NEW!! Episode III trailer........

[SuperJerk 0]

Remember, there's probably a good reason that Lucas started with Episode 4 himself.

"Episode IV" only came into play after Star Wars became a huge hit.

He wrote a lot of backstory which he thought would never see the light of day until Star Wars became a huge hit. Some of that backstory was used in the prequels, and some of it was discarded.

 

In the Star Wars novelization from 1976, a very different version of the prequels is told in the prologue.

 

Also, in the earliest draft of Empire, Vader wasn't even Luke's father. That kind of shows how shaky George's "I had this planned all along" argument is. Judging on what I know of the new movie, its obvious he got a lot of ideas for it from stuff he did in "Return of the Jedi."

[Kaertos 0]

That's true, in the earliest draft of Empire, Vader was not Luke's father. But there were extenuating circumstances. Leigh Brackett, the writer Lucas hired, was very sick and her screenplay was, well let's just say it wasn't up to snuff. That is when he hired Lawrence Kasdan to do the actual draft.

 

From everything I've heard, Vader being Luke's father was something that was intended (else the "He's too much like his father" line in Ep. IV makes less sense) from the start, but Lucas waffled on it. Finally, he decided that the story was supposed to go that way, so he did it.

 

I remember most of this from the Annotated Screenplays.

[Black Lushus 0]

so in this sense, Lucas actually did something RIGHT, correct? Can you imagine Star Wars if Vader was not Anakin Skywalker? His revelation to Luke still remains one of the most powerful scenes in movie history, well in my mind anyway, and every so often it still gives me goosebumps watching it...

[starvenger 0]

so in this sense, Lucas actually did something RIGHT, correct? Can you imagine Star Wars if Vader was not Anakin Skywalker? His revelation to Luke still remains one of the most powerful scenes in movie history, well in my mind anyway, and every so often it still gives me goosebumps watching it...

I don't have to imagine:

 

Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Starr.

Lone Starr: What?

Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.

Lone Starr: What's that make us?

Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing!

[Black Lushus 0]

 

now can you imagine Spaceballs without Rick Moranis?

[Art Sandusky 0]

The only changes I'd accept in the OT would be a tiny bit of the Imperial March in ANH and Vader asking Luke about Yoda in ROTJ as he did in the novelization. Makes Vader sound clueless when he keeps referring to Obi-Wan as the one who trained Luke.

[Black Lushus 0]

yeah, I always wondered about the constant references to Obi-Wan as opposed to Yoda...you'd think Vader woulda been able to pick up on the fact that Yoda had taken over his training...

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

"Vader asking Luke about Yoda in ROTJ as he did in the novelization."

 

 

Can you elaborate on this for us fans who haven't read the books. Spoiler tag it if you desire I guess.

[CBright7831 0]

It wasn't Vader, it was Emperor Palpatine who mentioned Yoda in the ROTJ novel. I won't put in spoiler tags because we know Yoda dies in ROTJ.

 

The Emperor tapped his fingers on the arm of the throne, recalling. "There was one called... Yoda. An aged Master Jedi... Ah, I see by your countenance I have hit a chord, a resonant chord indeed. Yoda, then."

 

[...]

 

"This Yoda," the Emperor mused. "Lives he still?"

 

Luke focused on the emptiness of space beyond the window behind the Emperor's chair. The deep void, where nothing was. Nothing. He filled his mind with this black nothing. Opaque, save for the occasional flickering of starlight that filtered through the ether.

 

"Ah," cried Emperor Palpatine. "He lives not. Very good, young Skywalker, you almost hid this from me. But you could not."

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

Heh... interesting little bit of dialog there...

 

 

I think it would have given us a hint at how truly powerful the Emperor was... even in his later years. I mean, we all saw the lightning bit back then... but Luke was tired and not nearly skilled enough to be a master jedi(yet)

[LessonInMachismo 0]

Speaking of the "A New Hope" prologue, this excerpt is from the West End RPG book "Imperial Sourcebook." It describes a brief history of Palpy's rise. It was written some time in 1989 or 1990, and is pretty close to what has transpired in the prequels and the EU prequel novels.

 

"The Old Republic Wanes

 

The galaxy was once a great Republic of stars. The thousand-thousand member worlds were governed fairly and efficiently by the Senate, and cared for and protected by the Jedi Knights. Inevitably, as the number of worlds increased, the Republic found itself saddled with too massive a bureaucracy. It had grown too large, gotten too old, and corruption had set in.

 

A few greedy, unscrupulous senators had started the destructive chain reaction of malaise. They saw the first lingering problems as cracks in the system of government which could be exploited for personal gain. These beings found that their colleagues were far too occupied by the day-to-day running of the Republic to monitor their activities adequately.

