LoMN Deleted Scene + Sound Design!

[TheSkeletonMan939]

I recently unearthed some videos from the website of Roy Braverman, a sound designer for the three BIONICLE films we know and love. These videos showed some of his work for Legends of Metru Nui, and they're all Vakama dream sequences. There's no dialogue or music, just sound effects.

 

 

I know what you're thinking, BZPer: "Boo! Skelly is a liar, I didn't see any deleted scenes! Who cares about sound design?" Well I care about sound design, that's really rude of you. And I said there were three videos, didn't I? Here's the third one.

 

Now admittedly, I didn't notice anything odd about the footage itself and was only excited about these clips because of their SFX-only nature, because I'm a sound geek, ya' know? But my buddy Vahkiti alerted me to the fact that in the final cut in the film, the Coliseum does not explode and crumble! I didn't believe him until I investigated myself - and he's right! The final film features the Coliseum shrouded in blue mist. See?

 

That means I have unwittingly revealed to the world never-before-seen deleted footage from the movie! But why was it deleted in the first place? My guess is that it just seemed too violent for a kids movie, but Makuta turning everyone into pod people and killing an old man on-screen is suitable for all ages, I suppose.

 

Braverman's website is really cool, check it out.

Edited September 29, 2015 by Black Six

[emily]

I know in my heart that they cut the Coliseum exploding because they worried it would be too violent, but man I wish they hadn't cut it. As it is, Vakama freaks out and says his vision shows the city destroyed, but in reality its just... foggy. It always confused me as a kid.

 

The second video is also different from the final cut, Lhikan has his back turned in this version and the final one has him facing forward.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Wow, you're right!

 

At first I was a little disappointed that Braverman only shared the dream sequences and nothing else, but now I'm beginning to get an understanding of just how small the changes can be in the editing room, even for low-budget DTV films like this.

Edited August 31, 2015 by TheSkeletonMan939

[Toatapio Nuva]

Amazing finds! I really like the Coliseum destruction scene, but I can see why it didn't make it to the final movie. Also, interesting to see Lhikan facing a different direction in the second video... seems like symbolism to me.

[emily]

Also, interesting to see Lhikan facing a different direction in the second video... seems like symbolism to me.

I know right? It's great because it encapsulates how Vakama is holding himself up to an impossible standard that he has mentally embodied in Lhikan. Basically it would've added more buildup to the real Lhikan's sacrifice, and Vakama's realization that a) Lhikan is already proud of him and b) he really needs to work on his confidence a little.

[Bonkle]

Very interesting. I've always been fascinated by prototypes and deleted scenes. Good find!

[SPIRIT]

I'm guessing the part with the Coliseum blowing up was removed due to its similarities to the attacks on September 11th, which some editor might have been concerned would upset someone (the movie did only come out 3 years after, remember).  It's a shame, really, because that scene makes a whole lot more sense with the exploding buildings.

Edited September 1, 2015 by SPIRIT

[Toa Turing]

I'm guessing the part with the Coliseum blowing up was removed due to its similarities to the attacks on September 11th, which some editor might have been concerned would upset someone (the movie did only come out 3 years after, remember).  It's a shame, really, because that scene makes a whole lot more sense with the exploding buildings.

 

That makes a lot of sense actually. It would explain why this was cut while other, arguably more violent scenes were not.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

I'm guessing the part with the Coliseum blowing up was removed due to its similarities to the attacks on September 11th, which some editor might have been concerned would upset someone (the movie did only come out 3 years after, remember).  It's a shame, really, because that scene makes a whole lot more sense with the exploding buildings.

 

That's what I thought as well, especially the way the building crumbles layer by layer... not unlike what happened on 9/11.

 

But I wish they'd kept it in, it's a lot more powerful of a scene this way.

[MrSciFiGuy]

Explosion makes more sense than blue fog, but if they blew it up where would Sidorak sit? Interesting workaround for the third movie

[fishers64]

Explosion makes more sense than blue fog, but if they blew it up where would Sidorak sit? Interesting workaround for the third movie

Twas only a dream, my friend. Only a dream. 

[masterchirox580]

I don't see why the coliseum being destroyed was too violent. I mean they had a death scene in that movie. 

[Bonkle]

I don't see why the coliseum being destroyed was too violent. I mean they had a death scene in that movie. 

As mentioned above, most likely 9/11. I seem to recall an explosion in Spongebob that was edited out, despite it not being a building being destroyed.

[Tuuli]

 

 

I don't see why the coliseum being destroyed was too violent. I mean they had a death scene in that movie.

As mentioned above, most likely 9/11. I seem to recall an explosion in Spongebob that was edited out, despite it not being a building being destroyed.

Yes that was all I could relate it to when watching it, looked just like the 9/11 incident.

[Rooster Nui]

While I do like that deleted scene, I'm glad it got shoved out the window. LEGO and Miramax need to be safe, and so should the viewers of a PG-rated movie. Symbolic references can be disturbing, accidental or not. 

 

Anyway, those sound effects are cool, though very unfitting they are. There's definitely some interesting stuff here.

[talos4]

I betcha' it was dropped because of 9/11. In the wake of it, it probably would have seemed incredibly incensitive and in poor taste, especially for a kids movie. I gotta say though, Vakama confused me too, the way he freaks out about a cloudy city...

[Master Inika]

Very interesting find! Just wondering, though, how did you find it? I got a message that it's unlisted.

 

On the exploding Coliseum topic, it would have made the film make more sense, but someone would have had to get offended by it.

[Tamarutoe]

So the rationale for removing the third scene makes a lot of sense. Anybody have any explanation for why the first two were different? 

 

I'm also starting to wonder whether something like this exists for MoL or WoS...

[Toa TAK]

Oh man that's really cool. So glad you were able to find these and share. The kinda "white noise" effect is pretty cool, and I wonder why they decided to change the Coliseum from *boom* to *cloudy day*. Though, I do think the shadows around it works much better.

 

TAK

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Just wondering, though, how did you find it? I got a message that it's unlisted.

 

Roy Braverman embedded them in his website.

 

It's cool, you guys should take a look around.

[Alia of AGL]

Wow, that third clip is surprisingly terrifying. Maybe it's because it doesn't have the "SAVE THE HEART OF METRU NUI..." narration over it, and the 9/11 parallels are WAAAY too close for comfort, but that scene approaches the creepiness of some of Disney's deleted scenes.

 

That scene did bug me a lot growing up, though. I just assumed the city was decayed in the final shot.

[Vahkiti Master of Time]

Neat, this got front page! ^-^ I was actually kind of startled when I found the deleted scene because of how in-your-face it was, but at the same time, it makes that scene make far more sense.

On a semi related note, get back into the BMP GDoc when you get a chance. Idk, we should work on a project. It's been a thousand forevers since BMP's done anything worth anything. xD

Edited September 30, 2015 by Vahkiti Master of Time

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

It's so interesting how much original Bionicle trilogy BTS is popping up recently. Respect to Roy Braverman, he did a stellar job with the sound design on the original trilogy (didn't they win awards for this?)

 

As for the videos... Woah. The changes are really minimal, but just enough to be very uncanny. The Metru Nui destruction was cool, but I could see how it might have been too dark.

 

-NotS

[TheSkeletonMan939]

It's so interesting how much original Bionicle trilogy BTS is popping up recently. Respect to Roy Braverman, he did a stellar job with the sound design on the original trilogy (didn't they win awards for this?)

 

I believe both Mask of Light and Legends won sound-related awards. Maybe Web too, I don't remember.

Edited October 6, 2015 by TheSkeletonMan939