Batman (1989) A Dark Knight In Gotham City (Released)

Long time, no see. Mostly I’ve been gone due to work and having recently built a new computer. Now I’ve managed to finally get some free time and I’ve been juggling around the idea of this fan edit for a while.

I’ve gotten into a bit of a Batman obsession as of late. The Tim Burton film was always something I enjoyed. My only problem with the film is how dated it’s become. Most notably, the Prince soundtrack. I like a good Prince song as much as the next guy, but I don’t think it suits the film very well. I’ve been toying with different pieces that can replace the Prince songs, and luckily, there isn’t much dialogue that goes on during them.

The next thing is something I’ve been messing with for the better part of a decade, and that is the coloring. The thing I love about Tim Burton’s films is his odd uses of color. Batman Returns got more of that treatment than Batman did. What I’m proposing is possibly going borderline Sin City with coloring, without over blowing it. I’ve started an initial color pass on the film, which will finish rendering in the next day results coming soon.

I’m willing to take suggestions, but keep in mind, I can’t do much in the way of effects work. I’ve also decided that I won’t blend Batman Returns with this film, and am considering doing that film later if this goes smoothly. I’ve been debating on adding elements from the film Dark City to the film, possibly for random city shots, just because I feel like that film did comic book Batman as a non-Batman film, better than any official Batman film. This edit will also use elements from The Animated Series, mostly coloring inspiration and the soundtrack where needed. I might even add elements from the Schumacher Batman films. Got to find something useful in those turds. I haven’t watched them in about 40 years, so I might be wrong.

{Updated}

-Extreme color makeover (Might not be everyone’s cup of tea)

-Trimming up of the intro scenes. Possibly just starting with the family walking into the alley. I don’t think we needed to 5 minutes of them trying to get cabs.

-Trimming up of romance aspect. I don’t hate it, it just takes me out of the fact that I’m watching a Batman film

-Removing as much blatantly 80s stuff as possible.

-Trimming of any scene with Knox. We get it, he’s an obnoxious reporter.
-Cut visual of Bruce’s recording equipment. We see that he’s spying later, we don’t need to see the cheesy VCR.

-Make Batman’s escape from Axis chemicals less clunky. Mostly because the awkward rubber suit. He’s Batman, he should be stealthy.

• Michael Keaton will not be hanging upside down after sex. Cut bedroom scene altogether.

-Cut Bruce placing roses on the spot his parents died. Forced drama is forced.

-Debating on cutting news report with the bad hair and facial sores. I don’t mind it, but…

-Trimming and re-scoring of art museum scene. (surprise for any who watch it)

-Trimming of escape scene. And Vicki ain’t no 108 pounds.

-Either trimming or removing Batcave sequence with Vickie.

-Might consider cutting Joker being the killer of Bruce’s parents. I don’t mind it, but willing to consider it if everyone else is bothered by it.

-Replacement music in parade sequence. Something orchestrated and more fitting for a maniacal villain. Willing to take suggestions here. Was looking into unconventional arrangements of Entrance of the Gladiators, was also digging into the soundtracks themselves.

-Trimming tower sequence to remove goofy elements from Joker’s henchmen.

-Will think of more, and will take suggestions

DuracellEnergizer said:

Suffice to say:

No problem. Updated original post.

Yes, I remember that. Never watched it. The only one I’ve seen is the Dwight Fry Descent Into Mystery cut, which I was a part of the discussion during it’s creation. A lot of my ideas were formed around the time, and I think Dwight’s work was great… I just feel that too much was cut, it’s not HD, and there’s a look I want to go for. I’m a huge fan of the animated series, and if I could get the city of Gotham to be more like that series, I’d be happy. If I had the skills, I’d replace the cars with 30s cars, the buildings with Art Deco buildings. Just really pump up that noir vibe that Batman deserves.

Update

First color pass looked good in vegas…looked like a turd burger in the finished file, so I’m re-rendering it. Wish me luck.

^MainConcept MPEG 2

^Thanks. Anything to make my job easier, or should I say, make my job more understandable.