Star Wars: Episode VII: The Nerd Rage Awakens

[fireproof78]

No, I don't think he made the films he wanted he massively rewrote and reshot the fall of Anakin in ROTS because the test audience didn't understand why he joined the dark side, then he couldn't change the ending to fit the changes made to the second act. There were a number of influences on the prequels besides that, so things are quie so simple of just blaming him for how things turned out that failed to meet people's expectations. Had he been able to get other writers and directors he would have, but he got turned every time. But on his own he wrote, produced and directed three blockbusters on his own. I await even more than the film itself the reactions to TFA.

Certainly, there are a number influences, since art cannot occur in a vacuum. Not sure what films he wanted to shoot then, unless there is a version of Anakin's fall that makes more sense Might have been better if what Matt Stover wrote in his novelization had remained as part of the script, rather than editing it out. What version he received, I don't know.

Also, I'm trying to follow what other directors or writers he didn't have access too. There are scenes of him talking with Spielberg in preproduction in TPM. He had the time, resources and backing to do most of what he wanted. I'll not say all, because there is always a part of a creative work that feels "incomplete" (to quote GL from the Special Edition BTS).

So, I'm curious as to what I'm missing that GL was lacking that he couldn't have access to?

Lucas upon leaving the Director's Guide over the fine over the credits to Empire meant that he was something of a pariah in Hollywood, a number of actors turned down his offeres to be in the prequels as did writers and directors, he would've gladly have hand the movies ove to them.

Strangely enough you think after the OT was numbered four though six there'd be people lining up to do the first three movies, yet that wasn't the case. But now of course that it's out of Lucas' hands it's a different story. But then he did keep the costs down and I'm not really thrilled by how much movies cost nowadays 200 million plus is a bit much for a movie's budget but that's just me I guess.

I am going to guess Director's Guild?

But, even if he couldn't get Guild members or support, that doesn't preclude him from seeking other directors. Robert Rodriguez famously quit the guild so that "Sin City" didn't have to follow Guild rules (he was the only Guild member, so his quitting freed the production companies to have two directors.

Not sure why Lucas couldn't pursue other directors-reportedly he asked David Lynch and others.

There were many options available to GL. Even the Guild has soften towards him, and had a special with him in 2011. So, it's not black and white.

There is no other version? That's... not entirely true.

Most of the scenes building up to Anakin's fall were as shot, except with a deleted element - Anakin was insanely jealous of any man who even glanced in Padme's direction. Palpatine played on this in a still-unreleased deleted scene by hinting that Obi-Wan was sleeping with Padme behind his back (Yeah, that might not even be your kid). When Padme tells him Obi-Wan visited her apartment (in yet another deleted scene), Anakin snaps at her. "You told him about us! DIDN'T YOU?!?"

Other deleted material played up how cold and hostile the Jedi Council was towards him (especially Mace Windu, who flat out hated him), which culminated in the scene where Palpatine reveals all and makes his pitch... and Anakin sides with him then and there.

No returning to the Temple and talking to Mace. No agonized stare out the window at Padme's apartment. Just "screw them, they never wanted me anyway, I don't owe them a damn thing."



So (in the original filmed version of the scene) he's standing there beside Palpatine in his office when Mace and his posse arrive. Mace tells Palpatine Grievous is dead and orders him to give up his emergency powers. When Palpatine refuses, Mace declares him under arrest. The scene then plays as in the final film, with the Jedi learning only then that Palpatine is a Sith Lord and caught completely unprepared. Anakin stands and watches until Mace has Palpatine at his mercy, then attacks and kills Mace without a moment's remorse.

The other remaining change was on Mustafar when Obi-Wan makes his appearance. With the added hint of infidelity in the air, Anakin not only Force-chokes Padme but violently slams her head-first into the side of her ship, cracking her skull. "We don't know why (she's dying), she has lost the will to live" was a reshoot addition - Palpatine originally told the truth. Anakin straight-up murdered Padme in a fit of passionate rage.

I remember that now. Whoah, does that bring back memories.

Not sure which version I like, but I appreciate the information here

 

[Corran Horn]

The Anakin's fall change does put the released material's awkwardness into better context - did we really need a shot of Anakin traveling to Palp's on his ship and then quickly walking (not running) through the hallway on the way to Palpatine's office? I've always thought those parts just looked odd and out of place.

 

[Tulin]

It's par for the course for the PT. People are walking leisurely and talking everywhere.

Actually, save for the ST films, the last time we actually saw people running through corridors during a crisis was in B5!

