[JamesEightBitStar]

Then what DOES Yoda mean by the line. Why say it at all?

The point of that scene was that Yoda didn't want to train Luke, and the "he is too old" thing is something he made up on the spot as an excuse not to. Yoda was EXTREMELY reluctant to train Luke, as you remember.

I agree that too many things were taken out of proportion. There's also too many questions with painfully obvious answers, I've noticed.

[barend]

yeah, I was always under the impression that YODA used the 'too old' bit as an easy excuse... but what does OBI_WAN say again? I was not much younger when you trained me... or something like that (sorry, it's been a while - I used to know it off by heart). either way, according to the OT Obi was trained by Yoda!!!!!!!!

that's not what we see in the PT.

and if GL wanted to be "political" he should have ripped of 'dune' this time!!!!
then he he could have two trilogies ripped of greater works!!!

[civilian_number_two]

and if GL wanted to be "political" he should have ripped of 'dune' this time!!!!
then he he could have two trilogies ripped of greater works!!!

Lucas already ripped off DUNE. STAR WARS rips off DUNE in many ways. He used the "Joseph Campbell" ruse as a means of distracting people from his true sources (DUNE, HIDDEN FORTRESS). The same way Tori Amos says "Elton John was my inspiration" when everything about her piano playing and her vocal style screams Kate Bush.

[JamesEightBitStar]

Lucas already ripped off DUNE. STAR WARS rips off DUNE in many ways.

Such as how? I can see the Desert Planet, but that's not really a rip-off. And yes, I've read the books (all six of them).

[civilian_number_two]

You guys are doing something that George Lucas has done. You are taking small bits of dialogue from the Original Trilogy and taking it as the gospel of Star Wars. Ex. "He is too old too begin the training" A line from Yoda regarding why he won't train Luke.
...
You guys are doing the same with the "civilized world" crack by Obi-Wan. In the end it may just be a non-sequitor. Don't look too much into the quote. Because Obi-Wan says the remark doesn't mean that it should be extrapolated into a mantra regarding the Star Wars universe.

I recognize the danger of what you're saying. It would be like having a character talk about the dangers of Gundarks because of something Han Solo said in EMPIRE. That would be stupid.

But I don't think that's what I did in this particular example. Ben is a Samurai warrior. His past should be a Samurai past. I don't draw this from the line he uttered in the cave in STAR WARS; I draw this from every god-damn thing about Alec Guiness's portrayal, and from everything in the JEDI code, as it's sketchily laid out in the three films.

I stand by my statement. Otherwise, when Ben waxes poetic about more civilized times, and about the lightsaber vs the blatser, he's just a fucking idiot. He's looking back to a former time, but not even one he was alive for? What is he? One of those twenty-something guys who won't wacth tv but goes on about AM radio?

I think a prequel trilogy ought to have shown us somehting about the great Republic that Ben missed so deeply.

--------------

James, I think STAR WARS ripped off DUNE by having a callow youth grow under the tutelage of a wise older man to be a magical hero who would free a tyrranized people. Along the way he meets an outlaw who becomes his guide. Plus it had a desert planet complete with the giant skeleton of a worm. The worm was what Lucas would call a "nod," to deflect criticism of plagiarism. And no, I don't think he followed DUNE very closely, so I figure he got away with it nicely. He followed THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (a Samurai film) much more closely. I only mentioned DUNE because someone else suggested he steal from it.

[JamesEightBitStar]

James, I think STAR WARS ripped off DUNE by having a callow youth grow under the tutelage of a wise older man to be a magical hero who would free a tyrranized people. Along the way he meets an outlaw who becomes his guide.

Okay, I see your point (save for the outlaw thing... I don't recall Paul being guided by any outlaws in Dune, unless you mean the Fremen).

[Despondent]

Just a thought about things not quite matching up with the original SW gospel.

In the back to the future films, the wacky second one for example, you see how going back to the past affects the outcome decades later (or maybe you've seen the trailer for the butterfly effect.) anyway, by going back and writing the prequels NOW, it ought to make perfect sense for the OT films to *change* (always in motion, the future) from greedo shooting first or hell, who knows what?

so the talk of a thousand generations of jedi, hasn't that been cut to a thousand years? it's just a matter of keeping up with the ever changing "future" (present-day Special Edition movie or dvd) version of warmed over myth-story meat.

[barend]

it's like in Star Trek Voyeger... the crew goes back to earth in the year 1997 which looked exactly like earth in 1997, but acording to the original star trek, Kahn and his band of merry million genetic supermen had taken over two thirds of the world.... hmm....

there's more stuff, but i don't want to be a nerd!

[JamesEightBitStar]

Another thing I thought of just now, upon watching the Special Edition trilogy: Each of the original Star Wars films was a stand-alone movie. The Prequels really weren't... Episode I was, but Episode II ends with practically it's entire plot unresolved, as opposed to Empire Strikes Back which resolved everything, just not in an entirely favorable way.

I think if the films were to be re-written, they would need to be written as stand-alones like the originals were, and have connecting plot threads.

