Revenge of the Sith, the climactic final cog in the machine that is ‘The Saga’. Judging from the $158 million 4-day total, most saw it and liked what they saw. However, if you paid close attention, you’d have found yourself on many occasions wondering ‘what’s going on?’. Not confusing plot twists, or overpowering visuals. Just instances where dialogue seemed missing, scenes seemed edited or characters refer to things that never happened.

Most likely, this wasn’t poor directing on Lord Lucas’ part as most detractors would want you to believe but rather editing decisions made for pacing and time. In fact, in total, about 30 minutes (unconfirmed) of script was removed from the film to get it to the 145 minute run time.

Rick McClellan himself had this to say:

When "Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" hits movie screens this month, fans will finally have the opportunity to comprehend the saga of Anakin Skywalker in its entirety. Series mastermind George Lucas said he hopes future generations will watch the prequels and sequels in numerical order, but reports that for now fans will have to continue to purchase each DVD individually if they want the complete set. "At some point," is all Lucas would offer about plans to release a six-DVD box set of the "Star Wars" series. "I am not sure when. First ['Revenge of the Sith'] will probably come out around Christmas time. Then, later on, there will be a six-pack." Before you get ready to storm the gates of Skywalker Ranch, however, you may find your dark side's rage diminishing as you hear about some of the "Sith" disc's bonus features. "There are five or six deleted scenes; they will all be on the DVD," said Rick McCallum, producer of the prequels. "They were great scenes, but they just had nothing to do with getting straight and cutting to the chase of the story. They were more plot-orientated and more setting up of Coruscant, more setting up of the war and kind of understanding where all the politics were." ...

As with the other two prequels, many of these scenes were filmed. As a fan, we’re hoping they are included in the DVD that comes this November. To wet your appetite for what may be in store, here are some script points with images from Behind the Scenes Docs that show up on starwars.com. This list will be updated when more reference images are found.

For those of you that have played the Revenge of the Sith video game, much of this will be fimiliar. In what eventually was cut scenes from the film, Obi Wan and Anakin have a terrible time getting from the cargo bay to the area Palpatine is being held. While the cut that Lucas made works, there is alot of character interaction in these scenes that help build the idea in the viewers mind that Anakin and Obi-Wan are close, much closer than Qui Gon and Obi-Wan were. What we saw as a master and apprentice in Episode II, we now see as two friends in Episode III. Plus, more explosions are never a bad thing.

11 INT. HANGAR-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER

ANAKIN and OBI-WAN head for the elevator. A door opens in the hallway and two of GENERAL GRIEVOUS's BODYGUARDS confront the JEDI.

BODYGUARD I: General Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker. We've been waiting for you.
OBI-WAN: We are here to relieve you of Chancellor Palpatine, not join him.

As a dozen more droids join the group, the JEDI ignite their lightsabers and stand back-to-back.

OBI-WAN: Anakin. . .
ANAKIN: Ready.
ANAKIN and OBI-WAN use their lightsabers and cut a large circle in the floor.

12 INT. GENERATOR ROOM-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER

The TWO JEDI cut their way down several floors into a large generator room. Huge EXPLOSIONS outside the ship have caused several large pipes overhead to break, and fluid is spewing everywhere. The Jedi get up and turn off their light sabers. ANAKIN dips his hand into the fluid and sniffs it.

OBI-WAN: . . . fuel. The slightest charge from our sabers will send this ship into oblivion. That's why they've stopped shooting.
ANAKIN: Well then, we're safe for the time being.
OBI-WAN: Your idea of safe is not the same as mine.

They run, EXPLOSIONS rattle the ship, and pipes continue to burst around them, spilling more fuel into the hallway. At the far end, SIX SUPER BATTLE DROIDS drop into the fuel. The SOUNDS OF SHIELD DOORS CLOSING AND LOCKING ECHO throughout the hallway. They pass several large power generators, which are topped with SPARKING excess power dischargers.

ANAKIN: They're sealing this section off.
OBI-WAN: Six droids coming our way!

The last of the DOORS CAN BE HEARD CLOSING in the distance.

ANAKIN: Keep moving. There must be vents . . . This way.

They move along a wall. ANAKIN climbs up the side to a small vent. The fuel gets closer to the SPARKING dischargers.

