My pleasure! Wow- more GREAT suggestions on scenes that I hadn’t figured out how to improve yet, particularly the scene en route to Naboo. Great suggestion on an R2 “food stealing” episode- I’ll see if I might be able to find a shot and color correct/blue screen it to make it work. Good ideas on recutting the opening, which brought to my attention something else (the lack of quality in the music score for this scene). But even BETTER ideas on how to cut out Anakin’s oh-so-clever advances on Padme. I know exactly what you’re talking about when you say that less is more when dealing with attraction. I know the other way certainly doesn’t work (personal experience
Padme is much more likely to fall in love with someone that isn’t trying so hard. Which brings up the issue of line delivery- be prepared for an entirely different take on Anakin and his attitude. He will sound a lot more “manly” in this one, and hopefully this will overpower the face and the two will blend together for a more believable and likable Anakin. As it stood in the original cut (to summarize):
1. Anakin whines about not having seen Padme for ten years.
2. They are reunited. Anakin delivers a couple awkward lines, and Padme smiles. Then, Anakin complains and whines to Obi-Wan. Padme looks on and then walks out.
3. Padme covers up the security cameras.
4. Anakin whines about Obi-Wan’s unfairness. Padme listens.
5. Anakin smirks suggestively at Padme on the ship headed for Naboo. He reveals that he’s been dreaming about her. She listens.
6. Anakin makes clever small talk about how irritating sand is. Then, they kiss.
7. Anakin says that a dictatorship would probably work. Then, after being prompted, he says that he actually wasn’t kidding. The two roll around in the grass.
8. Anakin makes his awful speech. Padme says their romance won’t work.
9. Anakin tells Padme he slaughtered a bunch of women and children. Padme says it’s OK to feel bad sometimes.
10. They smooch and get married.
I think that most of this illogical stuff is eliminated now. As for the opening scene, marvelous idea in having the editing style from R2’s point of view. Lucas even admits that R2 was not even written into the scene at first- he was added later as an afterthought. This supports your view, and I do notice that there are a lot more reaction shots from R2 in the OT than in the PT. I had already cut this scene, but it looks like I'll be going back anyhow for music, so it won't be a problem to do it this way. As you said, the “been there, done that” approach is all too apparent, and I look forward to getting hold of the full-screen DVD again to get a close-up shot of R2 at the counter. And I also completely agree about Anakin and Zam's crash landing- they will crash and the chase will continue immediately.
I was under the impression, however, that Trooperman had already locked in his draft cut and was just working on finalizing a finished version of that. Or is he still taking suggestions?
Yes, I am definitely still taking suggestions. To tell you the truth, I never actually completed my rough cut, which I did on an inferior program and had no way to adjust color, do soft wipes, or anything of the kind. That was also assuming a deadline of this Christmas, and there’s not the slightest chance of that happening. Same thing with the Lama-Su audition deadline; I was only too happy to get Nanner Split at this date, simply because I’m very much behind schedule. So my men are working as fast as they can; nobody needs to find “new ways to motivate them”
But yes, I’m cutting and recutting so much these days- there are certain scenes that have to be locked down at specific times, but some that are not as highly synchronized yet and are open to suggestion. I will be receiving two other Episode II edits in the future (Nichol’s edit and also Rebel Scumb’s DVD edition of his original lost cut). This will complete my education on what people have done with this movie, and it’ll make it certain that I’m not missing any good editing opportunities in my cut. Also, I’ve gotten another idea, which is browsing the web and reading some people’s “101 things I hate about Episode II” lists. They were just intended as complaints, (and most have been addressed in my cut-MTHaslett hit a surprising number of the general character complaints that had come up) but some bring up a couple of great points that hadn’t occurred to me. They are now part of my cut.
So I guess what I’m saying is that however much more work you think an idea is, NOW is the time to give it to me, because the likelihood is, I probably haven’t even gotten to it yet. In a couple weeks, after viewing these two new edits and incorporating any new ideas from the forums, I will probably not be as eager to go back and make major changes to something I’ve already cut, although I want this to be the best film possible and I certainly won’t blow off anything. If anyone has a great idea at ANY point in time, therefore, I'm definitely open.
Please, if you have any more suggestions, no matter how crazy (especially related to greater charm and droid involvement), please come forward now. Little things like the R2 incident en route to Naboo are great because they add charm but don’t burden the plot or the pace of the movie. And now that I’m on it, I was just thinking that it’s just as well that R2 goes to help the couple while 3PO stays on the ship- this is consistent with his behavior in the original. He really has no attachment to R2, even less than he did in the original- why would he be concerned about following R2? After all, he basically lets R2 go away in the desert, saying the twerp will probably malfunction within a day. His attachment to R2 (“R2, don’t leave me!”- ROTJ) only developed during the OT.
