WARNING: The following post has real spoilers for the 9 Star Wars Skywalker Saga films.
DISCLAIMER: This is just an opinion post, so no one is being FORCED to agree with it at all, only if you want to.
Speaking of force, I must admit, just where would Earth be without THIS franchise nowadays?
As ya probably know, it’s also got plenty of very iconic, unforgettable characters, whether they’re Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, R2-D2, C-3PO, BB8, Chewbacca, Yoda, or Grogu (The Child/Baby Yoda if you prefer), along with its villains, including Emperor Palpatine, the Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Darth Maul, and, oh yeah, the legendary Darth Vader! Did ya also know that the original 1977 movie quickly grew so iconic, it was even one of those first 25 films chosen to be preserved in the National Film Registry in 1989?
Um-hmm, once during the late 1970s, my Mom (then a teenager) attended this Peter Frampton concert at Madison Square Garden; at its end, they said there was a special guest, & who came out on that stage? None other than R2.
Anyway, if you’re an expert on Star Wars movies, then you should know not 1, not 2, but 3 trilogies have been made to this day as well:
All 9 of those films are connected to one another as an overall plot, which each of them set in a different year (except for The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, both being set in the same one). Star Wars’s second trilogy is additionally set before the first, while trilogy number 3 takes place after the previous two. Thus, the second & third ones are known as SW’s Prequel and Sequel Trilogies, respectively, while its first is known as the Original Trilogy. Altogether, the three of them make up the “Skywalker Saga” since they all follow a storyline revolving around Star Wars’s Skywalker family characters.
However, you might also have heard that Star Wars’s later 2 trilogies are considered not actually as good its Original Trilogy. While they at least aren’t as bad as the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special or 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars CGI movie, if it had been up to ME, both those two later trilogies would’ve been been absolutely better. Furthermore, I know the original one has still got some specific issues with it itself, so yeah, I’d have had that OT better in some ways, too. Of course, this post will talk about mainly just that. As you might’ve guessed, I’ll be talking about each Skywalker Saga film from oldest to newest.
On top of all that, there’s this one part of The Phantom Menace, consisting of a fictional, unique sport known as podracing…
While considered enjoyable, it’s also been known for feeling out of place for a SW film plot. Why I am saying this now, and not a bit later in my post? Well, after I’m done talking about how I would’ve had those nine movies different, some more of the post will be about podracing entirely being its own spin-off too, just to give you a head’s up.
Yeah, while I undoubtedly would’ve had other Star Wars stuff different (including, you know it, that Star Wars Holiday Special & Star Wars: The Clone Wars CGI film), truth is, there are SO many SW things which I would’ve had differently overall, if I explained them all in this same post here, I’m afraid it would’ve simply made it too long! Therefore, I decided: why not just talk about the Star Wars productions which we ALL know of, then for podracing afterwards? Hope that’s OK with ya.
Alright, now we’ll begin with the Star Wars movie that started it all (plus Original Trilogy film number 1) – Episode IV: A New Hope!
Yeah people, I know, this film here has been considered one of the best, most influential movies ever made. Believe me, I truly do understand that as well, and I’m no perfectionist either. Yet, even Episode IV has faced some certain criticisms. In fact, since 1997, newer prints of A New Hope have had some changes to the film, which sadly have also made it not quite as well-received as before. Furthermore, A New Hope was known to have another specific issue with it even before then. Thus, here is how that first ever Star Wars feature film would’ve been better if I were to have had it…
First, here’s one such problematic post-1997 addition for that movie: what I just showed you above in the still image. When ANH was originally released as simply Star Wars in May 1977, while Jabba was mentioned, he never was seen throughout it once. On top of that, even Boba Fett makes a cameo appearance in this scene too. So I get what one would perhaps very well think when first hearing of this exact added-in scene: “Yeah, it’s nice we get to see them in the movie now, but this should’ve been a part of it when that film first came out.”
