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Star Wars Uncut Project Complete

An anonymous reader writes "In 2009 we discussed the Star Wars Uncut Project, a crowd-sourced effort to re-create the entirety of Episode IV as series of 15-second clips filmed and submitted by fans. Well, it's done at last, and CmdrTaco has written his review of the two-hour film. He says, 'A great number of shots demonstrate technology well beyond what was available when the original Star Wars was made. Other shots are stylishly animated in CG. Others are rotoscoped in mediums from chalk to pencil to marker. There’s also a plethora of stop motion, claymation, and even some puppetry to go around. [A] few shots are only slightly modified from the originals, but those are the rarity, and generally done to pull off a specific joke. ... It's a glorious achievement.'"

41 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Early reviews by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Funny

    Early reviewers say that the result is worse than the original, but much better than the Special Edition.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
    1. Re:Early reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I realize you were joking, but to be honest, it's a really cool idea that produced something completely and totally unwatchable. I made it through less than five minutes, and that was extremely painful.

    2. Re:Early reviews by somersault · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Such as.. commenting on Slashdot? This is a really unique arts project, and it's probably worth watch through just for the laughs.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    3. Re:Early reviews by LateArthurDent · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I realize you were joking, but to be honest, it's a really cool idea that produced something completely and totally unwatchable. I made it through less than five minutes, and that was extremely painful.

      I personally had the exact opposite reaction. I thought it would be completely unwatchable, but once I started watching it, I couldn't stop, because it was awesome.

      I plan to watch it again with a group of friends.

    4. Re:Early reviews by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 2

      Episode I:
      "So who is this pilot, master?"
      "His name is Skywalker. He's an ace for the Republic, amassing an incredible array of kills. We're to award him a medal."
      "Sending two Jedi is a great honour."

      Then the two Jedi meet the adult Anakin, realize he's force sensitive and off the charts, so they start training him in secret. Darth Maul kills Liam Neeson.

      Episode II:
      Anakin falls in love, Jedi council encourages the marriage. Padme gets assassinated and then Anakin finds out there's a Sith way to bring people back. He goes to Korriban, learns from the Sith there, and brings Padme back.

      They have two kids, the Jedi have to kill Padme and the kids because they're all Sithy. Obi-wan fakes the kids deaths instead.

      Episode III:
      Darth Vader goes on a Jedi-hunt.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    5. Re:Early reviews by Zaphod+The+42nd · · Score: 2

      What about IV is impossible to reconcile with V? I'm just curious, not trying to say you're wrong. Did you mean the 4th and 5th movies made? (I and II ?)

      --
      GCS/MU/P d- s:- a-- C++++$ UL++ P+ L++ E+ W++ N o K- w--- O M+ V- PS+++ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5- X R++ tv+ b++ DI++ D++ G+ e++ h-
    6. Re:Early reviews by jd2112 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Early reviewers say that the result is worse than the original, but much better than the Special Edition.

      So, Han and Greedo shoot at the same time?

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
    7. Re:Early reviews by somersault · · Score: 2

      I've watched an hour so far, and it's surprisingly watchable for such a mish-mash! There have been plenty of comedy moments, and some awesome ideas/styles :)

      I wouldn't recommend it to those who haven't seen the original a few times, but that's unlikely around these parts!

      --
      which is totally what she said
    8. Re:Early reviews by funkatron · · Score: 3, Funny

      I realize you were joking, but to be honest, it's a really cool idea that produced something completely and totally unwatchable.

      So it's art!

      --
      "Welcome to our world. We are the wasted youth. And we are the future too." Yes, I know these are stupid lyrics.
    9. Re:Early reviews by sootman · · Score: 2

      Depends on who you are. I'm not even 4 minutes in and I've laughed out loud repeatedly, most recently at a perfectly serious-looking Rebel soldier wearing a newspaper hat. Obviously, anyone looking for Oscar-winning cinematography throughout will be disappointed, but it's thoroughly entertaining.

      --
      Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
    10. Re:Early reviews by nschubach · · Score: 2

      The C3P0 "sex bot" scene (After Luke buys the droids and is cleaning them) was rather disturbing, but I couldn't help but laugh my head off.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
  2. Don't get attached...Lucas will just re-cut it by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Next edit will replace everything with bad CGI, have a crying Han Solo beg Greedo for his life, and feature an extended 3D sequence of an aged Jar Jar Binks dancing a jig and flipping off the camera.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Don't get attached...Lucas will just re-cut it by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 4, Funny

      All while snorting mountains of cocaine off of dead hookers, because why not? Can't make it any worse...

      I always wondered what led to the creation of the Holiday Special.

      --
      "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
  3. Just one question by Baloroth · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does Han shoot first?

    --
    "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    1. Re:Just one question by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yes he does.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    2. Re:Just one question by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 4, Informative

      Does Han shoot first?

      See for yourself, at the 49 minute 12 second mark. Here's the time-coded link:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ezeYJUz-84#t=49m12s

    3. Re:Just one question by Alranor · · Score: 5, Informative

      Han has much nicer boobs than I remember.

