Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker: Anti-Cringe-Cut

Not bad. There are definitely choices made that I wouldn’t make, but I also understand it is a continuation of your previous edit. Of course the biggest changes in these edits is the changing of who lives and who dies. And though I do like Han Solo’s scene, and you did as good as you could probably do with it within the new narrative, I just think you should’ve ended the scene when Rey leaves. Likewise you’ve done an admirable job with de-ghostifiying Luke, but it’s still not always convincing. A small quibble, but I’d lose Zorii in the final fight and celebration. You’ve diminished her role so significantly that it’s just a weird reaction from Poe. I know people love Babu Frik but I’d still lose it. It also looks as though it might be possible to trim the “I am all the Jedi” bit so that she just has the second saber in her hand already. That would make more sense IMO because as far as I noticed, she doesn’t ever lose it in this edit. I’m also disappointed that you apparently deemed a same sex kiss “cringe-worthy.” And I’m completely confused with the color change for the lightsaber at the end.

Now the way I review these edits is to nitpick while I watch, so that’s what’s above. Overall I think this is a very good edit, particularly if you like what was done in this editor's TLJ edit. The visual editing is superb. I don’t know if it counts as visual editing, but the special effects weren’t always convincing. I’ve already mentioned the Luke ghost, but I just don’t think the effects for having Ren land his TIE work. The effect isn’t sold and to do that just to get rid of Rey’s jump move I think is a bad trade off. I’d have to double check to be sure but there were definitely some music cues that seemed to cut abruptly. It mostly it as great.

The movie definitely feels tighter and is improved. A few choices make this difficult for me to fully endorse, but it’s better than the theatrical and if you're a fan of the TLJ Anti-Cringe, you'll likely enjoy this.

Immensely enjoyable, to the point. Cut out all the dross. Would very much recommend to one and all.

Oh boy...Star Wars prequels and now the sequels. The eternal debate/fight. Well, at least for the prequels we have a ton of fan edits, plus the Lucas' versions, so it's really hard not to find your cup of tea. Which means prequels are already saved. The sequels on the other hand, mainly episodes 8+9, have a long way to go, very few fanedit choices.

Before my review for this, I should state my brief opinion on the original so you know where I'm coming from. It had stuff I hated, stuff I was bored about and some stuff I enjoyed. My overall enjoyment was like a 3-4. I saw it once in cinema and never looked back. Before watching this I tried HAL's "Ascendant", which was a "restructure" type edit, but it didn't work for me, I needed an aggressive edit. Enter DonKamillo!

Technical wise, having also seen the Episode 8 Anti-Cringe, I was a bit dissapointed. In general the audio and visual edit was good, but as the movie progressed, especially at the section with Palpatine, the jump cuts where all over the place. And it was unnecessary, because the editor could have avoided all that if he had just left Kylo alone and not force-cut him.

More specifically, the scenes below are the ones that stood out a lot:
- Cutting Ray jumping above Kylo's ship at the desert. I mean, why? Is it better to see the ship crashed for no reason at the next scene?
- The sound of the lightsabers in Kylo's quarters where they "mind fight" with Rey. I read the reasoning behind this, but no. It was super weird.
- When Rey goes to the fallen Death Star by sea and Jannah said I'll take you there. Well, we just suddenly see Jannah and Finn at the fight for no apparent reason. In the theatrical cut we know Rey left by herself, but here they left all together, yet Rey is all alone and Jannah and Finn pop up before the duel.
- After Kylo gets the map and says "Look at yourself", the sound is almost cut off for like a second.
- I found the flashback dialogue between Luke and Rey after she stabs Kylo, a bit forced and unnecessary.
- One of my biggest problems, the fadeout of Han and Ben. I mean, that's how we end the arc of this character? A fadeout? That was a big no for me, which connects it to my next point.
- The whole ending scene that had to do with Palpatine, was "full" of jumpcuts and generally changes that where pretty obvious. Something that could have being avoided by keeping Ben there.
- And lastly, something that I mentioned also in Episode 8 Anti-Cringe, the green light in Luke's saber. You could tell it was added. I obviously understand the reasons behind it, but since I could tell, I wouldn't mind the other color.

Overall, I still suggest this version to anyone who wants an aggressive edit of Episode 9, Don's is the only one. I just hope the editor will revisit it to smooth some things out and change others. For me it will be my go to version, but that is because I don't have a choice and it's a shame not to watch the final film of the saga in a future marathon.

Thank you DonKamillo, thanks to anyone who read my review and may the force be with you!

P.S. I copy pasted some of my text from my review of the Episode 8 Anti-Cringe, because it applied here also.

Ever watch a fan edit where you immediately realize that if you decide to re-watch the movie ever again, it will be edited version as opposed to the original?

This is one of those.

While my technical knowledge is very limited so I don't feel right speaking on any of the technical aspects, I did find it to be edited quite seamlessly with little to no noticeable changes or flaws in the video or audio.

Definitely would recommend to anybody who found that this last Trilogy was not enjoyable. There are still aspects of it that I still struggle with but I will be watching this version of it as I feel the changes to it as well as the finale to be way more enjoyable then what we originally got. Also important to watch The Last Jedi anti-cringe edit as well, as it does playoff the changes that were made in that as well.

This was a fascinating edit. Having to stick to the decisions made in the previous edit created my biggest issues with this edit... Luke. I'm impressed with what was done, but sadly it's not enough. A new viewer would simply wonder why Luke looked funny and glowy. It's a shame that Lucasfilm gave us no deleted scenes to resource from because the ideas here are sound.

I never minded the Indiana Jones in a Star Wars movie moments, but I admit it works better without it.

My favorite aspect is the treatment/bookend to Kylo in this. That single piece of editing was worth the entire watch. Such a powerful idea, and it simply worked.

Don's editing of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker even gave me some ideas to tinker with on my own.

Like the previous entry, it's totally worth a look. It's edits like this that make this community so much fun!