Info Wanted : Prequel Deleted Scenes -- those that are, those that aren't

I have not purchased the Blu-rays and may not for some time, but I’m sure I will get them.  However, I notice they are sadly lacking in the PT deleted scenes.  “Wait, you’re at the wrong website, bucko!” “This is originaltrilogy.com.” “The prequel trilogy never happened.” “George Lucas sold his soul to the devil and bought a fancy CGI team.” “Worst…movies…ever!”  Okay, I got it all out of the way for you guys.  I didn’t come to this site out of a hatred for the PT or special edition (though I admit I prefer the OOT best).  I came here out of my interest in the various fan edits.  So this is relevant to this forum, as my interest in the deleted scenes is its potential use in PT edits.

From what I have read, the PT deleted scenes are missing some stuff I wish they’d included: more Darth Maul fighting (in my opinion, the highlight of TPM, and which we know was filmed); Anakin’s alternate fall to the Dark Side.  I’m sure there are more, but I’ve noticed these two already.  The first would just be filler, probably to replace much of the Gungan battle or just for fun.  However, an alternate fall for Anakin could drastically alter the narrative and supply fan editors with something far better to work with in order to make a more suitable PT for the rest of us (yes, while I can enjoy the PT, I wouldn’t mind a better telling of the tale).

So with that, is there anything you like, dislike about the prequel deleted scenes, and what do you wish for?

Granted, while I haven't watched the prequels in a very long time (and may not until the Fink finishes his work) I do have a large group of friends who love talking about the cut scenes.  Ever since I read the Star Wars Storybook back in '77, I've always had a high interest in what ended up on the cutting room floor.

That said, I was a bit disappointed that they prequel cut scenes didn't get the same treatment as on the earlier DVD's.  McCullam made such a big deal of George's ''bold'' idea of completing the cut scenes with full (albeit kind of cheap looking) special effects.

TPM:  I wanted to see that scene of R2 using his rockets.  

That clones one:  I was hoping to see the scene of puppet Threepio greeting Hayden and Natalie in the desert as well as being finished in the Owen garage.  Not that it was a great scene, and while it certianly suffers from a chronic case of galactic shrinkage, the homestead garage is so iconic, it was fun to see.  A little more couldn't have been bad.

The "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" one:  Sad that the No scene never was cut.

So... more cgi, more garage.

Like Sluggo, I would like to see the scenes finished with full effects.

Specifically, I'd want more scenes from Attack of the Clones which were cut out, specifically the ones on the Lars Homestead. In the finished film, that sequence really seems edited awfully to me.

I would also like to see the scenes relating to the original fall of Anakin in ROTS, where he was motivated by many things and not just Padme. It probably would have portrayed Anakin as a less weak figure. Hopefully, there would even be a scene where Anakin suspects Obi-Wan and Padme are having an affair; I vaguely remember that there was an excised subplot like that. It was only briefly hinted on in the movie.

I believe it was also hinted at in the novelization, which by the way is significantly better than the film.  I know that Star Wars in general is designed to be appealing to children as well as adults and that perhaps that took things too far (heck, I don't like trashy crap in movies), but it would have made more sense in the plot for his hatred towards Obi-Wan and increasing paranoia.

Gosh, I guess we'll just have to wait till the holographic set comes out to get the remaining missing scenes and lost cut.

Part of the question I wish to make more explicit (and the reason I started this topic in this forum as opposed to the General Star Wars Discussion forum) is how might you incorporate the deleted scenes into an actual edit?  I know you guys answered this somewhat, but beyond being an interesting novelty, what would you actually include?

darth_ender said:

I believe it was also hinted at in the novelization, which by the way is significantly better than the film.  I know that Star Wars in general is designed to be appealing to children as well as adults and that perhaps that took things too far (heck, I don't like trashy crap in movies), but it would have made more sense in the plot for his hatred towards Obi-Wan and increasing paranoia.

That would make sense for Lucas to change the plot for a reason like that. I do understand that their meant to be "kid's movies" but, for Pete's sake, the main character gets burnt alive!  I think that a more believable fall from grace, complete with implications of cheating, couldn't have scarred kids more than that. Anakin overall no longer makes sense in the ROTS that was released.

how might you incorporate the deleted scenes into an actual edit?  I know you guys answered this somewhat, but beyond being an interesting novelty, what would you actually include?

I'm no fan-editor, but I think in ROTS that if Anakin's original fall from grace were released that it would prove invaluable to use in fan edits. It help make a better structured plot. With smart editing, the scenes could come across as very emotional.

For AOTC, a lot tends to be cut out of that film and any good deleted scenes, such as the recently released Lost Twenty, could help make a nice cohesive plot, with sufficient movie length.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzPW-dSDfQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUn4EH67H4o

I know the PT isn't everyone's favorite thing, but I really do enjoy the Maul/Jin/Kenobi duel.  These clips show a little bit of what we missed out on while on Naboo, and these blue screen shots show that Maul actually jumped onto the Queen's ship's ramp and continued to press his attack against Qui-Gon before he gets kicked back down to the desert floor.  There is so little character development for Maul, and I wish that if they couldn't have broadened him as a villain, they could have at least given him more screen time doing the cool stuff that he does.

Still from what I've heard from the many articles I've read there is definitely enough scenes deleted (yet most of them obviously still not released) to make full star wars length fan edits of the PT movies.   A scene I would specifically want to see would be:

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/02/11/star-wars-deleted-scene-revenge-of-the-sith-jar-jar-binks/

It would really help to refine jar-jar's stupid character, plus it helps to add a darker mood to ROTS.

Heh, that'd be fun.  If you had to have Jar Jar, it'd be nice to give him some darker, more serious scenes.  I do feel bad for Ahmed Best...you never hear of him ever doing anything else.

But yes, I wish there were far more deleted material.  I bet that the PT could get such surgery that it might be more in line with what people were hoping for were fan editors to get their hands on much of the still missing material.

So since I haven't yet purchased the blu-rays, I'm clueless to a number of details about them.  With regards to the deleted scenes, are the scenes from the PT DVDs included on the BDs, or are they only previously unreleased scenes?

Muchas gracias :)

Out of curiosity, was there any new scenes with Maul having more dialogue?