To start, just want to say the vision for book 6 is incredible and this film really felt to be the beast of a climax for these arcs, after watching this last night with my partner, I have no doubt Mando and Grogu is going to feel like a filler episode when we see it tonight
Also disclosure before reading further, when it had been stated that subtitles were not ready yet, I assumed that meant ALL subtitles. Normally watch on VLC but accidentally started on media player but thought nothing really of it. There were NO subtitles for all alien language/Mando scenes, I took it as a rough cut and we guessed what they were talking about losing a lot of exposition. You can guess how I felt cracking this open this morning on VLC and seeing subtitles now!!! Why the Hutts were gifting him ANOTHER rancor etc has been explained, massive face palm.
Intro with Grogu and the pacing of Grogu throughout the whole film fit perfectly, especially the way he gets returned. My partner noticed something was off with the crate return scene and it does need a bit of cleaning up visually if possible, but the story beat itself was perfect.
It was quite jarring with the way the Boba content starts however, book 5 had a line of Mando referencing Boba being a crime lord now, but as a first time viewer my partner had no idea what was going on.
To be fair it is the same issue as Disney’s side, chronologically Boba has a tribe then wants his armour back, then three seconds later overthrows the Tatooine mafia and become a king which is a radical escalation which I still don’t think makes a lot of sense
In other fan edits I have seen prior of the Boba content there is the same issue with how to make it appear as a smoother transition, but with the bacta tank flashback set up it was a blink or you miss it moment. Plus my partner forgot about Bib Fortuna as a character so I needed to explain a few minutes of backstory during the film which ate into the flow
I don’t really have a solution as you can only work with what you have, but from my experience with a first time viewer she was confused a lot. In the bigger picture I can see why this detail is minor, but when first loading up the film it was not a strong start to get hooked into. It felt like starting Game of Thrones from Season 2, no idea what is going on but watch enough you get into it.
Besides that, the Boba content flowed very well and I love how you kept the story going moving onto the Hutts which hopefully can be worked in with an edit of the Mando Grogu movie. Everything about Krrsantan could not have been done any better, that look he gives Boba adds a new layer after he betrays him for the Hutts post Bane battle!
The rest of the film I do not have an awful lot more to say as there is more and more Mando dialect where I had no idea what was going on which I am sure would clear things up.
When heading to Plazir, I thought once Mando and Bo get onto the tram, it could have taken them straight to the Mandalorians to avoid the droid/back to the future side quest, but maybe in dialogue it was covered why this was necessary?
Boba’s involvement at the battle of Mandalore - chef’s kiss
My partner could not believe that he was not actually present in the original. That was incredible and you really feel the pressure with Axe and the Slave 1 rescue, added so much to the battle for me. The AI child Din flashback was really wholesome as well.
The only other criticisms are out of your control - the big bad Gideon is barely in it after being quite prominent previously was Disney’s idea so no material to work with, Bo and her troops leaving and having a break waiting for reinforcements while Din army of twos it with Grogu, leaving out the clones was a sensible touch as it did get very convoluted.
All AI lines were great, were some lip reading issues but cannot recall specific ones that stood out
Incredible work and safe to say you have brought justice to your newfound empire of edits!