It's 1980 and you've been handed the reins to the franchise

[Galvatron]

While I'd go in another direction, there's a lot to like about your version. Good job.

Another thing I'd emphasize is that the Empire has been on a gradual decline since the end of ANH, with the dissolution of the Senate and subsequent destruction of the Death Star having been disastrous for the emperor. And while the vast majority of the Imperial military remains loyal to Palpatine, it has spent most of the intervening years just trying to hold the galaxy together while system after system declares open rebellion against Imperial rule.

In Episode VI, Prince Jerjerrod would remark disapprovingly that he's been leading the fleet in many such campaigns while Lord Vader has been squandering precious military resources searching for a boy.

[Anguirus]

I should also mention that my prequels would feature the same ship designs that were in the OT. That is, the Executor, ISDs, TIE fighters, etc. would all be around at least ~25 years BBY. This would be done to emphasize the advanced age, longevity and glacial progress of technology in the GFFA, yet I wouldn't devote any unnecessary exposition to explain this. The visuals should be enough to drive the point home.

Executor herself would be Admiral Tarkin's flagship with Ozzel as her captain.

Anakin and Vader would both fly TIE "Advanced X1s."

Stormtroopers would look the same throughout all nine films. General Kenobi would lead them in the major ground battles.

This is so logical that it would never happen.

[Galvatron]

This is so logical that it would never happen.

It would if I were in charge!

[Anguirus]

"Why are those scary stormtroopers helping Obi-Wan? And how come they can suddenly shoot straight? Is that a Jedi power?"

[Galvatron]

"Why are those scary stormtroopers helping Obi-Wan? And how come they can suddenly shoot straight? Is that a Jedi power?"

I would have been concerned about that too if the real prequels hadn't already shown us Obi-Wan leading clonetroopers wearing pseudo-stormtrooper gear. In fact, I think that was the general idea: to show the audience that the stormtroopers used to be the good guys.

To his credit, I feel that was a bold move for Lucas.

[Anguirus]

Yeah, but I think he was also very savvy about it...the original clonetroopers really do NOT look threatening the way the skull-faced stormies did. Then in Episode III, when they are just starting to be "bad guys" they are a nearly perfect "transitional form," so to speak.

[Galvatron]

I guess the same argument could be made that star destroyers look too scary to be Republic warships.

It's a good thing I don't care.

I prefer to place more emphasis on the fact that the Empire is just the Republic by another name. Showing the "scary" designs employed by the Empire as having been in service to the Old Republic would go a long way towards achieving that.

[Illuminatus Primus]

I think you can only go too far before this isn't STAR WARS. Visually obvious thematics are a major piece at work here. I mean the ISDs, TIEs, and stormies are supposed to suggest ubiquity and conformity: the price of state power and military pomp.

[Galvatron]

And that's why I'd start the prequels well into the era of the Clone Wars. The Republic would already be on the brink of imperialization after decades of interceding in regional conflicts like the one Obi-Wan implores Anakin to participate in.

Showing the golden age of the Old Republic is simply unnecessary, IMO. Oh sure, we'd see snippets of peace and tranquility on Alderaan in Episode I (not unlike Naboo in TPM), but I'd put far less emphasis on it than George Lucas did.

Hell, I wouldn't even show Coruscant throughout the entire first three episodes! I probably wouldn't name the planet "Coruscant" either.

[Sidewinder]

Palpatine is potentially very strong in the force- but as an eldest son and heir, there was no way the Jedi were going to be allowed near him. He has never been tested, but Anakin realises his potential now.
Word reaches Anakin that the Jedi Council are considering expelling him; a moment of defiance overcomes his better judgement, and he resolves to introduce Palpatine to the Force.

The problem with this idea is Vader is shown kneeling before the Emperor, referring to him as "My Master," and playing the role of the loyal servant. If you portray Palpatine as being Anakin's student, then you end up portraying Anakin-turned-Vader as a pussy for acting as if Palpatine is his superior. One thing I told my father regarding 'Star Wars' was, "The Emperor is more powerful than Vader. Otherwise, why would Vader follow the Emperor's orders? He would've already killed the Emperor and named himself Emperor." You have to keep this element in play for Episode V and VI to work.

