The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread — Page 244

         Someone may have done it.

         In AOTC, the entire bit on the couches could be cut. Could wipe away to Jango right at the end of the greeting when Padme starts to turn to the couches.

<p>Has anyone considered getting rid of the Griveous lightsaber fight completely?&nbsp;</p>

I think it could be done.  Perhaps have Obi-Wan jump down from the rafters, show Grievous turning around, then immediately cut down to the clone troopers rappelling downwards.  Cut immediately to Grievous running towards the donut car and then proceed as usual.  Unfortunately, it may not be possible to get rid of the ridiculous chase sequence.  Obi-Wan needs to lose his lightsaber to explain why he doesn't use it when killing Grievous on the landing platform.

I haven't seen too many Menace edits, but I figure I can bring up this idea, anyway. 

I originally posted this on another board, but I'm hoping Adywan considers this himself.

Before the actual film's release, I had watched the Siskel and Ebert review and one of the things he mentioned about the movie is the reintroduction of the lightsaber, which after seeing the movie I came to agree. I never liked how, in a state of panic, the Jedi jumped up from the table and ignited their lightsabers. It seemed so unlike a Jedi to be scared like that, and it also made the lightsaber's first appearance in the Prequels less dramatic than it was in the OT.

After the Neimoidians contact Sidious about what to do, I would place the protocol droid serving drinks scene at this point, and while the Jedi are just sitting there with their drinks, I would then place the dioxus gas coming through the vent scene, so we know how the Trade Federation plan to kill them. The next time we should see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, is when the battle droids open the door to the gas filled reception room. This should be, in my opinion, the first time we get to see their ancient weapons come to life in the Prequels. I feel it would be a lot better than what Lucas decided on.

That was fantastic!

<p>The Nemoidians viewscreen....I lol'd.</p>

            For minimum runtime. Possible entire sequence cuts of AOTC. Probably already considered.

            39:50-40:50   most of the stuff with the queen.

            50:15-52:58   Obi meets unmasked Jango and kid.

            52:58-56:40   most of the romance stuff.

            1:03:40-1:06:20       1:11:15-1:15:15      1:17:42-1:21:34      1:22:40-1:28:00

            It might be possible to change Jango's lines when handing the bugs to Zan to something like "Take these, Jedi have trouble sensing them before they are ready to strike."  It could explain why the probe didn't just shoot through the window.

            135-23    135-34    135-56  ;/   170"Double"23  120"kicked up"ANH  170"Double"56 ;/ ;\ 8o 8I

            Cutting any of Yoda is terrible, but it does greatly elevate Obi.

            Edit: Yeah, Padme should have her own protocol droid, she's a senator, and a different opening would allow both droids on the same ship.

            Edit: I think reduced runtime and a new experience are basically about going easy on the fans and giving them something extra. They could prove more popular to those who have access to them, as well. Then there is controversy... 

So I had a thought, as I'm seeing all these exciting PT edits coming along.  The redubbing is especially fantastic, and I hope that some of these folks will share notes and their dub tracks.

Along those lines, the Neimoidians have been repeatedly criticized for sounding like Asians (or one sounding like a surfer).  Some have tried dubbing with Japanese or reverse Swahili or something, but I think it would be best to have a more foreign sounding language.

Star Wars lore now states that they are related to the Duros, those blue guys you see in the Cantina in ANH

Duros

Neimoidians

I think it might be interesting if someone could create a track of some vocals similar to that of the Duros and dub the Neimoidians with that.  That way well designed dubs could fit the mouths better, wouldn't be interpreted as racist, and could allow for a more purposeful Federation rather than silly, cowardly, pointless Sidious puppets.

Something occurs to me...I love how Q2 has implied that Anakin died and that Vader is just another Emperor henchman in an effort to preserve the surprise.  But there is still a single problematic line with all efforts at preserving the surprise in any PT edit: Obi-wan says in ANH that Vader was a pupil of his until he turned to evil, and thereafter helped hunt down all the Jedi.  We never see another Obi-wan pupil, and he goes into isolation at the end of ROTS.  Meanwhile, it's obvious that events have already been set in motion and that the Emperor is on the way to destroy all the Jedi.  From a fan edit perspective, can anyone think of a way to imply that Obi-wan might have another apprentice who might have been the one to become Vader?

I myself would prefer a made up language than dubbing in another real language, but I would have to say I did enjoy daneditor's edit which dubbed the Nemoidians and Jar Jar's voices in Turkish. 

I posted this on another board but figured this board relates to it more...

I've suggested this before, but I'm going to expand on it a bit.  In my mind, the PT should have centered on the Clone Wars.  But if you're just watching the films, the Clone Wars exist as little more than a battle at the end of Ep II and a battle in the opening of Ep III.  When I saw Ep III, I'd never seen any Clone Wars material, and therefore felt a bit cheated.

