Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: Restructured

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Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: Restructured
Faneditor Name:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2015
Original Running Time:
136 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
137 minutes
Time Cut:
1 minutes
Time Added:
1 minutes
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
It's the same Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens you fell in love with, only restructured slightly so that Starkiller Base does not fire until close to the end of the film. During the battle over Starkiller Base, the stakes are no longer protecting the Resistance base, but preventing the destruction of the Republic Capitol. Even though they destroy the First Order's superweapon, they fail to do so in time to save the day.
Intention:
To move the destruction of the Hosnian system to the climax of the film, implementing all the little things necessary to facilitate it seamlessly, and address a few other minor things.
 
How does this restructuring help the film?
- The second act centers around the events of Maz's castle and remains focused on the characters and their struggle to keep the First Order from finding the map to Luke. The First Order catching up to Han and Rey is sufficient motivation for Finn to decide not to leave, without the Hosnian system being destroyed.
- Starkiller Base firing upon the Hosnian system in the third act links it very closely to Kylo Ren's resolution toward the dark side as he kills Han. Pairing these events magnifies each.
- Han taking a risk motivated by love for his son which brings about costly failure is a dark mirror of Vader doing the same in Return of the Jedi and ending up helping to save the galaxy.
- It alleviates the plot's very close parallel with the original Star Wars.
- Starkiller Base is depicted as functioning in an intuitive way: it drains the nearby star (or "the Sun," as Finn describes it), which covers it in darkness, and then fires on the Republic Capitol. Gone are the awkward questions about why the planet was still in daylight when it fired the first time during the second act, and whether the base is mobile.
- It avoids depicting the Hosnian system clearly visible to the naked eye, very large in the sky, from lightyears away. The official Lucasfilm canon answer is that Starkiller Base created a "space-time disruption," an obvious bandaid answer to apologize for a wanton move on the filmmakers' part. One wonders whether such intersystem spectacles are common in this world, because no one who witnessed the destruction had the slightest trouble identifying what was happening.
- It avoids raising the question of why the Resistance did not begin evacuating their base during the third act when they know they are the target. In the original Star Wars, the Death Star was looming overhead; here, there's no obvious reason why they could not have fled.
Additional Notes:
This project was born of the emergent idea from all over the Internet after we all saw the film. Numerous people atOriginalTrilogy.com suggested this idea immediately after release. See also William Gillis’ blog post which explains his rationale for desiring this change: https://humaniterations.net/2016/03/26/how-to-fix-the-force-awakens/
Other Sources:
Various sound effects from the Star Wars franchise
Special Thanks:
Everyone at OriginalTrilogy.com who contributed, including:
NeverarGreat (Visual and audio effects)
Sir Ridley (Visual and audio effects)
Jackpumpkinhead (Visual effects)
Sherman (Cover artwork)
MalàStrana (English and French subtitles)
Octorox
Smithers
Chris Solo
Ben_danger
That_OT_Ruler
RogueLeader
Kexikus
Bingowings
Darthrush
ImperialFighter
Yuri_Kenobi
Littlev87
Tomo
Cheebo
DominicCobb
TK251
SkywalkerFan01
Rpvee
Scott109
DigMod
DuracellEnergizer
Sougouk
EddieDean
Willrow-Hood
ForceGhostRecon
Jack of All Trades
Vladius
Spiphisser
Marduk666
Chyron8472
HyperDown
Oojason
DougieP
Edezio Enk’or Valorum
Hardcore Legend
JawsTDS
Yotsuya
StarWarsFan Sweden
Valheru_84
KumoNin
SUP3RDeathStar
Jarbear
Bromeo
RogueLeader
AbramPT
Darth_ender
Possessed
YodaFan67
ChainsawAsh
Guilty
Ray_afraid
Anjohan
Tobar
Fishmanlee 
Krlozdac

Others:
William Gillis (Blogger who voiced the core idea for this project which appeared shortly after the film’s release)
Noodle_Finger (fan editor behind a prior TFA edit)
Release Information:
  • Digital
  • DVD
Special Features:
- Fan Editor's commentary track
- Chapter stops
- Subtitles (English and French) (Not present on DVD5 release)