[Anguirus]

I feel like starting the Republic off as Empire-lite lessens the impact of the change into the Empire. In Real Episode III, Order 66 is the moment where it's like bam, woops, suddenly we're an Empire! Obi-Wan seems to feel in Episode IV that the Republic of his lifetime is quite distinct from the Empire. The design work of the prequels is very far from perfect but with regards to the militarization of the Republic I think they just about hit the nail on the head.

[Galvatron]

I feel like starting the Republic off as Empire-lite lessens the impact of the change into the Empire.

And that matters little for my purposes since my prequels aren't really about the Republic's change into the Empire. ANH didn't seem to suffer for it and it was the movie in which the last remnants of the Old Republic were finally swept away when the Senate was dissolved. A major event, yet it was little more than a footnote in the overall story.

And just to get it out of way so we understand each other, my prequels wouldn't show us the emperor, Coruscant, a Jedi council or an Order 66 either.

Obi-Wan's idealized memory of the Old Republic predates my prequels. Episode I begins smack dab during "the dark times" of unremitting war throughout the galaxy. Hence "Star Wars."

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eleventh Century Remnant wrote:
Palpatine is potentially very strong in the force- but as an eldest son and heir, there was no way the Jedi were going to be allowed near him. He has never been tested, but Anakin realises his potential now.
Word reaches Anakin that the Jedi Council are considering expelling him; a moment of defiance overcomes his better judgement, and he resolves to introduce Palpatine to the Force.

The problem with this idea is Vader is shown kneeling before the Emperor, referring to him as "My Master," and playing the role of the loyal servant. If you portray Palpatine as being Anakin's student, then you end up portraying Anakin-turned-Vader as a pussy for acting as if Palpatine is his superior. One thing I told my father regarding 'Star Wars' was, "The Emperor is more powerful than Vader. Otherwise, why would Vader follow the Emperor's orders? He would've already killed the Emperor and named himself Emperor." You have to keep this element in play for Episode V and VI to work.

You're right, this needs more explanation and thought on my part.
The short version is "Age and guile beats youth and skill"; a fuller explanation- basically, Anakin is still a Jedi. He is on the fringes of acceptable behaviour, but, then and for some time after, still feels himself constrained by the Jedi Code. Or what I would prefer to make of it.

There is clearly some form of code of conduct, and it is highly prescriptive and restrictive-Yoda's statements- "There is no emotion; there is the Force", ESB, yes, but I'm not sure whether it was Yoda's personal mantra or an actual statement of official doctrine. I don't think it became the actual Jedi Code until it reached the - in 1980, nonexistent- EU.
At the very least, they should have the same kind of professional detachment as doctors; that much makes perfect sense to me. What does not is the extreme to which it is taken. (Someone said this earlier. FTeik? Whoever it was, I agree.)

"Do not get involved; because doing so compromises your ability to do the job, and getting that right is compassion enough." makes more sense, but I wonder if (in- universe of course) Yoda did not mistake the means for the end; if he is not a strict doctrinaire, living and steering the Jedi according to the letter rather than the intent of the rules.

Anyway; Anakin is still a Jedi, with his self- imposed limitations, and all he really does is launch Palpatine on his way. Although he had a normal childhood, and more maturity and grasp of how the real world works than most of his peers in the Order, he still has many of the Jedi strengths and limitations.
Palpatine is a man of far more real-world ability than most; and what he does is, rather than starting from a child's innocence with the force, uses it to build on what he already has. For instance, already an accomplished liar, with the ability to passively listen in on someone's surface thoughts he achieves feedback that magnifies his abilities massively.
Similarly with other faculties. To a large extent he is using them for his own ends, which will draw him down to the dark side, but we are definitely looking at far- ranging and subtle rather than obvious flash-bang-kaboom.

His strongest single defence is the political fact that, by not long into Ep II, the Jedi need his support. They cannot afford to look too closely at him without undercutting themselves; he is the obvious candiate to bring peace to the galaxy. Under cover of that fact, he grows a lot further and faster than they realise.

