The Official Episode III spoiler thread

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-24 01:28am

President Sharky wrote:From what I've heard, there won't be anything like that on Utapau anyway.

IP, regarding your banning from MF.com, the one of the admins there has some sort of vendetta against TF.N users, so a great number of them are all banned arbitrarily. Simply email the site if you wish to be unbanned.

Really? How do they get the IP numbers?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-24 01:29am

Can't we retcon the Death Star at the end of the film to be one of the prototypes?

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-12-24 01:49am

Hopefully that will be the case.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-24 02:19am

GL has a real problem trying to use the Death Star as a "paste a reference to the other films and add suspense" gimmick. ROTJ was weak because of Death Star II and isn't it obvious that Death Star II (described as at least twice as big and filmically made much larger by ILM) was half-built four years after ANH while Death Star I is now apparently complete after 19 years?

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-24 07:23am

was half-built four years after ANH while Death Star I is now apparently complete after 19 years?

I thought this issue had been settled over and over again?

The political climate between ROTS and ANH prevents the construction of the DS I to go rapidly (it probably has to compete with other issues like reconstruction and aid to war-torn systems), after ANH Palpatine is in full control and can build the DS II as fast as he likes.

That´s my view, anyway.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-12-24 08:37am

The Original Nex wrote:I wouldn't think they're trying to BDZ the place, just a piecemiel, selective bombardment, probably with light-turbolasers on low settings.

Yeah, see that's the thing I want to avoid altogether. It reeks of "holding back", and I don't like it. It's not like anything can change the firepower displayed by ISDs in the asteroid field on Hoth, but I don't want to have to put up with the apparent contradiction.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-24 09:45am

I dunno, those explosions looked pretty big to me, compared to the seemingly "small" SD right above the enormous sinkhole. I doubt their intention is to completely destroy the cities inside, just cripple their defences.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-12-24 11:36am

VT-16 wrote:
was half-built four years after ANH while Death Star I is now apparently complete after 19 years?
I thought this issue had been settled over and over again?

The political climate between ROTS and ANH prevents the construction of the DS I to go rapidly (it probably has to compete with other issues like reconstruction and aid to war-torn systems), after ANH Palpatine is in full control and can build the DS II as fast as he likes.

That´s my view, anyway.

I concur. In addition, even with the Clone Army and defeat of the Jedi, his position is still not fully cemented; that will occur over the course of the years leading up to ANH.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-24 04:03pm

VT-16 wrote:
was half-built four years after ANH while Death Star I is now apparently complete after 19 years?
I thought this issue had been settled over and over again?

The political climate between ROTS and ANH prevents the construction of the DS I to go rapidly (it probably has to compete with other issues like reconstruction and aid to war-torn systems), after ANH Palpatine is in full control and can build the DS II as fast as he likes.

That´s my view, anyway.

That's stupid. We're already forced to believe SoD that Tarkin could hide planetoid construction inside the Maw secretly on his own resources. And the Death Star I is obviously secret. I doubt the Senate knew about it, so their opinion is precisely irrelevent. And also, thanks to the Wookie Annhiliation, we know Palpatine was still getting most of his Stormies from clones and managed to keep that fact secret from everyone.

Not to mention Medstar II shows that the Republic has already developed large-scale superlasers.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-24 07:14pm

The whole concept of the DS and it´s superlaser is still very uncertain while the DS is being made, isn´t it? And that weapon in Medstar II malfunctioned, didn´t it? Sounds like there´s plenty of bugs to sort out before the final design gets going.

I also doubt Lucas gives a shit about The Maw or the EU backstory to the DS´ production.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-25 12:20am

VT-16 wrote:The whole concept of the DS and it´s superlaser is still very uncertain while the DS is being made, isn´t it?

Did you watch AOTC? Did you see a mostly completed plan? Did you see composite-beam weapons across a large scale?

VT-16 wrote:And that weapon in Medstar II malfunctioned, didn´t it?

Mike predicted that's exactly what you'd get upon firing the Death Star into a star. The screw-up is that the mass ejection was probably larger and along a trajectory they did not anticipate, so they fried their ass.

VT-16 wrote:Sounds like there´s plenty of bugs to sort out before the final design gets going.

So what, they're going to build dozens of fucked up Death Stars before the ANH one that works?

VT-16 wrote:I also doubt Lucas gives a shit about The Maw or the EU backstory to the DS´ production.

The Death Star sizes and the minimum construction rate of the Death Star II I described (60% over 4 years for a station over a hundred times the Death Star I's volume) is from film canon alone. He's being sloppy and trying to paste in suspense and anyone with a brain is going to realize its idiotic. Anyone who saw the Death Star II will know that.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2004-12-25 01:19am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:
VT-16 wrote:The whole concept of the DS and it´s superlaser is still very uncertain while the DS is being made, isn´t it?
Did you watch AOTC? Did you see a mostly completed plan? Did you see composite-beam weapons across a large scale?