However, both critics and fans have actually been less than happy with this sequence. For one thing, Jabba’s threatening role is considered dumbed down here; he appears to interact with Solo in an ironically friendly-like manner. Not only that, but Solo awkwardly just steps on the tail of such a powerful, antagonistic gangster here as he’s walking behind/around the Hutt. Han’s conversation with Greedo (a Rodian minion of Jabba’s, who Solo himself has just killed before this scene) is technically rehashed here, too. Plus, having Jabba even appear as his full, in-person self does ruin the exciting suspense of him not being entirely revealed until Return of the Jedi for the original SW trilogy. Furthermore, this CGI-animated Jabba here feels painfully out of place with the 1970s-filmed setting. (Although had the Docking Bay 94 scene always been there in Episode IV right from its 1977 release, with Jabba as a full-body character here, THAT one criticism wouldn’t ever have existed, would it?) Something else? Solo says here, “Jabba…you’re a wonderful human being,” when Jabba’s clearly NO human. Though, this actually comes from the fact that Jabba was, indeed, originally a human character, before becoming the slug-like alien we all know him as. Han’s line IS sarcastic, but there are still people who say it’s problematic.
As for Boba, him just standing there in the background during this scene adds nothing to its narrative stakes, while also makes him look like a generic low-level bodyguard, rather than the menacing Original Trilogy threat we know him as. How it’s executed additionally wrecks his own mysterious reveal in The Empire Strikes Back. Boba then even awkwardly stares right at the screen in a breaking the fourth wall manner. Having actually been shot on a bluescreen in 1994, that bounty hunter’s lighting ain’t evenly matched with the sequence. Lastly, people have considered Boba’s armor being an inaccurate matchup: his TESB helmet paired with the armor plate colors from Return of the Jedi.
Well, I’ll admit, while I definitely do agree with it being better that Jabba’s full, physical appearance never gets fully revealed in A New Hope OR The Empire Strikes Back (allowing that crucial suspense for ROTJ to have remained), as there are those who still like seeing him & Boba one way or another, I actually would’ve always had this scene with them being shown, only for Jabba’s case, not entirely in person (since believe it or not, I’ve read Boba appearing in person here, if executed properly, really COULD have avoided ruining his mysterious state (something like that remaining up to the next movie doesn’t mean he simply cannot be shown until then)), along with this scene different in several other ways also.
Therefore, here is how I myself would’ve arranged this scene, with it always being part of A New Hope right from its original 1977 premiere: Captain Solo is walking to his Millennium Falcom ship, only to be stopped by Boba (with his name never revealed during this scene, while his helmet & other armor also ARE matching) and a Trandoshan henchman, Bossk; Bossk does the talking here, but in Dosh (which is the fictional language of Trandoshans), without it rehashing any other ANH chats, while Boba remains silent for this scene, but no background character. Afterwards, a flickering, blue, slightly fuzzy image of Jabba out of the small, hand-held holo-projector which Boba’s holding appears (with a smaller, puppet prop used for that Hutt in this case). The talk Han & Jabba then have goes like this (of course, Jabba’s dialogue being translated here from HIS fictional language, Huttese)…
Hologram Jabba: “Han. You ran a long way just to hide in a junk pile.”
Solo: “Jabba. Look, I had just been on my way to see you. I’ve got a charter that’s going to cover my debt, play a little extra for your time.”
Hologram Jabba: (Briefly laughs.) “I’ve heard that song before, Solo. But you fried poor Greedo. He was a dumb tracker, but MY dumb tracker.”
Solo: “That was self-defense, Jabba! He had a blaster in my face. You know me, I’m a lover, not a fighter. If you want your spice money, you need me flying, not dead in a cantina.”
Hologram Jabba: “Greedo was cheap. You are expensive. I will give you one more chance, because you are the best smuggler I have. But if you fail me again, the bounty hunter who’s carrying this projector here won’t be holding a projector. He’ll be holding your hand. Fifteen percent extra for the trouble.”
Solo: “Ten, Jabba. Let’s keep it business.”
Hologram Jabba: “Twelve. Or the bounty goes active right now.”
Solo: “Twelve. You’ve got a deal.”
