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Mrebo

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20-Mar-2011
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13-Feb-2025
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Post
#1470244
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

You have an impressive knack for organization and attention for detail. Putting all that together was no mean feat. I agree with your observations on Jar Jar. I think if only he was a real character he would have been much less jarring.

The Gungan religion explanation was such a cheap way to get him to tag along. I’m having the life debt be Qui-Gon’s assertion and Boss Nass presumably goes along with it because Jar Jar is a burden. I like your ideas for actually giving him a personality.

Post
#1470042
Topic
The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

I think it helps greatly if we know that Shmi is no longer a slave. As difficult as it is for Anakin to try to forget about her, it’s more palatable if he knows she is free. I’d have this done in TPM and she is left behind because the Jedi don’t make allowances for parents tagging along. Qui-Gon gives a disapproving look and Shmi gets it and says, “my place is here. My future is here. It is time for you to let go.”

In AOTC I’d leave it implied that Anakin went back at least once, knows the Lars and plausibly had a conversation in years past with Owen about staying. So we would cut Watto in this telling.

I think the story is stronger if Anakin simply can’t let go of his mother even when she is relatively safe. Adopting Peter Pan’s idea to make it more explicitly the Jedi’s fault helps too. Especially with all of Anakin’s ranting about Obi-Wan holding him back which feels out of left field in the movie as is.

I don’t know if it might be cut so the line, “Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you. You’ve made a commitment to the Jedi order…” applies to his dreams about his mother.

Post
#1469958
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

littlev87 said:

On the topic of changing Jar Jar dialog

Honestly, these might be the best redubs I’ve ever seen. Also, I love how Jar jar is now a completely different character but his vocals still match the physical performance. I have posted this before in other threads, but I try to get these videos as much exposure as possible. I would love if the community could convince this guy to finish the dub for the whole movie. Unless of course, someone has a link to his complete edit, if it exists. Maybe I’m crazy but I think these dubs are phenomenal, and fix the biggest annoyance to watching this movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58yrGVFDHc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDs0Y4krCqI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FRqQt7N4q0

Those are fun and well done. Works for him to have an accent from down under 😛 I think that’s the right direction, to make him basically an opportunist. His opportunism takes him to the galactic senate, as a sort of mirror image and facilitator of Palpatine. I’m not sure how I feel about him being clumsy with Boss Nass’s wife…

Post
#1469944
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

RogueLeader said:

Nemoidians and Sidious

I know I just mentioned being careful about cutting too much and making the movie too short, but if I were to want to cut any scenes, I think I would cut a lot of the scenes between Nute Gunray and Darth Sidious. There’s a few reasons for doing this. 1) I feel like the pacing just halts every time we cut back to what the bad guys are doing. 3) It feels like a lot of information is repeated in other scenes. 2) I actually think it would serve the narrative more if we kept the Sith’s involvement in the plot as mysterious as we can. I actually wonder how much it would actually hurt the movie if we cut all of Sidious’ scenes. Would it be better if the actual phantom menace was a figure only alluded to in the first film? I’m sure there are edits that have already done this. We are talking about the most fan-edited film in history, after all.

Agree with your on those scenes. I don’t know how it would work to remove them all - I don’t know if there’s a need to explain Neimoidians trying to kill Jedi. If one kept maybe only the Coruscant balcony scene (removing lines about going after the queen) and Maul, that would help it feel like a separate threat focused on the Jedi. You’ve got me thinking about removing the scene where they tell Sid the queen has escaped. One problem I have with that scene is the virtual introduction of Maul. My current edit of the scene removes Maul and replaces Neimodian dialogue from elsewhere (https://streamable.com/6fhf7m). But you’re right the scene doesn’t add much/anything.

That opening shot of the ships around Naboo might be used instead for a return shot, not that it explains how the heroes land undetected.

I’m right there with you on most of what you wrote. Would help so much to be able to make Jar Jar speak more normally. I don’t think I had payed attention to Portman’s poor performance before. The scene with her speaking with Jar Jar on the ship is useful and shows him being more normal but her acting there is so bad. It almost felt like that first shot of her speaking was shot later it’s so disconnected.

Anakin

Not a lot to say about Anakin that hasn’t already been done, but there is one idea I recall regarding how Anakin gets connected with Qui-Gon and company. This was an idea I had back years ago, but I’m pretty sure the Phantom Editor also mentions in his commentary having this edit when he did his edit, but decided to not go with it. Basically, the idea would be that you would replace Jar Jar getting accosted by Sebulba, with Qui-Gon seeing Anakin in a fight and breaking it up. This deleted scene originally takes place after the pod race, and the Rodian thinks Anakin cheated at the pod race, but if you could assume they are just talking about a game they were playing. One benefit is that it would help you avoid another of Jar Jar’s goofy antics, and it also lets you see another side of Anakin that we mostly see as sweet and innocent. I think one of the reasons he didn’t use it was because of the quality of the scene, but perhaps there is a better quality version of the scene available now.

