Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 5, 2008 20:42:33 GMT -6
So, on this board that I frequent, we start discussing our general lack of love for the Star Wars prequels which, inevitably among geeks, led to a discussion about how we would have done them (obviously looking at them in retrospect).
Here's my amended EpI, using some of the ideas we bounced around on that board. I dropped the Gungans entirely, ditched the podrace, and incorporated some of the AOTC Tatooine stuff (because they only need to go to Tatooine in EpI and then at the end of EpII).
The movie is split into 4 Acts:
1. Arrival at and escape from Naboo
2. Flight to Tatooine
3. Escape to Coruscant
4. The Battle of Naboo
ACT ONE:
With the opening crawl, we establish that the Galactic Republic is in a state of turmoil with thousands of systems threatening to secede. The charismatic leader of these separatists is a politician named Dooku (who has no ties to the Jedi Order whatsoever - he'll matter more in EpII and EpIII). Hoping to prevent open warfare, the Jedi Order has dispatched one of their most venerable Masters, Qui-Gon Jinn, to mediate peace talks being held upon the neutral planet of Naboo (which is in the same sector/region/whatever as Alderaan).
The Principal Players
With the Jedi ship heavily damaged and virtually tumbling into atmosphere, the three Jedi “eject” in some fashion that will allow Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to remain together while Anakin gets separated from them. The ship is destroyed.
Cut to: the Nubian throne room as the Queen (Padme’s mother) is faced with a holographic transmission from the Separatist leader (a man wearing distinctly Mandalorian battle armor, I suppose this could be the first sign of JANGO FETT). This Separatist leader informs the Queen that the Jedi have been killed and that his troops will begin landing. She is to surrender to him at once. The Queen refuses, cuts the transmission, and orders her advisors to sound the alarm.
Cut to: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The two Jedi meet up again and make short work of some Separatist battle droids (who actually need to come across as threatening, not chumps). Jinn is puzzled at this entire operation: attacking now makes little strategic sense for the Separatists. Kenobi wonders about Skywalker and QG admits that he’s a little worried; Anakin has a tendency to get into trouble at times.
Cut to: Anakin getting into trouble. The Seppies have already begun landing troops and are engaging the Nubian defenses on the outskirts of a major Nubian city. Anakin being a hot-head jumps into the fight to lend a hand against the battle droids. He meets PADME NABERRIE for the first time; though she is his age, she is leading a team of Nubian defenders and they all refer to her as “my lady”, indicating that she’s at least of noble birth. Anakin is instantly smitten with her ('cause she's hot and kicks ass) and does a bit of showing off every now and then. Padme declares that they need to find the Queen and Anakin gladly agrees to aid. They head off toward the throne area…
But encounter QG & OB1 first. The two elder Jedi have been keeping a low profile during this entire escapade, and QG mildly chastises his apprentice for being reckless. QG gives “Padme” an odd look when he’s introduced to her – clearly, he recognizes that she’s the Nubian Heir – and makes a compelling argument for them to get offworld that doesn’t reveal her identity. The Senate must know that the Separatists have launched an unprecedented assault on Naboo.
The small group then makes for a Nubian ship (which shouldn’t be mondo huge and comfortable, but rather cramped instead. It is not the Millenium Falcon, though). CPT Panaka will point out that they have no pilot, and Anakin proudly declares that he can fly anything. Both QG and OB1 sort of roll their eyes at this, recognizing that he’s trying to show off in front of Padme. They get the ship and Anakin quickly proves that he can fly anything. Despite his mad piloting skillz, though, their ship is struck just as they make the jump to lightspeed.
Cut to: the Mandalorian’s ship. He has a convo with Darth Sidious, who learns that one member of the royal family may have escaped. Sidious is … more than a little displeased but will dispatch his apprentice to resolve that loose end.
ACT TWO
On to Tatooine. Due to the damage they took in the escape (not some ridiculous “the hyperdrive is leaking” nonsense), they desperately need to conduct repairs. As Tatooine is the closest backwater location where supplies will be, it is decided that they’ll head there. If possible, they can also try to contact Coruscant if a holotransmitter can be located.
