STAR WARS - THE PREQUELS - Virtual Edition

PREQUEL ENVIRONMENTS

MAR 25

Markus R. wrote:
"Does anyone think it is remotely possible that in the coming 3 prequel
films George Lucas would present to audiences a more realistic, more
expansive Star Wars universe? I cannot imagine that all planets in the
Star Wars galaxy have Earth-like gravity & ample hydrogen and oxygen
levels compatible for human habitation. This assumption is made within
many other science fiction stories, including Star Wars. Yet, one just
has to look at our own solar system to see how uninhabitable our own
neighbor planets really are. We have a tendency to take for granted the
Earth´s human-friendly features and transfer them to the galaxy at
large.

I understand and appreciate that Lucas´ must follow his story, even if
it takes us all back for the third time to a dustbowl planet Tattoine,
that was supposed to be farthest from the center of the galaxy, where
nothing even remotely interesting could ever happen. I just think it
would be cool, in addition to the powerful story he has created, to see
the Star Wars characters, human and alien alike, exposed to greater
environmental challenges, besides the obvious Earthly extremes of hot,
cold and high moisture.

The cold, silence of space is somehow totally avoided in Star Wars, but
embraced in orht Sci-Fi flicks like Aliens I-IV and Space 2001 and
2010. So far in the Star Wars galaxy, humans and aliens have had the
means to adapt and tame even the harshest environments - Rebel base on
Hoth, Skywalker Farm on Tattooine. According to Lucas´s StarWars, humans
shape and master the environmental elements at will.

This is not realistic to me. Environment is such a powerful ingredient
to great storytelling. What I am saying is that I hope Lucas really
exploits it in the new films to blow us away in May 1999.

Let me know you thoughts."

MAR 28

Rob Hardy wrote:
"In response to Markus R.'s thoughts on the unlikely tendency for
planetary environments to be similar to earth.....

Why wouldn't all of the inhabited planets in the Star Wars
Universe be similar to Earth? We know that the hyperdrive has been in
existence for some 25,000 years, and in that time you can travel an
awfully long way with a hyperdrive. Why would planets or even systems
be inhabited unless they provided a reasonable level of comfort from
an environmental point of view? I would suggest that since Humans
appear to be the most populous species in the universe, the majority
of the planets which are inhabited are "user friendly" to humans. If a
planet/system was not inhabitable for humans, then they would just
move on to the next one.

What is strange is that the same air/other gases mix also seems
to be ideal for most other forms of life. This is not even the case
for all animals on our little planet, (take fish for example).
However, you will recall that the informant in Mos Eisley (who gave
away the location of the Millenium Falcon to the Stormtroopers)
appeared to have some sort of breathing apparatus on it's face (it
didn't look like an integral part of it's nose).

There are however, already three situations where the environment
has not been earth like:

Firstly, the wholly artificial planets which are the Death
Star's. The Second Death Star (if you exclude the framework built in
the Maw Installation) was built next to the Forrest Moon of Endor,
rather than planet itself. Presumably this was because they needed a
suitable environment for the garrison protecting the shield generator.
It is therefore quite reasonable for them to choose the moon which is
easily inhabitable rather than the uninhabitable planet itself.

Secondly, Bespin, where Cloud City was just one of several cities
operating on the Gas Giant. Bespin does not make complete sense
however as the Tibana which was being "mined" must have some useful
property, (I have the Star Wars Universe at home, but am sending this
from elsewhere, so I cannot look up what Tibana is used for!!!) and
yet it is completely unharmful to breathe. The ships that visit the
city are on landing pads clearly open to the outside. It is not
sufficient to suggest that the top of the city may be in an oxygen
rich part of the atmosphere, but the underside is not. Luke seemed to
suffer no ill effects while clinging to one of the antennae located on
the bottom, all though this was still some way above the bottom of the
central "inverted spire".

Finally, we saw the inside of the "Space Slug" in the Hoth
Asteroid Belt. Here the air was not beathable, as they all had to wear
respirators, but this was not an inhabited planet, which kind of
proves the point.

Basically, for the same reason that we choose not to live in the
middle of the Sahara Dessert, or at the North Pole, people only live
in the places where it is reasonably pleasant to do so. I would go as
far as to say that the fact that people live on as inhospitable a
planet as Tatooine is, suggests that there are really not that many
planets which do have sustainable environments, and that is why so
much of the story is located in these places."

Alok K. Bose wrote:
"You want to see other environments? I personally am tired of seeing all
the dirty, harsh planets. Tatooine was an ugly little planet, while Hoth was
a white hell. We didn't see any "normal" planet in the original trilogy like
Coruscant and Alderaan, so why can't we see them now. For that matter, no
cool looking cities have been portrayed, and I would like nothing better
than the new trilogy to open with a big, bright shot of Coruscant, or maybe
a beautiful view of the Alderaanian landscape. It is true that Earth like
planets are rare, but with the known vastness of space, there have to be
planets with a pleasant atmosphere. We will see the harshness of space, but
how about some more?"

Juan Rodriguez wrote:
"first of all why? stars wars is not like 2001 or aliens (both great
films) its more fantasy orientated than other gritty sci fi. the whole
point of the story is to be a modern day fairy tale set in a modern
genre sci fi instead of medievel etc . Personnaly I believe that it should be
left the way it is , Its a great story on more then one level, take it
as you get it . one prime example of the unrealistic nature of starwars
(and no disrespect meant ) is the force which is a metaphor for whatever
you believe in (energy, god whatever) just enjoy!"