On the other hand, I do like Mrebo’s idea for the scene, which gives Anakin a little extra agency. Maybe you could use both ideas, since you would need to invent a way for Anakin to pair back up with the others (unless you just assumed Anakin caught up with them after Watto let him leave).

I’m having Watto tell Anakin to follow them after they leave the shop, which adds to showing Watto as a minor villain and Anakin a good natured kid when he basically forgets he’s supposed to be a spy. That works if you want to leave out Jar Jar’s snack.

Feels weird to talk about edit ideas that have been discussed for the past twenty years…

Yes but a welcome opportunity 😄 While there cannot be a single edit to satisfy everyone, I can imagine that if there was an organized effort, a very good compromise edition could be done. Like the Corridor Digital team but focused solely on editing each movie, different people doing sound, effects, color, etc.

Post
#1469682
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

EddieDean said:

Guiguioh said:

CaptainFaraday said:

Two things I’d never realised until reading Eddie’s plot summary:

  • Why does Sidious want to invade Naboo? Why the fixation on recapturing Padme?
  • When exactly do Padme and the decoy switch places? She introduces herself to everyone as “Padme” when she’s pretending to be a handmaiden; do people not know that’s Queen Amidala’s first name?

1- Because the original plan was to get her to sign the treaty ( Palp thought she was young so easy to scare) to legitimize the occupation and create sympathy for him in the Senate so he could use it to win the next election ( Valorum had less than a year left on his mandate.) He never expected that Amidala would find her way to Coruscant. He just adapted after that and he got what he wanted even quicker. The old EU cover that story pretty well ( Cloak of Deception )

2- Amidala is a persona. Every queen of Naboo get one. Nobody knows Padme Naberrie is the queen of Naboo apart from a few selected people. Padme is just one of the handmaiden for the casual personnel. Canon book Queen’s Peril cover that in details. The first switch with Sabe in TPM as the decoy is just before they get captured (black dress.)

Thanks for this, I needed both points clarified too. Is it actually made explicit in the movie that Palpatine is from Naboo? It’s implied in the dialogue, but I don’t think it’s spelt out. Shame that the Amidala persona thing isn’t in the movie though.

I couldn’t recall either and had to search the script just now. Valorum says “The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo.” And Palpatine says “our planet”/“our people” when speaking to Amidala.

Point 1 is something I’ve been confused about but I see what you’re saying Faraday.

Post
#1469623
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

EddieDean said:

I completely agree. I think a lot can be preserved if it’s given the right context and the movie is paced well. A far more interesting opening would be an invasion (which we actually get to see the impact of), with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sent to Theed specifically to rescue the Queen, rather than to the belligerents to settle things diplomatically.

One idea I had to remedy the problem of them showing up with Jar Jar, could be to have him already be established as their local guide who helped them navigate the city to reach the Queen. By his following canon appearance he’s become a Junior Representative to the Naboo delegation - specifically a (junior) politician intended to bridge the divide between Coruscant and Naboo, and therefore a perfectly sensible person to serve as local knowledge for two Jedi Knights sent to Naboo to rescue the Queen. So what if he’s already in that role during the Phantom Menace? It wouldn’t conflict with his poor relations with the other Gungans, either, and it would explain him continuing to travel with the Jedi/Padmé party better than just sticking around as he does in the movie. And doing all of this could unlock a trimmed opening that starts on the action where the plot really starts, with the Queen’s street rescue, the hangar breakout, and the blockade attack. That could easily feel like an intro which leads neatly into Act One, the discovery of Anakin - and there are plenty of expository scenes off Naboo which could give the audience that information even once they’ve left the planet.

Edit: Hell, you could even start with them travelling in the bongo then arriving to rescue the Queen, since the characters really introduce themselves to each other then. Then you’d get to see Jar Jar guiding the Jedi through some ‘secret underwater passages’ to traverse the planet without detection from the occupying army, demonstrating that local knowledge.

Good thoughts. I’ve taken the battle droid dialogue (trimmed down) about searching for hidden underwater villages and put it in the mouth of the droid captain in the tank right before we see Qui Gon running. It fills in why they have landed so far from the cities and makes finding Jar Jar feel less random. In addition to trimming Jar Jar forcing himself upon them, one might cut from “Wesa goen underwater, okeyday” to them in the bongo rather than swimming.

Darth Sadifous said:

I personally would like to see the inclusion or even mention of Dooku in The Phantom Menance to better connect Episode I and Episode II. I believe this would really help sell his history with Qui Gon Jinn and make a larger impact on Attack of the Clones when we see he has left the Jedi Order and is working in opposition of the Republic.

