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Erikstormtrooper

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Members
Join date
10-May-2005
Last activity
15-Mar-2024
Posts
1,787
Web Site
http://www.erikstormtrooper.com

Post History

Post
#280940
Topic
70 mm print of the Empire Strikes Back Differences
Time
Thanks for the clarification, Sluggo.

Ok. Now I'm about to complicate things, possibly swerving into urban legend territory:

Originally posted by: Sluggo

ALTERNATE AUDIO:
• Yoda makes a frightened "Ehhhhh!" sound just before Luke says "Like we're being watched" and points his blaster at him.
• C-3P0 adds a very sarcastic “Oh my, so nice to be together again” before he says “I thought that hairy beast would be the end of me.” *
• C-3P0 "Get away from there,” prefaces “You don't know how to fix the hyperdrive! Chewbacca can do it!”*


I'm pretty sure I've heard these before (and not in Building Empire). But I've never seen the 8 mm version or heard the Story of the Empire Strikes Back. I don't *think* I saw the 70 mm version. Is there somewhere else I could have heard these?

On a related note, is there some way to find out what theaters showed the 70 mm version of ESB?

EDIT:

Answered my own question. I did some research and found this: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/star_wars/empire.htm

Apparently, I DID see the 70 mm version after all. Cool. Too bad I don't remember it too well. No wonder something just felt "right" about some of these different takes when I heard them in Building Empire.
Post
#279917
Topic
Another bloody edit of TPM (* unfinished project *)
Time
I really don't know anything about the foreign releases of TPM on DVD, but I thought the 2 disc region 1 version was the ONLY version released in the US. It's what I have.

The second disc has all the deleted scenes on it. Whether you will want to use them is up to you. If I were you, I would use some of the extra action in the extended pod race to make a super action-packed, 1-lap pod race.
Post
#279498
Topic
The Secret History of Star Wars
Time
I finally got around to finishing this. (Well, I didn't read the last appendix, but I read everything else.)

I'll just throw out some compliments: Thoughtful. Interesting. Comprehensive. Well Balanced.

This book has given me a strange sense of respect for George Lucas - in spite of all his flaws, lies, and questionable story decisions. Especially interesting was the section that touched upon his divorce.

I also gained a bit of respect for the prequels (I said "a bit"). There were actually reasons why George did the things he did with the prequels. Not that I agree with them, but George definitely had a vision he was following.

Good stuff, Zombie. Thanks!

(Zombie, you have a PM.)
Post
#278494
Topic
The Secret History of Star Wars
Time
Zombie,

I've gotten about 91 pages into this, and I must say this is an extremely well-written work. I'm a technical writer, and I am just really impressed with your writing ability. There are a few places where I found things to be slightly repetitive, but I think your intention was to really drive home a few points.

Since this will not be published or sold, would you consider adding some pictures to a future version? For example, showing early concept drawings, pictures of The Lightning, pictures of Buster Crabbe as Buck Rodgers or Flash Gordon. I think that would really put this over the top and make it virtually indistinguishable from a real published work.

I've also read the appendix on the Journal of the Whills as well as your article on the new findings. I was wondering if this had occurred to you:

Pollock: "The story of Mace Windu, a revered Jedi-bendu of Opuchi who was related to Usby C.J. Thape, padawaan learner to the famed Jedi."

Bouzereau: "...about 'Mace Windy, a revered Jedi Bendu of Opuchi,' as told by 'C.J. Thorpe, Padawaan learner of the famed Jedi.'"

Consider that "related to Usby C.J. Thape" may not describe a relative, but instead may be just another way of saying "told to us by C.J. Thape". If this quote was originally culled from hand-written notes, I can see how "us by" may have become "Usby". So I am wondering if the Bouzereau quote is somehow more accurate, regardless of the mis-spellings.

Ultimately, I am curious if your work on this book had anything to do with your feelings of being "finished" with Star Wars, which you recently expressed in the End of Star Wars thread.
Post
#278025
Topic
Star Wars: Classic Edition 2.0 NEW from Ocpmovie (Released)
Time
ReverendBeastly,

Thanks for posting those screenshots. That's disappointing. I had high hopes for this release.

If OCPmovie paced himself a bit more and overhyped his releases a little less, I think they would really shine.

