Smudger9's Bad Batch Movie Series [EP1 & EP2 RELEASED] — Page 4

Just an idea: Maybe 4 movies total might give some leeway?

I’m about halfway through Episode II, I’m watching it with my father who got to see the original theatrical release of Star Wars in '77. We’re currently only halfway because my Dad likes it so much that he didn’t want to fall asleep in the middle of it and miss anything. (That may not sound like a compliment, but believe me it is)

He has never really liked anything animated, but I convinced him to watch “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels” last year for backstory on “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka.” While I did provide him with an Arc Based Episode guide, he ended up trudging through all of it because it was more trouble to have to look at the spreadsheet after each episode and jump around.

He commented that he really struggled to make it through the animated series and didn’t particularly like most of Clone Wars. He’s been a real champ about it though and took it upon himself to watch the first season of the Bad Batch without me prompting him.

I’ve been visiting him over the weekend and he told me that he had watched the first episode of Season 2 last weekend but hadn’t gotten any further yet. I told him about fan edits and logged into my Plex Server and we started up your edit for Episode II and so far he’s loving it and wishes he’d been able to watch all of the animated stuff like this before. (My bad for not introducing fN edits sooner)

I myself am also enjoying the film as its been great as a refresher. I had actually forgotten some events from season 2 while watching Season 3.

I love how you’ve been able to weave the stories of multiple episodes together basically seamlessly creating A and B plots by spreading things around. I actually fully expected to notice when one episode ends and another starts since there was sort of that feeling on the Clone Wars films when I watched them many years ago. That is not the case bere. For the most part your Season 2 edit just flows like it was always meant to be a single movie.

There have been two scenes that I wonder why they’ve been left in, though I could be premature in questioning them since I haven’t finished the full film yet. The scene when Cid tells the squad about Dooku’s palace being cleaned out by the Emprie and when the scene where Omega shows Wanda Sykes the compass. I have a feeling the scene about the compass was left in so that when the squad is waiting for Phee and they receive the message from Rex that there is some sort of establishment that they were planning to go on a treasure hunt with her so that those lines aren’t out of place, and maybe that the scene where Cid tells them about Dooku’s Palace is because it was the introduction of Phee? I was expecting too see at least a portion of those missions due to the scenes being left in.

My dad didn’t seem to notice since he hadn’t watched the season, but as I haven’t finished the film yet, it’s possible it’s just been moved somewhere else in the movie. But anyway, so far those two moments are the only oddities I’ve encountered while watching it so far.

I do want to say that your editing skills have come a long way since your original Clone Wars series of film edits. I have to congratulate you on some excellent editing and just downright great craftsmanship in your edit of The Bad Batch.
It’s really fantastic.

Your edit of The Bad Batch, it just feels like a movie, and a really good movie at that.

I can’t wait to finish watching the edit and I’m sure I’ll be back to give more praise when we’re done watching it.

looks very interesting, I hope it goes well, when it is done, may I have the download links?

smudger9 said:

Season 3 edit!

As the final season draws to a close I thought I’d share a few ideas about my edit. When the season started off I was expecting to make 2 movies out of season 3 because it got off to a cracking start and seemed that every episode was crucial. However, the last few episodes have gone back to the paint-by-numbers mission of the week with very little plot progression. As I’ve started putting things together it’s yet another case of having enough material for about one and a half movies! The idea of a movie trilogy is very appealing so I’ve started putting together a potential single movie edit and I suspect this is the way I’m going to go. The structure so far is:

Act 1: (58mins)
Opening Crawl & Pan (2mins)

EP1: Confined (20mins)
Largely intact as the opening, but with the material slightly condensed from 3 daytime cycles to two.

EP2: Paths Unknown (completely cut)
Dead end plot that doesn’t help the Batch find Omega. The young clones don’t seem to be important.

