| Fanedit Name | Date Reviewed | | |
| Terminator 3: Salvation | 1st October 2024 | Best T3 EditThis was a great way to watch this movie. I really want to thank and express gratitude to Movies Remastered and others involved with the hard work that completed this edit.
The audio and video quality was top of the line. In fact, at times, the video quality was superior due to the color grading at certain portions of the edit.
Audio editing was unquestionably A work. The musical score of the theatrical left a lot to be desired. The music (mostly from the first two movies) really helped make this edit feel like a Terminator movie. It also helped build up tension at opportune moments or helped create tension during portions of the movie where the situation would feel a bit underwhelming. The adding/rearranging of dialogue worked well in this edit.
The visual editing also came across as seamless. One would be hard pressed to notice where obvious cuts were made or even the various new vfx shots were placed. A wonderful enhancement indeed. The TX healing was a nice touch.
From a narrative vantage point, the most obvious and notable improvement was making John Connor look more courageous, and that he actually cares. What a difference from his disgraceful portrayal of the theatrical edition. Nearly all of the terrible cringe-inducing moments are gone. It is so much easier to enjoy a movie when you are not contorting your body at every awkward moment. One highly notable change was John actually being serious about his suicide attempt. This was a perfect example of him going from a zero to hero status by removing dialogue.
My enjoyment of this movie was nearly perfect outside of a few cringe moments left in along with some narrative differences that are a few total minutes (discussed below). Everything else was right on point. We have a nice blend of horror, love, action,
and a thriller in a fast paced movie. You will not find yourself bored for a moment with this one folks.
1. Skynet Virus
In my view I always felt the Skynet virus was somewhat of a plot hole. If Skynet was responsible for the virus, then why does Skynet need to be activated? If it can inject a powerful virus, then the need for activation should be unnecessary.
A partial solution to this was an idea from the edit of the movie by [former] editor Uncanny Antman. Using his words:
"Added “Uploading Virus” readout to TX’s HUD. The so-called supervirus that pops up out of nowhere does not exist in this version. The only virus is the one she delivers. My line of reasoning is that future-Skynet sends her back with a virus that cannot be stopped by conventional means, thus instigating the Military’s activation of Skynet in the here and now."
In my view, Skynet sending the virus from the future leading to its own activation creates a similar time paradox that we see from T1 where Connor sends Reese back in time who becomes his father.
I think doing something like this or similar works well.
The very next scene with Brewster and the virus would be moved later in the movie to give the virus time to infect.
2. TX Cringe or Unnecessary Moments
7: 50 Boob inflation from the TX before the cop makes no sense. It had no noticeable affect one way or another. Besides, terminators kill - no sex needed! Also, robot sexuality is something Disney would do (See: Lando in the Solo Star Wars movie).
20: I would remove TX licking blood. Those moments made me cringe. Also, she should be able to scan faces. Were licking blood tests necessary? Same thing at 21:16. Why lick the blood if TX can use her facial scan for Connor's blood?
I think the first TX scene disguised as the fiance is unnecessary. Do we need to see the fake offer for help? It also is fairly obvious to me with the robotic acting that this is not him and spoils the reveal a bit early. You can jump straight to the car scene without sacrificing anything.
3. John and Kate Future Marriage
I was not a fan how this movie tells us they will be married and have kids. I think it eliminated the free will element of the Terminator movies. "No fate but what we make." It feels like their relationship is forced instead of growing naturally.
I can see why some people may prefer this, but I will present my case against it. I like them holding hands in the end with the relationship growing throughout the movie gradually and organically. They choose each other without the knowledge of the future marriage and children.
18:30 - Kate mentions Mike Kripke's basement. I would remove that and all references in the movie. We just need to know that she knows him from school. Again at about 41:20. It was awkward having them discuss making out in a basement. This felt like a teenage love soap opera squeezed into a movie about nuclear Armageddon.
Leads to 41:40 and the reference to their children and wife. Not a personal fan of the preordained love story. Let it happen organically.
