Editing The Phantom Edit

{{Short description|2000 film}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Phantom Edit''}}
[[Image:Phantom Edit.jpg|thumb|The VHS cover]]
'''''Star Wars Episode I.I: The Phantom Edit''''' is a [[fan edit]] of the film ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'', removing many elements of the original film. The purpose of the edit, according to creator [[Mike J. Nichols]], was to make a much stronger version of ''The Phantom Menace'' based on the previous execution and philosophies of film storytelling and editing of [[George Lucas]].<ref name="Salon">{{cite web|url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/11/05/phantom_edit/index.html|title=The Phantom Edit |website=Salon.com |author=Daniel Kraus |date=November 5, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715062244/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/11/05/phantom_edit/index.html |archive-date=July 15, 2009}}</ref> ''The Phantom Edit'' was the first unauthorized re-edit of ''The Phantom Menace'' to receive major publicity and acclaim and is also considered the first fan-edit of a feature film ever to be shared by an online audience.<ref name="PBS">{{cite news |author=Mann, Charles C. |title=Hollywood Goes Digital, Like It or Not |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hollywood/digital/mann.html |website=PBS.org |date=November 22, 2001 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1125961|title='Star Wars' - The Phantom Edit|date=July 16, 2001|work=NPR.org}}</ref>

==History==
''The Phantom Edit'' was originally circulated in [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] studios in 2000 and 2001, and was followed by media attention. [[Salon.com]],<ref name="Salon"/> [[National Public Radio|NPR]],<ref name="NPR"/> [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]],<ref name="PBS"/> and the [[BBC]]<ref name="BBC">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1375742.stm | work=BBC News | title=Mystery of Star Wars phantom edit | date=June 7, 2001 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref> all covered the edit to various degrees.

Rumor initially attributed ''The Phantom Edit'' to [[Kevin Smith]], who admitted to having seen the re-edit but denied that he was the editor. The editor was revealed to be [[Mike J. Nichols]] of [[Santa Clarita, California]], in the September 7, 2001, edition of ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref>{{cite news | first = Daniel | last = Greenberg | title = Thumbs Down? Re-Edit the Flick Yourself | date = September 7, 2001 | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/79888484.html?dids=79888484:79888484&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | pages = E.01 | access-date = March 10, 2012 | archive-date = February 25, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130225091749/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/79888484.html?dids=79888484:79888484&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[Lucasfilm]], the production company of series creator George Lucas, condoned the edit and did not pursue legal action against its distributors.<ref name="BBC"/>

==Reviews==
Critics and filmmakers have commented on the original ''Phantom Edit'', in most cases providing the approval and recognition which furthered the fan edit movement.

* "Smart editing to say the least" — [[Kevin Smith]], film director<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rodgers|first1=Andrew|title=Kevin Smith speaks out about 'Phantom Edit'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20010703&id=jIZIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2283,2261483&hl=en|access-date=30 January 2018|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=July 3, 2001}}</ref>
* "...Materialized from out of nowhere was a good film that had been hidden inside the disappointing original one." — Daniel Kraus, ''[[Salon.com|Salon]]''<ref name="Salon"/>
* "[Done by]; someone with a gift (and equipment) for editing" — Michael Wilmington, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' film critic<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-06-18-0106180230-story.html|title='Star Wars' phantom edit: good, not better than the original|last=Wilmington|first=Michael|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2019|date=June 18, 2001}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010617161022/http://members.onecenter.com/hollywood/phantomedit/ Wayback Machine archive of ''The Phantom Edit'' fan website]
* [https://www.theforce.net/rouser/reviews/phantom_attack.asp "The Phantom Editor Strikes Again"], Joshua Griffin's April 29, 2005, review of ''Episode II.I: Attack of the Phantom'', on TheForce.net fan site

{{Non-canon Star Wars}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantom Edit}}
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 independent films]]
[[Category:Fan films based on Star Wars]]
[[Category:Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]
[[Category:Alternative versions of films]]
[[Category:Unofficial adaptations]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]