Doctor M said:Ok, I don't want to be any more critical about this edit, because I'm starting to be misunderstood. I'm (hopefully) being constructive so the final version will have all problems ironed out.
I think I understand where you are coming from. Maybe I came across as a bit annoyed when you mentioned the two things that I already had listed, but I didn't mean to. I'm taking each of your comments as constructive, and am actually right now rendering some new Xvids based on your sizing recommendations. (although instead of shrinking 2 pixels vertically, I'm just cutting one line from the top and one from the bottom, to avoid unnecessary resampling.)
The important part here is, having now seen this in it's entirety, I LOVE IT.
Excellent!!
This is the most watchable I have found these movies in the past 15 years. I already have shelf space reserved for the final release. So take any further comments as merely my attempts to help make this the most perfect fan edit ever.
I have seen so many cuts of these two films (fan edits, restorations, official, etc.) that, for the most part, I can't keep track of what changes Taolar has actually made. BUT, since they are so seamless, it's disturbing knowing they are there and not being able to spot them.
That's great to read! And it's part of the reason I didn't want to release a list of all the changes. I wanted people to give it a chance from beginning to end, and see if they noticed what was done. I'm very happy to hear that most of it isn't apparent. I will probably make a commentary track for the DVD that goes over everything, but still hope people watch the entire movie first.
What I do know is the experience was tightly paced, and a pleasure to watch.
The few things I noticed in part 2 (part 1 comments are spread out in my posts above):
When the bus hits Supe @ 54:27 between frames #783641 & 783642 it looks like a few frames are missing. It skips slightly.
Didn't notice this, but will check it out and fix. Thanks.
Following that when the back window of the bus is broken out: the audio is slightly out of sync making it feel artificial.
Didn't notice that either. Thanks.
I like Superman being thrown into the Statue of Liberty's torch from an action stand point. Mind you, I was not aware that it was moved from New York to Metropolis? ;-) I don't know if it should be changed or not. It seems wrong.
I had a debate in my head about this scene. Not specifically that Metropolis and New York aren't the same city, because in my mind they are (and remember he takes Lois on a sightseeing flight in the first movie where the statue is there). But I just wasn't sure that the sequence works. It might be cuttable, but I use it as sort of a segue to the sequence where Non is knocked into the tower (which itself leads to Zod realizing that Sup's weakness is his care for humans). In the end I decided taking it out ruins the pacing. I'm willing to take another look at it before the DVD though.
I know it probably wouldn't work, but is there anyway to make it so Lex watches the holo of the 3 Kryptonian villians AFTER they arrive and make news? It would improve the story. Otherwise it's him randomly stumbling across the information just BEFORE they show up. That's a serious coincidence.
That won't work because when the villians make news, Sup and Lois are at the fortress and don't leave until after the crystal controls self destruct. I hear what you're saying though. I'd also considered entirely removing the Lex at the fotress scene, but at the end when Zod has him run the controls it wouldn't make sense (or at least, would make less sense than it already does!)
Taolar: I really liked what you did with the new ending. Everyone is getting on with their lives while the story continues to unfold. Superman leaving has the double explanation of a relationship that didn't work out and a home to revisit.
Cool. I'm glad to hear that you liked it. My biggest fear was that it seemed rushed or that his decision came out of nowhere.
While your delivery occasionally had the flavor of Michael Palin in a Flying Circus sketch (when you mugged the camera). I probably wouldn't change it.
First let me clarify that the TV news reporter is not me. What I meant in an earlier post was that I did the new voice for Donner's cameo. The news reporter is a friend of mine, who will be properly credited on the DVD, and we did about two dozen takes. Some laying the sarcasm on thick, some not so much, some over the top, some subtle. I chose the most natural take, which was somewhere in between.
Although I love Michael Palin, my intention was to come close to the delivery of the newscaster that Ms T was listing to early in part 1, not to be comedic. I have two other takes that I really like which I'll consider before the DVD release.
It would be nice however to see you make a few MORE cameos earlier in the movie in order to established your newscaster character. Then when you deliver the prologue at the end, the audience is more comfortable with your appearance.
I'll think about that one. I hear ya.
Finally: Lois just got dumped by Superman! For cryin' out loud, no man you date after that will ever measure up. I absolutely expected when we saw her typing at the end, to see the title "Why The World Doesn't Need Superman".
It would have shown that she had some real emotional attachment and was upset by the way things ended. Sort of her working through her emotions in the way she know best.
Also, it would have been frickin' awesome! xD
Funny you should mention that. For a good six months I was planning on changing the text exactly like you suggest. A couple things made me somewhat reluctantly change my mind. One was that in Superman Returns the impression is given that she wrote that article well after Superman had gone missing, as almost a way to console humanity and herself. Second, I decided Lois wouldn't turn spiteful so quickly. She wasn't dumped in the traditional sense. I mean it's not like he told her he would rather date Lana Lang. She understands why they can't be together. I think at this point, she would write the article about how "Superman Saves Humanity..." as her way of moving on, by putting herself in the position of objective reporter, despite still feeling the love. And I think it makes a good counterpoint for when it's reveiled in Returns that she wrote the negative article. It shows how much her feelings have changed between the two movies and how much him leaving affects the world.
But, like I said, it was a reluctant decision. I love the idea.
Cheers on a really really really great edit.
(Can I get an amen to Lois' story title?)
Thanks a bunch Dr. M. You've been a supporter for a long time, and I'm glad you liked it (and that you felt you could be critical at the same time). It's all very much appreciated!
The new render should be done soon and reposted.
-T