Episode III too focused on Anakin's story

I watched Star Wars all over again and realise that Episode III's focus on Anakin's story (as admitted by George Lucas himself) is actually not doing justice to the other elements of the saga, and on the contrary does not contribute to its holistic continuity.

The Invisible Seeds of Rebellion
The original trilogy has an essential backdrop of the Rebel Alliance fighting against the Empire, with the story of Luke finding his destiny in redeeming his father and becoming a Jedi. The decision to remove Padme and the Rebel Alliance series from Episode III gives a loophole in the continuity of the saga, as it would be important to actually at least established that there were significant opposition to Palpatine's rule, they who would later rebel against the Empire. Episode IV would then makes more sense with its beginning reflecting this situation.

Yoda's Exile
Even the last shot of Yoda landing on Dagobah was removed for it would disrupt the focus on the thread of the children, as said by Lucas.

Backdrop Established even with Anakin's Story in EP I, II
Even if the prequel trilogy was to be the story of Anakin and the original trilogy that of Luke's, there is no reason to compromise other essentials of the saga in favour of Anakin's turn.

For one, Episode I does elaborate on the backdrop of the trade federation's aggression but still essentially include the re-emergence of the Sith and the founding of the alleged Chosen One. Episode II too details the inner workings of the Sith on the Republic's fate thru the separatist movement and still include Anakin's love and lost of his mother.

Padme and the Droids Compromised for Vader
Episode III while it explains the fall of the Republic and including Anakin's turn, becomes too exclusive in the latter, not only compromises the continuity of the saga as a whole by excluding the seeds of rebellion, it also does not do justice to Padme's character by cutting off her continuity. In the previous Episodes we see her as a respectable diplomat of influence in the Republic, but Episode III only focuses her as a wife and childbearer of the children. The supposed dark theme also virtually removed C3PO and R2D2 from the film, they who were so significantly portrayed in the OT.

Thus even if Episode III is supposed to focus on Anakin's turn to become the infamous Vader, the virtue of the original trilogy itself proves that the character of Vader was but one of the many essentials of the entire saga.

I would definetly have thought the Rebellion seens should have been included, they are something the auidence has identified with for the last 30 years, and this familiarity would only have helped the story.

The very notion of a stagnant Republic being defended by a bunch of jedi and clones is nothing to a small group of Rebels fighting a tryannous Galactic Empire, it embodies alot of human aspiration and emotion, which can't be said of the Clone Wars era, which just leaves us confused. I feel if the original themes were picked up more in the PT, it could have been a much more enjoyabale trilogy.

And where would you have put this? The movie was too damn short as it was.

Cyber, seeing as Star Wars is the story of Anakin Skywalker, ROTS should have been mainly about him.

Like i said, i feel the exclusion of some essential elements of the saga would not only dissappoint longtime fans, but do not do justice to the retelling of the 6 films as one whole story, as intended by lucas himself. The virtue of the Rebellion vs the Clone Wars is an interesting comparison.

Furthermore, i feel that "star wars being the story of Anakin Skywalker and of Darth Vader" is actually a new interpretation, driven by the popularity of the vader character in the OT by fans. The story was never intended to only centre around vader, like lucas said in the dvd specials - "Vader became such an iconic figure, more than was intended".

I'm not sure, but how far can we argue that the focus on Anakin in the PT was contributed by the fact that Darth Vader of the OT was the all-time favourite of fans?

It is all about Anakin (and about OB1), just like the OT was about Luke (and about Han/Leia).

Point is, Anakin is not a sympathetic character and that is why you feel it's rather too much too soon. Has nothing to do with the amount of Anakin time, but with the quality of it.

Originally posted by queeq
It is all about Anakin (and about OB1), just like the OT was about Luke (and about Han/Leia).

Point is, Anakin is not a sympathetic character and that is why you feel it's rather too much too soon. Has nothing to do with the amount of Anakin time, but with the quality of it.

Definetly. Anakin has alot of traits of one of the classical greek heros, seemingly noble birth (if you read between the lines), handsome, strong,
yet with a fatal flaw, in this case his arrogance. I don't know whether it's just that those kind of heroes are outdated (although other films would prove otherwise) or just the writing is so misguided, it really makes no effort in making Anakin sympathetic.

I say the writing is misguided... or flawed.

Star Wars is the about the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker, thats what the PT and the OT are about. Everyone else is secondary.

ROTS should be about Anakin. He's the rason the PT was made.