55 - John and terminator discuss future relationship including her 'breeding age'. This is awkward.
1:00:26 Terminator tells Kate she is John's wife. She says John is a mess and John says she is not his type. This is high school teenage type of drama happening on the verge of a nuclear war.
1:03:33 Again talking about the basement first kiss.
4. Gas Station Robbery
39:24 - I would remove the gas station attendant asking if the food will be paid for. He should have called the cops right after the robbery. He only does so after seeing Kate freakout.
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Overall, we have an excellent edit of this movie. This will be the one I watch again when I go through the Terminator franchise again. I strongly recommend others to check this one out.
| 1 0 |
| The Acolyte: Episode II - A Tale of Two Sides | 23rd September 2024 | This was a fun edit. I never saw a trailer when watching an edit before. It made watching the edit feel more like a cinematic experience. *Spoilers in review*
The video quality was mostly fine, but I always notice compression when streaming videos on Google Drive versus watching the file without streaming. The picture quality is not as sharp. This could be related to the devices I am using, but I am not sure. Most people would not notice the difference.
Both audio and visual editing are flawless. Loved the additions of sith eyes and droid dialogue. We have a bot with an attitude that adds to other loveable droids in the Star Wars universe. Pip is my favorite character!
When looking at narrative improvements, there's simply too much to list. Here are a few:
- The opening crawl was beautiful. Great job. It removed the spoiler about the upcoming empire and the timeline leaving things more vague.
- Cutting Mae's assassination of Indara was correct. It spoiled the identity/mystery immediately. Also, the fight between them felt too much like the Matrix versus Star Wars.
- Moving the Plageuis cameo to that spot in the movie was perfect. Excellent way to tie in to the rest of the Star Wars universe.
- Removing most flashbacks was correct. Characters tell us through dialogue everything needed. Also, flashbacks had weaker content anyway.
- Removing silly moments and haphazard "acting."
We have a good narrative that is rewatchable. I have some differences for what I consider unnecessary material\filler and narrative differences. These are nitpicks that don't take away from the job well done. Timestamps are rough.
FILLER
-17: (lost timestamp). Remove Jecki strange criticism of "Yord being Yord". It was an incoherent argument against choosing him for the mission.
- (no timestamp): cut Mae saying "Oshy" when she sees Osha for the first time. A shocked silent reaction is more powerful.
- 51: Opening wookie Jedi scene was pointless.
58: I'd remove beaver arguing with Pip. Slows pacing down and childish. Talk between Osha and Jecki followed by Osha telling Yord they had a comprehensive briefing all pointless. The last portion of the scene can be removed without sacrificing.
59: opening Kalnacca you can remove Jecki asking the guy about the "big hairy wookie" and jump straight to her informing the Jedi of his location. Same information quicker.
NARRATIVE
JEDI AGE
9:30 I'd remove age as factor for Jedi opposition against training Osha. This was a bad concept introduced in Phantom Menace that small kids can't be trained. It makes the Jedi look like a cult. Sol brings this up again around the 2:13 mark.
JEDI VS SENATE FEUD
I didn't like the subplot with Vernestra and the senate. In this time period we shouldn't have the Jedi and senate going at each other. It distracts from the core story. The Jedi should not be corrupt now. Flaws are okay, but they should not be portrayed as scumbags. I'd remove all of this.
14:30: Vernestra whispering to Sol to convict Osha regardless of evidence and establish a cover up.
1:41:35: discussion with Vernestra over senate review of Jedi.
1:56:50 - Vernestra discussing with Senator the murder investigation hidden from the senate. Senator talks about jedi snapping in a blatant spoiler about Vader.
2:35:05 - Vernestra informs Mae Sol killed her mom. Then, her explanation in front of a Senate tribunal. She again tells Mae Sol is bad. Maybe remove trashing Sol or tone it down.
TORBIN SUICIDE
36:30 Remove discussion over Torbin's suicide, sign of struggle. I may be missing something, but the suicide is out of place in the edit.
