that issue with storytelling always bothered me.
But Jedi is such a lousy film I just pretend the whole movie doesn't exist.
Star Wars: A New Hope - question??
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But Jedi is such a lousy film I just pretend the whole movie doesn't exist.
He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
HanSolo2187
Well-Known Member
I think it comes down to sloppy editing. If you follow the numerous releases of the trilogy over the years, they continually insert Anthony Daniels voice in various spots to try to fill in those "holes". Two examples I can think of:
- When they are in the security control room on the Death Star, R2 is flashing blueprints/schematics of the various levels of the Death Star. In the earlier versions of the movie, the blueprints simply flash on the screen and then stop on the one showing the tractor beam location (with no voice-over during this part). Ben then turns to Luke and tells him to stay with the droids - somehow knowing where to go and what to do when he gets there to deactivate the beam. In the later releases on DVD, you now hear C3P0's voice explaining that the tractor beam is controlled by several locations and knocking out any one would allow the ship to leave. I don't believe we hear R2 beeping this information to C3P0 for him to translate - which makes you wonder if this will be added in for yet another future release.
- One other example that comes to mind - on Bespin, when R2 plugs into the power outlet (instead of a computer terminal), he is subsequently shocked. In the earlier vesions of the movie, C3P0 simply says "Don't blame me, I'm an interpreter." In the updated version of the DVD, he now adds "I'm not supposed to know the difference between a computer terminal and a power outlet."
- When they are in the security control room on the Death Star, R2 is flashing blueprints/schematics of the various levels of the Death Star. In the earlier versions of the movie, the blueprints simply flash on the screen and then stop on the one showing the tractor beam location (with no voice-over during this part). Ben then turns to Luke and tells him to stay with the droids - somehow knowing where to go and what to do when he gets there to deactivate the beam. In the later releases on DVD, you now hear C3P0's voice explaining that the tractor beam is controlled by several locations and knocking out any one would allow the ship to leave. I don't believe we hear R2 beeping this information to C3P0 for him to translate - which makes you wonder if this will be added in for yet another future release.
- One other example that comes to mind - on Bespin, when R2 plugs into the power outlet (instead of a computer terminal), he is subsequently shocked. In the earlier vesions of the movie, C3P0 simply says "Don't blame me, I'm an interpreter." In the updated version of the DVD, he now adds "I'm not supposed to know the difference between a computer terminal and a power outlet."
The simple truth is that Lucas wasn't thinking that far ahead when he did Star Wars. How could he have predicted it would become such a massive franchise?
He never thought he'd have to shoot the backstory. In Star Wars he was just trying to conjure the feeling of having stepped in the middle of an adventure serial.
When he took on the rest of the movies he simply discovered wrote himself into some corners, that's all.
His initial plan was to move on to other projects after Star Wars. It's no secret that he got sick of Star Wars a long time ago. Now he just uses the series to showcase and advertise ILM and Skywalker Sound.
C'mon. Deep down we already know this.
He never thought he'd have to shoot the backstory. In Star Wars he was just trying to conjure the feeling of having stepped in the middle of an adventure serial.
When he took on the rest of the movies he simply discovered wrote himself into some corners, that's all.
His initial plan was to move on to other projects after Star Wars. It's no secret that he got sick of Star Wars a long time ago. Now he just uses the series to showcase and advertise ILM and Skywalker Sound.
C'mon. Deep down we already know this.
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Darth Lars
Master Member
There were different sound mixes of both ANH and ESB very early with small differences in dialogue. The original Star Wars had at least three mixes during its initial theatrical run: a six-track mix for 70mm, a dolby stereo mix for 35 mm and a mono mix. ESB had at least a stereo mix and a 70mm mix.
The mixes in the "Special Editions" and on the DVDs are believed to resemble the 70mm mixes more than the others. The "new" Death Star Control Room line was originally on the 70mm mix, but most people have heard the mono mix in theatres and the stereo mix on TV, Laserdisc and VHS.
There are more differences, not just with C-3PO:
* There are those that believe that Aunt Beru was dubbed by three different actresses...
* Luke's "You're lucky you don't taste very good"/"You were lucky to get out of there" to R2-D2 on Dahobah.
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Yeah, those line differences were part of different ORIGINAL mixes, not specific to DVD releases (tractor beam line being from the mono mix, BTW). But you're right, you can dub in anything for Threepio to say to clarify things, and they did.
To answer the question, I'm with the sloppy writing crowd. However, for my Stan Lee No Prize, I submit that Threepio did know, and was blabbing about it until Artoo beeped at him.
THREEPIO: [in blab mode] ...what with the Rebellion and all.
LUKE: You know of the rebellion against the Empire?!
THREEPIO: [still in blab mode] That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning.
ARTOO WHISTLES [shut the hell up!]
LUKE: Have you been in many battles?
THREEPIO: [oh, yeah, right, keep it on the DL] Several, I think. Actually there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter....
After being admonished by his more clever counterpart to shut his yap, all of a sudden Threepio begs off, saying there's not much to tell and he can't tell stories. From that point on he's as vague as can be while still answering his master's questions.
