A thought about Star Wars...

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 18:36

...You see the mighty empire, capable of building mighty armies that can crush anyone, can build spaceships that can traverse the galaxy in hours, can create deathstars with weaponry that can crack planets like eggs. But can the put a f**king railing on the edge of a balcony or high up walkway or sharp drop? No. What's with this? You know, the Health and Safety Executive in the UK would have a fit if they saw the sheer disregard for worker safety. I tell you, that deathstar is a potential deathtrap

Paul Hanson · February 24, 2003, 18:42

Bored? Drunk? Both?

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 18:47

Sober as a judge...

...forget that, I am sober

Skanky Burns · February 24, 2003, 19:26

It fits in well with the empire's "complete disregard for human life" theme.

MRT144 · February 24, 2003, 19:27

the empire hired subcontractors to build their ships, they cut costs and pocketed the difference!

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 19:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
It fits in well with the empire's "complete disregard for human life" theme.

Yes, but what if a hapless Emperor happens to 'stray' over the edge?

Japher · February 24, 2003, 19:30

The lack of railing is a definite EH&S issue. Yet, why would they care if their clones fell to their deaths? Their clones after all. Also, maybe it was intended to knock their enemies off, not the other way around.

Note: Lando's sky palace also had serious lack of railing.

You never see any signs either.

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 19:32

Well I remember once when they just walked through a door and there was just a sheer drop (IV I think)...that is a pretty nasty architectural feature...

Tuberski · February 24, 2003, 19:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Provost Harrison

Yes, but what if a hapless Emperor happens to 'stray' over the edge?

He was thrown over the only rail in the entire series!

ACK!

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 19:35

Was there a railing there when he was thrown over? So the Emperor's chamber gets a rail? The lucky, lucky bastard

Tuberski · February 24, 2003, 19:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Was there a railing there when he was thrown over? So the Emperor's chamber gets a rail? The lucky, lucky bastard

Yep, Darth Vader used it to help himself up after Luke amputated his hand.

ACK!

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 19:44

Ah yes, of course, but only an emperor would get such a lavish luxury like a railing

Sava · February 24, 2003, 19:53

Provost, wtf are you smoking? Can I have some?

Provost Harrison · February 24, 2003, 19:57

Prozac and caffeine...can't knock it

Alinestra Covelia · February 24, 2003, 20:43

Oooh... you're lucky my friend HMB isn't here to listen to your rabidly anti-Imperial talk. He'd be in his TIE Advanced in a jiffy and flying over to your house to... um... smash your mailbox... or something.

Bing held the dubious distinction of managing to argue us into accepting that "just because the Empire is evil, it doesn't make them a bad kind of evil".

But I'd prefer to be on the side of the Empire than the Rebels. All this hippy crap makes me wonder when the last time they took a bath was.

Sava · February 24, 2003, 20:45

What I want to know is, if the technology in the Star Wars' universe is so advanced, how come they don't have smart bombs? It seems like their weaponry and tactical guidance systems are less advanced than what the US uses today!

Zopperoni · February 24, 2003, 20:49

Imperial insurance premiums must be high...

Boris Godunov · February 24, 2003, 20:53

Actually, it seems like the Empire had a knack for installing rails only where it would be dramatically appropriate for people to fall over them. For instance, the hapless Imperial officer who gets socked over the railing inside the bunker on Endor.

It should be noted, however, that the Ewok village was profuse with rails.

korn469 · February 24, 2003, 20:58

in the director's comentary on the AotC DvD GL says that those flying guys building the robots at the end of the movie are the death star subcontractors...so since they have wings no need for rails, and they just cut corners where they can

Sandman · February 24, 2003, 21:13

I have a theory that the Star Wars universe lacks chemical explosives, which is why they have the technology they do. Anyone care to refute?

As for the lack of rails, maybe everyone has at least a small amount of the Force, preventing them from falling off.

Jaguar · February 24, 2003, 21:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
What I want to know is, if the technology in the Star Wars' universe is so advanced, how come they don't have smart bombs? It seems like their weaponry and tactical guidance systems are less advanced than what the US uses today!

Not to mention that their laser guns shoot ammo that goes slow enough that it is actually visible.

KrazyHorse · February 24, 2003, 21:45

You people obviously haven't considered the possibility that physical railings might have been replaced by some sort of force field, and that those railings actually present are simply the affectations of historically-minded architechts.

Tuberski · February 24, 2003, 21:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
You people obviously haven't considered the possibility that physical railings might have been replaced by some sort of force field, and that those railings actually present are simply the affectations of historically-minded architechts.

The only reason for railing I've seen in this thread so far:

1. Darth Vader throws the Emperor over one.

2. Han Solo throws pack at Imperial officer, officer flies over the railing.

Conclusion:

In the Star Wars universe, railings are far more dangerous than open pits.

ACK!

Boris Godunov · February 24, 2003, 21:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuberski

In the Star Wars universe, railings are far more dangerous than open pits.

ACK!

Except for the numerous stormtroopers who fell into the open pits in the Death Star in the first film.

KrazyHorse · February 24, 2003, 21:51

Exactly. I'm assuming that the force-field railings would stop any of that sort of thing from happening.

KrazyHorse · February 24, 2003, 21:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Boris Godunov

Except for the numerous stormtroopers who fell into the open pits in the Death Star in the first film.

Did that happen once it was under attack? (Only seen the movie once or twice)

If so, the power to the artificial railings may have been cut.

Tuberski · February 24, 2003, 21:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Boris Godunov

Except for the numerous stormtroopers who fell into the open pits in the Death Star in the first film.

True, but only after being shot. Obviously, froggers force field theory would hold sway here. Force fields won't stop non-living objects from falling.

ACK!

Tuberski · February 24, 2003, 21:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger

Did that happen once it was under attack? (Only seen the movie once or twice)

If so, the power to the artificial railings may have been cut.

I think I remember the scene, there is an explosion on one side and the Stormtroopers are hurled into the pit by the force of the explosion.

ACK!

Boris Godunov · February 24, 2003, 21:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger

Did that happen once it was under attack? (Only seen the movie once or twice)

If so, the power to the artificial railings may have been cut.

Nope, this was when Han, Luke etc. first where in the Death Star, rescuing Leia. A couple of stormtroopers fall into the chasm that Luke and Leia swing across. Later, in the docking bay, some stormtroopers get shot and fall in pits there, too. Why there were open pits in the middle of the docking bay, I have no idea.

Quote:

True, but only after being shot. Obviously, froggers force field theory would hold sway here. Force fields won't stop non-living objects from falling.

Ah, but the stormtroopers weren't dead upon falling into the pit. Otherwise they wouldn't have been able to scream on their way dooooooooooooooooooooown.

Boris Godunov · February 24, 2003, 21:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuberski

I think I remember the scene, there is an explosion on one side and the Stormtroopers are hurled into the pit by the force of the explosion.

ACK!

No, don't recall that happening in the movie. There are scenes of personel within the Death Star getting tossed about by explosions during the attack, but none falling into pits.