Force fields during the duel

Does anybody have a theory as to the real purpose of the red force fields in the final duel between Darth Maul and the Jedi?? If they are there to protect something why do they turn on and off?? That isn't going to stop anyone. What are they protecting anyway?? I think that Lucas conceived them to create a way for Maul and Qui-Gon to fight without OBW, but I don't think that they serve any real purpose.

 

I have seen this discussed before, so I think it is redundant; however, I was always under the impression that it was venting for some kind of reactor inside the shaft. Venting would explain why they open and close at regular intervals. A gas may build up inside the reactor and must be vented regualarly. It may be too volatile or something to be vented all at once, so that could explain the way the forcefield "doors" open one at a time from the inside out.

 

It's meant to regulate the air flow to and from the molten pit area, and also to keep varmints from falling into the molten pit, which would contaminate the chroumium process.

The molten pit is involved with their refinement of chromium, which is what the Queen's Royal starship and the fronts of the Naboo Starfighters have on their surfaces.

The reason there are 7 gates is to commemorate an acnient Naboo tale of "the 7 gates that held back all chaos".

At one point, Lucas was planning on showing a rodent getting zapped by the gates, but decided that showing Maul tapping it with his blade was enough to demonstrate their danger to the duel combatants.

 

I never knew that. Where'd you read that? I have the "Making Of" book, but it doesn't go into detail about the eneregy doors much, I don't think.

I was always under the impression that Maul somehow controlled the doors. Oh well.

 

I thought they were another symbol of pairs in the film - showing how the splitting of a pair results in disaster, just as the unification of the Naboo and Gungans produces a victory.
It's also foreshadowing the split between Obi-Wan and Anakin, where Master and Apprentice are divided, and one is "claimed" by the Sith.

 

That never occured to me The_Nameless_One, that makes a lot of sense.

I think I got most of my information from the Episode I Visual Dictionary, or the Locations of Episode I Incredible Cross Sections book. Either that or the Episode I Insider's Guide on CD-ROM.

 

That is some very good information. You are the man. Thanks. By the way, I heard that the center of Naboo is Water!! and not molten lava. Is that true?? Do you guys know anything about that?? How is that possible, any geologists out there??

 

I will have to look that up, but my first inclination is to think that the Gungans call it the "planet core" because it seems soo deep to them. They are primitives for the most part, and probably don't have any way to prove how far down the water goes.

I do think the incredible cross sections book about TPM locations says the planet has a water core, but I like to think they are just going on what the Gungans are telling them.

This wouldn't be completely dissimilar to our ancestors believing the world to be flat. It effected all of their official documents, maps, and studies, to the point where it was just accepted as fact.

 

We may yet.

 

What happened to the post I was responding to in my previous post here?

 

The Gungans built entire cities underwater, then put them inside force fields that only block out water. They also build submarines (again with the force fields), and some form of contained energy spheres.
The Gungans are annoying, but they are not primitive.
As for the planets core, I don't know. But if GL says it's water, then it's water. It's up to us to figure out how that is possible.

 

Here is what the "Inside the Worlds of Episode I" book has to say.

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[b]Naboo[/b]

Naboo is a bizarre, geographically unique world located along a major galactic trade route near the Outer Rim. The planet's serene surface of sweeping hills and rolling seas is deceptive; beneath it lies a shadowy underwater world of winding caverns and tunnels inhabited by gigantic, ferocious sea creatures. This immense labyrinth runs through the entire planet., becoming increasingly rocky and dense in the lower strata. The planet's center seethes and bubbles with eruptions of exotic plasmic energy. Over millennnia these eruptions form new caverns and tunnels, and influence surface features such as mountains. The planet's two primary civilizations, the Naboo and the Gungans, rely on this plasma power, although they collect and use it in different ways.


[b]Secrets of Otah Gunga[/b]

When the amphibious Gungans were forced to retreat underwater in a fierce struggle for territory thousands of years ago, they stumbled upon a secret that enabled them to live there permanently. In deep waters, they came across a strange lifeform known as locap that burrows into porous rock and siphons out plasma. The Gungans found that they were able to extract plasma from the plant using special harvesting bongos (Gungan submarines) equipped with a front-mounted siphon. This natural source of energy has many uses in Gungan life, including the creation of their unique bubble cities. Plasma-based technology allows powerful hydrostatic fields to be generated around basic frameworks, keeping water out but allowing individuals to pass through.[hr][/blockquote]

 

That's pretty interesting reading. I guess maybe the core is not just water.

 

Here is something from the "Episode I Visual Dictionary".

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[b]Gungans[/b]

Gungans evolved in the swamps of Naboo, becoming almost equally well adapted to life on land and in water. The amphibious beings live in underwater cities hidden in deep lakes, breathing air or water with their compound lungs. Secret techniques allow Gungans to "grow" the basic structures of buildings and vehicles, which are complimented and finished by Gungan artisans in organic styles. Gungans trade with the Naboo for certain items of technology, but manufacture everything else they need from the resources of their underwater habitat. Although Gungans use mechanized vehicles, they have a close affinity with the natural world and still prefer to utilize living mounts and beasts of burden.[hr][/blockquote]

 

It's meant to regulate the air flow to and from the molten pit area, and also to keep varmints from falling into the molten pit, which would contaminate the chroumium process.

Ha! I love the idea that they'd be grumbling at some low-grade chroumium, thanks to having bits of Maul ruining the mixture

 

If you watch that scene with the commentary on, GL says he wanted them to get separated but couldnt think of how. Then he threw in the energy doors.. You dont need to read into it anymore than that.

 

Right, because they come up with the explanations for you.

 

It's meant to regulate the air flow to and from the molten pit area, and also to keep varmints from falling into the molten pit, which would contaminate the chroumium process.

The molten pit is involved with their refinement of chromium, which is what the Queen's Royal starship and the fronts of the Naboo Starfighters have on their surfaces.

The reason there are 7 gates is to commemorate an acnient Naboo tale of "the 7 gates that held back all chaos".

At one point, Lucas was planning on showing a rodent getting zapped by the gates, but decided that showing Maul tapping it with his blade was enough to demonstrate their danger to the duel combatants.

Fantastic stuff, I never knew that.