aalenfae

Well, yeah, true - in the context of the whole Saga, RotS definitely stands out as having a... much clumsier feel to it.
Though, I think there's more discrepancy in style for the Saga than most.

I break it down like this:
IV-V have their "true" Star Wars feel
VI-I  have the kiddy, plot-hole style

II     has its own "Episode II" feel

III    feels like a computer generated cartoon

Yes, RotS suffers from clumsy writing and bad editing.
The film itself isn't so bad overall, I suppose. But above all, the story is HEAVILY flawed, which is the movie's main problem.

(I'm ready for it too, haha! I might be able to resume after Christmas)

I wouldn't agree that it's bad film-making.

It's just not literal - or realistic film-making. It's just much more fantastic film-making, which isn't necessarily out-of-place in Star Wars.

The only reason I would say I don't care for it is because it takes almost a minute (an eternity in screen time) to get to any actual story material. It doesn't take an entire minute to establish that there's a battle going on, which is ALL that the shot communicates, besides simply being cool.

Thanks for all the feedback! 
Few things:

MrInsaneA:
I'll only replace the Imperial March cue IF I find a more powerful version. But for now, it'll stay. So don't you worry!

On the topic of the Federation music in the march scene, I initially thought as you do - but then I realized it's not actually Federation music. It's really only "Clone Wars" music, and doesn't seem to be anybody's particular theme. It just sounds like the Federation theme. However, I would love to replace the front end of that song either way.
I was thinking about using the track from John Williams' score to "Midway" titled "Burning Carriers" for the front-end of that scene, and then fade to the Imperial March. But... I think I would need more talent with music mixing to make it sound good. We'll see.

Glad you like it!
But yeah, there's still some places that need a lot of work. I'm not even sure that I'm going to use THAT version of the Imperial March. Still looking for options.

http://vimeo.com/49942802

I know it took awhile, sorry!
I just got back from a wonderful night of dancing, and I realized "Oh no! I have to post the link!"

So here it is!

Hey guys! Sorry for the super-long lack of activity!

Though yeah... sorry for daring to have a personal life, haha!

I actually have like... ONE MORE video to share before I dedicate myself to finishing that one personal project (which is taking a lot of self-discipline. I just love editing so much!).
However....... I've been having so much trouble exporting it for some reason. I think my computer is finally ready to die (WAY too much editing going on. Takes up vast amounts of space on my computer, and my computer's getting mad at me!) 

So... perhaps in the next few hours, I'll have it exported correctly so I can upload it to Vimeo. Until then.... hang tight!  

Whoops! It's been a long time since I posted anything, huh?

Well, I've started another year of college, and things are super busy!
As it stands... I'm going to devote all my extra energy to finishing another personal project (which should be very cool and also Star Wars related!), and then I'll buy a new terabyte hard-drive to devote to RotS, which I'll be "starting from scratch" with more thinking-ahead. 

So it should all be good!
But it's gonna take a while.  

Video is still processing, so wait a bit... but here's something to look at.
Just an idea I was given - to totally remove the missile from the scene. Thoughts?
http://vimeo.com/48251201

How about a production company name that's entirely different altogether? Something a little more neutral and universal. 

Like "A Revisited Production" or something like that?  

^ I don't think he means he's being uncredited or that you're stealing his work.

Only that - frankly - you're really the only name associated with "Revisited," and it's easy for the masses to forget other creative minds behind the final masterpiece.

The exact same thing happens in hollywood, really.
Big-name directors get all the credit for a movie that hundreds of people worked on. It's not the director's fault. It's just how people view things. Angel would seem to understand this.  Nothing more.

Ooh, some great ideas here, Bob! And I absolutely LOVE the cut at 0:48. Consider it stolen! "Heh heh heh" ~Boba Fett ;)

http://vimeo.com/47703851

And tease I will!

Wow! So much feedback that I don't even know what to do with it all! 

I'll address a few things, though.
I'm leaning towards KEEPING the seismic charges.

Corellian77:
Thanks for that idea! I'm glad somebody else thinks like that. I'm actually working on making the shockwave/explosion not blue, but removing the color so radically does make the effect look kind of... dirty. I'm still working on it, though. I might be able to work something up. I'll post my progress!

Another note about seismic charges: 

Regardless of how much people don't like the prequels and perhaps this scene in particular, that scene (or at least that part of the scene) has become something of a classic moment. It'd be like cutting out the Quad-Gun scene from ANH because it was unnecessary (which it really is). But no... it's a classic scene, and it belongs in the movie. The seismic charges are something unique and (regardless of how senseless they are plot-wise and weaponry-wise), pretty dang cool.

(But they're in Rogue Squadron 3, and they're pretty stinking dangerous - despite their 2D nature)

Now, on to the edit in general.
I appreciate all the feedback, but I'm going to say what I'm NOT looking for. And that's a complete re-structuring of the movie. 