Once that’s through with and Jabba’s hologram disappears, Boba gives a slight nod to Solo, before the Millennium Falcon captain then leaves Boba and Bossk. Yeah, this way, ANW’s Docking Bay 94 scene would have been undoubtedly better. It avoids being too similar to Han’s chat with Greedo, keeping Jabba’s full, physical appearance, including in actual size. still ever a mystery, fits his antagonistic role much more without him sounding too kind-ish and thus perfectly goes with the 1970s-filmed setting also (same with Boba’s lighting). With Boba additionally remaining silent here but having that hologram, it makes him represent a stronger, cold, dangerous menace even more, not to mention him being a bounty hunter of few words like he is in the actual Original Trilogy, and without him being considered reduced to a generic Jabba thug, his skills being revealed just yet, Boba’s helmet & armor looking too unevenly matched, or there being any awkward moments, either. In addition, Boba silently having tracked Solo here directly sets up why Vader singles him out in the next film.
(Forget Yoda, Emperor Palpatine, or Lando being in Episode IV at all, though. While the hologram Jabba with an in-person, but properly executed Boba Fett would actually do for specific reasons (like very well defining Tatooine’s criminal underbelly), Lando, Yoda, and Palpatine never appearing in that film, even as holograms only, just works out for the better, I’m afraid. One good reason for this is considering Vader’s high enforcer role & Grand Moff Tarkin’s main antagonist one; Palpatine making an appearance here would’ve clearly weakened both. Yoda debuting in A New Hope, rather than The Empire Strikes Back, would also have answered the notable question if there were any Jedi still around besides Luke and Obi-Wan too early for the OT. ANH’s focus on the Rebellion vs. Galactic Empire with a more grounded scale would’ve been disrupted as well, & so forth.)
As for those other criticized post-1997 Episode IV changes, whether they are where Greedo shoots at Solo first instead of Han just firing at Greedo without warning (which people argue damages Solo’s character arc of a selfish criminal who learns to become heroic) or the terrifying yell Obi-Wan makes to scare Sandpeople away replaced with something that is widely considered to sound silly), they just would never have been made to start with, if it had been up to me. Again, of course I would’ve including that Docking Bay 94 scene, only much better laid out, so you could both Jabba and Boba Fett here without it being too problematic, but with these other movie edits, it’s different. Since they don’t really involve more iconic characters in them (otherwise I’d have them different for people to see these characters without those parts still being a problem), I feel the original, non-edited scenes which were part of the 1977 release print would have been better off staying like that, one way or another.
OK, & now for one other specific criticism which was already there before 1997.
When R2-D2 and C-3PO are trailing through a desert on planet Tatooine…well, this scene actually halts Episode IV’s space conflict into an overextended, comic routine sequence (with those two droids bickering), is seen as absolute repetitive filler, makes the viewers wait even longer for Luke’s introduction, & has C-3PO oddly make shouting threats to R2 when they’re right in the middle of a bare place where no one’s around or can hear them. Adding on, them choosing a path leading straight to Jawas feels like on overly convenient coincidence just to push the plot forward. Thus, here’s how I myself would’ve had that scene differently: it’s cut down by 40%, while 3PO also never shouts at or comically bickers with R2 too much like he does in the actual film. A quick scene showing the Jawas’ Sandcrawler would have been seen in the distance after R2 & 3PO crash-land on Tatooine. This establishes that those Jawas are actively patrolling a designated salvage route; moreover, R2-D2’s choice of direction becomes an intentional move toward the one visible sign of activity, making their eventual meeting an unavoidable intersection, rather than a chance encounter.
I know there are two other notable criticisms of Episode IV (the Stormtroopers being considered pathetic because of their poor aiming, and Luke needing to be saved himself “too much”); although, THESE ones I’d actually DEFEND. When those Stormtroopers miss their targets on the Death Star, even after having fired DOZENS of times, it’s actually on purpose, as their commanders Vader & Tarkin ultimately had the heroes escape, so they could be tracked to a hidden Rebel base. Luke being in need of rescuing several times additionally drives A New Hope’s action, brings its main characters together, and shows Luke’s crucial growth from simple farm boy to hero.
