And the link you posted to the matte paintings is AWESOME! Can't wait to see what I might be able to use those for!
EDITING UPDATE: I began my edit using firewire capture from a DVD player to Adobe Premiere. This resulted in letterboxed video. The majority of the movie has been cut using this source. I'm re-evaluating recutting what I've done so far using "ADM's Guide to MPEG Editing" to present the best picture I can possibly deliver. Anybody have any tips on editing workflows for DVD-ripped 16x9 video? I'm most concerned with not being able to accomplish Star Wars-like transitions using Womble, something ADM has confirmed is not possible.