The script is just an outline of what the movie will be.

The script can't describe for you the action, the emotion or the tone of the film. That has to be left to your imagination. If you think the script is weak, but loved the novel...well, that speaks to your lack of imagination in regards to filling in the blanks of the script.

I own all the scripts to the OT and PT. They are exactly the same in structure, and as you read them you realize how important the different elements of filmmaking are in bringing Star Wars to life.

Star Wars fans of all people should know how unimportant the script of a SW film is in relaying the final product.

Opinion noted. I haven't read the Episode I script, but I did read the Episode II script and I really got a kick out of it. I like it more than the movie. Maybe I just read an earlier version of it. I certainly hope that no more is cut out of this thing. It's already in a slightly less than bare bones state.

according to the screenplay, we get to see mastere Vos get owned on kashyyyk too (scene 136).

And, at the beginning, they say that the screenplay includes changes made during editing (although that doesn't mean shit with lucas...)

Thanks, Darth_Zidious! That's what I was looking for. Some of the stuff I'm glad it's gone (all the extraneous Invisible Hand B.S.), some of it I'm not (the Rebellion scenes). I wonder if Qui-Gon's V.O. is still there...

AJ, Read the Episode 5 script, a movie that is commonly praised as the best of the saga. If you had read that before you saw Empire Strikes Back you'd think it was the biggest piece of shit of all time. And I'm being dead serious. The script can't describe the genius of Frank Oz's performance, the power of the final scenes or the believeability of the the Han/Leia relationship. It's just boring dialogue (alot of which is excised in the film) with an average story.

But it was an outline.

Dialogue was improvised, the actors came through, ILM cooked up some terrific effects, the mood was established and a stunning score was added.

These cuts you think are 'retarded' wil probably make the film alot better. Crying about it is just foolishly sheep. If an entire plot point was removed, something important to the story like the Qui-gon force teaching, I would be pretty upset. However, none of those cuts are important. In fact, they would slow the movie down if they were there, or alter the impact of what's really important to this story - the fall of Anakin and the rise of the Empire. Lucas knows what's important to THIS film, and he'll be as ruthless as he can to stress the importance of that message.

Yeah, so it looks like Vos really is the EU character in the movie and it doesn't sound like his part is cut out as it's the scene with the clone tank firing on another tank as has been described in the past.

I believe the novel is vastly superior in dialogue, pacing and achieves a tone of maturity absent in the screenplay. I think the weight of Anakin's trajedy is more deeply felt in the way it's told through the book. Also, the screenplay has somehow managed to lose the novel's atmosphere of constant darkness and the weight of a looming crisis. It's the subtle additions that truly matter.

The screenplay simply feels watered-down. A rushed version of a more complete story.

I will withhold judgement until I've seen the film, but a PG rating is definitely more believable at this point.

If scenes 101 and 103 are cut, then I don't think 102 can stay in there (it's a scene from Anakin's dream. The second time it is shown).

Otherwise, we have:

Scene 99: Obi-Wan heads for Utapau
Scene 102: Brief scene from Anakin's dream
Scene 104: Obi-Wan arriving at Utapau

That doesn't work. Actually, scene 102 doesn't seem to fit in any case. If he keeps it, I wonder where it would go?

How can you compare a screenplay to a novel? That's just rediculous. Stupid actually. Of course the novel fleshes out the story more, duhh 400 pages to 40 pages...which do you think has a better chance of relaying the story in its entirety.

A screenplay is just dialogue and loosely directed actions. I don't know what you were expecting from this script, or any movie script for that matter.

Feel free to call me retarded, cause maybe I am, but wasn't the screenplay supposed to be in the "Art of" book like they did with Episode 2? Cause I bought the book today and it isn't there.. I couldn't have sworn I read it would be. Isn't it availible in print anywhere? And if so, where? I've bought the screenplays for every other episode, and I really want this, even though I probably won't read it until after the film.

