Changing Star Wars?

[C Of K]

I found myself disappointed with Return of the Jedi. This? ...The end of a saga? No, the end of an ERA!

The Empire Strikes Back finished strong; every moment of it important, and exciting. As the follow up, and end, RotJ should have been more powerful. I like the movie, but it has huge faults.

#1. Darth Vader took a less active role than in previous movies. Watching him pilot a TIE fighter made the Death Star trench one of the most exhilarating scenes in Star Wars. He traveled down to Hoth with troops, amid the battle, to capture the Millennium Falcon, and or Luke!

In RotJ, Darth Vader played the part of pageant princess, coming out to display her crown only during the pivitol final lightsaber duel, and subsequent assassination of his Master. Darth Vader should have been more involved with the goings on of this movie, and not just the climax, to make it more exciting.

#2. Han Solo, arguably the best protagonist/foil character of ANH and TESB, played a useless shadow of himself for the last 2/3 of RotJ. Han's story ended after Jabba's Palace. A final showdown with Boba Fett would have been nice. Had Han lost his life to Fett, it would have swung the mood of the movie in a different direction. We would have feared for the lives of our remaining heroes, after such a daunting moment. Not to mention Lando would have a meaningful role.

Lets face it, both Lando and Wedge got shots off at the Death Star core. Lando could have been down on Endore, leading the surface assault on the shield generator.

#3. Finally I come to the Ewoks. I won't harp on this much. It's common knowledge, no matter how you justify them, Ewoks pulled the pacing down. Of all the non-humans to feature in the last movie, George chose them...

#4. If you read the novelization of RotJ, it is far more apparent that the Emperor is turning Luke to the Dark side. Certain incentives Luke had for trying to murder the Emperor were cut out of the movie. This hurt the suspense factor, imho.

Mark Hamil was less than satisfied with the way the saga ended. Even Harrison Ford considered the possibility that Han Solo would serve the story better dead than alive. I have to say, Obi Want Kenobi was the last hero killed in action, if you don't count Anakin Skywalker. It would be debateable as to whether or not you really could, seeing as how he played the part of an antagonist up until then.

So there you have my opinion. What would you have changed in any of the movies, if anything?

[Huttman]

As I stated in another thread, except for a couple of scenes, Jedi is not my favorite. I thought Harrison's character seemed bored at times although as a kid watching it I was glad Han did not die but understand now how dramatic death scenes add to a movie's worth if done right. Besides Ewoks looking like midgets in cute furry suits, they never really bothered me. I appreciate Mr. Lucas' stance on a vastly superior force being taken down by a more primitive culture that has more heart to fight with. I have to admit I never really thought about Vader not having much to do until the end, but the plot does keep him at bay until the confrontation at the end, I should re-read the novel someday. One thing that I would change in Jedi given the chance has nothing to do with the story or characters, it is the super star destroyer hitting the death star, it is the most fake explosion in the entire saga. Ironically it is in the same movie as one of the best, Jabba's sail barge exploding.

[Majimaune]

One thing that bothers me about Ewoks has nothing to do with RotJ. Ewoks Save Christmas...I mean come on Lucas why did you give those people rights?

Yeah with the Super Star Destroyer hitting the Death Star II I didn't like that and would change that.

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by Majimaune

Ewoks Save Christmas...

That's good, I like that!

[C Of K]

Originally Posted by Huttman

Besides Ewoks looking like midgets in cute furry suits, they never really bothered me. I appreciate Mr. Lucas' stance on a vastly superior force being taken down by a more primitive culture that has more heart to fight with.

When I was small, I had no problem with Ewoks, either. It wasn't until I started paying attention to story, plot development, and over-all "what makes sense and what doesn't" that I questioned their existence.

Ewoks would have been more acceptable had George introduced this theme earlier in the saga. In the last movie, I think the whole message flew over most discerning people heads, because many of them were focused on the actual damage it did to the story.

After the speeder bike chase, I think the movie takes a hard hit in the area of excitement. Instead of focusing more on the will of the force, and Vader's coming to terms with it, George gave a lot of screen time to Ewoks.

I have to admit I never really thought about Vader not having much to do until the end, but the plot does keep him at bay until the confrontation at the end, I should re-read the novel someday.

Yeah, at least in comparison to the other movies. He was always such a go-getter before RotJ.

the super star destroyer hitting the death star, it is the most fake explosion in the entire saga. Ironically it is in the same movie as one of the best, Jabba's sail barge exploding.

You said it! I don't know how George Lucas explains that. How did the whole ship turn nose down, just because the bridge was destroyed?

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by C Of K

You said it! I don't know how George Lucas explains that. How did the whole ship turn nose down, just because the bridge was destroyed?

I believe it was the gravity of the death star that pulled the destroyer to it when it lost it's control bridge, no more steering wheel. What was cheap to me was the poor use of pyrotechnics used. I know you're picturing it right now. With today's CGI that could be the most incredible dive-perspective-explosive- special effect moment of the trilogies.

[C Of K]

It possibly should have been the best space battle of the trilogy, too. It is to many people, but I like the Battle of Yavin better. I also like the chase through the asteroid field better.

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by C Of K

Ewoks would have been more acceptable had George introduced this theme earlier in the saga. In the last movie, I think the whole message flew over most discerning people heads, because many of them were focused on the actual damage it did to the story.

Oh yeah, forgot about this one. In a retrospecive way he did. Episode one pitted the Gungans against the superior droid force. So it was continued, from before, after the fact. You with me on this, because I'm just making this up as I go. Nothing more complicated than perception, huh?

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by C Of K

It possibly should have been the best space battle of the trilogy, too. It is to many people, but I like the Battle of Yavin better. I also like the chase through the asteroid field better.

Hear, hear! I agree. It was just a matter of fact thing, I never felt the impending suspense of it, until, I must say, them flying through the death star. That was very cool and a great one up from flying down a trench I think logistically they could have started off much closer to the exhaust port with. Ahhh drama.

[C Of K]

Yes, drama. They had to give those TIE pilots enough time to fire on one of Wedge's engines, so that he could effectively leave the scene with his life in tact.

[Huttman]

Really the space battle is not bad in Jedi, I still enjoy it a great deal. A major difference with it and with A New Hope is the cut-ins with two other battles vs. just one in Yavin. Ep. 4 had one end battle, ep. 5 had two, ep. 6 had 3, ep. 1 had 4 and that's when the cycle broke for AotC. That and RotS just had more spectacular battles albiet not long enough to some.

[C Of K]

Yes, it has to be hard to cut back and forth between so many different scenes. George Lucas did it well, but I think he did his best work when cutting between fewer scenes, save for AotC.

There were some good parts in the ending battle, but I think it could have been focused better. One great big monster in that arena would have been frightening enough. The Rancor scene ,in RotJ, comes to mind, and still puts me on the edge of my seat. Plus the three heroes could have fought one monster together in AotC.

[Majimaune]

Just imagine if the original trilogy was only just made for the first time, in the last couple of years. It would have better CGI and all that but would it be as good? I don't think it would.

Oh btw thought you guys might think this is funny.
Star Wars: Low Budget by ~Incitic on deviantART

[Joel007]

Hehe, that's cool. I like the AT-AT

[C Of K]

It was really cool. I liked the x-wing the best, especially before it started flying!