BATMAN FOREVER – Custom Expanded Score

http://s27.postimg.org/4bfdm2bqb/Batman_Forever_Custom_Front_Cover_1_500.jpghttp://s29.postimg.org/x0r8lxv07/Batman_Forever_Custom_Front_Cover_2_500.jpg
Unlike the steaming pile of crap that is "Batman & Robin", I do not lump "Batman Forever" in with it like most fans seem to. People forget that film was far more successful and well-received than history now tells it. I’ve always enjoyed "Forever", and nothing will change that.

The score was my first ever CD purchase in 1996, and it’s about damn time I took a crack at customizing the official expanded release.

This is in 99.9% Chronological order unlike the official albums. The one break in chronology is noted in the tracklist.

I wish I could say Custom Complete Score, but there are at least two cues from the film that remain unavailable. I tried to get them from the film’s sound mix but they were too full of sound effects so they weren’t useful:

The first is early on, the "Let’s start this party with a bang!" Two-Face music after Batman meets with Meridian and Gordon.

The second cue is for Bruce Wayne attempting to break down Chase Meridian’s door after he mistakenly hears her being attacked, but was just her workout routine.

I’ve made some very subtle volume changes to several cues, but the extreme range is often one of its appeals as a frenetic, sometimes off-the wall insane listening experience. The score is dark, elegant, silly, absurd, disturbing, romantic…it’s almost schizophrenic in its approaches.

I’ve also made a lot of editorial changes, sometimes choosing album arrangements over film versions, sometimes blending the two together for fuller, more complete cues without the need to rely on alternates. I almost included an alternate for "Gas Trap", using the strings from "Fledermausmarschmusik" but the mixing was too different to match so I left that cue as is replacing "Obligatory Car Chase" like on the original album. It’s a polarizing film with an equally polarizing score, but I hope this presentation of mine gets at least some enjoyment. As usual I’ve added most of my own track titles.

Disc One

1. Forever Fanfare
2. Batman Theme / Introducing Two-Face
3. Hot Entrance
4. Trap a Bat / Flood of Chaos / Have The Good Taste To Die
5. Wayne Enterprises
6. Edward Nygma / Bat Signal / Misunderstanding
7. Capsule Descent
8. Ms. Meridian, You’re Trying To Seduce Me
9. Nygma’s Brain Drain
10. Suicide Investigation / First Riddle
11. Nygma’s Apartment / Second Riddle to Wayne Manor
12. Dream Warden
13. Massacre Under The Big Top
14. Painful Memories
15. Batmarchmusic
16. Two-Face-Car-Chase
17. Question Mark Man
18. Two-Face’s Lair / Enter The Riddler
19. Split Personalities
20. Crime Spree

Disc Two

1. More Riddles
2. The Box
3. Dick’s Discovery (this is where I broke chronology, because I included "Laundry Room Stunt" here in order to make a better listen. That laundry cue along with the "Master Dick" cue had a distinct guitar / electronic sound unlike anything in the score, so I put them together as one. )
4. Repressed Memories
5. Neon Alley Rumble
6. Kiss The Girl / Batman Descends (reprise of the "Roof Plunge" cue as you hear it in the film)
7. In The Batcave / The Ritz Gotham
8. Shall We Dance
9. Party Crashers
10. Bad Case of Gas
11. Conflicts / Chasing After Chase
12. Batcave Shutdown / Runaway
13. Hallowe’en / Post-Traumatic Flashback
14. Seize and Capture / Spank Me
15. Solving Riddles / Partners / Battleship
16. Into The Sea / Assault on Claw Island
17. Riddle Me This
18. Batterdammerung
19. The Random Toss / Batman Forever
20. Arkham Asylum
21. New Dream / Dynamic Duo Marches On

The three custom front covers I made are included in both full size and iTunes-friendly sizes.

BATMAN FOREVER – Custom Expanded Score (Apple Lossless) (https://mega.co.nz/#!ZgUkxRwB!-iNowljxbNhU61Gzooa9b_-dZ9kjrkKZ_N9wZ0E8Pec)

I agree, and thanks very much for this hard work JHFan. DL now, will give it a listen for sure!

Forever Is One Of My Fav Batmans (Love Jim Carey And the Riddler & Tommy Lee Jones’ Two Face) Thanks For This I Look Forward to Hearing Your Version 🙂

Thank you for this – looking forward to hearing it. I love the movie too

No, I do not like the movie at all BUT I like the work of JHFan so I thank you very much for this one 🙂

Since the only Batman material I have in my library is Elfman, Walker and Zimmer/Howard, I shall make this the first Goldenthal Batman to be added to the collection. Thanks a lot, I know I can take this over any other version.