MAR 30

Mike Solo wrote:
"George Lucas films seemingly exotic locales here on earth in the Star
Wars films to give a realistic illusion of an extra-terrestrialistic
location for the story's settings. In all of the environments we have seen
in these films thus far, each has had life of some sort. How were the
Falcon's passengers able to survive the atmosphere of inside the asteroid
cave / space slug belly? Yes, they did all wear a breathing apparatus. It
would have been VERY cold there in space. The space slug must have
generated the heat. Why didn't Han figure it out that there was a danger
before they all stepped out of the Falcon?. As far as we know, life can
only exist within a certain temperature. Light also plays a major part in
the existence of life. Well, what are the odds of intelligent life existing
elsewhere at this very moment that has the ability of communicating with us?
Check out the Drake Equation at www.msnbc.com/modules/drake/default.asp . I
would love to see an environment in the prequels that cannot sustain life of
it's own. This would be great for a prison planet like Kessel. Of course
the life there would have to have a life support system of some sort. How
can the Calamarians breath air? I'm sure I'll find an answer in a year. I
would love to see two different species from the SAME planet have a
confrontation. Global tension due to possible war would be something we all
could relate to. Peace between the two, later in the story, has the
elements I can see being a part of the Star Wars universe. It could become
a big part of the story between Episodes I though III. Calamarians vs.
Gungans? People of Naboo/Alderan vs. Gungans? I guess we will find out
soon. George is creating a masterpiece of our time. There are not many. I
would love to see more people recognize this. After writing a story for
over 20 years, I'm sure that Mr. George will do the right thing. I HOPE,
ANYWAY. George, if you are reading this, please do not over commercialize
these films. Keep it there to be learned from, not just pleasureable to the
eye. These films will play a major part in the views of our society as we
leap into the new millenium. Academy Award in 2000, YEP."

Jason Nugent wrote:
"Regarding planets and enviroments, I remember reading somewhere that Lucas had a reason for creating all of the drastically different planets (Tattoine,Hoth, DeathStar). Just like all of the characters are archtypes representing the mythical hero (Luke), the teacher/mentor (Obi Wan), etc. I think Lucas put the same effort/thought into the planets. For example, Tattoine is the barren boring place where Luke grew up (mostly). Adding something to his yearning for excitement and adventure. Hoth, a cold desolate place, adding alot of the feeling of dispair in ESB, and finally the Death Star, rigid, stark, black, reinforcing the evil of the Empire in ROTJ. Also one of the things I think Lucas put alot of effort into is making the Star Wars Universe (Episodes 4-6) look dirty, gritty and used. Which came across well on Tattoine both where Luke lived and Jabba's scene in ROTJ. This is one of things I really enjoyed. The variety and detail put into these enviroments added to the depth of the movie and myth. The dirty, gritty enviroments we see in Episodes 4-6 must have been an effect of all the chaos that happens in Episode 3. The Empire coming to power and hunting down whomever threatens them. Great Battles between Jedi and Mandalore, etc. I think in Episodes 1-3 we will see alot of the same. Perhaps some orderly, pristine shots of Coruscant and Alderaan before the Galactic Senate crumbles under the advancing Empire. As we are going to see the beginnings of Tattoine being settled, I would also like to see the beginnings of Bespin.We've all heard the "water enviroment" rumours, and hopefully some breathtaking space battles will occur. Whateve happens, I'm sure Lucas and his team will amaze us........"

APR 07

Kane wrote:
"Just a quick note regarding Prequel Environments:

Star Wars is, and has always been, based on MYTH.   Myths borrow from
familiar aspects and universal ideas of life, which is the whole reason for
Star Wars' various "Earth-style" environments.   It is Science-fiction
which gets all boring and scientific with strange lands and unusual
atmospheres.   This is partly why many people (like me) don't like Sci-fi
in the first place!

Star Wars has such universal appeal BECAUSE it seems so simple and familiar
to us all - make it like Alien or 2001 and you would ruin it just like the
novels have."

MAY 12

ZacknowsSw wrote:
"If you look at the purpose of each planet in relation to the characters, they
have to be harsh. Tatooine was a dry dust ball useless to the Empire so Obi-
wan could hide there and not have to worry about anyone seeing him and
recognizing him. Yavin is a good planet and the only reason the Rebel
Alliance used it was because it was very very very far from civilization so in
relation to it's location it was indeed a very nice spot. Hoth was settled on
because it was TOTALLY useless and the Rebels throw into fleeing and in such
hot pursuit needed a place to stay and chose Hoth. It is likely they could
have found a better planet, most undoubtably they would have, had the Empire
not have found them. You can tell by the fact the wampas were attacking (many
attacks like one with Han and the wampa, R2 and the wampa, and a bunch of
Rebels with the wampa were cut from the final draft of ESB), the large number
of meterites, the lack of food and other resources, the life threatening
temperature, and many other things. Bespin was a nice planet, rich in gases
making it capable of being a rich planet, but as Lando stated their operations
were small. Dagobah was harsh to protect Yoda with its swamp enviroment.
Endor was a nice planet and of course it being put under imperial domination
was the only factor that left the Death Star II there. Naboo will be a very
nice planet, very similar to Earth as other planets will be also. Alderaan
and Coruscant should fall under the Earth-like catagory but they have no role
in the battle against the Empire. George bases most enviroments on Earth like
ones because those are the only ones we know of that can support life."