Many of the secondary plots were adequately covered....many were not.

Lucas simply puts too many restraints on the length of the film...cutting out necesary content to achieve an (arbitary) 150 min time limit.

And if Lucas actually said that Yoda on Degobah was "removed for it would disrupt the focus on the thread of the children"... I say eff him because he interupted the Skywlaker Kenobi Duel with the Sidious Yoda duel REPEATEDLY...which I thought was a flat out horrible decision.

Originally posted by ((The_Anomaly))
Star Wars is the about the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker, thats what the PT and the OT are about. Everyone else is secondary.

Well in essence, the OT was "changed" to as Vader's part became more primary. The OT will always be about Luke Skywalker to many; it was what it was written as and it works best that way.

I would have liked a slow montage at the end of the movie wrapping up all the loose ends. There wouldnt be any talking and it would have the the imperial march quietly playing in the background to signify the end of the Republic. It would have Yoda landing on Dagobah, Mon Mothma (sp?) and the seeds of Rebellion, perhaps a shot of Kenobi retiring to his hut on Tatooine, the shot of Vader and Sids and finally the shot of the twins. Personally I think that this could have been very well done and have been the link between the two trilogies. Cut all the bu''sh*t about the focus being on the twins.

Originally posted by Rampant ox
I would have liked a slow montage at the end of the movie wrapping up all the loose ends. There wouldnt be any talking and it would have the the imperial march quietly playing in the background to signify the end of the Republic. It would have Yoda landing on Dagobah, Mon Mothma (sp?) and the seeds of Rebellion, perhaps a shot of Kenobi retiring to his hut on Tatooine, the shot of Vader and Sids and finally the shot of the twins. Personally I think that this could have been very well done and have been the link between the two trilogies. Cut all the bu''sh*t about the focus being on the twins.

jawdrop an entire post with not a word about christopher lee???????? *dies of massive heart attack*

I would have started episode 2 as episode 1, then that would have left room for the necessary expansion on all these events.

More expansion on all these events??????? It's a story, not an encyclopedia!!!!

I would consider an a 12 minute segment on how the war stresses Anakin to be more worthwile than a 12 minute podrace on Tatooine.

However, Anakin as a child should be in the films.

I agree, but then have him in the Clone Wars or whatever... Although Anakin always strikes as a little stressed. hehehehe

Before AOTC, I always remember going back to ANH and wondering, "The f*ck are the Clone Wars?"

The main goal of TPM was to introduce Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, the Sith and the Jedi all before the Empire. But the plotline of the Trade Federation's invasion, the Tatooine scenes (which, IMO, were utterly pointless) and even Naboo itself, are all fillers in the SW timeline. They acted only as a means of introduction for principle characters.

If it had been about the Secession movement right off the bat, Padme being a Senator right from the beginning, and Anakin's discovery, (even on Tatooine I don't mind, minus the podrace) all of that in Episode I, then the Clone Wars could have been the focus point of Episode II, and the rise and fall of the Empire and Anakin respectively in Episode III. This may well have allowed Lucas to be more in depth about everyone's characters, the beginning of the Rebellion, and the overall continuity of the films without sacrificing his movies up to flashy effects to cover bad acting and rushing to tie down loose ends.

I agree somewhat...Seperatism should have been a major issue right off the bat. All the political stuff should have been set for the attack on Padme's shttle by the end of one. Put the rhetoric on the decline of beuarcracy and seperatism in TPM.

ROTS had too many planets. Stick on one, get some action. I would have loved it if Lucas went into the moral issues surrounding the clones. THis would have given more light to the stormies, the later Republics tactics, and the war in general. I think there is a lot of material there that proved useful...moreso than characters like Grievous.

Originally posted by PVS
jawdrop an entire post with not a word about christopher lee???????? *dies of massive heart attack*

Lol, I was tempted. I think it would have been far better to have a funeral for Dooku at the end of ROTS instead of one for Padme. Have huge crowds all dressed in black to remember the phenomenon that was Count Dooku. It will also be on his home planet of Sereno.

The camera slowly zooms in on the Counts pale, lifeless face. Even in death it has a look of class and dignity. His robes are perfect and he has his infamous saber hilt clutched in his hands. The camera continues to zoom in on Dooku. All of a sudden his eyes flick open. Count Dooku is back in action. Credits Roll.

Now that would be an ending!!

Originally posted by Rampant ox
Now that would be an ending!!

Except it is totally not Star Wars.