logo Sign In

Info Wanted: The Phantom Editor and Ep. III Question!

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Does anyone know how the Phantom Editor feels about Episode III, and if he plans to do an edited version of that movie? Sorry if this has been brought up before, I’d just like to know. Point me to correct thread if so. Also, I downloaded his awesome Clones edit at myspleen. Does anyone know of there is a good quality dvd version of his edit of Ep. I out there anywhere? Thanks for indulging this pointless thread.

J

Author
Time
Does anyone know how the Phantom Editor feels about Episode III, and if he plans to do an edited version of that movie?

- NOT sure but check out HIS SITE, we have talked a few times via email and I was told to expect a copy of both edits (I & II) in the mail but that was about 6 months ago - no cool mail and no contact since.

I uploaded this version which as it turns out to be the proper V.2 version.


Sorry if this has been brought up before, I'd just like to know. Point me to correct thread if so.

- Read away man, the search function is not that greatest but the thread are very fun to read!!!!


Also, I downloaded his awesome Clones edit at myspleen.


- You're welcome


Does anyone know of there is a good quality dvd version of his edit of Ep. I out there anywhere?


- A few folks have CLAIMED that a version with commentary is out there but I've not seen it (and I've got like 30+ Star Wars Edits!) I've only found the VCD's (mastered from the 1999 VHS and uploaded to the net - napster RIP!!) and the VHS (a copy of a copy of a copy............) and I have even posted that to myspleen about a year or two ago.

I will be working on a ALL new VCD to DVD version of the Episode 1.1: The Phantom Edit some time in the next few weeks.

SO, unless I happen to hear from the PHANTOM EDITOR or someone else with a "real" DVD version ~ I'll upload the VCD's and a VCD to DVD version. (hint hint wink wink - PLEASE dude don't hold back your public demands it)


Thanks for indulging this pointless thread.


- Well it has a point with me

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

Author
Time
Can someone please tell me how the Phantom Editor's edit of Episode II is different from the official version? I've never seen this addressed in any thread here. His webiste makes no mention of it, and he hasn't updated since Aug of 2002.

You know of the rebellion against the Empire?

Author
Time
Written by Joshua Griffin
Published on April 29, 2005

The Phantom Editor Strikes Again
Attack of the Phantom
This is an amazing DVD. Technically sound. Dolby digital. Commentary track and "infinifilm" extras. Even some scene changes and rotoscoping - WAY more advanced than the Episode I cut, which was essentially a cut of the film that lasted maybe an hour. Clearly there was a lot of thought put into this edited version of Lucas' film. This isn't just cutting out characters he didn't like, but really looking at the psychology of the characters and the telling of the core story. The audience seems to be his primary concern. I think it you watched it, you might be surprised at some of the insights the Phantom makes on the film. It is easy to critisize Star Wars films. It is another thing altogether to recut the entire movie.

He starts out by deleting Captain Typho's "I think we're safe" line from the beginning of the film. The Phantom calls it an Friday the 13th moment. If you click the phantom logo that pops up, you can hear an expanded commentary with clips from the horror movies as well.

If you remember the Phantom Edit of Episode I, it was most memorable for removing Jar Jar from the film. Well, this isn't simply cutting a character from the film. Jar Jar is in the film! But several of his scenes are cut down to remove his dialogue, to make the audience feel that he has grown up. "Use him with value" and to help the audience "feel he is intelligent" and that he knows what he is doing.

There were a series of cuts soon after, like Anakin nose dive in chase scene and his weird laughing, the ireverrant power cuplings scene and other awkward humor lines. In one instance the Phantom even moved ambience sound to rear channels in night club scene.

One of the most agressive cuts was the entire Kamino dart subplot - all of the robot analysis scenes are cut along with Dexter Jettster because a simple "Kamino system" line has been added to the Zam Wessel death scene.

He also chose to cut the Yoda and the Younglings scene out of the film, feeling it hurt the Obi-Wan character.

The Phantom even worked in deleted scenes, particularly some of Mace on the Jedicouncil hanger and Anakin visiting the home of Padme. In the director's commentary audio track you hear him explain the changes and defend his actions. He also added in a sad moment of Anakin when Padme says "he's not my boyfriend."

