Star Wars: Blogs | Smugglers Rants | You Sunk My Character Arc!

Smugglers Rants

by: janlomona

date posted: Oct 06, 2005 7:26 AM

You Sunk My Character Arc!

"I've been looking forward to this."
"Yes, I'll bet you have."
EXIT GREEDO

Classic. A totally classic Star Wars moment, and one that defined Han Solo as a tough, take-no-prisoners, do-what-it-takes kind of guy. Just the kind of pilot you'd need to get you to Aldreaan, or away from trouble. Just the kind of action you'd expect from a man who, in just six years, became probably the most famous smuggler in the galaxy.
And then in 1997 it all changed.
Greedo shot first...
And missed!
But this isn't about that massive fan bone of contention. It's about the effect it had on the character of Han Solo.
In the original version of Star Wars (the one us fans aren't allowed to see anymore, the one that's next on GL's wanted list next to the Holiday Special and Howard the Duck) Solo takes Greedo out in cold blood. The Rodian thinks he has Solo bang to rights, just where he wants him but we, the viewer, know Han has it all in hand. And soon Greedo, who we assumed was a dangerous customer, otherwise Han wouldn't have greased him, is toast.
But the 97 version changes that.
Solo has a character arc, from callous, careless smuggler looking out for number one, right through Empire and his love for Leia to what is essentially the end of his character arc, handing the Falcon over to Lando.
It's a transition in three films from the selfish, devil-may-care smuggler to a man prepared to hand over something he loves so much for the greater good.
But having Greedo shoot first, as innocuous (and from an SPFX POV one of ILM's worst ever) as it may seem, changed that character arc irrevocably.
Think about it.

http://blogs.starwars.com/galantesdiary/30

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	Yoda's Dojo Yoda's Dojo: Where all things meet their opposites....and say hello.
date Posted: Oct 06, 2005 7:49 AM I completely agree dude. A good blog. I don't think there would a single fan out there (not one that wants to keep living anyway) who likes that unholy addition to ANH. It was a timeless moment, and really defined Solo as a man who's got the edge, and a man who can crack puns afterwards ("sorry about the mess.") Cont.

Yoda's Dojo
Yoda's Dojo: Where all things meet their opposites....and say hello.

date Posted: Oct 06, 2005 7:52 AM

cont. But having Greedo shoot first makes Solo look like the kind of guy who will give EVERYONE a chance. If not for his miraculous abilities to shift in his chair without really moving (come one ILM, u know it looks bad), Solo would be just another dead low life on Tatooine. There is nothing innocuous about that shot. It completely alters one's perception of his character. Cont. (more to go)

Yoda's Dojo
Yoda's Dojo: Where all things meet their opposites....and say hello.

date Posted: Oct 06, 2005 7:57 AM

cont. Think about it, if he lets Greedo get a shot off, then why not all those Stormtroopers that they run into on the Death Star (the part where he DOES shoot first, and then chases after them for good....and comical....measure) have a shot too? Or why not let Darth Vader just disarm him without firing? To get a little ridiculous, why not just hang it all up and live in a hippy commune? WHY WHY WHY? What was GL satisfying with that change?

Master_Kenobi17
Takin Over For Talon

date Posted: Oct 06, 2005 4:08 PM

There are huge continuity issues with Greedo as well. If Greedo was a child in TPM(he fought with Anakin in a deleted scene) then that would make him about 60 in ANH. However, in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Greedo is about 19-20 when he is killed. Also, in the book, Greedo doesn't spend his childhood on Tatooine. The book came out before TPM did, so what was going on with that?

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 07, 2005 4:41 AM

I think in TPM greedo was about Anakin's age - 9. So by Star Wars he would be the same as Vader, 41. I think that fits ok (although glad that scene was deleted, we didn't need to see Greedo as a child, although there is a neat parallel with Vaders rise happening at the same time if you link them together)
And GL doesn't give a toss about the books, they're not his concern. If he needs to ignore them to do a story, that's what he'll do (although to his credit there have been plenty of EU references in the films since the Outrider appeared in the Star Wars Special Edition)

	Darthcharlie32 The Cantina at the End of the Universe!
date Posted: Dec 29, 2005 8:16 PM luckily i have the OT in a VHS box set... uh oh... its the SE police... runs away with the box set giggleing and screaming POO DOO! at the ILM people in storm Trooper armor

	Darthcharlie32 The Cantina at the End of the Universe!
date Posted: Dec 29, 2005 8:19 PM and about the outrider in the 97 edition...the outrider is one of the more famous EU ships... Ive seen a Outrider toy at a antuiqes store go for a pretty penny.. annd there probalby was some pressure from fans.. or a ILM employee could be a EU nerd and added in the Outrider for a easter Egg

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