As a lifelong cinema enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many iconic franchises, I must say that the Star Wars prequels hold a special place in my heart – not necessarily for their quality, but for their sheer audacity to redefine a beloved saga. The high ground scene in Revenge of the Sith is one of those moments that, love it or loathe it, has become etched into our collective memory, much like the Mona Lisa or the Eiffel Tower.
As a cinephile, it’s no secret that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg share a strong professional bond. Together, they brought to life the adventurous character of Indiana Jones. Though Spielberg wasn’t directly involved in crafting the Star Wars prequels, his influence was still evident. During the intense battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin on Mustafar, as depicted in Revenge of the Sith, it was none other than Spielberg who came up with the concept for the pivotal high ground scene.
In this situation, Obi-Wan jumps from a mining ship onto a hillside and alerts Anakin that he’s at a disadvantage due to higher ground, implying the fight is done. Disregarding the advice, Anakin suffers heavy losses, including multiple limbs. His wounds were so grave they led to his transformation into Darth Vader, a legendary figure, marking the end of the story. In an interview on Chris And Company podcast, Gillis shared that he opposed this scene but ultimately found himself outmatched in the struggle.
In my opinion, the idea for that particular scene in the movie likely belonged to Spielberg. It seems plausible because of how he usually handles scenes like that. However, I might be revealing too much, but I’m quite certain about it. The reason for this belief is simply the way George Lucas chose to present it. Our team wasn’t fond of it, and it’s no secret; we strongly disliked it. We had an alternative version in mind, and we made every effort to change it, but unfortunately, George was unwilling to make any adjustments.
It’s quite astonishing how this particular scene from the prequels has gained such widespread popularity. Truth be told, numerous quotes from the prequel series have become internet sensations, which explains why they remain relevant in today’s heavily social media-influenced world.
Ewan McGregor & Hayden Christensen Fought Against the Line
On more than one occasion, Gillard has brought up the controversial moment in question. As far back as 2023, Gillard shared with YouTuber Star War’s Theory that both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Obi-Wan and Anakin respectively, had expressed opposition to that specific line.
Both Ewan and Hayden, the lads in question, approached George and expressed, ‘George, this is what we think,’ to which he firmly responded, ‘No, thank you,’ as shared with Star Wars Theory. They disliked the concept of high ground, acknowledging that it has its uses now.
Initially, there were ideas for a different portrayal of the scene that didn’t materialize. In the same interview, Gillard mentioned that the intention was to depict Obi-Wan’s attack on Anakin as more of a defensive action rather than how it appeared in the final version. He elaborated on this.
In simpler terms, Gillard stated that Anakin seized Obi-Wan around the neck after disarming him, and at this point, Obi-Wan’s lightsaber hit the ground. Anakin apologized to his master, and then intentionally let go of the lightsaber. Trying to escape, Obi-Wan quickly reclaimed his weapon but, in the process, unintentionally sliced through Anakin’s arms and legs, causing his body to detach from the lower part. This was more like a fumble in self-defense than a deliberate action. It was a powerful yet accidental sequence of events.
Indeed, that event apparently didn’t transpire, but it seems everything worked out splendidly for the movie. Although opinions about the prequel trilogy vary among fans, there’s usually agreement that Revenge of the Sith is the most powerful of the three.
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2024-10-05 17:31