PLEASE NOTE: This is a WIP for my fanedit of “The Batman”. While some scenes will be released, the full fanedit will not be released until I can get my hands on the 4k Bluray.

The Batman: Vengeance

This is a comprehensive fanedit of that attempts to restructure, re-edit and rescore areas that felt unearned, bloated, or that otherwise took me out of the film.

The Cutlist (WIP):

Prologue

Added Piano intro to Title Cards
Extended “The Batman” Title Card by a few seconds.
Moved Riddler introduction after Gotham/Batman introduction.
Cut goon’s line “You see this guy?”. The goons not taking Batman seriously undercuts the opening monologue.

Chapter I: No More Lies

Added Chapter title card.*¹
Cut Batman’s answer to the riddle and Gordon/Commissioner’s dialogue about it.
Cut “Happy fuckin’ Halloween”. Felt too “This ain’t your grandpappy’s Batman” to me.

Chapter II: Mitchell

Added Chapter title card.
Trimmed Bruce watching Selina undressing.
Trimmed Batman being on top of Catwoman in the Mayor’s mansion.

Chapter III: Savage

Added Chapter title card.
So far, this section of the film is left in tact, though I will most likely make trims throughout.

Chapter IV: Renewal is a Lie

Added Chapter title card.
Cut Gordon telling Batman to take his key after punching him in the face. There’s no way that anyone, even Batman, could unlock that door that fast.
Trimmed Penguin’s crash to be less extreme.
Rotated Batman’s upside-down shot walking towards Penguin’s car. (Open to reverting the rotation after feedback)
Cut Batman leaning his head down into Penguin’s car.

Chapter V: Sins of My Father

Added Chapter title card.
Cut Batman being confused about The Wayne’s involvement to Catwoman.
Cut the BM/CW kiss on the rooftop. Wanted to give the relationship more room to breathe. Their relationship has always worked best in a flirtatious context rather than a full romance.

Chapter VI: Rata Alada

Added Chapter title card.
More will be trimmed here. The chapter ends after Riddler’s arrest.

Chapter VII: My Confession

More will be trimmed here. The chapter ends after he beginning of the flood.

Chapter VIII: Vengeance

Cut Catwoman kissing Batman’s unconscious body.
Moved final scene with CW and BM before the final monologue. This scene is rescored.
Cut the Joker scene. Falls flat for too many people.
Added 2 repurposed Riddler shots, from the cut Joker scene, during final monologue. (Similar to Penguin’s)
Rescored the final scene with a mixture of the original final scene’s music and The Batman’s main theme.
The film now ends with Batman looking into the sky as a symbol of hope. This reflects the new opening scene with Batman looking into the sky at his symbol of fear.

*¹ - Title Cards have been added throughout. The reasoning is because of the more unconventional way Matt Reeves has decided to structure his story. While the film still has a normal 3-Act structure, he also decided to break up different arcs throughout (IE. Thomas Wayne’s criminal connections, Gil Coulson, Riddler’s capture, ETC.). I believe Reeves was attempting to tell a story similar to how a comic book storyline is handled; several issues making up one larger story. Chapter Cards are, in my opinion, also an excellent (albeit trendy) way to handle a longer film. The title cards all pay off during the scene where Bruce spray paints the ground of his home with the names of each Chapter.

I also recognize there may be too many chapters. I need to work out a way to condense them, but also have this payoff:

The new ending scene can be previewed here:
Link: https://vimeo.com/704937959
Password: vengeance

The reworked scene of Batman walking towards Penguin’s crashed car can be previewed here:
Link: https://vimeo.com/704956208
Password: batchase

If you have any feedback or ideas, please let me know!
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