Synopsis:

Inspired by what we know of earlier versions of the film, with my own preferences injected, this is an extended and resequenced version of Batman Forever.

Intentions:

It's pretty common knowledge that Batman Forever went through a major change in timeline quite late into production. The sequence of events in the final film was completely changed to accommodate studio requests, and Joel Schumacher was required to cut his 160 minute film down to a more palatable Summer movie length of two hours. As a result, there are parts of the movie that leave threads hanging, and even a few clues in the film as to what might have been. Originally, it was my intention to make as close to this original version of the movie as possible, using what we know of the earlier structure of the movie, and what deleted scenes we have to make it happen. However, as I progressed I decided to follow my own preferences for sequencing and content to make something between that earlier cut and my personal edit. Importantly, this edit is not an attempt to tone down the elements Schumacher introduced that differentiated it from the earlier Burton films, and it is not an attempt to make a dark, gritty Batman movie - we have enough of those. This project is an attempt to create a fuller and more compelling version of this film that still respects Schumacher's unique vision of the dark knight.

Change List:

- Opening credits removed. - Deleted scene of Two-Face’s Arkham Escape inserted as new opening with new score and SFX. - Introduction of Nygma and Bruce’s Waynetech tour moved before titles. - Opening title inserted. - Batman suits up and Two-Face’s bank robbery. - Nygma’s testing and Stickley’s murder, including aftermath with Bruce and first two riddles. - Bruce visits Chase and takes her to the circus, Two-Face crashes the circus and murders the Graysons, Dick moves in with Bruce. - Chase calls Batman to rooftop, one small line of dialogue changed to remove reference to old scene order. - Batmobile/Two-Face car chase, birth of the Riddler, and Riddler and Two-Face team-up moved to after Chase/Batman rooftop scene. - Beauty and the Bat deleted scene inserted into Riddler and Two-Face’s crime wave montage with new score and SFX. Batmobile monitor has been replaced to improve continuity of the scene, and two shots of the Riddler added for the same reason. - Alfred and Bruce discussing Bruce’s identity in the Batcave cut to make way for deleted scene. - Two-Face and Riddler discover Batman’s identity moved to after Bruce/Dick/Alfred Batcave scene. - Anti-Batman newscast and Alfred and Bruce discussing Batman retiring deleted scene inserted with new score and SFX. - Riddler’s question mark Batsignal moved to after Bruce wakes after being shot. - Secret of the Batcave/Red Book deleted scene inserted with new score and SFX. - Chase awakens in Riddler’s lair moved to after secret of the Batcave scene.

Additional Notes:

Much of the film has been reordered to further resemble the original shooting script, although personal choices have been made where I wanted to keep consistency, or where moving a scene didn’t serve any narrative purpose. Similarly, some but not all of the available deleted scenes have been upscaled and restored to the film to enhance the reordered narrative. In addition to the visual enhancements, the deleted scenes also have new sound mixes built with new score and SFX. There is a noticeable, but hopefully not too distracting, change is visual quality on the deleted scenes, as they are rebuilt from old standard definitions NTSC transfers, but I am happy enough with the result - and will always be ready to revise this edit if I can improve their quality any further.

Other Sources:

New score elements are taken from Elliot Goldenthal’s score for Batman Forever, with the sole exception of the Arkham Escape scene which features a small sample of a track from Goldenthal’s score for Batman & Robin. A single short shot from the fan film Riddler's Retaliation was used in one scene.

Special Thanks:

Special thanks go to all my previewers - Zarius, heathen3017, and Malthus. I very much appreciate all of your feedback and assistance in dialling in this edit. Special thanks also to Jrzag42 for the Academy feedback and approval. Extra special thanks go to Malthus for the technical expertise and advice to complete certain elements, not to mention a level of encouragement to keep me going. Thank you all!