Hey guys.
Like many of you I have spent probably a bit too much time looking for the perfect prequel edits - whether that be by actually watching different versions or simply reading every available cutlist over and over, trying to figure out which one is the best. I don’t think any edits turn the prequels into great movies, but they make genuinely enjoyable films out of what many consider to be hopeless wastes of time.
Like everyone I’ve got my favorite edits for each prequel that I always turn to when the occasional marathon strikes (Hal’s I and II, L8’s III), and I’m reasonably happy when I watch them. Problem is there’s always something nagging at me, every time I watch any prequel edit, no matter which one it is. And that nagging is a voice inside my head saying “I would have done that differently.”
I’ve said it before, but I honestly believe the only perfect prequel edits are the ones you make for yourself. That’s why for the past year or so I’ve been doing just that.
Why useless? Well, like I said, it’s really just for me. I don’t have plans right now to release them or put them on IFDB. For one, they’re not done yet (though before TLJ comes out seems a reasonable goal). For two, I would need the blessings of a few different fan editors, some who I stole ideas from and some who I literally lifted exact audio and cuts from. And for three, some of the choices I’ve made are dumb and no one will like. As I said, these are for me.
Why even bother posting an essay about this then? Because I feel indebted to this community, and figured I’d pay it forward and share some of the things I’m doing that I haven’t seen done before. (Also I am willing to be persuaded to release these in full if there is enough interest to make it worth the effort.)
First off, just finished replacing SFX in this scene and thought I’d upload it for you guys. Keep in mind it’s a first pass, so still a little rough in some parts.
https://vimeo.com/235506550
pw: rots
This is one of the things I’m trying to do that I haven’t seen much of anyone else do - replace reused music from TPM. Ultimately the music is still recycled, but at least this time it’s something that injects a bit of the fun OT adventure spirit into one of the few places in ROTS where it fits.
(acknowledgements: most of the actually editing here is just Hal, I’ve also stolen a music idea from aalenfae at the end, and a cut from someone - don’t remember, help me here - near the beginning when Obi-Wan interrupts Anakin).
Let me know what you guys think. I’ll be posting more videos (very) sporadically.