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The Last Jedi : a Fan Edit Ideas thread — Page 3

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I just wanted to share my thoughts on the film and what things could be considered for future edits. Obviously these are very early thoughts and I definitely think more rewatches and getting involved in the discussion and analysis of the film is necessary. Sorry in advance for the long post.

TavorX said:

Also, I would LOVE to see someone fanedit podracers into the scene where the initial space horses are revealed.

I think a lot of hardcore fans were half expecting to see podracers! I can’t remember if it was another thread on here or on reddit, but someone made a pretty good point that podracing is kind of like the NASCAR of the Star Wars galaxy, so it probably wouldn’t be a sport the super rich would be into.

It seems almost universal that something needs to be done with the Canto Bight sequence. If someone wanted to cut the entire fathier chase sequence, they could potentially cut from DJ opening the cell door, to Finn and Rose heading to the door, then cut to their ship flying away, implying that they just followed him along and escaped together.

The problem for me, is that there are seeds that are planted into the Canto Bight sequence that holds a strong message at the end. Even though everything Finn, Rose and Poe did failed, what they did still helped light the spark of hope in the galaxy, which we see through the Force sensitive kid at the end of the film, who is wearing the Rebel ring that Rose gave him. There is a strong theme of failure in the film, and I worry that cutting too much would take away from that. Though it never hurts for someone to try and see how it feels. You could still keep broom kid at the end and just cut the shot of the ring, to keep the implication that hope is never truly gone. Or one could just end the film on the wide shot of everybody in the Falcon. Maybe there could be a good way to just trim the fat of the entire Canto Bight sequence rather than removing entire segments from it. Btw, some people seem to think that that kid is important and will play a part of IX or Rian’s trilogy, but I honestly believe his scene was just symbolic, rather than setting up some future character.

I think the floating Leia was a cool idea and I personally like it, but obviously something about it doesn’t work to have such a large negative reaction. Like someone said earlier, maybe there is a better way to cut this scene. And I think we should see how they handle Carrie’s death in IX before we implement a death for her in TLJ. There are definitely a few moments she could have died, so I think the options exist, and if they handle her passing poorly in IX, we would have already thought of some alternatives.

I think Rey being a nobody was a great idea and making her related to someone would kind of hurt the message that greatness doesn’t have to come from greatness. I know that doesn’t really explain her raw abilities, but in my mind, everyone’s connection to the Force seems to be amplified comapred to past Force users (even broom kid), so after being dormant for 50 years, besides flowing through an existing few, it is now rushing through everyone. If some kind of explanation still felt necessary by the end of the trilogy, I would, at most, possibly consider editing the vision sequences in TFA and TLJ to imply that Rey was the new incarnation of the Chosen One. Not necessarily a reincarnation of Anakin himself, rather a new person ‘chosen’ by the Force, but that could be an option. Kylo’s obsession with Vader would be ironic in that case, but could turn out weird if something does happen between him and Rey. I think it would tie the trilogies together nicely. The new trilogy would parallel the prequels, and just how Luke helped his father fulfill his destiny as the Chosen One, he is helping Rey fulfill hers. But this is just an initial thought, and I would like to see how Rey is handled in IX as well.

I personally loved Snoke getting killed the way he did, as it makes Kylo Ren a much stronger character for it, but I do think some kind of explanation of where he came from would have been nice. If they don’t really explain anything about him in IX, I think editors could consider ways to touch on his background in some way, either in the TFA crawl or Rey’s force vision maybe. I really believe he is just a powerful Force user from the Unknown Regions who was biding his time, but when the Emperor’s theme started playing in Snoke’s throne room as he was torturing Rey, I really thought for a second that they were going to play the “Palpatine clone” card from the old EU. I think either of these theories, or the idea of him being Darth Plagueis, could be implemented with some subtle hints in the films. I think it is important to consider which of these ideas benefits the saga as a whole the most, though, because II personally don’t think they all would work.

Someone mentioned this earlier, but I also have a bit of problem with Luke almost killing his nephew. I think it is implied that Luke saw the future and for a brief, desperate moment considered killing his own blood to save the rest of his students before quickly realizing that was a mistake. But I don’t think it is as clear as I would have liked, because it feels like it goes against everything he learned in the OT. If it were a younger Luke, he would have rejected the idea of Ben falling and would have had faith in his nephew, just like he did his own father. But maybe that was the point. I liked how they did Luke’s story overall, and I think Luke will be back as a spirit to guide Rey in rebuilding the Jedi, but I think this moment needs to be given some thought.