That said, OCPmovie was a great inspiration for people, and his original Star Wars Classic Edition is actually the reason I found my way to originaltrilogy.com.
Post
#277712
Topic
The legendary "Starkiller Ranch" Thread
Time

marvolo:
The reason I didn't include anything of the birth of Vader is because I had keeping the "I am your father" revelation as best as possible in mind. I kind of like the first Darth Vader scene to be the part in Episode 4 where he bursts into the Tantive IV. I think that is a fantastic introduction scene.
....
I think it is kind of cool not to know what happens or even how he survives. In the next movie a new villian is introduced, and as time goes on we slowly learn it is actually Anakin.

I guess I just take it for granted that the big secret can't be preserved. Luke's last name kinda gives it away in my opinion.


marvolo:
The birth of Vader felt like a rushed CG fest to me. It is like Palps had an instant Vader maker lying around for just such an occasion. Throw in the half dead, charred body of a fallen comrade and presto! Out pops your very own Sith Lord! I just didn't like how he spends a few minutes on the table as a bunch of droids throw artificial appendages on him, and slip a leather suit right onto his freshly burnt and still melty skin. Then he stands up and everything is fine. I would have imagined months of rebuilding with some of the republics finest physicians.

Ha! This made me laugh. Yeah, it is kinda implausible, and the scene is probably meant to represent the passage of a LOT of time. Unfortunately, George got to the last half of Episode III and suddenly realized he still had to set up a whole bunch of stuff for the OT.


Musicman:
Thanks, to everybody! So are you thinking we should change the start of the "I Am the Senate" cue? That section from ESB does a rising string thing that would show that something's going down, but I don't know about the beginning of the IATS cue.

I really haven't started thinking about the music yet. I've been thinking that the video editing needs to come first, with the sound next, and the music last. Is that the wrong way to look at this?


Musicman:
I think all the Rebellion scenes should be reinserted like in ADM's cut.

Going from memory, I thought some of the Rebellion's scenes were weak, especially the one in Padme's apartment. They tend to be boring and uneventful.


Musicman:
Now I'm wondering what we want to do about the whole bank dialogue. I've heard other people talk about how it was rough to see Anakin burning up and having Obi-Wan yell at him at the same time. So we need to figure out what's going on with Obi-Wan. What's his thought process--does he have a thought process at this point, or is he just kind of snapping? He hasn't been able to get Anakin to stop, and he's just breaking under the strain. I don't know. I'm really not sure about it.

To me, Obi Wan is having a difficult moment where he has to come to terms with what he's been forced to do. He told Yoda this would be hard for him, and it is. He's probably still torn about whether he should help Anakin or finish him off. But then the lava makes his decision for him. That's really the reason I think he should wait to pick up the saber. If he's in the middle of this really emotional decision, is he gonna stop and say, "Oh, wait, let me pick up this saber".


Sluggo:
We sure have big plans for Trooperman's movie. I wonder if he knows...

Shh! Don't tell him until he's almost ready to release SOTDS.


Adywan:
I think the Maul/ Grievous idea could be pulled off by adding a couple of small scenes at the end of EP1. after the scene where Palpatine arrives there could be a small shot of a droid hovering over the pit where Maul fell and you see it go down or better still you see it emerging from the pit with the body of Maul, then cut to the obi-wan/yoda scene.

If this scene is in TPM, would we go a whole movie - AOTC - without hearing of Maul/Grievous again? That seems like a bit of a disconnect.


lth:
there's no reason, really, why Maul can't be called Maul in Ep1 and Grievous in Ep3.

This is another way to go. Some people were expecting it would happen like this in ROTS anyway. This way it's more of a surprise to the viewer and we have another "reveal" moment. Grievous can drop a few hints to Obi Wan - and to us - at the beginning of the movie. Then the truch comes out during the big fight, like Adywan suggests.
Post
#277541
Topic
The legendary "Starkiller Ranch" Thread
Time
OK. Lots of good stuff to reply to.

About Anakin's turn: I've also been thinking that Anakin's turn should happen in the Council chamber, with the aid of echo-y voiceovers to let us know what he's thinking about (heavy on the Palpatine dialog). Using some better "disturbed" music is a great idea too. Although Anakin's turn has been gradual, I think we still need a moment when it actually happens, DELIBERATELY. The music should really let the viewer know that, when he walks out of the room, he's made up his mind. Are there any long shots of Anakin in the chamber where we can add some Trooperman voice work, like "I can't let this happen"?

I know this is a little weak for the turn, but I don't see that we have much else.

(As an aside, we should play up Anakin's jealousy of Obi Wan and suspicion that he and Padme have a thing going on. The birth of the rebellion deleted scene where they meet with Palpatine is good for this).

