Birds of Prey: The Chronological Edit

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9.5 (14)
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birdsofpreywakeup_front
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2020
Original Running Time:
108
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
91
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
Chronological cut, without the Ace Chemicals plotline. Harley, now more of a known entity, is discovering the protections afforded under Joker are slipping away. We meet Harley as a spoiled drunk, still milking the privileges of being Joker’s girlfriend, so her personal growth seems bigger from basic piece of shit to possible new anti-hero. The rest of the major characters are introduced sooner, and Sionis’s displays of sadism ramps up more progressively until he dons the mask.
Intention:
I really wanted to loved this movie but I had a hard time with the narration and over the top silliness of the beginning. I bought this movie on blu ray before I saw it (since they end up being so cheap and lately I've ended up editing them anyways) but it took me a couple attempts to actually get through the first half.

My first edit plan was to see what this movie would be like without narration. But the voiceovers were in most of the audio channels, and sometimes over actual needed dialogue as well. So that was more work than I wanted to do for this experiment.

So my second attempt seems to have gone much better.
Additional Notes:
**2022* Quality update! What began as a simple 5.1 audio upgrade with subtitles has turned into a lot more. Looking back, while the edit is technically fine, the cuts made were broad and crude in comparison to what I am now capable of. Sections of big fight scenes were cut, dialogue was used as it was spoken, and I still had a continuity error with Montoya's stinking shirt I felt I couldn't avoid. A couple of years practice can give a whole new perspective on what is possible. Without sacrificing my original intent, I was able to add back in small minor things like a bit more of the jailbreak fights, but with tighter trims for the parts that didn't work for me. Generally better transitions that allow little bits of the movie to remain, and I was able to remove the Montoya's continuity error. The most noticeable changes are that I moved the "history of the diamond" from Montoya at the PD to earlier, when Ronan mentions it at the club talking to Mr. Keo. We also get a very trimmed Harley backstory in the intro too. But most importantly, I was able to address a big complaint about the source movie - the use of the Cassandra Cain name. Now, her name has been changed to Kassandra Kane in the subtitle and the Bounty Hunter Phone Messages where her name is seen. Credits changed too. I know this doesn't "solve" the complaint, but it's an attempt!
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
5.1 Audio with full subtitles
Editing Details:
Chronological cut, without the Ace Chemicals plotline. Harley, now more of a known entity, is discovering the protections afforded under Joker are slipping away. We meet Harley as a spoiled drunk, still milking the privileges of being Joker’s girlfriend, so her personal growth seems bigger from basic piece of shit to possible new anti-hero. The rest of the major characters are introduced sooner, and Sionis’s displays of sadism ramps up more progressively until he dons the mask.

We lose a bit of the exposition in the beginning with the cartoon intro. I am hoping everyone is familiar enough not to need it, and she will explain it later in the grocery store and her apt, so even if you don’t know Harley’s history, you can still learn it when Cassandra does. But this edit feels like the violence is emphasized, so removing the cartoon is also better for vibe overall. I also removed Montoya beating up HUGE guys alone in the funhouse fight scene. I have one continuity error with Montoya’s clean clothes when she first confronts Dinah, but movie pacing seems off when I tried to keep Montoyas scenes strictly chronological. Instead of the week between Dinah saving Harley and Harley’s egg sandwich chase scene, they are made to feel much closer. I also removed the name of Victor Zsasz from movie, now he is just a 'henchman" and tightened up funhouse fight scenes to remove some of the most choreograph-looking fight sequences.
Cuts and Additions:
Cassandra Cain's name has been changed to Kassandra Kane.
Intro animation ends after sperm and egg joke.
Trimmed scenes of Harley alone in apt, buying hyena and playing roller derby
Moved scene of Harley in Bar with driver to later
Removed Ace Chemical destruction scene and added new title sequence
Moved Montoya’s intro scene to later
Moved Sionis warehouse scene to later
Moved Egg Sandwich chase scene to later
Moved Montoya in the Station scenes to later
Moved Harley’s entrance into Station to later

