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Star Wars Episode II: The Approaching Storm (Released) — Page 6

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jedimasterobiwan said:

only reason why i asked when next month it was coming out was because it was a long time since i posted on here

 Yeah,  it's been forever. Good to see you back. 

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I think this was the most improved of your three PT edits. Hayden still can't act, specifically in romance scenes, but the way it's "written" now at least doesn't require Padme to be mentally impaired to fall for him. Anakin now represses his anger over the sand. As he should.

The deleted scenes look as good as they're going to without better sources. Only the long shots of the Windu/Kenobi scene look particularly low res. 

The only noticeable/memorable scene deletion (for me) was the Geonosis arrival and assembly line bit. It's a shame that they so poorly made what could have been one of the more entertaining action sequences. Worth removing for the PS2-era graphics of 3PO and R2, if nothing else. 

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Just about to sit down and watch this after running through quite a few reviews - I'll send a review your way when I get a chance.

Out of curiosity, have you looked into TM2YC's Episode 2 edit?

I've yet to see it, but again, have run through the reviews. While I disagreed with certain aspects of his editing choices, I wanted to point you in the direction of his take on the Dooku/Yoda lightsaber battle. From what I've read, it works to remove most of Yoda's jumping antics, and ultimately leaves the viewer feeling like Yoda was outmatched and was lucky to save Anakin and Obi-Wan. Since you made the choice to remove the Emperor fight, but keep Yoda drawing his lightsaber for Order 66 in Ep 3, I thought perhaps putting this take on that battle helps explain that why he was able to protect against clones but chose not to take on the Emperor.

Preferred Saga:
1/2: Hal9000
3: L8wrtr
4/5: Adywan
6-9: Hal9000

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I like the good ol' "Dooku tosses a thing at Obi-Wan and Anakin" approach. Yoda shows up and nearly bests Dooku through ESB-type Force use, but loses due to his friends being put in danger. The joy inherit in the Yoda vs. Dooku saber duel is how bombastic it is. Like the youngling murder scene in Ep3, it's gotta be the whole thing or nothing. 

Even though I'll deny it if you ask, I keep continuity with the broader EU (or whatever it is called now) in mind. I think showing a very quick use of Yoda's saber is a good middle ground, and does well to imply that we've seen the extent to which Yoda is able to perform physical feats. 

My stance on revising fan edits.

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 (Edited)

Fair enough :)

After actually viewing his battle arrangement, i like the concept. but the execution is sorely lacking.

Preferred Saga:
1/2: Hal9000
3: L8wrtr
4/5: Adywan
6-9: Hal9000

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New here, but I have to ask - do you know when your edit of Episode VII will be out? Just a rough idea would be great.

Seriously though, I've been looking for prequel fan edits that not only satisfy me as a long time SW fan, but that I would also show to someone who's never seen any SW before while introducing them to it... Your edits of II and III work perfectly in the machete viewing order. Thank you so much for making edits to specifically work with the OT... Now to see if I can stomach even a fan edit of TPM... 

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Welcome to the forums, and thanks for the kudos! 

If you're looking for a "hurry up and get through it" cut of TPM, I'd recommend Secior's version. It'd be a great choice for a marathon.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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It's me again :P

Watched this tonight and your edit really improves the movie a ton. It's still my least favorite by a large margin since I pretty much dislike half of it (everything from the Arena till the Dooku fight). Anyway here's my jumbled feedback.

- Loved the addition of the deleted scenes with Windu and Obi-Wan as well as Padme sitting down with Dooku. I also enjoyed the Padme in the Senate one but I'm not sure about the one with Padme's family though. Aside from the fact that i don't believe her family is ever mentioned anywhere else the scene just feels out of place and weird. And she's the Queen of Naboo so why on Earth are they living in a small house and acting so.... colloquial? It just doesn't work for me.

- Loved your edit of the Dooku fight, it works really well to have Yoda and him just use Force powers. The only 'issue' is that right before Yoda says "much to learn you still have" you can see Dooku reaching for his lightsaber and the next cut his arms are extended in Force pull. But I'm sure it has to be cut that way and it can just be explained as him changing his mind.

- I kinda miss the Bank robot tweaking his voice in the original :) also not sure why you cut the part when Lars explains he would have gone back for Shmi but he can't because of his leg.

- I kinda wish you'd trimmed the Naboo scenes even more, at least the frolicking, rolling down the hill bit. I feel their relationship is well developed even if you cut this.

- i thought I'd mind Dex's removal but it works well with the assassin mentioning Kamino. The only thing is that when Obi-Wan goes to the Library he says "according to my information" but he never got any info since he doesn't meet Dex. It can be assumed he did some research on his own but still.

