JasonN

About 95% of the EP1 segment is finished, just some additional edits and tweaks are left (as well as rendering a new title crawl).

I'm very much satisfied with how the V2 cut is turning out over the original V1, especially with the first chapter and new scenes and audio edits which gets the story much closer to what I originally wanted the fanedit to be. The EP1 part of the edit now features:

- NO GUNGAN BATTLE SCENES: the audience only sees them line up and form their shields while the droid tanks fire away; after that scene, we never see the Gungans again (which is appropriate, considering that they're only a "diversion force" for Padme's group and space fighters

- many more scenes of the Naboo space fighters battling (and winning) against the TF Droid control ship

- Padme and her group outwitting and capturing the TF Viceroy

This is a preview video from the new V2 cut of my 3-in-1 Prequel edit Shadows of the Old Republic, but I'm including the video here as well because it includes an example of redubing the analysis droid from the deleted "Dart Analysis" scene of AOTC, which rewrites the toxic dart into something different and has the droid giving Obi-Wan info about the planet Kamino instead of Dex (just skip to 1:30 of the video for the scene):

http://www.vimeo.com/8643554

New preview from the beginning of the EP2 chapter which includes my new redub of the analysis droid from the deleted "Dart Analysis" scene, which rewrites the toxic dart in a type of explosive device called a "dredlink detenator" (which was used to asassinate Queen Corde Amidala) and had the droid tell Obi-Wan that it originates from the specialists on Kamino:
http://www.vimeo.com/8643554

EDIT: I just realized after I finished uploading the video to Vimeo that the final line of the droid ("Thank you for your time, Master Kenobi") sounded a little odd - I'll change the end dialogue to something different tomorrow like "I hope I was of service to you, Master Kenobi" or something like that.

vaderios said:

yeah.

I fix this long time ago. In fact i dont remember who asked me to use my mockup to his edit . 

 

It was me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuKJyL5vFyM

The EP2 and EP3 chapters have been finalized with all the cuts/edits in place and runs close to 2 hours long, but I'll be giving it another editing pass sometime in the next few days (the only major edit that needs to be done for EP2 is to finish up the analyst droid's new voice for the deleted "Dart Analysis" scene, so that the 'dart' is now a type of detenator used to kill Queen Corde Amidala and the droid tells Obi-Wan that it originates from the planet Kamino). I've also been able to refine additional scenes which I wasn't able to previously using new audio skills that I've obtained, including having Anakin finally refer to Owen as his brother (using audio taken from Anakin's "Huttese" greeting to Watto, who's never seen or heard from in this edit, and new subtitles for Anakin) and Yoda stating to Mace that Dooku has joined the Dark Side when Obi-Wan reports the Separatists Army to Palpatine and other senators.

The EP1 chapter is about 1/3 done and is taking longer to finish as it's the main part of the original fanedit that I felt needed to be improved the most in terms of pacing and editing: new edits to the first chapter include NO Jar Jar Binks whatsoever (he's been 100% removed from the story), additional dialogue between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon at the beginning, reinserting the scene between Queen Amidala and Senator Palpatine before they visit the Senate, and more scenes of the Naboo space ships fighting against the Trade Federation control ship.

For those that have never seen my previous SOTOR cut, here's a preview of the end of EP2 and the story transition into EP3:
http://www.vimeo.com/8626559

The V2 "Color-Corrected" DVD-9 release of Star Wars: Attack of the Federation is now available. :)

A few minor updates:

- tried looking into giving the Trade Federation a possible "alien language" (since they're not in many scenes in this edit, unlike my Prequel edit trilogy), but it's looking like a "No-Go".... I'm pretty limited as to what 5.1 audiotracks I have for SW DVDs (only the English track on the R1 DVD is 5.1) and I don't want to use alternative audio tracks from other fanedits like the MagnoliaFan edit because the alien language audio mixes that they used/created are so damn bad and choppy to me that I feel there's no way that I could make a proper 5.1 surround mix from them.

- I'm back on the fence on using the deleted "Obi-Wan/Mace" scene from EP2 and I'm probably not going to use it in SOTOR - one of the things that I originally liked about this edit was the idea that Obi-Wan and Anakin really didn't know each other until the Clone Wars and that Anakin only became his pupil when it began (most of this deleted is spent on Obi-Wan and Mace talking about Anakin, which doesn't really make much sense if he's not Obi-Wan's student at that point of the story)

- as I said before, I am keeping Leia's birth at the ending of this edit as Luke's twin (unlike my Prequel trilogy) - however, unlike Luke, I will not include her being named by Padme.

- in the deleted scene of Bail Organa and Mon Mothma discussing the Loyalists with Padme and other senators, I've given a slight pitch shift to Mon Mothma's voice to make her sound a bit younger (I never understood why Lucas didn't make her seem younger in these scenes than what she was in ROTJ...)

