They were always about the rise and fall of Anakin that is why in 1978 they changed Star Wars to Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope . He only mentioned in a off handed comment in Time Magazine the possibility of Episodes 7,8, and 9 he also mentioned 3 trilogys in the forward of a book but he never had a solid story for them .I am sure he had ideas but He always felt the drama lied in Anakin's redemption and Luke Skywalker / Starkiller helping bring that about while freeing the galaxy .GL once said "I get asked all the time, 'What happens after Return of the Jedi?,' and there really is no answer for that. The movies were the story of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, and when Luke saves the galaxy and redeems his father, that's where that story ends." .
The 6 films form a very well woven theme of redemption aswell as of loss and gains and the basic Hero's Journey whilst adhering very closely to the mythological principles that have been around for 1000s of years .
In retrospect that all sounds reasonable but it doesn't track with the development of the characters.
The first movie wasn't about Anakin Skywalker's rise or fall. Anakin Skywalker was long dead before the first movie even started. Not 'from a certain of view' dead - just plain dead. Murdered by Vader who was very much not just plain dead.
Anakin was still just plain dead in the first draft of Empire, he wasn't merged with Vader until later Empire drafts (and even then Vader's claim was still just a claim - nothing was set in cement) and the decision to redeem him or not wasn't made until the final drafts of Jedi. This is somewhat important - this redemption - which was supposedly central to the trilogy the entire time - was never even introduced until the last drafts of the last movie.
And yet we're to now believe this redemption was not a cobbled-together last-minute plot development but was rather the entire point of the entire operation all along.
When Star Wars proved successful, Lucas decided to use the film as the basis for an elaborate serial, although at one point he considered walking away from the series altogether.[28] However, Lucas wanted to create an independent filmmaking center—what would become Skywalker Ranch—and saw an opportunity to use the series as a financing agent.[29] Alan Dean Foster had already begun writing the first sequel novel, but Lucas decided to abandon his plan to adapt Foster's work; the book was released as Splinter of the Mind's Eye the following year. At first Lucas envisioned a series of films with no set number of entries, like the James Bond series. In an interview with Rolling Stone in August 1977, he said that he wanted his friends to each take a turn at directing the films and giving unique interpretations on the series. He also said that the backstory in which Darth Vader turns to the dark side, kills Luke's father and fights Ben Kenobi on a volcano as the Galactic Republic falls would make an excellent sequel.
Later that year, Lucas hired science fiction author Leigh Brackett to write Star Wars II with him. They held story conferences and, by late November 1977, Lucas had produced a handwritten treatment called The Empire Strikes Back. The treatment is very similar to the final film, except that Darth Vader does not reveal he is Luke's father. In the first draft that Brackett would write from this, Luke's father appears as a ghost to instruct Luke.[30]
Brackett finished her first draft in early 1978; Lucas has said he was disappointed with it, but before he could discuss it with her, she died of cancer.[31] With no writer available, Lucas had to write his next draft himself. It was this draft in which Lucas first made use of the "Episode" numbering for the films; Empire Strikes Back was listed as Episode II.[32] As Michael Kaminski argues in The Secret History of Star Wars, the disappointment with the first draft probably made Lucas consider different directions in which to take the story.[33] He made use of a new plot twist: Darth Vader claims to be Luke's father. According to Lucas, he found this draft enjoyable to write, as opposed to the year-long struggles writing the first film, and quickly wrote two more drafts,[34] both in April 1978. He also took the script to a darker extreme by having Han Solo imprisoned in carbonite and left in limbo.[7]
This new story point of Darth Vader being Luke's father had drastic effects on the series. Michael Kaminski argues in his book that it is unlikely that the plot point had ever seriously been considered or even conceived of before 1978, and that the first film was clearly operating under an alternate storyline where Vader was separate from Luke's father;[35] there is not a single reference to this plot point before 1978. After writing the second and third drafts of Empire Strikes Back in which the point was introduced, Lucas reviewed the new backstory he had created: Anakin Skywalker was Ben Kenobi's brilliant student and had a child named Luke, but was swayed to the dark side by Emperor Palpatine (who became a Sith and not simply a politician). Anakin battled Ben Kenobi on the site of a volcano and was wounded, but then resurrected as Darth Vader. Meanwhile Kenobi hid Luke on Tatooine while the Republic became the Empire and Vader systematically hunted down and killed the Jedi.[36]
Image of the original trilogy DVD collection on the top and the prequel trilogy DVD collection on the bottom.With this new backstory in place, Lucas decided that the series would be a trilogy, changing Empire Strikes Back from Episode II to Episode V in the next draft.[34] Lawrence Kasdan, who had just completed writing Raiders of the Lost Ark, was then hired to write the next drafts, and was given additional input from director Irvin Kershner. Kasdan, Kershner, and producer Gary Kurtz saw the film as a more serious and adult film, which was helped by the new, darker storyline, and developed the series from the light adventure roots of the first film.[37]
By the time he began writing Episode VI in 1981 (then titled Revenge of the Jedi), much had changed. Making Empire Strikes Back was stressful and costly, and Lucas' personal life was disintegrating. Burned out and not wanting to make any more Star Wars films, he vowed that he was done with the series in a May 1983 interview with Time magazine. Lucas' 1981 rough drafts had Darth Vader competing with the Emperor for possession of Luke—and in the second script, the "revised rough draft", Vader became a sympathetic character. Lawrence Kasdan was hired to take over once again and, in these final drafts, Vader was explicitly redeemed and finally unmasked. This change in character would provide a springboard to the "Tragedy of Darth Vader" storyline that underlies the prequels.[38]
Question, for those that have watched SW on HDTV and now on Blu-ray as well, is there any difference in pic quality between the two?. If so, which is better looking?.
