Here’s a long post of responses to some of the suggestions. All good ideas, and I could change my mind down the road, even if I say otherwise below!
I would like to see a version where Rose knocks Finn out of the way right before the AT-AT shoots him. I think that alone, making it objectively clear that Finn was doomed regardless, would help make Rose’s actions more palatable for a lot of people.
That’s a good alternative idea, which someone could easily make using bits of this version. I still don’t think I’d be able to buy that it wouldn’t kill them both. I also like this being simply Finn’s moment in the darkest hour of the Resistance. He’s lucky to survive his suicide run, but not by being saved. The momentum doesn’t shift until Luke saves the day, followed by Poe, and then Rey.
Do you plan on re-inserting the deleted scene where BB-8 shows Finn a hologram of Rey from the end of The Force Awakens?
It’s one of the better deleted scenes, but I don’t intend to use it. It does provide some motivation for Finn, but I don’t think it’s really needed, and believe it has an unfinished FX shot.
@poppasketti The first Rey and Luke scene looks so inconsistent with the ending of The Force Awakens (in terms of the sky and grass). Do you plan on color-correcting/editing it to look consistent with TFA?
This is the kind of thing that I understand why people would want to fix, but it just doesn’t bother me. I also feel like this is the type of thing that could spiral out of control, because first you fix the color, then the cloud cover bothers you and you decide to roto/replace the sky, then you realize that Luke and Rey look slightly different…etc. At some point, I just became okay that they were filmed years apart.
1# The final scene that ends on the small children from the horse arena. This makes no sense continuity wise especially with the small ring the boy has, since rose never gives it to him. (I used the 1080p version, if you have edited it out in another version might want to include that in the 1080p one)
2# This is a smaller issue, but for saving the focus and tension of the scene (and my sanity). Please would you cut that small scene with the one rebel fighter next to Gareth Edwards on Crait who out of nowhere comments on the ground with salt (the new coarse and ruff irritating sand).
For #1, there’s a chance of bringing back the brief introduction of the horse boy. I think Hal might have been working on that but I’ll have to follow up. But generally, the end of the film could take place anywhere, and those could be any oppressed children in the galaxy. The point is that word in spreading and Luke’s legend has been reignited. There’s excitement again for the rebellion. I agree the ring is a bit out of nowhere but I haven’t found a good way to remove that shot, and I love the scene otherwise.
For #2, honestly it just doesn’t bother me. It’s a strange planet they’ve come to, and he’s commenting on it. Besides salt can be course, but also fine. It’s not like here. Here everything is soft… and smooth— oh no! I’ve gone mad.