Both Schumacher Batman films were bad, but Forever was definitely the better of the 2. Perhaps because Val Kilmer makes a better Caped Crusader than fucking George Clooney, and his suit doesn’t have the now-famous "Batnipples". Seriously, what were they thinking?

Thanks.

Brilliant work JHFan… good and bad memories of this score… I had this on cassette in my walkman at school. ‘Mr E’s Dance Card’ was playing and some jocks caught a brief listen. They branded me a "faggot" for the rest of the year. Fucking hated school…if you didn’t listen to Oasis, Coolio or Guns N’ Roses you had no chance.
I have those jocks on my facebook for shits and giggles just to witness them making complete assholes of themselves complaining about their shitty dead-end jobs, lack of weed supply and/or visitation rights to their kids and using throwaway comments such as "I give up", "had enough of this shit" to attract attention and sympathy. Also the obligatory photographs of half eaten kebabs and pyramids made from empty cans of Stella Artois. I thought I was an eccentric but it turns out I was just civilized all along.

Brilliant work JHFan… good and bad memories of this score… I had this on cassette in my walkman at school. ‘Mr E’s Dance Card’ was playing and some jocks caught a brief listen. They branded me a "faggot" for the rest of the year. Fucking hated school…if you didn’t listen to Oasis, Coolio or Guns N’ Roses you had no chance.
I have those jocks on my facebook for shits and giggles just to witness them making complete assholes of themselves complaining about their shitty dead-end jobs, lack of weed supply and/or visitation rights to their kids and using throwaway comments such as "I give up", "had enough of this shit" to attract attention and sympathy. Also the obligatory photographs of half eaten kebabs and pyramids made from empty cans of Stella Artois. I thought I was an eccentric but it turns out I was just civilized all along.

Sounds very familiar. I can’t wait for my next reunion, to see all the jocks/"popular" people and how much they have let themselves go. It’s going to be so deliciously satisfying.

This is one of the reasons I’m grateful for the shrine. You see just how many people there are who are just like you – they have such a love for film scores. Believe it or not, 2 years ago when I went back to school I had a very unique experience. The first day of class, the teacher had us pair up to get to know each other (as if we were in grade school, or even high school), and I was paired with a guy several years older than me. I forget how, but we got on the topic of film scores and he told me how much he loves the first TF score. In my mind I’m thinking "yeah yeah, bullshit", but then he tells me about this track on there called "Arrival to Earth" and how he loves to workout to it. I was floored, it was very surreal.

Thanks JHFan!

Since the only Batman material I have in my library is Elfman, Walker and Zimmer/Howard, I shall make this the first Goldenthal Batman to be added to the collection. Thanks a lot, I know I can take this over any other version.

Both Schumacher Batman films were bad, but Forever was definitely the better of the 2. Perhaps because Val Kilmer makes a better Caped Crusader than fucking George Clooney, and his suit doesn’t have the now-famous "Batnipples". Seriously, what were they thinking?

Actually, Kilmer’s first suit (he wore two) had nipples. It was called the "Panther" suit, which is really just an updated, stylized version of the 1989 suit:

(spoilered for image size)

Kilmer’s second suit (the "Sonar" suit) did not:

Brilliant work JHFan… good and bad memories of this score… I had this on cassette in my walkman at school. ‘Mr E’s Dance Card’ was playing and some jocks caught a brief listen. They branded me a "faggot" for the rest of the year. Fucking hated school…if you didn’t listen to Oasis, Coolio or Guns N’ Roses you had no chance.
I have those jocks on my facebook for shits and giggles just to witness them making complete assholes of themselves complaining about their shitty dead-end jobs, lack of weed supply and/or visitation rights to their kids and using throwaway comments such as "I give up", "had enough of this shit" to attract attention and sympathy. Also the obligatory photographs of half eaten kebabs and pyramids made from empty cans of Stella Artois. I thought I was an eccentric but it turns out I was just civilized all along.

I had no real friends in high school but people were always either intrigued or indifferent about the music I listened to, because it was sort of like classical but it was something everyone would hear because it’s for movies. People would remember the "Casper" or "Beauty and The Beast" music or something, or when I was in grade 7/8 kids were fumbling their way through the simpler of the two "Jurassic Park" themes on piano in the music room, that kind of thing.

———- Post added at 05:11 PM ———- Previous post was at 05:03 PM ———-

P.S.

If there is anything a bit strange or just plain wrong about any tracks here, let me know. I did look at each track in Audacity and Audition and listened to the edits as I went along, but I got a little confused at the end, having done the whole thing in order.

I say that because I hammered this thing out all at once throughout all of yesterday evening right up until about 5 AM, then woke up at 9 and raced out the door on my bike carrying the dog in my avatar pic in a bike trailer just to follow a bus….kind of tired.