Establish that Anakin is from Tatooine, and is actually not very eager to see his family for reasons that he doesn’t want to talk about. Attempts to contact Coruscant aren’t successful and QG quickly orders them to cease attempting. He senses something…
Cut to: Darth Sidious dispatches Darth Maul to Tatooine with orders to kill everyone involved, but to especially focus on eliminating Skywalker. Sidious has sensed that the young Skywalker “could destroy us.” (Intentional homage to when Palpy says this of Luke in ESB, as well as a hint of Vader’s ultimate destiny). Soon, they will have their revenge…
Anakin & Amidala/Padme would flirt a tiny bit to continue establishing the attraction there, while QG discovers that their repairs will cost more than they have available. He blatantly abuses the mind trick to arrange for these repairs to be done quickly, and points out to OB1 who isn’t keen on this application of the Force that they don’t have the time or luxury of high-minded ideals out here on the Rim. He then asks Anakin if he knows where they can stay until the repairs are complete; glumly, Skywalker says yes.
Cut to the moisture farm. We meet Owen Lars, who doesn’t much like Anakin at all, despite being his half-brother. Owen is also badly injured; the Tuskens attacked recently and abducted both Shmi (Anakin & Owen’s mother) and Beru, Owen’s girlfriend. The three Jedi head out to rescue the women while Padme & her three or four troopers guard the homestead, and Qui-Gon states that they are running out of time...
Cut to: Maul arriving on Tatooine.
Tusken camp. The Jedi arrive in force (heh. Nice pun there), and kick righteous ass. They first discover Beru, and OB1 is tasked to get her to safety. When they discover Shmi, she’s already dead and Anakin goes a tiny bit berserk with rage at this fact.
Quick cut to Maul, who reacts visibly to Anakin’s rage. The Sith Lord narrows his eyes, as if he can sense Skywalker…
Back to the Tuskens. Anakin kills a couple, but QG is there to pull him back from the abyss. The Tuskens are sent running into the dunes in terror by the two Jedi, though. OB1 comms them to inform them that he’s back at the Lars place and is returning to Mos Eisley with Padme to pick up the ship. QG & Anakin will meet them later.
Shmi’s funeral. Owen has some choice words for Anakin and blames him for her death. Lars tells Skywalker to not bother coming back. It is essential that Anakin state, unequivocally, that he’s never coming back to this planet again when he & QG leave.
First engagement with Maul is between QG & Anakin as the two Jedi head toward Mos Eisley. As a rank apprentice, Anakin is promptly schooled and sent sprawling. He is very nearly killed, but Qui-Gon orders him away. Terrified, Anakin starts to flee but has the wisdom to urgently call for OB1. The Nubian ship races out of the city and the Heroes escape, leaving behind a frustrated Darth Maul.
Later, Anakin & Padme interact, and Anakin is utterly disgusted at his cowardice. The two share a Moment, and Anakin gives her that necklace thing.
ACT THREE
On Coruscant, most of what happened in TPM can progress, though the Chosen One nonsense can get tossed. QG is utterly convinced that Maul is a Sith Lord, but the Council thinks he's full of crap. Yoda should inquire of QG about his apprentice, who is currently with the Naboo delegation.
Jump there, and Anakin encounters a very sad Padme. Her parents, she reveals to him, have been murdered by the Separatists. Anakin's insight "serves him well", and he asks her softly if that makes her the new Queen. She's surprised that he saw through her "disguise", and we could have Anakin make some sort of lame pick up line about her decoy not being as beautiful as she is or something. They bond over having lost parents and she reveals that, had her sister Breha not married Bail Organa of Alderaan, then Breha would be the new Queen instead of Padme.
Right, so, Palpatine manipulates her as in the movie and gets himself elected Supreme Chancellor. To express his "gratitude", he orders the military to begin making plans to reclaim Naboo from the Separatists. As the new Queen, Amidala declares that she will be going back home & plans to rally the indigent forces. She was trained as a warrior, after all. Attempts to convince her to wait until the military is ready are ignored, although she does ask the Jedi Council to assign the trio of Jedi she already knows to her. They grimly agree to do so. Another Anakin/Qui-Gon interaction to establish their relationship.
ACT FOUR
Back to Naboo, though this time, they’re on a stealth approach. The Hero Ship races through the blockade, narrowly evading detection as they land. Anakin is at the controls of Padme’s ship and she half-jokingly offers him a full-time job as her pilot should this “Jedi thing” not work out for him (gallows humor, if you will).
