*WARNING*

This is not a 'PT sucks' thread. Do not turn this into a call to arms to defend/attack your viewpoint of the films. I'm looking for your creative insight on what your ideas were of a PT based on what you knew of the OT beforehand. For those of you that watched them in order well, I guess you got the egg before the chicken.

*END WARNING*

My alternate PT story arc:

Episode I

(not a scroll)

The peace of the Galactic Republic is in jeopardy. The mercenary Mandalorian Armies have united in an attempt to gain power of the executive which has outlawed the cult's activities. The Sith Lord Darth Sidious is the secret benefactor of the Mandalorians, funding their military and helping them make calculated attacks on Republic outposts. Sidious' apprentice, Darth Maul is given the assignment to assassinate Bail Organa, the popular Alderaan representative who has blocked the vote to create a Republic army. Jedi Knight Obi-wan Kenobi is sent to the planet Alderaan, which has fallen under seige, to evacuate Senator Organa and Alderaan's Queen Padme Amidala.

The weak Alderaan defenses are no match for the highly trained and organized Mandalores and the planet is easily overrun. Obi-wan, Padme, her protocol droid See Threepio and Bail barely escape but are cut off from making a jump to the capital Coruscant by the Mandalorian Armada. To their rescue comes a group of rogue starfighters led by Anakin Skywalker (along with his trusty astromech Artoo Detoo), who then accompanies the group back to safe haven on Tattoine. Obi-wan senses that the force is extremely strong with Anakin and plays on the youngster's eagerness for adventure to convince him to be trained as a Jedi Knight. Meanwhile, Anakin begins to fall in love with Padme, though he holds back feeling she is involved with Bail Organa.

Though the Republic's power begins to dwindle under the Mandalore attacks, the executive (under the leadership of Alderaanian chancellor Antilles) refuses to embark on a total war. The ambitious Senator Palpatine however, leads a strong voice of opposition and injects fear into the Republic's worlds to garner support. As more and more systems fall, the fear and resentment grow stronger and Antilles is forced to resign. Palpatine is nominated and wins an overwhelming majority.

Anakin's training begins and his liking for Padme grows, but the Sith Darth Maul has tracked the group down and begins an assault on their position. Anakin's fighter group holds off the Mandalores just long enough for the Alderaanians to escape to Coruscant while Obi-wan confronts Maul. The encounter is fought to a stalemate and Obi-wan manages to flee with Anakin's heroics. The two make their way to Coruscant.

Anakin is examined by the Jedi Council who sense that he has the most force potential of any being in the history of the galaxy. Unsure of what this means, the Jedi Masters are nevous training a boy who is already 18 years of age. The matter is left unresolved as the Republic moves towards a full scale war. The decision is ultimately made when an attack group is sent to invade Coruscant directly, marking the beginning of a conflict that will become the Clone Wars. Obi-wan is granted permission to train Anakin, as the Jedi order needs all the help it can get to protect the Republic.



I will update my Episode II soon. Mysteries will be revealed, the plot will thicken.

Alrighty let's try this one more time only no shit posting.

Just the inclusion of the Mandalores makes it a cool storyline. I wish Lucas had utilized them somehow...

I'd love to do post my revised story for Return of the Jedi as well. Perhaps one of these for the OT should be made.

I would have stuck with Lucas' first notion: Obi-Wan was the master of Qui-Gon, not vice-versa. He loses his apprentice to Darth Maul, explaining why he was so overprotective of Anakin. It would also help nullify the gaping continuity issue of Obi-Wan's age in the OT.

What's the problem with Obi-Wan's age in the OT? Vader hinted that Obi-Wan was significantly older than he was by calling him "old man". If Obi-Wan is in his mid-20's in TPM (32 years before ANH), that means he's about 34 or 35 in AOTC. Which in turn means he's about 38 or so in ROTS (19 years before ANH). Thus in ANH itself, Obi-Wan is about 55-60... which I have no trouble accepting.

The math really does add up.

PS- re: Mandalorians- thank God that Lucas didn't use that ridiculous concept in the prequel trilogy. Pure sheep bullshit. Ditto Anakin being 18 in Episode I.

I don't think it's sheep bullshit. The mandalores are an established affiliation that we know as a group of mercenaries. If anything, they'd be like the stormtroopers of the PT. Instead of easily destructable droids, you have something that packs a lot more punch.

In my Episode II, Boba Fett would betray his clansman to make a profit as the template of the Republic Clone Army, then when III rolls around he's hired by the Empire during the Jedi Purge. Establishes the freelance work he does for the Empire that's further explored in ESB.

I'd use alot of elements from the existing PT story arc, but change it here and there.