Also, I don’t think the Yoda sequence should be removed! I agree that Yoda looked off but I honestly think we’ll get used to it given time.

I liked the humor in the film, but at times there was a bit too much, so I do think trimming jokes should be considered to help keep the tone from jumping around. A little nitpick is Phasma, I definitely think her scenes in TFA and TLJ should be edited someway to make her feel less like a punk.

Someone may have mentioned this, but I don’t think anyone in the film said, “I have a bad feeling about this.” I don’t necessarily mind this because this movie was all about screwing conventions and burning down the idea of what we think Star Wars has to be, but if someone wanted to implement it in their edit, I think the easiest way to do it would be to make 3PO says it at some point. I’m sure there is a recording of Anthony Daniels saying it somewhere.

HelloGreedo, a Star Wars youtuber, said at then end of his review of the film, “When I woke up this morning, my very first thought when my head raised up from the pillow was, ‘Man, I want to see a Last Jedi fan edit.’”

Looking forward to what deleted scenes will become available to us in the coming months. I’m excited for all of your ideas for this film and the back and forth. It’s fun to talk to you all.

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Overall I enjoyed this a lot more than TFA. I wanted to be surprised and not another reboot retread which is what I feared it was going to be based on the trailers, so I was pleasantly surprised. It touches on a lot of deeper things than the superficial and turns what was getting stale, onto it’s head and hands a clean slate over to do something even more original in the next one. The main focus now squarely pegged on Kylo versus Rey, given that Kylo has now surpassed where Vader was able to go.

The big sticking point with a lot of people is the Leia/Mary Poppins thing. I have to wonder if the way that ended up being done was after Carrie Fisher actually passed away and it was a nod by the production to see Carrie as an angel of sorts and they did that as a kind of personal homage. I would have preferred that she was buried under wreckage and we got to see her use the force to get it off of her and then make her way to the door. But, if it was done to make a subtle statement about Carrie - it will be hard to be pissed off about it.

If a fan edit were to ‘fix’ this - it might require some really clever reshot elements. It could be done by having a pile of twisted durasteel in what is left of the bridge suddenly moving and lifting up by itself and cut quickly to her hand on the door window. Makes the same point without the GoTG Starlord homage.

I think there are many huge missed opportunities in TLJ.

Hux could have had dialogue and scenes on the Bridge which better explained why he wanted this slow-speed sublight chase without sending TIEs and Destroyers to wipe out the remnant of the Resistance quickly. Toying with them in overconfidence in his twisted delight as revenge for Starkiller base and the loss of the dreadnaught could have served that purpose. Sadly there is no way to get that kind of explanation into a fan edit.

I would have preferred Akbar or Leia hyperspacing the Raddus into the Supremacy.

If I had one thing I absolutely was disappointed about - it was Phasma. Instead of dumping her in there for 5 minutes of pointlessness, why couldn’t Johnson have sent Phasma and a platoon of her troops to track Finn and Rose to Canto Bight and have their big showdown there? It would have expanded her role, maybe showed us why she is a badass. If the FO was taking over the galaxy, having local cops lecture Phasma about jusridiction only to be put down by her troops would have shown the ruthlessness by which they operate. I would have settled for the herd of the fathier/horse creatures stampede Phasma and her troops right when they catch and are ready to execute Finn for treason, rather than have that silly stampede through the casino. I’d be cool with Phasma ending up with hoof dents in her armor as Finn and Rose escape.

Also it makes no sense to have Maz in this at all. If Rose was from that place, why wouldn’t she know there are code crackers there at the casino? That would have made more sense than making a phone call to Maz while she was playing Battlefront II. Cutting her out of a fan edit is a no-brainer, except how do you explain why Finn and Rose go there?

My BIGGETS WISH FOR A FAN EDIT for those who have Adywan-ish talent:

A ten second addition via clever animation added to the showdown between Luke and the First Order.

After all the Walkers fire on Luke, and he emerges to brush his shoulder, the shot of Luke from the rear where he is almost in silouhette - with the Walkers towering in front of him - have Luke raise his left hand towards the Walkers, close his fist and bring his arm down to his side and have every single one of those Walkers brought down to their knees and then down to the ground.

