Quote from: beejazzThe emperor was supposed to be Yoda?

You have to admit, it would have been more interesting than what they decided to run with.

!i!

Quote from: WarthurISTR that the original novel version actually described the Emperor as being isolated and senile, sidelined by Vader and Tarkin.

I remember the word "isolated", but not senile. Ah, I found the passage in a couple places.

QuoteAnother galaxy, another time.
The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time.  No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that ... it was the Republic.

Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew.  But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.

So it was with the Republic at its height.  Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from outside.

Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic.  He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.

Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace.  Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.

Having exterminated through treachery and deception the Jedi Knights, guardians of justice in the galaxy, the Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy.  Many used the Imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions.

But a small number of systems rebelled at these new outrages.  Declaring themselves opposed to the New Order they began the great battle to restore the Old Republic.

From the beginning they were vastly outnumbered by the systems held in thrall by the Emperor.  In those first dark days it seemed certain the bright flame of resistance would be extinguished before it could cast the light of new truth across a galaxy of oppressed and beaten peoples...

Sources:
Whills.nu (Check out the early treatments and drafts. "The Bogan is strong with you." Hee!)
Usenet

The various treatments are interesting here because they show the evolution of Vader's role. At least at one point, he's described as the "right hand man" of an even greater Sith, but later he becomes the right hand man of the Emperor. So, maybe Lucas was thinking along those lines all the time, but most likely he was just cutting and merging characters in the normal process of tightening up a story.

The passage above does make the Emperor seem less active and in control than I'd remembered ("controlled by boot-lickers"). In any case, much different from the way he's shown in all the other movies.

You know how Han Solo suddenly shows up and covers Luke's back at he trench run?

That's Star Wars to me.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!You know how Han Solo suddenly shows up and covers Luke's back at he trench run?

That's Star Wars to me.

Yeah, but ... it's not entirely "sudden."  That's part of what I love about it, too.

When my son (then five years old) was watching it for the first time, he was clinging to me (hard!  ouch!) as Darth Vader closed in for the kill, and he said "Daddy ... his friend just has to come save him ... daddy, he just HAS TO."

Between the two of us (both making noise, but for different reasons) I am pretty sure I have never heard a happier scream when Han did that very thing.

So when I say "A five year old can see that plot twist coming," I am both entirely literal and entirely complimentary.

Awesome story, Tony. I'm gonna refrain (with effort) from waxing erudite about Tolkien's concept of "Eucatastrophe."

I, like a bunch o' others, really dig on the Tarkin and Vader stuff as i'm growing older and rewatching. As a kid, a lot of that stuff whizzed right by; I probably just assumed Vader was the leader of everything cause, well, LOOK at him, and only when the Emperor makes an appearance did that model get discarded. And I actually saw Empire first, in theater at age 7, after my dad summarized SW for me, so Vader as Emperor-sidekick actually preceeded Vader as Tarkin-sidekick.

Now, though, I love all the nuance in the first movie with Vader ordered about by Tarkin, basically being kind of an outsider presence, with his fringy religion and funky suit, but with terror-inducing powers and a fearsome presence. He's a zealous General pursuing his personal agenda, which is NOT the Death Star or the whole "fear and terror" political campaign. He's a little (but deadly!) fish who consistently gains power throughout the trilogy. Maybe he's even sincere to Luke about "ending this destructive conflict" and "ruling the galaxy" together, I.E. in place of the Emperor? Eh?

And on a lighter note. . .anyone seen this?

Peace,
-Joel

What about Liet?

Quote from: MelinglorAnd on a lighter note. . .anyone seen this?

That will never, ever, stop being funny no matter how many times I see it. Never.

"What the hell is an Aluminum Falcon?" :killingme:

"Have you got an ATM on that Torso, Lite Brite?!?!"

Mel, thanks.  I have never seen that and it put me, literally, in tears.

Awesome. I've been sharing the love with as many folks as possible.

"Look, I didn't mean to snap, it's just, I'm under a lot of pressure, Death Star blown up by a bunch of fucking teenagers, you know."

Peace,
-Joel

I watched it again today (it was on one of the HBO channels and my son loves it and it's raining)...

I have to thank Warthur for pointing out the Tarkin thing. Man did Cushing make that roll.  It's a shame he had to die.

The script also brings up so many questions that could have been answered in so many ways that it's almost a shame that TESB, even though it's a great movie (perhaps the best of them, IMHO), was ever made.  The open nature of things would have been - spectacular.

Quote from: James J SkachThe script also brings up so many questions that could have been answered in so many ways that it's almost a shame that TESB, even though it's a great movie (perhaps the best of them, IMHO), was ever made.  The open nature of things would have been - spectacular.

This is a beautiful thought James

Regards,
David R

"Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry.  I thought my 'Dark Lord of the Sith' could protect a small thermal exhaust port that's only 2 meters wide. That thing wasn't even fully paid off yet!"


It's just too fucking funny....

"Get your seven-foot-two-asmatic ass back here or I'm going to tell everyone what a whiny bitch you were about padamomey or panda bear or whatever the hell her name is."

It's fucking priceless....

That whole damn thing is so quoteable, huh?

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought my Dark Lord of the Sith could protect an exhaust port that's freakin' two meters WIDE! That thing wasn't even paid off yet!"

:killingme:

Peace,
-Joel