1. Han Solo isn’t dead, but he’s dying as the movie progresses. The carbonization slowly broke his system down over time. In a softly lit scene in some dark room with Leia (on a bed maybe), Solo admits that he loves her. Han goes on to warn the princess not to get attached to him, for he’s as good as dead now. They kiss passionately, winding up the love story. Leia looks prettier than she did in the real movie (like in Empire). I don’t know what caused the difference in ROTJ. Hairstyles maybe? Anyway, later on, even in his really bad condition, he fights in the battle because the Rebels are outnumbered and he doesn’t want anything to happen to Leia. He throws himself in the line of fire to save Leia’s life (probably during the Battle of Endor) and is killed by the Empire. But everyone has a really high opinion of him at that point.
2. Jabba the Hutt is more threatening; more of a deadly menace than he was. He doesn’t kill Solo, but there should be some kind of equivalent to make people despise him.
3. Luke goes bananas while rescuing Han from Jabba the Hutt; he acts like a Sith, choking people and being violent. Later, before Yoda dies, he admonishes Luke and warns him, saying that he felt a tremor in the force when he killed so-and-so (like he did when Anakin sliced up the Tusken Raiders). He makes a point of emphasizing that Luke is the last hope-period. Leia is not his sister.
4. Boba Fett doesn’t die in the Sarlacc’s belly. It was a poorly done scene and it would make lots of fans happy.
5. The Ewoks are Wookies and they don’t act foolishly; they act like warriors.
6. Endor is definitely a lot better protected.
7. Luke turns to the dark side after nearly killing Vader. He stops after cutting Vader’s arm, and then he turns to the Emperor and pledges his alleigance to him. He then proceeds to do a bunch of really bad stuff. The Emperor is derogatory towards Vader (who needs him, especially since he’s wounded and the Emperor has Luke). Vader throws the Emperor out single-handedly and then Luke, in tears, turns back to the good side after realizing all the damage he has done. He feels responsible for the death of Vader (which he should). It’s kind of like in The Return of the King. After that huge journey to Mordor, he winds up succumbing to the power of the Ring and Sam winds up saving him. It’s the same in this except Luke’s savior is Darth Vader, once a being of pure evil. Think of the Dark Side like a hypnotic drug that Luke falls prey to. Then, Luke does something really good to redeem himself. Suggestions?
8. I like the idea of all the old friends returning to the places that they came from, but best of all is Luke returning to Tatooine to bury his father: wiser, sadder, and with a greater understanding of his weaknesses and of the galaxy in general. It really would make the circle complete and finish the saga brilliantly. Leia is not involved in this (he does this ritual alone) but viewers are free to imagine that Luke and Leia marry.
I don’t think Lando should die anymore because there are already several major deaths in this movie.
A lot of details would need to be worked out, but I think this is a great (albeit darker) start to a better conclusion to the saga. Comments or additions?