Such a sequence would go a great ways towards better helping to explain why he had expended himself to the point of doing an Obi-Wan/Yoda vanishing act. And if that was actually done in the movie - I would have peed myself. I would be watching the Empire sequence of Luke being unable to lift his X-wing out of the swamp at Dagobah with whole new eyes, knowing what he would eventually become powerful enough to do at the end.

Just my .02 and fan edit wish-list for the talented here on the board.

I find your lack of faith…disturbing

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RogueLeader said:

I think Rey being a nobody was a great idea and making her related to someone would kind of hurt the message that greatness doesn’t have to come from greatness. I know that doesn’t really explain her raw abilities, but in my mind, everyone’s connection to the Force seems to be amplified comapred to past Force users (even broom kid), so after being dormant for 50 years, besides flowing through an existing few, it is now rushing through everyone.

The theme of balance was dominant in the Prequels and since then that theme has carried over to the OT and to the sequel trilogy. It was arrogant to assume only the Jedi could bring balance, the Force itself could correct the course and this new trilogy could go a long ways towards explaining that. That Luke closed himself off from the Force left a vacuum that perhaps the Force itself decided to act upon with Rey. I do like that the Force is again not limited to Jedi and Skywalkers, something the Prequels established as some kind of canon.

I personally loved Snoke getting killed the way he did, as it makes Kylo Ren a much stronger character for it,

Me too. Kylo achieves what Vader couldn’t and because of what he did in killing his Master and taking over himself, he has become more powerful than Darth Vader. It will be interesting to see if JJ takes Kylo to where we all wanted to see Vader doing in Sith - but never got except at the end of Rogue One.

but I do think some kind of explanation of where he came from would have been nice. If they don’t really explain anything about him in IX, I think editors could consider ways to touch on his background in some way, either in the TFA crawl or Rey’s force vision maybe.

I am pretty sure books and comics are forthcoming to fill in his backstory. Getting rid of Snoke at this stage really puts all the focus on Kylo Ren as the ultimate baddie and Kylo not being slave to a superior Dark Side master. I’m intrigued about where they take his character now that he is the boss and is no longer unstable because of conflict with the good.

Someone mentioned this earlier, but I also have a bit of problem with Luke almost killing his nephew. I think it is implied that Luke saw the future and for a brief, desperate moment considered killing his own blood to save the rest of his students before quickly realizing that was a mistake.

Not just the students, but the galaxy. Obi wan told Luke that his failure as a teacher had resulted in dire consequences for the galaxy in the script and novelizAtion of ROTJ. If you look, Luke’s face is almost identical to his face in Jedi after he cuts off Vader’s hand and realizes the giant mistake he was about to make.

But I don’t think it is as clear as I would have liked, because it feels like it goes against everything he learned in the OT.

Being a teacher is an entirely different animal than becoming a master. You end up learning more about yourself as a teacher and your own shortcomings than if you do not teach what you have learned. As a martial artist, I can absolutely understand how and why Luke decided to quit after his star pupil misused his teachings.

Also, I don’t think the Yoda sequence should be removed! I agree that Yoda looked off but I honestly think we’ll get used to it given time.

I agree it’s Yoda - and even though it is not as perfect in appearance as he was in the prequels or Empire - it is Frank Oz doing the entire performance with the voice.

I find your lack of faith…disturbing

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@darthrush
You’re right. It’s just something that instantly came to my mind as wish for an edit. I thought you could create the illusion Holdo went with the others. Since they left out a ton of command crew from the Force Awakens, it wouldn’t be too big of a disconnect. Unless the next movie constantly mentions her, of course.

@ziggyonice
Also a great choice! Alas, even more difficult to pull of just in editing. The continuity problems within all the scenes afterwards would be immensely more problematic.

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I disagree about Yoda not being as good as the prequels…I felt for once we saw the Yoda that I feel in love with as a child. Frank wasn’t doing a caricature like he was made to do in the prequels. It was the wise, optimistic, and humorous Yoda. He was a dick in the prequels. I also thought he seemed a little too polished as a puppet/cgi, but it was nothing that couldn’t be altered to great affect.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

<span> </span>

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After seeing it for a second time, I am set on the fact that I will be doing a pretty comprehensive edit of this. The stuff I like in this film, hits on ALL cylinders for me personally. But the Canto Bight stuff just made me so angry this time around and the runtime of the movie did wear on me. What the Last Jedi needs is a tight and focused edit.