Such pragmatism on the part of the Council would be a major plot problem, and how I would resolve it would probably be Yoda taking a temporary back seat- only to return from internal exile later to lead the open opposition to the new Empire that would, in fact, trigger the destruction of the Jedi Order, probably in Ep III.

The general theme of III would be the revolution starting to eat it's children; the supporters and backers of the Empire finding out that they should have been more careful what they wished for, because they just might get it. Anakin has to end up in the suit at this point, and it could easily be Palpatine that puts him there.

As a personal combatant, mano a mano, is Palpatine neccessarily any good at all? What proportion of, say, Stalin's marshals could have kicked his (Uncle Joe's, that is) head in? And yet they all went in fear of him nonetheless. Palpatine may be in a similar position. He doesn't need to beat Anakin in a lightsabre duel; he needs to be able to use the system, of which he is the master, to break him to his will.

[Galvatron]

As a personal combatant, mano a mano, is Palpatine neccessarily any good at all? What proportion of, say, Stalin's marshals could have kicked his (Uncle Joe's, that is) head in? And yet they all went in fear of him nonetheless. Palpatine may be in a similar position. He doesn't need to beat Anakin in a lightsabre duel; he needs to be able to use the system, of which he is the master, to break him to his will.

I like that a lot. Palpatine needn't be the Wankatine that everyone expects.

[Anguirus]

Obi-Wan's idealized memory of the Old Republic predates my prequels. Episode I begins smack dab during "the dark times" of unremitting war throughout the galaxy. Hence "Star Wars."

Ok, that makes sense to me.

[Galvatron]

Another thing I've had some thoughts about is the depiction of the clones. I've had this idea for a while that the clones would have a psychological need to differentiate themselves from the thousands of other clones that look and sound just like them.

Thus, the Mandalorian clones of my prequels would each have heavily individualized armor. And those that actually reveal their faces would, in many cases, be heavily tattooed.

I actually got the idea from Blade Runner. But instead of photographs and false memories for Tyrell's replicants, the clones of Star Wars would need a different sort of "cushion" to maintain their sanity.

Conversely, the stormtroopers of my prequels are NOT clones and this is reflected in their strict uniformity. However, just to show some sort of transition from the Republic to the Empire, I'm flirting with the idea of letting Republic stormtroopers decorate their armor in much the same way that the clonetroopers of the real prequels did. And it wouldn't be until the emperor takes power that military policy gradually shifts to forbid their troops from ALL outward displays of individuality.

[Anguirus]

So is the clone/Mandalorian armor foreshadowed (er, or whatever the reverse of that is) by Boba Fett's armor?

[Havok]

Speakin' of Clones...

My Cone Wars/clone idea has been that the human genome has been mapped. It is understood, so cloning isn't exactly what we think of it. Clones do not have to be and are not identical copies anymore and haven't been for a long time, although the term is still commonly used.
Basically a computer uses material from several sources and randomizes the clones so there are none that are identical. It is just "growing" people. More like accelerated test tube babies than clones.

By law, clones, if they are created, are required to be given individual personalities and free will. Cloning for labor and military service is outlawed. Control programing is outlawed as well too. Cloning itself is not outlawed, but the laws in place make it a useless venture. Historically, it was used on exploration vessels and to help terraform and colonize planets.

Direct Cloning, where you are specifically cloned for medical reasons is frowned upon but it also is not outlawed. It is tolerated as long as it is done far from galactic core, and is a lucrative business. It is also an alternative to cybernetics, however there is a higher chance of your body rejecting the cloned parts over the cybernetics, but not everyone wants mechanical body parts so it remains a viable option.

The Clone Wars were just that. Big giant fucking wars fought on a galactic scale by clones. They came about from what would be the separatists groups, and initially The Trade Federation, ignoring the law and creating and using clones for labor, and to keep a lid on that, using them to expand their security and military forces. The other groups that would eventually form the SM got wind of what the TF was doing and wanted their own clones. They followed the same plan. Cheap and easily renewable labor source with a cheap and easily renewable military force to keep it a secret.

Obviously TRILLIONS of clones couldn't be kept a secret that long and when the Senate and Republic found out, they attempted to force them to halt the growing of anymore clones and enact legislation against the "Separatists" to free the clones they already had.

