A Star Wars Prequels Reboot

[Hero in a half shell]

Samuel L. Jackson was completely miscast in the movies. He is great as an emotional badass, not a stoic zenmaster. So make him Jango Fett, have him scream Starwars based obscenities at Obi-wan "I've had it with these bantha-fodder eating Jedis!". Then think of the implication. Every clone is a clone of Sameul L Jackson. Most badass army in the universe.

This blew my mind. Samuel L Jackson as a fett, therefore every stormtrooper, and Boba Fett, would also be Samuel L. Jackson. So the most badass bounty hunter and all the stormtroopers would have been black. Badass. That's the sort of retcons that the prequels needed to make them memorable.

 

[Vern5]

Star Wars is dead. If Lucas keeps poking that corpse (which I bet he has exclusive rights to) then it will only keep on producing corpse gas. Best to leave it alone and move on.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

No goddamn baby Anakin, no goddamn baby Boba Fett. Goddamn kid actors, get off my Star Wars! Also, as already noted, don't let Lucas anywhere near the movie in any capacity other than money.

 

[Bocaj2000]

The ONLY change that needs to be made is to take CGI to a minimum. After that, the only other thing that I would suggest is to have the characters have the same kinds of bonds as Luke, Han, etc. Part of what made StarWars what it was is the chemistry with the characters. The prequels did not have that.

 

[Raddra]

Severely reduce the CGI, go back to physical props. Also, everything WolfThomas said.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

But everything WolfThomas said is everything Plinkett said in his (in)famous reviews [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZmQgxrI]. =p

 

[Nimcha]

Nope, they're fine as they are. I would agree that Hayden Christensen's acting in Episode 2 was sub-par, leading to the romance plot not being quite that believable. I thought he was great in ep3 though.

Other than that, nah they're great movies.

 

[rockoffanddie]

If a reboot was in my hands i would do the following:
1. Keep the main plot points largely the same (trade federation, clone wars etc) but almost entirly rewrite Phantom Menace, so no pod-racing, no gungans, no C3P0 and R2D2 and no making anakin some kind of hero by helping to win any battles as a child. Also rework anakin's backstory so that he is not some prophesised potential hero to the jedi but simply a person with access to the force.
2. Have anakin's relationship, and children, with a character that would be more believable as the mother of his children than a former planetary queen and a member of the galactic senate, perhaps another member of the jedi order.
3. Have anakin's decent into the darkside as more progressive, such as experimenting with the powers of the dark side to try to help protect those around him over the course of the series rather than by performing a single act immediatly turning him into a sith lord.
4. Reduce the use of green screen for sets so that the actors are in beliveable locations interacting with the environment, because as has already been pointed out by other people, this will make the acting better.

 

[Woodsey]

The only thing I'd really change is rewriting the romance dialogue, and slow down Anakin's turn in Revenge of the Sith a bit - it happens too fast.

I like 'em, so there you go. No use in people complaining they don't follow the same structure or have the same feeling as the original trilogy, they aren't meant to.

 

[OceanRunner]

As long as the prequel trilogy is retconed out of canon, then I'm not too fused.

 

[starwarsgeek]

The prequels were good...just not nearly as good as the Original Trilogy.

Anyway, one change I would make is make Obi-wan the main character and reduce Skywalker to a side role, increasing his screen time when he becomes Darth Vader. Make Skywalker's decent to the dark side more gradual instead of just a couple moments of foreshadowing in the second movie...it'd probably be best for him to actually start falling by the end of the second movie.

 

[socialtangent]

-snip-

A lot of excellent insights, but I don't think Samuel L. Jackson should even be in the Star Wars films at all. Star Wars just isn't the kind of thing Jackson fits in. I was fine with how Jango Fett was casted, but I definitely agree that Liam Neeson would've made an excellent Mace Windu.

But if it were up to me, I would have entirely erased the prequels from existence. The prequel trilogy ruined a lot of the mystery and magic that the original Star Wars movies had. Star Wars is a space opera. Movies like it depend on grand, epic, and colorful imagery, romantic ideals, and things of that nature. Things like the Force completely lose their sense of wonder when they're explained to you. The Force is no longer the magical essence of life that binds the galaxy together and promotes the quest for light and goodness. Now it's bacteria in your blood that gives you superpowers.

I could go on for hours about it, really. Or you can watch Plinkett's reviews of the prequel trilogy at redlettermedia.com. He offers brilliant insights into what is wrong with the prequel trilogy.

 

[The Floating Nose]

Jesus Christ...you Star Wars fan are extremely annoying. Stop acting like episode 1,2, and 3 are the absolute WORST films ever made. Just let it go already !