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.
  5. After this basically everything would be the same except cutting the ironing joke and cutting BB-8 in the ATST. Also I would cut them riding on top of the ATST with BB-8 and after Finn defeats Phasma, it would cut to their ship escaping the burning hangar bay.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

Return of the Jedi: Remastered

Lord of the Rings: The Darth Rush Definitives

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 (Edited)

darthrush said:

After seeing it for a second time, I am set on the fact that I will be doing a pretty comprehensive edit of this. The stuff I like in this film, hits on ALL cylinders for me personally. But the Canto Bight stuff just made me so angry this time around and the runtime of the movie did wear on me. What the Last Jedi needs is a tight and focused edit.

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.
  5. After this basically everything would be the same except cutting the ironing joke and cutting BB-8 in the ATST. Also I would cut them riding on top of the ATST with BB-8 and after Finn defeats Phasma, it would cut to their ship escaping the burning hangar bay.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

I like this. Was BB8 in the walker the only stupid BB8 moment? I remember leaving the theater thinking they made him very ridiculous in this movie, and the ATST scene was definitely one of the reasons. Are there other scenes like this? I seem to remember more than one, I just don’t remember what was it.

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Collipso said:

darthrush said:

After seeing it for a second time, I am set on the fact that I will be doing a pretty comprehensive edit of this. The stuff I like in this film, hits on ALL cylinders for me personally. But the Canto Bight stuff just made me so angry this time around and the runtime of the movie did wear on me. What the Last Jedi needs is a tight and focused edit.

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.
  5. After this basically everything would be the same except cutting the ironing joke and cutting BB-8 in the ATST. Also I would cut them riding on top of the ATST with BB-8 and after Finn defeats Phasma, it would cut to their ship escaping the burning hangar bay.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

I like this. Was BB8 in the walker the only stupid BB8 moment? I remember leaving the theater thinking they made him very ridiculous in this movie, and the ATST scene was definitely one of the reasons. Are there other scenes like this? I seem to remember more than one, I just don’t remember what was it.

Your correct that there are more similar moments. BB-8 having coins put in him is one which will be cut in my eventual edit. As well as him shooting coins at a guard. All of that is gone when you jump from DJ leaving the prison, to the ship leaving the planet. This also means you don’t see BB-8 popping up out of the ship that rescues Finn and Rose. Those are really all the ones I can think of in addition to cutting EVERYTHING else of BB-8 in the ATST. Would it work to cut the black/first order version of BB-8 from the film as well. I hated any of the goofy droid stuff.

EDIT: And for the phasma fight I would cut him saying “hey there” or something like that and hitting her on the head. It would be quick and out of nowhere (his knockout hit) so that the audience feels how Phasma would. I also am considering whether it’s best to keep the “Rebel scum” exchange.

Return of the Jedi: Remastered

Lord of the Rings: The Darth Rush Definitives

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darthrush said:

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

I think one of the subtext highlights of the film for me was to showcase the effect the downtrodden suffered by those getting rich off of funding conflict in the galaxy. The tinder for what may come in terms of rebellion is only showcased on Canto Bight. While I agree the fathier chase is unnecessary, the stuff Rose talks about in regards to slaves serving the entertainments of the rich is important in terms of setting the stage for what is left of the Resistance to spark a fire among all of the downtrodden, which is where a true rebellion can be reborn.

I would think excising that damages the subtext of where Episode 9 might really take off.

I find your lack of faith…disturbing

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darthrush said:

Collipso said:

darthrush said:

After seeing it for a second time, I am set on the fact that I will be doing a pretty comprehensive edit of this. The stuff I like in this film, hits on ALL cylinders for me personally. But the Canto Bight stuff just made me so angry this time around and the runtime of the movie did wear on me. What the Last Jedi needs is a tight and focused edit.

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.
  5. After this basically everything would be the same except cutting the ironing joke and cutting BB-8 in the ATST. Also I would cut them riding on top of the ATST with BB-8 and after Finn defeats Phasma, it would cut to their ship escaping the burning hangar bay.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

I like this. Was BB8 in the walker the only stupid BB8 moment? I remember leaving the theater thinking they made him very ridiculous in this movie, and the ATST scene was definitely one of the reasons. Are there other scenes like this? I seem to remember more than one, I just don’t remember what was it.

