Re-Write the Prequels

[Junkyard]

In the Clone Wars thread, we were discussing the idea of ignoring the Star Wars prequels, then we moved to the idea of a re-write.
It of course moved to a fan- rewrite. Now it's a forum- collabrative rewrite idea.

So here's how I propose we go about it:
I'll start a broad outline; major plot points,
Then we'll work to fill in the blanks with lesser plot points,
And then we'll see where it goes from there.

Now, keep in mind- We're abandoning films "1" through "3," relying entirely on films "4" through "6" for guidlines. If you like certain characters from the Prequels, justify their exsistences before trying to include them. I'm starting with the same character names.
There will be arguing, correcting, and death threats among participants, so you should be mentally prepared.

Here we go:

-It starts with the Galactic Republic going strong.
-Obi-Wan finds teenage Anakin Skywalker working with a rebel group on a planet (not Tatooine,) fighting a corrupt local government.
-Obi Wan finds Anakin strong in the force, and takes him as an apprentice.
-Clone invasion of the Republic starts.
-While fighting Clone War, Anakin Meets Padme Amidala, leading her planet against the invasion.
-The Emporer and his clone army take over.
-Obi Wan and Anakin help found Rebel Alliance.
-Anakin corrupted.
-Luke and Leia born.
-Great Jedi Purge.

Any corrections to basic order, details to add, or in-between elaborations?


Update: Wheat we've got so far:

-The Republic is a collection of indipendent worlds in a senate- like configuration, all having a say, with veto power given to 12 elected "Princes" of the republic.

-The Jedi are a loosely connected group of spiritual warriors who seek out and end injustices in the universe.

- The Clone War is an invasion of Republic planets by a seemingly unending army of clones, led by an enegmatic figure.

- Anakin- Born a slave, he's instrumental in his planet's Slave Rebellion. Here, at age 15, he meets Obi Wan, who recognizes his spiritual potential. Despite his best efforts, Anakin's mother dies on the eve of victory. Anakin then leaves with Kenobi to train as a Jedi. He will stick with Obi Wan for most of the story.
He has grown into a powerful Jedi in his own right by the time the Clone War.  During this, he meets Queen Padme Amidala at the figurative front line of her planet's resistance against the Clone Army. They fall in love, and marry.

-Obi Wan Kenobi- A respected Jedi, he and Yoda help train Anakin.

- Padme- Strong, indipendent, and charismatic, she becomes a member of the 12 Princes of the Republic. Her death will be the thing that tips Anaki nto the dark side.

-Palpatine- Also one of the 12, he's secretly in control of the Clone Armies. His force powers allow him to mask his intentions from the Jedi, among other things.

That's all we got for now.

[Tripe]

Yeah I like the basic outline, let's also hve your stipulations about the various groups/individuals involved from the Clone Wars Thread:

The Jedi- They were intelligent and  spiritually balanced warriors who tapped into the basic powers of a living universe. [
The Republic- A well structured and just body that, having held together for thousands of years, was brought down by a powerful and cunning man who managed to exploit its unseen weaknesses.
Anakin Skywalker- A great and noble Jedi brought to the dark side by genius manipulations and shattering life events.
Yoda- A wise and powerful Jedi master who didn't need a damn lightsaber.
The Clone Wars- A war against clones.
C3PO- A factory assembled robot who found himself in situations he wasn't made for.
R2D2- A robot that can't fly.

[Courtney]

All I care about is the complete retcon of midichlorians.  Terrible.

[Junkyard]

All I care about is the complete retcon of midichlorians.  Terrible.

Goes without saying.

[RVR II]

Anything with:

-I think I'll have a Death Stick.
-You don't want a Death Stick
-I don't want a Death Stick
-You want to go home and rethink your life..

[Tripe]

All I care about is the complete retcon of midichlorians.  Terrible.

What is this thing you call Midichlorians?

Anakin's an orphan, he was raised in the planet's horrible children's home system, which is somewhat akin to the Romanian Orphanages.

That should give us some underlying potential for rage.

[Junkyard]

I guess one point of focus would be- what steps lead to Anakin going to the dark side?
Perhaps the Emporer could somehow convince Anakin that Obi-Wan and/or the Jedi were behind/involved with the Clone Army, or perhaps the murder of Padme, but it would have to be done in a way that wouldn't require Anakin to be an idiot. The Padme thing would also require an order reversal, with L and L being born BEFORE Anakin's corruption.

