Ending Star Wars episode III
Firstly, I am not a hard core Star Wars fan. I like the films, but am not one of those who can tell you how many teats a female Bantha has.
I’m on the record – along with others – as saying that Return of The King has really set a high water mark for quality. And that George Lucas will be measured against it.
To that end here’s how I would end Episode III aka Revenge of the Sith.
The opening of the original Star Wars (now known as Episode 4) was simply one of the most memorable in all of cinema history. To remind you: we open in a fairly empty star field. A space ship swoops from ‘behind’ us and flies away from us, ‘into’ the screen. Almost immediately a HUGE craft follows it, filling the screen; left to right and front to back. It’s shooting at the smaller craft. On board the small ship is The Princess, C-3PO and R2-D2. The two robots are about to cross a corridor under fire. In the larger ship and chasing them is Darth Vader.
As of now (November 2004) Episode III is some six months away. I’ve heard only two hints as to how it will end. Maybe deliberate leaks from the creators, who knows. Anyway, on first reading they appear to contradict each other. They are:
- Baby Leia will be taken to Alderaan to be raised by Viceroy Bail Organa. Obi-Wan will hand her brother, baby Luke, over to their ‘uncle’ Owen on Tatooine. Obi-Wan walks off into the distance. CUT
- C-3PO and R2-D2 will seen on the small craft (above), just preparing to cross a certain corridor. CUT
the above two events are about 20 years apart! In the second one, both Luke and Leia are about 20. Yet the idea of the last time we see Obi-Wan wandering off into the wilderness is very appealing. We are left with the impression that he thinks he’s been beaten and it’s all over for his side.
So what to do then. I think what Lucas could do is show the “Obi-Wan into the wilderness” closing, then fade to black. Viewers think that’s it. He could then have the simple, white caption fade up “20 Years Later”. We see the smaller craft (above) coming TOWARDS us, filmed such that we can’t see what’s behind and above it.
We cut to on-board. You can guess the rest. C-3PO and R2-D2 are arguing what to do next. We may or may not see Leia. C-3PO and R2-D2 move towards a certain corridor. Cut to outside their ship. The first shot is fired at it. Fade. Music. Credits.