OBI-WAN: We'll never get through that. It's too small!

They move toward a second vent. OBI-WAN is swimming in the fuel as it reaches to within a couple yards of the ceiling. ANAKIN feels along the ceiling and finds another smaller vent. He closes his eyes and tries to sense an opening, then he moves on. OBI-WAN is forced into hand-to-hand combat with one of the SUPER BATTLE DROIDS. It pulls the Jedi under the fuel. Just before he is about to drown, OBI-WAN disables the SUPER BATTLE DROID by pushing him into an exhaust pipe.

The fuel is up to the Jedi's chins. ANAKIN finds a very, very small metal grate, then pounds on it until the tiny grate breaks loose.

ANAKIN: I found our escape vent.
OBI-WAN: Anakin, this is no time for jokes. We're in serious trouble here.
ANAKIN: Only in your mind. My Master. Look, no structure. . . .

ANAKIN grabs the side of the tiny hole and gives it a big yank, ripping a large panel loose revealing a "man-sized" work shaft. They scramble through it as the DROIDS swim closer.

13 INT. VENT SHAFT-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
The TWO JEDI pull themselves through the narrow vent shaft until they reach a small hatch in the side of the tube.

ANAKIN: Here's a way out.

As the SUPER BATTLE DROIDS reach the opening in the ceiling and the fuel gets to within a few feet of the power generator sparks, the JEDI work the keyboard on the pressure lock, opening the latch.

14 INT. SMALL PASSAGEWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
The TWO JEDI climb into a small passageway and slam the hatch shut. They make their way through the ever-shrinking shaft until they reach the end.

15 INT. HALLWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
A hatch opens in one of the main hallways of the Trade Federation Cruiser, and the JEDI squeeze out, SLAMMING the hatch. Behind them, ANAKIN seals the hatch with his laser sword.

OBI-WAN: That won't hold when the fuel hits those power dischargers.
ANAKIN: The blast will break the hull. This side's pressurized.
OBI-WAN: You still have much to learn, Anakin.

16 INT. VENT SHAFT-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
The SUPER BATTLE DROIDS climb up the vent shaft. SUPER BATTLE DROID R77 and SEVERAL OTHER DROIDS wait in the generator room as the fuel continues to rise toward the power discharger.

SUPER BATTLE DROID R77: I have a bad feeling about this.

17 INT. GENERATOR ROOM-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
The fuel hits the SPARKING power discharger, and there is a HUGE EXPLOSION.

18 EXT. TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER-BATTLE
A GREAT EXPLOSION and a flaming gas cloud spray out of the side of the Federation Cruiser.

19 INT. HALLWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER
A large bulge appears in the wall around the sealed hatch as the EXPLOSION hits.

OBI-WAN jumps back, then stands amazed.
OBI-WAN: All right, you win. I have much to learn. Let's go!

ANAKIN grins at OBI-WAN, and they run down the hallway.

Finally, we have an animated photo here of something I couldn't find in the film or script. In the script, the Jedi merely step out of the elevator. Clearly, you can see here that the door has been blasted or cut open.

This section which includes Threepio was cut, showing a disappointing trend of much of his role being cut from the film. In the documentary “3PO’s Time to Shine”, Anthony Daniels comments on how the darker tone of the film contrast the humorous aspect of the droid in the other 5 films. Maybe that is why most of his scenes were cut, or maybe it was just bad luck.

94 INT. CORUSCANT-PADME'S APARTMENT-LIVING ROOM-EARLY MORNING

PADME and OBI-WAN sit on one of the couches.
OBI-WAN: Has Anakin been to see you?
PADME: Several times . . . I was so happy to hear he was accepted on the Jedi Council.
OBI-WAN: I know ... he deserves it. He is impatient, strong willed, very opinionated, but truly gifted.

They laugh.

PADME: You're not just here to say hello. Something is wrong, isn't it?
OBI-WAN: You should be a Jedi, Padme.
PADME: You're not very good at hiding your feelings.
OBI-WAN: It's Anakin . . . He's becoming moody and detached. He's been put in a difficult position as the Chancellor's representative - but I think it's more than that. I was hoping he may have talked to you.

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