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ADigitalMan

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Join date
26-Sep-2004
Last activity
1-Dec-2025
Posts
2,951
Web Site
https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalMan-jc3xy

Post History

Post
#107873
Topic
Episode 3: Fan Editing Ideas Discussion
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107873/action/topic#107873
Time
I always figured that he was, like Boba Fett, somebody simply who wasn't afraid to talk straight to Vader. Fett clearly has no power or authority over Vader, but he showed no fear of him either. Tarkin is much the same way. He has his turf, as does Vader. He's simply not afraid to let Vader know when he's going a little too far. And I think Vader respected those who had the balls to stand up to him but weren't idiots. Ozzel was an idiot and was killed for it. Same thing for Needa. Of course, they were responsible for Vader not getting his son back, not just regular back-talk.

By the way, in ANH, Tarkin is the Governor of the Outer Rim territories. I thought Motti was actually in charge of Death Star construction. Or was that Tagge? I get them mixed up.

Anyway, I do agree that the story could have benefitted more from additional exposition of Tarkin. I noticed the dialogue about the deleted scene where Palpatine gave more authority to the Governors and thought this directly addressed the Tarkin situation. Of course, Lucas is notorious for cutting info that advances plot and character development. But we got buzz droids! Lots and lots of buzz droids.
Post
#107993
Topic
ROTS: Palpatine's Master
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107993/action/topic#107993
Time
This, like the possible "parenthood" of Anakin are definitely left up for interpretation. However, I agree that Ian played this so that you'd think Palpatine was the killer. That said, some earlier objections were raised about why the Jedi would keep this from Anakin, if the Jedi didn't know the Sith were around at that time or know the story. Overanalysis at its finest. Palpatine is using all types of deceit throughout this movie to lure Anakin to the Dark Side and pit him against the Jedi. The Jedi aren't hiding anything from him. They're actually quite upfront about their motives for putting him on the council. "Lies, deceit, creating mistrust" are the ways of the Sith.

For that matter, it's possible the story of Darth Plagueis creating life can be a total B.S. story Palpatine is throwing at Anakin, knowing Anakin's desire to keep those dear to him from dying. His mother (whom he told the story to) and now Padme, to whom he now senses Anakin's connection.
Post
#107885
Topic
Stages Of Accepting the Prequel Trilogy
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107885/action/topic#107885
Time
Mark my words, the Lucas kids WILL make 7-9. It'll happen in 15-20 years, when most of us are crotchety old farts ourselves. I am more curious if they'll re-make the prequels, but I doubt it. I do think they will craft 7-9, and I have this inkling of hope that they'll be pretty decent movies, better than the prequels, but not as good as the OT.

If Lucas doesn't do it, they'll also release the unaltered OT onto the format of the day. Why am I so certain of this? Because they, too, will have a lifestyle to which they've become accustomed, and that lifestyle must be buoyed by income.
Post
#107881
Topic
RotS is Anti-Bush?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107881/action/topic#107881
Time
If Bush manages to amend or override the constitution so that he stays in office past noon on January 20, 2009, then this is a discussion worth having. Until then, I think we do have a pretty good constitution that gives the populace the power to keep one person from weilding all the power or from staying in office past his term. I don't even think the Patriot Act granted Bush that kind of authority.

For the record, I do not support President Bush on 90% of his agenda. But a tyrant he isn't.
Post
#107379
Topic
Episode 3: Fan Editing Ideas Discussion
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107379/action/topic#107379
Time
Here's what I've (re) written for III at this point. Since I have, like, six months to work on this, it may change of course. Especially if we find it won't fit. Hopefully it will fit just fine.
------
Episode III
Revenge of the Sith

The Clone Wars have ravaged
the galaxy. The Republic is
crumbling under attacks from
Lord Darth Tyrannus, the
fallen Jedi Count Dooku.

In a stunning move, fiendish
leader of the Droid Army
General Grievous has swept into
the capital and kidnapped
Chancellor Palpatine, leader of
the Galactic Senate.