EP3: Shadows of Tantiss (22mins)
Minor edits

EP4: A different Approach (10mins)
I have used the start and end of this episode. The opening scenes are intact upto the point where Crosshair and Omega reach the spaceport. When crosshair says about taking out half the guards before they realise, I cut to a Tantiss scene from another episode. We then cut back to Omega and Crosshair in the middle of the gunfight at the port and they escape. The cut is a touch comedic, but I think its much better than including the gambling scenes and the accent-switching Imperial Office. Plus it allows me to cut 10mins and gets us to the Batch reunion as quickly as possible. The other thing that I have cut is Dr Hemlock’s presence on the planet, searching for Omega. It’s inconsequential and contrary to Tantiss being presented as a fortress that nobody leaves unless essential. The hunt for Omega is conducted solely by the Stealth Clone.

EP10: Identity crisis (4mins)
A potentially controversial take on this episode. I thought as a stand-alone it was fantastic and dark. However, in terms of a larger movie edit I’ve decided to cut most of it. Bane the child snatcher is something we’ve seen before and is more fan service than essential plot. I’m also cutting the scenes with the kids. One theme running through this edit will be the mystery of the vault, so it will become a recurring theme that we see characters going into the vault but not the vault itself. We won’t see the inside of the vault until Omega does. We get a clue from the images on Emerie’s data pad, but nothing else.
The only scenes that will be retained are the Emerie taking on Nala Se’s role, Emerie talking to Nala Se about the vault and the Tarkin/Hemlock/Stealth Clone scene. These scenes are intercut with the Ep4 Scenes.

Act 2: (49mins)

EP5: The Return (23mins)
Only minor edits. A slightly frustrating episode in that it’s essential because it resolves the issues the Batch have with Crosshair, however, it doesn’t really move the plot along. That being said, this may be where I use a bit of AI dialogue to get the Batch to Tantiss - it all depends on how the last 3 episodes play out.

EP6 & EP7:
Completely cut. This is crucial to the single-movie edit. As things currently stand it’s not essential to the plot. The batch do find out that the Empire is still hunting Omega, but that is already implied, and some M-count exposition, but that has so far been a bit of a dead end.

EP8 & EP9:
Completely cut. EP9 may have to be re-instated if Ventress appears in the finale - it would be a strange decision to bring her back from the dead just for a stand alone episode.

EP10: Point of No Return (19mins)
Just minor edits here.

EP11: Juggernaught (7mins)
Just the Tantiss scenes. Hopefully the Rampart prison scenes can be cut but I guess we’ll see over the next few weeks.

Act3:
The finale - space for about an hour of material - I’m not worried about achieving a 1-hour finale cut, the issue will be whether the finale will require parts of the cut episodes to be included in act 2.

Hey Smudger9,

Very exciting you are tackling now the last Bab Batch season 😉

I have a suggestion to split this season into 2 movies.

I fully agree that story-wise one movie would suffice as you did in your Episode I and II (congrats again for such an amazing job). I feel for instance that Episode II was mainly centred on the political plot with little room for action parts. I am aware of the original material but I didn’t have that feeling of action/adventure that your Episode I nicely accomplished.

I would propose to include Ep6 and Ep7 of season 3 as the end of your first movie. I feel these two episodes are among the best ones I have seen in the SW animation. In addition, Rex and the surviving clones will likely make one last stand at Tantiss. Besides, the conflict between clones hunting each other and positioning themselves in this empire era is to me very solid material to be included in your edits. And, possibly SPOILER the unknown clone assassin might be revealed as Cody (would be important to close that arc as well).

For the second movie, I would include:
Ep9 (trimmed),
Ep10 (combine footage here in your first and second movie, thus Emerie’s change of mind seems more gradual)
Ep11 (full)
Ep12 “Juggernaut” is an excellent action episode that can balance nicely the film
Ep13-15 Grand Finale

Congrats for all your hard work in editing SW material!! Your Andor cut is terrific 😉

Cheers

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

There is an instance in the first Cad Bane scene where Omegas Bow just disappears from her back.
I think adding the few missing seconds there is worth it to not have the Continuity issue. 😃

What is it about that bow? 🤣

Just got round to looking at this. You’re correct. I’d cut Todo knocking the bow out of Omega’s hand. D’oh. Its back in and will be updated when I release episode 2.

