I started this essay over in my ideas for modifications blog post for episodes 4, 5, and 6. So, that's where to start if you haven't read it already. I'll also be writing one of these for the sequels and for the standalone movies (Solo and Rogue One). This one is for the prequels though. Episodes 1, 2, and 3. I'm going to try to stick with presenting what I consider a good idea instead of re-hashing what I think are the bad aspects. So, when you see that my version of the prequels has little to do with the version we got, just understand that I think the prequels did almost everything wrong.
Episode 1: The Clone Wars
For the opening imposing shot, we see a massive carrier space ship parked on the ground with entryways open and people going inside. There are some people in uniforms guiding the crowd and handling any processing (like handing out temporary ID cards). We start to realize that this huge crowd is composed of a small number of different looking people. Everyone in the crowd looks like dozens of others in the crowd. These are all clones being helped.
We're on Tatooine and Obi-Wan Kenobi is working with a relief organization that is trying to help enslaved clones gain some identity and the opportunity for freedom. These clones were produced and used by the Hutts in control here and the Republic has used military force to stop the Hutts. This is the effort to help the slave clones rebuild. But the fighting isn't over. Obi-Wan is there offering his help to the military forces protecting this evacuation.
A local shuttle pilot hired to help bring the clones to this big ship from different places on Tatooine turns out to be Anakin Skywalker. He's taken a job as a "bus driver" essentially because it's the only way he can follow his passion for piloting. His family are moisture farmers. When Anakin delivers a group of the clones, and attack happens. Anakin manages to maneuver his transport to avoid a nasty fate or something in a way that indicates he knew the attack was coming. Obi-Wan notes this and moves on to helping the defense personnel deal with the attackers who are obviously not happy with the slave clones being taken away. We get our first Star Wars battle and we see Obi-Wan in his prime doing really impressive things.
We also see Darth Maul who is hiding but observing Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan finds Anakin after the fight to find out if he was involved somehow since he knew to dodge the attack... but realizes Anakin is Force sensitive. Obi-Wan offers to train him. Darth Maul observes this too and seems unhappy about it.
Anakin is excited about the prospect of getting to do something other than moisture farming and bus driving, but he goes and talks to his family. We get the scene that Obi-Wan described in Episode 4 where Anakin's brother tells him to not get involved for fear of following Obi-Wan on some damn fool idealistic crusade.
Anakin of course chooses to go with Obi-Wan who has since consulted with Yoda, who has advised against training Anakin.
The climax of the movie is Darth Maul trying to convince Anakin that he can offer a better path. Obi-Wan arrives and is shocked... he thought the Sith were gone or at least nowhere near here. Maul and Obi-Wan fight, but Obi-Wan is calm and keeps asking questions... he's trying to interrogate the Maul while fighting. Maul mistakes the fact Obi-Wan hasn't attacked in any convincing way for him not being much of a threat. Obi-Wan eventually just cuts the staff-saber in half thinking it'll inform Maul that Obi-Wan has been holding back and that the fight is over, but Maul just keeps using his two swords. Maul finally realizes that Obi-Wan IS a threat though, and starts trying to use other tricks since straight sword fighting hasn't been working. We get the moments where it looks like Darth Maul has the advantage and Obi-Wan asks his questions one last time. Maul mocks him, and Obi-Wan cuts off one of Maul's hands (a signature move).
The end of the movie is Anakin going with Obi-Wan to begin training in earnest.
Episode 2: Dilemma of Pride
This one has to contain a lot. We need to see that Anakin is being trained by Obi-Wan, but also that his attention drifts elsewhere. The two main paths are the Force training and Anakin meeting a Senator's pilot... Padme. Padme is also strong in the Force but untrained, and it is how she has done well at protecting the senator from danger on multiple occasions. He ability to react to danger before it's too late has helped quite a bit. Anakin is smitten and he finds himself making excuses to spend time with her. Obi-Wan is getting impatient and says that Anakin has too much training that needs attention since he wasn't trained from a young age. And there's still the efforts fighting against clone slavery. At the same time, Anakin is getting frustrated with training because it's not going fast enough. Keeps asking when Obi-Wan is going to teach him the good stuff.
Anakin and Padme have something of a whirlwind romance that results in her being pregnant. At first, Anakin is very happy for this. Obi-Wan is upset by the distraction, but realizes that training Padme might be helpful too, and that if he can train both of them, Anakin might pay more attention. But it back fires in two ways. Padme picks up the lessons quicker because she actually listens and Anakin gets jealous. He begins seeing Obi-Wan and Padme talking to each other without him there and Anakin starts to imagine something else going on.
Enter another one of Palpatine's students. Possibly Dooku. Dooku calls Maul a fool and says that he used to think like Obi-Wan until he realized how easy power came to him when he stopped restraining himself. Where a Jedi keeps calm and exercises restraint, he had found that letting emotion fuel his efforts was much more effective. Maybe Dooku even sets up a situation where Anakin is afraid to move forward in a combat because he doesn't trust his own abilities yet, and then with Dooku there as a guide, they wade into battle with Dooku shouting to let go of his control and just feel. Anakin relishes this and demolishes the bad guys (slavers?). He feels the power of using his anger.
He goes back to Obi-Wan and Padme and accuses Obi-Wan of keeping valuable information from him. Accuses Obi-Wan of trying to hold Anakin back. And accuses Obi-Wan of trying to steal Padme. He then asks Padme to go with him... he found a better teacher that can help both of them.