[Ferris Wiel]

I LOVE the idea of the full-fledged Jedi/samurai film. Traveling about with varied sects, etc. who all realize the Force in differing means and to separate ends:

EP I:
OBI-WAN KENOBI, a JEDI-KNIGHT of the GALACTIC REPUBLIC, travels around the galaxy solving disputes and guarding justice. He employs a crew of non-Jedi who fly around in a lightly armed cargo/passenger vessel, THE KURO'S HONOR. WINDY and DEAK are brothers who own the ship and they have a small crew including OWEN LARS, a maintenance technician and a 'droid by the name of R2-D2 who performs hyperspace jump calculations and repairs.

Obi-Wan and crew are returning from a mission where they are escorting the lovely LADY CIARRA back from trade negotiations for energy mining beyond the OUTER RIM back to ALDERAAN. The Kuro's Honor takes fire as they pass through the GORMARCKS SECTOR and are forced to engage hostile forces. When requested to cease-fire, they agree to meet with the local authorities. It is a trap, in a way, as they are forced to face off against a magnificent dragon-like creature which Obi-Wan quickly halts and turns back on its masters using a mind-control trick. The Gormarcks authorities are impressed by this and commission the Jedi to track down a group of pirates led by the vicious MACE BOONTOO.

After finding them, Obi-Wan discovers that the pirates are, in fact, not criminals, but a resistance group attempting to overthrow the local tyrannical government, although they occasionally use questionable methods. They request his assistance and he is ready to decline until he senses a massive disturbance in the FORCE as a young hotshot pilot by the name of ANAKIN SKYWALKER arrives. Intrigued by the powerful nature of this individual, Obi-Wan and crew agree to help. Lady Ciarra is more than a little taken with Anakin at first, but is quickly turned off by his cockiness.

Their first job is to recruit further talent. Obi-Wan, unfortunately, cannot garner any Republic assistance, due to their firm positions of isolationism and non-involvement, so he must find forces elsewhere. While in the city, they encounter the usual ruffians and have a few run-ins, eventually finding there is a gladiator competition occurring. Obi-Wan and Anakin sign up as a team under false names, forging alliances with a variety of colorful characters, including HERAN SPIKTOR, a large, honorable alien with bright-orange skin. Several battles occur and Obi-Wan witnesses Anakin's lightning-fast speed and agility, which borders almost on precognition. Ciarra also enters the competition under an assumed name. In the end, of course, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Heran, Ciarra and a few other survive, winning large enough cash prizes to purchase supplies for their assault and prepare for the big battle. After a nifty shopping spree and a sequence involving the outfitting of The Kuro's Honor with "suped" up peripherals, they are finally ready.

The battle is to be largely strategic, taking out important defensive points, eventually disabling their primary shield generators and energy sources. Things go largely to plan until what would appear to be a commandeered REPUBLIC BATTLE CRUISER arrives and systematically starts obliterating the resistance forces. Heran is shot down, the Kuro's Honor sustains heavy damage but Anakin and Ciarra remain active in their fighters, but it seems impossible for a pair of fighters to take on a large capital ship. Ciarra's fighter is then struck. Believing her dead, the DARK SIDE of the Force flows freely through Anakin, and Anakin is able to avoid being shot, landing well-placed blows in very sensitive areas. Just as he is about to disable the weapons systems, his ship is struck, dead-on, by a TURBOLASER blow, but instead of sustaining damage, the energy blast simply disappears. Too angry to be astonished, Anakin fires and destroys the energy source for the weapons banks on the cruiser. Convinced they're facing a new type of indestructible super-weapon, the ship and majority of high-ranking officials flee.

Lady Ciarra, alive but injured (there would be some kind of buildup of the relationship throughout the flick, but I'm too tired to write it right now), glad she is not dead Anakin rushes to her. Amazed by the boy's abilities, Obi-Wan offers to train Anakin in the ways of the Force on Alderaan. Anakin at first declines, but when Owen informs him that Lady Ciarra will also be there he quickly changes his mind.

A groovy ceremony where Mace Boontoo is installed as leader, promising to forge a free republic is followed by a wordless awards ceremony for Anakin, Obi-Wan, the crew and Ciarra. I guess.

It's not terribly well-formed, but it would entertain me, pretty well.


CASTING:
Obi-Wan - Liam Neeson/Ewan MacGregor (either would work)
Ciarra - Keira Knightley (unless she really started to suck)
Mace - BMF Samuel L. Jackson
Owen - Kevin Smith (kidding, unknown)
Heran - Voiced by Ian McKellan
Anakin - Christian Bale

--FW

[Ferris Wiel]

Wow, apparently my version is that bad.

--FW

[Private Zod]

Forgot my name and stuff since it has been so long, so hence the new name.

Some things off the top of my head I would change:

1. Start Anakin at 12 yrs old, Amidala at 16
2. Forget Qui-Gon, make Obi-Won find Anakin
3. If you need comic relief, have 3PO be Amidala's servant. Eliminate the entire Jar-Jar debacle.
4. Anakins father was a jei who dissappeared shortly after he knocked up Shmi...none of this immacualte conception nonsense.
5. By the time Ep2 starts, Anakin is already a very famous jedi after 10 years. Amidala knows this and awaits their first meeting as well.
6. Anakin is calm and thoughtful, but has periods of rage...no whiny bitch stuff either.
7. Jedi are not stiff, robots, that look duller than trig.

There is alot more shit I can come up with...these are small incidentals that i think you could place into the 2 prequels and have it be alot better w/o drastically changing the plot.