Batman Forever: Red Book Edition - The 15th Anniversary Enhanced Edition

Updated
 
9.2 (11)
3226 0 1 0 5
batmanredbook15th_front
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1995
Original Running Time:
120
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
120
Time Cut:
11
Time Added:
10
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
Enjoy Scaperat's original vision, with updated visual fidelity, sound design, and transitions. I have been working on enhancing and revising this classic edit by Scaperat.
Intention:
I wanted to make the DVD experience feel more so like a Bluray experience, yet also feel grungy and even more noir like. You'll notice a heavy film grain and desaturation levels that reach near black & white in some scenes.

I've seen many members here request a modernization of Scaperat's original edit from 2007, echoing my own desires. The idea popped into my head: I own Topaz Lab's Video Enhance AI. I need to upscale and enhance the Red Book Edition! And so began the work.
Other Sources:
-"Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies​
-Further credits are named during the end credits
image
Special Thanks:
A huge special thanks to Artisdead, Wraith, Bionicbob, Dwight Fry, That One Guy, ThatStinkyGuy, Lantern51, Canon Editor, and everyone else who had input. The end credits of the film have an in depth special thanks for each member who helped make this edit possible.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
This enhanced edition was about getting a modernized Bluray experience from the original DVD fanedit of Batman Forever Red Book Edition.
Cuts and Additions:
- Upscaled everything to 1080p
- Added a heavy film grain
- Created custom INIGHTMARES logo during opening
- Customized the Fanedit.org Warning text during opening
- Customized the Netflix style Fanedit.org logo during opening
- Recreated the WB logo turning red during opening
^bluray source​
^added VFX​
- Added new SFX over new opening titlecards
- Fixed entire edit's aspect ratio problems
^entire original edit has black bars on left and right and they change sizes throughout the running time​
^00:47:31 - 3x - deleted scene in dojo​
^01:15:55 - 2x - deleted scene bat cave​
^01:33:09 to 01:37:21 - 5x - deleted scene bat cave​
- Extended Falling Boss shot
^timestamp: 00:23:48​
^for more emotional effect​
- Change/Fix how Dojo Kick deleted scene flows
^timestamp: 00:48:07​
^adjusted audio levels​
^colorgraded flashback shot red​
^added smoke VFX over flashback shot​
^moved the flashback shot just before Bruce's leg makes contact​
^fixed shot using Topaz Video Enhance AI​
^removed shot of Robin's first reaction​
^used space for the flashback shot​
^added breathe SFX​
^added wood splinter SFX​
^added tree fall SFX​
^added Punch/Thud SFX​
^added gunshot SFX​
^stretched over several seconds​
^added white flash VFX​
^added SFX from Flashback 1 (43 min.) to this scene​
- Added SFX to TV turning off
^timestamp: 01:16:45​
- Added new effects over Book/Bat Confrontation scene
^timestamp: 01:35:53​
^add low rumbling SFX​
^add deep cave SFX​
^add bats in cave SFX​
^add heavy flapping wings SFX​
- Bring Flashback shots to an equilibrium
^Flashback 1 starts at 43min40sec​
^Flashback 2 starts at at 1hr35min30sec​
^Equalize color grade as much as possible between the two​
^add gunshot SFX to Flashback 2​
^re-use SFX in Flashback 2 from Flashback 1​
- Fix all slowed shots using Topaz Video Enhance AI
^shots upscaled to 120fps and reformed back to 29.97fps​
^00:07:47 - Vault moving
^00:12:25 - Gotham skyline flyover​
^00:18:02 - Batman stare​
^00:18:50 - Batman then Gordan
^00:23:48 - Falling Boss
^00:44:19 - Funeral flashback scene
^00:44:26 to 00:44:42 - Bruce walking
^00:44:47 - Bruce approaching book
^00:45:02 - Bruce stare
^00:48:18 - Bruce kicking
- Adjusted audio levels at end of edit
- Recreated the Red Book end credits
^colorgraded red​
^bluray source​
- Changed the music selection during the end credits
^"Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies​