Another aggressive cut was the Jango Fett/Obi-Wan fight. Now it is down to a teaser to build up the event later in the film. At one interesting point in the DVD, he laments the Separatists not becoming the start of the Rebellion. When Dooku comes into the shackled Obi-Wan, it would have been great if the Count talked about the eventual Empire and the was essentially the Father of the Rebel Alliance. He was ahead of his time, perhaps falsely motivated, but in the end was correct.

He talks about the sound design being flawed, like when Anakin and Padme are entering the Genosian the audience can hear the enemies before the Jedi senses it. He changes the sound design so that the Jedi reveals to the audience the problem. He also added in new soud effects and reedited the droid sequence entierly. He didn't like the R2-D2 jets but in the end couldn't get away from them. He felt it was a problem for Lucas, so he invented a new tool for R2 to have. Why doesn't he have them later in the Classic films?

One change I really did like was the fact that the Phantom redid the subtitles in places - the best one being the Death Star cameo. He took away the "duh" moment for the audience, as if you couldn't see it was the Death Star in the earlier two shots.

In the end, the Phantom Editor makes some great points and defends them well in the commentary. Some people just whine about not liking the films, and this guy takes a step at trying his best to "correct" them. Regardless of your opinion of the second prequel, you owe it to yourself to track down this DVD and see for yourself all of the changes and weigh in if indeed it does improve the movie.

Interesting idea, and very well exectued.




GOOGLE ROCKS!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

Author
Time
I recently downloaded the Episode II edit. It's a great cut, but the video quality is very disappointing. It looks decent on a small television, but on my computer monitor, it looks terrible. Just a lot of bad compression for something that was supposed to be DVD sourced. Is there a better version out there?
Author
Time
I thought I'd finished my Episode II edit. I had it burned to disc, and even deleted all the raw files from my computer. I was DONE, I promised myself.

Then I downloaded Attack of the Phantom. And I just HAD to re-edit Ep II all over again since there were some changes he made that I simply HAD to include in my version too! And a great, insightful commentary too.

My stance on revising fan edits.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: ShiftyEyes
I recently downloaded the Episode II edit. It's a great cut, but the video quality is very disappointing. It looks decent on a small television, but on my computer monitor, it looks terrible. Just a lot of bad compression for something that was supposed to be DVD sourced. Is there a better version out there?


That's interesting. I download the Phantom Editor's version of Clones Rikter placed on MySpleen and it looks just fine on my digital TV. It is a 48" JVC. I had no problems with the quality, and usually anything of lesser quality will bother me; such as the case with Magnoliafan's versions, at least the two that I have. Maybe I don't know what I'm looking at, as I am certainly no A/V expert.
Author
Time
- NOT sure but check out HIS SITE, we have talked a few times via email and I was told to expect a copy of both edits (I & II) in the mail but that was about 6 months ago - no cool mail and no contact since.


I just sent him an email myself thanking him for Attack of the Phantom and asking his opinion on Sith. We'll see.
Author
Time
A forum member that doesn't want his name advertised started a review of the Phantom Edit II but never finished it. After a request, I got an incomplete list, but alot of the changes are listed:


“Attack of the Phantom”- Episode 2.1 by Mike Nichols, AKA “The Phantom Editor”

Specifications

-Single layer- 4.10 GB
-Running time: 104 minutes
-Anamorphic widescreen
-5.1 Dolby Digital sound
-Selectable audio commentary by Mike Nichols in Dolby 2.0 stereo
-Selectable extended media pop-ups
-An option to view the Yoda/Dooku confrontation without the lightning/lightsaber scenes
-Funny interactive menus
-Chapter stops appear directly before each extended media pop-up
-Comes with CD case art in a bonus “Cover” folder
-3 Easter Eggs all grouped into one “hidden” menu


The disc begins with the following message:

“This DVD is for experimental purposes and not intended for retail sale, duplication, or distribution.”

