Let's Remake Star Wars

[Ashoten]

Not a bad idea Bob. Especially considering that the pitch should appeal to George Lucas himself as you said.

I would like to throw my own idea out there that could flip SW on it's head in an interesting way. Have SW switch settings with LOTR and while we are at it have LOTR switch with SW setting for its own inevitable remakes. The force already worked like magic anyway so it would fit into the role of ancient wizards easily. Imagine how cool it would be to have Luke, Han, and Chubbaca sneak into a Howls Moving Castle style Death Star(named such because an evil star gives it its power). The different setting could really throw off expectations and let the audience be genuinely surprised. Of course there is always the steam punk option....if your into that sort of thing.


The LOTR in space would have the Eye of Sauron be the name of a doomsday war ship with a Hal 9000 computer at the helm. The one ring in this case would be a control circuit for the ship that you have to plug in manually.

This sounds silly I know but I think it would be fun.

 

[Driekan]

I think it could be good, and could be interesting. I just don't believe it would.

I'd rather big-budget work was put into the EU, with an eye towards making it more cohesive and more approachable, than re-threading ground already walked. But then, I am an over-ambitious idiot.

 

[RTK1576]

Here's the problems with these reasons:

1) We know what happened - so what's the point?

2) Moving the series MORE toward the prequel style of doing things? No. NO, NO, NO!

And for the record, Red Tails was bad.

3) Can you really envision Star Wars going Hurt Locker or Black Hawk Down or even Saving Private Ryan? It wouldn't fit. Star Wars is ultimately escapist fantasy and I don't think that can change, or should change.

4)Right, let's spend hundreds of millions of dollars to get George Lucas to leave his series alone.

Hmm... that might actually be worth it.

 

[Gatx]

No, and here's why. Lucas's reason for a lot of his edits seems to be that he wasn't able to make the real Star Wars that he had wanted to because of the limitations of technology. His edits are therefore bringing the original films closer to what he originally envisioned. The problem is no one likes his edits, so arguably no one really wants to see Lucas's "originally envisioned" Star Wars that a remake with modern special effects would allow.

 

[Scarim Coral]

While you do make good points (for one thing, there shouldn't be many plot holes as a remake should more smoother and connected with each other) however I refuse to give Lucas any more money.
Also I don't really give a danm that much about CGI as he had used far too many in the Episode 1-3 (The remake should be less well less greenscreens, they can have the ships battle in CGI.)

 

[Gizmo1990]

For me that almost destroyed the character. Yoda should have been all about the Force. he is strong in the Force and been around for 900 years studying it and finding out the things he could do with it that whole fight should have been about him doing crazy stuff with the Force. It's my biggest problem with the Prequels was that Lucas did nothing new with the Force, everyone just did stuff that we had already seen.

Well that's the thing, it ISN'T anything new because all this takes place 20 years before the original trilogy. It can't really be new because it just turns into "Well if he could do THAT the whole time..."

Easy. Have him bust out a ton of new bad ass movies that we have not seen then in Revenge have Palpatine do the same and still beat Yoda. Then Empire still make sense as he was unable to teach Luke the really complicated stuff due to a lack of time.

You liked it and that's cool. It's just that to me Yoda was always beyond lightsabers. The wise old man that nobody thinks is powerful who then busts out a ton of magic tricks that no one else can pull off.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Really? NO ONE has posted the epic Darth Vader "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" scene from Revenge of the Sith yet? Come on people. You call yourselves Star Wars fans? I'd do it, but I have no idea how to insert a video.

Anyway, if it got remade, I'd go see it. I'd want it to be an animated movie though, because my brain just wouldn't be able to handle seeing anyone else play Luke, Leia, or Han. I've been reading the books since I was a kid, and their faces have been on the covers. I've watched them age over many books so they're engrained into my memory. Anyone else and I'd just spend the whole movie thinking, "That's not Han Solo!"

They could certainly add a few improvements. The lightsaber duel between Vader and Obi in A New Hope was pretty bad. When I was little, I thought the only reason Obi lost was because his lightsaber died.

The arm getting cut off at the bar has blood all over it and floor. That's an oops now that we know how lightsabers work.

I'd love to see the Y-wings actually fight in the Death Star battle instead of just getting blown out of the sky. They could also 'officially' reveal that unknown Y-wing pilot, K. Farlander (I think that's his name, right?)

Empire Strikes back could introduce Mara Jade, although I'm not sure how well that would go over. Her plotline doesn't get resolved until after the movies. Then again, if they're remaking it, perhaps they could find a way to make her Luke's foil until the end of the trilogy where she realizes she's on the wrong side.

Can we see a B-wing pilot please? PLEASE?! I know we saw one in the deleted scenes, but I want to see one fighting, like Green and Grey Leaders.

