PT Was Darth Maul really Necessary?

People who argue that Anakin is the main character of the saga seem to forget that he has about 15 minutes of screen time in the title movie of the saga.

 

No, it's just that "main character of the saga" does not mean the same thing as "main character of the first movie".

 

No, it pretty much does.

 

What are you talking about?

 

Vader had 9 minutes of screen time in the theatrical release of Star Wars (might have been expanded to 15 in subsequent releases?).

I can't be bothered tracing the genesis of this particular discussion but that is what is being referred to.

 

So the first movie was the whole saga? That's weird.

 

It lays the groundwork for the saga.

 

What does screen time have to do with anything?

 

Normally main characters have the most screen time in the first movie of the series.

You know, not 15 minutes.

 

Really? Luke doesn't appear for over ten minutes in ANH, yet was considered the main character. Explain that one.

 

Um, are we watching the same movie?

 

He appears seventeen minutes into ANH. Anakin appears about a half hour into TPM. So again, screen time doesn't mean jack.

 

Darth Vader, the supposed "main character of the saga," appears for 15 minutes in the opening film (ANH). Luke appears for over an hour in the film.

 

Yes, so? Fifteen minutes doesn't mean anything. Especially with six films total. Jason Voorhees only appears in less than five minutes in the original "Friday The 13th", yet the whole series is about him. He's the main character throughout all eleven films.

 

It's poor writing if you're going to put your main character in the opening film for 15 minutes. Lucas made it up as the "Story of Darth Vader" on the spot.

And there are now going to be nine films now, so that whole story might as well be thrown out the window.

 

No one's saying that Lucas didn't come up with that later on, but that still doesn't change anything. As to the next three films, that's a different story. Story one which is Episodes I-VI has been told. That is "The Tragedy Of Anakin Skywalker". Episodes VII-IX will be a second story and centered around a new protagonist. Luke and the others play a part, but it isn't entirely about them.

 

Story I-VI isn't the story of Anakin/Vader IMO.

If you see it otherwise, go right ahead.

 

This got me thinking about how Maul, at the end of TPM, becomes a thug for the Trade Federation. I always wondered whether the Trade Federation actually knew what a sith was, or whether Sidious was one. Then I thought about it, and him showing up wielding a lightsaber (and being called Sidious's apprentice) kind of make it obvious. There really is a story element missing there right? I mean, they know they are working for the sith. But why? Perhaps EU touches on this stuff, but it is never explained well in the movie.

Anyway, overall though, I love the idea of Dooku and Maul actually being the same character, but part of me likes Maul more. If they had just taken Maul, given him a voice, and perhaps made him more of a leader type, then it would have worked fine. Trying to imagine old-ass Dooku in the Theed Palace fight though...not really that pleasant.

 

Because he had fifteen minutes of screen time in ANH?

The Sith were known because a thousand years ago, the Sith had ruled almost the entire galaxy until the Jedi defeated them. There was a line that was cut that seemed to indicate that Rune may have not been entirely sure about the Sith. This was after learning of Maul and his being sent to find Padme. He wondered how the Jedi would react once they found out about the two of them.

 

That is one of the reasons, yes.

 

You do know that's a really weak line of reasoning?

 

ignoring the whole ping pong match above and getting back on to Maul for a second..

Maul was relevant. The saga needed a Sith that had not a fallen Jedi. Maul was a vicious warrior like most Sith, there needed to be a villain that showed that and didn't leave it to the EU.

 

You're saying my reasoning for my opinion is wrong? Okay

 

Do you dispute that the six original movies follow Anakin from his childhood until the moment of his death, a few minutes before which point he dispatched with the main villain of the saga and saved the galaxy?

 

I didn't say it was wrong. I said it was weak.