Then, the main menu starts out like the official DVDs, with the main title and the moving Star Wars logo. But this flickers out and we go to Mace and Yoda sitting in their chambers watching a 2D hologram as Anakin says “I don’t like sand.” It flickers out, Mace and Yoda look at each other, and the main menu buttons appear. These are “Play”, “Extras”, and “Info”. The extras option takes you to a screen where you can choose whether to hear the film with Nichols’ commentary or not. If you select yes, then you are taken to another screen, at which point you can select pop ups throughout the movie. Selecting these means that throughout the film, little purple logos will pop up, and if you press “Enter” when they appear, then you will be treated to extra video content.

Easter Eggs: Three funny video clips are included.


CHANGES (I may have missed some minor cuts or frame cuts here and there, but I’ve written all that I caught)…

-Film begins with a workprint style countdown. Then, the logos begin.

-A new opening crawl “Episode 2.1- Attack of the Phantom” is not plot related and instead explains Nichol’s purpose in editing the movie and apologizes to anyone offended. It ends with his email address (thephantomeditor@hotmail.com)

-In the Coruscant landing, some sounds have been moved solely to the rear surround speakers.

-Typho’s lines have been removed, eliminated what he calls the “Friday the 13th moment.” Upon selecting the commentary pop-up, he explains this more, showing some clips from the Friday the 13th films.

-Subtitles appear in the lower black bar and seem to be burned in.

-Yoda’s line “Seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my heart” is deleted.

-B. Organa’s line “Seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my heart” is deleted.

-Mace’s line “That’s possible…” etc. has been removed. (Palpatine: …friend, like Master Kenobi. Close-up of Padme. “Do it for me, milady” etc.)

-Obi-Wan/Anakin’s conversation on the elevator has been edited to remove “I haven’t felt you this tense…” all the way through the line “You’re sweating”, removing the Gundark nest dialogue.

-Jar-Jar’s walking shot and his greeting are cut. In fact, all of his lines are cut in this scene.

-Padme’s line, “Annie, you’ll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine,” is removed. She now only smiles.

-Some of the argument between Anakin and Obi-Wan is cut, starting with deletion of “We will not go through this exercise again” and ending with “Investigation is implied in our mandate.” So what we DO have is “…in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course.” Close-up of Padme. “We will do exactly as the council has instructed…”

-Obi-Wan and Typho walk off camera and Jar-Jar and Anakin remain. Jar-Jar is silent. Obi-Wan has been rotoscoped into the frame so that he walks back into the left of frame, moving in the right direction and at the right speed

-Dialogue has been deleted. The scene now runs as follows: Anakin: “She hardly even recognized me, Jar-Jar. She’s forgotten me completely.” Obi-Wan: “You’re focusing on the negative…”etc.

-The Coruscant speeder chase has been re-edited and shortened considerably. The “Jedi poodoo” aliens are removed, as is the “What the…” alien. Obi-Wan no longer bumps into the building. The CG shot of Anakin backing up and taking off in his speeder is cut. A couple more shots of Obi-Wan, and then Zam shows up. Shot of Zam climbing into speeder is shortened. Obi-Wan says “What took you so long” as he’s climbing into the speeder. Anakin’s line has been shortened to “I couldn’t find the speeder that I really liked.” Obi-Wan: “There he is.” Cuts to close-up of Zam, then a shot of her ship pulling up. She goes into the tunnel, the Jedi’s speeder zips by, and then there’s a shot of them turning around and flying in the distance. Suddenly, we cut to the streets as we see Zam run into the club.

-After Zam runs in, the Jedi’s speeder lands. The landing shot is flipped so that the action is viewed from the same side.

-After a couple assorted running shots, Obi-Wan finds Anakin. After Anakin’s line, Obi-Wan says: “Patience. Use the force. Think.” CUT. Anakin: “I try, master.”

-Ambient noise in the nightclub has been moved to the rear surround speakers.

-When Zam is hit by the dart and shriveling up, instead of her former gibberish, she says, “Kamino system.” However, sound effects of her shriveling up and hitting the ground are now missing.

-The Jedi Council scene now ends with Mace’s line, “Travel as refugees.” The two Jedi then walk out.

-After the scene with Anakin and Palpatine, there’s a soft horizontal wipe to the apartment exterior. The Obi-Wan/Mace/Yoda scene is cut.

