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Batman Returns: Caped Crusader Edition (Planned Project) (VFX NEEDED!)

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 (Edited)

This project is intended to improve Batman Returns to be a little more in line with how these characters have usually been portrayed throughout history.

Batman Returns is a difficult movie for me to get out my feelings on. I have a like/dislike feeling for this movie. Like Tim Burton’s first movie, I like this movie for what it is and how it feels like a gothic tragedy. However, there are a lot of very goofy and weird elements that take me out of it. I do wish both films, especially this one, focused more on the character of Batman/Bruce Wayne, as it is clear Burton was more interested in the villains. This is really a Tim Burton movie than it is a Batman movie.

This edit mainly focuses on strengthening the flow of the film, as well as doing its best to trim away and unnecessary elements that Burton strayed too far from. I once again used Double ‘O’ Productions’ VFX work in a loving way to fix up any errors found within the film.

I present the second of my Batman edits, which still remains mostly the same to the original film.

The primary video source will be from the original Blu-ray release. The entire film has been color corrected.

Added in my name as an editor during the opening credits, as well as lovingly borrowing Double ‘O’ Productions’ addition of Bill Finger’s credit.

Lovingly borrowed a shot from Double ‘O’ Productions that fixes a shot of the Penguin looking at his pocket watch.

Added in a shot of a full moon prior to the first shot of Wayne Manor.

Removed Batman setting the devil clown on fire.

Lovingly borrowed shots from Double ‘O’ Productions that removes the subtle line around the wall that Batman pulls out with his grappling gun.

Cut Selina using the taser on the clown.

Moved Selina returning to her apartment prior to Shreck’s deal with the Penguin.

Trimmed away the cat nibbling on Selina’s fingers.

Trimmed away Selina shredding her stuffed animals.

Removed a very brief frame on the TV Bruce is watching at Wayne Manor.

Lovingly borrowed a shot from Double ‘O’ Productions that fixes a wobbly gravestone the Penguin walks by.

Moved Catwoman saving the woman from the mugger prior to the Penguin visiting his parents’ tombstone.

Removed the shot of Bruce walking to Shreck’s building for better pacing and a tighter transition to his business meeting.

Removed Bruce’s “Thanks” to Selina.

Trimmed some of the awkward confusion of Bruce recognizing Selina as Batman.

Trimmed away the bomb attached to the clown, removing the ticking sounds.

Moved Catwoman breaking into Shreck’s department store prior to Batman’s first encounter with the Red Triangle Circus Gang.

Removed the cop’s surrendering dialogue to Catwoman.

Removed the sequence of Batman killing the strongman with the bomb.

Lovingly borrowed a shot from Double ‘O’ Productions that replaces Catwoman’s stunt double’s face with Michelle Pfeiffer’s.

Cut the Penguin making a bat hand puppet.

Trimmed away Catwoman bathing herself like a cat.

Removed Selina commenting on what the News reported on Catwoman.

Removed the Ice Princess asking what the sonar batarang is.

Trimmed away Bruce mentioning kissing Selina.

Removed Catwoman screaming and breaking the greenhouse’s glass.

Removed the close up shot of the old lady.

Cut Bruce mentioning Alfred letting Vicki Vale into the Batcave, since that’s no longer in my edit of the original movie.

Trimmed away Bruce doing a record scratch on the CD.

Removed the scene of Bruce making his mind up on going to Shreck’s party.

Muted the Penguin reading out Batman’s letter.

Lovingly borrowed a shot from Double ‘O’ Productions that fixes the error of Batman’s eye makeup disappearing.

Trimmed down Shreck shooting Selina.

Removed a wide shot of the generator exploding, as you can see Selina and Shreck’s stunt doubles step off set.

Cut Catwoman from the final shot. It would also be great if someone who knows VFX could remove her from the shot.

Added an acknowledgement credit to Double ‘O’ Productions, replaced Siouxsie and the Banshees’ song in the end credits with more work from Danny Elfman, and updating the Warner Bros distribution logo at the end.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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Your making these films feel 100% like true Batman getting rid of the goofy moments and him killing fixes these films completely in my eyes.

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Fullmetaled said:

Your making these films feel 100% like true Batman getting rid of the goofy moments and him killing fixes these films completely in my eyes.

I’ve got other fan edits of DC movies planned or completed as well.

COMPLETED:
Superman (1978)
Superman II
Superman Returns

PLANNED:
Batman (1989)
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Man of Steel
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
Wonder Woman
Justice League
Aquaman
Wonder Woman 1984

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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Don’t know about the rest but nothing can fix Batman forever it’s tone including Gotham doesn’t fit Tim Burton’s batman universe’s gotham.

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Fullmetaled said:

Don’t know about the rest but nothing can fix Batman forever it’s tone including Gotham doesn’t fit Tim Burton’s batman universe’s gotham.

It doesn’t, and I originally wasn’t thinking about making an edit of it, until after looking at some stuff, may have changed my mind.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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I can’t wait for this, I’ve seen edits that fix all the other Bat Films but none that really attempt anything with this one.

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T-202 said:

I can’t wait for this, I’ve seen edits that fix all the other Bat Films but none that really attempt anything with this one.

Thanks. I’ll get around to publishing the change list for Batman Forever later on.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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If you all like what you see here, definitly check out my edits I did for Superman (1978), Superman II and Superman Returns. I think the Man of Steel deserves more attention these days than the Dark Knight.

