Just finished watching the new Radical Workprint of this ROTJ edit...
Short review = Loved it!
Very clever radical changes that I would never have dreamed were possible. Hats off for taking footage from so many sources and combining it so well.
Now for the long review...
I disagreed with so little of the many changes that it hardly seems worth mentioning the few that I did (Especially as radically changing things is the reason for the edit!). So mostly I'll just list the few minor technical issues I had:
- Squashing and stretching of footage is a BIG NO for me. A shot's aspect ratio should not be tampered with, cropping is always preferrable. Given the generaly very-high quality of the rest of the edit these really stand out e.g.
^ Below is an example of a squashed shot from the edit.
^ Top is a partly restored and cropped shot I did. It's still a little squashed but is much less noticable.
- The Boba subs aren't right at all. Controversial, but may I suggest you could construct viable dialogue from Jango, redubed-Boba and clone lines. There is plenty to choose from across the saga.
- The use of the 2011 CGI "Enhanced" Jabba's palace door is an irritation for me. I'm sure others won't really have a problem with it though. Down to taste I guess.
Can I make a couple of suggestions to improve things IMO that wouldn't take much doing...
- A brown/orange tint to the two Dagobah x-wing shots of Luke leaving Tatooine would be easy and really help them blend with the rest of the footage.
- Do we have to loose the cool footage of Boba fighting over the Sarlaac pit? Couldn't he just get knocked out cold, when he crashes head first into the skiff and just remove the rolling into the sarlacc shots. Since you've nicely beefed up Boba's role in the film it seems counter-intuitive to cut this great scene.
Now that's outta the way, onto the good stuff:
- Generally seemless blending of the deleted material back in (It's all here, bar the pilot chatter).
- The re-arrangement of events in the first act (Especially Luke on Dagobah) is a huge improvement to pace.
- The new Star Destroyer shot after the post crawl pan down is such a little thing but makes a huge difference. This whole sequence works perfectly now.
- Nice cleanup of the sandstorm footage. Why wasn't this in the original cut. Having our heroes face to face is soo much warmer and more memorable than chatting over the radio as an after thought.
- The darker music queue over the shot of Luke putting on his black glove is such a subtle change but probably my favourite change in the whole edit!
- Removal of Wicket as a prominant character really helps bring-out the darker side of the Ewoks.
- Removal of Han's hissy fit in the ewok village when he over hears Leia and Luke was great.
- I thought the insetion of the deleted bunker assault footage was particulaly well executed.
- Tie-fighters launching shot kicked ass! (Like frickin' Babylon 5 Starfurys yo!).
- Loved all the new rebels-v-stromtroopers battle footage. It's cut so well into the flow of the scene.
- The integration of the Boba footage is very clever. I couldn't imagine how it was possibly going to pay off in the end... but Dan did it. Great job!
- LOVED the new music at the end. I was getting all emotional.
Guys n gals, you need to see this edit. Not just people who think ROTJ was weak and needed fixing, hardcore Jedi fans too. ROTJ is my favourite Star Wars film and I thought this version was a blast!
p.s. As I've mentioned before, I'm of the opinion that Lando yelling "Yee-ha" while blasting out of the Death Star, is one of the two or three greatest moments in the history of Cinema. But I know Dan feels exactly the oposit, which is why he has made the grevious error of cutting it lol... but nice job on the removal, silky smooth!