Rop edit
First of all, I want to say well done man. This definitely flows very very well, and it is a GREAT watch. I do think I enjoyed it more than anjohans tbh. In fact it really might have the potential to be a default replacer for me. So with all of that said, here are all of my thoughts. To be clear, they are VERY nitpicking, just as things that I think could make a good project even better. So here ya go
The flashback voices of Galadriel and her brother during the boat scene were a little confusing to me. I may have just missed the point: What was the flow of thought to them? If the idea is tying her motivation to her brother, maybe consider just a flashback to the opening scene of him looking at her by the tree? I think there might be too much un-introduced information going on there. Maybe just a flashback showing her standing over her dead brother and leave out the voices?
The transition from Celebrimbor and Elrond to Galadriel swimming was a little abrupt. Consider starting the cross fade of the musical score a little earlier if possible so that the tone of the next scene is already clearly established and few seconds before the end of celebrimbor scene, and then do a clean cut to the next scene of Galadriel in the sea.
I love that you removed the whole sea monster scene. If possible, cut from the shot of halbrand staring at her with his row, to her climbing onto the raft. The momentary distrustful stare that they share with one another doesn’t make any sense if this is their first meeting. Though I guess it does reveal that she is an elf?
In The scene with nori and the stranger, you seem to skip something and there’s a pretty noticeable change in the flow of the musical score — skipping him eating the snail shells I presume? I understand the thought, but it might not be worth it if there’s not a cleaner way to transition the music. Just my opinion though.
First off, if im honest, Cutting from the moon to the stranger laying into the fire, and then into Galadriels flashback dream was a little too much happening at once and T was confusing. Maybe just go from the moon into the dream. And here are my thoughts on the dream
Thoughts on Galadriel’s flashback dream:
First off, consider using a slightly different color gradient, like a bit of grey scale or something, so that the watcher knows something is different. When it comes to the dream itself, I’ve got two thought paths
- Rather than starting the flashback in the northern snow lands, just start it at Galadriels brothers tree, when she is sheathing her knife. I think the use of the northern land scenes just make things sorta confusing, kinda like a story line we aren’t privy to. And then I wouldn’t use the shot of her diving in the water. Instead After the line “without it what am I to be” I would just merge into the crashing wave sound and have her wake up.
- Dont have the dream. It doesn’t really accomplish anything or add to the story. Just cut from the stranger looking at the moon, into the crashing wave sound and Galadriel waking up.
Elrond’s entry into the dwarf kingdom: consider extending the big, elegant musical score a little further into the scene cut of them riding the lift, letting it fade out slower until the view closes in on the lift. It felt rushed.
The transition from the ‘chess game’ to the next shot is pretty noticeable. Perhaps transition to Bronwyn a little earlier in the town scene with a cross fade of the audios.
Sick cow scene: this was one of the hardest areas to edit for Anjohan as well. I think since you have left out the opening bar scene in the south lands where they talk about things being poisoned, you need to include the cow squirting out gross black milk. Otherwise, there’s no logical reason for Arrondir to grow so concerned so quickly.
Galadriel asking the queen to form an alliance: the transition from “nevertheless numenor has chose another path” transitioned to banishing Galadriel being forced to her boat is a bit rough sound-wise. Consider crossfading the audios a bit more before the cut. Or finding a different place to drop in.
The transitions from the mithril reveal to the dwarf king scene could use a touch more crossfading in the audio.
The Transition from elendil saying “nothing would make me prouder” into the triumphant departure felt a little rushed and strange. Maybe consider making the transition take place right before elendil says the line, giving the impression that he is thoughtfully reconsidering Isildurs commitment.
The Transition from Theo talking to creepy bartender guy to the stranger and Nori is a bit noticeable. Maybe consider trying to work the transition right after the line “have you heard of Sauron” when Theo pulls his hand away, the music dies while they stare at each other for a second — that could be a much easier transition into the next scene musically ……… OR transition right after Theo peaks at the sword, and skip the conversation with creepy guy altogether.
I know you probably were trying to cut time at this point, but I personally think it’s worth including the conversation between Theo and arrondir about destroying the sword hilt. It sets up the Mordor moment better. Plus, the music change from celebrating King Halbrandt going straight into the sinister music of the morder scene is a bit odd. Maybe consider this?…:
- Use Full king halbrandt scene, including conversation with arrondir and Galadriel, and arrondir and Theo. Once it goes to the sword scene, Dont cut the scene until the sword twists and clicks down… the music dies out and you can transition to isuldur much smoother.
As far as the ending Harfoot storyline, I think you did a great job with the editing. My only concerns are 1) the logic behind why Nori and Poppi are there in the first place? The last interaction with nori we got was her saying ‘I’m only a harfoot. It’s all I’ll ever be’ and kinda giving up. So it’s a bit of a push in plot for them to just randomly be there without them setting off to look for the stranger. 2) because of that edit, you’ve kept Sadoc alive in the ending shots since he ‘didnt die’ in your edit. (Which is quite in impressive actually) but I wonder if that could make continuity difficult for you moving forward? Just a thought.
All in all, a very fine work. You should be proud. Definitely keeping it. Thanks for sharing man!
