Just Watched Batman Forever Red Book Edition

[mystory64]

Alright so a friend of mine sat me down to watch what he called the "definitive" Batman Forever cut, the Red Book Edition, citing a more darker beginning and cutting in alot of the cut footage featuring Bruce dealing with his parents being killed. The colors are also muted to an extent with a stronger emphasis on the color red being the primary hue to the film. That all being said I still cant watch this film without that feeling of saturday morning corniness. I'm sorry I feel the same way about the Burtons movies, the music aside (Elfmans theme is still a masterpiece) I feel all four of those films were just too comic booky for me, and hey I draw for a living. The Batman movies for me growing up were my Star Wars films, I anticipated them with a mad fever, but it wasn't until Batman Forever that I felt like they were cartoons way more so than eve the real cartoon was. Anyhow for those out there that feel differently go check out the Red book Edition you might like it, for me I'll stick to Begins and the Animated Series, it's just more my style.

 

[Gianakin_]

I'm watching it right now. Improved, but this improvement makes the bad things (like Nygma killing his employer) look sillier and more idiotic.

 

[Gianakin_]

Well, saw it all, but one thing stands out as very dumb, and it's one of the added scenes:
When Bruce comes out of the cave in the beginning of the 3rd act, where he faces the Bat, he emerges as only Batman. Alfred calls him Master Bruce and Wayne corrects him by saying "Batman Alfred, Batman". Alfred smiles deeply.
What the hell? So, he eliminates the Wayne persona (and of course he later contradicts that by what he tells the Riddler after he defeats him) and everyone's happy? Or did I miss something?

 

[mystory64]

No you didn't miss anything, it was just a deleted scene for a storyline that didn't make much sense in the film, imo. Why is it every time Kilmer talks to Alfred about Bruce's childhood he looks like he's ready to cry? Tears welling up all the time, I dunno it's just not a good Batman movie, try to add or take away from it all we want it's just fundamentally flawed.

 

[Gianakin_]

Yes, it is. But the difference between this and B&R is that it can be salvaged into a mediocre film.

 

[mystory64]

lol true that

 

[Deaths Head II]

I found some of the editing weird. Two Face's speech about simple doo dah clueless luck was removed, but Two Face repeatedly flipping his coin was kept?

The editor also seemed to have a thing for Jim Carrey's humor in general because a lot of his cheesy scenes were kept.

 

[Penismightier]

Does he still say "Spank Me"?

 

[mystory64]

The editor also seemed to have a thing for Jim Carrey's humor in general because a lot of his cheesy scenes were kept.

Right one there, tho theres a cut of Blade 3 that takes out all the cheesy moments and its barely 80 minutes long, I wonder how much time would be cut out it you deleted most of the campy/campy stuff from Carrey?

 

[Deaths Head II]

Does he still say "Spank Me"?

I don't remember if he says "Spank me" but he does say "JOYGASM!"

 

[Gianakin_]

He does say spank me. IT's a better cut but still not perfect. The Stickler murder scene should have been chopped to near nothingness.

 

[Penismightier]

But "Surf's up Big Kahuna!" is just so Riddler....

 

[Gianakin_]

It's the Mask, not Riddler. Thank the lord Robin William's didn't agree to play.

 

[Penismightier]

Robin Williams would have blown anyone and everyone to play The Joker in any film. The Riddler would have been the uglier girl he asked out after the hot girl rejected him. He's totally wrong for both parts, no matter how much he gushes about Morrison's Arkham Asylum.

 

[Gianakin_]

I'd love to have seen him as anyone under Burton's direction. I'd especially be interested in his Joker.

 

[Penismightier]

He would have been a lot hammier than Jack. I won't say hammier than Carrey's Riddler, as that just might not be possible.

 

[Milu]

Either script, Williams would've put an EMPHASIS on all the wrong WORDS .

 

[tekken]

i like carrey's riddler. he sorta reminds me of frank gorshin. batman forever is basically the old series revamped.

the "holy rusted metal batman" said it all.

 

[souloffire]

That all being said I still cant watch this film without that feeling of saturday morning corniness. I'm sorry I feel the same way about the Burtons movies, the music aside (Elfmans theme is still a masterpiece) I feel all four of those films were just too comic booky for me, and hey I draw for a living. The Batman movies for me growing up were my Star Wars films, I anticipated them with a mad fever, but it wasn't until Batman Forever that I felt like they were cartoons way more so than eve the real cartoon was. Anyhow for those out there that feel differently go check out the Red book Edition you might like it, for me I'll stick to Begins and the Animated Series, it's just more my style.

So you thought a movie based on a comic book was to "comic booky"? That's like saying Star Wars was to "spaceshipy".