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Fallen Hero
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1986 / 2008
Original Running Time:
130 / 116
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
118
Time Cut:
130
Time Added:
2
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
What happens when you take the padding of 'Gran Torino' out and replace it with flashbacks to Walt "Highway" Kowalski's life in the US Marines, from 'Heartbreak Ridge'? You get 'Fallen Hero', a Clint Eastwood mashup. Now you have a character who is meaner and driven by his past to do right! And boy does he!
I hope you enjoy this,
Wraith
I hope you enjoy this,
Wraith
Intention:
In 2012 a friend of mine suggested using Gran Torino as the anchor for a mashup of half a dozen Clint Eastwood movies to show how mean and dangerous his character was. The idea was, he starts in the Air Force (Space Cowboys), got kicked out after crashing the X2 (Firefox), joined the Marines (Heartbreak Ridge), got kicked out for insubordination, and then became a cop ('Dirty Harry' movies) and got kicked out again (Remember how he throws his badge on the desk?).
A rough assembly was put together but it was tonally inconsistent and I abandoned the edit. Then it struck me that the character in 'Gran Torino' is the same as in 'Heartbreak Ridge'. Clint gives a deep gravely performance in both. Bingo! The edit came back to life...and here it finally is.
A rough assembly was put together but it was tonally inconsistent and I abandoned the edit. Then it struck me that the character in 'Gran Torino' is the same as in 'Heartbreak Ridge'. Clint gives a deep gravely performance in both. Bingo! The edit came back to life...and here it finally is.
Additional Notes:
Full credits sourced from IMDB.
Other Sources:
Additional footage from 'Firefox' (1982), Directed by Clint Eastwood.
(Trailer music: Lalo Schifrin)
(Trailer music: Lalo Schifrin)
Special Thanks:
Special thanks to all at fanedit.org including: TV's Frink, NotOrsonWelles, ThrowngnCpr, Bionicbob.
Especially the Previewers: Neglify and Ranger613.
Especially the Previewers: Neglify and Ranger613.
Release Information:
- DVD
- DVD
- Digital
Special Features
- Trailer (1min 17sec)
- All 'Gran Torino' deleted material (22min 25sec)
- Abandoned concepts and sequences (6min)
- Edit Build (8sec)
- Chapter Selection
- 2012 alternate test opening titles, from when it was still a 'Dirty Harry' Mashup (3 min)
- All 'Gran Torino' deleted material (22min 25sec)
- Abandoned concepts and sequences (6min)
- Edit Build (8sec)
- Chapter Selection
- 2012 alternate test opening titles, from when it was still a 'Dirty Harry' Mashup (3 min)
Editing Details:
I did not dislike 'Gran Torino', but it was a tad overlong, the pacing was uneven and it featured some crummy lines (quite a few infact). I liked 'Heartbreak Ridge' at the time, but I thought Clint's growling Gunnery Sergeant was a tad contrived. Wind forward and how did I miss that they are the same character. Hence this edit came to life.
The idea was to remove Chaff from 'Gran Torino', tighten up the character and plot development, rebalance the evolution of the film and strengthen Clint's character by using "flashbacks" to his military past broadly in line with the main film's progression.
The idea was to remove Chaff from 'Gran Torino', tighten up the character and plot development, rebalance the evolution of the film and strengthen Clint's character by using "flashbacks" to his military past broadly in line with the main film's progression.