 

[tohellwithyourcrap]

No. I've had to listen to the internet whine and ***** and piss and moan and complain for over a goddamn decade over this shit. A fucking decade. Half my life I've been listening to people ***** over star Wars. I'm not going to support a remake that going to lead to more bitching for the next decade or more over this shit. Star Wars fans are unpleaseable, unlikable. and frankly hateful when it comes to the idea of change or difference. Any remake, no matter how good or bad, is going to start the bitching machine. Hell, people are still complaining about Star Wars. How about instead we wait till all the hate has died before we consider a remake, i.e. we wait until all the Star Wars fans are dead and all that remains of their hate is the death threat to Lucas on their graves. Maybe in 40 or 50 years people will have evolved to not want to expend all their energy complaining about something stupid.

I understand your view. Really I do. But I am a star wars fan and have been since I was four years old. Other than not particularly enjoying the new films I never really bitched or moaned about Lucas or Star Wars. I forgive whatever wrongs Lucas has done because Jedi Academy makes up for everything plus some. If Lucas Arts makes some bad movies or games or exploits the merchandise I really couldn?t give two shits because I focus on enjoying the good. I say yes to a remake and have done so for a long time. It could be fucking great. It could be epic. If we kept Hayden Christenson far away and got the right director it is almost impossible to not be epic. Seriously, STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE? BUT NEW!!! Remember the days when we didn?t see things through shit colored glasses? Those days were quite nice. If I happen to learn of this project being realized I?ll be hopeful. And if it isn?t good, well, too bad, I?m not going to slit my wrists, write bad poetry, spam Lucas Arts with death threats and hate mail, or any sort of nonsense. I love Star Wars, I would love a great remake, and Han shot first ************.

Good, now all you need to do is get everyone else to think in a similar way and maybe we can all move on. Heck maybe we can achieve global peace if get people to stop caring grudges.

Point taken but sarcasm stings nonetheless. Making a film is hard, making a great film is harder, and remaking a great film into another great film is extraordinarily hard but is well within the realm of reasonable expectation. Even though global peace is a far nobler venture than a remake of Star Wars so far as I know it is only possible in vague theory. If Watchmen ?The Un-filmable Comic? and LOTR ?The Un-filmable Literature? can be executed to near perfection who?s to say an excellent remake of Star Wars won?t make the whining man-children who claim they are fans shut their mouths FOREVER? If a community is going to support such a remake it?s going to be the loyal fan base that appreciates quality content where they can find it. High hopes, not blind faith mind you.

 

[Gizmo1990]

For me that almost destroyed the character. Yoda should have been all about the Force. he is strong in the Force and been around for 900 years studying it and finding out the things he could do with it that whole fight should have been about him doing crazy stuff with the Force. It's my biggest problem with the Prequels was that Lucas did nothing new with the Force, everyone just did stuff that we had already seen.

Well that's the thing, it ISN'T anything new because all this takes place 20 years before the original trilogy. It can't really be new because it just turns into "Well if he could do THAT the whole time..."

Easy. Have him bust out a ton of new bad ass movies that we have not seen then in Revenge have Palpatine do the same and still beat Yoda. Then Empire still make sense as he was unable to teach Luke the really complicated stuff due to a lack of time.

You liked it and that's cool. It's just that to me Yoda was always beyond lightsabers. The wise old man that nobody thinks is powerful who then busts out a ton of magic tricks that no one else can pull off.

Maybe it was more a matter of tradition (or the fact that Dooku had to survive until the third movie). I will say that I don't believe for a second that Yoda couldn't just hold the pillar in one hand while crunching Dooku's ship into a marble with the other.

Or maybe the force just can't be used in other ways without turning to the Dark Side.

I accept your first point that it was that they just wanted Dooku in Revenge but their is a hudge amount of Star Wars games that have cool powers for Jedi and according to a friend of mine who has a ton of EU books Jedi can use stuff like Lightning as long as they do not use anger to fuel it.

 

[UNHchabo]

The Clone Wars IS better than Phantom Menace Bob
If for one reason

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqlyhwh8Ea1qc3188.gif

I have a problem with this shot. Yoda is far too wasteful in his movements. The original trilogy fights always seemed to me to be about the effect, not about the flash. Why does Yoda have to put his right arm all the way out before Force Pulling the lightsaber?

Maybe that's nitpicky, but I think it's yet another symptom of the larger problems with the prequels.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

I actually had this idea a few years back, but I admit I hadn't thought it through so much at the time. But yes, I definitely agree that the original Star Wars had a lot going for it, and it would be interesting to see what someone would do with it now. Kind of like my other idea to write a new Gospel for a twenty-first century audience; it'd be the same story, but done in such a way as to resonate with newer heartstrings. For this reason, though, I don't think George Lucas should be in charge. He had the original idea, and it worked so well in its time because George Lucas worked well in that time. Now, he may be a bit too old to forget his sentimentality.
Also, anything to get rid of the akward sibling kissing scenes would be a welcome change.