Also- Midiclorians are the proper name for death- sticks, and Jar Jar Binks is a children's term for male genetilia among the Twi'lek.

[Tripe]

So we get rid of the stupid idea that Jedi are celibate.

Might I suggest a use of the clones that is a little like the Face Dancers in the series of books that became a film popular with RVR.

Because really, breeding Humans purely for war is less practical (and narratively interesting) than, you know, an actual military made up of citizens/subjects.

[Bob]

But you ARE keeping Jar-Jar and pod racing, right?   

I assume the entire planet of Jar-Jars will be thought out of existence?
Padme will not give up the will to live during child birth?

[Junkyard]

So we get rid of the stupid idea that Jedi are celibate.

The celbacy thing always bothered me. It's like these great spiritual masters were actually HIDING from their emotions, rather than balancing them within themselves. Again, the prequel Jedi's were an all- idiot rendition of the Catholic church. (My family is Catholic, so I'm not trying to be down on Catholocism.) [Except the celbacy policy. You don't force men to not have sex, then send them a small army of young boys to hang out with them all day. Christ.] {Adds another wrinkle to that "Master/Padawan" relationship, doesn't it?}

[GregMcduck]

The one idea I've always been kind of attached to from the original prequals was the idea of Anakin starting off as a slave. They fucked that idea up by making him a happy slave who has a slave master that has him run races and all is honkey-dorey, but the basic idea of slavery always kind of appealed to me. It could give him a strong sense of good and evil which makes him an apt Jedi, but also allowing a realistic emotioal weakness without turning him into a big pussy emo.

[RVR II]

But you ARE keeping Jar-Jar and pod racing, right?   

Actually, Jar Jar gets obliterated by a speeding pod racer so he in-effect is taken out early on

[Junkyard]

The one idea I've always been kind of attached to from the original prequals was the idea of Anakin starting off as a slave. They fucked that idea up by making him a happy slave who has a slave master that has him run races and all is honkey-dorey, but the basic idea of slavery always kind of appealed to me. It could give him a strong sense of good and evil which makes him an apt Jedi, but also allowing a realistic emotioal weakness without turning him into a big pussy emo.

That could actually work pretty good with the "Obi-Wan finds teenage Anakin Skywalker working with a rebel group on a planet (not Tatooine,) fighting a corrupt local government" thing. Make that the reason for the local rebellion. The difference could be that he more or less got himself out of slavery, rather than being bought out. And it would be more satisfying to actually have them achive something rather than have the Jedi ignore a planet of slaves for the entire film. This might require Anakin's mother to be killed earlier, either towards the end of the conflict or before the events of the film. Personally, I'm gonna stand firmly with a teenage Anakin, though. That "get 'em young" thing creeps me right the hell out.

Thoughts?

[GregMcduck]

I like it.

The offical list of characters we don't need goddamnt it!:

Jabba the Hutt
Boba Fett
Han Solo
Chewey
Ewoks
Lando

[Tripe]

I assume the entire planet of Jar-Jars will be thought out of existence?
Padme will not give up the will to live during child birth?

You know what though, that wasn't a bad idea in of itself; The aquatic reptilian/fishy warrior race type aliens (a good set of scifi tropes if ever i saw them), except they already existed in the original trilogy:

The one idea I've always been kind of attached to from the original prequals was the idea of Anakin starting off as a slave. They fucked that idea up by making him a happy slave who has a slave master that has him run races and all is honkey-dorey, but the basic idea of slavery always kind of appealed to me. It could give him a strong sense of good and evil which makes him an apt Jedi, but also allowing a realistic emotional weakness without turning him into a big pussy emo.

OK so how about this?

The abusive child care system that funnels the children to slave labour existence, which when we find Anakin he is rebelling against, Kenobi has to buy Anakin's freedom making him Anakin's master in more ways than one, and again laying the foundation for him to feel the pull of the Dark Side.

EDIT: OK I like the "got himself out" idea better, but I'm still fond of my Romanian orphanage idea because I don't need crap about Anakin's mother and shite like that.

I like my Anti/ tragic heroes to have a bit of mystery about their origins.