Anakin being 18 or so in I wouldn't be a bad idea either. He was originally supposed to be around 13 before he was changed to 9. The main criticism of Episode I was how unbelieveable it was to watch a 9 year old kid tear shit up in space....well, make him a bit older and correct that problem. He can still be innocent and compassionate and loving at 18, much like Luke was in ANH, but he'll have a bit more bite. In II, you'd have developed his initial character and could dive deeper into his psyche. His friendships would strengthen, as would his angst to become MORE. He's ambitious in my Episode I, He's ambitious in George's as well. Therefore his motivation would be the same, which is what leads him down the dark path to begin with. I would keep the whole Padme arc and how he finally gives in to save his love, just as Luke does to save his friends.

Congratulations! You missed the point!



Ya know, I'm just glad George wrote the prequels and not you.

Which is more important: the PT being what you think it should be or what Lucas thinks it should be?

In the end its arbitrary. THere were a million ways GL couldve approached the PT, and he chose one and I for one think its fine. He could've done the OT a lot of ways too, but we never really think about that, b/c that was given to us before we had the time to think about it.

I'm not trolling. You said something moronic and so I asked whether it's more important that the PT match your vision or George's. And it looks like you've answered, I guess.

That's exactly what I'm getting at.

Again this isn't a 'your story sucks and GL is better than you' thread or vise versa. It's just a fun thread to see how people imagined the PT before it happened.

thecolorsblend, it seems like YOU have completely missed the point of this thread. You sound like a whiney douchebag, and an ignorant one at that since you've completely ignored the caution of the initial post. Get the fuck out of my thread.

It's funny, ever since you started this thread, I started to think back to alternative ways I had imagined the PT or the individual episodes. I think ROTS, having its story so part of the lore for so long, has the least leeway. AOTC for me is the one that could've been the most different. And I am harshest on.

Even though I love it, and would probably call it the 4th best Star Wars, there are some missed opportunities for me in that episode. I've outlined my beef with the leaving the Padme development on the cutting room floor, but I also feel that the end duel with Dooku should've been much more personal for Anakin. It's a very personal film, Anakin's love for Padme, his attatchment with his mother, and his flirtation with the Dark Side are really the center of the film, and what make the film good in my eyes. If that end duel btwn Dooku and Anakin had mirrored the Luke Vader in ESB I think it would've retained the personal, character driven nature the first two acts of the story had. Dooku should introduce Anakin to the Dark Side, taunt Anakin that he cannot beat him without the Dark Side, perhaps even sense Anakin has used the Dark Side as he did to defeat the Tuskens. Also, I think Dooku should be able to sense Anakin's attachment to Padme (who for all Anakin knows is dying outside the hangar) and use this to create a sense of urgency and anger in Anakin.

OK. Lucas (for the most part) had the entire OT allready written (or at least outlined) before he shot A New Hope. His approach to the PT was alot different in that the only thing he had in mind were basic themes he wanted to touch on and the end result (ROTS): this was the critical flaw in the PT. As a result you have disposable baddies (who never get enough screen time to show you why they are evil other than "wow he really looks evil").

So here is my take (GoCros thinking is along the same lines): Lucas should have combined Dooku and Maul into one awesome Sith who doesn't die until ROTS, he should have combined Gunray and Grevious into one character, he should have shown both of these characters doing more nasty things (like actually KILLING PEOPLE with their own hands. Vader crushes a guys windpipe and chucks him in the first 5 minutes of ANH!!! what does Grevious ever do besides threaten people?), Naboo should have been Alderaan, and the clone wars should have begun at the end of TPM. Amen?

The only reason why I would say my PT story arc is not as rich is because it's basically the same formula as the OT with different events. I like that Lucas enriched the GFFA with his PT. There's alot of planets, characters and themes, but with only three movies at 2 hours each to develop them you run into some problems.

Something I never understood was that on the one hand, you have the criticism that there are too many "coincidences" and "connections" in the PT (for instance Obi-Wan knowing the droids beforehand), which is not the most unfair criticism in the world. However you then have a lot of those same people turn around and say that "Alderaan should have been Naboo". So what I've gotten out of this age old argument is that THESE connections are unnecessary, but THOSE connections are necessary? If one were in Lucas' position of having to write these films, how would one be able to tell the difference? How would one be able to make the discrepancy of what every fan specifically wants? Inquiring minds want to know.

P.S.
This isn't at all an attack on CoGro's thread, which is a very nice excuse to get some good creative thoughts out incidentally. Nor is this directed at the poster who made the (offhanded) comment on Naboo/Alderaan. This is more along the lines of my trying to piece together the fractured jigsaw puzzle of the more embittered SW fan's expectations of the PT, which for the life of me remains one of modern day pop cultures' unsolvable mysteries.

P.P.S.
More on topic, pray tell WHAT is wrong the Mandalorians? While I really dig CoGro's suggestion (and he isn't nearly the first to make this suggestion) of throwing an actual Mandalorian army in there, I've always maintained that the PT DOES in fact have a Mandalorian army technically. It's just all made up of the same guy.

The two are in no way analogous. If Naboo was rewritten as Alderaan I don't think you could characterize that as a coincidence. How much of a coincidence is it if you are from the same planet as your mother? In fact I think it is more likely for such a thing to be.

