C-3P0 & Anakin/Vader

[Whitestar]

One of the most interesting facets of Episode 1 is we've come to learn that Anakin created C-3P0. After doing a lot of thinking, I came to the conclusion that these two characters have a lot more common that I initially thought. In classic literature, creations have always been a reflection of their creators. In Episode 1, this is no exception. Anakin and C-3P0 have admirably similar qualities. Both are caring, kind, giving, loving, and understanding. On the other hand, they're both cowards, fearful, and insecure about themselves. When Anakin becomes Vader, he loses all his noble character traits and becomes everything C-3P0 is not: angry, ruthless, intimidating, and a mass murderer. By looking at the path C-3P0 has taken, we get a glimpse of how Anakin's life could have turned out if he had remained on the good side of the Force. But what bothers me the most is Anakin is supposed to be the "chosen one" and he became Darth Vader, but why would George Lucas create a Christ figure who's essentially a mass murderer? And if he is the "chosen one" then why does it take him 30 years later to bring balance to the Force before the Jedi were wiped out? Does everyone else has a problem with this?


Whitestar

 

[Brian G Turner]

The C3P0 connection makes a very interesting angle to his repeated exclamations of "Bless the maker!" - but overall I was disappointed by the C3P0 and R2D2 connection in Phantom Menace - not only did the connection seem forced, it also seemed a reflection of parody that followed Return of Jedi in reaction to Luke's relationships to the different characters.

I think it was Mad Magazne that had R2D2 as Luke's trashcan in a former life - and yet here Lucas was actually writing something too close to the parody.

Also, I've posted elsewhere that I was confused at the notion that Anakin was somehow bringing balance to the force, by living a life that led to the near complete extermination of the Jedi. Balance is about equalisation, I thought - and I didn't see that in the series.

I think the core problem is that George Lucas is essentially writing for a family audience - especially kids and young teens - so he doesn't feel obliged to be held accountable to criticisms of story telling that adults can pitch his way.

Additionally, the fact that he seems to see himself as a special effects artist, rather than a writer, helps compound the issue - we end up with three prequels that are essentially light on substance and heavy on visuals.

The original trilogy was certainly heavy on visuals - that was one of the things that made it in an era when seeing space was revelatory - but the original trilogy was supported by a storyline driven by believable characters and archetypical objects.

Unfortunately, they seemed essentially absent from the prequels, so you essentially end up with three films which are equivalent to little more than irrelevant firework displays.

So, back to the initial point - certainly C3P0 could have been used as a reflection of Anakin - but to be honest, I don't think Lucas was clever enough as a writer to realise that concept, let alone use it.

 

[Whitestar]

The C3P0 connection makes a very interesting angle to his repeated exclamations of "Bless the maker!" - but overall I was disappointed by the C3P0 and R2D2 connection in Phantom Menace - not only did the connection seem forced, it also seemed a reflection of parody that followed Return of Jedi in reaction to Luke's relationships to the different characters.

Agreed.

I think the core problem is that George Lucas is essentially writing for a family audience - especially kids and young teens - so he doesn't feel obliged to be held accountable to criticisms of story telling that adults can pitch his way. Additionally, the fact that he seems to see himself as a special effects artist, rather than a writer, helps compound the issue - we end up with three prequels that are essentially light on substance and heavy on visuals. The original trilogy was certainly heavy on visuals - that was one of the things that made it in an era when seeing space was revelatory - but the original trilogy was supported by a storyline driven by believable characters and archetypical objects. Unfortunately, they seemed essentially absent from the prequels, so you essentially end up with three films which are equivalent to little more than irrelevant firework displays. So, back to the initial point - certainly C3P0 could have been used as a reflection of Anakin - but to be honest, I don't think Lucas was clever enough as a writer to realise that concept, let alone use it.

Exactly! The reason why episodes 5 and 6 were very good was because other writers wrote the story for Lucas. Mr. Lucas has a fantastic imagination and possesses really great ideas, but he's a lousy writer. Even he admitted to being a poor writer during an interview. He said that he never liked writing and nearly flunked his creative writing class, go figure. If he had hired other screenwriters to write the prequel trilogy like he did in the past, coupled with his stamp of approval, the movies might have been far better than they originally were released.

Whitestar

 

[Brian G Turner]

Think I'm quite in agreement there.

What's really a shame is that the impression given is of people critically helping shape Lucas's work in the original Star Wars - but by the time of the new trilogy, people were simply happy to be there, rather than provide critical input on the flaws.

 

[Culhwch]

I remember reading an article where producer Rick McCallum said something like, 'We all know that writing gives George problems, that it's the hardest part for him. What he really loves is editing.' I thought, you're the bloody producer, mate, shouldn't it be your job to lock the megalomaniac beardo in the editing suite and hire a good writer or two? Alas, he seemed to be chief yes-man...

On the droids and their roles in the prequels: What was with Artoo being able to fly? Never seen in the originals, yet there he is, zooming about, comically dispatching battle bots. Nice continuity, George. The argument that he has degenerated by the time we meet him in A New Hope doesn't float, because at the end he gets a full overhaul. Surely the Rebel techs would have refilled his little jet pods. They'd have been quite useful in getting from Luke's X-wing to solid ground on Dagobah... Just one more nail in the coffin that was the prequels, I guess.