LightningHunter

Just thought I’d pop in here and say I thoroughly enjoyed this edit. The whole thing flowed like smooth butter, and I couldn’t once tell where any cuts/addition had been made. Obviously credit goes to Hal9000 for the original edit, but this is definitely a step up.

When reading the log, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Rey’s eyes turning yellow, but it surprisingly worked very well. It also better explained why she was suddenly able to overcome the more skilled Kylo Ren - similar to how Luke Skywalker overcame Darth Vader in RoTJ. It also added some mystery and depth to her character. Like everyone else, I am NOT a fan of Rey being related to Palpatine, but if we are going to accept this fact, we may as well see it done right.

I also appreciate that some of the cringe jokes were removed without completely removing all the humor altogether. Some edits out there remove every funny piece of dialog until Star Wars has no humor left whatsoever. I’m glad this didn’t do that.

Again, thanks again for this great edit!

Jar Jar Bricks said:

Much agreed! Many people regard AoTC as one of the worst of the saga, and this edit brings it up to the middle of the pack I’d dare say.

The CGI looks a bit dated in some places, mostly that diner scene, which is why I’m personally glad that was trimmed up.

I think the only thing I might do at some point is insert Spence’s version of the Kenobi flashback at the beginning of the movie. There’s a little too much talking (politics, etc.) and not enough spectacle at the beginning of this movie compared to all the rest in the saga. I have an idea on how to de-age the voices that wasn’t previously available. The only reason I haven’t pursued this yet is because I’m waiting to see how PixelJoker’s Kenobi edit handles the scene. If I prefer how it’s implemented there, then I won’t put this in.

It’s funny, because I actually always really enjoyed Episode II minus the cringe scenes. Although the CGI is a bit dated now, the battle at the end is very well done. I’m also a huge fan of Count Dooku and all of his screen time (I only wish he had more of it). I’d almost dare to say this edit brings Episode II nearly to the level of Episode III (nearly, but not quite). The removal of all the slapstick scenes keeps up the pacing pretty well (especially with C3PO mostly gone at the end).

As I’ve gotten older, I definitely have more of an issue with Episode I more than anything else. It was awesome seeing the movie first come out when I was a kid, but all those slapstick/cartoonish scenes bring the whole movie down. The Cloak of Deception edit makes it 80% more watchable, but it’s definitely still the weakest link…

Since I now consider the Cloak of Deception my favorite version of Episode 1, I decided to watch the maximalist version of “The Approaching Storm”. I had never seen this version either, because I just like the lightsaber duel between Yoda and Dooku too much to have it cut. I definitely appreciate that you added it back in for the maximalist edition!

Anyway, I think this is my favorite edit from you, Hal. It is without a doubt the definitive version of Episode II for me. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but you somehow took away all the cringe love-scenes and created a legitimate love story. After watching this edit, I’m convinced George Lucas decided to cut all the best scenes between Anakin and Padme, and instead left in all the wrong scenes. Your version seemed like a simple love story. No more “I don’t like sand” or “I truly, deeply, love you”, or “I shouldn’t have done that” nonsense.

If I had to pick only one tiny scene I’d bring back, it would be the long version of the cafe scene (the Kamino dart). I don’t know why, but I find the atmosphere in that scene kind of comforting - but I’m sure there are plenty of people who disagree with me. Either way, this is the worlds smallest suggestion.

Fantastic job on this edit!

And just to be clear, I was never requesting that the force speed be added back in (only the part with the Droidekas), but I know it would be difficult to add back in that scene while still cutting the force speed. I just love the sound as well as the effects of the Droidekas firing in that sequence.

I do still think the cut is strange with Jar Jar when they meet the Gungans, but maybe I’m the only one who feels that way?

More than anything, I just feel something is missing without the intro of the Droidekas. They just have some awesome sounding lasers and the scene itself is well done. I actually couldn’t care less about the force running bit being cut.

As for the Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan scene, it’s not the end of the world for me that it’s missing, but I still feel like the transition is awkward with Jar Jar narrating. I just felt like the easiest way to fix that is to re-insert the Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon scene.

Octorox said:

For what its worth, I think that scene was removed with the thought that it would be more dramatically interesting if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan didn’t get to resolve their differences before Qui-Gon’s life is taken unexpectedly. It gives Obi-Wan more emotional baggage that he takes into training Anakin. This is a change that I think goes all the way back to the original Phantom Edit.

Got it. It sounds like one of those changes that appears to be good at first when all the fans get together and discuss it, but later seems kind of redundant (especially when nobody even remembers why it was changed). All of us have seen the movie enough times to fill in the blanks, so the scene where Qui-Gon is killed will have no more or less gravity with or without this scene. In the end, it just kind of leaves a gap with an awkward scene transition.