 

The corruption was too small to be noticed at first. But as the opportunities grew, so did the number of senators who were seduced by the lure of illegitimate power and wealth. These senators found an easy alliance with some of the mammoth corporate interests which constantly were on the lookout for easy ways to make a profit. A few arrogant, self-serving bureaucrats fell to seduction, and suddenly a virus was in the stars.

 

Every instance of instability, each uncertainty in government action, every wrinkle in senatorial policy and procedure became a means to foster larger opportunities. Senator turned on senator, values eroded, trusts were broken, and fear gripped the Republic. What was once thought to he immortal suddenly saw the approach of its own destruction, and the Old Republic was afraid.

 

Corruption and fear spread like a mutant disease, quickly reaching epidemic proportions without any visible cause. The Old Republic’s trouble multiplied, and no one seemed to know what was happening-or why.

 

At last the Senate could no longer blind itself to the fact that the Old Republic was being devoured from within by those who had been entrusted with its care. During this time, the legitimate business of the Republic was neglected. Small, previously routine matters became insurmountable difficulties. The government became remote, unfathomable, often a useless burden to tens of thousands of governed races. The Republic was disintegrating, and it appeared that no one could it together.

 

The Rise of Senator Palpatine

 

Palpatine, an unassuming senator, began his road to power during this time of social injustice and rampant corruption. Palpatine was self-effacing and, despite a record of showing promise, was mostly ineffective in the Senate. His plodding, methodical way seemed at odds with the mercurial shifts of power and agendas which were the reality of the collapsing senate.

 

Palpatine failed to take advantage of opportunities for placement on important advisory boards and powerful committees. He was noted as keen observer, but he was reluctant to present his observations unless pressed by his colleagues. The senator rose slowly, hampered by an apparent lack of ambition. His only notable achievement was a remarkable absence of enemies, attributed as much to his weakness within the Senate as to his unimposing personality.

 

But this was all a ruse, for Palpatine was more than he appeared to be. Much more.

 

The disintegration of the Senate continued, exhausting the entire Republic. On the constituent worlds civil unrest was now commonplace and crime blossomed. Some worlds threatened secession. Others pledged their loyalty over the hypermedia while doing what they pleased. The uncorrupt senators realized the danger to the Republic and all it stood for. The corrupt senators could see the need for stability, if only to preserve as much of the Republic as possible for future plundering. A void existed, and it demanded to be filled.

 

Senator Palpatine seized the moment. Through fraud, clever promises, and astute political maneuvering, Palpatine had himself elected head of the Senatorial Council – President of the Republic.

 

The loyalists were encouraged that Palpatine had not fallen in with the corrupt senators during his tenure, while the fallen senators took heart from Palpatine’s apparent docility. Each side believed Palpatine would serve their needs. Each side could not have been more wrong.

 

The New Order

 

The new President exceeded everyone’s expectations. In the midst of chaos, the previously underrated senator began the wheels of government turning again after too long a delay. He proved to be an efficient leader, restoring many of the policies which had lapsed during the waning years. His power supplanted that of the Senate-in these policies only. But as the Senate turned a greater portion of its attention to its internecine struggle, more and more government functions were given over to Palpatine.

 

The senators of each faction found themselves establishing political debts to Palpatine. The President was the only being in the Republic who seemed capable of getting anything done. Palpatine’s power grew. An ever greater number of worlds accepted the President as the voice of the Republic.

 

It was in this climate of trust that that Palpatine declared his New Order and named himself Emperor. Skillfully evoking images of the glories of empires past, as well as promising to lead the Republic to a height unparalleled in galactic history, Palpatine gained ultimate power without any real opposition. When the senators realized what had transpired, they were too weak from their own in-fighting to mount an effective challenge. Those too vocal were silenced. Those considered dangerous were rendered harmless by whatever means were convenient. Darkness and tyranny spread slowly but continuously, entrenching itself across more and more worlds before anyone realized the danger.

 

The Empire was born.

 

Palpatine promised to eradicate the corruption and social injustice of the previous galactic government. Instead, he gave people a program that’s main goal was to subjugate as many planetary governments in the galaxy as possible for the personal benefit and glory of the Emperor. He reneged on his promises to the people and instituted a reign of terror and even greater social injustice.

 

The Old Republic was consumed and out of that rotted body rose the New Order."

[Boner Kawanger 0]

Palpatine is one of my favorite characters. Two of the few bright spots of the first two prequels are watching him rise to power and manipulate every single character.

[SuperJerk 0]

That's true, in the earliest draft of Empire, Vader was not Luke's father.  But there were extenuating circumstances.  Leigh Brackett, the writer Lucas hired, was very sick and her screenplay was, well let's just say it wasn't up to snuff.  That is when he hired Lawrence Kasdan to do the actual draft.