That has nothing to do with it. It's the way the dialogue was spliced and put back together in a simplified manner. It's a matter of what was left in, how it was arranged and what was thrown out. I'm aware that novels and screenplays are always different, that's why I'm withholding judgement until I see the film.

If the script was in the "Art Of Revenge of the Sith" book we would have had it up a long time ago

A quick question ... what are Yoda and Bail doing on Polis Massa before Obiwan arrives with Padme? I always assumed they went there for the medical center, but from the script it seems they were unaware of what was happening with Padme and it just happens that they were there when obiwan contacted them. Do they go there strictly to seek refuge after fleeing Sidious?

Also a quick nitpick ... assuming JEJ is doing the voice for suited-Vader (or even if they just mimick his voice), i simply cant imagine that the first words spoken by vader in the script after his reconstruction could sound even remotely believable in the deep, slow voice we all associate with OT vader. " It's impossible! No!!! " I can clearly hear this in HC's voice, but not JEJ's.

I used to be the 'of course it's JEJ' big-mouth, but I'm not so sure anymore that he's in the movie. Part of me says "Of course it's him. There's no reason for it not to be." But another part of me says "It's just a few fucking lines, why make the guy trek to the studio for something that will be hardly noticeable to 90 percent of people."

That said I hope it's him. I love that man.

And second, I have no answer for you in regards to Polis Massa.

The script is a mere guidline. The film has been cut, recut and cut a thousand times over. There will be stark differences between what you read and what you see on May 19.

i wasn't trying to revive that old dead horse that is the debate over whether JEJ is doing the voice or not. i'm just saying that i can't imagine those lines being delivered in the suited-vader inflection, regardless of whether its JEJ, modified HC, or a wholly synthetic voice. those lines seem whiney and high pitched, whereas the OT vader we know and love spoke with a deep, drawn-out, controlled pattern of speech. but then again, im just nitpicking. its gonna kick my ass either way.

"It's in my "Art Of Revenge" - bought it yesterday from Whsmiths in London."

I had heard it might be in the British version. Can you compare it to the online version?

"what are Yoda and Bail doing on Polis Massa before Obiwan arrives with Padme?"

Thanks for pointing that out! I had so many pre-conceived notions before reading the script that I completely missed that bit.

Okay, I'm not a fan of the "lost the will to live" shit. It would have just been better if she broke her neck or something. Or hell, just have her die from complications with childbirth. Losing the will to live is not a legitimate reason for someone to just drop dead. Even the most miserable, hopeless, suicidal person doesn't die until he kills himself.

Now, the "will to live" might make a difference when trying to recover from cancer or something, but it takes a little more to kill you if you're perfectly healthy. The autonomic nervous system dosen't give a shit if you're sad. It's still going to regulate your heart rate, respiration, etc, and there's nothing you can do about it.

You're taking it a bit too seriously. It's a fantasy based in a galaxy far far away. That's why physics and things work differently.

Okay, obviously its fantasy, but even in fantasy, they have some way of justifying things. Its not that it isn't realistic that bothers me. Its that they don't justify it. I wouldn't mind if her grief was a contributing factor to her death, but I don't like it as the sole cause of it.

" the majority of Bail's screentime with the other rebellion senators is going to play VERY dry and VERY slow"

If my interpretation of the Making Of ROTS book is correct, all of that has been cut. I listed the deleted scenes a number of posts back.

I think GG has been well integrated into the story. Kashyyyk, less so.

Damn, so many scenes I kinda liked from the script was cut or trimmed a lot.

Is anyone else really digging the politics in this movie?

Such as:

PALPATINE: There are times when we must all endure adjustments to the constitution in the name of security.

and

Palpatine: In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganised into the first Galactic Empire! (personally I thought the book version of the 2nd quote was more hard-hitting and, well, better. but this is pretty good too.)

Sound familiar to anyone?

WOw. I was really impressed by this script. Typically, I hate reading scripts before I see a movie because the script never does the movie justice. Once you see the acting, visuals, facial expressions, pacing. sound effects, and the score it all of the sudden comes to life.