    4. Re:Just one question by root_42 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Only on Slashdot this gets moderated informative... :)

      --
      [--- PGP key and more on http://www.root42.de ---]
  4. Watched it this weekend by oodaloop · · Score: 5, Informative

    Overall, I found it hysterical and very creative. 2 of my favorite parts: After the initial iconic text scrolls off the screen, there appear several Facebook-like comments, one of which is by Alderon_Dude, "Thank god I live on a peaceful planet!" The other is when Obi Won first shows Luke his father's lightsaber, done in a noir setting, apparently done just so he can say, "in a more civilized age" like Humphrey Bogart. There's a few Kill Bill references sprinkled here and there, a scene done like The Big Lebowski, etc. I loved it.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    1. Re:Watched it this weekend by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      What, you mean it's like the 2-hour film version of slashdot?

  5. Link to the project by sirdude · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here's the link to the project. Very considerate of the OP and SoulSkill to not provide it with the post :S

  6. Already blocked for german IP adresses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "This video is unavailable in Germany since it might possibly contain music for which the necessary rights have not been granted by GEMA" (my translation).

    1. Re:Already blocked for german IP adresses by devent · · Score: 2

      Yupp. Fuck GEMA. Make sure to never buy any GEMA music, instead you could just pirate the music and give the musicians a donation.

      --
      http://www.mueller-public.de - My site http://www.anr-institute.com/ - Advanced Natural Research Institute
  7. Cue Lawsuit From Lucasfilms... NOW! by Greyfox · · Score: 2

    Does Hans shoot first in this version?

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:Cue Lawsuit From Lucasfilms... NOW! by Dishevel · · Score: 2

      Only an eye twitch?
      I just killed three hookers after seeing that line.
      I bet he thinks his last name is Olo. :)

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
    2. Re:Cue Lawsuit From Lucasfilms... NOW! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 2

      Does Hans shoot first in this version?

      Ja. :)

  8. CmdrTaco! by jdavidb · · Score: 2

    I knew it! I knew you couldn't stay away! Thanks for stopping by to be part of the omelet today!

  9. Who's this CmdrTaco guy... by MikeTheGreat · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and why do his posts jump to the front page?
    Man, how many more people is Slashdot going to auto-post (I mean, how many more people beyond Ian McAllister and this "CmdrTaco" )?

    This is totally unfair

    *ducks*runs* :)

  10. The best joke.. by wbr1 · · Score: 5, Funny
    At 6:33 there is a poster in the background:

    JOIN STARFLEET
    [starfleet logo]
    We Don't Choke Minions

    Hilarious

    --
    Silence is a state of mime.
  11. SOPA by gmuslera · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is a great example on why SOPA, PIPA and all the bunch should not exist. There is a whole world of crazy things like this that could be done and won't because this kind of laws, that could enrich us all (and yes, i saw it). I think that George Lucas approved that this could be done, but there are too much other things that this kind of idea could be applied.

    1. Re:SOPA by Fned · · Score: 5, Informative

      The laws that limit how much of this can be done are hundreds of years old.

      Under the original terms of American copyright, Star Wars would have gone into the public domain six years ago.

    2. Re:SOPA by devent · · Score: 2

      And with the current politics it may never go into public domain.

      --
      http://www.mueller-public.de - My site http://www.anr-institute.com/ - Advanced Natural Research Institute
    3. Re:SOPA by Zaphod+The+42nd · · Score: 2

      Just IMAGINE if Disney hadn't lobbied nonstop to get patent law extended time and again. Star Wars would be in the public licence, and all manner of aspiring directors could make their own episodes set in the universe. Creativity could flourish in the land of the free...

      Except that once you become rich, you use your power to make sure nobody else does the same thing. Disney profited on public works when they were getting started and had a hard enough time just doing the animation. Now others can't use their stories to do the same?

      The word is Hypocrisy.

      --
      GCS/MU/P d- s:- a-- C++++$ UL++ P+ L++ E+ W++ N o K- w--- O M+ V- PS+++ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5- X R++ tv+ b++ DI++ D++ G+ e++ h-
  12. Star Wars Uncut: Special Edition by Tumbleweed · · Score: 2

    In the Star Wars Uncut: Special Edition, not only does Han shoot first, he then goes on to shoot George Lucas several times, and then fits Lucas with a Colombian Necktie. Like a boss!

    Alternate ending: Han Solo teams up with Boba Fett and Darth Maul to hunt down Lucas and toss him in the Sarlacc, after fitting him with a restraining bolt.

  13. Look, Honey... by mb1 · · Score: 2

    Nerds!

  14. Re:cant wait by LoyalOpposition · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I do believe copyright is necessary, but should only be about 15 years tops (no renew option).

    Why is that? Seriously. Do you believe that authors and inventors would no longer create writings and discoveries if there were no copyright? I imagine that ancient Rome's monopolies on copyright were quite below par, but I doubt there would be many people claiming that there was no art in ancient Rome.