OK. So when Anakin walks in on the Palpatine fight, he's already made up his mind about what he has to do. I'll use the "Jedi Confront Palpatine" clip (which I discovered was made by OT.com member Darkhelmet) as the basis of this:
Anakin walks in - long shot.
Mace: (to Palpatine) You have lost.
Anakin steps close.
Mace: I am going to end this once and for all.
Mace rears saber back.
Palpatine (voiceover): Anakin!
Anakin says "NO" and cuts off Mace's arm.
Palpatine fries Mace (and himself) and throws mace out the window.
After this, Anakin does not express any remorse or question himself.
(BTW, the whole Palpatine transformation thing is a mess. I think Darkhelmet handles it pretty well. It's not perfect, but it sorta works.)

Some more thoughts on the lava scene: After watching Marvolo and C3PX's clips, I thought they were both pretty good. However, something about the fades in C3PX's version felt a little weird. (Do we have any other fades in Star Wars?) In C3PX's clip, I did like the idea that we don't see the Emperor come and get Anakin. That always felt a little too mundane. Maybe after the shot of the hand grabbing the ground, we can see the shadow of the shuttle passing over.

I was struck by the lack of the Vader reconstruction. I think this is a very powerful moment that needs to stay in some form. (And let's keep the awesome "Lord Vader, RISE" from the trailer.)

I had another small edit idea for the lava scene. Obi Wan should stay "closer" the whole time he is talking and watching Anakin "die". Only after he thinks Anakin is dead (whether he is or not) does he starts walking up, PICKS UP THE SABER, and pauses at a higher level to look for a moment. A rotoscoped shot of a stationary "dead" Anakin can go here as Obi Wan looks on, and then he walks off as we get the wide shot that pulls away (obviously mute the Anakin wails).

Thoughts on Grievous/Maul: I think this is a good idea, IF it can be pulled off. If nothing else, it helps to give Episode I a little more meaning, and it reinforces Palpatine's obsession with keeping his apprentices alive in a mehcanical suit. The trick is to come up with some kind of scene in Episode II where Palpatine talks about or shows this. Maybe at the end on Coruscant when Palpatine is talking to Dooku and they are walking off, we can just cobble together some lines where Palpatine says something like "I have promising news of Darth Grievous. The Dark Side of the Force has restored him". Trooperman?

If we do this, should we have Dooku remain "Count Dooku" and not be Darth Tyranus? Sort of like he's working for Sidious, but not an "official" apprentice.

OK. That's enough for now.
Post
#277150
Topic
The legendary "Starkiller Ranch" Thread
Time
Originally posted by: stossmo
If I remember correctly erickstormtrooper made a new cut of the windu/palpatine duel that greatly improved it. The most notable of the edits was cutting away to anakin after palp's spinning leap forward to remove the s l o w stab that my grandmother could have blocked....


I didn't make that clip. Darkhelmet did. I do still have it hosted on my site:
http://www.erikstormtrooper.com/jedi_confront_palpatine.wmv

I do think it improves the scene.

Post
#277083
Topic
The legendary "Starkiller Ranch" Thread
Time
Who are the current members of the ranch? - and what are their roles?
As others have said, Commander Courage is the project leader. But let's not forget that after SOTDS is complete, Trooperman will lend *some* of his talent to us - if nothing else, his voice for Anakin in ROTS.

What we've really needed is a *committed* visual effects person, and Adywan has offered his awesome services after he's finished with his Episode IV. Since Trooperman was able to get a little help from TJdavis, he might be willing to pitch in for the rest of the Ranch's work (IIRC, TJdavis was our original effects person).

Erik, you're still in story and running the site, correct?
I like to consider myself the resident nitpicker, but others here might have different names for me And yes, I am running the website, but we haven't done that much with it lately.

At one point Trooperman's episode II edit was going to be the ranch Ep. II

Trooperman's work on SOTDS was the genesis of the Ranch. As far as I know, he is still part of the Ranch. He still uses the Starkiller Ranch logo in his trailers.

Are you guys actually doing all 6 films or rather tagging other works as 'ranch aproved'?


We've never discussed the "Ranch Approved" label. I confess I threw out the Adywan idea to see how people might react to it. I personally think ANH will require the least amount of tweaking anyway.

I thought ADM's (ROTS) dialogue was pretty good, but the voice could've been a bit quieter. It stood out just a bit.


I thought the dialog could have been a little better, but I realize the sources are limited. And I thought the Qui-Gon dialog after Yoda's confrontation with Palpatine was a little out of place.

Marvolo, I haven't had time to watch your video clip yet, but I will comment when I do.