Pulp Empire

Okay so if you're a die hard Star Wars fan, you're probably going to be confused by Pulp Empire! A couple of my mates watched it with me when I first viewed v1 and didn't know what to make of it. I absolutely loved this edit, and thought it was time I submitted a review considering njvc has released v2.

It's amazing what has been achieved here! It's not Star Wars as you know it, so don't expect that! It's not even a true Tarantino style film either, but for some reason it absolutely works here! I thoroughly enjoyed Pulp Empire and will continue to watch it to give me inspiration as a fan editor for motivation for my next project.

Thank you njvc for a brilliant piece of film art!

Just watched it. I actually applauded at the end of Battle Royale. I applauded. In my own lounge. On my own. Yes, it was that good.
Nit-picks: The animated scene was a stretch, and then the call back to the cave in the Battle Royale didn't work (seemed pretty random). Probably would have been better to segue the animation into the entrance of Vader in the Cave. Or use the footage of Anakin vs ObiWan, instead of the animation?
I also found the immersion was ruined by leaving in the Star Wars music cues with the mynoks (or whatever they're called) in the Space Worm. It pulled me out of the Tarantino experience.

Genius to use Empire, by far the strongest film, and genius to use the flashbacks etc., character intros, oh man, this was creative brilliance. Up there with War of the Stars.
:applause!:

Pulp Empire, while a product of NJVC's imagination, is really an insight into how much Tarantino has affected and influenced modern cinema. It is unmistakeable of who this edit is trying to invoke. Imagine, though, an edit that was trying to invoke Polanski, Spielberg or PT Anderson. Tarantino's style is so unique unto himself, and so culturally penetrating, that all it takes is a certain font or a music cue to bring up cherished film memories and impart them over the goings in this edit of Episode IV.

However, while this is a tribute in many respects, this edit isn't just hip music accompanied by a "You like that, didn't you" smirk. This is a legitimate effort in making an autonomous film experience.

Divided in chapters like Kill Bill, scored like many in Tarantino's ouvre, and sprinkled with character title cards ala Inglourious Bastards, NJVC pulls from every Tarantino cliche (an unfair word, I admit) in order to induce the filmmaker's special touch. Of particular fondness for myself was an animated sequence that followed Luke's walking into the forest sequence. NJVC even finds himself adding to the Tarantino reference pool by including a few choice soundtrack additions that, in another Universe, I think Tarantino easily could have found room for himself.

However, it's in this dedication (or is it reluctance?) of constantly using Tarantino's previous styles that starts to get in the way. After a brilliant opening with character introductions and unique editing styles used throughout the Hoth fight (preceded by the film's first chapter of Luke arriving in Dagoba), it seems like NJVC ran out of ideas. The film begins to lumber in its third chapter never regaining the momentum and excitement from the opening 20 minutes. A few slo-mo shots are added with some choice music which helps initially, but NJCV returns too often to this "fix," only to wear out its effectiveness over time. The animated sequence helps pump new blood into the edit, but again, the editing style from then on begins to weigh down under the expectations of something more. With only a 90 minute run time, a heavy drag in the film throughout its second act is a problem.

It's difficult to say specifically what would improve this film through the bulk of it's second act. Generally, what it would benefit from would be more stylized editing choices that don't reference Tarantino's work, as much as they are inspired by them. I feel like NJCV has the creative potential to do this, considering his choices he made in the film's closing chapter.

The final chapter answers the promise of ambition sparked by the film's opening. It has unique editing choices that I haven't seen in a Tarantino film, but feels right at home in his arsenal. It also echoes the strange juxtaposition that Kill Bill vol 2 had of entertainment and tenderness. This effect, perhaps more than anything, warrants high praise for this edit.

In all, this is a fantastic piece for the fan edit community. NJVC demonstrates how effectively a film can change in the right editor's hands. Indeed, his technical prowess in manipulating the score and audio tracks leaves me baffled. Reluctance aside, everybody should give this a viewing.

This is a blast!

Thank God that I finallly made it to watch this edit. I funked around for a long time, because I didn't believe that this could work at first. But now I know it does!

-----ATTENTION----mild spoiling follows-----ATTENTION-----

NEGATIVE:
- I noticed some sound issues. The new soundtrack is always more on the right channel and has some crackles (digital not Vinyl!). Or my headphones are bust...

POSITIVE:
- many slow-motion scenes with that unbearable funky soundtrack. Darth Vader comes out so damn cool!
- Nice sensemaking flashbacks to Ep. IV. They enhance the story, so that PULP EMPIRE can be watched as an individual movie with no further STAR WARS knowledge needed.
- Voice of PEI MEI for YODA
- The David Bowie scene - like a music video for SPACE ODDITY in the middle of a film
- njvc knows how to use the tools: very smooth video editing, great title work (outstanding: BOBA FETT)

This edit can be watched more than one time without loosing its attraction.
Thank you, njvc!

(this review might sound a little harsh so before I start off I just want to say that in no way whatsoever is this a personal attack on the faneditor. I have full respect for njvc and I can just imagine the work that went into making this fanedit. But I have to be honest. I just didn’t like it that much)

Okay so I finally saw it, with 19 reviews in the can and an overall score of 9.0 I thought to myself “wow this might be like just as epic as TMBTM’s grindhouse movies! You know, just epic man, just epic!” I was wrong...

The fanedit starts of really nice and I’m thinking here we go. But then it just turns into a recut version of Empire strikes back, with added slow-mo and a soundtrack instead of film score (and too many fades) that was not what I had expected. What did I expect then?
I don’t know, just more. Tarantino’s movies are more than just flash you know.
But how could you possible recut a Star Wars movie into a Tarantino movie, other than just add some Tarantino trademarks? And what could have been better?
I don’t know...This was just not what I expected and I wasn’t that much entertained to be honest (when Solo and co: was taken hostage I went into the kitchen to find something to eat, movie running. That normally never happens, I always pause)
...Speaking of Tarantino’s movies, I wouldn’t call this fanedit “a Tarantino inspired Star Wars mashup and remix.” Instead I would call it “a Kill Bill inspired Star Wars mashup and remix.”
That pretty much what this is; Kill Bill. And it doesn’t sync with Star Wars. I thought it would, but it doesn’t. And I’m sorry I have to say that. I was really looking forward to this. But all fanedits can’t be for everyone I guess. So again, all creeds to njvc for making this fanedit and I’m sorry I have to write this review but I feel like I have to be honest you know. I thought this was going to be like TMBTM’s Jaws The Sharksploitation Edit or War of the Stars. Just really really entertaining. But for me it wasn’t.

Btw I watched the mkv 720p version and everything looked super nice. And the audio a lot of people have complained about I have nothing bad to say, didn’t noticed any of the things that have been brought up, but I didn’t turn up the volume that high anyway so maybe that’s it.
All in all 5 out of 10. Not bad but not something I got much enjoyment out off either. So there you go.