“A break does wonders to the will to edit”.

Responses

You guys have had a lot of interesting feedback, so instead of quoting 20 different posts and using my time on that instead of the edit, I’ll just tackle it in a general sense as I still have a lot of editing to do (if i forget to answer something please just ask me/tell me again):

Will there be grain added to the film?

Yes, I will add a slight, slight grain. Nothing overbearing. It is a good idea, and It will help bridge the Prequels -> Kenobi -> and then the OT. A good idea by @CMMAP.

What about the Piano Theme?

You guys really don’t make it easy for me, haha. Some people really like that theme, and some find it too sad. As a matter of fact, we removed it from the Village Scene with Vader & Kenobi because of the sadness in it. Most people wanted that scene to be haunting and horrifying, which the original did quite well. We therefore decided to keep it that way (although with brief glimpses of Sith Whispers and Anakin’s Betrayal).

However, as the Piano Theme - imo - has this sense of closure to Anakin and Obi-Wan’s relationship; with one coming to terms with their past (Obi-Wan) and one left in darkness, I think sadness is the most perfect theme there is for that ending. Why? Well, Darth Vader, or Anakin if you will, has been haunting, horryfing, powerful and ruthless throughout the entire film, so having watched the edit in its full capacity I find it outmost fitting for this theme to play now. It paints Anakin’s newfound powers and “strength” (anger from sadness you ask me) in a whole new light as we see Obi-Wan coming to terms with his past and his old friend; letting it all go for a greater purpose. He does not have the strength or courage to sustain any more lethal damage to Anakin because he has now seen with his own eyes what his past errors turned Anakin into, and having now done everything in his power to save his old friend and apologize for his mistakes, he has overcome his grief and trauma. It is sad, but powerful - two things I feel that this ending melody truly gives way for.

A little sadness does not ruin the moment for me at all, it enchances it. It is truly hard to go for or against since people are once again a little bit split, but seeing as how we sacrificed it from the Village Sequence and it now serving a greater purpose to the overarching pace and tone of the film format; I will have a hard time being persuaded to remove it once again.

As always, give me your thoughts.

Will Qui-Gon interfere in the duel?

I did look into adding a faded Qui-Gon ghost BEHIND Darth Vader, but it looked off and tonally broke with the scene at once. It just becomes too fanedit-y for my taste.

Then I added the line with a slight reverb “He is the chosen one” from Qui-Gon Jinn right after Obi-Wan says “Then my friend is truly dead”. This worked a lot better, but it still broke the presence of these two old friends reminiscing over their broken friendship and past. It’s one of those moments that sound rewarding up until you put it in the film. It just takes you out of the moment and makes you go “Qui-Gon?!?!?” instead of focusing on what the ENTIRE FILM HAS BEEN ABOUT (overcoming the past - grief and trauma - love and hate!).

So no, I don’t think I will keep the line. Sorry.

@NellsRello asked if The Piano Theme (Imperial Piano) would interfere with The Imperial March later on at Vader’s castle?

Answer is no, because this scene comes a lot later now in the film. As scene in preview clip 3 of the duel, we go to Alderaan post-duel.

What about Obi-Wan not killing Anakin?

Well, as I’ve now answered the point about Qui-Gon, I always interpreted this scene that Obi-Wan felt he had inflicted enough damage on his old friend. I never once questioned why he left him like he did on Mustafar, but having heard you guys debate it over and over again have made me wonder if this is a huge problem for most? If so, I’m open to more ideas…

Thank you

Once again, thank you all for your ideas and feedback, crafting the edit into something better for each passing moment. I read every post. I hate to shut down good ideas or constructive feedback (like those who are more on the fence of the Piano Theme at the end) but as a faneditor of THIS peticular edit I will just have to go with my gut sometimes. I hope and believe that when you watch the film version the Piano Theme will hit you. To me, it signals the end of Obi-Wan’s broken past and with it his broken heart, and leaves Darth Vader in his own misery with Obi-Wan raising above his.

JEDIT:

Oh, and yes, the establishing shot in the duel will remain for two reasons;

1. The most important of which is because the duel goes from standing in a wide space without surrounding rocks, and the establishing shot helps with the passage of time to them now fighting in the midsts of them.
2. It gives a great sense of scale (and epicness, you ask me).

Oh, and another Jedit:

“Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Star Wars Story” or “Obi-Wan Kenobi?”