 

From everything I've heard, Vader being Luke's father was something that was intended (else the "He's too much like his father" line in Ep. IV makes less sense) from the start, but Lucas waffled on it.  Finally, he decided that the story was supposed to go that way, so he did it.

 

I remember most of this from the Annotated Screenplays.

 

The Annoted Screenplays book is my source as well.

 

The line makes sense even without Vader being Anakin because we've known from the beginning that Luke's father was a Jedi Knight.

 

I considered that Leigh Brackett's screenplay isn't exactly George's vision, but surely she would have gotten THAT detail right if she was working from his notes.

 

I'm of the opinion that George didn't decide that Vader was Luke's father until the second draft of Empire, and that Leia was Luke's sister until Jedi was written (which explains the whole kissing thing).

 

The only changes I'd accept in the OT would be a tiny bit of the Imperial March in ANH and Vader asking Luke about Yoda in ROTJ as he did in the novelization. Makes Vader sound clueless when he keeps referring to Obi-Wan as the one who trained Luke.

 

I think Vader assumed Yoda was dead, and that Obi-Wan had trained Luke to be a Jedi before A New Hope.

[Boon 0]

Edit: After reading some more, RJ's explanation about the second draft of V would answer my question.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Well, here the script. Take it for whats it worth. Seems legit tho.

 

 

http://scripts.cgispy.com/newsboard.cgi?ac...m=2&user=script

 

 

 

 

Its a good read.

[Black Lushus 0]

RobotJerk, the explanation for the kissing thing is that they didn't know at the time...

[CBright7831 0]

AICN Reports PG-13 Rating for ROTS

 

Posted By Britany on April 11, 2005

 

 

 

AICN are reporting that 'Revenge of the Sith' has been given a PG-13 rating from the MPAA for "sci-fi violence and some intense images".

 

It has been widely reported that George Lucas expects a PG-13 rating for the film, but keep an eye on the MPAA website and FilmRatings.com for the official announcement.

 

Thanks to Chris for the alert.

 

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/A..._ROTS_91179.asp

[Art Sandusky 0]

I found my Qui-Gon lightsaber. It and the Anakin/Vader one have been rockin' it.

[BUTT 0]

Question: Why was the novelization of the first movie released before the movie itself?

[Art Sandusky 0]

To drum up interest in what was expected by insiders to be a tremendous flop.

[Black Lushus 0]

Is Liam Neeson putting in a cameo here? I know they mention a visit with Qui-Gon in the novel, but is it also supposed to be in the film?

[CBright7831 0]

We'll have to wait and see. That's one of those thing you won't see inthe trailers or anything like that.

[Black Lushus 0]

hopefully it will involve Obi-Wan saying "I told you so!"

[SuperJerk 0]

RobotJerk, the explanation for the kissing thing is that they didn't know at the time...

That doesn't make it any less creepy. Not the kiss in STAR WARS, but that one in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was down just plain gross.

[Black Lushus 0]

well, she was just trying to rile up Han Solo is all...again, if she KNEW...

[Art Sandusky 0]

Qui-Gon Jinn will make a big return in Episode III. You might have noticed him yelling for Anakin during the massacre of the Sand People, and that was foreshadowing how Qui-Gon has learned to have eternal life through the Force and appear as a ghost or be heard as a voice, like we've already seen Obi-Wan and Yoda (and Anakin) do. Yoda tells Obi-Wan as all the central characters seperate at the end of the film that he's going to Dagobah to learn under his new master, that being Qui-Gon Jinn, whose belief in the living Force ended up being the right path as opposed to the staunch Jedi dogmatic structure.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

well, she was just trying to rile up Han Solo is all...again, if she KNEW...

They kissed several times in the Marvel Comics series, too.

 

Also, "I told you so!" about what?

[Black Lushus 0]

Machismo...I was referring to a potential scene involving Obi-Wan talking to the ghost of his former master Qui-Gon Jinn...remember he was against Qui-Gon taking in Anakin in TPM? Now he can say "seeeee I told ya!"

 

Okay, so that was lame humor, but still...

[SuperJerk 0]

Remember how in RETURN OF THE JEDI, Obi-Wan took the full blame for Anakin turning evil?

 

That scene seems really weird now that I've seen/read all the prequels.

[CBright7831 0]

Remember how in RETURN OF THE JEDI, Obi-Wan took the full blame for Anakin turning evil?

 

That scene seems really weird now that I've seen/read all the prequels.

Well Obi Wan wasn't with Anakin when he needed him the most. He wasn't with him on Tatooine when he slaughted the Tusken Raiders and Obi Wan on a mission hunting for GG when Palpatine begins the final stage of seducing Anakin to the darkside. Had he been present, things may have been different.