Alternative Star Wars Movie Titles - Keep Checking the First Post!

I just wanted to start this thread to explore possible alternative titles for possible fan-edits. I find that a good cornerstone of any project is the title itself. I find this particularly challenging myself, as they run the risk of being too descriptive and dry.

Perhaps after we find some really good ones we can consider how they can be portrayed typographically?  

I try and avoid "of the" in the middle, and have been trying to come up with something like THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK for ages with no success.

Post your thoughts behind them too, and any references you might have. Really good ones I'll list on the first post here.

*Please note that titles with links are to fanedits that already exist.

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE I

Star Wars

Guardians of Peace

A Light in the Dark

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE II

Rise of the Dark Side

Shroud of the Dark Side

Champions of the Force

The Path to Destruction

The Gathering Storm

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE III

Reign of the Dark Side

(The Secret Apprentice)

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE IV

The Lost Son

Son of Skywalker

Children of the Force

Return of the Jedi

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE V

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE VI

Last of the Jedi

Triumph of the Force

GENERAL ALTERNATIVES

The Wind that Shakes the Stars

The Journal of the Whills

Age of Heroes

Clash of the Jedi

The Clone Wars

Shadow of the Black Knight

The Tragedy of Darth Vader (or Anakin Skywalker)

The Adventures of Luke Skywalker

So to start us off

CHAMPIONS OF THE FORCE - an alternative to AOTC. This would be a focus on a JEDI movie, where they are in strength. Obi-wan and Anakin would epitomize this. There was also another concept, that there was a secret elite circle called "The Champions of the Force", for which dooku was a member. Throughout AOTC a masked leader led a droid legion burning the galaxy. At the climax of the film this would be revealed to be dooku himself.

THE SECRET APPRENTICE - a part of my massive 'THE STAR WARS' cut idea which would play around with an alternative chronology. This episode would be the 7th out of 10, and would explore anakin's roots as a child, and how Qui-Gon acquires him.

I never had a problem with The Phantom Menace actually. Attack of the Clones never grew on me, so i would try to change that.

It's really hard, because honestly, Attack of the Clones is the most functional title, but yet I hate it. Rise of the Dark Side could work for that one, because in a way it is the rise of the dark side... Just trying to avoid Sith.

And I guess I would call the third prequel Fall of the Jedi. I know you were trying to avoid "of the", but I didn't know how to get around it.

ben_danger said:

So to start us off

CHAMPIONS OF THE FORCE - an alternative to AOTC. This would be a focus on a JEDI movie, where they are in strength. Obi-wan and Anakin would epitomize this. There was also another concept, that there was a secret elite circle called "The Champions of the Force", for which dooku was a member. Throughout AOTC a masked leader led a droid legion burning the galaxy. At the climax of the film this would be revealed to be dooku himself.

THE SECRET APPRENTICE - a part of my massive 'THE STAR WARS' cut idea which would play around with an alternative chronology. This episode would be the 7th out of 10, and would explore anakin's roots as a child, and how Qui-Gon acquires him.

I posted my comments before I saw this... I think I like The Secret Apprentice. It works especially if the goal is to conceal the identity of Vader.

I've always wanted an alternative to "A New Hope", but could never think of anything good.

ben_danger said:

Personally I try and avoid "of the" in the middle, and have been trying to come up with something like THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK for ages with no success.

STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE OLIE FILES

Thought that 'The Journal of the Whills' would pop up somewhere

J 

ben_danger said:

Personally I try and avoid "of the" in the middle...

...So to start us off
CHAMPIONS OF THE FORCE - an alternative to AOTC.

I guess it's a little to the right, not smack-dab in the middle

In all seriousness, I think this is a good thread to create.  I for one actually found Attack of the Clones the best name of the PT because it fits the cheesy '40s-'50s style Star Wars has tried to emulate.

I actually like Revenge of the Sith as well, given its relation to Return of the Jedi, basically being opposites, one the finale to a tragedy of a fall, the other being the finale to a triumph and redemption.  Mind you, I'm not commenting on the quality of the films themselves, but rather the choice of names.

Personally, the name in the whole saga I dislike the most is The Phantom Menace.  Something more foreboding and foreshadowing would better fit to me.  I'll try to think of an alternative.

ok yeah - ironic after mentioning avoiding "of the" titles i went and suggested one. point being almost every re-title i have seen over the years has "of the" and it sort of makes them sound samey.

I agree "ATTACK OF THE CLONES" does have that 50s pulp ring to it. sort of a happier "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK", but the emphasis should be on the Anakin the hero. if only the clone wars series was live action...

as an alternative to the phantom menace i'd always advocate renaming it STAR WARS, as it is principally the first of the series now.

My least favourite is "A NEW HOPE". Not punchy at all. 

ben_danger said:

My least favourite is "A NEW HOPE". Not punchy at all. 

How about "The Lost Son"?

A really good start! I guess even ROTJ would be in context. I'll put it on the list.

They could be really good alternatives to the 'Prequel Trilogy' - 'Original Trilogy' distinction. - keep checking the first post, chucked a load more up there from various souces.

ben_danger said:

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE I

Star Wars

Guardians of Peace

Enemies of Tyranny

:-/

Ric Olie said:

ben_danger said:

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE I

Star Wars

Guardians of Peace

Enemies of Tyranny

:-/

Were you expecting: Episode V: The Electric Boogaloo?

Ric Olie said:

ben_danger said:

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE I

Star Wars

Guardians of Peace

Enemies of Tyranny

:-/

^just brainstorming! I'm hoping someone more eloquant may determine a better one! But these are some other focal points.

my issue with TPM title is, might sound silly, is that i wouldn't have known what a 'Phantom' or a 'Menace' would have been when I was 7 (the age I was when I first saw STAR WARS)

what do people make of SON OF SKYWALKER for episode IV its sort of growing on me if you follow a I - VI ordering. Anakin would have been our first Skywalker in this instance, and Luke more of a sequel.

ben_danger said:

Ric Olie said:

ben_danger said:

ALTERNATIVE EPISODE I

Star Wars

Guardians of Peace

Enemies of Tyranny

:-/

^just brainstorming! I'm hoping someone more eloquant may determine a better one! But these are some other focal points.

Not that I can read his mind, but I think Ric was probably more upset that you didn't include his suggestion in your OP.

But I wouldn't take him so seriously, myself.

ben_danger said:

my issue with TPM title is, might sound silly, is that i wouldn't have known what a 'Phantom' or a 'Menace' would have been when I was 7 (the age I was when I first saw STAR WARS)

You should take that up with your teachers.

^perhaps, but it is still quite a cryptic title, maybe even better suited to EPIII. The first in the series should be bold and obvious, hook people in before they even see the movie.

For Ep.I, how about "The Chosen One"? And for those that don't like "of the", how about "The Jedi Returns" for Ep.VI? And maybe "Battle of the Heroes" for Ep.III.

Never been a fan of the "chosen one" storyline. Never really comes in the OT, so why have it the PT?

Mrebo said:

Bester said:

Never liked 'of the' titles, as they are lazy and don't fit with title structure created by Ep 5 (The Empire Strikes Back, not Strike of the Empire!)

As titles go, Return of the Jedi/Attack of the Clones/Revenge of the Sith are about as bland as they come.

The Phantom Menace is actually one of my favourites, as its meaning is not entirely obvious (is the 'menace' Palpatine or Anakin......or just the general darkness that is to come? Or maybe all of these things).

The menace was obviously the Trade Federation ;)

My problem was that there was never a "phantom menace." There was an obvious menace handled ham-handedly. It never made sense why everyone was so blind to what was going on (here I will defer to RLM's rant on that topic).

I don't entirely disagree with your critique of "of the" though I'm not sure how to use Jedi in a title without it sounding flat - ie "The Jedi Return."

My take on the meaning of the title "The Phantom Menace" is an enemy or opposing threat which has been created by someone or something that is trusted........i.e. Palpatine.

He creates a war and battles against an invisible opponent....Darth Sideous

J