Part 3 - Reimagining the Star Wars Prequels

 The last installment is here.

You can read part one here: http://daprano.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/reimagining-star-wars-prequels.html

And part two here: http://daprano.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/reimagining-star-wars-prequels-part-2.html

By the third episode the differences between Obi Wan and Anakin are pronounced. Anakin's lust for power an glory means he ignores the Jedi code in favour of methods that guarantee victory. Obi Wan however continues to follow the code and behave honourably, even as his friend begins to pull away from him. Naturally they must face each other, though I've changed the context from the original Episode 3. Lucas put darth vader's physical state firmly on the shoulders of Obi Wan. My version is a little different. I think Obi wan has seen vader's mask before they cross paths in episode 4 so I've addressed that here. I also thought it was important to address why Obi Wan lies to Luke, so I've tried to do something about that. 

I've also added to the Emporer's character in a way that is more fitting to the vibe of the original trilogy. The Empire always gave the appearance they were an entirely human army led by a charismatic dictator. This vibe was lost in the prequels as Palpatine's was surrounded by more colorful advisors. 

There's a neat sequence that provides some nice context to the Bobba Fett-Vader relationship too. I just thought it would be good to establish that prior to Empire Strikes Back. There's also Wookies, Tarkin and we end in a similar place to Lucas' own episode 3. Why? Cuz I actually didn't mind that part of it.

Let me know what you think.

EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH

Over the ocean planet Mon Calamari, a star destroyer pursues a Corellian cruiser firing on it to slow it down. Fighters are deployed from underneath to engage the clone fighters. After a skirmish the star destroyer is successful in slowing the cruiser. Using their tractor beam them capture the craft and board. Anakin Skywalker leads the storm troopers in and captures the clone captain. When the captain refuses to cooperate, he uses the force to choke him into revealing the clone facility on the planet below. He reports this information to Admiral Tarkin who commences bombing of the planet. The two communicate the success of their mission to Emperor Palpatine.  

With the Clone Army fighting for survival, the Republic begins to reorganize to ensure their survival in a prolonged battle. Palpatine grants himself emergency powers to give specific orders to the military. Padme meets with Bail and Mon Motha to discuss these developments and agree to present their concerns to Master Yoda.

Anakin returns home with Tarkin and meets with Padme. The two have continued their affair in private and she is pregnant with twins. They discuss the new order and Anakin admits he is pleased Palpatine is seeking to end the war quickly. Padme worries about the direction and admits to wanting an audience with Yoda. Anakin dismisses her fears as he as fallen out with the Jedi over his relationship with Palpatine.

Obi Wan finds Anakin training with Boba Fett. Obi Wan wants a report on Anakin’s mission, which he delivers flippantly. Noticing the change in his demeanor, Obi Wan senses his fear and asks what is wrong. He rudely dismisses Fett from the room. Anakin admits to having visions of Padme’s death. Obi Wan warns him of fear, and encourages him to meditate and find his balance again. He suggests they retreat together away from the war, a suggestion Anakin resents. He complains that the council would not recongise the rank Palpatine has bestowed on him and accuses Yoda of playing favourites.

Palpatine summons Obi Wan to his quarters. There he offers Obi Wan the chance to replace Yoda as head of the order. Not willing to betray his master, he declines but realizes Palpatine attempts to use the Jedi Mind trick. Palpatine flatters Obi Wan and offers to train him so that he can stand by his side in bringing justice back to the galaxy. Palpatine orders him to track down Grevious to prove his loyalty. Obi Wan appears to accept though has been alerted to Palpatine’s use of the force.

Before his departure Obi Wan meets with Yoda and Padme. He admits to them his suspicions that Palpatine is strong in the darkside of the force. Padme tells them she has been meeting with Organa and Motha about the possibility of defeating Palpatine once victory over the clones is assured. Yoda explains that the future is cloudy and no Jedi has been able to see it clearly for sometime. Motha unveils the results of her own research  - each of the planets that have had a clone facility homes a non-human race. Each had won a defense contact, which had later been proven to clone factory, approved by Palpatine. Palpatine’s xenophobia has seen him attack only planets with alien races. Sensing a conspiracy, Obi Wan promises to bring back Grevious alive.

