thanks for the feedback Hal.
TPM: I agree. Frankly if people got that impression, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, although I hadn't intended it. I've done some color stuff to the flashbacks in my latest cut that will hopefully make them feel a little more clearly delineated as flashbacks.
On Jango: no, there isn't any line that explains this. What I ultimately would like to do is rotoscope Jango's helmet on for the few shots that he is unmasked, and redub his single line "don't move Jedi!" With a different voice actor. The rotoscoping might be outside my skillset, although in the updated clip I just posted, I was able to rotoscope over Obi-Wan's face to remove a line of dialogue pretty succesfully. I'm also toying with removing Boba entirely, which would require reframing a few shots and rotoscoping him out of one or two (possibly beyond my skillset)
thank you on the romance plot, although it's nothing revolutionary. It's pretty much "Attack of the Phantom" with the waterfall scene added back in before the kiss. (It always felt a little rushed to me in the Phantom Editor's version) I think not having them revealed to be married until ROTS helps too. There's 3 years of presumed off-screen romance development.
on Padme: I've gone back and forth on this. I think you patched up that plot hole pretty elegantly in your version, but I'm pretty dead set against including the "No" scene, and I always really liked Padme's "there's still good in him" especially as a lead in to ROTJ...part of me would rather edit ROTJ to patch up the plot hole.
running time: basically I'd like to get it down to as close to typical Star Wars length as possible without introducing any plot holes or jettisoning too much character development. Since releasing the workprint I've taken another look at some other edits included Kerr's and managed to cut another 20 min from the film (his cutting of Bail going to the Temple/Yoda leaving kashykk etc is a real timesaver I hadn't considered), so it's at about 2:45 with credits now. I also cut the Yoda/Palps duel. I was pretty adamant to leave it in, albeit cut down at first, because I feel that the Ani/Obi duel is a slog to get through without cutting away to anything and I also think it would be odd if no one tried to challenge the emperor, but a combination of running time and the desire to see Yoda not use a lightsaber got the better of me.
I will probably upload another work print at some point, but I want to get the dubbing done and the surround mixing done first.