SW - Death of aunt and uncle and their remains

Post by **Landwaster** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:14 am

Did anyone else notice in the original Star Wars (IV) that when Luke returns to the home of his aunt and uncle, to find it destroyed and smoking, that the charred remains of the bodies of his aunt and uncle could be seen amongst the wreckage?

I remember seeing this as an adult and thinking, considering that the movie was generally a bit all-ages and mainly just swashbuckle, that it was a somewhat out-of-place decision to show charred remains of helpless, clean-living folk.

Normally, when someone like a soldier/Stormtrooper is killed off, they just go erggh, clutch their chest where the penlight was shone on them, drop their weapon, and fall over.

The corpses on Tattooine seemed to be a tact not used otherwise in the general theme of intended audience.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 3:31 am

I couldn't help but notice that too. Back when the Special Edition Star Wars hit the theaters, I had a decision to make about my daughter who was about 8 at the time. I remembered that scene and was a bit hesitant to let her come along. Since it was fairly brief and I knew it was coming my wife and I decieded to let her come and we asked her not to look. Years later she has seen the entire film many times.

Post by **Revan** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:37 am

It was a bit disgusting... I don't think they should put it on a film when children are to go and see it...

Post by **Revan** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:38 am

...But what the hell. The children can probably handle it...

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:30 am

The parents are responsible for what the children are exposed to. If a parent thought Star Wars inappropriate he or she should not allow said child to view it. Nuff said.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 1:39 pm

I like to gather my family around the TV and eat pie during that provocative scene.

Post by **Landwaster** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:37 pm

NATALIE PORTdAN wrote:I like to gather my family around the TV and eat pie during that provocative scene.

How sweet! LOL

Post by **matrixman** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:49 am

I've always liked the dramatic power of this scene. The shot of the skeletal remains is a stark visual symbol of the cruelty of the Empire: this is what the stakes are, this is what the Rebels are fighting against.

I think this scene of death, plainly seen in the light of day, brings an existential quality to Star Wars. It helps make the film more human, because we never feel more human than when faced with our own mortality. What thoughts must be going through Luke's mind?

The very incongruity of this scene, amid all the lasers and spaceships, grounds the Star Wars universe in reality. Human beings are vulnerable there just as they are in our universe, and can die senseless deaths just as easily.

Come to think of it, I suspect few other sci-fi films have depicted human death with such visual economy as this scene in SW does.

It is masterfully executed scenes like this one that separate Star Wars from its imitators.

Anyone bored yet? Wake up there in the back row!

Post by **Revan** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:51 pm

I agree with MM. Very good points there MM.

Post by **Landwaster** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:52 pm

Nah I reckon someone just snuck it in when the editors weren't watching.

Post by **Seafoam Understone** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:00 am

Well if that were true then the videos wouldn't have gotten away with it. Remember from the disney flick of The Rescuers there's a shot of a Playboy Centerfold that can be seen inside a building hanging on a wall as the Albertross flies past.
Likewise (urban legend??) the Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequence where Jessica Rabbit is totally nude for one frame and one frame only...

Either way when I saw SW for the first time in theaters (a long time ago) I wasn't grossed out by the burnt skeletons but did wonder if the Blasters the Stormtroopers carried had different settings. I mean most of the non-armored humans that got shot had a laser go through them or at least had charred a hole in their chests.
With Owen and Beru it seemed the Troopers either kept blasting at them or used a type of flame thrower ...or mebbe a thermite gernade/detonator. I mean talk about over-kill.

Post by **Landwaster** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 2:46 am

I doubt they were killed by laser fire, I reckon the burnt to death when their home was blown up.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:16 pm

Landwaster wrote:I doubt they were killed by laser fire, I reckon the burnt to death when their home was blown up.

I support your theory. Unless there is a weapon in the trooper arsenal akin to a flame thrower we've not seen before or since.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 8:04 pm

Landwaster wrote:Nah I reckon someone just snuck it in when the editors weren't watching.

Maybe Lucas threatened to do the same thing to the editors....

Post by **Landwaster** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:43 pm

... all ... the ... wrong ... images ...

Post by **Revan** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:15 am

dANdeLION wrote:
Landwaster wrote:Nah I reckon someone just snuck it in when the editors weren't watching.
Maybe Lucas threatened to do the same thing to the editors....

LOL!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:45 pm

I don't know why, but when I watch that scene, I get a sudden urge to eat beef jerky....

Post by **Revan** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:47 pm

ROTFLMAO!!! You sick bastard lol!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:49 pm

Nah, I hardly ever get sick off of beef jerky.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:49 pm

You got me on the bastard part, though. But my parents did finally get married....

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

SW - Death of aunt and uncle and their remains

SW - Death of aunt and uncle and their remains