SUPERMAN: ULTIMATE EDITION:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Superman-Ultimate-Edition-Released/id/89016

SUPERMAN II: ULTIMATE EDITION:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Superman-II-Ultimate-Edition-WIP-Workprint-Released-VFX-NEEDED/id/89017

SUPERMAN RETURNS: KRYPTONIAN EDITION:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Superman-Returns-Kryptonian-Edition-Released-DEEPFAKE-VFX-NEEDED/id/89043

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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 (Edited)

Fullmetaled said:

Why are you cutting out catwoman in the final shot?

It’s because the film was originally going to keep her fate ambiguous. However, Warner Bros ordered Tim Burton and the producers to clearly show she survived. It was one of the last minute things that was done. I personally feel doing this takes away some of the mystery and intrigue. Besides, she never even returned for the others movies as well.

Here’s the full story:
https://youtu.be/JKMSKvJncf4?t=1439

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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Master Lawdog said:

Fullmetaled said:

Why are you cutting out catwoman in the final shot?

It’s because the film was originally going to keep her fate ambiguous. However, Warner Bros ordered Tim Burton and the producers to clearly show she survive. It was one of the last minute things that was done. I personally feel doing this takes away some of the mystery and intrigue. Besides, she never even returned for the others movies as well.

Here’s the full story:
https://youtu.be/JKMSKvJncf4?t=1439

Yeah but she does return in the sequel comic and I don’t if this matters but the love interest in Batman forever does mentions catwoman by saying he like women in leather and whips. so technically it is a sequel to Batman Returns even though the tone is different.

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Fullmetaled said:

Master Lawdog said:

Fullmetaled said:

Why are you cutting out catwoman in the final shot?

It’s because the film was originally going to keep her fate ambiguous. However, Warner Bros ordered Tim Burton and the producers to clearly show she survive. It was one of the last minute things that was done. I personally feel doing this takes away some of the mystery and intrigue. Besides, she never even returned for the others movies as well.

Here’s the full story:
https://youtu.be/JKMSKvJncf4?t=1439

Yeah but she does return in the sequel comic and I don’t if this matters but the love interest in Batman forever does mentions catwoman by saying he like women in leather and whips. so technically it is a sequel to Batman Returns even though the tone is different.

I know that Joel Schumacher’s two films take place in the same continuity. I could end up changing my mind and leave Catwoman in the final shot.

By the way, there’s also no way for her to even be standing there in that shot. If you look at the final shot closely as it pans up to the sky, there are no visible buildings close enough to the camera for her to be standing on top of.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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Master Lawdog said:

I know that Joel Schumacher’s two films take place in the same continuity.

They definitely don’t.

Either way, I much prefer including the final shot. It’s a perfect ending shot and I much prefer seeing Catwoman survive. It doesn’t matter that the shot was added because execs wanted her in spinoffs and sequels that never happened, the point is that it’s a more hopeful ending.

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Anakin Starkiller said:

Master Lawdog said:

I know that Joel Schumacher’s two films take place in the same continuity.

They definitely don’t.

Either way, I much prefer including the final shot. It’s a perfect ending shot and I much prefer seeing Catwoman survive. It doesn’t matter that the shot was added because execs wanted her in spinoffs and sequels that never happened, the point is that it’s a more hopeful ending.

Joel Schumacher’s two films are sequels to Tim Burton’s two films. Michael Gough and Pat Hingle reprise their roles as Alfred and Gordon in them as well.

Also, Catwoman did get a spin-off, but it had been changed so much it ended up being that infamous Halle Berry movie.

However, all of these discussions are for a different thread.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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For what it’s worth…My vote would be to remove Catwoman from the final shot for the reasons mentioned above but also, to differentiate this edit from the original version. If you want that ending, watch that version.

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MoviesGamesMusic said:

For what it’s worth…My vote would be to remove Catwoman from the final shot for the reasons mentioned above but also, to differentiate this edit from the original version. If you want that ending, watch that version.

When making fan edits, the plans are to make the best version of the film possible, per the editor’s perspective, when producing FanFixes. I don’t want to make changes just for the sake of being different. Every change, removal or addition needs to serve a purpose.

The name’s Lawson. Noah Lawson.

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Agreed.

I think ending the movie on the Bat signal alone is a stronger choice. After all, Catwoman does not answer the call of the Bat signal anyway, this is the last time she is seen in the series as a whole and leaving her fate more ambiguous is more fitting for her character. This is as she is a bit of a mystery, especially how she actually gets her “power” of nine lives etc.

Just my two cents!

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MoviesGamesMusic said:

Agreed.

I think ending the movie on the Bat signal alone is a stronger choice. After all, Catwoman does not answer the call of the Bat signal anyway, this is the last time she is seen in the series as a whole and leaving her fate more ambiguous is more fitting for her character. This is as she is a bit of a mystery, especially how she actually gets her “power” of nine lives etc.

Just my two cents!

Well that’s if you don’t include the new Batman 89 comic which features her.

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Someone pointed out how Gotham in this and Wayne manor etc. doesn’t match batman 89. I really never paid attention before but wow it’s like it’s a completely different city and home for Bruce.

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It’s not a completely different city. The aesthetic feels the same. The only thing that’s objectively a different place i Wayne Manor, and I’d consider it an upgrade. I’d love to see this version of it integrated into '89 rather than the other way around. The miniature works better for this exaggerated soundstage Gotham than a location shoot.

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Anakin Starkiller said:

It’s not a completely different city. The aesthetic feels the same. The only thing that’s objectively a different place i Wayne Manor, and I’d consider it an upgrade. I’d love to see this version of it integrated into '89 rather than the other way around. The miniature works better for this exaggerated soundstage Gotham than a location shoot.

Well if the flash movie is canon these films then 89’s look is the canon look.