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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: Next up- Sofia-less Godfather III | ||||
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| IkeaBoy P.L.F. Portugese Liberation Front- Liberating Status' everywhere from the Tyranny of Portugal I will die a traitor's death | posted on 06-05-2001 @ 10:34 AM |    | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Sep. 00  | I know there's a few Star Wars fans here and I thought this story about "The Phantom Edit" might happy some people. 'Phantom Edit' Deletes Jar Jar Binks By Andrew Rodgers June 4, 2001 HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) - A mysterious new, re-edited version of George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace has been circulating around town lately and it's beginning to cause quite a stir among fans on the Internet who are clamoring to get their hands on a copy. Titled The Phantom Edit, the film is a shorter version than the original by about 20 minutes. Created by an anonymous fan calling himself the "Phantom Editor," the movie removes scenes and lines of dialogue that some fans objected to when the original film debuted in May, 1999. After the movie opens with its signature "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...," audiences see a different scroll which explains the reasons behind the new edit. "Anticipating the arrival of the newest Star Wars film, some fans, like myself, were extremely disappointed by the finished product," the film's re-editor says on the scroll. "So being someone of the 'George Lucas Generation,' I have re-edited a standard VHS version of 'The Phantom Menace,' into what I believe is a much stronger film by relieving the viewer as much story redundancy, pointless Anakin actions and dialogue, and Jar Jar Binks, as possible." When asked about The Phantom Edit while backstage at the MTV Movie Awards Saturday night, George Lucas told Zap2it.com that he wasn't too worried about it. "The Internet is a new medium, it's all about doing things like that," said Lucas, who added that it gives people a new creative outlet. "I haven't seen it. I would like to." Catalan "Cat" Jarcan, owner of DJ's Universal Comics in Studio City, Calif., received a copy of the re-edited version from a grateful customer two weeks ago and has been playing it in his store nearly every day since. "I don't know if it's helping my business per se, but it's a bonus for my customers," said Jarcan. "I don't remember enough of it from the first time around to know exactly what was cut out. But whatever was cut I don't miss. It definitely moves a little bit faster." The general consensus of fans on the Internet seems to be that the new edit is an improvement on the original version. One fan, who suggests that "this may in fact be the way the film should've been released," has even created a web site dedicated to The Phantom Edit. On the site's message board, fans debate the authenticity of the tape, give suggestions on where other fans can find a copy and even analyze the editing choices the "Phantom Editor" has made. JM Dash, one of the site's most prolific message board contributors, is also one of the film's most ardent supporters. "The stuff that has been cut out is all about making it a stronger movie and not just some fan cutting out the crap he/she didn't like," he said. "If that were true, it would have just had the Darth Maul sequence looped for two hours." Elsewhere in his message board posting, JM Dash spelled out exactly what sort of changes were made in the new version. "There is a lot less Jar Jar. He, unfortunately, is still in there because he does at times help move along the plot," he said. For example, "the scene where Qui-Gon grabs his tongue at dinner is gone." He also said, "Anakin is a stronger character. His crappy whoops and oops and that stuff is gone. It makes the kid seem like someone who is strong with the force and worth going against the council for as opposite to the whiny little kid in the original cut." The largest cut, though, is the deletion of a scene where Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jar Jar Binks are riding in an underwater sub up to the surface of Naboo. (It's the scene where they are attacked by a giant fish.) Said JM Dash, "I know some of you think that this is a big metaphor for the movie, but the fact is it was thrown in there to play to the younger audience. It was stupid and so it got cut out." Many people on the message board have even been speculating that Kevin Smith, who directed Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and the upcoming Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, is the anonymous editor. Even though Smith is one of Jarcan's regular customers, the comic shop owner doesn't want to speculate that the director might be responsible for the re-edit. He does suggest, though, that whoever created the new version certainly knew what they were doing. "If you haven't watched [the original], you don't know," said Jarcan. "Whoever did the job did a hell of a job. It's like there's no break. So it had to be a professional. Because two kids can't do this." Smith's publicist hadn't heard of the tape before and declined to issue any statements about his client's involvement. A message posted on May 18 to Smith's official web site (www.viewaskew.com), however, says that the director "had nothing to do with the project," although apparently "he has seen a copy and can confirm that it does exist." Jeanne Cole, a spokesperson for Lucasfilm, told Zap2it.com that because no one at the company had seen a copy of the re-edited version, they couldn't officially comment about the changes. Cole did explain her company's policy regarding copyright infringement, though. "Lucasfilm aggressively pursues anyone involved with the unauthorized sale of our copyrighted materials," she said. But Cole also added that Lucasfilm recognizes the fan following the Star Wars franchise has generated and said the company generally doesn't pursue fans as long as they don't go overboard with their adoration. Essentially, she said, that means: "as long as nobody crosses that line - either in bad taste or in profiting from the use of our characters." Jarcan said he knows not to cross that line, so don't approach him expecting to purchase his copy from him - he's not selling. "I made clear from the beginning that I am not selling the tape," he said. "I don't want the Lucas police coming after me. Hell, no. I'm not dealing with that." Instead, Jarcan said, he's more than happy to continue playing the tape in his store so fans can get their fix. "Hey, it's a better version. I don't see a problem," he said. "Lucas, if anything should - I mean, I'm nobody - but he should take lessons from this guy and think about it next time he does a movie." "At the end of the day this is about everybody just having fun with Star Wars," said Lucasfilm's Cole. "Go be creative." Tripod Fucking Sucks Ass, bastards shut down my site which really only had sounds but a way for others to download it Eliza Dushku- Hotter Than Britney Read my column at Foundry | ||||
| King f-tard | posted on 06-05-2001 @ 11:30 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | Radio...I mean Phantom Edit. Wow, to think taking out all the useless parts of movies would make them better. Think what they could have done to Full Metal Jacket. | ||||
| Just Jon | posted on 06-05-2001 @ 4:04 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Aug. 00 | This was mentioned on TheForce.Net over a month ago. -----  E-mail: JustJon@opieanthony.com AIM: JonNeedsSN Adoptee: I seem to have lost my little sheep... You listen to me! While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is I am a nay-sayer and a hatchet man in the fight against violence! I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King! My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method...is love. I love you, Sheriff Truman. | ||||
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