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Info Wanted: What is considered by most fans to be the best edit of the Prequels?

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I think JMO is familiar with most of the details about all the popular prequel fanedits, if my memory is correct. This is almost definitely going to turn into a midichlorian conversation, by the way.

I don’t know if there is a consensus on favorites, but l8wrtr’s is indeed probably the best well known complete trilogy of very high quality. Around this forum in the last year or two, I would definitely say Hal’s have the most momentum and are preferred by many.

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towne32 said:

I think JMO is familiar with most of the details about all the popular prequel fanedits, if my memory is correct. This is almost definitely going to turn into a midichlorian conversation, by the way.

I don’t know if there is a consensus on favorites, but l8wrtr’s is indeed probably the best well known complete trilogy of very high quality. Around this forum in the last year or two, I would definitely say Hal’s have the most momentum and are preferred by many.

What about octorox’s edit how does his compare to hal’s and l8wrtr’s.

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jedimasterobiwan said:

towne32 said:

I think JMO is familiar with most of the details about all the popular prequel fanedits, if my memory is correct. This is almost definitely going to turn into a midichlorian conversation, by the way.

I don’t know if there is a consensus on favorites, but l8wrtr’s is indeed probably the best well known complete trilogy of very high quality. Around this forum in the last year or two, I would definitely say Hal’s have the most momentum and are preferred by many.

What about octorox’s edit how does his compare to hal’s and l8wrtr’s.

Not sure. I might take a look once people consider it finished and polished. As far as his cuts, you can take a look here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/179rtro9Lq-jwlEWSoYkd97yGME7UIMg1-SPRgJ8SDbs/edit

I like the idea, but it depends on whether the execution holds up.

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I have been browsing through the most beloved edits and I was surprised how many of them include Jar Jar even a little (in Episode I at least). I just can’t handle even a single line of dialogue from JJ Binks. The Anti-Cheese edits seemed very awesome (Jar Jar had subtitles and his voice was changed to an alien one) but sadly I didn’t remember to download them… and now they have been deleted from YouTube. What a pity.

I have only been trying to look for a “good” Phantom Menace so far but seems like that is impossible (because of the original material). I have to check Hal’s + L8wrtr’s episodes II-III and try to find the most suitable edits for my taste. I am just glad that there are people around doing this kind of editing to try and make the prequels more enjoyable to watch… rather than just totally forget about them. Thanks to everyone in the editing game!

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I’d say that my favourite is still Magnoliafans. I think if put into HD and the crawl re-done, it could be even better.

Not enough people read the EU.

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bromeo said:

I have been browsing through the most beloved edits and I was surprised how many of them include Jar Jar even a little (in Episode I at least). I just can’t handle even a single line of dialogue from JJ Binks. The Anti-Cheese edits seemed very awesome (Jar Jar had subtitles and his voice was changed to an alien one) but sadly I didn’t remember to download them… and now they have been deleted from YouTube. What a pity.

It’s just about the limitations of working with what is available. Everyone would love a movie where there is not one appearance or line from Binks. One ambitious guy here posted a few videos with JarJar rotoscoped out, and plans to do TPM. I think he may have given up, but am not sure.

You could cut every scene with him, and be left with a movie that makes even less sense. Or you could try to minimize him as much as you possibly can, but then you’ll notice a weird silent rabbit thing that is always around the main character and makes no sense. These kinds of options appease the fans in us, but they don’t make for a complete or coherent film in the way that Hal and L8’s edits do.

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The most popular one’s are L8twr’s, Secior’s and Hal9000’s.

Personally I like Hal’s the best. It’s simply astonishing and (gasp) almost makes the prequels interesting plot wise. PLus he did some color correction work and added film grain, as well as cuts aimed to make it more like the OT and fit into that timeline more.

I like them so much I’m currently editing them to my own preferences, to make my complete edit.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

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The thing about PT edits is preference plays a big role in what people think should and shouldn’t be cut. If you’re looking for specific somethings, definitely go through the database on fanedit.org and see which cut list sounds the best to you. If you don’t really mind what is or isn’t included and you’re simply looking for what works best, you definitely can’t go wrong with L8wrtr’s and Hal’s. I’ve never seen them, but if you’re looking for more extreme cuts of quality, Q2’s or secior’s are probably the way to go.

Personally I go with Hal EpI, EpII, and L8 EpIII. But even then I’m not completely happy so I’ve decided that I’ll have to do my own hybrids at some point.