1080p BluRay-compatible mkv:
- H.264, 1920x1080p, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 DTS
- 5.1 448kbps AC3 audio

Smaller 1080p iTunes-compatible mp4:
- 1920x1080, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 384kbps AAC audio
- 5.1 DTS

DVD5:
- 720x480, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 448kbps AC3 audio
Cuts and Additions:
Cuts and Additions (V6 changes marked with asterisks):

Poe’s ladder retracts as he prepares to take off from Jakku (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Removed the glow from Kylo Ren’s saber during a shot it is deactivated (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

As Finn mans the TIE fighter with Poe, trimmed firing upon fellow stormtroopers so soon after planning to escape. Now, he causes peripheral damage to prevent them from firing at him and takes aim at the command center. (Slightly shifted the placement of the film’s trademark Wilhelm scream in order to retain it.)

Removed Kylo Ren identifying Finn’s stormtrooper ID from memory.

Added the Falcon jumping to hyperspace after leaving Jakku, then being ripped from hyperspace soon after, along with removing a now-out-of-place line from Finn about “get[ting] out of this system.” (FX by NeverarGreat)

Trimmed Finn repeating, “cute boyfriend.”*

Removed Han’s somewhat kindly, “Come on outta there” to Finn and Rey while leaving the directional nod (thanks to NeverArGreat).

Removed Rey saving Finn from the rathtars, cutting from Finn’s line, “They look like that,” to Han and Chewie arriving at the door to the Falcon.

Removed General Hux from the first scene with Snoke, where he suggests using the weapon to destroy the Republic. (FX by Jackpumpkinhead to remove Hux walking offscreen during first shot)

Removed Finn’s comedic line about almost being killed several times by Chewie while tending to him on the Falcon (Mimicked DigModiFicaTion’s approach).

Removed the holochess game cameo (help from NeverArGreat and Burbin).

Removed Han describing the need for Maz to help them get a ‘clean ship.’ It doesn’t add anything, and their motives are already clear enough. (Idea from NeverArGreat)

Subtle rendition of the first part of the Emperor’s Theme has been added to the Imperial March as we see Vader’s shattered helmet (thanks to Sir Ridley).

Trimmed Maz’s journey across the table (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Added two lines from the Emperor during Rey’s Force vision to very gently hint toward the revelations within Episode IX.

Repurposed excised footage from the rathtar sequence to depict Rey separated from Finn in her Force vision. (Thanks to NeverArGreat)
 
After Rey flees Maz's castle after her Force vision, replaced the Hosnian system being destroyed in the sky with a Star Destroyer. Finn and Han now gaze up to see that the First Order has caught up with them, as they feared. Finn’s line to Han about the First Order has been changed, including a brief visual modification to his mouth. (FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat)

Added a shot of the ship Finn is preparing to leave on, to imply Rey is planning to accompany him (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Throughout the battle at Maz’s castle, applied a slight sunset color correction to harmonize the sunset lighting present before and afterward.

Audio from the trailer was used to add a sound effect to a TIE being shot down (turned out to be barely noticeable, but I did it anyway).

Slightly restructured Finn running after Rey (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*
 
New deleted scene included of Leia discussing the Republic. The scene was originally intended for earlier in the film, and Leia’s prominent braid has been removed to match her scenes immediately prior and after. Audio has been redesigned to accompany a finished film, and the sequence retimed to accommodate it. (FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat)

When Finn is introduced to Leia, removed mention of the Hosnian system's destruction, though retained mention that Finn had worked on the base (thanks to FX work by NeverarGreat).
 
R2 now has a blinking light to indicate that he has begun searching for the map. (FX by NeverarGreat)
 
After Rey resists Kylo Ren's mind probe, added the portion of the Snoke scene from earlier where General Hux suggests using the weapon to destroy the Republic. Kylo Ren’s face has been overlaid where his mask was for one shot, and a few shots from behind have had the back of his head replace his hood. (FX by Jackpumpkinhead and krlozdac)

Fixed two continuity errors introduced by the restructuring: Snoke is now seen rising from his seat in a new context rather than suddenly appearing upright, and his mouth no longer moves in a shot in which he is silent. (Thanks to NeverArGreat for the former.)
 
Moved General Hux's impassioned speech to after Kylo Ren overreacts to Rey's escape from her cell.
 
