Hal 9000

Replying here to something from the general thread because it’s relevant and something to consider for this project.

RogueLeader said:

Here are some of the ideas I had written down.

Some thoughts on the Kijimi sequence: Kijimi in Revolt, 3PO’s Irreversible Sacrifice, and Poe’s Past.

• Add details to Kijimi to establish that it is revolting.
• Add graffiti to one of the walls of the Kijimi streets. Rebel symbol, crossed-out stormtrooper helmet, or Luke posing like the original Star Wars poster, with lightsaber overhead.
• While they’re sneaking around, add civilian protest shouts in the distance, maybe something like, “For Skywalker!” Maybe then we could hear blaster shots or an explosion.

Do we have any concept art or anything for the graffiti that was to be painted on Coruscant for DOTF? Perhaps simply (ha!) tracking and comping that onto some wall someplace could be a nice hint at a suppressed sense of rebellion. (Can’t tell from memory but maybe the wall Poe is up against during some of the long shot of him scouting the area after landing on Kijimi.)

RogueLeader said:

Making the Dagger an Ancient Artifact

• In order to make the dagger distinctly ancient, redub Red-Eyed 3PO to give a new translation of the dagger. Instead of giving the exact coordinates, the new translation instructs the wielder to hold the dagger and embrace the darkness it holds. If they accept this “test”, the dagger will show them the way.
• Cut Finn saying, “The Endor system? Isn’t that where the last war ended?” This will be pushed to later. They don’t have time to react to the translation, because the First Order shows up.
• After Rey senses the dagger on the ship, cut Poe asking why they need it, and Rey saying, “A feeling.” The new translation makes it clear that they need the dagger to find the Wayfinder.
• When Rey picks up the dagger and stares at it, she begins hearing whispers/screams and eventually sees a quick glimpse of the Death Star ruins. Kylo Ren interrupts her right after this moment. (This would tie in well to the whispers guiding her to vault on the Death Star, as Ascendant currently has it.)
• At the beginning of the scene with Rey and Finn fixing the Falcon, add a part of Finn’s earlier line, “The Endor system? Where the last war ended?” (Either sentence, both likely won’t fit). Rey continues “All that matters is finding the Wayfinder. Finding Exegol.” Adding the line here helps clarify that Rey told them about her vision of the Death Star after they regrouped, and now they are heading there.

That dagger redub idea is great! You seem to have thought of its implications and addressed these. It’d help sell the mystical dagger idea for sure. I’m sure someone around here could record and process the lines. It won’t be authentic Anthony Daniels, though of course it was distinctly different from his usual voice. I would say ideally someone could do a fair impression of 3PO’s Sith voice and process it, matching the tone and substance of the original performance. (Attempt to match it but it need not be perfect since it’d be the only occurrence of the voice.) It’d be a tough job, though, because the audience’s ears will perk up to really take in the unique moment and attend closely to the delivery and sound design.

But man, that could be glorious.

EDIT: Responding in the Ascendant thread.

I agree. Let’s try to seed ideas that aren’t in service to an already established Ascendant goal to the general thread. I promise I will still see it there.

To comment on the recent idea from JJB here: I don’t see the point of making a change to Kylo’s line, and it drains all feeling from it. I don’t think so.

Yeah, lol. I remember mistakenly thinking that in TFA the child’s voice coming from Maz’s basement was the younglings that saber had slaughtered.

Palpatine speaks German, but only in TROS. Also 3PO when he recites the dagger inscription.

I will say that it seems the way 3PO words things means nothing of minute importance gets lost by removing those lines. My concern was that it could lead to the audience wondering why he is able to translate the inscription by memory. However, he clearly implies that he could translate it were it not for the imposed limit. And later he says that the inscription “lives… in my memory”.

That said, I don’t really think it’s a necessary change, though it does trim the overt silliness of the moment. I dunno, might be worthwhile to just make the harmless trim.

I really don’t care to modify the Sith language thing. And Episode I wouldn’t factor into it for me; it’s not like Anakin programmed C-3PO, he just fixed him up or assembled things. When a kid builds a PC he doesn’t program the firmware or OS, he just cobbles together the parts.

Interesting. One of my oldest Internet usernames going back to childhood was “plutoneam,” a misspeling of plutonium.
I was… y’know, a kid.

“I am a regular, dumb kid.”

Dude, I’ve been writing your name as NeverArGreat for years now, and I see its really NeverarGreat.

Someone’s trying out the NeverAr(gue) principle, I see.

I think the “story of rebellion” line is still in there.

Oh, wait, I’m thinking of “so falls the last Skywalker.” Yeah, the rebellion line had to go due to the dramatic ghost appearance. Now Palpatine seems to launch an attack in defiance of the ghosts more than out of apparent confidence.

It’s hard to imagine that really working in practice from a fan editing perspective.