Movie REALLY begins with the introduction of Black Canary.
The "history of the diamond" from Montoya at the PD to earlier, when Ronan mentions it at the club talking to Mr. Keo
Mr Keo face graphics when talking to Sionis removed
Removed Sionis talking to customers after Mr Keo leaves
Removed Harley talking to rando guy and getting shots with him
Removed all mention of "Mr. Zsasz" name
Cut to scene with Harley and Driver
Cut to scene in Alley with rando guy trying to abduct her
Cut to Montoya intro scene, cut shorter to exclude Ace Chemicals explosion
Cut to Dinah arriving home
cutting to Harley escaping in alley, thanking business owner.
Cut to Sionis in warehouse with Mr Keo, Black Mask intro shots removed
Cut to Dinah picking Sionis up
Cut to Montoya confronting Dinah in Hallway (continuity error with Montoya’s clean clothes, but movie pacing seems off if made to strictly chronological)
Cut to Sionis having breakfast, removed mention of Ace Chemicals and Sionis looking for Harley
Cut to Egg Sandwich Chase scene, removed mention of ace chemical destruction, removed roller derby adversary, removed Harley describing the whole situation as lucky
Cut to Cassandra stealing diamond sequence
Cut to Montoya arriving at Station
Cut to Sionis reacting to news of diamond gone
Cut to Harley hostage scene
Removed Harley dance scene Madonna tribute
Montoya and Dinah phone call cuts to Harley entering the jail, which is cut much shorter and removed her shooting all policemen but one
Removed Cassandra recognizing her from roller derby
Removed Harley looking directly at the camera in the van with Cassandra
Removed Sionis line “you wouldn’t betray me, would you?” to Dinah
Removed Sionis calling out “Zsasz!”
Removed mention of “Mr. Zsasz”
Removed Zsasz showing his scars.
Removed Dinah calling Henchman #1 “Zsasz”
Removed Huntress naming “Victor Zsasz”
Removed Montoya fighting the huge guys by herself
Tightened up fighting in funhouse overall to remove most choreographed moments
Shortened time it takes Huntress to tow Harley to first car of henchmen
Tightened Harley and Sionis Car chase shots
Cut short the Birds of Prey fight scene and lines about their name, mainly to detract from the weird costumes.
Changed “Victor Zsasz” name in credits to “Sionis' Henchman/Confidant”
Removed post credits audio.
https://youtu.be/05vOJN_2sgw

User reviews

14 reviews
 
93%
 
7%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.9(14)
Audio Editing
 
9.9(14)
Visual Editing
 
9.8(14)
Narrative
 
9.3(14)
Enjoyment
 
8.7(14)
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(Updated: December 14, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
This was a great fix for a very mediocre movie! The actual editing was seamless and you managed to turn a 5.0/10 movie into a 7.5-8.0 for me.

The original movie tried to hide its lack of a compelling narrative behind some fancy screenwriting tricks but when you strip those tricks away you can see how relatively straightforward the story here is (which is why it only gets an 8). It feels like the original was going for almost Pulp Fiction-esque character introductions, converging and diverging plot lines, and a team meet-up in the final act, but when you put the story in order it becomes very straightforward: Canary knows Harley and Cassandra (who are wanted women), Huntress wants revenge, and Det. Montoya is chasing all of them. They all meet up, realize "we're not so different, you and I," and kick men's asses. Satisfying and straightforward, just like the story should have been from the beginning.

Excellent work turning this movie from a jumbled mess into a fun movie about bad girls gone semi-good!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
8.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This was fantastic! I actually enjoyed it more than the original movie! I love how straight forward it is. Much less fat. And it works well as a segway for "The Suicide Squad"(2021). With how Harley becomes more sympathetic towards kids. I just wish there was more Huntress.
Definitely recommend it!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Blu-Ray
B
1 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
Contrary to most I liked the original movie but I absolutely hated the fact that there is a 40 minute flashback. This edit completely fixes that by having the movie okay out in chronological order. The only slight change in enjoyment/narrative is because the film itself isn’t a masterpiece and nothing can be done to make it one.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
R
Top 1000 Reviewer 3 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
5.0
All 10 but Enjoyment only 5: this has nothing to do with the Editor but the movie itself!

I hated the film when it came out, than i got it as a praesent and tried it at home, but couldnt stand it still.
The Unchronologig attempt, to many VO´s and overall sillyness was just to much.
I have a problem with pretty much all the DC Films, some try to much on the serious side, this one is like a sprinkled, rainbow coloured Muffin, to sweet.

The editing is great, the Video sounds and looks great. The Film know has a better approach and pacing and i watched it in full.
We get proper introductions of everyone at the right time, this time and the fight scenes are placed very well.
Also the Diamond reveal is placed tip top where it should be.

Well done!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
V
Top 100 Reviewer 47 reviews
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(Updated: February 21, 2022)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I missed this movie in theaters, then blind bought the bluray when it came out. I was hoping to like this movie and was massively let down. It took me three attempts to finally finish it, and by the time I had I felt like I had a migraine. Where the original cut struggled the most was without a doubt the non-linear story telling.

Wakeupkeo has masterfully edited Birds of Prey into a chronological story that focuses the plot, and in turn gives all of the character's more clear, much more satisfying arcs. While Harley is still the central character, the rest of the Birds of Prey are also able to shine as they are introduced far more effectively. The ramping up of Black Mask's sadism works well to heighten the story, and the decision to make Zsasz just a henchmen makes for a more interesting, less frustrating supporting character. This fan edit is excellently paced, running just 84 mins before the credits roll. This is easily the definitive version for any DCEU fan!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
J
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View all user reviews