Cuts and Additions:
Gran Torino: 116 min / 27 min cut
Heartbreak Ridge: 130 min / 25 min used
Firefox: 2 min used
Fallen Hero: 118 min / 143 changes in all
- Clint's Eastwood's character is named Walter "Highway" Kowalski for this edit
- Wally's family almost completely removed
- Substantial re-ordering of 'Gran Torino' material for more even pacing and plot evolution when stitched together with the 'Heartbreak Ridge' footage
- All aspect ratio corrections for 'Heartbreak Ridge' are not noted below (most are shot specific re-framings)
000 Open with SD version of FANEDIT WARNING
001 NEW WRAITH LOGO with a CLINT growl
002 Warner Bros logo from Sudden Impact for a vintage feel
003 New opening constructed from climax of Gran Torino (9 trims)
011 Custom opening credit sequence
012 Funeral is trimmed
015 The wake is unaltered until Walt "Highway" Kowalski (WHK) chats with niece in garage
018 Trimmed to make KWG meaner, he now directly growls at suggestion he is going to die
019 Re-ordered scene segues to FIRFOX flashback
021 2 Continuity error of shot from too high up removed
022 Plane attack jump cut error in original, corrected
023 Footage is 10% de-saturated
027 Scenes that follow a re re-ordered
028 one scene has Gamma decreased to imply a sunset as next scene is darker
029 Cleaning of car is moved up to here to establish "love" of car prior to theft attempt
030 Bar scene moved up to establish bigoted old school WHK
031 Shot re-arrangement at end of scene to facilitate flashback transition
032 Jail fight has 4 edits
036 Courtroom has reference to name removed
037 Small section trimmed from court
038 Footage 10% de-saturated
039 Warehouse contraband discussion removed
041 Hard cut to attempted theft
042 scene re-ordered to establish Tao has some redeemable traits early on
043 Lawn confrontation cuts to Priest visit (re-ordering)
044 Shot re-arrangement at end of scene to facilitate flashback transition
046 Base intro has name reference removed
047 Incidental dialogue trim during base intro
049 Major having 'transferred from supplies' is deleted making him meaner
050 Barracks intro trimmed
053 Hard cut to WHK porch (re-ordered)
054 Barber scene moved up
055 Return home relocated
056 repetition dialogue "what's going on " removed
057 Lawn mowing moved up to create a lull between this and scene which follows
058 Scene tightened up with gang
060 Continuity error of WHK referring to dialogue "bro" which he could not have heard since he drove up post, is corrected
062 Hard cut to barracks
063 Semi-montage re T shirts created (8 trims)
071 Additional PTs sequences have trims
081 hard cut to WHK going to Laponte's home
082 WHK on porch hard cuts to fridge
083 shaman and Bathroom scene removed for pace and needless exposition
084 6 scenes re-ordered
090 11 trims to heartbreak ridge footage to create semi-montage of training
093 porch scene with Sue cross fades
096 Discussion with Tao has ref to working in Ford Factory removed (this is NOT about the car)
099 Sue returning beaten up is shortened slightly to facilitated removal of glass drop
100 "going to war" discussion trimmed and has "suntan" ref removed (inappropriate humour)
108 8 trims to fighting footage ending on WHK comment regarding the fate of a soldier to facilitate crossfade
109 5 trims to permit shot of medical report
110 Post shooting new crossfade to church
111 35 scenes from Gran Torino removed in total
146 Custom end titles
Heartbreak Ridge: 130 min / 25 min used
Firefox: 2 min used
Fallen Hero: 118 min / 143 changes in all
- Clint's Eastwood's character is named Walter "Highway" Kowalski for this edit
- Wally's family almost completely removed
- Substantial re-ordering of 'Gran Torino' material for more even pacing and plot evolution when stitched together with the 'Heartbreak Ridge' footage
- All aspect ratio corrections for 'Heartbreak Ridge' are not noted below (most are shot specific re-framings)
000 Open with SD version of FANEDIT WARNING
001 NEW WRAITH LOGO with a CLINT growl
002 Warner Bros logo from Sudden Impact for a vintage feel
003 New opening constructed from climax of Gran Torino (9 trims)
011 Custom opening credit sequence
012 Funeral is trimmed
015 The wake is unaltered until Walt "Highway" Kowalski (WHK) chats with niece in garage
018 Trimmed to make KWG meaner, he now directly growls at suggestion he is going to die
019 Re-ordered scene segues to FIRFOX flashback
021 2 Continuity error of shot from too high up removed
022 Plane attack jump cut error in original, corrected
023 Footage is 10% de-saturated
027 Scenes that follow a re re-ordered
028 one scene has Gamma decreased to imply a sunset as next scene is darker
029 Cleaning of car is moved up to here to establish "love" of car prior to theft attempt
030 Bar scene moved up to establish bigoted old school WHK
031 Shot re-arrangement at end of scene to facilitate flashback transition
032 Jail fight has 4 edits
036 Courtroom has reference to name removed
037 Small section trimmed from court
038 Footage 10% de-saturated
039 Warehouse contraband discussion removed
041 Hard cut to attempted theft
