Transformers: Darkest Hour

Updated
 
8.3
 
9.5 (1)
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Transformers: Darkest Hour
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1986, 1987
Original Running Time:
66 minutes minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
63 minutes minutes
Time Cut:
9 minutes minutes
Time Added:
6 minutes minutes
Synopsis:
The Season 3 episodes, "Dark Awakening" and "The Return of Optimus Prime", are combined into a short film.
Intention:
I wanted to create a "theatrical" (or at least home video) experience of these three Season 3 episodes.
Additional Notes:
The source for this edit were the 2010 North American DVDs from The Shout! Factory.

The ripper software used was DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15. The editing software used was Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD 5.0. The DVD-authoring software used was Womble DVD Editor.
Other Sources:
"Critical Mass", a piece that Transformers 1986 movie composer Vince DiCola composed as a lead-in to Stan Bush's "Ground Zero" (the theme to BotCon 1997), was taken from Stan's BotCon album, "Call to Action", and used during the opening credits.

For the closing credits, I used "Let's Fly" by Lance Matthew from the 1994 "Gatchaman" OVA.
Special Thanks:
bionicbob for the cover art
Release Information:
DVD
Special Features:
*Trailers
*Saturation Featurette
*Easter egg
Editing Details:
I wanted to create an edit based on the most dire situation in the universe of the originally Transformers TV series - the Hate Plague. I added Optimus Prime's original return as a precursor to that. I got rid of the opening and closing themes, the faction-symbol scene transitions, and the commercial fades, and I created new opening and closing credit sequences, in order to create a "movie" feel. I also cranked up the saturation to max to make it look a bit more like the animated movie, and I cut a very silly moment.
Cuts and Additions:
*cut all opening themes
*added Sunbow/Marvel logo from the animated movie
*created new opening credits; added new theme
*cut all episode titles
*cut all faction-symbol scene transitions
*cut all commercial fades and bumpers
*added fade transitions where helpful
*mixed music where needed
*cut Grimlock's temper tantrum
*cut Springer's "I mean it, Arcee" line
*added rescue scenes from TRoOP1 into the sacrifice scene in DA
*cut Optimus' ship exploding in DA
*cut Ratbat's return to the sports stadium and Soundwave announcing it
*some lines cut when TRoOP2 title removed
*cut all closing themes
*created new closing credits; added song
markmooretransformerdvd3
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1986, 1987
Original Running Time:
66 minutes minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
63 minutes minutes
Time Cut:
9 minutes minutes
Time Added:
6 minutes minutes
Synopsis:
The Season 3 episodes, "Dark Awakening" and "The Return of Optimus Prime", are combined into a short film.
Intention:
I wanted to create a "theatrical" (or at least home video) experience of these three Season 3 episodes.
Additional Notes:
The source for this edit were the 2010 North American DVDs from The Shout! Factory.

The ripper software used was DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15. The editing software used was Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD 5.0. The DVD-authoring software used was Womble DVD Editor.
Other Sources:
"Critical Mass", a piece that Transformers 1986 movie composer Vince DiCola composed as a lead-in to Stan Bush's "Ground Zero" (the theme to BotCon 1997), was taken from Stan's BotCon album, "Call to Action", and used during the opening credits.

For the closing credits, I used "Let's Fly" by Lance Matthew from the 1994 "Gatchaman" OVA.
Special Thanks:
bionicbob for the cover art
Release Information:
DVD
Special Features:
*Trailers
*Saturation Featurette
*Easter egg
Editing Details:
I wanted to create an edit based on the most dire situation in the universe of the originally Transformers TV series - the Hate Plague. I added Optimus Prime's original return as a precursor to that. I got rid of the opening and closing themes, the faction-symbol scene transitions, and the commercial fades, and I created new opening and closing credit sequences, in order to create a "movie" feel. I also cranked up the saturation to max to make it look a bit more like the animated movie, and I cut a very silly moment.
Cuts and Additions:
*cut all opening themes
*added Sunbow/Marvel logo from the animated movie
*created new opening credits; added new theme
*cut all episode titles
*cut all faction-symbol scene transitions
*cut all commercial fades and bumpers
*added fade transitions where helpful
*mixed music where needed
*cut Grimlock's temper tantrum
*cut Springer's "I mean it, Arcee" line
*added rescue scenes from TRoOP1 into the sacrifice scene in DA
*cut Optimus' ship exploding in DA
*cut Ratbat's return to the sports stadium and Soundwave announcing it
*some lines cut when TRoOP2 title removed
*cut all closing themes
*created new closing credits; added song
Cover art by Bionic Bob (DOWNLOAD HERE) image

Trusted Reviewer review

1 review
Overall rating
 
8.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Audio Editing
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
8.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This was a neat edit, I believe Mark's second TF Animated fanedit. The editing was pretty good, but some transitions could have been handled better. The saturation adjustment was too far, but looked good mostly.

A very fun watch, if you're a Transformer Animated Series fan you should check this out.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
DVD
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User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(1)
Audio Editing
 
9.0(1)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(1)
Narrative
 
9.0(1)
Enjoyment
 
10.0(1)
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I am very impressed with the visual rendering, and the comparison video Mark packaged with the edit proved educational and were reminiscent of the TF Movie DVDs I picked up in 2007 which boasted similar features.

On a narrative level, the story is very clear and both Optimus revival episodes compliment each other well, I quite like how Mark synched up Optimus's suicide mission with his rescue. Being an editor I have often wondered if one could skirt around showing the crisp and clean looking Optimus the whole time the rescue mission was underway, but watching it with it fresh again in the memory I can now say that would prove monumentally difficult. Obviously the continuity gaffs can't be avoided, but the storyline still works.

There were instances where I feel the traditional Autobot/Decepticon logo flips would have provided better transistions than some abrupt cutaways and transistion fade-ins, the sequence following Prime being revived for example is quite sudden, as is a scene from earlier which switches from a sun to the moon (visually that's great, it's just the audio cut that sticks out)

I had an issue with Optimus being brought up to speed, but Mark explained why it was neccersary to keep the recap of part one in the edit even if we as the audience know what's going on, and I understand the choice better.

There is plenty to enjoy in this omnibus, and it was good to revisit some of these really solid run of storylines and characters, combined with a firm restructuring of the visual specifications, I would still recommend viewing this edit even if I have a feeling it's only a few steps away from being truly refined

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
DVD
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0