On the ground, they meet up with local guerillas who are all that’s left of the Nubian military. The Separatists, it appears, have been quite efficient. The plan is a simple one: capture the Separatist leader and force him to terms. Although the Jedi Council specifically ordered QG to play no part in this battle that could disrupt the Jedi neutrality in the conflict, QG declares that he will aid Padme because it is the “will of the Force” (or some such). When asked about it by OB1, QG reveals that he senses something … dark coming and that this battle is a deciding point. Kenobi senses it as well. Anakin & Kenobi wish one another well in an almost Luke/Han moment…
Ground offensive is launched to divert attention away from the Naboo planetary defense hangars; once inside, Anakin immediately plans to fly out but Padme gives him a kiss ("for luck". An intentional homage to ANH). The infiltration team still plans to capture the Separatist leaders as Anakin (and a bunch of other pilots) race to the space battle; Maul arrives and the Duel begins.
As the space battle begins going poorly, the Republic arrives with their battle fleet (including some pseudo-Star Destroyer types of ships.) Anakin intentionally seeks out the command ship instead of accidentally falling into that mess. Once again, his heroic idiocy is displayed as he almost single-handedly turns the tide of battle when the command ship is destroyed. With its destruction, the rest of the Seppies begin retreating. On Naboo, QG is killed by Maul. OB1 defeats the Sith Lord in some fashion (but not his inexplicable ability to fly as in TPM), and believes that he (Maul) is dead (i.e. OB1 collapses a large section of the roof on him but then finds only Maul's arm).
Yoda is not keen on the idea of OB1 taking on Anakin, but admits that they already have a bond of friendship that will serve them well.
In the QG funeral scene, we have a couple of things happen.
What d'ya think?
Here's my amended EpI, using some of the ideas we bounced around on that board. I dropped the Gungans entirely, ditched the podrace, and incorporated some of the AOTC Tatooine stuff (because they only need to go to Tatooine in EpI and then at the end of EpII).
The movie is split into 4 Acts:
1. Arrival at and escape from Naboo
2. Flight to Tatooine
3. Escape to Coruscant
4. The Battle of Naboo
ACT ONE:
With the opening crawl, we establish that the Galactic Republic is in a state of turmoil with thousands of systems threatening to secede. The charismatic leader of these separatists is a politician named Dooku (who has no ties to the Jedi Order whatsoever - he'll matter more in EpII and EpIII). Hoping to prevent open warfare, the Jedi Order has dispatched one of their most venerable Masters, Qui-Gon Jinn, to mediate peace talks being held upon the neutral planet of Naboo (which is in the same sector/region/whatever as Alderaan).
The Principal Players
- Jedi Master QUI-GON JINN heads a peace delegation to the planet of Naboo. Qui-Gon is exactly as he was in the original movie: a renegade who listens more to his own instincts than to the Jedi Council.
- His apprentice, 14-year old ANAKIN SKYWALKER, is on hand as befits a padawan learner. Anakin is hot-headed and arrogant. He has a fierce temper at times, but is an exceptional pilot and a gifted student of the Force.
- Also present is newly promoted Jedi Knight OBI-WAN KENOBI, Grand Master Yoda's last student. He is a something like a favorite uncle or cousin to young Anakin, and the two get on exceptionally well. Kenobi has flashes of recklessness himself, but is trying to develop the appropriate decorum of a Knight.
With the Jedi ship heavily damaged and virtually tumbling into atmosphere, the three Jedi “eject” in some fashion that will allow Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to remain together while Anakin gets separated from them. The ship is destroyed.
Cut to: the Nubian throne room as the Queen (Padme’s mother) is faced with a holographic transmission from the Separatist leader (a man wearing distinctly Mandalorian battle armor, I suppose this could be the first sign of JANGO FETT). This Separatist leader informs the Queen that the Jedi have been killed and that his troops will begin landing. She is to surrender to him at once. The Queen refuses, cuts the transmission, and orders her advisors to sound the alarm.
Cut to: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The two Jedi meet up again and make short work of some Separatist battle droids (who actually need to come across as threatening, not chumps). Jinn is puzzled at this entire operation: attacking now makes little strategic sense for the Separatists. Kenobi wonders about Skywalker and QG admits that he’s a little worried; Anakin has a tendency to get into trouble at times.