-The handing over of power to Jar-Jar now goes as follows—Padme: I’m taking an extended leave of absence. It will be your responsibility to take my place in the Senate. Jar-Jar: Of course, milady.

-Conversation in the Coruscant apartment…Anakin: Master Obi-Wan manages not to see it. CUT. Padme: All mentors…” etc.

-The diner scene with Dex is cut. A diagonal soft wipe takes us from Anakin/Padme’s ship to the Jedi library.
-A soft wipe left to right takes us from the Anakin/Padme “en route” sequence to the deleted Kenobi/Windu scene.

-Dialogue now ends with Windu’s line, “…he will choose the right path.” Obi-Wan’s line “Yes, Master” is cut. Scene ends with the wide shot of the ship, and a diagonal wipe takes us to the arrival on Naboo.

-The love theme plays over the establishing Naboo shots as before, but the scene that takes place as they exit the ship is cut. Instead, we cut to Padme’s house. “We’re here.”

-The dinner scene is included, but there’s a close-up of Anakin looking disappointed after Padme says “He’s not my boyfriend.” Also, in the kitchen, Sola’s line, “It’s obvious he has feelings for you” is cut.

-The number of clones is not revealed by Lama-Su. “You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule.” CUT to Obi-Wan. “Please tell your master Sypho-Dias that his order will be met on time.”

-The kiss scene on Naboo is much improved by the deletion of all Anakin’s dialogue. They look at each other for a while (with at least one new shot incorporated), move closer and closer, and kiss. They don’t pull away as we transition to the next scene (bottom-to-top wipe).

-A hard cut takes us from the Lama-Su scene to the Kamino beast coming out of the water.


-The majority of the Jango/Obi-Wan fight on Kamino has been removed.

-The Jango/Obi-Wan space battle has been completely removed. Instead, the scene begins as Slave I enters the atmosphere of Geonosis. He lands. Then, Obi-Wan zips out of hyperspace, the droid beeps, and Kenobi says, “I think we’ve waited long enough.” He then enters the atmosphere and gets out of the ship.

-An extra chord is added at the beginning of the search montage

-Gunray’s line has been shortened to “I am not signing your treaty until I have her head.”

-All three CG creatures at Dooku’s meeting no longer have lines.

NOT FINISHED…

-End credits: a blue remote control has been added next to “Directed by George Lucas” and “Editor and Sound Designer- Ben Burtt” . His “Phantom Editor” logo with the scissors was added along with the “THX”, “Panavision”, “Arri”, and the other logos at the end of the credits. Darth Vader inhaling and exhaling has been added three times in a row at the end of the credits, somewhat louder than in Episode I (which was intentional). The credits fade out and the “Episode 2.1: Attack of the Phantom” logo appears. The blue remote fades in next to it. Then, after the film seems to be done, George Lucas comes on from the ’95 Faces interviews and the phantom editor again makes the irony of what he says and what he does clear. Another clip warning against the 2004 DVD’s.

Those were the changes. But I haven’t given my critical analysis of the film yet…

This edit is a very impressive achievement in terms of the effects shots that Nichols has created. He’s convincingly rotoscoped Obi-Wan into a shot, created at least one new shot on the balcony, removed smoke elements from a scene, and rotoscoped and removed lightsabers from shots to suit his purposes (and my purposes, actually- he’s saved me a good deal of work) He has also played with some sound effects and also the surrounds at times.

And some scenes are VERY much improved in this cut, particularly both of the kiss sequences and the handling of Yoda and Jar-Jar to make them seem less stupid. Well done. He’s also tried to edit the ending battle sequences so that they focus more on the characters, which is nice. At one point, he flips the shots so that it appears the gunships are going BACK to catch Dooku, after Yoda points out what’ll happen if Dooku escapes. C3PO stays on the ship and never enters the droid factory or the arena, and this is a VERY welcome change.