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Stankpacs Revenge of The Sith: Special Edition is my no nonsense go to edit I dont bother with other two flops, its the only prequal movie Ill show the kids EpI & EpII are only in comic form as far as they know ;]

“We Are What They Grow Beyond” - Yoda


My Prefered Saga Viewing Preference:
Ep. III - Revenge of the Sith Special Edition (StankPac Edit) * Rogue One - A Star Wars Story (Hal 9000 Edit)
Ep. IV - A New Hope D+77 (OohTeeDee Edit) * Ep. V - Empire Strikes Back D+80 (OohTeeDee Edit)
Ep. VI - Return of The Jedi OTD83 (OohTeeDee Edit) * Ep. VII - The Force Awakens Restructured (Hal 9000 Edit)
Ep. VIII - The Last Jedi Legendary (Hal 9000 Edit) * Ep. IX - The Rise of Skywalker Ascendant (Hal 9000 Edit)

💡 Save confusion & express your comments with Markdown Emojis here 💡

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DominicCobb said:
Personally I go with Hal EpI, EpII, and L8 EpIII. But even then I’m not completely happy so I’ve decided that I’ll have to do my own hybrids at some point.

The same: Hal’s EpI is almost my perfect cut (as soon as I get a better source of L8 version and I correct Premiere Pro issues with Windows 10, I’ll try to make my hybrid of them); seems Hal’s EpII will also be very close to my taste (again, I’ll probably try to add some minor scenes from L8 version); as for EpIII, I have watched entirely Hal’s v4 version, and I must say that I agree with changes I didn’t support first (like removing entirely Yoda vs Sidious: the scene is fun and I like the symbolic of it, but there is too much silliness for such a dark moment of the saga, besides I’m not a huge fan of Yoda’s figthing, as he is a spiritual warrior; I’ll put it on a bonus section when I find time to build blu ray versions), but I still strongly disagree with his ending (from Qui-Gon speaking to Yoda - which I would keep 'cause it’s awesome - to the end credits) and I’m really missing the cut of the Jedi temple interior (not the youglings shot, I mean the large interior shot where clone troopers are killing Jedis). So, for the ending i’ll use L8 cut (I’ve read he’s been working on a v2 version, so I might wait to get it; in the meantime I’m getting Schorman’s HDTV version in order to have the theatrical ending in the exact same picture quality as Hal’s). L8’s EpIII is very good, but he tends to cut too much things (the opera entrance of Anakin, some of the space battle), and to leave other bits I don’t like (the balcony scene, Yoda escapes from Kashyyyk). I would call it even but Hal’s v4 is more polished and has a better picture quality.

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I’d go with Kerr’s for episode III. I think that the way he has edited it actually makes me feel sympathy with Anakin, and elevates the film to the best of the prequels. The film is still average, but now at least it isn’t boring.
As a film: 6.5/10
As an edit: 8.5/10

Not enough people read the EU.

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LuckyGungan2001 said:

I’d go with Kerr’s for episode III. I think that the way he has edited it actually makes me feel sympathy with Anakin, and elevates the film to the best of the prequels. The film is still average, but now at least it isn’t boring.
As a film: 6.5/10
As an edit: 8.5/10

What’s your favorite edit of ep 1 and ep 2?

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What, no one mentioned Q2’s Fall of the Jedi Trilogy yet?

According to Fanedit.org, if you sort by popularity then L8wrtr is first, Q2 is second and Hal is third.

L8wrtr and Hal have editor commentaries whereas Q2(aka. thunderclap) does not, but I say Q2’s edits are the best. Stankpac had a decent Ep3 v2 but his v3 isn’t good.

Hal is the only one who properly implements the Palpatine Sith-reveal and also does everything else well. L8wrtr and Stanckpac implement it wrong and Kerr’s edit is obviously sourced from PAL which makes the speed too fast and the voices too high.

Hal’s Ep3 v3 replaced The Death Star with Coruscant, which I loved, but he reverted back in his v4, which is unfortunate because only his v4s have commentary. Q2 avoids the issue of the Death Star altogether by cutting that scene, having left Anakin apparently left for dead on the side of the lava flow.

Only The Cutter, Hal and Q2 have Padme live at the end of Ep3. Only Q2 completely retains OT surprises by removing spoilers.

I don’t like how L8wrtr shrinks the universe by putting in the deleted Greedo fight scene in Ep1 or Yoda talking to Chewie in Ep3, and I don’t like how he cuts Yoda escaping the stormtroopers so we don’t see how he got away. His Ep2 is good, but it doesn’t properly match other editors’ work well enough to be included in a mixed trilogy.

TV’s Frink said:

chyron just put a big Ric pic in your sig and be done with it.

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chyron8472 said:

What, no one mentioned Q2’s Fall of the Jedi Trilogy yet?

According to Fanedit.org, if you sort by popularity then L8wrtr is first, Q2 is second and Hal is third.

L8wrtr and Hal have editor commentaries whereas Q2(aka. thunderclap) does not, but I say Q2’s edits are the best. Stankpac had a decent Ep3 v2 but his v3 isn’t good.