Exactly.

There can still be extreme creativity involved, tons of new planets, characters, weapons etc...but there could have been some places hinted at in the OT that were explored more in the PT ie) Correlia.

This discussion seemed to be the best place on this site to announce my unofficial rewrite of Episode III. It was done primarily to remedy the movie's deficiencies in character development, especially that of Padme Amidala who, except for one powerful scene, was not given her due.

The work is too long to post here, but I can email it to those who are interested.

Heres my take on the prequel trilogy I would have like to seen.

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Same basic storyline. But Anakin is 15 and a pilot, instead of pod races they race in T-16's through beggers canyon. Qui-gon recognises his force potential. The plot is more or less the same until we get back to Naboo. Anakin doesnt accidently get in the starfighter he does it through choice and blows up the Droid control ship in a similarly deliberate way. The Duel of the Fates goes the same way, Qui-Gon is still killed. Obi-Wan and Maul have a similarly impressive duel where they go into another corridor of energy barriers, whist fighting the barriers close and sever both lightsabers and Maul manages to escape to his ship. Obi-wan realising that Maul is gone rushes back to his master who makes him promise to train anakin. Anakin returns as a hero of naboo, in a scene reminiscant of Episode 4 both him and Obi-Wan are awarded medals by queen amidala and the film ends.

Episode 2: The Gathering Storm

Anakin and Obi-Wan are called in to protect the now senator Amidala. The film is basically the same except that Darth Maul takes the place of Count Dooku. In the final duel anakin is fried then Maul and Obi-Wan go at it. Obi-Wan is bested but before Maul can strike the killer blow Anakin intervenes and its a three way battle again. Anakin loses an arm and is force pushed away, Obi-Wan continues for a while and is nipped in the leg and arm. Then as Maul readies to kill the two Jedis Yoda hobbles around the corner. They have a force duel throwing rocks and equipment back and forth. Maul then shoots lightening which Yoda easily deflects. Maul uses both hands to channel a large amount of energy which Yoda then simply absorbs, this noticeably unsettles Maul who then suggests they move on to lightsabers. Maul overwhelmed causes a rock to tumble onto anakin and obi-wan that yoda must stop his attack to intercept and Maul gets away.

Episode 3: Revenge Of The Sith

The same except Dooku is replaced with Maul. Longer final duel with much more trash talk. Sidious obviously defeats Yoda.

Darth Maul was never developed as a character in The Phantom Menace. He is just a guy who fights really well with a double-edged light saber to the tune of John Williams' choral "Duel of the Fates." I doubt that he, or the actor Ray Park who plays him, could replace veteran actor Christopher Lee, who essentially steals the second movie. Although his appearance in Revenge of the Sith is brief, Lee makes the most of it. His shocked reaction, when Palpatine urges Anakin to kill him, isn't in the script, but it should have been, since it's a very telling moment.

Also, were Maul to replace Dooku, he, like Dooku, would have to have a dual identity. And his Separatist Leader identity would have to be so well disguised, that Obi-Wan would not be able to recognize him.

STAR WARS

EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Turmoil has engulfed the Republic. Several thousand Star Systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic.

This separatist movement has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice, to maintain order in the galaxy.

While the Congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, Senator Palpatine, leader of the Loyalist Committee, is returning to Coruscant with news from the Separatists...

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon track down the Separatist leaders to bring an end to the Separatist crisis. Instead they uncover a huge battle droid manufacturing plant.

On their journey, they meet a young slave Anakin Skywalker who Qui-Gon takes as an apprentice against the will of the Jedi Council. Unhappy with the boy's training and the lack of effort of the Jedi Council, Master Dooku leaves the Jedi.

The Jedi battle the Droid Armies on the planet of Geonosis, barely escaping and losing huge amounts of Jedi. Senator Palpatine, leader of the Loyalists is voted into office as Chancellor in hope that he will be able to peacefully lead the Republic out of the newly founded War.


STAR WARS

EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES

There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. The Trade Guilds, under the leadership of the former Jedi, Count Dooku, have voiced their discontent with the Republic.

Hoping to resolve their discontent with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo in defiance.

Senator Amidala, Senator for the Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...


As local star systems fall under the control of the Separatists, Chancellor Palpatine prepares the Military Creation Act to gather an army for the Republic. Senator Amidala of Naboo leads the opposition to this Act. A threat is made on her life and she is sent back to her planet in disguise under the protection of Anakin Skywalker.

Obi-Wan Kenobi tracks down the Senator's assassin and discovers a huge clone army created by Count Dooku. Obi-Wan tracks down the count and discovers he is leading the Separatists away from the Republic - including the Trade Guilds who have blockaded Naboo.

Anakin and Amidala fall in love and the planet of Naboo is invaded by the droid forces secretly stowed in the battleships. The Chancellor is given emergency powers and the Jedi take control of the Clone Army. They head for Naboo.

The Clone Army wins the war and Naboo is liberated. Anakin and Amidala wed.