Alright, that is very much it for talking about ANH, but keep in mind that at least SOME for the next movies I’ll be discussing will probably be longer. So we will now be moving on to, oh yeah…EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!
Yes, The Empire Strikes Back’s widely referred to as the best SW film of them all…however, did you know that film wasn’t actually considered the masterpiece it is now when first released way back in 1980? Uh-huh, that’s correct, blog readers. Why it was like that then? These factors were TESB’s darker tone, fractured narrative splitting the heroes, cliffhanger ending, and limited usage of new characters.
Thing is, however, addressing those then-criticized features of Episode V, ironically enough, would have WRECKED its quality. Over time, people realized these aspects are crucial to what makes it (plus the Original Trilogy overall) compelling:
- A lighter tone would’ve erased stakes. Softening the despair of Han getting frozen in carbonite or Luke’s defeat (for this movie) would have eliminated this movie’s genuine sense of danger which established the Galactic Empire as a legitimate threat.
- The Empire Strikes Back actually works BETTER with a cliffhanger end. True, there was no modern internet to say things like, “Another sequel resolving its cliffhanger will follow” in those days, while ROTJ also came not 1 or 2, but 3 years after TESB. Although, having no cliffhanger ending would’ve messed up Return of the Jedi, as well as Star Wars’s OT overall. Solo successfully having been rescued, Luke’s parental revelation resolved, & his Yoda training completed before Episode V ended would have overextended its runtime, not to mention robbing the Original Trilogy of its ultimate emotional stakes.
- Keeping these characters’ storylines as one would have clashed character growth. Luke needed to go to Dagobah (where Yoda resides here) for even further Jedi development. As for Captain Han and Leia, going through what they did on the Millennium Falcon was necessary to develop their romance.
- Changing the roles of new characters in The Empire Strikes Back would’ve ruined those roles in this movie, too, at least slightly/partly. To give you an example, Boba Fett having more screen time, dialogue, or his own action sequence would have stripped away that menace of the unknown, reducing him to a standard sci-fi henchman, rather than a cult icon.
Yeah, to be honest, TESB’s one Star Wars Skywalker Saga movie I feel is fine how it is…well, I’ll say that for its original 1980 print. Like A New Hope, Episode V received criticized post-1997 changes. So all which I would’ve really had different about The Empire Strikes Back are those edits never being there.
One such problematic change with Episode V? For the 1997 edition, Luke gives a certain, recycled scream as he’s jumping away from Vader down an airshaft. That scream is recycled from Palpatine’s in Return of the Jedi (when Vader throws Palpatine off a reactor shaft to his death). It’s been criticized since…well, it sounds rather awkward. As you’d be able to tell from hearing it, the scream is CLEARLY not Luke’s voice, while he also jumps down on purpose. Although at least THIS change got removed after the 1997 The Empire Strikes Back edition; just wish I could say the same for other criticized post-1997 changes here too.
Another example of an unnecessarily TESB changed scene just so happens to be among its most iconic ones: that part where Palpatine (as a hologram) gives his “There is a great disturbance in the force” line. As I showed you in those two still images just above, how Palpatine looks is not the same (actually this change wasn’t made until 2004). There’s an understandable reason for it alright: he’s simply played by different actors for either version. (In Episode V’s original 1980 print, it was the late Majorie Eaton with Clive Revill’s voiceover, but in post-2004 prints, he is played by Ian McDiarmid, who famously also portrays him in all his later SW Skywalker Saga appearances). That change has been considered to appear less charmingly unsettling than his more hidden, eerie chimpanzee-like appearance in The Empire Strikes Back’s original print. Furthermore, it’s been known as wrecking this movie’s history, not to mention feeling out of place with its 1979-filmed setting. Plus, even the conversation in that scene was changed, & not in a super way either. “We have a new enemy..Luke Skywalker” (its newer, edited dialogue) makes Vader appearing foolish or forgetful: he already names & discusses plans for Luke with his officers earlier.
