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Post #1155138

Author
MalàStrana
Parent topic
Star Wars Episode III: Labyrinth Of Evil (Released)
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1155138/action/topic#1155138
Date created
6-Jan-2018, 7:41 PM

Here are a few suggestions (my last two cents on Episode III, I promise 😃):

Removed Obi-Wan leaping from his cockpit, and his little jump during the fight with the battle droids.

Oh it’s such a fun callback to the Clone Wars microseries 😃

The elevator sequence is gone

Maybe you should keep at least the destroyers scene and cut when they enter the elevator ? I think it would be good to keep as much Anakin/Obi-Wan friendship interaction as possible. I also like the R2 humor with the elevator but since you later reuse of shot of Anakin I guess it has to stay removed (and it might be a little bit over the top humor so I agree with the removal).

Anakin never tells Padme about his nightmare, another conflict within him.

I agree with that, but still I think you should keep the balcony scene, which is the only moment in the movie they actually look happy together (and the corniness of the scene is cute, way better than what Lucas wrote for Episode II).

Dialogue trimmed in most scenes, especially during Anakin’s appointment to the Jedi Council.

I think you should also remove the following line (where Anakin is too vehement): “How can you do this? This is outrageous.”

the opera scene

I would love to see Lucas caméo reinstalled 😃

The scene where he seems to have paranoia about Obi-Wan being as Padme’s apartment is gone.

I would suggest to keep the part where he admits his “lust” for power, which is still why he embraces the dark side according to ROTJ, while still removing the paranoia and saving Padmé stuff. Dialogues would flow like that:

  • Obi-Wan’s been here, hasn’t he?
  • He came by this morning.
  • What did he want?
  • He’s worried about you. He says you’ve been under a lot of stress.
  • I feel lost.
  • Lost? What do you mean?
  • I’m not the Jedi I should be. I want more. And I know I shouldn’t.
  • You expect too much of yourself.

Removed Boga’s noisy introduction

Well, it’s a fun western vibe ! 😃

Grievous retreats as soon as the clone troops arrive, in keeping with what little characterization about him we have seen so far, rather than gloating a bit and then running away.

Western vibe again: I wish you would use Kerr’s idea to keep the Sergio Leone close ups and the “you are doom” line.

Trimmed dialogue as Palpatine reveals his true nature to Anakin in order to slightly downplay Padme as Anakin’s only real motive for joining the dark side.

You should cut completely all references to Padmé so as to keep that only to Anakin (he told about his nightmares to no one in your edit, so Palpatine shouldn’t know either, and Anakin is already someone convinced by fascist ideals - as established in Episode II and in TCW tv series - and who leads a continuying quest for more power: the Padmé dying subplot should then stay something 100% kept in his own mind; it would emphasize his guilt more when he understands he killed her at the end - even if he actually didn’t in your edit !).

Removed Palpatine’s voiceover as Anakin waits in the Council room, talking about Padme again.

I agree with this removal but it creates a slight sound issue. I’ll check if it could be possible to use the soundtrack cue to replace the voice over (“Anakin’s dark deeds” is the name of the cue IIRC).

Trimmed the lightsaber fight, including Palpatine’s bizarre serpentine jump.

I would suggest to keep the first jump because it explains why 3 jedi masters are stunned by such an unpredictable and vicious move (it would also keep a creepy weirdness to Darth Sidious aggressive martial style).

As Anakin enters the scene, Windu is already going to kill Palpatine

I think you should remove a few more lines and only keep Anakin helping to kill Windu with almost no word said, hence removing the following lines:

  • He must stand trial.
  • He has control of the senate and the courts.
  • He must live. I need him.

If Anakin says almost no word, it would also be a very interesting parallel to the ending of ROTJ when he quietly kills Palpatine (I’m referring to ROTJ edits without “No. Nooooooo” obviously 😉).

Anakin and Palpatine don’t mention Padme during the knighting of Vader scene

You should also remove Palpatine’s “…along with all the senators.” and “The council’s next move will be against the senate.” It’s over the top that Anakin would agree with Palpatine about that (why would the Jedi kill all the senators they have been protecting for generations ? Anakin has turned to the dark side but he’s not completely stupid to believe that in your edit).

Removed R2 popping out of Anakin’s fighter.

Well, I don’t mind the popping out thing (but I might be alone here 😃).

removed the scene where Anakin ignites his saber on a roomful of children

100% agree, but I wish you could keep the wide shot of the clone troopers killing jedi inside the Temple along with Anakin’s close up (to imply he’s actively killing jedis, as seen later in the movie with the recording scene).

Removed Obi-Wan referencing the chosen one prophecy during Anakin’s immolation. It’s more effective when it’s personal rather than philosophical.

I’m unsure about that. Since you’ve kept the Chosen One subplot intact in your edits I think it would be good to keep that last reference here.

Three last ideas:

  • remove a small part of Windu’s dialogue in the gunner (I made this change using your edit, I can send it to you if you wish to hear if it sounds good) when he says “It’s very dangerous, putting them together. I don’t think the boy can handle it.” to make him say “It’s very dangerous. I don’t think the boy can handle it.” (because if putting them together is dangerous - and why would it be ? - why are you putting them together ?!?).

  • remove Padmé naming the kids, so you still keep Leia being Luke’s sister as a slight revelation when you watch I-II-III-(R1)-IV-V-VI.

  • Don’t know if possible to remove, but I never liked the shot of Palpatine smilling during Vader’s wrath. It’s too ridiculously evil.

Sorry it’s a long post but I’ve been thinking recently (after rewatching your edit and the extended cut) about what I would do if I were to make my own Episode III edit using yours as the base so I take the opportunity share my ideas here 😃 (don’t worry I’m not gonna make such a list for Episode I & II… only a few minor suggestions but not that many !).