I think 4D is very VERY close! Very nice job Poppasketti. I think the subtly lends itself very well, and like you I think there is room enough for the Rey and Kylo moment before Kylo has his scene alone and full of despair, despite his new found power (classic darkside). I think Kylo really needs this tease, we need to bridge the gap and give Kylo a reason to go on like he has in ROS. As it stands in the original version he has nothing to do at the end of the film, but with this he has found new purpose which he clearly has at the beginning of ROS. Then of course we have the contrast at the very end of the film of Rey and her moment with Leia/friends. NOW ON TO THE DETAILS!
-Personally I think there is too much sound (force connection sound alongside the radio and the music) as of right now, and I think just limiting it too a staticy transmission is enough. If you could make another version of 4B now with the added subtly you could be very close to what I would use for average viewing/showing people.
-I really like what you’ve done with the visuals of the transmission and I think it needs to stay for an even longer prolonged shot then what you have in the 4D, just for cinematic context.
-As for the cloak in the mirror cave…I kinda really like the idea (biased of course, its mine lol). I agree however with how fast it seams to blink on/off and I think I have a solution. In my original vision of the scene the cloak only appears (even at the last second if need be) around the figure before the fog rolls back and Rey’s head is revealed (no cloak just like original). That way it is more confusing for Rey and the audience, cause it looked like the cave was really gonna show her who she comes from, this person in the hood,(rather than a hood, no hood syke)and then just shows her her own face. This is better cause all the figures in this scene represent real people. The two figures=her parents. The one (more important) figure which becomes cloaked=Palps. Then of course, Rey=chosen by the force Rey. This is different then the other hooded version cause as it stands, there seams to be another character after the hooded figure, which there isnt.
-I think the sith whispers are dope 😉
I think that is it for the technical tweaking.
I have absolutely no problem with Palps contacting Kylo through a random radio in an ancient rebel base (which is quite a feat in it of itself) Palpatine has ALWAYS been one to abuse and use technology for his own good (ie. vadersuit, death star, cloning snoke, big mechanical GLaDOS arm) and this is no exception which I appreciate. As for the “I have been every voice inside your head” line also works great alongside the transmission because Palpatine isn’t referencing this contact…He’s talking about Kylo’s grandfather speaking to him through his helmet in TFA.
As for the cave sneaking in a palps tease to Rey, makes perfect sense! The darkside is about using the truth to deceive (seducing Anakin). The truth is that Palpatine is her blood, but the other truth is that she has been chosen by the force to bring balance and doesnt have to belong to anyone. The sneaky cave just draws a line between the two where there doesnt need to be. This hooded figure scene doesn’t really deliver until the very end where Palp comes back and contacts Kylo. Then it clicks that not only is Palps back but he has his hands in both our Antagonist and hero (pulling the strings all along).
Sorry if some of this didnt make any sense. But hey I am very confident you can get to a polished enough version. Thanks for reading through all that crazy.