But I do have several problems with this edit. First of all, I disagree with his deletion of the Jango/Obi-Wan space battle and most of their fight on Kamino. He defends this, saying that Lucas put it in as an afterthought (to cover up for a storyline that wasn’t working). But if this is so, why didn’t he delete the much less rewarding elevator scene, which was added VERY late in post? I also disagree with the open-ended handling of the Zam and Anakin chase- how did they land and how was Anakin able to find her in that mess? It definitely feels as though things are missing. Another problem I have with this edit (and with other edits, to varying degrees) is the fact that you can usually always tell where an edit was made simply through the soundtrack. I’m listening to the mystery motif, and suddenly in the space of one or two seconds, it morphs into the middle of another cue. This doesn’t make sense, and at these points, I know, “Oh- they took that out and tried to cover it with a crossfade.” One particularly painful instance that comes to mind is the Droid Factory scene. Maybe I’m a little more critical than most, but there are some moments where it’s just so obvious that an edit was made because the music becomes incoherent. But I’ve had this problem with the other edits to some extent as well, so perhaps I’m the only one bothered.

Special features on this DVD- amazing. The commentary (recorded with a cheap mike hanging off an iron board, as he likes to point out) is nice, for the most part. Nichols has a habit of swearing a lot in the commentary (F-ing this, F-ing that), and he even compares Star Wars to a pornographic movie. So don’t do the commentary with your kids. He makes some very good points, though, particularly through the extra video material. All in all, it’s a very well-done DVD- in terms of special features, it’s the best out of all the SW edits so far.
Author
Time
Sorry to drag up an old post, but I was wondering if there was any progress in getting the original Phantom Edit on MySpleen?
Author
Time
I have been in touch with The Phantom Editor. He confirmed that there is indeed a DVD version of The Phantom Edit with commentary, similar to his excellent Attack of the Phantom (and different from Rik's Phantom Edit 1.1 and MagFan's Phantom re-edit 1.2). IF I manage to get a copy from him then it will of course go straight to Rik (and a few others here) for distribution by the normal channels.
Author
Time
I haven't heard back from TPE since then - I'll post here if and when I do.
Author
Time
I e-mailed him many weeks back about episode III but never got a definitive answer from him.

I have a friend who knows the man fairly well through a work connection, and apparently his comment upon walking out of "Revenge of the Sith" was, "Well, there's nothing I can do!" (I also heard he got a girlfriend, which would put a crimp in anyone's Star Wars projects.)

But knowing his work in the past, I would hope he would eventually be unable to resist finishing the trilogy he started.
Author
Time
Word on the street is that the Phantom Editor will probably never finish his Episode III edit.

Too bad, too.
Author
Time
and yet another fanedit I should check out. lol
Author
Time
FYI, TPE's I and II are on Demonoid.
Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic<br>I think that if Lucas was "detatched" and if he wasn't worried about making good movies, the prequels wouldn't have been very good.

Explain that.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: The Star Warrior
FYI, TPE's I and II are on Demonoid.


Thanks for the heads up! Hope there's enough seeders.
Author
Time
And I'm downloading them right now through links from Mininova.

Take care,
Sojourn
Author
Time
Is the TPE you're downloading the one with the commentary track? Because I have an .iso of that dvd in case someone needs it.
Author
Time
From the description on Mininova, I believe it is. I can let you know once I've finished downloading it, if you'd like (it sure is taking a while . . .). Although, it's in a weird file format -- .dmg. I think I'm going to have to convert it before I burn it.

Take care,
Sojourn
Author
Time
Originally posted by: Sojourn
From the description on Mininova, I believe it is. I can let you know once I've finished downloading it, if you'd like (it sure is taking a while . . .). Although, it's in a weird file format -- .dmg. I think I'm going to have to convert it before I burn it.

Take care,
Sojourn


use UltraISO to mount the .dmg then open up the disk and copy the Video_ts & Audio_ts files to your HD then burn to dvd using Nero. Very quick and simple
Author
Time
Thanks for your suggestion! UltraISO had been recommended by the torrent poster, and so I went and downloaded the trial version. Will the trial version convert the whole thing, though, or is it restricted?

Take care,
Sojourn
Author
Time
I can't remember exactly, but I do remember I used that program to convert the .dmg to .iso. I could probably up that .iso file somewhere. It'd sure make the whole thing a lot easier for fans of these edits.
Author
Time
Probably true. Luckily, though, there does happen to be a copy of it active right now, in case you don't get the chance to do so. Please let us know if/when you do, though!

Take care,
Sojourn