Jar Jar Bricks said:
This was removed because we need to remove the Force speed/teleport. This ability doesn’t show up anywhere else in Star Wars canon, and it introduces a plot hole when Obi-Wan is trying to catch up to Qui-Gon and Maul later on.

Thanks for the response. Mind you, this debate is over small things here, but I’ll bring up my counter argument nonetheless. Lol

I thought someone might bring up the super speed ability. Sure it might open up plot holes, but if you really think about it, there are a million other plot holes as is. Why pick on this particular one? For example, last night it occurred to me why Darth Maul didn’t just use a force push when Obi-Wan was hanging by a thread near the end. And why didn’t Yoda and the rest of the council join Obi-Wan and Qui-gon to face the possible Sith? The first Sith lord in who knows how long comes around, and they send two jedi while the rest sit around the council twiddling their thumbs. Wouldn’t they want to send their best? My only point here being that I don’t think every single potential plot hole needs to be dealt with. I’d rather just the cringe scenes be removed (and they have been). Besides that, haven’t you seen this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3dI-ghYimg

This is a scene which I do think could be hypothetically reinstated. I don’t know enough of the history of this edit as for why it was initially removed, but if I had to take a guess, it’s probably because of Obi-Wan’s bad wig and also because it foreshadows Qui-Gon’s death too much. Characters don’t talk like this unless something bad is about to happen lol.

I think this scene is a pretty hefty loss just to speed up the pace a bit. And I don’t think we need to consider foreshadowing when all of us here know how Star Wars ends anyway (and lets face it; there are no surprise endings to be found in the prequels). But maybe that’s just me! I do think this scene is the only poorly edited scene in this whole fan edit, though.

As for the other scenes I brought up, those aren’t even worth debating since they aren’t that big of a deal to me. This is still an amazing edit. Haha

I avoided this fanedit for a long time until recently discovering the Max version. I know it sounds petty, but I actually really like the underwater scene enough to avoid edits that remove it.

Anyway, great job on this edit, Hal9000. I thought I’d note a few pros and requests (rather than cons):

What I loved:
-Your rendition of the final battle is definitely the best around. I didn’t notice any awkward moments or cuts. Anakin seems like he didn’t just blow everything up by mistake, and I enjoyed that. Maybe one day AI can change his “take that!” line into something like, “hey, there’s the reactor!”, but you can’t have it all right?
-I like the new background behind C-3PO. It surprisingly works well, and the new scenes fit right in. For once, C-3PO was not annoying.
-Most of the annoying lines/scenes I hate had in fact been cut, and this is a good thing. I didn’t miss any of the content that had been cut with Jar Jar.
-At the same time, I am happy you kept just a little bit of the humor in. Some edits cut EVERY scene that make the Jedi imperfect and/or humorous, and I feel this is unnecessary.
-The quality of the edit as a whole is amazing. Thank you for not adding grain like some other edits do!

Requests:
-I miss the first scene with the Droidekas at the start of the movie. With this scene absent, there is no introduction to these droids. When they appear later, their destructive power has not been established and it feels like it should have been. I also like this scene in general and didn’t know anyone disliked it. Could I request that it be reinstated to the max edition?
-I’m also confused why the scene was cut in which Jar Jar comes out of the water saying the Gungans aren’t there. I don’t remember any annoying antics with Jar Jar there. The new edit of this scene is awkward with Jar Jar’s voice talking while the screen pans over to the Gungan sacred place (it suddenly seems like Jar Jar is narrating the film).
-I’m surprised you kept the annoying Jar Jar shout and leap into the water near the start of the movie, but I suppose I can overlook that one!
-I’m also surprised the scene was kept in which Jar Jar juggles the booma and accidentally kills a droid on the tank, but I guess if you were to cut that the battle scene would become too short and potentially awkward…
-I sort of wish even more of the underwater scene was reinstated (the part with the giant eel in the cave), but at the same time I also hate all the antics with Jar Jar here, so I’m sure it would be VERY difficult to edit him out and keep that scene at all…

Anyway, thanks again for an awesome edit! I’d say this is my personal favorite for Phantom Menace.

Edit: As for the scene with the Gungans, I also realized the conversation between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon was cut. This also feels like a loss to me. I think this scene is necessary as a conclusion to the conversation that took place at the Jedi Council. It shows the bond between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Without this scene, there is less gravity behind Qui-Gon’s death. It also shows the compassion Obi-Wan has for Qui-Gon and how he is willing to overlook his faults because of it. It ties everything together between the master and the padawan.