Obi-Wan pleads with Anakin not to go and pleads with him to wait long enough to discuss it. Obi-Wan looks hurt and confused at the accusations of trying to steal Padme. But when Padme lays into Anakin about how she isn't a possession to be stolen and that Anakin should have talked to her... Anakin loses his temper and leaves... angry at both of the people he loved.
The end of the movie is Anakin going to be trained by the dark side. Obi-Wan and Padme have a closing conversation that includes what to do next, intent to ask Yoda and the council for help, the fear that Anakin will attack them or come back for the unborn child... stuff to set us up for the next one.
Episode 3: Birth of the Empire
Palpatine is shown in conversation with other politicians in the Republic worlds that don't want to give up the worker clones that are genetically modified to happily accept slavery. They talk about how their military strength is close to enough to overcome the liberal Republic worlds, but the Jedi keep foiling efforts. Palpatine assures them that it will not be a problem much longer.
Dooku is still in charge of Anakin and we can see him with new scars and grim visage. Dooku explains to Anakin that they need to begin hunting Jedi. At first Anakin is resistant, but Dooku continues his explanation. The Jedi claim to be fighting to protect the clones and give them freedom, but all they're doing is helping to kill the clone troopers they face. If the Jedi are so powerful, why haven't they figured out how to help those clones instead of killing them. Dooku suggests that Anakin begin traveling to the major ground battles to find the Jedi there and challenge them to do better. If they refuse or try to excuse their actions, Anakin can decide how best to protect more clone lives. And thus begins Anakin hunting down and wiping out Jedi.
At some point, some clue causes Anakin to realize Dooku isn't the top of the pyramid. Dooku tries to deny it, and the two end up fighting, with Anakin demanding to know who it is. Anakin ends up winning, and Dooku begs for his life. Anakin is about to do something when Darth Sidious enters the room all hooded up. He pulls his hood back and we see it IS Palpatine. Palpatine says "I am the master. You don't need him to tell you anymore. You can kill him now." Dooku looks shocked and terrified, and Anakin casually beheads Dooku.
Anakin tries to attack Palpatine too, thinking this might just be some other lackey. But Palpatine draws his red sword and easily defends. And when he gets bored, he just uses the Force to batter Anakin until he drops his lightsaber and then hits Anakin with lightning. Anakin realizes he's not a match and this guy is pretty powerful. Palpatine tells him to continue hunting and killing Jedi.
Padme is working with the senator again and looking far enough along in the pregnancy that she's likely to take a break soon.
Obi-Wan is on some other world with good-guy military fighting against clone/storm troopers. At some point in the battle, Obi-Wan gets a pensive look on his face and he turns to look into the distance. A blue lightsaber is there. I guess this has to be Mustafar. Anakin walks toward Obi-Wan casually deflecting blaster bolts aimed at him. Obi-Wan tries to talk to Anakin and ask him what he's doing. Anakin challenges him with the idea that Jedi are the bad guys. Obi-Wan tries to break through his confusion at Anakin's words, and tries to say he can still come back... that Padme misses him. The mention of Padme makes Anakin more angry, and he lashes out at Obi-Wan. The fight begins and Obi-Wan keeps trying to talk. He begs Anakin to talk instead of fighting. And we see the same sort of fight developing that Obi-Wan and Maul had in Episode 1. Anakin doesn't understand just how good Obi-Wan really is. Anakin press the attack and mocks Obi-Wan and spits vitriol at him for corrupting Padme. Anakin says that when his child is old enough, he will take the boy away.
When Obi-Wan realizes Anakin is not himself anymore and that there is no helping him, Obi-Wan dismembers Anakin... and Obi-Wan cries as he tells Anakin that he was like a brother. Obi-Wan picks up Anakin's lightsaber looking at it as though it somehow explains what's happening. Seeing their Force-user cut down, the storm troopers rush in. Obi-Wan backs off. He asks his side to pull back, and the Storm Troopers drag Anakin to get medical treatment. The two sides are moving away from each other and we get a very visceral shot with the two focal points.
The epilogue is of the birth of the kids and the montage of their early growth. While still toddlers, Darth Vader comes after Padme unsuccessfully, and Luke is the stronger of the two kids with the Force... so he only senses him. Obi-Wan suggests that he take Luke to a far away place. Luke has an Uncle and Aunt that can raise him. And Obi-Wan says he will stay with Luke to help him and even teach him when he is ready. Padme wants nothing to do with splitting up the kids, or being separated from Luke. Obi-Wan insists that it's only long enough to figure out what to do about Vader. Padme has to keep up working for the senator who is one of the major anti-Empire politicians.
Maybe it's too much to include in the movie, but we should get the idea that Padme dies when the kids are about 5. Obi-Wan lets Luke stay with his Aunt and Uncle and the Senator swears to raise Leia as his own and protect her. Maybe it's even that Anakin finally comes for Padme saying he wants his son. They fight and there's some kind of precarious situation where both of them might die. When Padme tells Vader that Luke is with Obi-Wan in hiding, Vader snaps. He saves himself and walks away. Padme is unable to save herself from whatever situation it was and she dies because Vader didn't saver her.
The Empire is born as Palpatine announces his huge clone army and fleet of star destroyers. They position themselves near the major republic worlds that oppose clone slavery and begin taking over.
Other Star Wars Movies
Already linked near the top...
- Episodes 4, 5, and 6
- Episodes 7, 8, and 9
- Standalone movies
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