 

[cooleddie74]

The Anakin's fall change does put the released material's awkwardness into better context - did we really need a shot of Anakin traveling to Palp's on his ship and then quickly walking (not running) through the hallway on the way to Palpatine's office? I've always thought those parts just looked odd and out of place.

I guess George put those shots into the film to increase the tension as Anakin raced to see what was happening, plus to stretch out the lightsaber battle between Palpatine and Mace Windu a little bit so as to get them in the right places at the right moment for Anakin to come running into the office. Frankly, the Anakin-in-the-speeder journey never bothered me at all.

Beats seeing Anakin standing in the Jedi Council chamber crying, a quick edit to the lightsaber battle and then Anakin strolling in without any idea of how he got there or how much time had elapsed since the scene in the Jedi Temple.

 

[Tulin]

Maybe it was a concession to all of those imaginary, hypothetical people who didn't know how Vader got from Cloud City to the Super Star Destroyer in TESB?

Hey, maybe Red Letter Media is right - It's like poetry, it all rhymes!


(and yes, I KNOW they didn't originate that quote but they use it to good comedic effect when disparaging the PT!)

 

[Corran Horn]

Maybe it was a concession to all of those imaginary, hypothetical people who didn't know how Vader got from Cloud City to the Super Star Destroyer in TESB?

I had the same thought.

For whatever reason the shot of him walking quickly down that hallway has always been funny to me.

 

[cooleddie74]

Yeah, he does look a little funny in the hallway. That's the one moment in the sequence where I thought: "well, that shot could have been filmed a little better."

 

[Tulin]

You weren't cringeing in embarrassement at the otherwise excellent Ian McDiarmid doing some bizarre frog impression going "No, no NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!"

Sitting in the cinema the first time I saw ROTS I was like..........

 

[Corran Horn]

Yeah, he does look a little funny in the hallway. That's the one moment in the sequence where I thought: "well, that shot could have been filmed a little better."

Yeah, it's almost like it's over-directed.

No, don't walk. No, don't run either. Just kinda walk fast.

 

[cooleddie74]

Palpatine and Sidious are a little over the top anyways. It never bugged me anywhere as much as Mace Windu's completely underwhelming and wooden reply when Anakin tells him that the Chancellor is a Sith Lord.

 

[Corran Horn]

One of the worst line reads is Anakin's wooden reply later:

"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil!"

"From my point of view, the Jedi are evil!"

(ugh)

Talk about hanging a lantern on it.

 

[fireproof78]

The Anakin's fall change does put the released material's awkwardness into better context - did we really need a shot of Anakin traveling to Palp's on his ship and then quickly walking (not running) through the hallway on the way to Palpatine's office? I've always thought those parts just looked odd and out of place.

I guess George put those shots into the film to increase the tension as Anakin raced to see what was happening, plus to stretch out the lightsaber battle between Palpatine and Mace Windu a little bit so as to get them in the right places at the right moment for Anakin to come running into the office. Frankly, the Anakin-in-the-speeder journey never bothered me at all.

Beats seeing Anakin standing in the Jedi Council chamber crying, a quick edit to the lightsaber battle and then Anakin strolling in without any idea of how he got there or how much time had elapsed since the scene in the Jedi Temple.

Anakin has weird lapses in memory, possibility indicating multiple personalities. Clearly, he needs psychiatric help.

 

[cooleddie74]

He needs a good old-fashioned Tatooine ass-whoopin'. That's what he needs.

Sand gets in everything? Yeah, well, keep slaughtering Sand People and my foot will get in your ass.

 

[Tulin]

I imagine him being stuck in the Vader suit for decades with sand, uummm, everywhere and developing galloping anal itch!

NO WONDER he was constantly pissed off!!!!!

 

[fireproof78]

No wonder he stayed away from Tatooine

 

[Tulin]

From now on, whenever I imagine that execrable "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" from Vader at the end of ROTS, I'm going to imagine it's because he just realized he didn't get a chance to douche before Palps put him into the suit!

 

[cooleddie74]

Cyborg jock itch.

The struggle in that galaxy isn't just between good and evil.

 

[Tulin]

Ah, the prequels.

What a wonderful legacy they leave!

 

[Mach5]

Temuera Morrison is voicing Boba Fett in Star Wars Battlefront

More Prequel affirmation by Disney. I fully expect the die-hard prequel-bashers to not be hypocrites and boycott the game.

 

[Tulin]

Dammit!

And my partner already put a $50.00 deposit on the black Darth Vader PS4 for me which includes Battlefront!!!

Oh well, we'll see how long I last with it - it'll be the first gaming system I've owned since my wonderful SNES in 1992!!!! Go Aladdin!!!!!!