Anakin finds out Obi Wan has been given the mission and confronts Yoda. Angry that he has again been over looked he quits the order. He goes to Palpatine who tells him that the Jedi do not see him as someone capable of wielding unlimited power. He tells him that Obi Wan is considered the successor to Yoda’s title and that he knows they plan to control the republic for themselves. Jealous, Anakin pledges his allegiance to the Emperor and swears to protect his legacy. Palpatine offers to complete his training and show him things the Jedi would not.

Anakin sends Boba to kill Grevious, telling him to stop Obi Wan if he interferes.

Obi Wan finds Gervious and after a chase through the caves is able to corner him. Grevious reveals his lightsaber and admits to having undergone Sith training. The two duel and Obi Wan forces Grevious to submit. As he loads him into his ship, Fett appears and uses a disintegrating gun to assassinate Grevious. Obi Wan chases him but Fett escapes. Furious, Obi Wan returns to Courscant to confront Anakin.

Anakin announces the defeat of Grevious. Padme is elated that Obi Wan is victorious but Anakin shoots this notion down, explaining that he had Grevious assassinated. He dismisses her optimism that Motha will now take over calling her a traitor. Angry at her weakness he force chokes her, before releasing her.

The alliance attempt to force a vote against Palpatine though he is undaunted by the rebellion. Palpatine wins when other senators refuse to vote against him. He declares there is a Jedi plot to over throw him and orders the arrest of master Yoda. He introduces his new commander, Darth Vader, who emerges dressed in a mask and black cloak.

While this is happening, assassins attempt to kills the leaders of the alliance and a number of Jedi masters. They are successful in killing most of them, though Mace Windu and Yoda evade capture. Obi Wan manages to arrive back and protect Organa and Motha- who agree to leave the planet with Yoda. Windu decides to confront the Sith Lords to aid their escape. Vader himself kills Windu after a battle in which Vader is badly burned. He requires extensive robotic surgery that Palpatine organizes.

Having successfully declared himself Emperor and defeated his local enemies, Palpatine decides to end the clone wars. He gives Vader and Tarkin the location of the final cloning facility- a planet known as Kyysshk. From their new base on Dantooee, the Organa and Motha realize Kayysshk has also received a defense factory and, antipating The Emporer's move, they send Obi Wan and a rogue squadron of fighters to Kyyyssshk to confront Vader and restore the Jedi name.

The wookies, who realise the threat posed by the invading storm troopers, attempt to defend their home planet. The Empire unleashes their walkers who attack the wookies while Tarkin’s star destroyers bomb the cloning facility. The Rogue Squadron engage the star destroyers with limited success.

Inside the facility Vader faces Obi Wan who, despite Vader's face being completely hidden by a mask and helmet,  recognises him as Anakin. Obi Wan attempts to reason with his friend but realises he is overcome with fear and hate. Vader dismisses Obi Wan for trying to soften him and taunts him for being afraid of solitude and power – a result of being abandoned as a child. He offers Obi Wan the chance to join him on the darkside. Obi retorts that his friend is dead so he is alone anyway – he will not succumb to temptation. Realizing Obi Wan will not join him Vader attacks Obi Wan. During the battle Obi Wan is successful in injuring Vader. Vader attempts to use his force lightning but is unable to do so, his physical humanity having been replaced by wires and gears. Obi Wan seizes the opportunity to remove the last of Vader’s human legs. Standing over Vader, Obi Wan admits he has been afraid. He knew Anakin was turning to the dark side but couldn’t confront him. He apologizes since Anakin’s failure to find balance in the force means he failed as a teacher and friend.

Having defeated the Rogue Squadron, Tarkin continues to bomb the facility and villages so Obi Wan escapes, leaving Vader behind. Vader recovers and is rescued by Storm troopers. The Empire wins and enslaves the wookies.

On small cruiser the principle members of the rebel alliance meet. Padme’s wounds are fatal but she asks if Anakin survived Vader’s assault. Obi Wan replies that Vader murdered Anakin. Yoda’s gaze indicates he knows this is not the truth but he nods his approval. Padme clings to life as she gives birth to twins but soon dies. They mourn Padme and Anakin. Organa agrees to take the girl of the two twins. Yoda and Obi Wan agree to watch over the male and both go into hiding in separate locations. Motha returns to Courscant to monitor the Emperor.

