Nemoidians and Sidious
I know I just mentioned being careful about cutting too much and making the movie too short, but if I were to want to cut any scenes, I think I would cut a lot of the scenes between Nute Gunray and Darth Sidious. There’s a few reasons for doing this. 1) I feel like the pacing just halts every time we cut back to what the bad guys are doing. 3) It feels like a lot of information is repeated in other scenes. 2) I actually think it would serve the narrative more if we kept the Sith’s involvement in the plot as mysterious as we can. I actually wonder how much it would actually hurt the movie if we cut all of Sidious’ scenes. Would it be better if the actual phantom menace was a figure only alluded to in the first film? I’m sure there are edits that have already done this. We are talking about the most fan-edited film in history, after all.
Agree with your on those scenes. I don’t know how it would work to remove them all - I don’t know if there’s a need to explain Neimoidians trying to kill Jedi. If one kept maybe only the Coruscant balcony scene (removing lines about going after the queen) and Maul, that would help it feel like a separate threat focused on the Jedi. You’ve got me thinking about removing the scene where they tell Sid the queen has escaped. One problem I have with that scene is the virtual introduction of Maul. My current edit of the scene removes Maul and replaces Neimodian dialogue from elsewhere (https://streamable.com/6fhf7m). But you’re right the scene doesn’t add much/anything.
That opening shot of the ships around Naboo might be used instead for a return shot, not that it explains how the heroes land undetected.
I’m right there with you on most of what you wrote. Would help so much to be able to make Jar Jar speak more normally. I don’t think I had payed attention to Portman’s poor performance before. The scene with her speaking with Jar Jar on the ship is useful and shows him being more normal but her acting there is so bad. It almost felt like that first shot of her speaking was shot later it’s so disconnected.
Anakin
Not a lot to say about Anakin that hasn’t already been done, but there is one idea I recall regarding how Anakin gets connected with Qui-Gon and company. This was an idea I had back years ago, but I’m pretty sure the Phantom Editor also mentions in his commentary having this edit when he did his edit, but decided to not go with it. Basically, the idea would be that you would replace Jar Jar getting accosted by Sebulba, with Qui-Gon seeing Anakin in a fight and breaking it up. This deleted scene originally takes place after the pod race, and the Rodian thinks Anakin cheated at the pod race, but if you could assume they are just talking about a game they were playing. One benefit is that it would help you avoid another of Jar Jar’s goofy antics, and it also lets you see another side of Anakin that we mostly see as sweet and innocent. I think one of the reasons he didn’t use it was because of the quality of the scene, but perhaps there is a better quality version of the scene available now.
On the other hand, I do like Mrebo’s idea for the scene, which gives Anakin a little extra agency. Maybe you could use both ideas, since you would need to invent a way for Anakin to pair back up with the others (unless you just assumed Anakin caught up with them after Watto let him leave).
I’m having Watto tell Anakin to follow them after they leave the shop, which adds to showing Watto as a minor villain and Anakin a good natured kid when he basically forgets he’s supposed to be a spy. That works if you want to leave out Jar Jar’s snack.
Feels weird to talk about edit ideas that have been discussed for the past twenty years…
Yes but a welcome opportunity 😄 While there cannot be a single edit to satisfy everyone, I can imagine that if there was an organized effort, a very good compromise edition could be done. Like the Corridor Digital team but focused solely on editing each movie, different people doing sound, effects, color, etc.