After the speech, the nearby Sun beings to be drained, as Hux and the troops gaze upon the stream being sucked into the planet. (Recolored to yellow-orange, and reversed so as to appear to be going down into the ground)
 
During the briefing scene at the Resistance base, removed Leia identifying their base as the Starkiller's next target, Threepio lamenting the prior loss of the Republic fleet, and well as mention that the First Order is charging the weapon "again."
 
Cleaned up the smoke and debris around the Starkiller weapon exhaust when the X-Wings approach. (FX by NeverarGreat)

During a brief cutaway to the Resistance base as Han and Chewie infiltrate the oscillator, removed Threepio's line, "It would take a miracle to save us now."

Removed Finn’s comedic moment of misunderstanding Han’s head nod while searching for Rey (Mimicked DigModiFicaTion’s approach).
 
Immediately after Kylo Ren kills Han, the Starkiller fires and destroys the Hosnian system, as Leia senses it through the Force. (Some FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat; V6 uses a shot from Starlight to remove an extra casually walking by during Leia’s reaction shot)*
 
As Finn and Rey start to head outside the oscillator, cut to Snoke and Hux planning to destroy the Resistance. (FX by Sir Ridley)

First Order technician redubbed to state the weapon will be fully “re”-charged in 30 seconds. (Voice from AbramPT)

Chewie has been cropped out of a shot of him walking past Leia. (Crop and image enhancement by Sir Ridley)

Extended the shot of R2 waking up, to allow him to finish searching his backup data. (FX by NeverarGreat)

Added a cloaked binary beacon from TLJ next to Finn (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Color corrected Ach-to to bring it a little closer to the corresponding scene’s lighting and weather conditions in The Last Jedi.

Added a few subtle porg sounds to the background, replacing two native bird sounds.

The final shot of the film has been stabilized. (FX by NeverarGreat)
TFA_restructured_itunes_thumbnail
TFA_restructured_bluray_coverart
TFA_restructured_dvd_coverart
Faneditor Name:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2015
Original Running Time:
136 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
137 minutes
Time Cut:
1 minutes
Time Added:
1 minutes
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
It's the same Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens you fell in love with, only restructured slightly so that Starkiller Base does not fire until close to the end of the film. During the battle over Starkiller Base, the stakes are no longer protecting the Resistance base, but preventing the destruction of the Republic Capitol. Even though they destroy the First Order's superweapon, they fail to do so in time to save the day.
Intention:
To move the destruction of the Hosnian system to the climax of the film, implementing all the little things necessary to facilitate it seamlessly, and address a few other minor things.
 
How does this restructuring help the film?
- The second act centers around the events of Maz's castle and remains focused on the characters and their struggle to keep the First Order from finding the map to Luke. The First Order catching up to Han and Rey is sufficient motivation for Finn to decide not to leave, without the Hosnian system being destroyed.
- Starkiller Base firing upon the Hosnian system in the third act links it very closely to Kylo Ren's resolution toward the dark side as he kills Han. Pairing these events magnifies each.
- Han taking a risk motivated by love for his son which brings about costly failure is a dark mirror of Vader doing the same in Return of the Jedi and ending up helping to save the galaxy.
- It alleviates the plot's very close parallel with the original Star Wars.
- Starkiller Base is depicted as functioning in an intuitive way: it drains the nearby star (or "the Sun," as Finn describes it), which covers it in darkness, and then fires on the Republic Capitol. Gone are the awkward questions about why the planet was still in daylight when it fired the first time during the second act, and whether the base is mobile.
- It avoids depicting the Hosnian system clearly visible to the naked eye, very large in the sky, from lightyears away. The official Lucasfilm canon answer is that Starkiller Base created a "space-time disruption," an obvious bandaid answer to apologize for a wanton move on the filmmakers' part. One wonders whether such intersystem spectacles are common in this world, because no one who witnessed the destruction had the slightest trouble identifying what was happening.
- It avoids raising the question of why the Resistance did not begin evacuating their base during the third act when they know they are the target. In the original Star Wars, the Death Star was looming overhead; here, there's no obvious reason why they could not have fled.
Additional Notes:
This project was born of the emergent idea from all over the Internet after we all saw the film. Numerous people atOriginalTrilogy.com suggested this idea immediately after release. See also William Gillis’ blog post which explains his rationale for desiring this change: https://humaniterations.net/2016/03/26/how-to-fix-the-force-awakens/
Other Sources:
Various sound effects from the Star Wars franchise
Special Thanks:
Everyone at OriginalTrilogy.com who contributed, including:
NeverarGreat (Visual and audio effects)
Sir Ridley (Visual and audio effects)
Jackpumpkinhead (Visual effects)
Sherman (Cover artwork)
MalàStrana (English and French subtitles)
Octorox
Smithers
Chris Solo
Ben_danger
That_OT_Ruler
RogueLeader
Kexikus
Bingowings
Darthrush
ImperialFighter
Yuri_Kenobi
Littlev87
Tomo
Cheebo
DominicCobb
TK251
SkywalkerFan01
Rpvee
Scott109
DigMod
DuracellEnergizer
Sougouk
EddieDean
Willrow-Hood
ForceGhostRecon
Jack of All Trades
Vladius
Spiphisser
Marduk666
Chyron8472
HyperDown
Oojason
DougieP
Edezio Enk’or Valorum
Hardcore Legend
JawsTDS
Yotsuya
StarWarsFan Sweden
Valheru_84
KumoNin
SUP3RDeathStar
Jarbear
Bromeo
RogueLeader
AbramPT
Darth_ender
Possessed
YodaFan67
ChainsawAsh
Guilty
Ray_afraid
Anjohan
Tobar
Fishmanlee 
Krlozdac