The Emperor, a repaired and upgraded Vader and Admiral Tarkin over look the construction of their new space station- the death star.

Obi Wan delivers the child to his childhood planet of Tatooee and watches as Owen and Beau Lars take the boy inside. He dons a brown cloak and retreats into the mountains as the twin suns set.

Reimagining the Star Wars prequels - Part 2

If you haven't read yesterday's blog which featured the rationale for remaking the prequels and the first episode then you can do so here: http://daprano.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/reimagining-star-wars-prequels.html

Having used the first episode to both establish the relationship between Anakin and Obi Wan, and show off Anakin's piloting abilities, it is time to show their differences.

At the end of my Episode 1, Anakin and Obi Wan are victorious. They worked together to save the day. Of course, it was Anakin who saved Obi Wan but he was unable to defeat Darth Maul who managed to escape. Publically at least they are seen as equals. However Obi Wan is promoted ahead of Anakin, a move Anakin mocks. In this Episode the goal is to show why Anakin is tempted to choose a different path to Obi Wan. The audience is left to decide which of the two has behaved heroically.

For sub-plots there is the growing relationship between Padme and Anakin, the partnership between Obi Wan and Bail Organa (which Leia hints at in A New Hope) as well as the first appearances of General Grevious and the Fetts. I always liked in Empire Strikes Back that Bobba and Vader seemed familiar with each other. Some seeds for this are planted in this episode.

The goal with these remakes is to position the characters better for the original trilogy.

Let me know what you think!

EPISODE 2: THE EMPIRE RISES

A Jedi shuttles descends to a desert planet Geonosis and lands behind a hill. Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi emerge wearing Jedi military attire. Anakin comments on Obi Wan’s new rank of general as they move into a position to observe the installation below.

Below them is a massive plant. Complete with smoke stacks, the industrial complex is used to produce clones. Obi Wan radios to their in-orbit command ship that they will move in. The two reach an air duct that will allow them to enter. Inside they are able to observe and photograph the production line that incubates clones so they are born quicker. Anakin comments on the implications of this discovery – the clones will out number the inexperienced Republic army before long.

They are detected by droids and forced from their hiding place. Surrounded, they are able to use their force powers (speed, jump and push) to escape. They agree to split up to make and rendezvous at their shuttle. Anakin runs into a dead end and is surrounded by warrior Geonosisians. He takes out his light sabre and attacks them- dismembering all so that he is able to escape into a hatch. Obi Wan is able to use his force skills to mind tricks to leave via a side door. The two reunite outside and head for their shuttle though Obi Wan falls into a pit. With droids and warriors approaching, Anakin is able to force-lift Obi Wan out of trouble and uses his force-push to knock away the approaching droids.

Following a chase the two Jedi return to their shuttle to meet the approaching lander. From the lander giant Walkers emerge to approach the complex. Obi Wan and Anakin watch from afar as the Walkers fire on and destroy the complex.

Upon their return to Coruscant they debrief with their Commander Mace Windu. Both make light of their brushes with trouble and report the success of the mission. Yoda enters and warns the two that they must remain mindful of the bigger threat- the two Sith lords who have not been seen for sometime. Anakin boasts that they would be no match for Obi Wan and himself, which Yoda does not find amusing so he mocks Anakin’s overconfidence.

In the Senate, the senator for Mustafar admonishes the decision to attack his allied system – Geonosis. Palpatine argues that anyone who aids the clones is no friend of the Republic. With an election looming his speech has taken on a strong nationalist rhetoric. Padme and Organa exchange worrying glances, as the Mustafar senator is silence by the cheering senators who support Palpatine’s campaign to be elected High Chancellor.

Later, Padme meets with Anakin and Obi Wan to catch up. While they discuss the political climate, something Anakin has little interest in, the sky turns dark. Sensing a disturbance in the force, the two Jedi take Padme to the Jedi temple and realize Pirate Clone ships have filled the sky. The Senate reconvenes. The Jedi plan a strategy as the Senate prepares an evacuation. It is decided to have Jedi accompany the Senators in their escape. Anakin accompanies Padme, and Obi Wan accompanies Organa.