When that didn't work, the Republic attempted military force to persuade them. However they quickly found that they were outnumbered and outclassed as the clone's programing was far in advance of the training of the Republic's soldiers.

After several victories, the "Separatists" began to realize that they no longer needed nor wanted the Republic and seceded from it.
The Republic, in no shape to argue the point had to accept the move, but when the SM began annexing systems that did not want to secede, it forced the Republic into further action.

Having only one true recourse, The Republic commissioned it own clones. Their clones differed in the fact that they had absolute free will, where the SM clones did not. However, the Republic clones were required to serve in the military through out the duration of the conflict and were only otherwise released from conscription after sustaining two injuries.

Of course learning that the Republic was now growing it's own clones, the Separatists escalated their own growing programs. The Republic in order to survive had to match that and so on and so forth. An escalation war was on.

The clones were UNCOUNTABLE and an exact number was never known for either side. The wars themselves were horrific and devastated entire sectors of the galaxy.

The wars took place over about 75 years. After the first 40 or so years, the two sides reached an agreement to cease production of clones as both sides realized that the wars were getting out of control and they could at least agree that neither side, if victorious, would have anything left to control the way things were going. Hostilities continued though.

In the midst of all this were the Jedi and the Sith.
In this version, the Sith still orchestrated the war on both fronts, but in truly evil fashion, each Sith Lord had autonomous control over each group and were playing it out on both sides like a giant intergalactic chess match. Palpatine controlling the Republic and Maul controlling the Separatists. The Jedi fought on the side of the Republic and knew that the Sith were involved, but couldn't figure out quite how. That they were controlling both sides, like in the movies, eluded them. They knew the Sith had heavy influence, if not outright control, of the Separatists due to the fact that Maul confronted and killed many of them directly in open combat. They believed him however to be just an apprentice and not in the position he was.

Palpatine had risen to Chancellor just at the start of the Clone Wars, so his old decrepit look in TESB is just that. He would be about 150 years old in ROTJ. Maul began controlling the TF at about the age he was shown to be in TPM. He is eventually killed by Anakin in a most wanktastic fanboy wet dream battle.

The clones on both sides were implanted with absolute obedience to both Palpatine and Maul and when the time was right and when Palpatine had beaten Maul, and Palpatine established his new order, the clones on the Republic side filled out the officer corp of the new Empire, while the Separatists clones formed the Stormtrooper corp, as they were programed to be obedient.

[Galvatron]

So is the clone/Mandalorian armor foreshadowed (er, or whatever the reverse of that is) by Boba Fett's armor?

In the sense that his armor is a relic of the Clone Wars, yes. That doesn't necessarily mean that Boba or any other Fett was a participant though. Then again, maybe he was. It doesn't really matter.

[Anguirus]

Neat. Mandos vs. Stormies = I approve.

[Alexian Cale]

As a personal combatant, mano a mano, is Palpatine neccessarily any good at all? What proportion of, say, Stalin's marshals could have kicked his (Uncle Joe's, that is) head in? And yet they all went in fear of him nonetheless. Palpatine may be in a similar position. He doesn't need to beat Anakin in a lightsabre duel; he needs to be able to use the system, of which he is the master, to break him to his will.

I like that a lot. Palpatine needn't be the Wankatine that everyone expects.

You're right. But it's also pointless to have him as a purely political and manipulative figure. That can only get one so far. The only acceptable version of this would be RotJ's version of Palpatine: a skilled manipulator and powerful sorcerer. When he absolutely must defend himself, he brings his impressive mastery of the Force into play, not a lightsaber.

[NecronLord]

On Galv's post above: I wouldn't really want excecutors and stormtroopers in the prequels. I rather like the looks of the prequel stuff. That said, some bigger ships in Episode 3... Yes Please. Invisible Hand should have been fifteen kilometers long at least.

[Galvatron]

On Galv's post above: I wouldn't really want excecutors and stormtroopers in the prequels. I rather like the looks of the prequel stuff. That said, some bigger ships in Episode 3... Yes Please. Invisible Hand should have been fifteen kilometers long at least.