As the Separatists flee
with their valuable hostage,
Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi
and Anakin Skywalker lead a
desperate mission to rescue the
captive Chancellor...
-----
I think that this alternate version is important because:
1) it reiterates a very crucial point that was largely lost on non-die-hards in Ep II ... that Dooku is Lord Tyrannus, bringing clarity to who hired Jango and ordered the clones. Plus, it suggests that Tyrannus is now "out-in-the-open" as a Sith now that the war is on. (editorial note: Frankly, Lucas should have had his characters referring to "Lord Tyrannus" throughout the movie ... that's his Sith name. "Count Dooku" should no longer have any meaning to him.)
2) it establishes that Anakin is now a Knight and not a Padawan. Those who did not watch The Clone Wars cartoon probably need this bit of exposition before we see him without the Padawan hairdo.
3) I can't really figure out why Anakin and Obi-Wan weren't named in the crawl. Space, I assume, but hopefully I've made up for that in this rewrite.
4) The notion of heroes on both sides is blasphemy. Maybe that's the case in the real world, but in the world of escapist fantasy and fiction like Star Wars, you have your good guys and you have your bad guys. The line was utter bollocks ... and there was nothing in the plot to make me think that the bad guys were heroic. Greivous is called a coward who runs and hides. There aren't really any other "heroes" on the Separatist side ever mentioned.
Post
#107361
Topic
Episode 3: Fan Editing Ideas Discussion
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107361/action/topic#107361
Time
I pretty much know what I intend to take out in my re-edit:

  • The Crawl. I already have it written. There are not heroes on both sides. There are heroes, there are villians.
  • Battle Droid's voices. Especially the Super Battle Droids. Could they have sounded any less menacing?
  • The Neimoidian that sounded like a California surfer dude.
  • Palpatines cheesy "yes" line during the Dooku fight.
  • Jar Jar's one line. It's lifted from Ep I and sticks out like a sore thumb. I would have taken 10 good Jar Jar lines (if there is such a thing) for this one throwaway. 'Scuse me.
  • Padme's lone reference to being a senator, for consistency with my other edits.
  • Anakin's "What have I done" line after Mace's demise. He's made his decision by this point and shouldn't second guess himself.
  • Padme dying because she's losing the will to live. This is clearly written by a man who has no genetic children of his own. Children would have given Padme a reason to live. This is a simple fact of nature. Removing this line brings the story back to the simple notion that she survived long enough to birth the children, but died because of the wounds inflicted on her by Anakin. It underscores the monster that he became. Furthermore, it establishes that he made his own nightmare come true.

Now, if we could only get a definitive list of the deleted scenes that will be included (after all, we know not ALL the deleted scenes get included on the DVDs), then I could figure out what's going back in. Hopefully Qui-Gon's scene will be in the supplements. Padme starting the Alliance is good to, as it gives her character more screen time and resolves more plot issues. I wonder how many "Senator" references I'll have to kill here. More on Kashyyyk would be good as well. That plotline seemed really choppy, and I think it's because it was edited down too much. But we shall see. Three days later and I'm jonesing for the DVD already.

On the whole, it'll be the easiest re-edit of the prequels, just like MF suggested. I look forward to how he continues the Dooku-not-as-a-Sith plot. Should be fun as always.
Post
#107412
Topic
Anakin's Father...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107412/action/topic#107412
Time
Thing is, I think the entire point could have been driven home without the notion of midichlorians in both I and III. Shmi talks about the immaculate conception and not knowing what happened. Then Palpatine tells about manipulating the force to create life. Little force-sensing MITOCHONDRIA need not be present for the plot point to work just fine. Having the ability to sense the Force reliant on a microscopic life form totally destroys the mythic and religious aspects of the Force. It's like trying to say there is a specific part of our brain that allows us to know God (or not). Faith is removed completely by these midichlorians and it ultimately serves no purpose whatsoever, while actually disservicing the heart and soul of the entire saga. Might as well rename "the Force theme" as "the March of the Midichlorians."
Post
#107394
Topic
Compilation Thread- EP3 thing that were...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107394/action/topic#107394
Time
Could there have been any more hand (and other parts) chopping? It was like France in the 1700s during this movie.

The obvious throwback to the OT was the Tantive IV and Captain Antilles. My personal fave was Tarkin. I had no IDEA that a single shot of an actor with no lines or closeups could convince you about who he was and what he was doing just by his look and his posture. The guy should get an Oscar for Best Walk-On.

Other throwbacks in no particular order:
"S-foils" line in the opening battle
Yoda clutching his heart, sensing a great disturbance in the Force
The mere use of escape pods
And the throwback that should have been: A Jedi ghost
Post
#107370
Topic
How do you rate EpIII?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107370/action/topic#107370
Time
V
IV
VI
III
II
I

I really did dig the new movie, but it still doesn't resonate quite the same way the OT does. That may very well be because the OT is my childhood and I've viewed and digested it hundreds of times, but the new movie is only 72 hours old. I can honestly say III is the best of the prequels, and it will only improve in extended form.
Post
#107365
Topic
2 versions of EP3? this is out of control
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107365/action/topic#107365
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Anakin's Mannequin
Hey Digital, what'd you think of Sith?