Padme and Anakin use Anakin’s star fighter to escape the new blockade and escape to Naboo. Obi Wan and Bail head to Dantooee on a commercial ship. Palpatine refuses Windu’s offer to go and pledges to remain until there is nothing of Coruscant left. With a depleted reserve, and the majority of Jedi Knights elsewhere, the capital falls quickly and Palpatine goes into hiding. General Grevious, a part cyborg/alien who leads the attack, declares victory for the pirate army as they occupy the capital.

Meanwhile on Naboo, Anakin and Padme find a safe house. Padme admits her attraction to him, but Anakin is unable to reciprocate due to his Jedi Oath – whci forbids the indulgence of intense emotions including passion. An assassin eventually finds them and attempts to kill both. Anakin is able to defeat them easily though not without sustaining damage to his leg. While nursing him, Padme seduces him and Anakin willingly accepts. Knowing that they are not safe, Padme decides they must leave, as she won’t risk damage to Naboo.

At the same time Bail and Obi Wan find themselves disguised as pirates on Dantooee. Unable to remain incapacitated the two agree to see what they can find out.  They eventually find themselves recruited into a mission with a weapons expert known as Jango Fett. They journey to Yavin 4 and attend a pirate meeting. They are astonished to find a battalion of pirate clones ready for battle. There they also see plans for a facility that Jango confesses will “win the war.” The Death Star is a space station that, when built, will destroy all. Organa doubts the pirates will be able to secure the funds to build such a station but Obi Wan senses a dark presence nearby. Obi Wan recognizes Darth Maul and begins to follow him but he evades him. Deciding to return to Coruscant, the two confront Jango with their true identities and arrest him. They commandeer his ship, The Slave, and head back home. They allow his son Bobba to accompany them.

On the outskirts of the system the two parties meet with senator Mon Motha and Yoda. They receive a message from Palpatine who asks for reinforcements. Motha has gathered the remnants of the Republic fleet to take back the capital but has been unable to contact Palpatine on the surface. Anakin suggests a full assault on Grevious to bring down the army once and for all. They eventually agree on a more elusive strategy that should force them from the planet and allow Motha to restore government. Privately, Obi Wan tells Yoda of Maul and the Death Star.

They use The Slave to approach the system. Obi Wan notices the closeness between Anakin and Padme but says nothing. The plan works and they are able to land. Making their way through the Jedi Temple they find Sidious, Maul and Grevious. Sidious flees but Maul uses his force powers to bring the roof down, while Grevious throws grenades. Padme and Motha are injured, while Obi Wan is able to save Organa. Fett is killed when he attempts to follow the Sith lords. Anakin gives chase to Maul, Obi Wan tracks down Sidious and Organa tends to the injured women. Bobba and Yoda emerge from the rubble, though head in different directions. Obi wan is unable to locate Sideous but finds Palpatine imprisoned and frees him.

Finally, Anakin confronts Maul. They battle furiously with Anakin the aggressor. He succeeds in relieving Maul of his double-edged lightsaber, though Maul reveals a second spare one. Maul manages to cut off Anakin’s hand leaving him defenseless and in agony. Maul offers Anakin mercy – if he will join him on the darkside. Anakin, enraged by Maul’s renewed taunts, unleashes a stream of white lighting from his good hand towards his enemy. Maul is knocked from the platform and falls into the electrical station below. Staring at his smokey hand he realizes he has avenged his parents and collapses to the ground in tears cradling his injured arm.

Clone troopers find the weakened Anakin and attack him. Anakin is able to hold them off, using Maul’s second lightsaber, but finds himself cornered. When he nudges them away using the force, Bobba appears and distracts the clones. Anakin beheads them. He gives a knowing wink to the young boy as they leave the area.

Palpatine uses Anakin’s exploits and “promotes” him to Jedi Master. Anakin, a hero of the battle, stands at the side of Palpatine as he wins the election when Mon Motha concedes defeat. He describes the republic as an unbreakable empire that will now crush the clone menace. Yoda, Obi Wan and Mace exchanged concerned looks as Padme looks into Anakin’s eyes across the great hall.