Batman Forever: Red Book Edition - A Scaperat Fanedit - The 15th Anniversary Enhanced Edition

[INIGHTMARES]

I have been quietly working on enhancing and revising this classic edit. I've seen members here request a modernization of it, echoing my own desire. The idea popped into my head: I own Topaz Lab's Video Enhance AI. I need to upscale and enhance the Red Book Edition! And so began the work.
I wanted to make the film feel updated, but also kind of grungy and even more noir like. You'll notice a heavy film grain and desaturation levels that reach near black & white in some scenes.
Enjoy Scaperat's vision, with updated visual fidelity, sound design, and transitions.

"Batman Forever is a great movie,
but there are things in it that definitely ruin the experience.
Tim Burton's absence wasn't the problem."
- Scaperat (circa 2007)​

Original film name: Batman Forever
Original fanedit name: Batman Forever: Red Book Edition
Original faneditor: Scaperat
Originall fanedit release: 2007
Original fanedit runtime: 120 minutes
Enhanced Edition runtime: 120 minutes
Amount of time cut: 11 minutes
Amount of time added: 10 minutes

"Imagine seeing Bruce suffering from sadness, guilt and loads of other psychological problems. Then he turns around and shows us his ass. It just doesn't work for me. Two face was another problem; he's supposed to be brain damaged not mentally handicapped. Why is he acting like the joker? I also muted the colors to the point where some scenes look black and white with color mixed in. As for Chase and Bruce. Their relationship is pointless and they both know this deep down. The new ending emphasizes this. The action sequences were also a little hokey so I recut those as well. I didn't try to make this into a Tim Burton film by adding Elfman's scores from the 1st two films. Instead I kept Goldenthal's score and added some more of his work. The new music is taken from Final Fantasy: TSW and Alien 3. I didn't have much of a problem with the Riddler. Jim Carrey is a comedic god." - Scaperat (circa 2007)

Reveal message: The 15th Anniversary Enhanced Edition Changes and Additions:

*Timestamps from Workprint 3
- Upscaled everything to 1080p - DONE
- Added a heavy film grain - DONE
- Created custom INIGHTMARES logo during opening - DONE
- Customized the Fanedit.org Warning text during opening - DONE
- Customized the Netflix style Fanedit.org logo during opening - DONE
- Recreated the WB logo turning red during opening -DONE

^bluray source​

^added VFX​

- Added new SFX over new opening titlecards - DONE
- Fixed entire edit's aspect ratio problems - DONE

^entire original edit has black bars on left and right and they change sizes throughout the running time​

^00:47:31 - 3x - deleted scene in dojo​

^01:15:55 - 2x - deleted scene bat cave​

^01:33:09 to 01:37:21 - 5x - deleted scene bat cave​

- Extended Falling Boss shot - DONE

^timestamp: 00:23:48​

^for more emotional effect​

- Change/Fix how Dojo Kick deleted scene flows - v4 DONE

^timestamp: 00:48:07​

^adjusted audio levels​

^colorgraded flashback shot red​

^added smoke VFX over flashback shot​

^moved the flashback shot just before Bruce's leg makes contact​

^fixed shot using Topaz Video Enhance AI​

^removed shot of Robin's first reaction​

^used space for the flashback shot​

^added breathe SFX​

^added wood splinter SFX​

^added tree fall SFX​

^added Punch/Thud SFX​

^added gunshot SFX​

^stretched over several seconds​

^added white flash VFX​

^added SFX from Flashback 1 (43 min.) to this scene​

- Added SFX to TV turning off - DONE

^timestamp: 01:16:45​

- Added new effects over Book/Bat Confrontation scene - DONE

^timestamp: 01:35:53​

^added low rumbling SFX​

^added deep cave SFX​

^added bats in cave SFX​

^added heavy flapping wings SFX​

- Bring Flashback shots to an equilibrium - DONE

Flashback 1 starts at 43min40sec​

Flashback 2 starts at at 1hr35min30sec​

^Equalized color grade as much as possible between the two​

^added gunshot SFX to Flashback 2​

^re-used SFX in Flashback 2 from Flashback 1​

- Fix all slowed shots using Topaz Video Enhance AI - DONE

^shots upscaled to 120fps and reformed back to 29.97fps​

^00:07:47 - vault moving - DONE​

^00:12:25 - gotham flyover - DONE​

^00:18:02 - batman stare - DONE​

^00:18:50 - batman then gordan - DONE​

^00:23:48 - falling boss - DONE​

^00:44:19 - funeral flashback scene - DONE​

^00:44:26 to 00:44:42 - Bruce walking - DONE​

^00:44:47 - Bruce approaching book - DONE​

^00:45:02 - Bruce stare - DONE​

^00:48:18 - Bruce kicking - DONE​

- Adjusted audio levels at end of edit - DONE
- Recreated the Red Book end credits - DONE