So please give me any suggestions you have- I’m thrilled that MTH still had more great advice this late in the game! Try to outdo him
And Sluggo, I will try my best to remember the “1138”
Another thing I’m doing (which I had forgotten about) was the sound of the clonetrooper’s mikes turning on and off. Completely forgot about that- thanks CC! Also, I did make a few changes to the map of scenes, but forgot to update the forum with them. Here they are, from my personal notes:MAP OF SCENES
1. Opening scroll/entrance into Coruscant
2. Interior shot of ship
3. Ships land
4. Ship explodes. Corde dies.
5. Palpatine and Council scene.
6. Palpatine and Amidala scene.
7. Anakin and Obi-Wan show up at Padme’s apartment. They have meeting.
8. Part of Anakin/Obi-Wan discussion (at night). Cut with interior shots of bedroom.
9. Shot of unknown person putting something in droid. Droid flies away.
10. Anakin and Obi-Wan talk about mother. Meanwhile droid lands and unleashes bugs. (cut together).
11. They sense danger. Obi-Wan jumps out window. Anakin says to stay here. “Are you all right?”
12. Chase scene- describe in more detail later
13. The ships crash. Anakin chases Zam and meets with Kenobi
14. Anakin/Kenobi talk and go into club. Obi-Wan catches assassin.
15. Outdoor scene with Zam. Zam is shot.
16. Jedi Council scene with Obi-Wan and Anakin. “Track down this bounty hunter.”
17. Anakin/Palpatine conversation. Fade to black.
18. Anakin’s dream sequence. Intercut with images of Tuskens and of Shmi. “Don’t look back.”
19. Padme hands the reigns to Jar-Jar
20. Padme and handmaiden cry and say goodbye.
21. “Don’t do anything without consulting either myself or the council.”
22. “I do hope he doesn’t do anything foolish”
23. Jedi Temple Analysis robot scene
24. Jedi Library/Obi-Wan talks with Yoda
25. Anakin and Padme dinner aboard ship
26. Mace and Obi-Wan talk. Obi-Wan leaves in ship
27. Anakin and Padme land at Naboo and talk as they walk out/Opening shots from kitchen scene, then Bedroom scene. “They all died.”
28. Obi-Wan lands on Kamino and talks to Lama-Su
29. Dinner and kitchen scene-Anakin and Padme
30. Lama-Su shows Obi-Wan the clones.
31. Grassy picnic scene
32. Obi-Wan and Jango talk in apartment.
33. Anakin and Padme moonlit scene-leads directly into fireside scene
34. Obi-Wan exits Kamino. Sends message.
35. Mace and Yoda receive message and talk.
36. Jango and Obi-Wan have fight. Obi-Wan throws homing thing on Jango’s ship as it exits.
37. Anakin and Padme. Anakin tells her he has to leave.
38. Jango and Obi-Wan have space dogfight above Geonosis
39. Anakin and Watto chat on Tatooine
40. Obi-Wan follows Jango and lands on Geonosis
41. Anakin and Padme meet C-3PO
42. Anakin and Padme meet Owen, Beru, and Clieg Lars
43. Anakin and Cliegg chat about Shmi’s fate at the dinner table
44. Anakin sulks outside. Hugs Padme and leaves to find mother.
45. Search montage as Anakin….searches.
46. Obi-Wan sneaks around. Overhears Nute and Dooku talking. Spies on them as they talk at table.
47. Anakin finds the tent-dark scene.
48. Shmi dies in Anakin’s arms.
49. Anakin goes bananas.
50. Yoda’s scene- “Skywalker is in pain.”
51. Anakin returns home and stares at everyone sullenly.
52. Anakin and Padme talk in the garage.
53. Obi-Wan searches for Anakin’s signal outside. Realizes where he is and transmits message.
54. Funeral scene
55. They listen to R2’s message and transmit it. We cut between this and Coruscant as both parties listen.
56. Message ends. Anakin and Padme disobey Mace and depart Tatooine to save Obi-Wan.
57. Coruscant scene- “We must stop them before they’re ready.” Jar-Jar is duped.
58. Dooku talks to his prisoner, Obi-Wan.
59. Jar-Jar gives Palpatine emergency powers. Yoda and Mace talk.
60. Anakin and Padme arrive at Geonosis.
61. Anakin and Padme get out of ship and enter a passage.
62. Droids bicker. R2 leaves. “Have you no sense at all?”
63. Anakin slices up some Geonosians (unseen until this point).
64. Droid factory scene
65. Trial scene
66. “I love you.” First kiss scene.
67. Into the arena- the heroes are chained up.
68. Dooku and company arrive.
69. Escaping the monsters
70. No way out- surrounded by droids
71. Mace and the other Jedi show up. Big battle.
72. Jedi are finished. Dooku makes speech.
73. Yoda and the clones save the day- gunships take off and Dooku leaves
74. Boba Fett holds his father’s helmet
75. Yoda/Mace talk, and Anakin/Obi-Wan/Padme hit the fuel cells.
76. War room scene 1
77. More fighting
78. War room scene 2-Death Star is handed off to Dooku
79. Battle/Dooku escapes on speeder
80. Yoda and the clones take down a starship
81. Little clip of Obi-Wan and Anakin aboard ship/Little clip of battle-dramatic lighting
82. Dooku speeder chase
83. Padme falls overboard- Obi-Wan and Anakin argue
84. Yoda reacts to this (“Hmm.”). The droid army is in full retreat. “Bring me a ship.”
85. They chase Dooku into the hangar. He goes in and they run in after him.
86. Confrontation. Anakin rushes ahead and is force-pushed (or something) by Dooku. Lies on ground.
87. Padme is safe. Runs away with clone.
88. Obi-Wan gets creamed.
89. Anakin interferes, saving Obi-Wan.
90. Yoda enters during. “Master Yoda.” Dooku starts throwing objects at Yoda.
91. “I’ve become more powerful than any Jedi.” Brings crane down on heroes, chops Anakin’s arm, and runs for his life.
92. Yoda lifts the crane. (climactic moment with appropriate music)
93. Dooku escapes. Padme shoots at him in vain. Then, she runs in and hugs Anakin.
94. Dooku and Sidious chat.
95. Mace, Obi-Wan, and Yoda chat.
96. The beginning of the end. Palpatine looks at his handiwork and tries to look upset.
97. Marriage
98. End credits (with original score)