I'm of the camp that the prequels really aren't THAT bad as they stand. I'm really just trying to make them marginally better at least. While some scenes will face some severe cuts, I'm really not looking to change the actual material all THAT much (beyond color correction and some bonus goodies like that). If that makes sense.

Personally, I would love to remake the prequels from scratch, as I think I have a better story in mind. BUT, such radical changes are simply not possible with the source material given to us, so... it will have to stay. I love the more radical ideas, so keep 'em coming! They give me great ideas to use, but just keep in mind that I'm really not looking for huge, massive changes. 

That being said, I have a very... interesting change I've made to a particular scene involving C-3P0, which I'll post in a few hours. I hope you guys like it! :)

Thanks for the high praise, MrInsaneA! 
Though I am still tweaking it! :)

Titus, I like your idea about not showing Jango's face at all during the scene. It might work pretty well, and I'll give it a try. 
And I think your point about the ships just flying around doing nothing is valid. Watching the clip again, it does seem like they just fly around doing nothing for a little too long. I'll see what I can do.

(And yes, I can't wait until I get some good 1080 footage of "1313" cutscenes. But that'll have to wait until the game's out, probably.) 

I, too, am leaning toward my first-choice music. 
It's a more appropriate track to use as an atmospheric bed to the scene, much like the Cantina music from ANH. My second-choice music is too... sporadic and disorienting. Something that might fit the mood, but not the environment so well.
The smooth jazz piece also sounds more seedy, I think.

I like your dialogue suggestion. There's actually a lot of dialogue there that I'd rather have as silence. I just wonder if we might still see the mouths moving. I'll look into it.



Ah! I've really just realized that my "RotS" thread has started to become an AotC thread. Maybe I'd best rename the thread to "Aalenfae's Prequels" instead? 


 Here's a clip I've been working on:

http://vimeo.com/47563652

Ah, come to think of it... I think I can change Zam's mouth movements to better match the voice. I'll see what I can do!

Yeah, there are just so many things wrong with Jango rocketing away like that. Both for the story and the character.  

Aiya, well, it seems all my updates have been everything BUT RotS lately, but don't worry!
I've just gotten excited about some AotC stuff in recent days. Here's what I've been working on:
http://vimeo.com/47064520

Just take out Padme's lines about previously being queen from AotC, and then you're fine. 
I think. 

This is a wonderful video.
I finally get to see your added door! And it works really well. *Considering stealing almost everything you've done*

Have you altered/added sounds at the beginning? The outside battle seems to sound more... clear. I like it. Seems to really enhance the silence of the scene. 

I love her changed voice! 
It really made her feel "young and naive" as Sidious says, but her dialogue is intelligent-sounding despite her childish voice, which really almost strengthens the character.
Great work! 

Captain Antillies, what a good man. Couldn't have said it better myself.

But Titus, you are right about something - Adywan, while he didn't invent fanediting, did indeed invent (or at least realize) a new KIND of fanediting. The huge, comprehensive edit that was Star Wars Revisited is indeed inspiring, and a status that many faneditors hope to attain. 

So don't sell yourself so short, haha. And you don't need to apologize.

(ps, I am a man) 

Dark Lord of the Pith:
Thanks for your feedback!

And regarding your questions, haha
1. The Neimoidian was never meant to sound scottish. I was just doing a random accent, and as I was re-recording the lines, that one happened to sound Scottish. However, since then, I've opted to dub him with an alien language.

2. Regarding pointy sabers, I'll see. They're not pointy-looking nearly as often as people seem to think they are. And I think they're pointy in an effort to make them look flat (like they do in ANH). But maybe some of the REALLY badly pointy shots, I'll fix 'em.  

dominiccobb, that's really high praise. Thank you!
My goal with the duel is just that. Make it epic, and not just a light show.

While it's far from perfect, I'm going to probably spend the most time on this part of the movie - making it as good as possible.


and trooperman, thank you too!
That part is my favorite part of the piece, so I wanted to give it a punctuated bit of action. I wasn't really thinking about majors and minors, though, haha. I actually timed up the music with that part of the action, and hoped the rest worked, haha. Well, except the grappling shot. That was another one I timed up.  

DominicCobb:
I see what you mean about the music.
Though I might have just mixed it better that time, so it sounds more like it's a "sound effect" and less like the soundtrack.
But I'll play back and forth with the different options and see how it goes.


As far as the duel goes, we must remember that this video is from half a year ago, haha. And while it has undergone some serious changes, this is very close to the pacing the duel will have when I'm finally done. 
Some of the rearranged opening to the fight needs some serious roto work to make the locations consistent (some of which I've already done).
And the entire thing needs a reconstructed soundtrack, as all the music and such has been rearranged.
And finally... I'm still on the hunt for a Ewan McGregor voice double for some added lines. The ones from the Ep III video game aren't too bad, but JUST not right enough for the final cut, I think.