Anakin's Injuries

[Whitestar]

I must admit that one of the things I'm eager to know about in Episode III is how Anakin Skywalker receives severe injuries, which inevitably lead him to wear the famous breathing black armor body suit. In an interview in Starlog in 1980, Mark Hamill recalls a brief background sketch on which he had been told about the character of Vader:

"I remember very early on asking who my parents were and being told that my father and Obi Wan met Vader on the edge of a volcano and they had a duel. My father and Darth Vader fell into the crater and my father was instantly killed. Vader crawled out horribly scarred, and at that point the Emperor landed and Obi Wan ran into the forest, never to be seen again."

However, we now know that Anakin and Vader are the same person, so the information that was told to Mark Hamill is false. One interesting thing about all this, is that Lucas did revealed that he at one point considered the lava theory to be the established timeline in Star Wars, but gives no indication if it is in the upcoming Episode III. Another interesting thing that I digged up was that the second draft of "The Empire Strikes Back", indicates that Vader fell into a nuclear reactor shaft instead of lava. If this is the case, then it would explain such ailments as mutation, radiation sickness and extensive cancer. Three years later, aspects of the tale of the molten pit resurfaced in a more official form. In the novelisation of Return of the Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker:

" We fought ... your father fell into a molten pit. When your father clawed his way out of that fiery pool, the change had been burned into him forever --- he was Darth Vader, without a trace of Anakin Skywalker. Irredeemably dark. Scarred. Kept alive only by machinery and his own black will ... "

Does anyone know if the lava theory or the nuclear reactor theory is the true version?



Whitestar

[I, Brian]

Good question - the lava issue has always been pretty much a "received wisdom" throughout all the time I knew about Star Wars.

However, the way Lucas is going, I wouldn't be surprised if that entire background is completely rewritten for whatever marketing and product line purposes Lucas has in mind.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Good question - the lava issue has always been pretty much a "received wisdom" throughout all the time I knew about Star Wars.

However, the way Lucas is going, I wouldn't be surprised if that entire background is completely rewritten for whatever marketing and product line purposes Lucas has in mind.

Hi I, Brian. Correct me if I'm wrong, but why do I get the feeling you will be disappointed if Lucas chooses not to use the lava storyline? Let's face it, the prospect of ANY human being surviving a fall into a lava molten pit is far-fetched to say the least, Force or no Force. I've always imagined Vader somehow being exposed to some intense radiation, coupled with Obi-Wan puncturing both his lungs with his lightsaber during their "legendary duel".


Whitestar

[I, Brian]

Absolutely right about lava itself - but I figured that it was a reference to the surrounding environment. A dual with Obi Wan across a hot volcanic landscape, with gaping fissues and holes to hot death - nothing wrong with that.

I'm just concerned that the decision will be made careless and with marketing and production lines most in mind. "How can we make the most money out of this concept?" rather than "How can we tell a story".

But then again, as someone else pointed out, it's Lucas's own work. If he soils his own sandbox, let him play in it.

My, I'm a grump today.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I'm just concerned that the decision will be made careless and with marketing and production lines most in mind. "How can we make the most money out of this concept?" rather than "How can we tell a story".

But then again, as someone else pointed out, it's Lucas's own work. If he soils his own sandbox, let him play in it.

My, I'm a grump today.

I just hope that whatever Lucas has in mind that it will at least be done in good taste. The reason why I stated this is because Lucas has publicly said that he wants the film to have a PG rating, as opposed to a very possible PG-13 rating due to the violent content. However, since he is known as a shrewd businessman, I have reason to believe that a PG rating is not out of a question. Time will tell.


Whitestar

[I, Brian]

I was actually pretty surprised Episode II didn't have a higher rating - when I first watched it I did rather feel that it was a tremendously violent movie.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I was actually pretty surprised Episode II didn't have a higher rating - when I first watched it I did rather feel that it was a tremendously violent movie.

Agreed. I thought the scene where Mace beheading Jango Feit, and Anakin beheading those Tuskan Raiders with their lightsabers were quite violent. Although I was surprised to see something that graphic for a Star Wars movie, I definitely felt for the loss of his mother. As a result, I would have done the same thing, however, the only difference is that I would not have killed women and children unlike Anakin, only the ones responsible for the kidnapping/murder.


What were some of the things you found to be very violent?


Whitestar

[I, Brian]

Those indeed - but the sandpeople issue I could take as justified.

I let my 5 year old watch all the other Star Wars films, but I couldn't let her watch Episode 2 because of all the fighting at the end - it was one big glory show I was too uncomfortable showing her. The Jango Fett beheading for starters (since when has beheading become a PG experience??), and then the general mass battle which was simply too over the top for myself.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

The Jango Fett beheading for starters (since when has beheading become a PG experience??), and then the general mass battle which was simply too over the top for myself.

I think the reason why George Lucas considers beheading in Episode II a PG experience is because there was simply no blood. Personally, I think it was a creative genious touch on his part. The fact that the lightsaber is quite hot, it simply cauterizes the wound, therefore, there was no blood, hence, the PG rating. As I recall, Episode V showed Luke getting his right hand chopped off by his father Vader during their duel and it was anything but bloody. When I first saw "The Empire Strikes Back" released in theaters in 1980, I remembered seeing that scene and it haunted me for years. It left a huge negative impression, but I took comfort in that it was only a movie and bloodless. It's not that I don't like the sight of blood or graphic violence, I can tolerate that whenever I'm watching horror/suspense movies. I just don't think it's appropriate for a Star Wars movie. If Lucas had decided for his characters to use swords instead of lightsabers, then I think all the Star Wars movies would have been either rated PG-13 or rated R because there would have been so much blood. Still, the violence in Episode II is no comparsion to the Lord of the Rings films, which was considerable, yet fantastic movies.


Any thoughts?

Whitestar

[I, Brian]

True, there was no blood with the beheading - but it's not so much the presence of blood, as much as the act itself. But you're quite right about the Empire Strikes Back hand amputation - I did actually wonder about that when I was posting the above. There's also the cutting in half of Darth Maul in Phantom Menace - but even though I wasn't keen on my daughter seeing that, it's over in a moment and that's it. With the Jango beheading it's one violent act in a see of general violence.

It's not so much that I'm against violence in film - after all, the Star Wars films inherently involve conflict and some degree of violence in the first place. And the battles aside, in the first Star Wars film - a U rating - we have smouldering skeletal remains and Walrus's dismembered arm.

With Attack of the Clones, I guess the objection was that the fighting between the clones, robots, and insect creatures, just seemed very gratuitous - a fireworks display centered on the theme of death - and little else. It wasn't an issue of blood, as much as the feeling that the battle seemed simply set up as eye-candy. The Jango incident was really just a part of that overall context.

[I, Brian]

I see them fighting by lava pits in the Epidsode III trailer.

[Aydrian Boudabras]

As I, Brian stated, it does look like the final lightsaber duel does take place on or near a lava pit. I do think its highly far fetched, but maybe Anakin or the Emperor was able to lessen Anakins wounds long enough to get him into the suit to save his life.

[polymorphikos]

Maybe he really does die, and they reanimate him in the suit.

[SDNess]

Anakin dies.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I see them fighting by lava pits in the Epidsode III trailer.

Yes, I've seen it too. It looks very exciting!


Whitestar