- The scene between Dooku and Sidious. Why the removal of "Lord Tyranius" since he's meeting with the Emperor and he's his pupil so obviously he should be a Darth. But while i relish any scene with Sidious I always felt that it was more interesting if Dooku was just a Dark Jedi and was really trying to fight the Senate corruption. Everything he says to Obi-Wan is true and he seems (!) genuine. It just seems weird to me that he would spill everything to him if he really sides with Sidious.

That's all I have from memory and I need to hit the sack :)

“This cannot be! Is… Is it an omen?”

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Thanks again for taking the time and thought to give feedback. 

The scene with Padme's family has some good hints that Padme is also falling for Anakin, rather than Anakin pining over a total Stoic who won't give him the time of day. It's a little odd, but I think it's an effective inclusion, with the precedent of being used by the Phantom Editor.

Dooku is hardly built up in this film at all, and we don't get introduced to him until more than halfway through the film. Removing his alias Darth Tyrannus removes an ineffective red herring and makes it a little easier to latch onto the character with what little we get of him. Removing the Separatist leaders' dialogue helps center that scene on Dooku. 

I did keep the picnic frolicking scene, and I think it's good to keep as much of the romance as I could, as long as what remains works. It's a tough call with this, of course.

And the line "according to my information" has been addressed for V4. 

My stance on revising fan edits.

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The Padme family scene doesn't have to be weird if you just never watch the Phantom Menace and simply ignore that she was queen at one point... Which is how I like to remember my Star Wars... That Episode 1 never existed...

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The Captain said:

The Padme family scene doesn't have to be weird if you just never watch the Phantom Menace and simply ignore that she was queen at one point... Which is how I like to remember my Star Wars... That Episode 1 never existed...

 Except that Hal, in the crawl, says "Padme Amidala, former Queen of Naboo"

I think her being a former Queen gives her gravitas and is good for her character. The problem is we're never explained why she abdicated and who replaced her. I feel it would have been better to keep her as Queen and have Jar Jar be the Senator/Ambassador.

And honestly I'd rather erase AtoC than TPM but that's just me :P

“This cannot be! Is… Is it an omen?”

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I don't understand why they had Luke and Leia's mom revealed to be a Queen... of somewhere totally separate from Alderaan, and then later step down and become a Senator instead. 

My stance on revising fan edits.

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And aren’t the Queens apparently elected? So they’re just basically presidents or prime ministers? And if so, why did they elect a child?

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There is only one explanation… Lucas’s artistic decisions stopped making logical or coherent sense in the mid 80’s. Maybe he ran out of midi-chlorians.

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Hey Hal, for V4, do you plan to do anything about the clearly temp/animatic shot of the Coruscant senate building used before cutting to the discussion in Palpatine’s office? I would honestly prefer a reused shot from either another part of the movie or ROTS to seeing that clearly unfinished shot.

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Thanks! The Vimeo link isn’t working for me though.

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Let me address the family deleted scene a little more. Based on how I’ve structured the film, we could have either the family deleted scene or the extended arrival on Naboo. The meat of the family scene is Padme denying her feelings for Anakin in an unconvincing way. However, the scene does have some ramifications because in my edits we never see or hear about these people before or since, raising questions about her roles as queen and senator that are under-addressed due to the loss of the arrival walking scene and scene with the new queen. If I were to include the extended arrival scene instead, we get sufficient exposition regarding this, but it’s more telling than showing. I do like the line that Padme wanted a family of her own.
I appreciate the value of both scenes, but I think the power of showing Padme’s feelings is greater than just telling them. If I held the axiom that the original film is a valid thing to defer to, which no one should, I’d probably have decided on the extended arrival because it’s less drastic of a change.
What do you all think? It’s not to late to change it, since including the family scene makes less sense than it does in some other edits with different considerations.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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I’m not familiar enough with the scenes to have an opinion, but I’d be happy to preview a rough cut video and share my thoughts.

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 (Edited)

Here’s the extended walk and talk scene: https://youtu.be/LDPmS7a1UYo?t=5m15s
And here’s the alternative, the family scene: https://youtu.be/LDPmS7a1UYo?t=9m3s

Looking at it again, the extended walk 'n talk does provide a nice segue in the process of their developing relationship. It really would make a great deal of sense to include it in my trilogy, given what I said above. However, it would be another walking and talking scene, rather than seeing Padme demonstrate repressed feelings for Anakin. I’m torn on this, and using the extended scene would be a “road less travelled by” in fan editing AOTC.

My stance on revising fan edits.