Ghost said:

Good points Akwat Kbrana.

I think the ending is powerful and can be made more powerful if edited correctly.

Padmes death sequence when it zooms in on the necklace was a very symbolic, emotional sequence.  This to me was the best part of the ending.

I didnt care much about the Alderaan droping Leia off sequence, but that could potentially be taken out by Adywan to keep the mystery of Luke and Leia's relationship until ROTJ.

 

Overall, ROTS has the best storyline and gives Ady alot more to work with rather than TPM and AOTC. 

Yes, TPM is most like the OT, but who cares, it won't be made into that good of a movie.  Unless Ady has a secret plan. hmm...

 

Because of course, only Adywan can save the damn Prequels....

(I'm not putting Adywan or his skills down whatsoever... I just find it so fricken hysterical of these people that believe that he's the only editor out there who can properly edit the SW Prequels into the great "dream come true" movies that everyone desired the Prequels films to be... especially when you consider that there are dozens of edits already out there by numerous editors and that they've all proven that no single edit of the Prequels will be universally accepted by all as the best, since each person has his/her own ideas as to what constitutes as a "Star Wars" movie)

As for Episode 1... all I can say is that I'm very satisfied with my own  Attack of the Federation fanedit of it and no review of TPM (no matter how many great points that it makes about the original film) can change my opinon of my edit or that its become my favorite of the Prequel stories because (as Akwat Kbrana said) it does genuinely feel the most like a Star Wars movie to me than either AOTC or ROTS ever did.

bilditup1 said:

This was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and the review was right on the money to boot. I even added it to my sig. 

The dude's voice, btw, is hilarious. It's like Signor Cardgage from H*R...just some amazing filmmaking yo. I hope RLM does something like this for Eps II, III and ROTJ...they all deserve this treatment (though not as harshly).

I beg to differ - both AOTC and ROTS were just as horrible and f**ked-up as TPM (although neither would ever be as hyped/anticipated as EP1 was).

Currently on vacation for the holidays, so I'm away from my workstation and unable to physically work on any edits. However, here's more of my thoughts for the V2 cut of SOTOR:

EP1 Chapter
I'll be using the color-corrected video files from my recent V2 of AOTF edit (I just wish the film of EP1 wasn't so damn grainy....)


EP2 Chapter - new changes
1. I'm definitely looking into using the "Droid Analysis" deleted scene - from the work on my more recent edits, I've learned a lot about rebuilding and remaking sountracks, so I'd love to replace the droid's voice and dialogue so that I can change the "toxic dart" into a part of the device that blew up Queen Corde Amidala's ship.
(and if I can include that scene, I'll also be including the "Jedi Library" scene from my EP2 fanedit)

2. Looking into using the delete scene of Obi-Wan and Mace - it does add more charactization to both Obi-Wan and Mace, plus it gives a bit more information on Anakin and how Obi-Wan sees that maybe training him too young has led to his young apprentice becoming a bit arrogant.

3. Not sure if I also want to include the scene of Anakin talking to Padme in her apartment before they leave to Naboo, but if I do, I'll probably keep it the same as I edited it in my EP2 Twilight of the Republic fanedit.


EP3 Chapter - new changes
1. I DO want to give Yoda a purple lightsaber, which would again serve (as it did in my Prequel trilogy) as a visual symbol that both he and Mace are on the highest level of the Jedi Order (plus then Mace wouldn't be the only one to have a purple lightsaber in the story)

As for Dooku.... I'm still not sure fully sure about it, but I'm probably gonna keep the character a Sith for this fanedit - unlike my EP2 and Ep3 fanedits, we never really learn much about Dooku in the story of SOTOR and turning him into a rouge Jedi like he was in my Twilight of the Republic edit only complicates the story more than it needs to be.

Absolutely hilarious review from my favorite online critic of the infamous TV special:

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/15087-swchr

RATLSNAKE said:

When he's actually covering what's wrong with TPM it's really good.  Although I found myself chuckling at times, in a Family Guy/South Park manner, this would be a much better review, and serious video to boot, if he'd left out his "black comedy".

That's really the major issue that bothers me about this review, which is unfortunate because apart from that aspect, his review of TPM is great and he brings up many (and I mean MANY) excellent points on the film.

Kind of a sidenote, but regarding Confused Matthew and his reviews, I've actually been putting together an edit of his SW Prequel reviews that merges them together into one giant review of the series and uses video from the films in place of the still images that CM used.

Ghost said:

So I hope this review really makes Lucasfilm feel like totall crap, and I hope they take this review as a guidline to making a their SE.

That's never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER going to happen.....

Why, you may ask?

Because George Lucas and Lucasfilms don't give a f***ing sh*t what that guy or any of us think of their films - as long as Lucas is happy with his "vision", the importance of the audience's opinion doesn't amount to a barrel of donkey d***s.