And man, looking forward to any puppet stuff. No one needs to hurt themselves doing the audio work; I am confident it’ll be very doable once I have time to dedicate to it.

Oh and I admit, sherlock, that mockup’s got a few things going for it. I like having Rey collapse after the showdown and losing the “crush enemies with ROCKS! Yeah, THE LIGHT SIDE OF THE FORCE BITCHES!” moment.

However, I still just don’t think it works overall in the big picture. I’m sorry, I swear I don’t have it out for you or anything!

I’ll make a point of it when I can get back to it, but I’m afraid that time has to go to personal stuff first right now. But I’m confident it shouldn’t be all that difficult to nestle that audio into the scene. It’s okay if a little of the original bleeds in since there’s a huge crowd around.

Yeah! That’s what I meant. Totally.

I was really thinking of Luke thinking in terms of wasting time and having an “I can’t do it” attitude.

Eyepainter said:

Take all of Luke’s character traits from TLJ and apply them to Luke from the original trilogy for consistency.

It’s called Dagobah.

jarbear said:

Can the X wing shot be removed completely?

No way, man. That’s an extremely effective shot to communicate where Luke’s been, building on imagery from ESB.

Maybe he’s got Lobot’s head in a jar in the trunk. When he hears screaming, he knows he’s got a voicemail.

NeverarGreat said:

It gives me a certain sense of power realizing that I could probably propose changing just about any single line in this movie and watch the ensuing battle as people slowly realize all over again that thinking about the line for more than a minute shatters the illusion of the film’s world.

ZORII: Night raids are going to start soon. I’ll keep lookout.

Thinking about removing this, seems superfluous or something…

NeverarGreat said:

It gives me a certain sense of power realizing that I could probably propose changing just about any single line in this movie and watch the ensuing battle as people slowly realize all over again that thinking about the line for more than a minute shatters the illusion of the film’s world.

lol, ouch. Painfully accurate.

Also, JJB, that’s a good observation that it was a “sent” transmission. Even so, he probably just means because Rey will see her in person.

Okay, let’s back up here. At first blush it seems like a harmless removal but it seems to fit into the scene. Finn asks “how’d you find us” to set up Lando’s first unmasked line, which implies an understanding that this person was looking for them, which only makes sense with the Leia line.
Given that the movie removes the justification for Lando being there, losing his child, the Leia line has something to offer.

I don’t think the tension building thing really matters in this context. I get the point on paper but this scene as we have it, I don’t think it matters.

I apologize, sherlock, but I’m going to leave this little bit alone. It seems like the best call to make, granted that Lando as presented in this movie could’ve been done better.

Thanks to all for the discussion, and I feel we’ve all expressed our opinions about it by now. Worth considering, at the very least.

I’ll admit it’s a fair point I hadn’t considered, though.

Hmm. I hadn’t even considered Lando might not have just been there. One thing that implies as much is his confidence in saying “it’s out in the desert where he left it,” like he sees it regularly or at least has recently.

Help me understand. How does that line improve Lando’s character? He’d be there regardless. The only difference is whether Leia texted him to let him know they’d be in his neck of the woods.

And removing the line establishing Leia knew where he was doesn’t require us to believe in a huge coincidence, either. They’re tracing Luke’s steps by being there, which is the same event that leads Lando to be there. Leia didn’t call to tell him to go there or anything in any version.

And it doesn’t make any difference in terms of why they’d choose to follow the stranger, as the line doesn’t come until after they’ve all followed him into the trailer home.

JEDIT: You’re saying that line lets you suppose maybe Lando got a call from Leia and that’s why he is on that planet at that point in time?

I agree, however I think the viewer would include what I described once they learn what Luke was really doing.

I guess it’s about time for another “where are we” post. By my records, here’s everything currently outstanding. Things that, if they were suddenly all turned in, I would begin encoding:

• Sherlockpotter’s idea to remove Lando line “Leia sent me a transmission” (I just haven’t done it yet)

• Depict Kylo’s TIE with a different color stripe after his first one gets blowed up (poppasketti working on it)

• Have Rey’s saber sputter or crap out a little at end of DSII duel (Movies Remastered working on)

• Have both sabers spark and smoke like it’s Friday night after Palpatine gets blowed up (Movies Remastered working on, or perhaps is finished)

• Pasaana puppet show with Luke being a legend (snooker and/or RogueLeader filming and compositing elements - will also need a vocal dub to replace the one or two lines with something about Skywalker)

• Remaining footage of the crackly blue saber (I believe Movies Remastered is helming the shots that weren’t already done by kewlfish or Luka Frik)

• Fixed Jedi haircut footage from jonh to then be run through by NeverAr for regrading

So clearly there’s still several things outstanding but they are being tracked and will all come together in time. For the thousandth time, you’re all awesome and it’s an ongoing privilege to steer us along.