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Post #368948

Author
Rhikter
Parent topic
The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/368948/action/topic#368948
Date created
8-Jul-2009, 11:47 PM
Davnes007 said:

 

I've uploaded a little re-edit/redux of Anakin's turn to the darkside that I've been tinkering with for the past few days.

I've mostly just tightened up the editing, but I think it works a bit better than Mr. Lucas' version. The one major change is that I TOTALLY cut the scene of Anakin 'thinking' (about wether-or-not to stop Mace Windu), and Padme 'worrying'. Note: The scene of Obi-Wan defeating General Grevious was only cut down to save time for YouTube.

Any-who, I present "Anakin's Turn To The Darkside - Re-Edit".

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzVmYXGkP3Q

 

I've watched and rated the video.  Well done.  He's what I have to say:

  • Does anyone know if there is a way to alter someone's pronunciation of words in post production?  I'm not talking pitch or tone, but rather phonetics (really wish I could type in IPA right now).  I just never liked Hayden's vowel sounds, like is open/hollow "Oh"s and "Ah's.  I suspect he was trying to establish a link between Anakin's speech patterns and the way James Earl Jones spoke in the OT.  While I commend him for that from an actor's pov (if that's what he was doing), it simply doesn't resonate with me as an audience member.

  • Did you add some extra silence before Palpatine's, "They don't trust you"?  I haven't watched RotS in some time so I don't remember what it was originally like.

  • I would like an establishing shot of Anakin's face right before Palpatine says, "I can feel your anger." It seems more natural, and if it were me I'd want the audience to be reminded of the conflict within Anakin at this point.

  • I love the early cut from Palpatine and Anakin to Obi-Wan.  It leaves me wondering what Anakin is going to do.  That's the way it should have been in the original.

  • Could you rip some Grievous dialogue from "The Clone Wars" to add to the final confrontation with Obi-Wan, just so he doesn't go out like a punk as much?  Every time I see that scene I feel like, "Oh I guess Matthew Wood was ill/out of town the day they decided to include this scene."

  • I actually liked the transition from Grievous vs Obi-Wan to Mace and Anakin.  In the final version could it return to the Obi-Wan vs Grievous fight before transitioning to Mace about to face Palpatine?

  • Again, could we get an establishing shot of Mace's face as he takes in the news about Palpatine before he says, "How do you know this?"  The transition between lines seems to come too quickly.

  • Will Anakin be in that scene where all the Jedi ignite their sabers or will he run in like he did originally?  If the prior, once again I say, establishing shots of his face as he reacts to what Mace and Palpatine are saying to each other.

  • Keeping the "You can't.  He must stand trial" line seems to undermine the awesome transition I talked about earlier.  The one that transitions to Obi-Wan from Palpatine and Anakin.  Actually, I think all of Anakin's attempts to bargain for Palpatine's life undermine it.

  • If you can get that allusion to the RotJ duel to work I think it will be amazing!

  • Uh, I don't think Samuel L. Jackson would approve of the "Wilhelm scream." It kind of undermines Mace's character.

  • The "What have I done" line doesn't have very much power to it when we can't see Anakin actually saying it.

  • Some of the dialogue alterations post Mace's death feel choppy.  I'm just going to assume that's because this is an early edit.

  • I never understood why they made Palpatine's voice sound so bellow-y in that scene around when he is "knighting" Vader.  Can his voice be reverted to the evil cackling Emperor voice we all know and love?

  • I never bought that Anakin willingly went along with Palpatine's plans when the man is acting SO OBVIOUSLY EVIL; saying stuff like "Once more the sith will rule the galaxy."  Palpatine should still be manipulating Anakin by making himself look good and the jedi look evil.  Of course that's if you believe that Anakin actually believes that the Jedi are evil.  The only way I can get through his "I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over" schpeal is by thinking that he doesn't really believe it, and is just trying to save face.

    I like the way that you cut the end of Palpatine's speech because he looks so smug and I get the feeling that he's satysfied with himself by the fact that he has made Anakin his slave.

    Really, that's the way Lucas should have played Anakin's downfall.  He should have been portrayed as a victim of circumstance, a slave to Palpatine who didn't want to do what he did and only did it because he felt he had no other choice. There shouldn't have been hatred and anger in the Obi-Wan/Anakin duel, but sadness and regret. This would also have made it more believable that Anakin had indeed been a "Good Friend" and "Brother" to Obi-Wan.  He should only have become truly evil after Padmé's death and is transformation into the mechanical monster Darth Vader, not before.

EDIT:
Random funny thought I just had:  Do you think the Jedi tell the story of Darth Vader as a form of abstinence education?