To answer the question, I'm with the sloppy writing crowd. However, for my Stan Lee No Prize, I submit that Threepio did know, and was blabbing about it until Artoo beeped at him.
THREEPIO: [in blab mode] ...what with the Rebellion and all.
LUKE: You know of the rebellion against the Empire?!
THREEPIO: [still in blab mode] That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning.
ARTOO WHISTLES [shut the hell up!]
LUKE: Have you been in many battles?
THREEPIO: [oh, yeah, right, keep it on the DL] Several, I think. Actually there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter....
After being admonished by his more clever counterpart to shut his yap, all of a sudden Threepio begs off, saying there's not much to tell and he can't tell stories. From that point on he's as vague as can be while still answering his master's questions.
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rodneyfaile
Sr Member
C3PO clearly has severe depression.
"We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."
"We're doomed."
"Listen to them, they're dying R2! Curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough, it's all my fault!"
"Leave me. I'm done for."
"We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."
"We're doomed."
"Listen to them, they're dying R2! Curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough, it's all my fault!"
"Leave me. I'm done for."
On a related tangent...
Why doesn't Obi Wan remember C-3PO or R2-D2? It's only been ~17 years since he last saw them, and he's been a hermit since. Doubt he's had much interaction with other droids, much less droids of the same name/designation. And, you'd think that when he tells Luke about his father, it'd jog his memory about the droids (particularly R2).
Then again, as my co-worker likes to bust my stones about details like this..."It's only a movie."
Why doesn't Obi Wan remember C-3PO or R2-D2? It's only been ~17 years since he last saw them, and he's been a hermit since. Doubt he's had much interaction with other droids, much less droids of the same name/designation. And, you'd think that when he tells Luke about his father, it'd jog his memory about the droids (particularly R2).
Then again, as my co-worker likes to bust my stones about details like this..."It's only a movie."
Might be more along the lines of remembering a refrigerator from 17 years ago, or a obscure coworker perhaps. Plus he had a lot on his mind.
Why would he know them? When the movie came out GL had no idea he was going to be making a second film let alone a prequel trilogy.
I chalk that up to sloppy PT writing.With all he went through with them I would think it's a little more than that.
Darth Lars
Master Member
Because droids do not matter. First of all, people do not take heed to them - they are not even second class citizens, they are property. Second, droids are apparently bought and sold, taken apart and put together and getting their minds wiped on a regular basis, so in Obi-Wan's view they could just as likely have been different droids. R2-D2 was an exception.
BTW. In what way does Obi-Wan show that he did not recognize C-3PO and R2-D2? He said that he did not remember owning a droid. Perhaps all droids that he had used during the Republic era were communal property of the Jedi order.
THIS is the best and probably true way to view the scene - I forgot R2 made the little whistle - no doubt telling 3po to keep his mouth shut.
Never ever factor the prequels in - there's way to much that simply makes no sense. Ben is also wayyyyy older than he should be - it's only what - 18years later. He did however become a wayyyy better actor.
Rotwang
Sr Member
I think C3PO may not have fully grasped the importance of Leia. He was probably not involved with anything important to the rebellion and only very vaguely knew what it was about, so he had to rely on what he'd witnessed from afar and heard from R2D2 and others, who probably knew it was better to keep him in the dark. He would have known who she was (Princess Leia, Senator, secret rebel, gets in trouble sometimes), but had no clue as to why or how everything actually meant. So he has to rely on hearsay and unreliable information to make his comments. This explains why he is both reluctant and eager to talk about something. So when he gets a chance to talk about it, he feels he must show off that he knows everything there is. This irritates R2, C3PO then gets the message and becomes quite vague about it.
That and sloppy writing ...
That and sloppy writing ...
anamorphicWayne
Sr Member
That might explain the interaction between 3PO and R2 when they first arrived on Tattonine. It appears that 3PO had no clue about R2's mission or Obi Wan.
THREEPIO: Don't get technical with me.
Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: What mission? What are you talking about? I've had just
about enough of you! Go that way! You'll be malfunctioning within a
day, you nearsighted scrap pile!
THREEPIO: And don't let me catch you following me begging for help,
because you won't get it.
Vagaries or lying.
He was built by a future Sith Lord.
Even encouraged surrendering.
What did Threepio know and when did he know it?
He was built by a future Sith Lord.
Even encouraged surrendering.
What did Threepio know and when did he know it?
Vader2378
Active Member
With your idea in mind, perhaps 3PO and R2 didn't really work together a whole lot between ROTS and ANH - they could easily have been assigned to the same task/mission only shortly before we see them at the beginning of the movie.
It seems to me that perhaps R2 has more to do with Leia - entrusting secret Rebel mission data and Death Star plans to a generic/random droid doesn't seem like a mistake that Leia would make. I always figured R2 was attached to her before the movie starts.
On a side note, she did know there was a tracking device onboard the Falcon and headed for Yavin anyway, leading The Empire directly to them. Perhaps she figured the plans were more important to deliver than actually jumping around from system to system whilst they deactivated the tracking equipment etc.
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