Lmao, the simon pegg/nick frost star wars in one scene is on the spoofs disc. Bet George wants to recall every copy and do a holiday special on it after his comments!
Troops is on the disc! But not the whole thing
Last edited by Merlinpants; 09-10-2011 at 09:32 AM.
Y'know, I honestly don't care for a lot of "spoofs" these days, mainly because those behind a lot of them either don't know how (or care to) make something funny, without being filthy at the same time. Such things really bother me, so I'm not too interested in that content on the bonus disc (unless it was something silly like the YouTube clips of Vader's voice being dubbed with other James Earl Jones films).
As for Lucas not coming up with the "Anakin = Vader" idea until later, so what? The films were done in such a way, that the introduction of it doesn't really affect anything. It's been an integral part of "Star Wars" history for over 30 years; leave it alone.
Last edited by Moviefan2k4; 09-10-2011 at 09:45 AM.
Amazon.com reviews are about as useful as a one legged man in an @ss kicking contest
Truer words have never been spoken!
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexSing
Since cancelling my pre-order I'll admit there have been moments of weakness so last night I dug out my 2006 DVD's. ANH looked lovely upscaled by my OPPO on my 46" LED and tonight I will watch ESB, with ROTJ tomorrow.
WTH? How can you keep watching ST on DVD? That's blasphemy!!! Well, whatever makes you happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlinpants
Discs RECEIVED - OMG!!!!!!!!!
Lucky, lucky fellow!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlinpants
First impression - stunning.
My sub woofer is shaking the very foundations of the house lol.
Woohoo!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlinpants
One good thing to note, the PT rip clips made the digital characters stand out a mile. They blend perfectly in the Blu ray. The only give away is in close ups when their skin texture looks fake (Jar Jar)
You can see what an outstanding job ILM did with regards lighting matches in the scene to the models.
I thought so.
Thanks for all your posts regarding the quality of the set!
I am glad to hear that you are very happy with it!
Can't wait to get mine!
Quote:
Originally Posted by xrose
Audio question.
Is there a huge difference in sound between my 5.1 dts (optical) and dts hd Mast Audio?
I'm asking here because I am seriously considering upgrading my surround sound for the Star Wars blu-ray. Right now my ps3 down converts it to regular dts through bit stream, and I wonder if upgrading to the Sony SS380 will be a very noticeable difference.
No lossless audio is only half of the BD experience, and there has never been a better time to upgrade than NOW, for SW!!!!
Have any of you guys, who live abroad, received a new BD on release day, when selecting "Priority International Courier (averages 2-4 days)"????
I don't want to get the U.K, set, as I don't like the design and rating logos...., so
If one were to upscale the UOT on to Blu Ray by putting it into the computer and then out again what is the best source to use the WS DVD or WS Laserdisc?
If someone could workout what the actual pixels x pixels difference is between the actual image information of the two excluding the black bars that would be most helfpul.
Many thanks in advance.
DVD is supposed to have a higher resolution, and it also features better signal-to-noise ratios than Laserdisc.
This is a supposed direct comparison of the Definitive LDs that everybody raves about, and the 2006 non-anamorphic DVDs that everybody disdains. Unless this is somehow fake, it's pretty compelling proof that although the non-anamorphic DVDs were a BS move by Lucas and company (I don't buy their story), they still remain the best-quality versions of the UOT available on any video format...
octagon , You make a very reasoned argument supported by "fact' (wiki is wrong alot) . and I see your logic. However by your own supporting facts (spoiler) It is reasonable to assume that by mid 1978 the decision had been made to make Vader Lukes father and all evidence suports this. it is at that point the OT becomes about the Redemption of Anakin and follows suit . My main argument was with the people who operate under the misconception that GL changed his story do to the popularity of certain villains . The fact is films take lots of turns. but GL's Ideas for the OT have been in place for 33 years instead of 37
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Well, whatever makes you happy. 
Blu Rays look and Sound Amazing
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