Star Wars Rewrite

[CLM]

I think the major problem with the prequels is they were too big in scope. They focused on fitting the myriad storylines rather than on character development and interaction. My idea is to start with Anakin and tell his story first. I think, as a movie, he should begin around 12 and end when he is reluctantly adopted by the Jedi order. This is what I have so far:

Title: Star Wars 1 - Anakin

Scene 1
"The strong and the weak"
Chars: Anakin, Anakin Father, Slave Owner, mysterious black figure
Setting: Tattoine, poorly lit garage-type place you would expect cock-fights to be held.

Anakin and his father are brought by their owner to a regular death match between slave boys run by Jabba the Hut. The slave
owner speaks an alien language which Anakin does not understand but his father does. Anakin's father and subtitles translate his language. The matches are illegal but are allowed by officials/gaurds who are bribed to turn a blind eye. Slaves battle to the death, winning owners are paid a percentage. A match is ending between two large (predator sized) beasts, one is literally ripping the other apart. The next match is between a humanoid figure completely dressed in black (disguise) and a much larger, three armed beast who seems certain to win. The beast fights with brutal strength, smacking the smaller figure around but the black figure is quick and pulls out sharp objects that unexpectedly cut away parts of the beast. Black wears down the beast, ties up it's neck with a cord on hand and stabs it with a light saber from behind. First time anyone sees a
light saber. The crowd goes wild. It's then Anakin's turn. Anakin (a thin, frail boy of 13 in tattered, dirty clothes) is scared and visibly nervous. His father explains that he has to let go of the fear or die by it. His father tells him there are two kinds of beings- the weak and the strong.

We see Anakin matched against two beings half his size who have natural firey protrusions which burn and stab. Both beat and burn him badly. He nearly looses his life but the match is broken up by storm troopers. Anakin and his father are rounded up by the slave owner and brought back to their quarters.



Scene 2
"Stay Strong"

Setting: Family Chamber (cell). Dirty, three sets of shackels on the wall, hardly any furniture.
Chars: Anakin, Anakin's parents, Slave Owner, guards, machine

Meet mother. Mom is shocked at her son's beaten and bloody appearance. She holds her dazed son. Father is visibly nervous,
explains the match was a draw. Mother nervously asks what 'a draw' means, is really asking what the slave owner will do.
Anakin apologizes and explains to father he would do better if he weren't always so hungry. Father then accepts his fate. Tells son he must be strong. Let strength chase your fears. Death is no match for the strong.

Loud noises are heard outside the family chamber (cell). It's the slave owner with four large personal gaurds and a machine.

The guards chain up the mother and the son to the wall while guards hold the father. The Slave owner says the father is useless but the mother and boy still have value. The mother will be sent to a breeding camp or sold to a harem, the son will fight again. Anakin asks what's going on but his parents will not translate. The guards and owner exit the room leaving mother and son chained to wall. Father is free in the same room with the 'machine'. The father looks at his son one last time and tells him to 'be strong'. Cut away and we hear his screams along with mechanical noises. The machine is eating the man alive.


Scene 3

Setting: Naboo Palace
Chars.: Princess Amidala, King Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn

The figure in black from scene 1 removes her outfit to reveal she is actually a young (16yo) princess amidala. As she removes them she is summoned to the scenic veranda by her father. her father is noticably stern. the princess asks him something trivial and then he chews her out. He tells her he knows about her secretly running off to Tattoine and about the fights. He was the one who sent guards to break it up "before she got killed". She tells him she was handling herself fine to which he argues that it doesn't matter. That her behavior is disrespectful to life and nothing like a princess should behave. She also explains how her jedi tutor would be disappointed to know how she's using her new skills. She begs her father not to tell her mentor about the fights, he agrees as long as she stops sneaking out for them. A servant bot tells the king her tutor is here. It is Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon is there to continue training Padme.


Scene 4
Setting: Naboo Woods
Chars: Princess Amidala, Qui-gon

Qui-Gon says something simple which Padme understands to mean he knows about the bouts but has not let the king know. She is sad and asks if he's disappointed. He replies that his disappointment is unimportant. What is important is her feelings. He asks if she enjoys being an instrument of death. She replies that she likes challenges and the unlikely beating the odds. He asks her if she's really the underdog in these matches knowing she isn't. She says she's not sure. He smiles as he understands she's growing confident in her ability and training. He asks how she feels about the people who suffer in the matches. She says most want to be there and don't suffer at all; however, she did see one match that troubled her. The last match between a slave boy and two (aliens). She felt bad for the boy.