Cut to: Anakin getting into trouble. The Seppies have already begun landing troops and are engaging the Nubian defenses on the outskirts of a major Nubian city. Anakin being a hot-head jumps into the fight to lend a hand against the battle droids. He meets PADME NABERRIE for the first time; though she is his age, she is leading a team of Nubian defenders and they all refer to her as “my lady”, indicating that she’s at least of noble birth. Anakin is instantly smitten with her ('cause she's hot and kicks ass) and does a bit of showing off every now and then. Padme declares that they need to find the Queen and Anakin gladly agrees to aid. They head off toward the throne area…
But encounter QG & OB1 first. The two elder Jedi have been keeping a low profile during this entire escapade, and QG mildly chastises his apprentice for being reckless. QG gives “Padme” an odd look when he’s introduced to her – clearly, he recognizes that she’s the Nubian Heir – and makes a compelling argument for them to get offworld that doesn’t reveal her identity. The Senate must know that the Separatists have launched an unprecedented assault on Naboo.
The small group then makes for a Nubian ship (which shouldn’t be mondo huge and comfortable, but rather cramped instead. It is not the Millenium Falcon, though). CPT Panaka will point out that they have no pilot, and Anakin proudly declares that he can fly anything. Both QG and OB1 sort of roll their eyes at this, recognizing that he’s trying to show off in front of Padme. They get the ship and Anakin quickly proves that he can fly anything. Despite his mad piloting skillz, though, their ship is struck just as they make the jump to lightspeed.
Cut to: the Mandalorian’s ship. He has a convo with Darth Sidious, who learns that one member of the royal family may have escaped. Sidious is … more than a little displeased but will dispatch his apprentice to resolve that loose end.
ACT TWO
On to Tatooine. Due to the damage they took in the escape (not some ridiculous “the hyperdrive is leaking” nonsense), they desperately need to conduct repairs. As Tatooine is the closest backwater location where supplies will be, it is decided that they’ll head there. If possible, they can also try to contact Coruscant if a holotransmitter can be located.
Establish that Anakin is from Tatooine, and is actually not very eager to see his family for reasons that he doesn’t want to talk about. Attempts to contact Coruscant aren’t successful and QG quickly orders them to cease attempting. He senses something…
Cut to: Darth Sidious dispatches Darth Maul to Tatooine with orders to kill everyone involved, but to especially focus on eliminating Skywalker. Sidious has sensed that the young Skywalker “could destroy us.” (Intentional homage to when Palpy says this of Luke in ESB, as well as a hint of Vader’s ultimate destiny). Soon, they will have their revenge…
Anakin & Amidala/Padme would flirt a tiny bit to continue establishing the attraction there, while QG discovers that their repairs will cost more than they have available. He blatantly abuses the mind trick to arrange for these repairs to be done quickly, and points out to OB1 who isn’t keen on this application of the Force that they don’t have the time or luxury of high-minded ideals out here on the Rim. He then asks Anakin if he knows where they can stay until the repairs are complete; glumly, Skywalker says yes.
Cut to the moisture farm. We meet Owen Lars, who doesn’t much like Anakin at all, despite being his half-brother. Owen is also badly injured; the Tuskens attacked recently and abducted both Shmi (Anakin & Owen’s mother) and Beru, Owen’s girlfriend. The three Jedi head out to rescue the women while Padme & her three or four troopers guard the homestead, and Qui-Gon states that they are running out of time...
Cut to: Maul arriving on Tatooine.
Tusken camp. The Jedi arrive in force (heh. Nice pun there), and kick righteous ass. They first discover Beru, and OB1 is tasked to get her to safety. When they discover Shmi, she’s already dead and Anakin goes a tiny bit berserk with rage at this fact.
Quick cut to Maul, who reacts visibly to Anakin’s rage. The Sith Lord narrows his eyes, as if he can sense Skywalker…
Back to the Tuskens. Anakin kills a couple, but QG is there to pull him back from the abyss. The Tuskens are sent running into the dunes in terror by the two Jedi, though. OB1 comms them to inform them that he’s back at the Lars place and is returning to Mos Eisley with Padme to pick up the ship. QG & Anakin will meet them later.
Shmi’s funeral. Owen has some choice words for Anakin and blames him for her death. Lars tells Skywalker to not bother coming back. It is essential that Anakin state, unequivocally, that he’s never coming back to this planet again when he & QG leave.