Your correct that there are more similar moments. BB-8 having coins put in him is one which will be cut in my eventual edit. As well as him shooting coins at a guard. All of that is gone when you jump from DJ leaving the prison, to the ship leaving the planet. This also means you don’t see BB-8 popping up out of the ship that rescues Finn and Rose. Those are really all the ones I can think of in addition to cutting EVERYTHING else of BB-8 in the ATST. Would it work to cut the black/first order version of BB-8 from the film as well. I hated any of the goofy droid stuff.

EDIT: And for the phasma fight I would cut him saying “hey there” or something like that and hitting her on the head. It would be quick and out of nowhere (his knockout hit) so that the audience feels how Phasma would. I also am considering whether it’s best to keep the “Rebel scum” exchange.

So apparently your TLJ will be my go-to, just like your RotJ. 😃 hated the First Order droid as well, reminded me of one of the worst Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes, in which R2 fights dark R2

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INVAR said:

darthrush said:

My full idea for the ENTIRE finn/rose subplot is the following:

  1. Finn says that they surely cannot get past the shield. Poe raises his head as if he has an idea. We get the Maz scene. I really don’t have any problem with this scene like others. Maz is shown to always be caught up in something. It further connects both films and we get a great joke for me where she kind of gets sexual and just makes everyone uncomfortable. This stays for logic sense and for my appreciation of it.
  2. Then we have our first scene of Canto Bight. I would cut down as many weird shots of aliens, champagne, and jokes as possible. Sadly, the public property joke has to stay since that’s the reason they get put in a cell. I also would cut the entire part where Rose talks about the fathiers. Overall, just making this scene as quick as possible.
  3. Once they’re in the cell, cut the joke about not needing DJ’s help. Like RogueLeader suggested, we cut from DJ walking out the cell and them following, to the ship leaving. You would flip the shot of Finn and Rose leaving the cell to show that they went the same direction and axe her line of “This way” so it feels less like they went on some detour and rather that they followed him. This would get rid of the entire fathier chase sequence.
  4. We next see them on their way back. This scene stays intact.

Hopefully this would make for a much shorter subplot. If there are any ideas to make an even more radically cut down version of this that sacrifices less screen time then I would love to hear it out. Anything to mitigate this part of the film.

I think one of the subtext highlights of the film for me was to showcase the effect the downtrodden suffered by those getting rich off of funding conflict in the galaxy. The tinder for what may come in terms of rebellion is only showcased on Canto Bight. While I agree the fathier chase is unnecessary, the stuff Rose talks about in regards to slaves serving the entertainments of the rich is important in terms of setting the stage for what is left of the Resistance to spark a fire among all of the downtrodden, which is where a true rebellion can be reborn.

I would think excising that damages the subtext of where Episode 9 might really take off.

I think Luke’s speech about hope to Kylo at the end of the movie serves this purpose just fine, without throwing the hope theme at your face.

Edit: I think that they find out about the rich people selling weapons to both sides inside the ship, so it would be present in darthrush’s edit.

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With my biggest issue being the fragmentary storyline, I’d like to see an edit where the First Order is still hunting for the Resistance base at the start of the film. This would require using a modified version of TFA Restructured, where they never learn of the Ilenium system in the first place.

With this change, I could frontload The Last Jedi with Luke and Rey material, picking up right where we left off in the previous film. There would be more time to breathe (and reach out!) in this part, now that there’s less of a ticking clock Resistance plot to draw us away from Rey’s journey. It could be implied that she spends a great deal of time on the island trying to get information from Luke and learning things on the way.

Near the end of her time on the island, we’d introduce the Resistance as the they try to evacuate their base. The slow, illogical cat and mouse fuel plot can then be reduced. Rose and Finn still travel to Casino planet, but only because Rose knows from experience that their hacker can be found there.

The rest of the movie plays out pretty much as it is. I agree that some of the humor is too much even for Star Wars, like the AT-ST. It should be quite grim after the Casino planet.