Others:
William Gillis (Blogger who voiced the core idea for this project which appeared shortly after the film’s release)
Noodle_Finger (fan editor behind a prior TFA edit)
Release Information:
  • Digital
  • DVD
Special Features:
- Fan Editor's commentary track
- Chapter stops
- Subtitles (English and French) (Not present on DVD5 release)

1080p BluRay-compatible mkv:
- H.264, 1920x1080p, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 DTS
- 5.1 448kbps AC3 audio

Smaller 1080p iTunes-compatible mp4:
- 1920x1080, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 384kbps AAC audio
- 5.1 DTS

DVD5:
- 720x480, 23.976 fps video
- 5.1 448kbps AC3 audio
Cuts and Additions:
Cuts and Additions (V6 changes marked with asterisks):

Poe’s ladder retracts as he prepares to take off from Jakku (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Removed the glow from Kylo Ren’s saber during a shot it is deactivated (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

As Finn mans the TIE fighter with Poe, trimmed firing upon fellow stormtroopers so soon after planning to escape. Now, he causes peripheral damage to prevent them from firing at him and takes aim at the command center. (Slightly shifted the placement of the film’s trademark Wilhelm scream in order to retain it.)

Removed Kylo Ren identifying Finn’s stormtrooper ID from memory.

Added the Falcon jumping to hyperspace after leaving Jakku, then being ripped from hyperspace soon after, along with removing a now-out-of-place line from Finn about “get[ting] out of this system.” (FX by NeverarGreat)

Trimmed Finn repeating, “cute boyfriend.”*

Removed Han’s somewhat kindly, “Come on outta there” to Finn and Rey while leaving the directional nod (thanks to NeverArGreat).

Removed Rey saving Finn from the rathtars, cutting from Finn’s line, “They look like that,” to Han and Chewie arriving at the door to the Falcon.

Removed General Hux from the first scene with Snoke, where he suggests using the weapon to destroy the Republic. (FX by Jackpumpkinhead to remove Hux walking offscreen during first shot)

Removed Finn’s comedic line about almost being killed several times by Chewie while tending to him on the Falcon (Mimicked DigModiFicaTion’s approach).

Removed the holochess game cameo (help from NeverArGreat and Burbin).

Removed Han describing the need for Maz to help them get a ‘clean ship.’ It doesn’t add anything, and their motives are already clear enough. (Idea from NeverArGreat)

Subtle rendition of the first part of the Emperor’s Theme has been added to the Imperial March as we see Vader’s shattered helmet (thanks to Sir Ridley).

Trimmed Maz’s journey across the table (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Added two lines from the Emperor during Rey’s Force vision to very gently hint toward the revelations within Episode IX.

