So I actually really like TheoOdo's idea, and I think he's laid it out quite well. The thing is I personally don't have any problem with the Death Star and don't think the Imperial Center is as likely a threat. I find it hard to believe an empire with resources as vast as the Galactic Empire's would spread its forces so thin as to leave its capital guarded by an energy shield projected from a separate celestial body (considering also that planetary shields are established as capable of being projected from their own planet's surface, as on Hoth).
But I repeat, it's not unfathomable, as stories often hold internal logic that might not match with our concept of what is logical. A story like this could certainly work and be entertaining. I personally just like the original better.
Ronster, while you are right that a person should suggest how to accomplish their edits, I think he has done a fine job defending his idea. Personally, I think it would be difficult but possible, and I think in many ways easier than trying to insert a great deal of new material in existing scenes, as the biggest visual changes would be matting. I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems to me that Boba Fett coming out of Sarlaac would be harder, and flipping star destroyers would be too obvious. My point is not to criticize anyone, but show that we should not be too hard on an edit we don't agree with.
Perhaps TheoOdo could alter the script to his liking as I have done with commentary included to explain how changes could be made. This could at least show more clearly how possible it is. As I've said before, this project does not have to be the end all of ROTJ edits, but rather a stepping stone to whatever sort of edit everyone wants to make. Perhaps we will all learn new skills here to better make an edit of the sort we like by the time we get done with this. Perhaps new collaborative projects will spring up.
Ronster, I have not completely cut the whole film, just the Battle of Endor. I still wouldn't even call it complete based on our discussions and the way voting can go, but it illustrates some of the ideas we've mentioned (using stills in a couple of points, for instance), and trying to include Madine. We'll see how it turns out for you guys. I'm splitting it into three rars because most free file sharing accounts don't let you share anything bigger than 200 mb and this is over 500. But it will be up soon.
It's okay that you changed your vote and that you did it publicly. This doesn't force us to do anything, but merely gives us a stronger sense of "the will of the people," so to speak, so we know the best way to advance the story to the majority's liking. I'll note the change.
I'm pondering your ideas. My first thought regards the need for padding: I personally feel that it is acceptable to see Luke on Tatooine. We simply would assume that he traveled back to Tatooine, and I don't think we'd need to see him travel there. I'd like to first see him at the celebration, and then later on Tatooine. No need for explanation, just that he soon took his dad's body there to be burned. I do like your visualization of the cliff and sunsets, though.
As for more violent Vader, cracking the glass could be interesting. I of course always assumed it was simply an open platform, but that doesn't preclude the glass from being there and cracking. I think it'd be interesting to see Vader lose his cool a bit, since he always does everything so coldly, except when he first talks to Palpatine after donning his armor and breaks the medical unit in ROTS.
I think the Falcon would be easy to destroy, and my big concern is the lack of emotion from the lead characters after his death. It'd be like no one even mourned his loss. And MrInsaneA is telling us that if he dies, our world will spin out of control too, so I'm not sure I want that to happen :) How would you show the character's, particularly Han's, sense of loss? That would be key, otherwise the emotion of his sacrifice simply won't be very emotional.