^colorgraded red​

^bluray source​

- Changed the music selection during the end credits - DONE

^"Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies​

- Added all the new credits to end credits - DONE

New Cuts:
- Removed "Holy Batman!" line from Robin - DONE

^timestamp 01:43:28​

^added SFX and crossfaded​

Color Saturation Changes:
- Further desaturated/saturated several scenes/shots throughout edit

^took out a lot of blues and teals throughout the edit​

^lessened oranges and tans throughout edit​

^ lessened greens in some scenes and boosted in others throughout edit​

^boosted reds in all possible shots throughout edit​

^00:12:09 - took out blues/greens underwater - DONE​

^00:17:25 - took out blues in Rooftop scene - DONE​

^00:19:30 - took out blues in scene - DONE​

^00:34:14 - took out the reds on Wayne's face - DONE​

^00:39:29 - took out greens/blues underwater - DONE​

^00:40:13 - took out reds in Dropoff scene - DONE​

^00:43:46 - recolored Parents flashback scene red - DONE​

^00:45:44 - took out reds in shots of Wayne's face - DONE​

^00:58:24 - lessened reds in scene - DONE​

^01.02.01 - took out blues in Fight scene - DONE​

^01:23:58 - lessened reds in scene - DONE​

^01.25.35 - took out blues in Flashback scene - DONE​

^01:41:49 - took out greens/blues underwater - DONE​

^01.42.26 to 01:43:07 - took out greens/blues underwater - DONE​

^01:43:25 to 01:44:06 took out greens in Climbing Rocks scene - DONE​

^added greens inside lair - DONE​

^added reds inside lair - DONE​

^removed blues inside lair - DONE​

^01:44:21 to 01:44:49 - took out greens during battle on rocks - DONE​

^01:45:12 - took out greens during battle on rocks cont. - DONE​

^01:45:26 - took out greens during battle on rocks cont. - DONE​

^01:53:56 - make shot of bat in flashback red - DONE​

- The 15th Anniversary Trailer - DONE

^upscaled to 1080p​

^recreated the WB logo to match the new edit's logos​

^The original trailer has a blue tinted WB logo unorthadox to the Red Book Edition.​

^Remade the outro titlecards using high resolution text​

^added a film burn transition​

​

Reveal message: Scaperat's Original cutlist (circa 2007)

* New opening credit sequence (red Forever logo) using Arkham deleted
scene.
* No suiting up sequence. From the title to a zooming batmobile.
* Two Face's cackling and joking cut down to a minimum.
* Security guard doesn't whine along to Goldentthal's music score. Still
whines though.
* Colors have been slightly muted.
* More Elliot Goldenthal music added.
* Chase isn't a filthy whore here. Just a whore. She does not grab
Batman's nipples.
* Gordon doesn't say "definitely suicide", which made him look like an
idiot.
* Dick's family death scene has new music that drowns out the sound.
For dramatic effect.
* Dick's pain deleted scene added and altered.
* Dick talking to the 4 R&B girls has been cut
* Batman's leap over machine guns at the Ritz Gotham is seen in two
angles now.
one taken from the trailer.
* News report explaining Two Face's origin has been shortened. It felt
forced.
* Batman bashing News report deleted scene added and altered.
* "Go to her" and "I've never been in love before" lines removed.
* Riddler's tiny bombs explode on contact. No baseball gag.
* Giant bat and red book revelation deleted scene added and altered, of
course.
* Batman's butt has been cut.
* Batman doesn't give Gordon a thumbs up while in the Batwing.
* Too many cuts to count. Two pointless action sequences removed.
* The villains don't play Battleship as Batman and Robin head for their
hideout.
* "It never ends" deleted scene added to the end.
* Running hero silhouettes cut from the end.

 

[The Danger Zone]

I had a similar idea to yours. Looks like you deserve the credit for the idea. I can only wish you nothing but the best with this project.