Repurposed excised footage from the rathtar sequence to depict Rey separated from Finn in her Force vision. (Thanks to NeverArGreat)
 
After Rey flees Maz's castle after her Force vision, replaced the Hosnian system being destroyed in the sky with a Star Destroyer. Finn and Han now gaze up to see that the First Order has caught up with them, as they feared. Finn’s line to Han about the First Order has been changed, including a brief visual modification to his mouth. (FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat)

Added a shot of the ship Finn is preparing to leave on, to imply Rey is planning to accompany him (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Throughout the battle at Maz’s castle, applied a slight sunset color correction to harmonize the sunset lighting present before and afterward.

Audio from the trailer was used to add a sound effect to a TIE being shot down (turned out to be barely noticeable, but I did it anyway).

Slightly restructured Finn running after Rey (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*
 
New deleted scene included of Leia discussing the Republic. The scene was originally intended for earlier in the film, and Leia’s prominent braid has been removed to match her scenes immediately prior and after. Audio has been redesigned to accompany a finished film, and the sequence retimed to accommodate it. (FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat)

When Finn is introduced to Leia, removed mention of the Hosnian system's destruction, though retained mention that Finn had worked on the base (thanks to FX work by NeverarGreat).
 
R2 now has a blinking light to indicate that he has begun searching for the map. (FX by NeverarGreat)
 
After Rey resists Kylo Ren's mind probe, added the portion of the Snoke scene from earlier where General Hux suggests using the weapon to destroy the Republic. Kylo Ren’s face has been overlaid where his mask was for one shot, and a few shots from behind have had the back of his head replace his hood. (FX by Jackpumpkinhead and krlozdac)

Fixed two continuity errors introduced by the restructuring: Snoke is now seen rising from his seat in a new context rather than suddenly appearing upright, and his mouth no longer moves in a shot in which he is silent. (Thanks to NeverArGreat for the former.)
 
Moved General Hux's impassioned speech to after Kylo Ren overreacts to Rey's escape from her cell.
 
After the speech, the nearby Sun beings to be drained, as Hux and the troops gaze upon the stream being sucked into the planet. (Recolored to yellow-orange, and reversed so as to appear to be going down into the ground)
 
During the briefing scene at the Resistance base, removed Leia identifying their base as the Starkiller's next target, Threepio lamenting the prior loss of the Republic fleet, and well as mention that the First Order is charging the weapon "again."
 
Cleaned up the smoke and debris around the Starkiller weapon exhaust when the X-Wings approach. (FX by NeverarGreat)

During a brief cutaway to the Resistance base as Han and Chewie infiltrate the oscillator, removed Threepio's line, "It would take a miracle to save us now."

Removed Finn’s comedic moment of misunderstanding Han’s head nod while searching for Rey (Mimicked DigModiFicaTion’s approach).
 
Immediately after Kylo Ren kills Han, the Starkiller fires and destroys the Hosnian system, as Leia senses it through the Force. (Some FX by Sir Ridley and NeverarGreat; V6 uses a shot from Starlight to remove an extra casually walking by during Leia’s reaction shot)*
 
As Finn and Rey start to head outside the oscillator, cut to Snoke and Hux planning to destroy the Resistance. (FX by Sir Ridley)

First Order technician redubbed to state the weapon will be fully “re”-charged in 30 seconds. (Voice from AbramPT)

Chewie has been cropped out of a shot of him walking past Leia. (Crop and image enhancement by Sir Ridley)

Extended the shot of R2 waking up, to allow him to finish searching his backup data. (FX by NeverarGreat)

Added a cloaked binary beacon from TLJ next to Finn (borrowed from NeverarGreat’s Starlight project)*

Color corrected Ach-to to bring it a little closer to the corresponding scene’s lighting and weather conditions in The Last Jedi.

Added a few subtle porg sounds to the background, replacing two native bird sounds.