You think that just because Lucas is making a CG Yoda for TPM, that he's listening to what the TPM audiences are complaining about? That's utter garbage. Remember when we all complained repeatedly about the bullsh*t that he pulled with the '97 SE and what does he give us with the 2004 SE? Even more bullsh*t changes! Then when we complained even more, they said ok, we'll give you the original SW films.... with a complete sh*tty transfer, inferior audio/video quality, and the only way to buy it was to have to get it with the 2004 SE along with it.   -_-

If there is ever a SE of the Prequels put out, it's more than probable that they won't be any changes to correct/improve the films, but just Lucas adding in more stupid-sh*t subplots that aren't needed or focus on crappy characters like Jar Jar or more terrible CG elements or characters being reintegrated in the story where they're not needed at all.

Ghost said:

The SE wasn't that bad.  The new Mos Eisly was a good idea, but the Rontos had no business being there. 

The Greedo was the only really no dought bad change.  He did good with the windows in Cloud City.

You're forgetting about the new "Han meets with Jabba" scenes that he added (which was pretty damn terrible and featured a god-awful CG Jabba the Hutt).

ferris209 said:

Alright, just finished watching the entire 70 minute presentation. Yeah, some of the humor is odd and could be left out, but it does help to lift the spirits in parts. Such as in the end, when he is regaling how great ANH was compared to the stagnant TPM, I couldn't help but feel very depressed and saddened that a part of my childhood had been shit on. Then that pizza roll popped up and kind of reminded me that "eh, it's just a movie in the end and no real vital part of your life". So, yeah, the humor is appropriate at times.

Which is why I thank god that I first saw the Star Wars trilogy when I was in middle school and that it wasn't the great cinematic part of my childhood experience (that honor belongs to The Dark Crystal and other works by Jim Henson).

Ghost said:

Can you think of any good movies off the top of your head with no main character? 

Off the top of my head:

- Seven Samurai

- the first 2/3rds of Alien (until Ripley was the only one left)

- Pulp Fiction

- Terminator 2 was always a bit questionable for me (although I suppose you could argue that John was central to the story, I never really saw him as the main/central character)

- Dawn of the Dead (the original 1978 film - not the 2004 remake)

Ghost said:

If anything after watching the basics of how a movie should be made, ROTS actually has alot of promise.  It has a good plot to work off of.  It has the best acting of the PT, and it has a main character.

Who is also one of the most poorly conceived, terribly written, and flawedly-executed protagonists ever put down to film...

(on a serious note, who really give a sh*t whether or not a story has a main or central character? Not all narratives need to have a primary protagonist to fill in as the audience's surrogate in order to be good)

For the V2 release of EP3 (since I'm redoing all my Prequel edits to have better video and aspect ratio), I'm giving a slight extension to the "Dooku Duel" sequence by adding back his "I sense great fear in you, Skywalker" speech (the only line that I cut is his final line).

I haven't rotoscoped his lightsaber for the extended shots yet, but it will be purple in the final version:
http://www.vimeo.com/8269951 

Bingowings said:

There is so much so wrong with episodes I, II, III and IV and that the only thing you can hold between them is what does work.

Episode IV? Isn't that supposed to be the original Star Wars?
;P

vaderios said:

See this (short) review and make yout conclusions ;)

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/17/watch-this-70-minute-video-review-of-star-wars-the-phantom-menace/

He does bring up some very good points and critisisms... but I get very tired on his need to belittle and insult people that happen to like EP1  - yes, it's certainly is a "flawed as sh*t" movie , but it's definitely not the worse film of the SW series.

Plus, his attempts at "dark" humor are worse than Carlos Mencia's standup act.  -_-

More preview pics:

darthmunky said:

Shouldn't TPM CG Yoda look 10 years younger than the AOTC Yoda?

For an 800+ year old alien... what's a decade or two?
:P

doubleofive said:

Here is a nice comparison:

I think the I-SE's head may be off just a hair.  And VI looks almost as dumb as I.  Maybe he really was getting old, and his right eye broke in the year between V and VI.

Other issues that I've noticed with the CG Yodas:
- they have no chin (ESB Yoda has a very pronounced "clef-chin")

- the eyebrow ridge seems closer to the eyes

- they don't have lips, or rather, they seem to have no lower lip (ESB Yoda's lower lip is a bit fuller)

Some preview pics of the V2 "Color-Corrected" release of my Attack of the Federation fanedit (which removes the DVD video's red/magenta hue and give a bit of a boost to the brightness/contrast of the video):

Rendering the video for the 2.0 DVD of AOTF right now - my CC to the film includes a Color-Corrector to remove the red/magenta hue to the DVD video and a slight Curves filter to give a bit of a boost to the brightness/contrast. Here's some previews screenshots: