I’ve considered putting particularly brilliant clips from a fan edit on YouTube. I’m wondering how fan editors would feel about this? What about putting an entire edit on YouTube?
Ok, but RLM isn't debating whether or not Anakin, on finding some pieces to a protocol droid, should or shouldn't have gone ahead and put them together. He's debating the storytelling merit (or lack thereof) of using this as a subplot. The issue isn't so much whether or not Anakin, if given the opportunity, should've build a protocol droid; it's whether or not George Lucas should have written that into the movie.
Subplot?! And why shouldn't he have written that? It doesn't hurt anything. The problem is that you (and/or RLM) seem to find a problem that a protocol droid can do chores. It's like hitting a strawman.
Because there is a better way to have written it that makes much more sense!
Possessed said:
I just cut out all the "informalities" after lando and han's discussion and make it just mainly the information the rebels are being given. It just goes by now that you don't really think about Luke. After all, it's not like hes running the briefing so there's no real need for him to be an active member of it. We can just assume he's somewhere listening.
Does anyone else have opinions on the clip? If it works I will use it but I'm just worried it comes across as moving way too fast.
I don't think there's anything severely wrong with it other than the rough musical transition. Perhaps it's only because I'm so used to the original suspenseful transition to the rebel briefing.
Great work.
I can't help but notice Yoda's ears. They vibrate a lot as he moves his head. It seems that real cartilage is stiffer than whatever the puppet is made of. Try flicking your own ears.
G*dd*mn, if bob can do that maybe he can really have the suited Vader march on the Jedi temple as in the mock-up in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/davnes007#p/u/17/2NVNWssUn68
(skip to 3:48)
This thread reminds me how difficult it is to fit Anakin's story established in the OT into 3 films.
The first film sets everything up. It's the New Hope of the series. We don't really explore too much into depth of the characters. We just want to have a solid, action-based film that sets up the impending doom of the Clone Wars and establishes Anakin as a likable character.
The second film should focus on character development. The Clone Wars should be in full force and the characters should face tribulations. I think it's too early to have Anakin turn to the dark side in this film. We've only begun to explore the aspects of his character in this film, and it would be so sudden we can't sympathize with it. He should still be tempted and confused however. Of course, this is the film where Anakin and Padme develop a relationship. Perhaps Padme realizing she was pregnant would be good cliffhanger ending.
Based on this idea of the first two films, here is my vision of the third:
Anakin has been sent to battle on a far off system, and he has not heard anything from Padme or about the birth of his child. He is then greviously injured at the start of the film (not yet requiring a suit however, perhaps some facial scars, amputated arm, etc.) His driving motive is to get home to see his child and end the atrocities he has experienced in the war.
He comes back to Coruscant after Palpatine offers him a position to be his bodyguard and liason to the Jedi. Eager to leave the front lines and help end the war, he gladly accepts. However, as he is returning, he learns that Alderaan has been taken seige by the Separists, where Padme and the children were guests of the royal house. He soon has dreams of troopers gunning down Padme holding a child. The dream ends with Obi-Wan looking over her body. Anakin resolves to go to Alderaan to save his family.
Palpatine warns him to stay on Coruscant, where they discuss their mutual desire to end the war. They both agree that a more authoritarian republic could have prevented the war.
Palpatine also insinuates that the Jedi started the war and that they are planning to overthrow him. Given that the Separatists are lead by a former Jedi, this does not seem implausible to Anakin. The Jedi have treated him like cannon-fodder so far, so Anakin severely questions his loyalty to the Jedi. Not wanting to offend his friend, Anakin never talks about his misgivings with Obi-Wan.
Meanwhile, the Jedi assign Obi-Wan on a secret mission to Alderaan to kill Dooku. He is also charged with protecting the royal family. Anakin pleads to go on the mission so he can save his family, but the council denies him. Especially vocal is Mace Windu. Windu has always been suspicious of Anakin since he joined the Jedi. Though not expressing it to Anakin, he senses the growing cloud of darkness around Anakin and thinks he would be dangerous for such an important mission. Anakin becomes furious. He suspects the Jedi are covering their involvement on both sides of the war.
It is then that Palpatine reveals his true Sith identity. He pleads Anakin to leave the Jedi. He tells Anakin the Jedi council has become irreparably evil, and that the only way to end the war and save his family is to destroy the Jedi. Only through the dark side can he attain the abilities he needs to take down the evil council members responsible for the war.
Anakin does not give in yet. He goes to the Jedi Temple to meditate, but discovers the council has mysteriously adjourned. Assuming the council has gone to overthrow Palpatine, he rushes back.
There he discovers Windu about to slay Palpatine. He engages Windu in a scene reminiscent of Vader and Luke crossing sabers in ROTJ. Channeling the darkside he defeats Windu as Sidious goads him on. Anakin kneels before Sidious and becomes his new apprentice.
On Alderaan, Obi-Wan kills Dooku, but not before he reveals his involvement with Sidious. He reveals that Palpatine has ordered a squadron to kill Padme and the children. He rushes to go save them. He arrives just as the troopers begin their attack. The troopers burst in a room. Padme manages to hide Leia, and holds Luke as she is shot. The troopers radio in that she had been killed. Just then, Obi-Wan arrives and slays the troopers. He discovers Luke still alive under her mother and Leia hiding. Palpatine is not certain that the child is dead. Nevertheless, he informs Anakin that Obi-Wan lead a strike on the royal palace that killed Padme and his child. Anakin is furious with Obi-Wan, as Palpatine goads that even friends can betray one another.
Palpatine gives Order 66. Anakin personally tracks down Obi-Wan, who has escaped to Mustafar. They duel, and Anakin's fate is unclear.
Closing scenes: Palpatine announces the betrayal of the Jedi and the new Empire. Suited Vader storms the Jedi Temple. Leia stays at Alderaan, while Luke goes to Tatooine.
MOAR!!!
Mithrandir said:
Regarding the scene of Anakin marchin to the Jedi place, I've just found out how fuckin epic it'd be if for once in the saga, the crescendo part of the Imperial march was used (the part which goes from 1:30 till 1:47). I think it can be arranged to fit the stairs-feet-roof-feet cut that scene has. And of course, the climax of that scene would be Anakin (preferently Vader suited up) with the epic imperial march you can hear from 1:47, turning on his sabre...
I'd trie some mock up, but I suck in after effects...
Here's the mock-up of the suited Vader entering the temple I was looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/user/davnes007#p/u/17/2NVNWssUn68
Perhaps something could be done, but I really doubt it without some new footage.
Things I liked:
Overall: The score. John Williams did not disappoint.
Episode I:
*The visual design of Naboo. Beautiful.
*Seeing the Jedi in action. It's not as unnecessarily flashy and over-the-top as in the other prequels.
*Coruscant and the senate chamber, also stunning.
*The final light saber duel. A lot more believable and less face-palming than in the other PT duels.
Episode II:
*Coruscant again. If not for the speeder silliness, this could have been a great opportunity to explore the dark underworld of Coruscant.
*Kamino. The dark, stormy waterworld with bizarre tall aliens really added to the mystery.
*Arena scene on Geonosis (before the Jedi arrive). Also interesting and tension-filled to see how the Jedi operate with no lightsabers.
*Count Dooku. An intriguing character I wish had been explored in more depth.
Episode III:
*The opening battle. A great way to kick start the film, though it was quickly lost in the droid silliness/implausibility of the elevator escape. If you had never seen AOTC, you might actually believe Obi-wan and Anakin are friends.
*Dialogue between Anakin and Palpatine. McDiarmid really shines here.
*Anakin's fear of loss turning him to the dark side. This really makes this a classic tragedy. It could have been executed better of course. I would have liked to see the brutal nature of war play a role in his turn as well.
*The duel. I liked it well enough until all the hopping on the lava river near the end.
*Yoda/Sidious duel. I hated most of it, but the idea of them fighting in the senate chamber was interesting. I liked the later stages when they were fighting mostly with throwing pods and lightning. After all, Yoda had to do something about Palpatine, and it was nice to see that.
*The closing scenes. I enjoyed finally seeing Alderaan. Seeing Palpatine and Vader overlooking the Death Star was spine-chilling the first time I saw it. Delivering Luke on Tatooine really tied up the film nicely.
SilverKey said:
Could some scenes be rearranged to make Anakin's turn a bit more gradual?
Imply, but don't show Anakin killing the Sandpeople, and don't have him confess it to Padme. That might make him a bit more of complex character, and might add an extra layer to his quest against death (wanting to help out his clone wingman in the battle, hesitating to, and regretting killing Dooku, not wanting to leave Obi-Wan behind, trying so save Padme): he's doing it out of guilt.
Then in ROTS, Anakin watches Palpatine kill Windu, but doesn't actually take a part in it. He sides with Palpatine and is sent to Mustafar to kill the Separatists. The Separatists have been the bad guys the entire trilogy so Anakin killing them would still be his first dark deed as a Sith Lord, but still be somewhat ambiguous.Then the fight with Obi-Wan takes place and Anakin is injured.
When he wakes up, Palpatine tells him he has lost everything, and that's when the true Jedi hunt (Order 66 and the raid on the Temple start).Maybe those scenes could be the climax of the movie.
I'm not really sure how and if it would work, but I think it might make Anakin's turn a bit more gradual and layered.
I really like this idea. Vader would be suited when he raids the temple. His anger with himself after his injuries would make this scene more believable. Someone made a mock up of this, but I don't remember who. Seeing the suited Vader enter the temple would be a spine-chilling moment and be more reminiscent of what I thought of when Ben tells Luke of Vader hunting down the Jedi.