MIND READING\WIPE\CONTROL
These concepts are foreign to Star Wars except for Kylo in the sequels. I was not a fan of that nor do I like anybody having this power. It creates plot holes and contradictions. If you have this power, why not use it all the time? Also, the Jedi sense feelings, not thoughts. Those are similar, but different.
40:33 Cut Qimir mentioning memory wipe.
46:20 cut Sol mind reading for Mae's master.
1:14: Qimir mentions reading of thoughts.
2:20 - in the flashback sequence you can cut out when we get to the mind control and jump to Sol running inside. Mind control from anyone in Star Wars creates lore issues as we never see this from witches.
2:30:50 - remove Qimir mentioning removal of memories. Do something like where it shows him causing her head trauma to wipe out memories.
OTHER ISSUES
1:23:53: Qimir says Jedi like you call me Sith. Sol asks why risk discovery? You can jump straight to Sol asking "what do you want?" I think publicity of the Sith is too early here.
2:11 Sol talks about the force creating Osha and Mae. I would remove mentioning the force to keep things more ambiguous. Have him saying this was something to do with planet can be vague enough.
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Thanks for sharing! I recommend others to watch this. We have a mediocre show turned into a good movie.
| 3 0 |
| OSHA - A Star Wars Story (The Acolyte) | 14th September 2024 | Solid Acolyte EditAs is evident by the title of the edit, it is largely centered around the character Osha's point of view. This was a good method of heavily tightening a deeply flawed show. I only watched bits and pieces of this before. This was my first complete viewing of The Acolyte and because of that I do not fully know just how much bad content was removed, which I suspect was substantial.
I do not have the technical skill to give a detailed analysis of the audio and visual editing. However, I can say I did not notice any glaring audio issues. The newly input musical score enhanced the movie edit and felt like it naturally belonged. As for visual editing, it was quite clear in a few spots where cuts were made and scenes shorted. Nonetheless, I thought the transitions used minimized any distractions to smooth things over.
From a narrative standpoint, I thought the editor almost entirely got this edit there. I have a few disagreements. I was not a fan of Sol mentioning the sisters were created from the force and that the Jedi would not have allowed for Osha to be trained if they knew of her 'creation.'
Magical creation of beings through the force is not directly referenced elsewhere in Star Wars shows or movies. It also creates issues with regard to Anakin's virgin birth. In addition, the Jedi look like idiots if they would refuse to train someone based on their unusual birth status. We do not get a reason for this one way or another. I would remove all of that.
The other major issue is the power of memory wiping. Unless I am missing something, nowhere in the Star Wars universe do light nor dark side users have the ability to wipe memory. If that were the case, you would expect to see this all the time. I think it would also be best to remove the memory wipe and cut short Mae's interrogation before she talks.
On the flip side, the Jedi overall did come across as good and just. Removing all other references to a vergence in the force really toned things down positively. I also really loved all discussion and references to witches and witchcraft being removed. The black and white brief flashbacks worked put well. No overt Sith revelations was also key here.
One thing that I do not believe can be resolved with an edit is Qimir's power. Overpowering multiple Jedi came across as way over the top. We have no idea who this guy is. Where is this power coming from?
From an enjoyment standpoint, the biggest issues related to the narrative aspect of the movie edit. On top of that, the only part of the movie that made me cringe was the naked swimming and whole Qimir putting on clothes bit. I do not mind this type of content, but it is really out of place for Star Wars. I think tightening up or removing the voyeurism and removing Qimir indicating he wants to put on his clothes would be helpful. (I also was not interested in their romance as it felt rushed and forced - particularly with the hand holding at the end).
Overall, this was an enjoyable well-paced edit. I am confident most people would consider this an improvement over the show. It is much more consistent and aligned with the rest of the Star Wars universe. I want to thank the editor for all the hard work that went into this edit. I am comfortable recommending others watch this as well.
| 3 0 |