I think a brilliant way to edit the whole trilogy would require an adaptation to a different "stylistic choice."  In other words, I think a cross between Ep I and Ep II should be Ep I, Ep III should be Ep III, but Ep II should be an edit of the Clone Wars series.  I have a feeling that time lapses could be inferred, various battles shown, and still it not feel rushed.  Ideas that would need to be included would be a few battles, a proper introduction to General Grievous, a reintroduction to Darth Maul, and ultimately Palpatine's capture (hopefully shown when they wrap up the series).

This would improve the whole trilogy in multiple ways: it would keep a more consistent bad guy (Maul comes back), makes Grievous a useful character that we care about killing in Ep III, and makes the war feel like the focus of the trilogy, not a cheesy romance.  Perhaps we could even see Anakin's fall as a bit more realistic, as we might see him making other angry choices, and not just those motivated by his love for Shmi or Padme.

My reason for reposting this thought is that I know Maul lives in the series.  I haven't seen the episodes and I have avoided reading spoilers for when I eventually do, but I don't know how they explain how he survived.  But perhaps, if the proper footage survives, someone could sell his survival for another episode.

Darth Maul was not severed in press releases of Ep I.  I have seen a picture somewhere, though I can't find it.  However, it is mentioned here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/alternateversions

If that footage (bootlegged, most likely) could be found, it would make his survival more believable and lead well to a sequel.

EDIT: It occurs to me that perhaps there may also be footage in The Clone Wars that might help resolve my previous comment, in that perhaps it could be made to appear that another Jedi trainee becomes Vader, or at least that Obi-Wan has other trainees that could take the job.  I haven't seen many episodes, though, so I don't know.

darth_ender said:

I've suggested this before, but I'm going to expand on it a bit.  In my mind, the PT should have centered on the Clone Wars.  But if you're just watching the films, the Clone Wars exist as little more than a battle at the end of Ep II and a battle in the opening of Ep III.  When I saw Ep III, I'd never seen any Clone Wars material, and therefore felt a bit cheated.

I think a brilliant way to edit the whole trilogy would require an adaptation to a different "stylistic choice."  In other words, I think a cross between Ep I and Ep II should be Ep I, Ep III should be Ep III, but Ep II should be an edit of the Clone Wars series.  I have a feeling that time lapses could be inferred, various battles shown, and still it not feel rushed.  Ideas that would need to be included would be a few battles, a proper introduction to General Grievous, a reintroduction to Darth Maul, and ultimately Palpatine's capture (hopefully shown when they wrap up the series).

This would improve the whole trilogy in multiple ways: it would keep a more consistent bad guy (Maul comes back), makes Maul a useful character that we care about killing in Ep III, and makes the war feel like the focus of the trilogy, not a cheesy romance.  Perhaps we could even see Anakin's fall as a bit more realistic, as we might see him making other angry choices, and not just those motivated by his love for Shmi or Padme.

My reason for reposting this thought is that I know Maul lives in the series.  I haven't seen the episodes and I have avoided reading spoilers for when I eventually do, but I don't know how they explain how he survived.  But perhaps, if the proper footage survives, someone could sell his survival for another episode.

Darth Maul was not severed in press releases of Ep I.  I have seen a picture somewhere, though I can't find it.  However, it is mentioned here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/alternateversions

If that footage (bootlegged, most likely) could be found, it would make his survival more believable and lead well to a sequel.

EDIT: It occurs to me that perhaps there may also be footage in The Clone Wars that might help resolve my previous comment, in that perhaps it could be made to appear that another Jedi trainee becomes Vader, or at least that Obi-Wan has other trainees that could take the job.  I haven't seen many episodes, though, so I don't know.

This. Is. Genius.

Thanks :)  Any ideas on potential alternate "apprentices" that could leave audiences wondering who might be Vader?

darth_ender said:

Thanks :)  Any ideas on potential alternate "apprentices" that could leave audiences wondering who might be Vader?

Nope, but I have an idea on how you can include Maul more as a character....because it looks like he's Season 5's main villain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVad0StJ-dw&feature=player_embedded

Ah, very cool.  This really gets me thinking...if Maul remains the primary villain in a trilogy as I've suggested, it means that Dooku can be scaled back a great deal, but still left in.  I know many have toyed with the rogue Jedi, thought, and perhaps that could still be implemented.  He could remain an unwitting puppet to Darth Sidious, but not a willing apprentice.  In Ep III, all references to Palpatine aboard Grievous's ship would be removed, and Grievous would merely be Dooku's General.  Dooku really would be a Force user who simply wanted to expand his powers, but not an all-out Sith.  He ultimately takes his Separatists and parts from the Republic, and while his methods may be grim, he is not purely evil, but rather a misguided Force user.  I dunno, just tossing ideas out there.  Nothing could possibly happen till the series is over anyway.