 

[bionicbob]

Sounds awesome to me! If you need a previewer, I happily volunteer!

 

[The Danger Zone]

I think there must be something wrong with the images. They aren't showing up for some reason.

 

[INIGHTMARES]

I think there must be something wrong with the images. They aren't showing up for some reason.

thank you @motleycat Enterprises inc I forgot to make the images public. They are now!

 

[The Danger Zone]

Quick question: are you editing from a fresh Blu-ray source or the original edit by scaperat?

 

[INIGHTMARES]

Quick question: are you editing from a fresh Blu-ray source or the original edit by scaperat?

I am editing using the fanedit VOBs that I converted to MP4. I'm not skilled enough to recreate Scaperat's color grading, not yet.

 

[The Danger Zone]

I am editing using the fanedit VOBs that I converted to MP4. I'm not skilled enough to recreate Scaperat's color grading, not yet.

You must be skilled with Topaz Video Enhance AI if the comparison images truly look as good as they do.

 

[INIGHTMARES]

Those images were not altered at all after the software did it's work. As I say in the main post, I did further color adjust/enhance Scaperat's work pre-Topaz. Those images you see were not altered after Topaz did it's thing.

 

[The Danger Zone]

Those images were not altered at all after the software did it's work. As I say in the main post, I did further color adjust/enhance Scaperat's work pre-Topaz. Those images you see were not altered after Topaz did it's thing.

That confuses me for some reason.

 

[INIGHTMARES]

So, after I converted the DVD (VOBs) files to MP4, I dropped that MP4 into Blender and enhanced some scenes. I boosted red colors and green colors in certain shots, but also took out greens and blues in other shots. Then I rendered a new MP4 and dropped it into Topaz. Those images are the result of that work.

 

[The Danger Zone]

Right. Sorry. I have trouble following vaguely-worded messages.

 

[INIGHTMARES]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to be vague. It is a complex work cycle.

 

[The Danger Zone]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to be vague. It is a complex work cycle.

That, it certainly is.

By the way, what's with the new "Music and sound effects" section?

 

[INIGHTMARES]

That, it certainly is.

By the way, what's with the new "Music and sound effects" section?

Good question. This is one of my changes I'd like feedback on actually.

I don't want to spoil how Scaperat ends his edit, but it has a darker feel to it than the theatrical ending. I feel like my change in song suits that ending better. I have two song ideas for the end. I am leaning toward Where Is My Mind by the Pixies. While the Flaming Lips' song Bad Days actually is in the film during a scene with the Riddler.

Scaperat's original song for the credits:

My two choices to end the edit:

or

The only sound effects I added were to the opening logos (WB sign and FanEdit.org signs). I repurposed the sound effects Scaperat uses in the opening shots, which is that of rainfall and thunder.

 

[The Danger Zone]

Good question. This is one of my changes I'd like feedback on actually.

I don't want to spoil how Scaperat ends his edit, but it has a darker feel to it than the theatrical ending. I feel like my change in song suits that ending better. I have two song ideas for the end. I am leaning toward Where Is My Mind by the Pixies. While the Flaming Lips song Bad days actually is in the film during a scene with the Riddler.

Scaperat's original song for the credits:

My two choices to end the edit:

or

I kind of already own scaperat's original edit myself, so I'm a little lost as to how you feel the ending is drastically different from that of the theatrical release. ^_^;

Will you be making any new changes or are you sticking with the editor's original cutlist?

 

[INIGHTMARES]

The original ending doesn't have the conversation between Alfred and Chase in the car, instead it has Batman and Robin running toward the camera with uplifting orchestral music playing. Scaperat's ending makes it more bleak.

I have stayed true to Scaperat's cuts. I am not changing any cuts. This is a modernization, visually, of his edit.

 

[The Danger Zone]

The original ending doesn't have the conversation between Alfred and Chase in the car, instead it has Batman and Robin running toward the camera with uplifting orchestral music playing. Scaperat's ending makes it more bleak.

I know. I watched the edit a few times over. Imagine if it just ended on Chase and Alfred in the car.

 

[INIGHTMARES]

I edited my last post to say "I have stayed true to Scaperat's cuts. I am not changing any cuts. This is a modernization, visually, of his edit."

 

[The Danger Zone]

I edited my last post to say "I have stayed true to Scaperat's cuts. I am not changing any cuts. This is a modernization, visually, of his edit."

Will the audio mix be the same?