    Or, look at it another way. The beneficiaries of writings and discoveries are the people who read the writings and use the discoveries. (That's interpreted loosely: obviously, one doesn't read a painting.) The copyright monopoly is part of the price we pay in order to do that. In the same way that I want to pay as little as possible when I buy a gallon of gasoline, I want to pay as little as possible when I read a writing. We shouldn't be looking at the most length for copyright monopolies, we should be looking at the least. In fact, I've seen reference to studies purporting to claim that two years is plenty long enough for a copyright in contemporary times.

    I really think that the reason things have gotten so turned around is that our legislators and artists have conspired against us. By that, I mean that copyright owners have given large amounts of money to legislators who promote strengthening of copyright, and the legislators have in turn passed copyright laws that give much more profit to copyright owners who are then able to give large amounts of money to legislators. In fact, I've read that the original copyrights were for that very purpose. Monarchs granted letters of patent to their supporters.

    I would like to see copyrights reduced to two years. I would also like a return to the previous requirement that a copyright notice appear on the writing. In fact, I would like to see a requirement that current contact information appear so that it would always be possible for people who want to copy to negotiate a license. If the contact information goes dead, then so does the copyright.

    I would also like to see patent reduced to two years. I would also like it to be limited to things that can't be reverse engineered. Patent declarations tell us how to make something, and is part of the payment an inventor makes to receive a monopoly. If it's obvious how to make something then the payment is worthless.

    I would also like to see trade secret eliminated entirely. Why are we paying the monopolists if we can't ever get the benefit?

    I would also like to see trademark weakened considerably. However, I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe allow each company only a single trademark? And it has to refer to the company name somehow? The reason I'm suggesting this is that it's supposed to give consumers confidence that the quality of the product is sufficiently high, and that it's not being counterfeited by a lower-quality producer.

    Finally, I would like to see free unicorns and rainbows. Frankly, I think I'll see the latter before I see the former, so long as the conspiracy of monopoly continues.

    ~Loyal

    --
    I aim to misbehave.
  15. I participated in this project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    And if you look closely at the background in my scene, you'll find a disk, a back flap, and a scorpion.

  16. Re:Lame and Dorky! by DerekLyons · · Score: 2

    If you were 15 back in 1977 - Carrie Fisher was very sexy. Anyone much younger than that has lived through the MTV and Baywatch eras... and may have different views due the media sexuality overload that started in the 80's/90's.

  17. Re:cant wait by Ihmhi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've said it before and I'll say it every time. A year from the first day of sale is more than enough. Damn near every medium you hear of (books, movies, games, etc.) makes it money in the first few weeks. A saying in the game and movie industries is that if you don't turn a profit by the end of the sixth week then it's a flop.

  18. A short history of Star Wars by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2

    The original was the result of a lot of talented people, many barely recognized by the casual fan, coming together and doing what they do best without to many pressures to deliver because nobody expected a Sci-Fi movie to do all that well in the late 70's.

    The next two movies were made with bigger budgets but also greater expectations, partly this was delivered on with greater special effects and better writing in the second, even better special effects in the third but at that time the demand for merchandise had overridden the need for a good story and so we got the ewoks.

    Then insane demand for more with extreem greed and no budget gave us the Holiday Special when the entire US was consumed with the idea that you could continue outsourcing animation to the lowest bidder and still have the old school classic quality of 30 years before.

    Then the special editions hit which was basically one of the talented guy's who made the original crapping over the rest of the teams work.

    The prequels of course never happened so they cannot be discussed here but if they had been made it would be by the one guy who was very good at getting a team together not getting a team together and doing everything himself...

    Rule34 then came along and redid star wars if it was a porn story.

    And now this movie shows what the original would have been like if social media users had made it... Star Wars: The Greater Internet Fuckwad cut.

    The only people that find this funny are Family Guy fans. I get the joke, doing a classic scene in another format, haha... that is funny for about 10 seconds and then it is time to cut to the next joke. It has been done! We have had lego Star Wars, ascii Star Wars and even Family Guy Star Wars (granted only watched a bit until I realized that the entire singe joke was that Family Guy did Star Wars and that parodie apparently is some kind of bird to the writers).

    The movie lasts 2 hours and 3 minutes, that is 2 hours to long. The joke of a redone Star Wars has been done to death. Let it die, stop beating that dead horse, let it rest, put it out of its misery, don't repeat yourself over and over again... get it?

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  19. Wow, have you ever read a book? by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2

    That Vader killed Anakin is hardly unknown in story telling, in fact quite a few stories tell that of the adult version killing the child version of the same person.

    In Red Dwarf, Rimmers lost good points are shown as graves in his sub concious.

    It is a pretty weak attempt to show a loop hole just because someone uses a bit of flowery language. What next, if you found out your grandfather didn't really go to sleep but croaked you are going to claim you parents lied as well? Really kid, read a book. Just one.

    The twin sister bit is also easily explained, Leia shows no signs of being a Jedi, Luke does. It isn't until the expanded universe that sorce sensitivity in Leia is ever mentioned let alone developed as her being nearly as powerful.

    Granted it is rather sexist but the son following the father and the daughter just being there to look pretty is hardly unheard off in fantasy stories.

    Ooh, I got another one for you, how come a Star Destroyer is less powerful then a Death Star that can only kill planets?

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.