Dropping my comments in and out as I return to the boards. I was actually on vacation all week, and saw Ep III (twice) while on the road in DLP.

Short review:
Great movie. Needs some re-editing, but not much. (I address my plans in the re-edit thread)
As usual, Lucas took out the wrong scenes when cutting it down. Just like Anakin beating up Greedo, or Padme's parents or Obi-Wan and Mace in the hangar, there are some scenes that just should not have been cut.
My only real beef with the movie is consistency with ROTJ. Leia does remember her mother, and I just don't buy her remembering her from the womb, no matter how strong Leia is with the Force. Lucas may think this line is not incongruous with the OT, but it is, no matter how you slice it or dice it. Padme should have lived on at the end of the film, knowing her condition was terminal. She should have gone with Bail to Alderaan and died there some time later. I LIKE the whole Padme dying thing and how it played out (except for the actual "reason" she was dying), I just find it grossly incongruous with the OT. And I'm NOT going to remove that line from ROTJ in a re-edit 2.0.
Post
#106990
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/106990/action/topic#106990
Time
Ditto here. My thought is that this is a "workprint" thread for methods and ideas mainly geared to what the subject suggests. Once something definitive is out there, an official thread should be launched for each release to discuss it. Rik released my ROTJ and will hopefully be releasing ESB soon. ANH still isn't ready and does deserve the best treatment of all. Hopefully you'll all be happy. There's a good possibility DE's version may become my fave, but I'm having fun doing what I'm doing with his help.
Post
#107004
Topic
2 versions of EP3? this is out of control
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107004/action/topic#107004
Time
The real selling point to DLP is the clean picture. This was my first DLP movie and the picture was superior to any film experience I've had. Detractors may say what they will, but no scratches, no pops, no cigarette burns ... beautiful picture that frankly runs rings around celluloid. The only thing I miss is film grain. There is a characteristic to film grain.

This is the reason above all to see DLP ... it's like watching a DVD on hi-def TV, but one that's 2 stories tall. Now, if they only had DLP IMAX ... what an experience that would be.

I think we get different "versions" because Lucas is an incessant tinkerer. Since he could tweak Ep II further before the DLP release, he did. Some of the changes were good (Padme's "getting up" scene was more believable) and some were bad (I'm a Jedi, I know I'm better than this).

If there are different versions of Ep III, then it's highly likely that the DLP version is what will go to DVD.
Post
#105322
Topic
Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/105322/action/topic#105322
Time
I have my official copy but want to re-order the tracklisting to match the cues chronologically. Given that I've tried to stay away from spoilers, can any of you suggest what the chronological track order might be?

Updated:
I found the answer to the thread at jwfan.net.

Requires inserting Duel of the Fates, interestingly enough. Also involves splitting one of the tracks in two. I'm working on both.
Post
#104519
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/104519/action/topic#104519
Time
Womble also has a demux utility built into the tools section. I personally use the DVD-Lab Pro tool as it's much easier to drag the first VOB in the sequence and have everything split into its respective streams. Though I would recommend stripping the decoded disc to a movie only file first using something like DVD-Fab. It's an extra step, but I think it gets all of the menus, extra language tracks (if you don't plan to use them for anything) and junk out of your way.
Post
#104105
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/104105/action/topic#104105
Time
Hal, if I can do it, you can do it. I knew squat about squat when I showed up here in September.

You need Womble and DVD-Lab Pro at a minimum. Make www.videohelp.com your other favorite site (I've been there for years but never got serious about editing before the SW DVDs came out and disappointed me). The soundtrack will stay in 5.1 on the condition that all sources are in 5.1 and that you don't manipulate it beyond straight cuts. I've found that you can cut the audio in a different place from the video and often "hide" your cuts that way. Great for those moments where you lose a soft wipe. Cue the transition music a bit before the video cut and you've actually got a pretty nice transition.

DE, I guess I do know what your forthcoming change is. Not what I was thinking though. I imagined a real and total heresy like creating a visual of Obi-Wan's spirit leaving his body as he was cut down. Which, heretical though it might be, would be a darn fun project for somebody (not me) to take on.

I look forward to this whole thing when you're done with it.