Did you get around to this change and the blurry image sequence from ep2 yet? If yes, I would like a link to the new versions. 😃

Also: With one episode left and the Zillo beast playing a big role in the Finale presumably… What does the game plan fpr movie 3/4 look like currently?

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

There is an instance in the first Cad Bane scene where Omegas Bow just disappears from her back.
I think adding the few missing seconds there is worth it to not have the Continuity issue. 😃

What is it about that bow? 🤣

Just got round to looking at this. You’re correct. I’d cut Todo knocking the bow out of Omega’s hand. D’oh. Its back in and will be updated when I release episode 2.

Did you get around to this change and the blurry image sequence from ep2 yet? If yes, I would like a link to the new versions. 😃

Also: With one episode left and the Zillo beast playing a big role in the Finale presumably… What does the game plan fpr movie 3/4 look like currently?

Yes it’s fixed. The file is in the original folder link.

At this point my 1 or 2 movie plan depends on the length of the final episode. If it’s a standard length I think a 1-movie edit it doable.

Downlaoded again, the fix in episode 1 does not seem to be there.

Got further into episode 2 and at around 50:00 the music comes only from the left

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

smudger9 said:

TheDimitrios said:

There is an instance in the first Cad Bane scene where Omegas Bow just disappears from her back.
I think adding the few missing seconds there is worth it to not have the Continuity issue. 😃

What is it about that bow? 🤣

Just got round to looking at this. You’re correct. I’d cut Todo knocking the bow out of Omega’s hand. D’oh. Its back in and will be updated when I release episode 2.

Did you get around to this change and the blurry image sequence from ep2 yet? If yes, I would like a link to the new versions. 😃

Also: With one episode left and the Zillo beast playing a big role in the Finale presumably… What does the game plan fpr movie 3/4 look like currently?

Yes it’s fixed. The file is in the original folder link.

At this point my 1 or 2 movie plan depends on the length of the final episode. If it’s a standard length I think a 1-movie edit it doable.

Downlaoded again, the fix in episode 1 does not seem to be there.

Got further into episode 2 and at around 50:00 the music comes only from the left

Ahh sorry. I thought you were taking about the EP2 blurring that you mentioned. That is fixed and uploaded. I’ll replace EP1 with the fixed bow version.

Absolutely no reason to apologise. You are doing a great service to this community. 😃

smudger9 said:

Well, after an excellent opening this season really did limp along with the finale being a bit of a disappointment. I really don’t think there is enough plot to warrant 2 films.

Spoilers Ahead

Omega’s M-count sub plot and faux Jedi training with Ventress went absolutely nowhere and Rex and his clones didn’t appear either, so most of the mid season is meaningless. Fennec, Bane, Ventress and the Teth arc aren’t needed at all.

It may be a challenge to bring this in under 3 hours, but the structure will be:

Act 1:
Omega and Crosshair escape and are reunited with Wrecker and Hunter.

Act 2: Crosshair and the batch settle their differences. The Empire ambushed the Batch on Pabu and Omega sacrifices herself. The Batch free Rampart from the Imperial camp.

Act 3:
The Batch find a way to Tantiss and then the finale.

I had already structured act 1 and it clocks in at just over 50mins. Act 2 is the narrative challenge but I’m almost there with that. Act 3 will be the challenge from a time point of view. The middle act has a lot of ground to cover, so will have to be faster paced than I would like. Annoyingly the return to the Outpost could be cut from a plot perspective, but it is crucial to the Batch mending their relationship with crosshair

I’ll get cracking tonight.

I disagree that the Ventress/faux-Jedi training was meaningless. It accomplished two important things. One plot wise, and one character wise.

1. With this long gestating possibility that Omega might be super Force sensitive because of her high M count, we needed an answer. The Jedi training gave us the first huge piece of the puzzle that no, a clone may have the high m count, but it doesn’t make them Force sensitive. So, that answered a pretty significant question. (And used the incredibly awesome Ventress to do so, which brings us to… )

2. You mention the batch mending their relationship with Crosshair, the use of Ventress was part of THIS arc. Ventress did awful, terrible things, yet she came there, she stayed behind to help Omega. She could have easily killed those three without breaking a sweat but she didn’t. Because she had changed. Just like… Crosshair. IOW, people can change, people can reform. And the three working together to protect Omega from someone bad, and then realizing together that she was a changed person was a huge step in the mending of their overall relationship.

I also found the finale really strong, and a great ending to the show. I still maintain that beginning an edit before a show/season is done is not always the way to go because a general framing starts building up of how it will play out. If the season/show goes in a different direction, there is inevitable disappointment. I don’t think that’s fair to the show. (Shrugs) that’s just my opinion, though. I know it’s become more the norm to do it this way. Anyway, I do think you’re a brilliant editor.

Yesh, I think Ventress will be back in the next project, but without connection to her appearance here. It was just a little teaser for her return, nothing more.

I have to agree with the feedback someone gave here for Movie 2: The Phee scenes where 2 missions get teased, but do not come to fruition, feel a bit off.

I don’t exactly know how to resolve it. Maybe it is enough if the second scene shows them hanging out in the bar, listening to Phees stories to show that they are not busy currently?
So the Dooku mission gets brought up to show she has ideas too crazy even for the Batch, the second one makes us question her truthfulness and sanity? Would need a dialogue change when the Batch is called by Rex, but maybe thats doable?

Well the show showed promise but they teased too much and ultimately played it far too safe and predictable for my tastes.

I thought the finale was done well but I left feeling like there was too much unresolved, too many arcs left unfinished or never mentioned, I look forward to see how you do it all smudger

Thank you for your hard work. I would love a link!

The clone rebellion seemed more like an afterthought. Rex should have been involved in the finale, now it just seemed like they included him in the show to attract more TCW fans that maybe weren’t into it. Perhaps his episodes and the non bad batch episodes could be edited into a sort of coda for TCW instead.
As for Boba, I’d say he’s broken all his ties to his past at this point and so doesn’t need to be a part of her story.

smudger9 said:

yoshif8tures said:

Well the show showed promise but they teased too much and ultimately played it far too safe and predictable for my tastes.

I agree. It was set up for an amazing finale, but they just didn’t deliver.
We should have had a major clone rebellion, Rex and his crew should have been involved and at least one of the batch should have died. And Ventress should have tied into Omega’s future.

And I can’t believe alpha didn’t make an appearance!

Hey Smudger, I’d like to make a suggestion. Do you think it would be a good idea for you to “create” an ending for this third film that had more of an ending feel? Perhaps it is possible to produce an ending that gives at least some kind of answer to all the unresolved plots, even if they are vague answers, repurposing scenes that were discarded from its three edits. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just something that gives a sense of conclusion.

For example, from what I understand, you will cut the Teth arc. But maybe it would be good to show a scene from this arc at the end, just to imply that Rex’s clone cells are still organizing themselves and will continue fighting against the empire, or something like that.

When Omega, as an adult, looks at Tech’s glasses, just before leaving Pabu, maybe it would be cool if she had a flashback at that moment to something Tech taught her, maybe even something that was motivating her to fight for the rebellion. Or maybe at this moment, make her have a touching memory with all the members of Bad Batch, as if it were her actually saying goodbye to the group. Since you left a lot of filler scenes out of the three seasons, perhaps this would be a good time to use one or more of those scenes that are inspirational, something that makes her remember fondly the moments she spent with them.

Maybe some changes like these will give the ending more impact, I don’t know.

Radical Reedit for the whole show, actually.