The final shot of the film has been stabilized. (FX by NeverarGreat)
Blu-Ray Cover art by Sherman (DOWNLOAD HERE)
image


DVD Cover art by Sherman (DOWNLOAD HERE)
image

Trusted Reviewer reviews

4 reviews
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(4)
Audio Editing
 
9.5(4)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(4)
Narrative
 
9.0(4)
Enjoyment
 
9.3(4)
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Excellent work throughout. Transforms what was initially a "cover-band" version of A New Hope into a dark mirror of that film's hopefulness. Everything that went right for our heroes the first time goes terminably awful, or at least the things that felt like mere plot points in Episode IV (Obi-Wan's death, the destruction of Alderaan) resonate much more strongly here, thanks to the editor's re-alignment of events. The First Order is framed as dangerous insurrectionists who have managed to strike a blow against democracy, and the galaxy is upended once again, setting the stage for much more tense stakes of the next instalment. No amount of editing can smooth over the lucky coincidence-powered story beats that fuel this movie, but theme and character are at least allowed center stage to distract the viewer from these failings. I look forward to seeing what miracles Hal9000 can work with Episode IX next...

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Not much to add to the many reviews:

- The main edit effort works, firing once instead of twice. It doesn't feel like anything is missing from the film.

- Edited transitions are seamless.

- My kids didn't realize they were watching a fanedit, despite having seen the theatrical multiple times.

- This edit successfully replaces the theatrical for me.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
There isn't much I can add to what others have said. The editing, both video and sound, are topnotch with neither having any obvious cuts/transitions. PQ and SQ are excellent, and the pacing of the edit works well. Hal fixed my biggest issue with this film, everyone seeing Starkiller Base destroy Hosnian Prime regardless of where they were in the galaxy.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
7.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Though I've been following this project (and other TFA edits) with interest, I'm one of the few under the impression that the film doesn't really need an edit. Maybe there's a trim or two to be made and a deleted scene or so that could be added, but nothing necessarily has to be changed for me to love the film. As is, it's already fantastic.

Hal seems to be mostly under the same impression and his changes are minimal - a gentle restructure as he calls it. Though I've been against the idea of this restructure since I first heard it, it is an intriguing concept. So, since I had some free time for the first time in a while (and was a little down in the dumps and needed a Star Wars charged pick me up), I decided, why not? let's see how this plays out.

Let me just say up front I did not expect the restructure to work AT ALL. The acknowledged errors in the edit aside (Finn saying "they've done it," Kylo's mask continuity error), I just didn't think narratively it would work nor would it in terms of seamless editing. So, while I must say I still think I was mostly right, I will also say I am surprised at how close it came to almost working.

I'll try to go beat by beat and describe what I mean:
- First of all, there's a change that didn't happen that I think needed to - the crawl. For the Base to show it's previously unannounced weapon for the first time in the second half of the film is just a big no no. Doesn't work. If Starkiller Base comes out of nowhere in the theatrical TFA it does so even worse here where it's first mention comes almost a full 40 minutes after it's first mention in the theatrical cut. I understand with the restructure there's not much to be done except for the crawl, which I think would be a real Hail Mary for the Base and establish the threat right off the bat (rather than being an afterthought) and perhaps the First Order's intentions as well (which were a bit hazy in the theatrical and worse here).
- The first big change is the removal of the first Starkiller attack and the subsequent replacement with the arriving First Order fleet. Visually I think it mostly works (shame there isn't some way to fit the shots of Kylo on the Finalizer bridge into this) but the music just kills it. Hearing bits of "The Starkiller" over this just does not fit. The First Order coming is not sad, it's suspenseful and threatening. I think this change could work with a proper rescore but as of now it does not (and I can get pass the misplaced Finn line).
- The second change is the Snoke scene shuffle. Works like a charm and honestly the Kylo mask isn't so noticeable (though still unfortunate).
- The third change - the shifting of the Hux speech - actually works very well and was the biggest surprise to me. It just fits at that point and really gives the film the different, non-ANH vibe that the edit is going for. It makes me really want to believe that this concept is possible because this change makes things make sense that I wasn't sure would (namely the Resistance's reaction).
- The final change is the ultimate placement of the destruction of the Hosnian system. Emotionally it works. The music edit isn't quite perfect but that's not really the big issue. It just doesn't quite make sense, namely, the nonreaction to it. I'm not sure Leia is enough. Part of the issue is by this point we've almost forgotten that the Base is going to fire so when it does it's a little random (could honestly do with some more fire preparations and Resistance base learning it's about to fire). I know it's very tricky getting this to work in there what with the main emotional beat at this point (Han and Ben) taking precedence, but as of this version, I'm not feeling it.
- Finally, another non change that should have been. The X-Wing pilot celebration is trimmed but more needs to be done. Poe with a smile on his face saying their work is done feels so wrong - they failed! Maybe if there was some way to imply that the weapon was about to fire again at the Resistance? Otherwise the trench run feels so hollow and almost pointless. And then, when they get back, there's cheering and clapping. It just doesn't make sense how it plays out now.