 

[IGNOREME]

Jesus Christ...you Star Wars fan are extremely annoying. Stop acting like episode 1,2, and 3 are the absolute WORST films ever made. Just let it go already !

So what you're saying is that the films are the way the films are and we should all get over it? While I do respect your overall opinion of the star wars fans in general, there have been many films and shows that have gotten remakes and reboots. Fullmetal Alchemist with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hellsing with Hellsing: Ultimate Dragon Ball Z with Dragon Ball Z: Kai, The Incredible Hulk with... The Incredible Hulk, the list goes on. So why not the star wars prequels?

 

[IGNOREME]

Too soon for a remake...but I'd make sure George Lucas doesn't touch one single fucking page of the script.

They're already planing a spiderman reboot, and that's younger than the prequels!

 

[HarmlessBunny]

I discussed this at length with my sister in law and a few friends. I am not Star Wars fan by the least anymore. Casual fan, I don't read the novels or have any knowledge on the extended universe. So be warned all you hardcore Star Wars fans, my point of view may piss you off. Please don't flame me.

I admit Ep V and VI are pretty engrossing, Ep IV puts me to sleep, Ep I is a mess, and Ep II is an example why George Lucas should never direct again.

Simple way to change it: Make Anakin 16 to 19 years old. Have him as a mirror of his son. Someone who is brave, admirable, and charming. IGNORE the whole prophecy bit. Can't he just be EXTREMELY strong with the force, enough for BEN KENOBI (not Qui'Gon) to want to train the kid? Have his descent to the dark side start slow, using the dark side for his gain a bit to give him an edge. Secretly using more and more, until it starts to be obsessive. Show he is an actual pilot, not a go-kart racer. Do not make him into a whiny and spoiled brat.

The Clone Wars was all about the Republic getting a clone army against robots from Quebec, Canada?! (DAMN SEPERATISTS!) It would make more sense if it was a clone army AGAINST the Republic, that mid-way through may have wrest control or created clone soldiers of their own. None of this Jango/Boba Fett crap. He was a cool looking dude who had 5 minute bits in old films, not a massive plot point of the first films. Just have the clones as an artificially created person based off of the genetic material from the best soldiers/warriors.

The Jedi should be a monastic order living in a mountain, not a tower in the Capital. They should be pro-active, not...sit around and debate. They were Knights who defended the Republic, not mediators who sat around all day. Bioware captured a better feeling of this with Knights of the Old Republic.

The storyline with Palpatine manipulating everything and getting power? SURE! Awesome idea. It actually worked. Throw-away villains? Why have them. Count Dooku was a good idea, but poorly used. Hearing him taunt Anakin like Vader would at Ep III was a nice touch, but too little and too late. Have him show up in Ep I. Darth Maul was a bad idea. Maybe keep him as a developed villain, maybe as a student to Dooku (oh and rename him). Grevious was an interesting concept again with poor implementation. Don't just dump him in a last film. If you wanted a menacing cyborg who represents what Anakin will become, have him as a rival in Ep I, but nearly die. Reveal he is alive and more deadly in Ep II, and in Ep III kill him off but make him a little tragic.

The Romance. Ugh. George SHOW do not TELL. Awkward and clumsy dialogue. Thor and Empire Strikes Back showed more romance with the leads smiling and exchanging glances at each other and subtle flirting. It created tension. The romance here is horrible, it seems it is what inspired twilight. (I threw up in my mouth a bit there). Have it as subtle flirting in Ep I, build on it a little in scene by scene in Ep II and end it with the secret wedding (like what happened but have it build over two films rather than 1/3 of Ep II) and Ep III end very tragically. Instead of force choking her and her dying of a broken heart (#*#@%#@!!!), why not realize Anakin is a monster and try to stop him, and in his rage he kills her with no remorse.

oh and less CGI! thanks!

I could go on for hours, as any person watching these films. While not the worst, they fell flat on connecting with a good series

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Things I would change:

Too long, didn't read: Maul should survive Episode 1, and Anakin's desire to see him brought to justice should be the major driving force towards Anakin's fall. Jar-Jar should be a competent, charming warrior and should die at the end of Episode 3. Anakin should have a father-son relationship with Qui-Gon which fuels his desire to see Maul captured.

Alright, so the Phantom Menace.

Spoiler

I think Padmé should be Anakin's age now. She's not the Queen. She's the Queen's protégée. Why? That relation they had was weird in the later episodes. Why is she the same age, but Anakin suddenly grew to adulthood? Anakin should also have a father like relation to Qui-Gon. This comes up later which eventually drives Anakin to the dark side. But for now, he's an awkward kid with a love for mechanical things.