Frankly, Hal is the only one who properly implements the Palpatine Sith-reveal and also does everything else well. L8wrtr and Stanckpac implement it wrong and Kerr’s edit is obviously sourced from PAL which makes the speed too fast and the voices too high.

Hal’s Ep3 v3 replaced The Death Star with Coruscant, which I loved, but he reverted back in his v4. Only his v4s have commentary.

Only The Cutter, Hal and Q2 have Padme live at the end of Ep3. Only Q2 completely retains OT surprises by removing spoilers.

I don’t like how L8wrtr shrinks the universe by putting in the deleted Greedo fight scene in Ep1 or Yoda talking to Chewie in Ep3, and I don’t like how he cuts Yoda escaping the stormtroopers so we don’t see how he got away. His Ep2 is good, but it doesn’t properly match other editors’ work well enough to be included in a mixed trilogy.

So what’s your favorite edit of the whole prequel trilogy.

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Q2’s Fall of the Jedi Trilogy.

He doesn’t have a sudden Sith-reveal by Palpatine like some other editors do. But he tightens up that scene so that it doesn’t seem obvious whether the electricity caused his change in appearance. I like it fine this way, but it’s not an obvious Sith-reveal.

He also removes shots of young Anakin in the Naboo starfighter, in Ep1. And while I like the way Hal and L8wrtr handle it better, is a minor issue in the grand scheme.

Q2’s solution to solving OT Obi-Wan not recognizing the droids as well as fixing droid-related cheesiness and rocket boosters is to remove all dialogue by and references to the droids throughout his trilogy.

He also removes references to the Chosen One and the prophecy.

My personal opinion is that Q2’s are the definitive edition, and Hal’s are like an Extended Cut (“you liked the theatrical cut, now watch it with extra footage”) supplement. Kind of like the Extended LOTR movies.

TV’s Frink said:

chyron just put a big Ric pic in your sig and be done with it.

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TV’s Frink said:

Lol at “implement it wrong.”

Well, they do. It’s not a bad idea, they just have this Palpy’s-fine-turn-around-and-now-he’s-wrinkly sort of thing. It comes down to the timing of the cuts for L8wrtr. Stankpac adds this weird heartbeat sound that doesn’t sound right. Kerr does that scene well but the whole of his edit is too fast and too high pitched.

Hal times that scene well and the rest of his Ep3 is also good.

OH! I almost forgot. Hal does keep in the Vader yell at the end of Ep3, but in his v4 he includes an audio track with a Russian Vader yell instead. So instead of this eye-rolling “NO!” he just yells in agony, which works quite well.

…Still, I prefer leaving Anakin left for dead like Q2 does.

TV’s Frink said:

chyron just put a big Ric pic in your sig and be done with it.

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Does Q2 remove Anakin’s renaming as well then?

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Yes. No suit. No mention of the name Vader.

Which, as I said, removes the spoiler that Vader is Luke’s father.

TV’s Frink said:

chyron just put a big Ric pic in your sig and be done with it.

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chyron8472 said:

Hal is the only one who properly implements the Palpatine Sith-reveal and also does everything else well. L8wrtr and Stanckpac implement it wrong

I don’t have a copy of L8wrtr’s edits on hand, but as far as I remember, mine and his were pretty close? Maybe?

My stance on revising fan edits.

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Hal 9000 said:

chyron8472 said:

Hal is the only one who properly implements the Palpatine Sith-reveal and also does everything else well. L8wrtr and Stanckpac implement it wrong

I don’t have a copy of L8wrtr’s edits on hand, but as far as I remember, mine and his were pretty close? Maybe?

Pretty close. Very pretty close.

But not close enough. Yours is better. His cut of that scene left me with a WTF moment that was only remedied by listening to his commentary. Yours did not. Plus, there are plenty of devil-in-the-details sorts of dialogue bits throughout the film that his has that don’t sit well with me, but yours fixed.

Oh, and have I mentioned that the scene of Padme alive on Alderaan with Leia clinches it for me and that it makes me smile every single time I see it? I haven’t?

Well, it does. I love that scene. Just thinking about it right now makes me feel good. And since Hal’s ep3 has it, it doesn’t conflict with Q2’s, which also has it. So I can keep a copy of both and treat one as an extended cut of the other.

TV’s Frink said:

chyron just put a big Ric pic in your sig and be done with it.

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chyron8472 said:
Oh, and have I mentioned that the scene of Padme alive on Alderaan with Leia clinches it for me and that it makes me smile every single time I see it? I haven’t?

If you had watched the movie this shot comes from, you wouldn’t smile at all…

( 😃 )

(funny fact is The Other Boleyn Girl is kinda a prequel to the Cate Blanchett Elisabeth movies).