EDIT: Here's the pictue I was referring to.  Not sure if it's a real screenshot or someone's attempt to replicate it, but here it is anyway.

darth_ender said:

Ah, very cool.  This really gets me thinking...if Maul remains the primary villain in a trilogy as I've suggested, it means that Dooku can be scaled back a great deal, but still left in.  I know many have toyed with the rogue Jedi, thought, and perhaps that could still be implemented.  He could remain an unwitting puppet to Darth Sidious, but not a willing apprentice.  In Ep III, all references to Palpatine aboard Grievous's ship would be removed, and Grievous would merely be Dooku's General.  Dooku really would be a Force user who simply wanted to expand his powers, but not an all-out Sith.  He ultimately takes his Separatists and parts from the Republic, and while his methods may be grim, he is not purely evil, but rather a misguided Force user.  I dunno, just tossing ideas out there.  Nothing could possibly happen till the series is over anyway.

EDIT: Here's the pictue I was referring to.  Not sure if it's a real screenshot or someone's attempt to replicate it, but here it is anyway.

I've always intended to have Dooku be a rogue Jedi. Just makes more sense that way.

As for a Clone Wars edit...I feel like you'd have to fan edit the whole series, or at least most of it. There are too many great storylines (besides the MAUL one, which is pretty damn good.) to NOT include. 

This could be fascinating, but only in a art house kinda idea where the style changes from live-action to animation and you never know when it will occur. I saw something somewhat similar in the film The Miracle Maker. It was a mixture of stop-motion (Claymation) and traditional animation. It was interesting, and still somehow worked.

So, this could never be a traditional style Star Wars edit, but it could be an artsy alternative.

Was thinking about your statement about the Chancellor kidnapping, and how we have yet to see it on The Clone Wars... Well you see it happen in the Clone Wars cartoon. You also see how General Grievous gets his cough (Mace chokes him) You also get his origin. So you could use that older cartoon to fill those gaps.

The Miracle Maker did pull it off quite well, didn't it? I really like that film. :)

Yeah, it certainly would be "artsy," as you say, and take a willingness to jump in styles.  However, I only think the jump would need to be in Episode II.  Episode I would be focused on finding Anakin, fighting Maul and defeating him, then Anakin growing up and finding interest in Padme, while we find that Dooku is on the scene and starting the Clone Wars.  Episode II would be about Maul's return and second defeat, develop Dooku's rogue side, the ongoing Clone Wars, and the intro to Grievous.  Episode III would be about Dooku's defeat, the end of the Clone Wars, Anakin's fall, and the realization that Palpatine was the puppeteer the whole time.  So the only jump would be between episodes, not within.  But still, like you said, it would take a willingness to jump.  Perhaps the cartoon could be used like you said.

But as I said before, I haven't watched much of the show, so really I'm just speculating, and even those who have haven't seen the end of it.  I'm just thinking of an alternate way to tell the story.  And yes, MrInsaneA, I have wondered about how difficult it would be to decide what stories to tell in a film that's no longer than 150 minutes.

darth_ender said:

The Miracle Maker did pull it off quite well, didn't it? I really like that film. :)

Yeah, it certainly would be "artsy," as you say, and take a willingness to jump in styles.  However, I only think the jump would need to be in Episode II.  Episode I would be focused on finding Anakin, fighting Maul and defeating him, then Anakin growing up and finding interest in Padme, while we find that Dooku is on the scene and starting the Clone Wars.  Episode II would be about Maul's return and second defeat, develop Dooku's rogue side, the ongoing Clone Wars, and the intro to Grievous.  Episode III would be about Dooku's defeat, the end of the Clone Wars, Anakin's fall, and the realization that Palpatine was the puppeteer the whole time.  So the only jump would be between episodes, not within.  But still, like you said, it would take a willingness to jump.  Perhaps the cartoon could be used like you said.

But as I said before, I haven't watched much of the show, so really I'm just speculating, and even those who have haven't seen the end of it.  I'm just thinking of an alternate way to tell the story.  And yes, MrInsaneA, I have wondered about how difficult it would be to decide what stories to tell in a film that's no longer than 150 minutes.

Which is why I think it would be prudent to do an edit of the show AS IF YOU WERE FAN EDITING A WHOLE TV SEASON instead of a movie

So, edit the entire series? Some episodes were ridiculous, but there were several episodes that connected.

If you have a few major tasks in my opinion. First off, making TPM work as a standalone film. It's terrible, we all know it's terrible, but like ATOC to me there isn't enough to make those movies work by themselves. I'm actually tinkering with combining 1 and 2 as one film using the strongest aspects of the two.

You also have the difficult task of figuring out Ahsoka. She's at the moment a pointless character. I keep hoping they have a specific purpose for her, but alas, not yet. But as was said, the show isn't over yet.