042 scene re-ordered to establish Tao has some redeemable traits early on
043 Lawn confrontation cuts to Priest visit (re-ordering)
044 Shot re-arrangement at end of scene to facilitate flashback transition
046 Base intro has name reference removed
047 Incidental dialogue trim during base intro
049 Major having 'transferred from supplies' is deleted making him meaner
050 Barracks intro trimmed
053 Hard cut to WHK porch (re-ordered)
054 Barber scene moved up
055 Return home relocated
056 repetition dialogue "what's going on " removed
057 Lawn mowing moved up to create a lull between this and scene which follows
058 Scene tightened up with gang
060 Continuity error of WHK referring to dialogue "bro" which he could not have heard since he drove up post, is corrected
062 Hard cut to barracks
063 Semi-montage re T shirts created (8 trims)
071 Additional PTs sequences have trims
081 hard cut to WHK going to Laponte's home
082 WHK on porch hard cuts to fridge
083 shaman and Bathroom scene removed for pace and needless exposition
084 6 scenes re-ordered
090 11 trims to heartbreak ridge footage to create semi-montage of training
093 porch scene with Sue cross fades
096 Discussion with Tao has ref to working in Ford Factory removed (this is NOT about the car)
099 Sue returning beaten up is shortened slightly to facilitated removal of glass drop
100 "going to war" discussion trimmed and has "suntan" ref removed (inappropriate humour)
108 8 trims to fighting footage ending on WHK comment regarding the fate of a soldier to facilitate crossfade
109 5 trims to permit shot of medical report
110 Post shooting new crossfade to church
111 35 scenes from Gran Torino removed in total
146 Custom end titles
Cover art by Wraith (DOWNLOAD HERE)
[Trailer]
User reviews
7 reviews
Overall rating
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
9.7(7)
Audio Editing
10.0(7)
Visual Editing
10.0(7)
Narrative
10.0(7)
Enjoyment
9.6(7)
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Wraith stumbled on something here - turns out Clint has been playing versions of the same character for decades and has filled in the backstory of Walt from Gran Torino with footage from Heartbreak Ridge 22 years earlier which works surprisingly well. Events in HR inform and mirror the ex-vet's cynicism and makes the character richer and more sympathetic and turns GT into something more grand and meaningful, potential that was there the whole time. Even minor continuity errors that couldn't be masked work in that Highway in HR seems to bounce from commission to commission and his past remains a dark ghost as much as the specifics.
I'm dinging the Video quality a point only because it's SD (you can't have everything) but this isn't to imply there's any sloppy work. Soft dissolves early on turn into hard cuts once you have the lay of the land. Anyone who loves either of these films or Clint owes it to see this. I have a soft spot for HR (having seen it many times on cable way back) and also think THAT film is improved in my mind by this edit.
This mix of two similar films really works.
I'm dinging the Video quality a point only because it's SD (you can't have everything) but this isn't to imply there's any sloppy work. Soft dissolves early on turn into hard cuts once you have the lay of the land. Anyone who loves either of these films or Clint owes it to see this. I have a soft spot for HR (having seen it many times on cable way back) and also think THAT film is improved in my mind by this edit.
This mix of two similar films really works.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
R
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
I finally got round to watching this fanedit and simply brilliant. As echoed with other reviews here, the two movies worked beautifully together and really enhanced the narrative and character of Walt in Gran Torino. I hadn't seen either of the two films but brought the dvds in order to get a fresh experience and as Todd Howard says "it works". The flashbacks were well timed, the editing was smooth, the narrative was strong and compelling. Overall brilliant job Wraith.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
E
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This edit is justification for the art of fan editing. It takes great elements from two exceptional movies and makes a whole different experience. The editing is flawless, the audio was great. I was very impressed with the cuts where they may have called him Thomas "Highway" . I know they were in there.
Minor quibble and so minor it doesn't lose any points because I could be convinced as to why it makes sense, but in the Gran Torino section he clearly states that he got his lighter from the First Cavalry (Army), and in Heartbreak Ridge he rejoins the second recon team (Marines) that he was a part of in Korea. Blink and you miss it, though. And if some war buff told me that they worked in tandem... I can't prove them wrong. Just something that stuck out to me.
Altogether incredible enjoyable narrative experience and it truly adds depth to what would n0rmally be a mysterious character.