Perhaps digitally add him to the council scenes (does not need to talk) or even have him look on as an attendant at Qui Gon’s funeral. It latter could also be a subtle hint at him be Maul’s successor as apprentice to Palpatine and the camera could now linger on both Dooku and Palpatine during Yoda and Mace Windu’s discussion at the end about who was killed, master or apprentice.

There has been good work incorporating Dooku in council scenes but I really like the idea of him just being at the funeral. I don’t know if standing next to Palpatine (between him and Amidala) is too on the nose but as Qui-Gon’s former master should have a prominent place. Would primarily involve out-of-focus shots of his profile so seems fairly doable.

Post
#1469604
Topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Time

I’ll start with my general attitude toward editing the prequels and my thoughts on the beginning of TPM.

While I am inspired by and adopting edits others have made (and need to watch more of those listed above), my focus/inspiration is reordering and recontextualizing scenes. My thinking is informed by how ANH was “saved in the edit” as expressed in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFMyMxMYDNk

I am leaving a lot intact (like R2 and a lot of Jar Jar and Gungans) and I hope the annoying parts will work better with changed context, in addition to toning down.

When I think about the prequels I try to keep my first impressions in mind. I was on the edge of my seat when the movie started. After the perplexing crawl, a lonely ship sailing through space toward a space station keeps me in suspense. And the first thing to happen is a bland conversation on a viewscreen. It deflates tension. Plus we are going to get that same information repeatedly and in better ways. Then they go to a conference room and talk. When we get to the action a moment later, the stakes and characters aren’t sufficiently established and I had a feeling of waiting for the movie to really begin.

The stakes should be better established at the outset. My approach is to start with the invasion in order to show the danger. The limited footage of the invasion doesn’t allow for a terribly flashy start (and is a little short for proper opening shots) but it’s more active and conveys more information more quickly. It is more of an ESB than ROTJ way of opening. I’ve considered whether new CGI shot(s) of the invasion could make for a stronger opening, not that I have the skills to do so, but also seems like a lot of work for relatively benefit.

The crawl is one way to give the viewer better context but it doesn’t remedy the impact of the first several minutes. Another approach is cutting a lot of the clutter to get to the action more quickly.

Post
#1469585
Topic
Community Focus Threads - Index and Overview
Time

EddieDean said:

Indeed!

I would say, one thing that I think I probably should encourage in the threads is staying on target and avoiding the particularly radical ideas. I’m talking things like comedy versions, black and white, heavy metal, replacing the language with an alternate track and doing it all as subtitles, etc etc. Those feel to me more like passion projects to create a truly alternative experience, rather than “a Star Wars movie you could have feasibly watched at the cinema”, like TROS Ascendent.

Beyond that, I’m on the fence about things like three-in-one movies or re-dubbing whole characters, but I think I should let the community make that call.

Disagreement welcome!

I think three-in-ones are a different animal but maybe the discussions will help inform those who want to go that way. Re-dubbing aliens and droids (I have in mind Neimoidians and PT 3PO) is a great idea to help make an edit work. Re-dubbing main human characters would seem to fall more into a passion project category.

Post
#1469520
Topic
Worst Edit Ideas
Time

Eyepainter said:

Replace John Williams’ score with Charles Trenet’s “Boum!” during the Order 66 montage.

This idea is so good it has been nagging at me so I slapped this together only using Boum for audio (apologies for video quality issues). I made some fast and dirty edits to get the first boum and scene changes lined up a little better, but it was halfway there on its own. The two best moments lined up without any alteration and the camera work goes so well - watch to the end. There is some natural synchronicity between the lyrics and what is on screen. This could really be finessed into something brilliant I think.

https://streamable.com/3hbfoe

Post
#1469500
Topic
If you need to B*tch about something... this is the place
Time

SilverWook said:

I really do not appreciate someone starting a PM thread with me to throw accusations, insults, and forum drama from here and elsewhere in my face and then exiting the topic before I can even say one word in response. Total dick move.

I don’t like to broadcast my personal problems around here, (picture a dumpster fire about to go over Niagra Falls) but they require more time of me than dealing with the drama around here. Sorry about that.

For a job that we don’t get paid for, we mods take a lot of crap and abuse you never see.

Sorry you deal with hooligans on what should be a pleasant corner of the internet when life is rough.

Post
#1469183
Topic
Max's Prequel Edits (a WIP)
Time

Dazman said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

Mrebo said:

I did this quick edit just to see the gag but I think it’s too jokey. I’m on the fence whether to keep that single Jar Jar moment at all, in its proper place, but definitely cutting the first tongue shot. I go between not liking the antics and thinking a Gungan creature is not theoretically a bad idea that can work if toned down.

https://streamable.com/mhwxv4

Okay that is brilliant.

I agree, that is a great edit. 😃 I don’t think it’s too much humour for the scene and shows that even Qui-Gon is annoyed with Jar Jar.

