If I were on a planet harboring a strong part of the rebel resistance, I would be wary if I knew of a space station floating around with the ability to destroy me.
I was thinking that even when the Death Star entered Alderaan's orbit, the people shoudl have had enough time to evacuate some of the populace. Anyone else think it would be possible to evacuate in time?

Because as soon as they knew the Death Star was nearing they decided to hold a rave instead.

Hey! Never thought of that!

Evacuate how? Unless they had star trek transporters there was no way. The Empire had tie fighters and other weapons they could use against anyone attempting to flee.

Watch the first part of The Empire Strikes Back.

That was a different situation. They were a mobile rebel base with transports ready for everyone. Alderaan was a planet full of civilians.

They had no idea what the Space Station could do, but in the ESB they knew they had to be ready at all times. I'm sure they had drills in how to get out in a hurry, Alderaan never knew what hit it.

Probably cuz everyone heard that rebel Senator Binks was hiding out there and wanted him dead really bad.

Or the rave angle is plausible too.

Just proves the importance of regular fire drills...

Not enough lifeboats.


No one had any idea such a thing as the Death Star existed or what it was capable of.

I doubt there was enough time, even if they did, how many could have made it past the explosion and piece of planet flying around?

IT'S A TRAP!

Isn't it more than possible for a large asteroid to smash into Earth with little to no prior knowledge. If you weren't looking for a Moon o' Doom heading your way, you might miss it until you were vapor.

Of course, it's just a movie, so who knows?

I think someone made the most important point...no one knew what it was capable of. They probably knew if they tried to leave the planet they would be attacked by tie fighters and the such. But they didn't know that the death star was a planet killer and could blow the mofo right up. So...why evacuate? They didn't know...

"They couldn't hit an elephant from that dist...."

It was called the "Death Star" not the "Happy Puppy Ice Cream Cake Party Wagon", what did they think it did?
I know if I was on Alderaan and had the means I certainly would've tried my best to leave or atleast hide in the closet.

Let me break it down Clerks style.
Do you think that our government would tell us if a nuclear missile was headed for us? This would create widespread panic and mayhem. And the handful of people that could afford high speed transportation, i.e. airplane, would be the only ones able to get out of the danger area, and would probably be evaporated by the fallout anyway. Do citizens of a port city panic if they see an Aircraft Carrier off the coast?
Now I am sure Alderan did not know for sure what this new military craft was doing in it's neck of the woods. Remember that Leia is a senator, so the Death Star was approved by the senate. What reason did Alderan have to fear from the Republic/Empire’s newest weapon/Space Station? They were still a part of the Republic/Empire. Leia did not think they would destroy it, she even stated that they were peaceful and part of the Republic/Empire.

Some people did evacuate. Yoda being the one of most importance. He was there having dinner, ya know, hobnobbing with royalty when his spider sense tingled or something. He jumped on a speeder bike and flew it to Tatooine where he lived until Luke ran into him on Dagobah. In a deleted scene in Episode 6 right before he dies, he tells Luke all about this and upon extensive questioning from Luke as to why Yoda didn't help the rest of the planet evacuate, Yoda says that he was tired and needed to go home and kick the back of adult's seats in the movie theatre before going to sleep to the sounds of a porn video. Luke scolds him and says "Bad Yoda" and Yoda then says "Eat **** you will". It's a very moving and emotionally touching scene that should find its' way onto the Episode 6 Ultimate Special Star Wars'd DVD Edition of Return of the Jedi.

Yeah.

I don't think they knew anything about it when it showed up, and I don't recall it having "DEATH STAR" written in large neon letters on the side anywhere. And being a repressive empire ran by a ruthless dictator, I doubt they had many shows on the Discovery Space Station channel about the construction and armament of this thing.

But one look at it should have told them it was all business. I guess there just wasn't a lot of time.

And besides, who's to say that no one escaped?

BTW, on the japanese laserdisc, Death Star actually is translated as "Happy Puppy Ice Cream Cake Party Wagon"

Cusm: It's Leia, not Leah. Thought someone does mispronounce it in the Death Star briefing later on, so I guess it's understandable.

Dr. DVD - Actually it is me not thinking enough. I have SW stuff plastered all through the house, I guess I just used one of my coworkers name by mistake.

Is she cute?

That is definitely not one of the words I would use.

For the same reason that Yavin wasn't evacuated at the end of Star Wars; Greedo suddenly decided to shoot first; and Darth Vader suddenly became a whiny little kid:

BECAUSE GEORGE LUCAS WROTE IT!

'nuff said.

At least, not until the next "Special Edition"...