Minor quibble and so minor it doesn't lose any points because I could be convinced as to why it makes sense, but in the Gran Torino section he clearly states that he got his lighter from the First Cavalry (Army), and in Heartbreak Ridge he rejoins the second recon team (Marines) that he was a part of in Korea. Blink and you miss it, though. And if some war buff told me that they worked in tandem... I can't prove them wrong. Just something that stuck out to me.
Altogether incredible enjoyable narrative experience and it truly adds depth to what would n0rmally be a mysterious character.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
T
Overall rating
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
9.0
I previously enjoyed both of the source movies for their own merit, so I was looking forward to this as I started it up on a recent flight across the country.
Wow, it was great. In fact the two stories linked so well I actually wanted more flash backs. This isn't just for Clint fans, it's for fans of story telling and knowing what drives a character to become who he is.
The removal of family background detail allowed the movie to concentrate on the relationship between Walt and his neighbors. The flashbacks are well timed and linked consistently to the current situations that Walt finds himself dealing with.
Excellent work ^_^
Wow, it was great. In fact the two stories linked so well I actually wanted more flash backs. This isn't just for Clint fans, it's for fans of story telling and knowing what drives a character to become who he is.
The removal of family background detail allowed the movie to concentrate on the relationship between Walt and his neighbors. The flashbacks are well timed and linked consistently to the current situations that Walt finds himself dealing with.
Excellent work ^_^
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
S
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Second fanedit, second review, second Wraith movie.
I have not ween either of these two films so I came in cold on this one.
I have to say, yes I can work out what cam from which film, but that's becaise Clint looks younger and I know that one was thematically a boot camp movie and the other not. But heck, what an amazing film. I was so impressed. Did they really not film this as i just viewed it? Completely flawless in every sense from my point of view. Audio, visually, thematically even how the flashbacks corresponded to the scenes preceeding and following each transition. I really thought the handful of hard cuts away from a flashback were very well judged.
In fact, i immediate watched gran Torino after (which I bought with Heartbreak Ridge online) so I could watch this and found the experience to quite light in comparison. That's when I appreciated not just how well some of the scene re-ordering played out, but also how diferent the feel of the film was given the sparse addition of the flashbacks.
But the real shocker for me was the ending. I don't want to spoil that for others but the lame gran Torino song was so depressing. I suppose that was the intent but in Wraiths hands the ending was uplifting and triumphant in a way the original does not even come close to. What an inspired choice of music (I should say no more).
This fanediting stuff is transformational indeed in ways I could not imagine.
I'm hooked and this is now burnt, in an amray case next to my other Cline movies.
I going to check out some other editors next but I want to watch all this editors stuff too and do not have the time. I'll roll the dice. Next time I'm on the homepage I'm watching the third from the right in the featured edits.
This is (as stated below) a must for clint fans!
BRAVO MY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have not ween either of these two films so I came in cold on this one.
I have to say, yes I can work out what cam from which film, but that's becaise Clint looks younger and I know that one was thematically a boot camp movie and the other not. But heck, what an amazing film. I was so impressed. Did they really not film this as i just viewed it? Completely flawless in every sense from my point of view. Audio, visually, thematically even how the flashbacks corresponded to the scenes preceeding and following each transition. I really thought the handful of hard cuts away from a flashback were very well judged.
In fact, i immediate watched gran Torino after (which I bought with Heartbreak Ridge online) so I could watch this and found the experience to quite light in comparison. That's when I appreciated not just how well some of the scene re-ordering played out, but also how diferent the feel of the film was given the sparse addition of the flashbacks.
But the real shocker for me was the ending. I don't want to spoil that for others but the lame gran Torino song was so depressing. I suppose that was the intent but in Wraiths hands the ending was uplifting and triumphant in a way the original does not even come close to. What an inspired choice of music (I should say no more).
This fanediting stuff is transformational indeed in ways I could not imagine.
I'm hooked and this is now burnt, in an amray case next to my other Cline movies.
I going to check out some other editors next but I want to watch all this editors stuff too and do not have the time. I'll roll the dice. Next time I'm on the homepage I'm watching the third from the right in the featured edits.
This is (as stated below) a must for clint fans!
BRAVO MY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
DVD
F