|
|
Battle of the Heroes -Part 2
The second half of the duel is where things get complicated as quite a bit of footage was cut from the next sections. There were two pieces of duel footage that were shown repeatedly in many of the webdocs and other promotional videos. One piece was on a bluescreen stage on a large blue block with an incline at one end and two large pillar set pieces at the other end which probably represented a doorway. The other took place on an entirely greenscreen stage with Ewan and Hayden fighting along a long narrow green block.
Main Collection Plant
The footage shot on the bluescreen stage is difficult to sort out. I think this stage may have been used to shoot more than one section of the duel. In one piece of footage Anakin and Obi-Wan fight through the two pillars, Obi-Wan knees Anakin in the stomach which Anakin counters with a backhand slap and then they engage in a hand to hand stuggle near the encline at the end. In another piece of footage, the two pillars are covered up with a bluescreen curtain and the incline is removed, there's some extremly fast paced swordplay and Obi-Wan forces Anakin off the edge of the block.
As confusing as all that may sound, what is certain is the majority of all this footage was cut. As far as I can tell only a few shots made it into the finished film; some extreme closeups of Obi-Wan and the part where Anakin slaps Obi-Wan backward followed by the hand to hand stuggle as the lava spray erupts in the background.
Since most of this footage was cut and it was shot on a bluescreen set it's hard to tell what location(s) of the duel this environment was originally meant to represent. But it's probably safe to say it was an area after the pipes over the lava but before the collection arm. A lot of this footage can be seen in the ROTS DVD docs "It's All For Real" and "Within A Minute". The "Return of Darth Vader" doc on the OT DVD bonus disc also features some of the same clips.
The Collection Arm
The footage shot on the greenscreen stage was for the section of Anakin and Obi-Wan fighting along the collection arm. Originally this segment was longer with Obi-Wan and Anakin stopping more than once to look back as the lava erupted and melted the arm.
The redundant look backs were cut as well as some swordplay. A couple highlights among this omitted footage included a nice tracking shot of Obi-Wan and Anakin performing almost identical moves as they fought along the arm and a moment where they exchanged punches to the face.
The "Within A Minute" documentary on the DVD focuses on the collection arm fight so it features a plethora of behind the scenes footage from this segment including a lot of the deleted material. At 38:36 on the doc, there's a great look at three different edited versions of this segment. The middle version is the longest with a bit more swordfighting in it. The bottom version is the most truncated and is closest to what ended up in the finished film.
The Floating Platforms & Volcano Shore
There were a few lines in the E-Book script and the Making of book that were omitted from the floating platform and lava shore segments in the finished film. Some of the dialogue was added during pickups but was still cut.
The Hyperspace Set Diary This Fight Is Rigged describes one fight related detail that was cut from this section. During the filming of this sequence, the stunt department suggested that a wayward lightsaber swipe should sever the control stem on Obi-Wan's platform. This action was filmed but wasn't used in the film.
Below is the excerpts from the E-Book script and the Making of book. The omitted lines are in red, the lines denoted with an asterisk are from the Making of book. Since this dialogue is from two different sources, the order may not be totally correct (mainly at the end) but it's probably close enough.
OBI-WAN
I have failed you, Anakin. I was never able to teach you to think.
ANAKIN and OBI-WAN confront each other on the lava river.
OBI-WAN*
Much of what I taught you, you're using against me.
ANAKIN
I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over...
OBI-WAN
From the Sith!!! Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil.
ANAKIN
From the Jedi point of view! From my point of view, the Jedi are evil.
OBI-WAN
Well, then you are lost!
ANAKIN
This is the end for you, My Master. I wish it were otherwise.
ANAKIN jumps and flips onto OBI-WAN's platform. The fighting continues again until OBI-WAN jumps toward the safety of the black sandy edge of the lava river. He yells at ANAKIN.
ANAKIN*
Your combat skills have always been poor, Master. You're called "the negotiator" because you can't fight...
OBI-WAN
It's over, Anakin, I have the high ground.
ANAKIN
You underestimate my power!
OBI-WAN
Don't try it.
ANAKIN follows, and OBI-Wan cuts his young apprentice at the knees, then cuts off his left arm in the blink of an eye.
ANAKIN tumbles down the embankment and rolls to a stop near the edge of the lava.
ANAKIN struggles to pull himself up the embankment with his mechanical hand. His thin leather glove has been burned off. He keeps sliding down in the black sand.
ANAKIN*
Help me, Master.
OBI-WAN*
Don't ask me, Anakin... you're evil. You bring nothing but pain and suffering. I can't help you.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)...You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness.
OBI-WAN picks up Anakin's lightsaber and begins to walk away. He stops and looks back.
ANAKIN
I hate you!
OBI-WAN
You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you. But I could not help you.
Battle of the Heroes - Part 1
Sources:
-Illustrated Screenplay E-Book.
-ROTS Making of book.
-ROTS DVD: "It's All For Real", "Within A Minute" docs, Theatrical trailer.
-OT DVD Bonus disc: Episode III docs.
|
|
|