To the people in this thread moaning: get your panties out of their wads. Most of the dialogue remains from what we already knew and alot of it was expaned on like the space battle and various other places. And the fights sound SOOOOO much better and longer and intense than the novel made them out to be.

However, the drama of the novel MAY have been more powerful because Stover was able to explain the emotions running through their minds on the page. With a script it is ONLY lines of dialogue and brief descriptions, which helps give direction on the set (*Obi-Wan turned to face Anakin*) To say this script seemed abbreviated is totally an unfair statement AND innaccurate I might add.

Just because the script didn't describe what it felt like for Anakin to wake up in the vader armor and the horror he must have felt at that moment, with that terriofying description, doesn't make the script bad. You guys are unbelievably ludicrus.

LOL come on, have some imagination, im not bithcing thats lightsabers are impossible, or blaster bolts defy physics....its Sci fi Fantasy remember!!

Bit dissapointed, must say the dialogue was mostly better in the novel. I am very sorry, that the Palpatinearrest scene is so different from book version. And that Count Dooku has no dialogue before he loses his head. Now it depends all on the delivery and the atmosphere.

Yeah, I think a lot of you have nailed what I was thinking. There is often a lack of drama in the script. Unless GL has really directed the performers well, I feel certain moments will fall flat.

I must admit that based on the small amount of footage I've seen of performances, the actors seem to being doing a pretty arlight job with what they've been given. I just worry if they've been given enough to get the story across. In my opinion, the whole seduction of Anakin is quite well done, it just seems Anakin falls too ridiculously far too ridiculously fast. He makes one simple choice to stop Mace, which he feels bad about, and then he immediately forgets all his remorse and pledges his loyalty to the Sith. I wonder if there is enough of the seduction and Anakin's struggle in the movie to make it realistic. Also, as I said earlier, Grievous is nothing, He is a robot with no character. In the novel he was something.
Eh. My problem is that I've read spoilers. There's certain lines and certain small things(Lucas and most of you would call them useless things) that just contribute to the characters and atmosphere in subtle little ways. Things that I've fallen in love with over the last few months, things that I've been enthusiastically telling people about the movie, and now that they're gone or have been reworked to be weaker, it makes me sad.

I agree with a point you've made there Jones. Anakin does indeed go from 'what have I done?' to 'yeah, Sith me baby!' in the space of a paragraph. I honestly thought that some of the script was missing. This bothers me because the whole point of the movie is to show how and why Anakin turns. Some of you might say 'well, he wants to protect Padme' but again I feel their relationship in this film is woefully underdeveloped and extremely wet.

We're reviewing the script. At no point have I said 'this movie is gonna suck' and I don't think anyone else has either. Keep it civil.

No, we can't say the movie sucks, we are just saying that the script has some flaws, that will hopefully be compensated in its visual form.

We're discussing the pros and cons of the screenplay, as per the title of the thread. Read again.

Funny, that was much better reading that than the novel as I was able to use my own imagination to fill out the blanks. Really buzzing after reading that.

The two things mentioned on this page I spotted also - Anakin's 'sudden' turn and Sidious calling him Anakin.

For the first one, we don't really get an impression of how piszed off/desperate Anakin is - often the script just says 'Anakin is angry'. I have faith on screen that come the film, we'll see that he's hopelessly conlicted and makes a believeable life changing decision.

As for being called Anakin - that's his name in the same way Dooku is Darth Tyranus. Not got a problem with that, in fact it wouldn't sound right if Sidious was saying 'Vader, Vader'.

Another slightly odd thing was I was digging Palpatine twisting Anakin's nipples, but I was surprised when he revealed himself so obviously and suddenly. Again, I hope it seems realistic on film.

With a lot of these things, you have to portray people changing in a relatively short space of time, and just reading it might make it sound less believeable than seeing it on screen.

