Hmm, I think this is a good compromise. Because narratively, it is a good character choice to have Kylo reveal reveal his face to Rey, and I don’t think it is really worth losing for just saving the reveal. While we don’t really get a good look at him here, Rey does at least so it maintains that relationship building technically, while still saving a clearer reveal for the Solo confrontation.
That was my intention, sort of to have the cake and eat it too. Later in the scene, where there are more closeups of Kylo, I’m planning some Force vision stuff which could replace those shots.
EDIT: Also meant to say I did like your village edit too. While I don’t personally mind Poe’s dialogue, since I think it endeared him to the audience immediately, it is a really cool idea displaying Kylo’s mind reading abilities early on in that way. I kinda think Poe shooting Kylo feels a little quick, maybe I’m just used to it, but I get the logic of him trying to go for the kill when he has the chance. I think music-wise I don’t like losing some of the strings immediately when Kylo freezes the laser, which is now overpowered by the fading trumpets.
Glad you liked it! Definitely the most jarring thing with this change is Poe’s immediate attack and Kylo’s sudden lightsaber activation for a single shot. There doesn’t seem to be a way to fix that however, unless I cut to a shot of Tekka being led by the troopers or something. The music was all very rough and spur-of-the-moment in editing, so any ‘official’ edit would attempt to weave the music together more coherently.
The reason I won’t be using this idea in the final movie actually has to do with Finn. In the original edit, the massacre brought the focus of the scene back to Finn and his dilemma, whereas in this edit the focus always stays with Kylo, and Finn becomes more of a background character.
And like I have mentioned on Hal’s TFA thread before, I think it would be nice if you could crop the shot where Kylo pauses right before killing Lor San Tekka, since it seems like his saber is on even before we hear it activate.
That’s a good idea.