First engagement with Maul is between QG & Anakin as the two Jedi head toward Mos Eisley. As a rank apprentice, Anakin is promptly schooled and sent sprawling. He is very nearly killed, but Qui-Gon orders him away. Terrified, Anakin starts to flee but has the wisdom to urgently call for OB1. The Nubian ship races out of the city and the Heroes escape, leaving behind a frustrated Darth Maul.
Later, Anakin & Padme interact, and Anakin is utterly disgusted at his cowardice. The two share a Moment, and Anakin gives her that necklace thing.
ACT THREE
On Coruscant, most of what happened in TPM can progress, though the Chosen One nonsense can get tossed. QG is utterly convinced that Maul is a Sith Lord, but the Council thinks he's full of crap. Yoda should inquire of QG about his apprentice, who is currently with the Naboo delegation.
Jump there, and Anakin encounters a very sad Padme. Her parents, she reveals to him, have been murdered by the Separatists. Anakin's insight "serves him well", and he asks her softly if that makes her the new Queen. She's surprised that he saw through her "disguise", and we could have Anakin make some sort of lame pick up line about her decoy not being as beautiful as she is or something. They bond over having lost parents and she reveals that, had her sister Breha not married Bail Organa of Alderaan, then Breha would be the new Queen instead of Padme.
Right, so, Palpatine manipulates her as in the movie and gets himself elected Supreme Chancellor. To express his "gratitude", he orders the military to begin making plans to reclaim Naboo from the Separatists. As the new Queen, Amidala declares that she will be going back home & plans to rally the indigent forces. She was trained as a warrior, after all. Attempts to convince her to wait until the military is ready are ignored, although she does ask the Jedi Council to assign the trio of Jedi she already knows to her. They grimly agree to do so. Another Anakin/Qui-Gon interaction to establish their relationship.
ACT FOUR
Back to Naboo, though this time, they’re on a stealth approach. The Hero Ship races through the blockade, narrowly evading detection as they land. Anakin is at the controls of Padme’s ship and she half-jokingly offers him a full-time job as her pilot should this “Jedi thing” not work out for him (gallows humor, if you will).
On the ground, they meet up with local guerillas who are all that’s left of the Nubian military. The Separatists, it appears, have been quite efficient. The plan is a simple one: capture the Separatist leader and force him to terms. Although the Jedi Council specifically ordered QG to play no part in this battle that could disrupt the Jedi neutrality in the conflict, QG declares that he will aid Padme because it is the “will of the Force” (or some such). When asked about it by OB1, QG reveals that he senses something … dark coming and that this battle is a deciding point. Kenobi senses it as well. Anakin & Kenobi wish one another well in an almost Luke/Han moment…
Ground offensive is launched to divert attention away from the Naboo planetary defense hangars; once inside, Anakin immediately plans to fly out but Padme gives him a kiss ("for luck". An intentional homage to ANH). The infiltration team still plans to capture the Separatist leaders as Anakin (and a bunch of other pilots) race to the space battle; Maul arrives and the Duel begins.
As the space battle begins going poorly, the Republic arrives with their battle fleet (including some pseudo-Star Destroyer types of ships.) Anakin intentionally seeks out the command ship instead of accidentally falling into that mess. Once again, his heroic idiocy is displayed as he almost single-handedly turns the tide of battle when the command ship is destroyed. With its destruction, the rest of the Seppies begin retreating. On Naboo, QG is killed by Maul. OB1 defeats the Sith Lord in some fashion (but not his inexplicable ability to fly as in TPM), and believes that he (Maul) is dead (i.e. OB1 collapses a large section of the roof on him but then finds only Maul's arm).
Yoda is not keen on the idea of OB1 taking on Anakin, but admits that they already have a bond of friendship that will serve them well.
In the QG funeral scene, we have a couple of things happen.
- First, Anakin is torn up over QG's death and it shows. He’s lost two parent figures in a matter of days, after all…
- Second, Padme takes his hand as the body is burned.
- Third, OB1 reveals to Anakin that he is to complete Skywalker's training.
- And finally, Mace Windu reveals to Yoda that there is no trace of the Sith that OB1 fought. Yoda grimly concludes that they will see him again.
What d'ya think?