changing this then?" It is like I said before, a lot of people felt that a whole new Death Star was just a rehash of the first movie, and not very creative. I pretty much want to hint at the Death Star's return, so it doesn't feel so all of the sudden. The Death Star also becomes a character itself as well in a way.

And thanks for your comments Ray! I have an idea for that scene but I feel like I should have something to show before I start talking too much about ideas.

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A lot of the movie is a rehash of the other ones and not very creative.  That's why it's the worst one of the OT.    

When I first saw a trailer that had the partially constructed Death Star I thought that the Empire was trying to repair their battle station that exploded in ANH and I thought that was a cool idea.  I used to think that it was lazy that they were making another Death Star but hey, it's a tool of war and a pretty good one at that.  Zapping a whole planet in a few seconds pretty much ends any war there.

Look at the US nuclear arsenal.  Did we stop with just one A Bomb?

If you conceptualize the DSII that way maybe it is easier to swallow, move to more important things like minimizing bad puppetry, cornball throwaway lines, ewoks....

One of the best ROTJ fanedit that I've seen was one of the Yads ones that removed Boba Fett entirely.

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You're absolutely right regularjoe. It is a powerful weapon so you'd think they'd make more than one.

On the other hand though having multiple ones takes away from its uniqueness and in a way makes them appear weaker. With two, they are both taken out pretty quickly, not making them very effective war machines if they're so easily destroyed. But by having one it shows how even a direct hit to its main reactor didn't completely obliterate it, and that it was once again operational in only a few years. It takes two attacks to actually destroy it completely. But I think the argument can go either way, like you said.

And yeah, this is definitely a low priority change. There are many other changes that are more important to be made. This was just one idea I had not seen a lot and I was curious about other people's opinions and actually if this little change would have small or big affect on the narrative.

The Boba Fett removal is a good example of a change that needs to be considered. My only concern with taking him out completely is that is apparent death might become relevant in future movies. Seeing how he's one of the most popular characters and how ROTJ is canon this event will likely be referenced if he is brought back. 

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This change would be useful in a "3 in 1" edit of the OT for a better narrative but if you kept the movies separate, I don't see how it would improve anything