roughrider
There has been debates on other threads, about George Lucas granting the wishes of Jackson (lightsaber, grand death) but not Ford (Kill Han.)
Here's why.
Mace Windu isn't in the OT because he's dead. The Jedi are all but extinct, it becomes up to Luke to rebuild the order. Mace was always destined to be a casulty in the Jedi purge - SJ knew that going in - so he just asked Lucas to make sure he had a grand death, instead of being shot in the back. One of the top Jedi, that's not a problem to do that. The purple lightsaber? No biggie. Most I'm sure have seen the amusing AOTC doc showing Lucas explaining saber colours - only Sith get red - but if Jackson wants purple, that can be done.
And Harrison Ford? It didn't take him long after ANH to throw his weight around, asking for several times more money to appear in TESB. But his films in '78 & '79 weren't hits, he had no bargaining power, and was paid no more than the others. That's why his fate at the end is uncertain; Lucas wanted to be sure he would appear in ROTJ. He had the famous criticisms about the dialogue, and always wanted to avoid getting typecast as Han Solo, whom he thought of as a 'limited character' ( though he said he would play Indiana Jones again in a heartbeat.) His desire to have Han killed off was his ultimate reason for that. He never had the larger view of his character or the narrative that George Lucas had. These films showed a group coming together to be a family; Han would leave his pirate/outsider past behind and finally become part of the whole. Put down roots by marrying Leia and joining the New Republic. Killing him would go against the destiny waiting for him since ANH.
Ford should show more gratitude towards the series that got him out of carpentry and made him a star. In his advancing years, he's getting more prickly and crotchety. Not to mention, much of his work the past two decades - with exceptions like Indy, Witness and The Fugitive - look like a man sleepwalking through scenes; why the low energy?
If you are bored with performing and Hollywood, stay home and do carpentry.
Here's why.
Mace Windu isn't in the OT because he's dead. The Jedi are all but extinct, it becomes up to Luke to rebuild the order. Mace was always destined to be a casulty in the Jedi purge - SJ knew that going in - so he just asked Lucas to make sure he had a grand death, instead of being shot in the back. One of the top Jedi, that's not a problem to do that. The purple lightsaber? No biggie. Most I'm sure have seen the amusing AOTC doc showing Lucas explaining saber colours - only Sith get red - but if Jackson wants purple, that can be done.
And Harrison Ford? It didn't take him long after ANH to throw his weight around, asking for several times more money to appear in TESB. But his films in '78 & '79 weren't hits, he had no bargaining power, and was paid no more than the others. That's why his fate at the end is uncertain; Lucas wanted to be sure he would appear in ROTJ. He had the famous criticisms about the dialogue, and always wanted to avoid getting typecast as Han Solo, whom he thought of as a 'limited character' ( though he said he would play Indiana Jones again in a heartbeat.) His desire to have Han killed off was his ultimate reason for that. He never had the larger view of his character or the narrative that George Lucas had. These films showed a group coming together to be a family; Han would leave his pirate/outsider past behind and finally become part of the whole. Put down roots by marrying Leia and joining the New Republic. Killing him would go against the destiny waiting for him since ANH.
Ford should show more gratitude towards the series that got him out of carpentry and made him a star. In his advancing years, he's getting more prickly and crotchety. Not to mention, much of his work the past two decades - with exceptions like Indy, Witness and The Fugitive - look like a man sleepwalking through scenes; why the low energy?
If you are bored with performing and Hollywood, stay home and do carpentry.
