Son of Krypton (Released) A Man of Steel and Batman v Superman Fanedit

To inquire about this edit, email krausfadr at gmail dot com and include the word fanedit in the subject line.

Intent:

The fanedit, Man of Tomorrow (MOT) by JobWillins is a prime example showing the impact that extensive artistic restructuring and rescoring can have on film. This edit, Son of Krypton (SOK), would not have been possible without the prior contributions of other fan editors, especially JobWillins.

I was just going to release a MOS FanFix. But after watching MOT a few times, I grew stronger of the opinion that the true fix was combining it with BVS.

In my opinion, the character of Lex Luthor in BVS was poorly written, too comical with a musical score to match his overly quirky personality. In this edit, BVS and Lex are more serious and refined to the central elements.

For me the heart of MOS lies in two major storylines which are restored in SOK:
Superman saves his mother from Zod.
He also helps the military even though they try to kill him, gaining their respect.
This required reinstating the Battle of Smallville, though it is toned down significantly.
Change List:

Major changes to MOS:

1. Color correction to reduce the very slight unnatural green tone throughout and make Superman’s suit more vibrant in outdoor daylight.
2. Reduced Krypton scenes to under 5 minutes, Zod doesn’t directly murder Jor-El. Scenes rearranged and rescored for a very different experience.
3. Changes to musical score including updated music for Superman’s first flight, keeping modern-ness of Zimmer with more themes of Williams.
4. Clark joins the Daily Planet earlier.
5. While Superman is in custody at the military base, Zod arrives in Kansas, lands the World Engine (but does not start terraforming). Scenes rearranged and rescored for a very different experience.
6. Superman is released from custody and flies home to find Zod threatening his mother. He does not visit Zod in space.
7. Toned down the destruction and boss battles at Smallville and Metropolis.
8. Lois is not involved whatsoever in fighting the Kryptonians, she’s not on the military bomber with the phantom drive.
9. Zod gives shorter speeches.

Major changes to BVS:

1. Color regrade to match the natural color of MOS 4K, eliminating the gritty green tones throughout. The 4K release of MOS has a more natural grading than the Blu-Ray.
2. Most of the storyline is cut (Africa, Hearings, Clark living with Lois, etc.)
3. Updated musical score in some scenes. The new arrangement and score, particularly in the scene with Lex removing Zod’s fingerprints creates a different mood and experience.
4. Lex’s weird mannerisms and outbursts are reduced, and his backstory is removed.
5. Tightened up most of the BVS scenes used.
6. Lex does not kidnap Lois or push her from a rooftop to lure Superman. Instead, Superman hears Lex calling his name with his super hearing.
7. When Clark is in his reporter persona he is less judgmental and condescending.

Major differences from MOT (in addition to the above):

1. Kept more storyline from MOS.
2. Cut more storyline from BVS, significantly toned down Lex.
3. The Krypton scenes are reduced but retained in the beginning and are not presented in a flashback.
4. Krypton scenes that resembled Star Wars removed.
5. Clark becomes Superman before Zod’s broadcast (same as MOS).
6. Bruce Wayne watches Zod’s broadcast.
7. Used the snow/dad scene from BVS (with Jor-El’s voice added) as the transition scene between Lois’ arrest and Superman surrendering.
8. Reinstated the battle of Smallville.
9. Different scene structure and arrangements (note some structure was borrowed from JobWillins, see below).
10. Video in 4K and audio in surround 5.1.

Ideas from other individuals which are used or completely copied in SOK:
(while different editors separately will make similar editing choices, I did not come up or would not have come up with parts of SOK and due credit is given below).

Avid 4D:
Zod’s voice matches the staticky sound of the rest of his broadcast.

TM2YC:

1. Changed Audioslave music from scene with Clark “borrowing” clothes.
2. In the holding room Lois laughs at Superman’s joke instead of laughing at him.
3. Zod isn’t as mean to hologram Jor-El.

JobWillins:

1. Zod dies on impact to the ground, no heat vision neck snap. Edited this scene virtually the same way as Man of Tomorrow. Added a different music cue when Zod dies. Retained more foley.
2. Recut scenes just before and after Zod is killed to show Bruce Wayne helping the little girl then brooding in the Batcave. Edited these scenes virtually the same way as Man of Tomorrow using “Beautiful Lie” from BVS soundtrack. Added foley.
3. Used tornado flashback scenes when Superman fights Doomsday. Edited the scenes and music virtually the same way as Man of Tomorrow. Added foley.
4. Recreated the same scenes after Superman’s death as Man of Tomorrow, including music.

Joseph Bennie and IronPixelChef:
Created music that I used to mix together for Superman’s departure from the Scout ship and his first flight.

Test for new musical score of Superman’s flight (not color graded):
https://vimeo.com/527331747

Change list updated. This edit is now released.

thanks! yep that’s what I was busy doing. Did you watch it?
Some of the best parts were based on another fanedit called Man of Tomorrow:

1. the transition from MOS to BVS, great editing and music choices by JobWillins
2. the tornado flashback, again amazing implementation by JobWillins
3. the ending, no one could ever surpass what JobWillins did to end this

thanks for watching CMMAP. I really do like the limited Krypton sequence. And because we span from the birth to the death of Superman in 1 film.

The center channel. Raising it for just certain parts or pretty much the whole thing?

If its “always” as mentioned then I’d think it is the source audio combined with your system. I notice in many original films I have to use the voice EQ feature on my sound system to hear the dialogue well. But if you have a few specific examples of the most noticeable parts I could take a look.

Updated Son of Krypton to version 1.1.

Various audio/video transition updates to make the edits more seamless.
Fixed minor audio sync issues.
Fixed an issue with the General’s sudden appearance as Superman was in the holding room.
Fixed an error where too much footage (non-IMAX) from BvS had been cropped.
Fixed the Colonel’s sudden appearance at a different part of the bomber.
Fixed studio’s color grading difference while Lois looked at the engagement ring.
Used tilt and scan for establishing shot of Superman’s memorial.
Used better cropping for Superman’s Memorial showing more of the crowd.

PM sent. Hope you enjoy.

This sounds really interesting, can I get a link to this edit?

Jonah, PM sent. Take note that much of BvS is cut, entire storylines like all of Africa.

Changed Audioslave music from scene with Clark “borrowing” clothes.

It’s not Audioslave. That song was made ten years before that band was formed 😛