Slight reservations

- couldn't quite envisage the fight as it moved onto the lava. Hopefully doesn't suck.
- force tantrum - what's his aim here, is he trying to kill Sidious and if so why doesn't he?
- occasional dialogue which doesn't sound quite right - I'm sure I can let it go.

Forgot I could swear on here. Of course I meant 'Pissed'


For fucks sake.

Palpatine cons Anakin into believing he knows the secret to saving Padme but then after he turns tells him that they will figure it out together, i.e. he ain't got a clue.

Surely, Anakin would have been furious at this (he's an angry Sith Lord afterall) and would have considered killing his new master their and then? We know he was willing to have him arrested by the Jedi so he doesn't really care what happens to him one way or the other. Or is it just me?

Yeah but Anakin's sole reason for saving Palpy from Mace is because he needs the knowledge he has. When he learns that knowledge is not in his possession why not just kill him?

I just read the script ommiting all the listed deleted scenes(including the Artoo stuff at the start) but I also ommited the Qui-Gon scene since there is rumors of that going.
The script is much better paced and more enjoyable overall with these scenes gone.
However,I feel the Qui-Gon scene would be great to have but now I realize it isn't 100% needed(though would be nice). Yoda more or less retells everything Qui-Gon says to Obi-Wan in this scene:

Yoda: Master Kenobi, wait a moment. In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you.
Obi-Wan: Training??
Yoda: An old friend has learned the path to immortality.
Obi-Wan: Who?
Yoda: One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me...your old master Qui-Gon Jinn.
Obi-Wan: Qui-Gon? But, how could he accomplish this?
Yoda: The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whills he studied. How to commune with him I will teach you.
Obi-Wan: I will be able to talk with him?
Yoda: How to join the Force, he will train you. Your consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force. Even your physical self, perhaps.


Qui-Gon & Yoda scene rocked but this has GOT to stay at least. It doesn't conflict with Liam if he is being a ass either. It explains Obi-Wan & Yoda dissapearing and why they become more Qui-Gon like still. Also the audiance doens't have a reason to be "WHAT? QUI-GON CAN TALK TO YODA?!" moment since we heard Yoda listen to Qui-Gon in AOTC.

OK,

I've not siad it quite like this before, but....

WATCH OUT GEORGE!

if the Qui Gon/Yoda Scene goes...THE BEARD GETS IT!!

If the QGJ scene is cut it turns the final scene between Yoda and OBi-Wan into a completely isolated exchange which will feel tacked on, particularly to a non-core audience.

Please don't interpret my list of deleted scenes as definitive. It's my interpretation of what is stated in the Making Of book. And Hamish_Jinn made a good point in the Making Of thread: the book says some of these scenes were cut way back in November 2003. If they were cut so long ago, why would they still be included in the script, which says it is the "final" script that includes changes from pickup shooting? Pickup shooting happened in August 2004.

In the Making Of thread, SnakePlisken was nice enough to scan the parts that list the deleted scenes.

Links to his pictures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/ ... Scene1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/ ... Scene2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/ ... Scene3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/ ... Scene4.jpg

Regarding deleted scenes, I'm going to read the rest of the Making Of book to see if I can make sense of it. The book is written as a diary of sorts, so entries that say one thing can be overruled by text later in the book.

One example:

It says that as of March 2003, scene 121 ('crazy' Yoda and Chewbacca ambush an AT-ST) is cut. But later on, in January 2004, it says scene 121 (Kashyyyk village lake) has been turned over to ILM.

I think my earlier list is completely unreliable.

Well, here's my take on it for what it's worth.

Kashyyyk is there for the sheep, and to showcase some great effects work. It's validation for being in the film at all is to show how far reaching the clone wars are. This is still a movie that takes place against the backdrop of a war, we have to remember, and the clone wars have been hyped up as this huge expansive conflict. The Kashyyyk and Utapau sequences are there for that reason - to show how the main characters are engaged in this war.