Broom boy should probably stay. It’s just a great moment.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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NeverarGreat said:

With my biggest issue being the fragmentary storyline, I’d like to see an edit where the First Order is still hunting for the Resistance base at the start of the film. This would require using a modified version of TFA Restructured, where they never learn of the Ilenium system in the first place.

With this change, I could frontload The Last Jedi with Luke and Rey material, picking up right where we left off in the previous film. There would be more time to breathe (and reach out!) in this part, now that there’s less of a ticking clock Resistance plot to draw us away from Rey’s journey. It could be implied that she spends a great deal of time on the island trying to get information from Luke and learning things on the way.

Near the end of her time on the island, we’d introduce the Resistance as the they try to evacuate their base. The slow, illogical cat and mouse fuel plot can then be reduced. Rose and Finn still travel to Casino planet, but only because Rose knows from experience that their hacker can be found there.

The rest of the movie plays out pretty much as it is. I agree that some of the humor is too much even for Star Wars, like the AT-ST. It should be quite grim after the Casino planet.

Broom boy should probably stay. It’s just a great moment.

I can concur with that kind of a re-edit, I just do not know how you erase the whole Ilenium system plot device from TFA, unless you erase that ridiculous sun-sucking mechanism and change how the light fades on the gantry before Han gets run though.

I find your lack of faith…disturbing

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NeverarGreat said:

With my biggest issue being the fragmentary storyline, I’d like to see an edit where the First Order is still hunting for the Resistance base at the start of the film. This would require using a modified version of TFA Restructured, where they never learn of the Ilenium system in the first place.

With this change, I could frontload The Last Jedi with Luke and Rey material, picking up right where we left off in the previous film. There would be more time to breathe (and reach out!) in this part, now that there’s less of a ticking clock Resistance plot to draw us away from Rey’s journey. It could be implied that she spends a great deal of time on the island trying to get information from Luke and learning things on the way.

Near the end of her time on the island, we’d introduce the Resistance as the they try to evacuate their base. The slow, illogical cat and mouse fuel plot can then be reduced. Rose and Finn still travel to Casino planet, but only because Rose knows from experience that their hacker can be found there.

It’s an interesting idea, and would be neat as a curiosity, but I can’t imagine how this would make the film better in any way. If anything, I feel like it’d feel a lot worse.

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Haven’t read all the other good ideas yet but here’s what I’d do if I had some mad motivation to turn this into a watchable movie:

  • Let the attack on the dreadnought (correct spelling?) be a success and not require the sacrifice of Asian girl #1.
  • Let Lea die. Let Kylo kill her.
  • Let her successor be a traitor. (and maybe instead let that young pilot do the kamikaze?)
  • Let Luke die in the first laser blasts. No fancy speeches.
  • Do something about Snoke’s death because it is preposterous and illogical.
  • Remove Rey beating Luke.
  • Let Chewie eat that thing.
  • Reduce Luke’s whining
  • Get rid of force ghosts blowing up stuff. (Yoda says “Those we teach shall surpass us” but he far surpasses Luke even in his death, so what’s the point? Besides, it’s pointless anyway.)
  • Stop Asian girl #2 from bullying Finn.
  • Let the resistance be rotted out almost completely.
  • Overall reduce grrrrl pwr.
  • Let Kylo defeat his enemies on his own in the throne room.
  • Do something about the end of Kylo’s and Rey’s confrontation. Maybe let him let her get away, in an act of mercy or something?
  • Remove Kylo being bossed around by that Imperial dude (what does he possibly have on him anyway?)

Of course this would completely break continuity with IX. But oh well.

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TomArrow said:

Haven’t read all the other good ideas yet but here’s what I’d do if I had some mad motivation to turn this into a watchable movie:

  • Let the attack on the dreadnought (correct spelling?) be a success and not require the sacrifice of Asian girl #1.
  • Let Lea die. Let Kylo kill her.
  • Let her successor be a traitor. (and maybe instead let that young pilot do the kamikaze?)
  • Let Luke die in the first laser blasts. No fancy speeches.
  • Do something about Snoke’s death because it is preposterous and illogical.
  • Remove Rey beating Luke.
  • Let Chewie eat that thing.
  • Reduce Luke’s whining
  • Get rid of force ghosts blowing up stuff. (Yoda says “Those we teach shall surpass us” but he far surpasses Luke even in his death, so what’s the point? Besides, it’s pointless anyway.)
  • Stop Asian girl #2 from bullying Finn.
  • Let the resistance be rotted out almost completely.
  • Overall reduce grrrrl pwr.
  • Let Kylo defeat his enemies on his own in the throne room.
  • Do something about the end of Kylo’s and Rey’s confrontation. Maybe let him let her get away, in an act of mercy or something?
  • Remove Kylo being bossed around by that Imperial dude (what does he possibly have on him anyway?)