 

[Baldry]

Personally I think it makes more sense to remake the prequel trilogy and then create sequels for most of the reasons you said, the original trilogy doesn't need tampering with, it's a beautiful thing and the less George does to it the better. The only thing we have to gain from him remaking it is that it'll make us appreciate how good the original trilogy really was...Also he could maybe get rid of the ewoks and have it as Wookies instead, that'd be nice.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

We've already seen that in his adept hands Lucas would just dump more cartoonishly proportioned aliens and otherwise pointless CGI into his movies. Luke would have even whinier daddy issues to fit him in with Anakin's personality and Obi Wan might swing his lightsaber like a sugar-high spaz at a rave. Also Hayden Christianson.

And he'd probably do it the best out of any director I can think of. And that's kind of sad.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

This is a great article Bob, and your reasons are very well thought out and I spent too long contemplating the connection of Luke, Leia, and and Han to their respective allied forces.

However, I see this as a handful of reasons against almost a hundred. These constant remakes are undermining real creative vision, and it almost gives Hollywood the image that its run out of ideas and wants to apply their insane CG abilities to films that are iconic because of the era they were released in.

But I know what we all want. I do, and you know you do. Knights of the Old Republic: The Movie 1&2. It would be glorious.

 

[Ukomba]

It could be done, and it could be good. I just don't think George Lucas can do it. Strangely, he doesn't seem to actualy understand Star Wars. You'd need a Fan to be put in position of Director and one of the good Book Authors to do the screen play. Timothy Zahn for example.

If you did it, you'd have to throw out all the lore from before and start fresh, but with knowladge of relations and personalities.

The prequils should be thrown out allmost entierly. What would hae been more interesting would have been a similar movie from a different perspective, a Non-Jedi perspective. Have them meet Obi-Wan, Anakin, yoda, ext but don't make the movie about them. Center on a variation of Morgan Katarn maybe.

 

[Lord Revan 117]

How about "no"? Seriously, this is a terrible idea. Just leave Star Wars alone, it's been abused enough already.

 

[Veylon]

What's this crazed obsession with remaking good movies? You don't retake a test because you passed, you retake when you fail. Somebody should tackle Masters of the Universe or take a shot at another Power Rangers movie. It'd be a lot better to reforge something bad than wear the polish off of something good.

I'm not averse to more movies in the Star Wars Universe, though. Give us some of Han's smuggling days. Or go back to the Old Republic. There could be a straight-up military movie involving soldiers. Heck, a cloak-and-dagger flick involving a disaffected Imperial agent might be cool.

 

[sgtleeemery]

I think remaking the original trilogy would be a mistake.

I can see whichever Director and creative team that get assisgned making changes for changes sake. This is understandable as no one would want to see a shot for shot remake but it would lead to diversions from canon and a very definite ripple effect across other Star Wars IP's.

I think a smarter move would be to jump ahead a hundred years or so and pick up with a Skywalker descendant. After all, the Star Wars universe is pretty cyclical and the same major themes pop up over and over. This way you can do a kind of remake, without treading on fans toes, and, allow Directors etc a bit more breathing room to make the project their own.

Just my two cents

 

[Phuctifyno]

Kudos for saying a potentially unpopular thing and stirring discussion, and I agree with your theory that any idea can be made into a good movie - it's all in the execution. There is a conceivable chance that a Star Wars remake could be good.... but realistically I don't think it would work.

The stakes would be way too high for the studio not pour billions of $$$ into the CGI budget, making it a horrendously goofy Roger Rabbit in space, worse than the prequels. I know that plenty of intelligent things have been said about the prequels sucking because of bad writing, acting, pacing, editing, and so on and so forth and all of which are true, but it's the CGI overdose that clinches it - that sucks the life completely out of it.

No image rendered by a computer will ever be as visually exciting as the AT-AT march on Hoth, or the speeder bike chase on Endor, or the Millenium Falcon flying through an asteroid canyon, the clouds of Bespin, and the bowels of the Death Star - because those were real things that were shot with real cameras. Trickery was involved, sure, but your subconscious recognizes that they are material things that can be touched, and that makes all the difference. It's what activates the adrenaline.

Also, gotta say it, more lightsabers does not equal more awesome. I believe it was the indelible Bob Ross who often said, "You need light to show dark and dark to show light." Lightsabers were so awesome in the original trilogy BECAUSE they were underused.

 

[Odin311]

This is one of the dumbest ideas that I have heard in a while.

Why waste money and time on remaking a series that could never be done right. There are too many people that have emotional interests in different aspects of Star Wars. Whatever a remake would be, it could never satisfy people. From Lucas's need to control, and market everything; to the incessant nitpicking form the fans.

Why not just make a new science fiction series?