Anakin's redemption....Well, Obi-wan and Yoda make it quite clear that they want Vader dead. To them, there is no redeeming his evil acts. Luke however, is a different story. He is still bound by love, and forgiveness for a father he had never gotten the chance to really knoow. People seem to be treating this whole redemption thing rather lightly. Vader DIES in ROTJ. He pays the ultimate price for his crimes - death. But at the same time, in 3 seconds, he restores balance to the force and freedom to the galaxy. Something the Jedi had tried to do, and failed for over a thousand years. But Vader accomplishes it, he has done the ultimate good. Granted, he has done some evil things too, but he does pay for them. Doesn't the Force preach to let go of the past and live in the moment?

I like Grievous. I used to think he was useless, but He needs to be there for a few reasons:

a) once Dooku is killed, without a visible leader it would only make sense for the CIS to fall and the war to be over - Grievous is that leader. Sidious is not enough. He is not a visible general in command of the droid forces - Grievous is. While Grievous is alive, the CIS is still a fighting force and the war will be prolonged - the script makes that clear enough.

b) Grievous mirrors Anakin's fate. For viewers who watch this 1-6, he will act a strong forshadowing device for Anakin's fate. "He's more machine now than man, twisted and evil.

c) A Star Wars spectacle. No doubt Grievous will be something to entertain. A character that engages in lightsaber combat to thrill casual fans and a visual treat in his own digital self. Grievous is about a useful as Darth Maul in this respect, but when it comes down to it, Grievous is more important to the story than Maul ever was.

Well, if this results in nice visuals and quirky characters (two of the things I like about the series), then it may be worth it. However, there is a danger of "quirky" turning to "silly" or "stupid", so I have some reservations...

And Kashyyyk will at least contribute to Chewbacca´s character growth. We see where he comes from, his experience with different aggressors, and get more context with his unwillingness to leave the Rebels in ANH.

I have to mention the following for making me laugh:

Great posting, CoGro and just to add a little about Grievous: I have to say that I like him also because it gives Obi-Wan another one of those detective missions (Kamino/Jango AotC) and I think that's very fun to watch and we need all the fun we can get in such a dark movie.

You know, after the Making of Book confirming what has been cut, I think that Dark Horse guy was making up a major revelation being cut just to hype up the Graphic Novel and make people run out and buy it.

You don't see Del Ray or Stover coming out and doing stuff like that.

Kashyyyk and Utapau are completely necessary. The sole purpose of those scenes is to have Obi-Wan and Yoda away from the Jedi Temple when Anakin raids it. Obi-Wan must be separated from Anakin so that Anakin can fall to the dark side. Yoda must be away from the temple or else we'd have a short duel in the temple with Yoda destroying Anakin.

I could actually see Gunray getting into a Jedi killing bot of sorts after Obi-Wan took out all the MagnaDroids, only for Obi-Wan to take it out with ease, then Gunray as well. Woulda worked fine, maybe even better than Grievous.

People forget, Maul basically introduces the what the Sith are for people watching 1-6, and kills a major character. He was needed.

Grievous, while not nessecarily a hindrance, could have easily been replaced with Gunray.

Gunray doesn't work at all. Palpatine needs an excuse to keep increasing his executive powers. He uses continued fear of Grievous as an excuse. The Gunray character is no where near what is needed.

I think the character of Grievous has been made almost useless, now. It reminds me of all of those skits in SNL and other comedy shows where the villian is giving some big speech and starts coughing. He's a fucking chump, now. It might have been OK if they had kept in the Shaak-Ti execution scene, but he just doesn't live up to the title of "greatest Jedi killer ever". Some things demand to be seen, and Grievous killing some punk Jedi would have made him a lot more dangerous to the audience. I'm no longer very interested in him. Seems like a throw-a-way character.

Your vision of Grievous =/= Lucas' vision of Grievous. Remember, it's his story to tell, not yours.

And of course Grievous is a throw away character. The whole story of Grievous was that he was an experiment by Sidious to see if he could make a cyborg, and he's the precursor to Vader in that regard.