Yeah, so in the end I don't think the restructure is really working but I believe this edit is a good starting point; a solid sign that this can be possible. If not now, then maybe soon.
Owner's reply September 11, 2016

Thanks for the insightful and honest review.
I too hope that this project can be improved upon in the future. If this edit solves 10 problems, it seems like it creates 9 more. But the thing is... those 10 problems were really annoying!
One thing I am convinced of is that the film would have been better if they had shot it with all this in mind in the first place. Less certain is whether it can truly be done well via fan editing.

Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

28 reviews
 
93%
 
7%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.9(28)
Audio Editing
 
9.8(28)
Visual Editing
 
9.7(28)
Narrative
 
9.3(28)
Enjoyment
 
9.4(28)
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(Updated: May 16, 2024)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I already enjoyed the force awakens when it came out, but this edit somehow manages to improve an already nearly perfect picture, transforming into something else.
By removing some excessively comedic lines and restructuring the third act in an inventive way, this version of the force awakens is a true love letter to the galaxy far far away we all know and adore.
Excellent job, Hal.

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Yes
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(Updated: October 25, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: Restructured gives new life to what I consider the last good mainline Star Wars film.
After watching Hal's prequel edits, I had every intention of watching the "Custom Special Edition" cuts of the original trilogy. However morbid curiosity took me down a different path and I found myself skipping ahead to Episode VII. I figured if I didn't like rewatching the sequels, I can always wash the taste off with the originals. While I've heard plenty of great things about Hal's prequel edits -- which led me to create this account in the first place -- I intentionally held off on looking into opinions on the sequel edits, because I want to experience these cuts blind.
I personally loved The Force Awakens when it came out, I was 100% on board the hype train and put all my faith in this trilogy. Even with the gift of 20/20 hindsight, I don't think I could have ever predicted just how badly this trilogy would sour my love for this series. However, I can still watch The Force Awakens and have an enjoyable time despite the moments that now make my eyes roll given the context of what comes next.
That being said, I'm very happy with the restructuring done by Hal with this edit. Specifically the choice to move the destruction of the Hosnian system to the final act was genius, it's executed so seamlessly that I forgot I was watching the movie out of order and actually felt the bittersweetness of the victory destroying Starkiller Base, as even though they accomplished their goal, they were too late to save the Republic. In the back of my mind while watching fan edits I can usually recognize when things are switched around or added, no matter how clever the editing, and I must admit this recut actually got me to stop thinking about that in the final act and enjoy the ride. In a lot of ways, it almost feels like I was watching this movie for the first time all over again and getting a spark of that hype I felt in the theater.
There were still moments left in the movie that I didn't care for, but overall, I absolutely recommend this fan edit. Hal, you do good work.

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Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Though it had its flaws, I quite enjoyed the original TFA and thought it was a very promising start to the new Trilogy when I first saw it in 2016. One of the criticisms TFA had was its structural similarity to ANH, and while I think TFA was different enough to set it apart, the demonstration of the Starkiller weapon and the destruction of the Hosnian system felt like the destruction of Alderaan by the Death Star. Moving that sequence toward the end made good narrative sense and I thought that the Takodana section was edited fantastically to facilitate this change, but I couldn't help but feel like it threw the pacing of the third act off, despite how well edited it was. Maybe it's just a subjective thing, because this edit is definitely well done otherwise and I highly recommend it. It's a great alternative cut, but it doesn't replace the original for me.

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Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Great edit. I really enjoyed the overall restructuring to move Hosnian System to the end of the movie. The overall restructured nature of this edit works very well.

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Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
The force awakens was always my favourite of the sequel trilogy and this edit adds to it in good stuff. it wasn't perfect and but it wa good

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Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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