Azazel

*SPOILERS*

wow. ok so that worked A LOT better than i expected. i seem to be a sucker for narration removal – it just rarely seems necessary. what i DID like was the faster pace here with “azazel” in addition to changing some pretty huge story elements. jumping forward to hobbes and keeping with him the whole movie was a great idea. it seems like a lot of setup shots were removed, also, but i could just be crazy (likely). the ending works VERY well. i think the way in which you handle jonesy (azazel) is perfect and removing much of the interior cabin scenes helped speed this movie along to a great (NEW!) conclusion.

i have ONE critique: the ending was a bit odd for me. is that a heartbeat? why would a non-physical being have a heartbeat? also, if we just STAY with azazel a bit longer as “he” dies off i think this will help with a quick cut to the credits.

still, everything is a 5/5 for me great job!

*This rating was given before reviews were required*

I’m a huge fan of the original Fallen, and would not initially have considered it a good opportunity for fan editing. I loved the changes that were made here though. Going back to re-watch the main scenes that were changed… we are well served to be rid of them. Especially how they decided to play the Rolling Stones over the intro credits. It works way better when only the actors of the movie are ever singing that song.

Ending worked really well for me, the heartbeat was great.

The film has flaws, clearly. But I’ve always found it highly enjoyable, and this edit is a great improvement to the experience in my opinion.

*This rating was given before reviews were required*

*SPOILERS*
I’m actually a big fan of Fallen and just like joebshmoe, Azazel worked better than I expected.
I personally like how Fallen ended and didn’t mind that Azazel had won.
Sure it was shocking, and I wanted Hobbes to win, but it still worked for me and is why Fallen is an unforgettable movie in my mind.

So I still prefer the original.
The reason being, as boon said himself in the desciption, now it’s “just” a horror thriller” and that being the case, what made Fallen so special was removed and becomes something not as special and more of a mainstream movie that doesn’t really stand out as much as it should.

BUT… with this fanedit, I can see how the original can be vastly improved.

For me, the “perfect cut” would be to use Azazel as the basis but add in a couple of elements Fallen back in.
I’d like to keep some of the original V.O. at the beginning and ending, as bookends, and maybe one or two in the middle (that don’t hint at who’s talking) so we don’t forget about the narrator during the movie, and keep the cat at the end.

This would add back into Azazel what had made Fallen a stand out movie in the first place.. that mind bending ending which I feel is one of the best surprise endings, ever.

Also, boon asks, why does Azazel have Hobbes voice in the original V.O. since Hobbes is already dead.
Well, Azazel is a supernatural being.
So if it isn’t that big a jump to think he has a fading heart beat at the end of this edit, we can easily make the jump to think that he can mimick whoever he wants to.
We don’t really know all that he is capable of.

Having said all that, this is like a retail DVD.
Actually, better than many of them.
Beautiful menus, flawless video and audio, great extras.
Exquisite.
All the time, effort and passion put into this is undeniable.

The bottom line is, regardless of my personal preferences, boon achieved 100% what he set out to do with this movie.
He made a flawless (perhaps perfect), mainstream, horror thriller.

For that, it’s a 10/10.

PS. Boon, if you ever revisit this amazing edit, perhaps you may consider a seamless branching version, with an ending of the viewer’s choosing?