New Cuts:
- Removed "Holy Batman!" line from Robin
^timestamp 01:43:28​
Trailer

User reviews

11 reviews
 
73%
 
27%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.1(11)
Visual Editing
 
9.4(11)
Audio Editing
 
9.5(11)
Narrative
 
9.3(11)
Enjoyment
 
9.2(11)
View all user reviews View most helpful
(Updated: March 31, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This is hands down the best fanedit I've seen so far.
I've never hated Batman Forever, but it was never a movie I took very seriously.
This edit changes that completely. The recolouring is very severe, but I can't say it isn't stylish. Once you get used to it, it actually feels weirdly fitting for a Batman story, and the whole movie is made much quieter with some scenes using more sombre music, or no music at all, which gives the whole film a moody atmosphere and sort of counteracts the campiness and odd performances.
The inclusion of the red book storyline also elevates the film far above what was theatrically released. The original didn't feel like it had much personal stake for Batman, which I think is a big part of why it's so forgettable, but this version really challenges Batman as a character more than I ever expected.
There were one or two edits I noticed, like dialogue lines being cut short when Bruce is talking to Dick, or the TV broadcast of Two-Face's origin being cut short for no real reason imo, but mostly the edits were seamlessly done.
I did have a few visual issues with this edit, though. There was a lot of grainy noise in the picture, which was a stylistic choice, but I didn't like it much and I have to mention that it bothered me. It was also very difficult to tell what was happening during the finale in part because of the darkness and desaturation.
There were also a few issues that carried over from the original. While Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne was monumentally improved, Jim Carry and Tommy Lee Jones' odd performance choices still stick out to a large degree. While a lot of this can't be helped, there were one or two Riddler lines that I felt could have been cut.
All in all though, the good parts of this edit far outweigh the bad. Not only in comparison to the original, but also on it's own merit. I this was released in '95 as a Batman movie exactly as it is, I have no doubt that I would absolutely love it. It definitely replaces the original for me.
A great edit and a great movie.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
W
Top 1000 Reviewer 4 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I can only echo the sentiments of other reviewers here where this edit is incredible. Batman Forever used to bore me, but this edit kept me engaged the entire time.

Phenomenal work was done here, and I can only recommend it highly.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
V
Top 500 Reviewer 5 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
8.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
A most impressive achievement of AI technology and fan commitment! While maintaining all the pros of the original Red Book Edition – that is the noir feeling through colour desaturation, the removal of a great deal of cheesiness and the integration of deleted scenes, in case you haven’t seen it – this Enhanced version manages to fix, for the most part, the faults of its predecessor. Although there’s still some small colour and contrast mismatch compared to the rest of the film, the deleted scenes do not stick out anymore thanks to the AI enhancement. The added heavy film grain is something that, as a kid of the VHS era myself, I can really appreciate, and the same goes for the desaturation and colour contrast in some scenes which reminded me of Sin City – and that is definitely a good thing! INIGHTMARES also fixes some of the choppy cuts that were present in the original fan-edit by Scaperat, like when Dick Grayson saves that woman from the hands of a street gang.

As for the cons, the Enhanced Edition carries that problem of the original studio cut with it, which no amount of editing could ever salvage. That is, its two antagonists who mostly act and talk like complete goofballs! The Riddler being essentially Jim Carrey I can live with, but Two-Face is still insufferable and out of character, no matter what.

Even so, INIGHTMARES’ Enhanced Edition is by far the best viewing experience of a highly problematic film, tainted by WB studios’ interference, and as far as I’m concerned the definitive cut of it. As I’ve written before in my review of Scaperat’s work, it successfully highlights not only some of its darkest aspects that were butchered in WB’s editing room, but also a stellar performance by Val Kilmer. And justifies, at long last, why Batman is Forever.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: September 07, 2022)
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I will always keep good souvenirs from Batman Forever, the original movie was the first film I saw in theater, and the Red Book Edition was my first introduction to the world of fan editing.
Thank you so much for giving that legendary edit a neat polish, the 1080p makes the movie even more gorgeous, likes the credits added to the beginning in Arkham and finishing with Where is My Mind was an excellent choice, a good song in the credits always leaves a nice taste as far as I'm concerned.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
D
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I finally got around to watching this and I'm very happy I did. I went into this without having seen the original version of this movie in a while. Sometimes that's a better way to approach fanedits. I'm not looking for things that are different, I'm just soaking in the experience. I had read about scaperats version and INIGHTMARES version before, but not right before I watched it today. So I went into this with letting the experience speak for itself. It was amazing. I had always liked this movie, but this was probably the most enjoyable experience. The tone was a lot more serious and much more satisfying. I didn't find myself rolling my eyes a lot (thanks for cutting batmans butt). I appreciate that it attempted to be more like the previous Tim Burton installments without forcing that narrative on the viewer. It still held all of the good qualities and originality that part 3 had. The changes in color and grain of the video was awesome too. This paired with the upscaling made it feel like I was watching a bluray that still captured the feel of the 90s. I really appreciated the strong reds, greens, purples bordered with the grays and black around it- that may sound confusing if you've never seen this version, so watch it to see what I mean. But I feel this style of coloring for this particular movie captured the nostalgic feel of what made the first one great, and even the second one for that matter. The narrative and story told itself. You still get most of the movie you remember here just with some fat trimmed off. I appreciate this version a lot. There are a lot of edits that you read about and you can safely say "yeah, this needed to be done". Then there are the edits you finish watching and you realize "yeah, this needed to be done". After finising the movie, I realize the value of this to the Batman legacy. I now understand the hype around scaperats original version. I have not seen that particular one, but INIGHTMARES brought it to life for me in a high quality version. The cuts were seemless and the audio was very even. It felt like an official release with the flare of a die hard fan. There was one seen where the mouth didnt match the dialogue and a couple scenes where the video quality was slightly lower, but it was nothing to distracting, hence my 9 for visual editing. Otherwise I very very impressed with this edit and I don't think i'd change anything. Maybe I'll watch scaperats version next, or maybe I'll watch this again. Either way, I highly recommend checking this out.

User Review

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Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
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