The Last Jedi: Legendary (Released) — Page 16

darthrush said:

Hal, I was looking over your cutlist and liked the idea of cutting Luke saying “Nothing will change my mind”. It did sound a bit childish in theaters and you made a good point about connecting the two static shots of R2 so I tried it out and wonder what everyone thinks.

https://vimeo.com/266454365

I feel like in this scene you could have gotten the same effect (sorrynotsorry Rian, I am not a film director, not stepping on your toes) by just having Luke frown and make a disgusted face (Hamill has a very expressive face) rather than Luke saying any lines.

There is a long standing debate about making a movie for a shock value and making a movie to stand the test of time and I feel like Luke’s line at this moment is just to deliver the shock value of R2-D2 one-upping him… but it only works once and after that it pulls you out of the scene.

Hal 9000 said:

I haven’t sat down and watched any sort of draft of this edit yet myself, but hopefully it works well to transition directly from Finn and Rose leaving the cell to hyperspace.
Transitioning from that scene back to Luke on the island and then from Luke back to the Resistance fleet works very well IMHO. But, we will have to see.

The ‘extensive’ removal of Canto Bight is official on trial status, but I reserve the right to determine that it is not working and include more of it. I’m very reluctant to crop off the broom boy ending because to me it just feels so very ‘fan edit-y’ and inauthentic in a way I can’t put my finger on. Star Wars movies always end with a scene without any dialogue, and even if Canto Bight is hardly there, the meaning of the final scene would still read easily.

I stand by my opinion that an editor needs to get Billy Dee Williams or a stand in so that Lando can be the gambler with the lapel pin that Finn and Rose were supposed to meet. I know I sound like a broken record because I have said this so many times in the Internet! lol

darthrush said:

NeverarGreat said:

These clips share the same weirdness of Rey and Leia, then cutting to the Falcon exterior, then back to the group shot.

On repeat viewing, I must agree. I think just rescoring and replacing soundFX to end on the group shot is the best solution.

Or just end it with the Falcon flying away. I don’t see everyone’s problem with that.

That ending of the Falcon flying away would be reminiscent of the end of Empire Strikes Back, a nice callback.

(I probably should have made all these replies in one post, apologies everyone)

darthrush said:

Hal, I was looking over your cutlist and liked the idea of cutting Luke saying “Nothing will change my mind”. It did sound a bit childish in theaters and you made a good point about connecting the two static shots of R2 so I tried it out and wonder what everyone thinks.

https://vimeo.com/266454365

Ooh, this is perfect!

Hal 9000 said:

I’m very reluctant to crop off the broom boy ending because to me it just feels so very ‘fan edit-y’ and inauthentic in a way I can’t put my finger on. Star Wars movies always end with a scene without any dialogue, and even if Canto Bight is hardly there, the meaning of the final scene would still read easily.

Hal, I completely agree with you on this. Ending on the Falcon feels rushed to me and just kind of small.

The broom boy scene works so well not because it pays off the fathier scenes, but because it pays off Luke’s sacrifice. Luke accepting his legend and using it to inspire others gives his actions such weight and scope. It’s just epic. And it plays wonderfully after Rey herself expresses doubt about the fate of the rebellion.

Without that end scene, you lose the scale of what Luke has done. He didn’t just save our heroes, he rekindled the rebel spirit.

(Hal, I would also be grateful to see an early rough cut when it is ready!)

darthrush said:

toastedzen said:

Hal 9000 said:

I haven’t sat down and watched any sort of draft of this edit yet myself, but hopefully it works well to transition directly from Finn and Rose leaving the cell to hyperspace.
Transitioning from that scene back to Luke on the island and then from Luke back to the Resistance fleet works very well IMHO. But, we will have to see.

The ‘extensive’ removal of Canto Bight is official on trial status, but I reserve the right to determine that it is not working and include more of it. I’m very reluctant to crop off the broom boy ending because to me it just feels so very ‘fan edit-y’ and inauthentic in a way I can’t put my finger on. Star Wars movies always end with a scene without any dialogue, and even if Canto Bight is hardly there, the meaning of the final scene would still read easily.

I stand by my opinion that an editor needs to get Billy Dee Williams or a stand in so that Lando can be the gambler with the lapel pin that Finn and Rose were supposed to meet. I know I sound like a broken record because I have said this so many times in the Internet! lol

I hope you realize how hopelessly impossible this would be for any editor to do LOL

Yes, of course. lol It is a silly pipe dream. I am still amazed that editors build sets and have cosplayers stand in to re-shoot scenes for continuity errors. The skill and dedication is incredible.

poppasketti said:

Hal 9000 said:

I’m very reluctant to crop off the broom boy ending because to me it just feels so very ‘fan edit-y’ and inauthentic in a way I can’t put my finger on. Star Wars movies always end with a scene without any dialogue, and even if Canto Bight is hardly there, the meaning of the final scene would still read easily.

Hal, I completely agree with you on this. Ending on the Falcon feels rushed to me and just kind of small.

The broom boy scene works so well not because it pays off the fathier scenes, but because it pays off Luke’s sacrifice. Luke accepting his legend and using it to inspire others gives his actions such weight and scope. It’s just epic. And it plays wonderfully after Rey herself expresses doubt about the fate of the rebellion.

Without that end scene, you lose the scale of what Luke has done. He didn’t just save our heroes, he rekindled the rebel spirit.

(Hal, I would also be grateful to see an early rough cut when it is ready!)

The imagery of the boy holding the broom like a lightsaber speaks to the child in all of us. It’s a real Disney moment, but it’s what they are really good at. It gave me goosebumps when I saw it in theaters.

Hal, props for going for a more ambitious removal. Just going for it sometimes is the only way to know if it would work or not. So even if it doesn’t work completely, at least you’ll know why it might be necessary to keep some of it.

Hal, I know you excised the Phasma fight completely or had plans to do so. I did the same in my edit and the transition itself works well, but when I watched it back in the context of the entire film, their escape from the Dreadnaught felt empty and lacking to me.

Wondering if anyone here has had a similar feeling about that. I’m probably just overthinking it, though.

Is the cutlist on the front post still the one implemented in your cut ?

Cutlist seems interesting. I’m under the impression that a few more slight things could be removed/altered (like Finn’s “funny” awakening), but as a whole it could work to have a real version to discuss edits further, so… I’m in for a workprint 😃