Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker: Ascendant

This got to be the first time I read so many changes done to a movie with so little time cut or added! The amount of work done to this edit is incredible.

I didn't like this movie, almost at all, and I was very reluctant in watching an edit with only 4 minutes removed from the film. To give an example, the previous edit I watched was the "Anti-Cringe Cut" which removed 45 minutes. That's how much I disliked this movie. When I watched the 'Ascendant' though, the edit was so good that it made me question if I indeed did not like the original movie that much or maybe it grew on me the last four years that have passed! And then I read the list of changes, I didn't read them before watching this, and I realized that it wasn't that the movie grew on me, it was the edit that was that good. Which is also a testament to how excellent it was technical-wise. Granted, some core stuff from the plot still bothered me, but it was much more digestible now.

So, I definitely recommend this edit to anyone who can accept the fact that all the core plot elements stay, but want to see a much more polished version of the movie! For more aggressive edits check the "Anti-Cringe Cut" by DonKamillo, although it has many problems in my opinion, and the "Final Order" by Spence.

Thank you HAL9000 for all your hard work, thanks to anyone who read my review and may the force be with you!

First of all, the original is a terrible film. And maybe it can’t really be saved. This edit improves it by removing the cringe-worthy moments, but the plot is still so bad…
There were many improvements, for sure, but I felt that a lot more cuts were needed to improve the overall pacing of the film, something like 20-30min of runtime. Most of it could probably be removed from the first act, I believe.
Removing the awkward jokes helps (a lot) but I still got a sense that most of the film all the characters (on both sides) were just chasing MacGuffins for no reason.
Noticed a few artifacts in some dark scenes.

With Star Wars, the challenge presented to you will often allow the mists of hardship to clear with experience. A film like Rise of Skywalker had a lot of fog surrounding it, but experiance is what has enabled HAL and his friends to clear that fog. Minor touches cover up redundant or otherwise brutal moments of the film, lighter scenes have been moved around, and the Jedi before are given a major role towards the end of the feature, truly emphasising their power and presence within the force. Rise of Skywalker has many scenes that create the illusion of a worthy climax, but it is the heart and skill of HAL and friends that gives the illusion substance

*This is a review of Version 2 of this Fanedit*

Let me start by saying that this is easily one of the most impressive fanedits I've ever seen from a technical perspective. The new FX work, supplied by multiple contributors, is excellent, and all of it feels like it has a purpose. The editing choices are also great: several sequences flow much better than the theatrical version of the film.

Nearly all of the cuts are flawless both in visuals and audio, although I do feel the way the conversation about lightspeed skipping is cut is a little jarring. I think it would have been a better choice to leave lightspeed skipping in the movie as is.

Overall, this fanedit takes a film I intensely dislike and makes the experience go down a little easier. Frankly, I think there are fundamental flaws with this film that would require major story changes to address, but for what it is, I think this edit as about as best as it could be.

Viewing the 30+GB version, video and audio quality are great, although there is some noticeable artifacting in dark scenes like the trek through the catacombs. The new color grade really brings the movie's visuals to life.

Very streamlined movie that takes away the clunkiness and the awkward jokes, you've breathed new life into this movie! It's still the weakest movie of the sequels, but much more enjoyable to watch.