Of course this would completely break continuity with IX. But oh well.

Man, you’re removing all the best stuff.

Not enough people read the EU.

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TomArrow said:

  • Let the attack on the dreadnought (correct spelling?) be a success and not require the sacrifice of Asian girl #1.

?

One of the best scenes… seriously, in only a few shots Rian Johnson made me care about this unknown character and he gave her “live or die on this day” moment a moody and epic feeling that’s quite scarce in SW (and especially never seen in the Disney movies). You don’t make a movie better by removing this kind of great cinematic moment !

I would be in favor of only removing 90% of the humor, just keeping the funny bits.

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LuckyGungan2001 said:

TomArrow said:

Haven’t read all the other good ideas yet but here’s what I’d do if I had some mad motivation to turn this into a watchable movie:

  • Let the attack on the dreadnought (correct spelling?) be a success and not require the sacrifice of Asian girl #1.
  • Let Lea die. Let Kylo kill her.
  • Let her successor be a traitor. (and maybe instead let that young pilot do the kamikaze?)
  • Let Luke die in the first laser blasts. No fancy speeches.
  • Do something about Snoke’s death because it is preposterous and illogical.
  • Remove Rey beating Luke.
  • Let Chewie eat that thing.
  • Reduce Luke’s whining
  • Get rid of force ghosts blowing up stuff. (Yoda says “Those we teach shall surpass us” but he far surpasses Luke even in his death, so what’s the point? Besides, it’s pointless anyway.)
  • Stop Asian girl #2 from bullying Finn.
  • Let the resistance be rotted out almost completely.
  • Overall reduce grrrrl pwr.
  • Let Kylo defeat his enemies on his own in the throne room.
  • Do something about the end of Kylo’s and Rey’s confrontation. Maybe let him let her get away, in an act of mercy or something?
  • Remove Kylo being bossed around by that Imperial dude (what does he possibly have on him anyway?)

Of course this would completely break continuity with IX. But oh well.

Man, you’re removing all the best stuff.

I agree (except for “Let Chewie eat that thing”, “Stop Asian girl #2 from bullying Finn” and the terrible Yoda scene). All of that gives TLJ its personality. As if some of you wished for another total rehash à la TFA… (at last we have a SW movie with new - and good - ideas !).

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MalàStrana said:

TomArrow said:

  • Let the attack on the dreadnought (correct spelling?) be a success and not require the sacrifice of Asian girl #1.

?

One of the best scenes… seriously, in only a few shots Rian Johnson made me car about this unknown character and giving her “live or die on this day” moment a moody and epic feeling. You don’t make a movie better by removing this kind of great cinematic moment !

Granted, the scene was not that terrible. What bothered me was how it was construed to make the guy look like a hotheaded idiot who cost the resistance most of their ships.

Now that I think about it more, maybe the whole aspect of how many ships the resistance loses could be reduced in general and I could also ditch my idea of the resistance being wiped out. Come think of it, in the movie it was actually almost wiped out, so maybe that could be changed and solve a few issues.

Either way, something more clever may have to be done, these were just some quick ideas that may not really work well when actually applied.

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(oh I’ve just edited my message to correct a few grammar mistakes 😃 you were too quick !)

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MalàStrana said:

(oh I’ve just edited my message to correct a few grammar mistakes 😃 you were too quick !)

Then I guess my first released preservation on OT.com is the original version of your comment. 😄

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 (Edited)

I loved the Yoda scene, but I agree that Yoda looked a little off somehow, like they made him extra muppety to invoke nostalgia. I think some color correction of his skin tone along with some Adywan-style facial movements could go a long way to improving his look. I still think he looked way better than CPY though.

Overall I loved this movie, and I think every plot line is integral to the themes the movie is trying to convey. Even most of the humor, as goofy as it was, worked for me. It’s a bit overly long so I could see some trims, but I wouldn’t be on board for fundamental changes to the storyline or characterizations.