Maybe it's just a stylistic preference, but I didn't like any of the prequel ship designs. I think the Eta-2 fighter is a joke. It looks like a bad kitbash. The only one that approaches acceptability to me is the ARC-170, but I hate its seemingly useless "S-foils."

To me, using the OT designs in the prequels serves the purpose of demonstrating that the technology really hasn't changed much in millennia.

I'd even throw in a line or two by some Alderaanian that they have "a few squadrons of old T-65s" (aka X-wings) to which Anakin replies, "Yeah, they're old, but they're fast and tough." Meaning, obviously, that the X-wings were already old even during the prequels.

And the stormtroopers, I believe, are perceived as scary mainly because of their actions in the OT. But, in my prequels, I'd depict them as valiant protectors that you actually root for, especially when you see General Kenobi leading them in some epic battle.

[Elfdart]

Episode I: The Elfdart Menace

It would remain mostly the same except as follows:

1) Obi-Wan's role would be bigger and Jar Jar's smaller. I don't hate Jar Jar, but he was a bit much. The Gungans in general were too cartoonish for my liking. It also seemed that his screen time came at the expense of Kenobi.

2) The Sith would actually do something evil (other than donning black robes) before the final reel. A simple scene of Darth Maul killing an entire family of homesteaders at sunset (one of whom draws a gun on the stranger, thinking he's a Tusken raider) would do the trick, and dovetail nicely with Anakin's massacre of sandpeople in Episode 2.

3) The choir from the lightsabre duel would go. It's too pretentious for my liking.

4) There would be less dialogue. Go back and watch ANH. There are several scenes where there isn't a single word spoken. The same goes for most of the climactic part of the duel between Luke and Vader in TESB. There's too much talking in TPM.

5) Make Qui-Gon Jinn Anakin's father. One tremendous blow to Anakin's psyche in the later episodes would be to find out that he wasn't really the product of a virgin birth, but the bastard of a rogue Jedi. This would cause Anakin to identify with those who don't follow the Jedi rules, and help turn him against Obi-Wan, when Palpatine tells Anakin that Kenobi let Anakin's father die (or that he killed him) and/or that a mere Jedi could never have enough power to save his friends and loved ones. Anakin would no longer believe in the Chosen One story, though like Oedipus it turns out to be true, only not in the way he expected.

Episode II: Attack of the Rewrite:

1) The sandpeople abducted Shmi because they kidnap people and sell them as slaves to the Hutts and others on Tattooine. Anakin kills several Hutts and compels the others to free their slaves.

2) Anakin's confession to Padme would be done differently. Mainly without the overdone music playing in the background. It would be more like Ethan Edwards' description of how he found his dead niece in a canyon in The Searchers.

3) An argument between Owen and Anakin, with Owen telling Anakin that he should never have left Tattooine and that he should leave the Jedi and come home where he belongs. Anakin is furious and leaves to help Obi-Wan, vowing to never return to the desert planet.

4) The battle on Geonosis would make some kind of sense, and would be edited to look like something other than a highlight reel.

5) Padme would come across as more of an ice queen who thinks Anakin is cute and all, but beneath her. She would warm up to him after responding to his hokey lines with eye-rolling and laughter. "I remind you of sand? "

Episode III: Revenge of the Schnizzle

1) I'd emphasize that once a person joins the Sith, they die spiritually and take on a new identity. Like Malcolm X.

2) When Anakin is told that he's on the Council, but is not a Master, his resonse is "What?", followed by glances between the Jedi and Anakin's apology. The whole "It's not fair!" thing was unnecessary. I get it -I don't need to be pummeled with it.

3) After the battle over Coruscant, the senator and other dignitaries congratulate Bail Organa for raising the alarm and planning the rescue of Palpatine from Dooku and organizing the counterattack that repelled the CIS fleet. They also congratulate him on the birth of his daughter, Leia. While the senior Jedi and senators discuss how they plan to go after Grievous, Padme tells Anakin that she's pregnant.

4) Anakin and Padme discuss how they plan to raise their child. Anakin tells her he wants to train their kid as a Jedi himself and give him his lightsabre.