Also, as shown in ITW:AOTC, the Geonosians already HAVE a working superlaser in the bowels of the droid factory, though much smaller in scale.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-25 01:35am

Lord Poe wrote:Also, as shown in ITW:AOTC, the Geonosians already HAVE a working superlaser in the bowels of the droid factory, though much smaller in scale.

The Lucas apologist is dodging by saying that the EU of course is going to be contradicted by GL, because he doesn't care, missing the fact it makes no sense even from a pure-filmic perspective.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-12-25 04:36am

Spoiler from the latest BTH:

The holographic specter of Darth Sidious makes contact with Separatist masterminds on the hellish world of Mustafar.

It's a completed shot, all you can see is Palpatine though, no Separatists.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-25 07:09am

MF.com has two pin-up shots of Grievous (said to be of the final CG model):

http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/v ... php?t=2617

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-12-25 08:13am

EPISODE III HARDCOPY: The Reveal

Friday December 24 2004

"Yes, your thoughts betray you..." - Darth Vader, Return of the Jedi.

Anakin runs down the hall of the Republic Executive Building and enters the office of the Supreme Chancellor. Inside, Palpatine is begging for his life as Mace Windu stands over him with his lightsaber.

Anakin looks at the two. Mace warns Anakin to return to the Jedi Temple as instructed, but Palpatine begs for Anakin to protect him against the undemocratic Jedi.

Again, Mace tries to convince Anakin otherwise, but then Palpatine pleads, 'You remember the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise?'

Anakin looks at Palpatine, ignoring Mace.

"Darth Plagueis was real," says Palpatine.

Anakin looks at him shocked.

"Real?..."

"Darth Plagueis was my master. He taught me the key to his power," he said.

Suddenly, Palpatine's voice turned cold, and old, "...before I killed him."

Mace tries to tell Anakin not to believe him.

Palpatine raises his head, an old, withered man appears from beneath the shadows of the cowering Chancellor.

"I cannot, I turn myself over to you. I am too weak in the end. Too old, weak ... I give up. Don't kill me, Master Windu. I surrender..."

Anakin's internal conflict grows. Anakin weighs up the role of the undemocratic Jedi, the omission from the Jedi Council, the ideals and concepts of Palpatine, the loyalty of Palpatine, Palpatine willing to share the way to control midichlorians to create life... to save Padme - his loved one.

Anakin lunges towards Mace as the Jedi goes to strike against Palpatine. A lightsaber battle begins; fast and furious until Mace's hand is cut off. Sidious raises his hands and lightning strikes from them, zapping Mace in revenge with full veracity - and with his lightning he lifts up the disabled Jedi and throws him through the window, out into the Coruscant traffic below.

This seems very plausible to me. Those following the spoilers should know who Darth Plagueis is.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-25 09:21am

If true and pulled off like described here, it would make Palpatine my undisputed favorite character in SW, now and forever.

Killing Mace Windu, his Jedi task-force and Darth Plagueis, dueling and defeating Yoda, conquering the better part of the galaxy through cloak and dagger-tactics, getting a galaxy-spanning army and navy, using and discarding other Sith Lords like candy, killing the Chosen One even as he´s brought to his doom... Man, that´s quite a resume.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-12-25 09:44am

Using himself as bait in a trap ... no ... wait ...

I just can't chalk up "killing the Chosen One" as being some sort of great deed on his part. Anakin totally blindsided him and hurled him to his death in one of the great SW moments. While he was missing a hand. Palpatine was just acting by reflex.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-25 09:48am

Sure it was reflex, but when the person you´re reacting to ends up dead, that counts as a kill.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-12-25 09:55am

VT-16 wrote:Sure it was reflex, but when the person you´re reacting to ends up dead, that counts as a kill.

I always thought that Vader died because he did the noble hero thing, as opposed to being inflicted by Palpy's Sith Lightning. Shadows of the Empire states that Vader feels 'healthier' when he fully embraces the Dark Side, so it's not surprising that when he does the hero thing he dies soon after.

Then again, lightning doesn't do nice things to life support machinery. But the other thing is, this is fucking ARMOUR. You would think Vader would walk around in insulated gear.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-12-25 10:53am

He had his mechanical hand already cut off, thus exposing his inner circuits. Nasty.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-12-25 01:27pm

The sinkhole shot is not wowing me with the gigatonnage.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-12-25 05:48pm

According to those spoilers palpatine is anakins father... in a manner of speaking

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-12-27 01:49am

Only in the mind of a deranged ROTS theorist. Palpatine is NOT Anakin's father.

Lost Soal · Post by **Lost Soal** » 2004-12-29 12:18am

What, does a hand getting cut off AGAIN, not seem stupid, contrived and made up by some fanboy to anyone else but me?

Surely even Lucas wouldn't be as dried up as to repeat that scene for a third time