Jar-Jar should be a competent warrior in self-exile after arrogantly leading his friends to their death while hunting the sea monster in the film. He should be funny, charming, and have some swagger, but not be a fool. In fact, he should be an actual officer in the gun-gan military so that it makes sense that he should lead them in battle. His desire to never see the monster take another life leads him to guide the Jedi through the core. Instead of that lame battle scene, he should instead lead the droid army on a chase through the swamp after his initial volley, then surrender.

Anakin shouldn't destroy the Trade Federation ship. The Republic should, as they show up to lay the smack down on the Trade Federation after finally coming to an agreement. Anakin however, should be shown to be a competent pilot.

Darth Maul should survive, and he should still kill Qui-Gon. He should become Anakin's main adversary and driving force to become a Jedi. Anakin's desire to bring Maul to justice should be corrupted into a desire to kill him, which leads to the Dark Side.

The Clone Wars

Spoiler

Now Jar-Jar is in the Senate, and it makes sense. He's a wise officer representing his people, not some fool who was there to laugh at.

Anakin is using Qui-Gan's lightsaber

Padmé is still in training, however now acts as a double for the Queen. The real Queen is assassinated, and she worries about how she will probably become Queen even without completing her training. She shares this with Anakin, now a Jedi in training. They're both worried about not being good enough for the roles they've taken up. Anakin sits up at night because he's worried about Padmé, and so he stops the assassination attempt on her life.

Darth Maul, being so important to Anakin, is instructed to torment him to help push him towards the Dark Side. He follows Anakin, waiting for opportunities to trip him up. When Anakin travels to Tattoine to search for his mother and finds her in the sand people camp, she can still be saved. However, Maul sabotages his bike and steals his tools. Anakin sees hims speeding away on his bike into the desert. With no way to get to a doctor in time, his mother dies, and he takes his anger out on the sand people. He doesn't tell Padmé about Maul.

Revenge of the Sith

Spoiler

Jar-Jar in the end stands up to Palpatine when he declares himself Emperor, and is later arrested and executed for treason.

Anakin doesn't fall because of his love or his thoughts that the Jedi Order is holding him back. He's pissed because they won't get Maul. He begins to think Obi-Wan doesn't care, and Padmé tells him to let it go. He slowly begins to believe that the only justice is the justice you make. He believes the Jedi don't act enough to stop the corruption around him.

Palpatine, seeing Anakin's desire for revenge, launches a hunt for Maul, discovering his location on the lava planet. He tells Anakin who rushes off despite protests from Obi-Wan and Padmé.

Anakin finally catches up to Maul on the lava planet. He doesn't fight Obi-Wan. He fights Maul. He doesn't tell Obi-Wan where's he's going. During the battle, Maul's and Anakin's lightsaber falls into the lava. Anakin uses the force to hold Maul over the lava while choking him Tarkin style while watching the lava set his robes on fire and roasting him, but the unstable rock gives way beneath him and he falls himself. Palpatine, watching to see who would emerge victorious, swoops up Anakin.

 

[IGNOREME]

I discussed this at length with my sister in law and a few friends. I am not Star Wars fan by the least anymore. Casual fan, I don't read the novels or have any knowledge on the extended universe. So be warned all you hardcore Star Wars fans, my point of view may piss you off. Please don't flame me.

I admit Ep V and VI are pretty engrossing, Ep IV puts me to sleep, Ep I is a mess, and Ep II is an example why George Lucas should never direct again.

Simple way to change it: Make Anakin 16 to 19 years old. Have him as a mirror of his son. Someone who is brave, admirable, and charming. IGNORE the whole prophecy bit. Can't he just be EXTREMELY strong with the force, enough for BEN KENOBI (not Qui'Gon) to want to train the kid? Have his descent to the dark side start slow, using the dark side for his gain a bit to give him an edge. Secretly using more and more, until it starts to be obsessive. Show he is an actual pilot, not a go-kart racer. Do not make him into a whiny and spoiled brat.

The Clone Wars was all about the Republic getting a clone army against robots from Quebec, Canada?! (DAMN SEPERATISTS!) It would make more sense if it was a clone army AGAINST the Republic, that mid-way through may have wrest control or created clone soldiers of their own. None of this Jango/Boba Fett crap. He was a cool looking dude who had 5 minute bits in old films, not a massive plot point of the first films. Just have the clones as an artificially created person based off of the genetic material from the best soldiers/warriors.

The Jedi should be a monastic order living in a mountain, not a tower in the Capital. They should be pro-active, not...sit around and debate. They were Knights who defended the Republic, not mediators who sat around all day. Bioware captured a better feeling of this with Knights of the Old Republic.