Thanks 😂 not currently included in my project but on re-viewing it stills amuses me. I may rethink it again!

Post
#1469173
Topic
Max's Prequel Edits (a WIP)
Time

StarkillerAG said:

Mrebo said:

Thinking way ahead to ROTS, does anyone know if this scene from Goya’s Ghosts was released:

I skimmed through that movie twice without seeing it although this image was released as part of promos.

I haven’t seen that movie, but if you’re looking for footage of Padme holding Leia for continuity with ROTJ, there’s a scene like that from The Other Boleyn Girl that many editors have used. Hal 9000’s edit corrected the baby’s eye color in that scene to match Leia’s eye color, so you could probably just take the clip from his edit.

Coincidentally I only just now watched it (after posting that)! It worked well I thought.

Post
#1469134
Topic
STAR WARS: EP VI -RETURN OF THE JEDI &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - ** PRODUCTION HAS NOW RESTARTED **
Time

doubleofive said:

They do still say “Yub Nub” in the SE, Wicket says it to Leia when trying to get her to go to the village. “Freedom” maybe be the name of the village (I know it’s “Bright Tree Village”, leftover from Legends).

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ewok_Celebration

That’s right too! The sound of a pan flute causes me a deeply unsettling physical sensation, far worse than an alto saxophone. I’m fully on board with Adywan’s decision.

Post
#1469115
Topic
STAR WARS: EP VI -RETURN OF THE JEDI &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - ** PRODUCTION HAS NOW RESTARTED **
Time

timdiggerm said:

Kingj3489 said:

adywan said:

There will be no post credits scene in ROTJ:R. I’m in the process of rewriting the change list for the first post which will go more in-depth as to the changes planned. But i can say that Yub Nub and Lapti Nek will be back. I’ve always hated the two new tracks that replaced those.

Oh wow, I don’t know that I’ve heard anyone say that before.
Yub Nub is great but the victory celebration track is one of the best tracks in the entire saga!

You may want to give this thread a read.

I have a young child and the one thing I have taught about Star Wars is “Ewoks say yub nub.”

Post
#1469078
Topic
Max's Prequel Edits (a WIP)
Time

Eyepainter said:

Mrebo said:

Jedi fight aboard control ship.
A bunch of persnickety changes and one to suit my modified narrative. Let me know what you like, don’t like, and alternate ideas.

Daultay no longer “stunted” only “slime”

Because invasion already underway Palpatine’s line about making it legal has been repurposed in a way that is dismissive and foreshadowing.

Exterior shot of ship blows up few frames in. Lightsaber sounds a couple frames later to better match the action.

Removed “dioxin” shot / Nute telling droid to go in / droid voices. I like idea it is the Jedi who opened the door but it is quite fast. I’ve liked similar edits others have done and will have to consult them further.

Removed Nute’s interruption “what is going on down there” shot.

Trimmed exchange between Nute/Run about having encountered Jedi before.

Removed Obi-Wan’s post-slash posing.

Moved “close the blast doors” shot in a way I think flows better.

https://streamable.com/kdfus5

I think it’s wonderful. The only bit I might suggest removing is the line, “We will not survive this.” But then again, that’s just me. Otherwise, I like it.

Thank you 😃 I will think about that. I’m feeling out how much I like his constant cowardice in every scene, whether I like that bit of comedy or it goes too far.

Post
#1468909
Topic
Crafting the Illusion of a Wider World
Time

I agree with what you two have said. George Lucas’s work was organic, flowing from his mind with an overall logic and story animating what eventually appears on screen. It generally felt like things didn’t just conveniently happen. Locations didn’t feel like set pieces mimicking something we saw before in Star Wars. People used to complain about the 2nd Death Star - I don’t know if they do anymore - but that made perfect logical sense in the story and not as a mere callback or convenient plot device.

Relatedly, I think editing played a major role. For ANH especially, there was a messier work to start with that was carved into shape at the end. What was cut informed (or was even referenced in) other scenes which contributed to that bigger world feeling. I’m thinking particularly of Biggs and friends.

Part of my theory about the editing relates to the process employed in the prequels where Lucas was able to edit on the fly with digital tools. This informed subsequent shooting and at the end so much was baked in that it was harder to make edits to the story. Everything was connected and couldn’t be undone. Where cuts were made they could be oddly glaring, like Qui-Gon and Anakin running from Darth Maul. I agree with Stardust that TPM was nonetheless written with breathing room and we were with character on almost every parsec of their adventure. And it was still Lucas’s imagination at work for a coherent piece of work. I believe AOTC and ROTS suffered most for the changed production/editing process. The stuff that could be cut (mostly talking scenes) explained the motivations of the main characters.

A well-financed collaborative production of the biggest science fiction franchise, abiding by another grammar, as Stardust says, of modern filmmaking is a different beast.