Been following your progress so far with you edit and I have admit it is the reason why I joined the forum. It is amazing work you are doing and the dedication that's being put is going to make this edit possibly the best one out. Anyway, after watching your Alderaan sequence over and over, which from one editor to another is just "teh sex", I think maybe some sort of wider shot of the planet before the explosion could make it a bit more powerful i.e destructive.

I made two rough composites on Photoshop as an idea. I found the footage of a planetary explosion/ self destruct from an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise called "Twilight" (I believe it's from Season 3?) Anyway, the footage is that of the Earth being struck by a laser from a sphereical ship ( shades of Death Star) and wiping it out. The effects work, even for television, was pretty convincing and was not shoddy at all. If cropped and recomposited, it can be turned into a shot for the Alderaan sequence.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/AvatarX/Alderaandestruction1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/AvatarX/Alderaandestruction2.jpg

Again these are just ideas.

The reality is footage from that episode, which has an aspect ratio of 1.78 :1, would have to be recomped to it the 2.35:1 ratio of the films.

If you need help let me know. I'd love to help. I own an iMac G5 with Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Photoshop (still trying to get my hands on a copy of After Effects) if that helps any.