The storyline with Palpatine manipulating everything and getting power? SURE! Awesome idea. It actually worked. Throw-away villains? Why have them. Count Dooku was a good idea, but poorly used. Hearing him taunt Anakin like Vader would at Ep III was a nice touch, but too little and too late. Have him show up in Ep I. Darth Maul was a bad idea. Maybe keep him as a developed villain, maybe as a student to Dooku (oh and rename him). Grevious was an interesting concept again with poor implementation. Don't just dump him in a last film. If you wanted a menacing cyborg who represents what Anakin will become, have him as a rival in Ep I, but nearly die. Reveal he is alive and more deadly in Ep II, and in Ep III kill him off but make him a little tragic.

The Romance. Ugh. George SHOW do not TELL. Awkward and clumsy dialogue. Thor and Empire Strikes Back showed more romance with the leads smiling and exchanging glances at each other and subtle flirting. It created tension. The romance here is horrible, it seems it is what inspired twilight. (I threw up in my mouth a bit there). Have it as subtle flirting in Ep I, build on it a little in scene by scene in Ep II and end it with the secret wedding (like what happened but have it build over two films rather than 1/3 of Ep II) and Ep III end very tragically. Instead of force choking her and her dying of a broken heart (#*#@%#@!!!), why not realize Anakin is a monster and try to stop him, and in his rage he kills her with no remorse.

oh and less CGI! thanks!

I could go on for hours, as any person watching these films. While not the worst, they fell flat on connecting with a good series

I like the ideas! What I was thinking was to keep the jedi like politicians and all of the rules (no marriage, etc.). this would give Anakin a reason to betray the jedi, that reason being that he finds the system to be corrupt and he thinks he could do better. This would give reason also to why he became good in the end of Return of the Jedi, he had become the very thing he sought out to eradicate.

Another thing would be his relationship with Padme. He should already be married to her, this way there won't be as many stilted dialogue filled "romance" scenes. And while we're at it, change the relationship between Obi-wan and Anakin. Didn't A New Hope portray them as war buddies? Why not have that? I for one think that would be cool.

Oh, and the way he becomes corrupt should be different as well. How about a sith lord kills Padme, in a rage Anakin goes where the sith lord is and kills him on the spot, and have that be something that's against the rules for jedi to do. This way after the jedi has seen what he's done, they could take his status as Jedi Knight away (this being that they're still council-like). After that, Anakin would snap and go on a killing spree.

The emperor should also change. Have him be a sort of monk in the forest type of person, therefor fooling Anakin into thinking that he's different than the Jedi. Have Anakin trained by the emperor to embrace the ways of the dark side. And have Anakin change into Darth Vader close to the end of his training.

The final battle between Obi-wan and Anakin should be different. Have it shortened to 5-10 minutes instead of the half hour long lightsaber fight. Also at the beginning of the fight. Have Anakin try to persuade Obi-wan to join him, sort of a throwback to Empire. Also have Anakin win the fight, but be unable to kill his friend. I'd have him dawn the mask at the end to signify a sort of full transformation from Jedi to sith, not as a sort of cast thing because he get burned.

Oh and to fix the CGI thing, why not have it be animated?

 

[breadsammich]

I've always wondered if they were going to do more Star Wars movies. It is such an enormous cash cow, I just can't see it ending. I'd love to see and adaptation of the Old Republic era. Somehow, Revan just begs screen time to me. But I know the prequels were not well received, so that might cause some hesitation. But money is money and you will always find legions of people to swarm the theatre, because "STAR WARS!!!!"

 

[The Floating Nose]

Jesus Christ...you Star Wars fan are extremely annoying. Stop acting like episode 1,2, and 3 are the absolute WORST films ever made. Just let it go already !

So what you're saying is that the films are the way the films are and we should all get over it? While I do respect your overall opinion of the star wars fans in general, there have been many films and shows that have gotten remakes and reboots. Fullmetal Alchemist with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hellsing with Hellsing: Ultimate Dragon Ball Z with Dragon Ball Z: Kai, The Incredible Hulk with... The Incredible Hulk, the list goes on. So why not the star wars prequels?

Yes, that is exactly what im saying ! If, you guys think that episodes 1,2 and 3 are mistakes well....so be it ! Mistakes are part of life. George Lucas should've done a better job and now, he has to live with it. Anyway, even if the prequels would've been incredible you guys would've searched for something to brag about anyway and what you're naming are Anime and im pretty sure anime are a different market than cinema. I won't go in details about the anime market because i don't know a lot about that category. Im prety sure Geroge Lucas doesn't really care about your opinions on his films anyway it's like if Christopher Nolan was writting the next Batman and then some fanboy would enter the room and tell him : "No, you shouldn't do it this way...do it that way !" Christopher would tell you to mind your own business. Your Star Wars prequel scenarios are pretty cool but let's be realistic i don't think it will ever see the light of day. I don't think movie studios would be THAT suicidal and touch a series like Star Wars.