Thus, oh yes, the TESB sequences which got problematic changes would simply have always remained how they are in this movie’s original 1980 version; with Luke having no reused scream, the “There is a great disturbance in the force” part remaining like it was with its original dialogue and more hidden-looking Emperor hologram, etc.
Now we’re moving on from Episode V. Guess what this means? I will next be talking about Star Wars’s third & final Original Trilogy movie…Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Return of the Jedi, I’m sorry to say, has been considered the weakest out of all three Original Trilogy films. But yeah, if it had been up to ME, it sure would not have been like that…
Lastly for these nine Skywalker Saga movies,
BONUS:
One way or another, I’ve still posted links to videos with these top iconic Star Wars scenes (mainly from the Original Trilogy) for anyone who’s are interested in seeing any of them…
First, the “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope” line being spoken in A New Hope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGwszApFEcY
Second, it is that part with Tatooine’s 2-sun sunset in A New Hope, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ak2jr55fE
This third one would be A New Hope’s Cantina sequence, also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU_XqqiEMwI
Furthermore, here’s the Death Star Trench Run part of A New Hope as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCU2P2AvflQ
Next here just so happens to be SW’s most iconic scene of all – the “I Am Your Father” sequence in The Empire Strikes Back! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF15bOeWNlM
Fifth, Return of the Jedi’s scene where Vader redeems himself to save Luke’s life, epically throwing Palpatine down into a reactor shaft in the process (the original 1983 version without there being a “No…NOOOOOO!” here): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnswb1xA4ig
Plus, I have posted links to videos of The Phantom Menace’s pod racing scene, for those who’d like to see it anyway. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3rhPRPhSzc Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3rhPRPhSzc
Next, that Duel of the Fates part of The Phantom Menace, too (where Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan both take on Darth Maul): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUNXQJnsyGY
We’ve additionally got the Order 66 scene from Revenge of the Sith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3nuk8UI76M
Lastly, here is where Obi-Wan & Darth Vader (shortly before Vader got his trademark black armor after being burned) duel on Mustafar, again from Revenge of the Sith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3OtoO5zjjU
In addition to those scene clip links, I just thought I’d also put links to these 2 highly iconic musical numbers (that I’ll bet plenty of us would recognize anywhere), for anyone who feels like hearing them.
First, of course, is the main title theme song of Star Wars overall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0ZQPqeJkk
This other one? Darth Vader’s own theme tune…THE IMPERIAL MARCH! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8
P.S. Do eternally Rest in Peace:
David Prowse (1 July 1935 – 28 November 2020), the masked Darth Vader’s portrayer in Star Wars’s Original Trilogy.
Sebastian Shaw (29 May 1905 – 23 December 1994), who portrayed the reformed Anakin in Return of the Jedi, and his force sprit ghost at the end in the original version.
Carrie Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016). She will always be known as Leia’s actress for the movies, including posthumously in the later two Sequel Trilogy films.
Alec Guinness (2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000), who played Obi-Wan, as well as his force spirit, in the OT.
Peter Mayhew (19 May 1944 – 30 April 2019), actor of Chewbacca in the films, up until The Force Awakens.
Jeremy Bulloch (16 February 1945 – 17 December 2020), who portrayed Boba Fett in SW’s Original Trilogy also, before briefly returning to the franchise in Revenge of the Sith, playing a minor character, Captain Colton.
Jason Wingreen (October 9, 1920 – December 25, 2015), Boba’s original voice in The Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi, too.
Marjorie Eaton (February 5, 1901 – April 21, 1986).
Larry Ward (October 3, 1924 – February 16, 1985).
That additionally goes for any other deceased person who has ever contributed to a Star Wars production.
UPDATE: Just to be clear, this now also includes James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024). We will forever know him as Darth Vader’s voice in Episodes III, IV, V, and VI.
UPDATE 2: Clive Revill (18 April 1930 – 11 March 2025) is now included here, as well.
CATCH MY OTHER POSTS, & MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, FOREVER AND ALWAYS!