jones1899, I've frustratingly been unable to get the time yet to cover some various possibilities that I recently worked out. (I'm currently painting/decorating a big house after work) I'm trying to get the time to organise certain screenshots to better show what I mean along the way, as I have a lot to post here, concerning potential variations for both the beginning and the ending of the movie, where things can be tweaked very differently from the current version.
There are plenty of other moments I've reworked in ways that I'd have preferred in the first place too, but i'll concentrate on the 'beginning' and 'ending' stuff first, as that is what you are most interested in, at this point.
As far as the movie's climax is concerned though, the current theatrical one is just so unsatisfactory in so many ways to begin with.... However, just to let you know, my alternative sequence for Spalko's demise DOES involve using some of the actual 'alien representation' shots, along with a way to streamline some of the more excessive CGI moments into something far tighter, using existing shots, without the need for any digital alterations along the way. (Except re-colouring perhaps) That wedding scene can be reworked quite nicely too, into something that outstays it's welcome less....
But this will all take a little more time to put on here unfortunately.