Actually, Kilmer’s first suit (he wore two) had nipples. It was called the "Panther" suit, which is really just an updated, stylized version of the 1989 suit

Well how about that? It’s still on a mild scale compared to Clooney’s nips. That’s what I think of when someone references Batman & Robin. Reservoir Dogs – Steeler’s Wheel/the ear scene. Batman & Robin – batnipples.

I had no real friends in high school but people were always either intrigued or indifferent about the music I listened to, because it was sort of like classical but it was something everyone would hear because it’s for movies. People would remember the "Casper" or "Beauty and The Beast" music or something, or when I was in grade 7/8 kids were fumbling their way through the simpler of the two "Jurassic Park" themes on piano in the music room, that kind of thing.

If I’m going to be honest, when I was in either 7/8 grade there was an older kid (who was always the first one on the bus) from the highschool next door, and he’d always have his headphones on. I finally asked him what he was listening to and he said it was some kind of videogame score, or something. I said "oh" and sat back down in my seat. I thought to myself that was kinda weird (completely disregarding the fact the I had The Lion King cassette and played the shit out of it when I was younger), and here I am now. Granted, I still listen to mainstream music (mostly classic rock, I cannot for the life of me stand what is on the radio today and what kids have the audacity to call "music") as much as I listen to film scores.

I like everything about Batman in "Forever", I like Kilmer, his Bruce Wayne, his suit (nipples or not, I like its 1989 style just more polished, unlike that ugly suit Keaton wore in "Returns"), his chrome-plated gadgets, the cave was cool, the vehicles were great (far from a fan favorite, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "Forever" Batmobile) and still like the look of the film. I even like Robin in it. Even though Carrey took over the movie too much and Jones was kind of an unfunny joke, aside from his great opening monologue about luck which still impresses me now, Batman Forever is still a movie I enjoy even with "The Dark Knight Trilogy" and the upcoming "Batman V Superman".

Now "Batman & Robin" on the other hand….

well….What JHFan thinks of "Batman & Robin" – YouTube (http://youtu.be/rkW8OCC0AQU?t=45s) (NSFW for language)

Chris O’Donnell was not bad in it, but I couldn’t stand him in Batman & Robin. He got way too cocky. And that Bane was just a fucking joke lol

I’m so thankful I don’t have any pets. Dogs are cut and all and great for company, but when they shit in my house? NOPE.

Just finished listening to the whole Album, sounds great to me. You did a great job JHFan!

I’m just glad I didn’t mess up the timings when I removed the silences to overlap "Battleship". Doing this stuff when tired isn’t a good idea!

Chris O’Donnell was not bad in it, but I couldn’t stand him in Batman & RobinI’m so thankful I don’t have any pets. Dogs are cut and all and great for company, but when they shit in my house? NOPE.

Stone floor is manageable, but that shit would blend in with the walnut.

"The Indianapolis Turd" (1993)

My uncle used to be a bus driver and would regularly leave the house about 4:30am. He was late one morning when I was sleeping there and didn’t have time to let the dog (a retired champion greyhound called Stanley) out for the usual early morning walk.
Anyway, in his haste to leave he forgets his keys and unfortunately has to ring the buzzer to get back in to the apartment. I wake up with a jolt and stumble barefoot in the dark to the entry phone in just my underwear. I pick up the phone… "Hello-WHOA!!" within a quarter of a second I’m on my back with two fallen bicycles and a stack of video cassettes on top of me.
The crash woke my aunt who rushed to the hall and turned the light on.
Stanley had ‘recycled’ two cans of Pedigree Chum and found the perfect spot to park his breakfast. I’d crushed his truffle with my left foot (between my toes and everything). I then slipped downwards, sending a turd torrent up my thigh until finally the impact from my ass sends a shit shockwave half way up my back….my uncle came in finally and could not stop laughing…

…I’ll never put on a life jacket again, chief.

Maybe THAT’s what Batman & Robin feels like?

Reminds me of my Mother claiming, if there was one little dog shit pile in a huge field I would be the one to step in it.

Thank you.

great job JHfan

When you say expanded, how does it compare to La-la Land’s expanded 2CD version?

When you say expanded, how does it compare to La-la Land’s expanded 2CD version?

It is a customized presentation of that album, putting everything in order, making some edits here and there, for a better listening experience.

Thank you !!! I agree with you, Batman Forever is a good Batman movie. My opinion, of course 🙂 I only don’t like the Final Confrontation with The Riddler : too many colors !!! 😉

Thank you share!

For me this is the best Batman score, i prefer Goldenthal’s than Elfman. Thank you for this!

Thanks a lot! For me the best thing about the movie is Nicole Kidman, she was so Hot in it!

Thanks a lot! For me the best thing about the movie is Nicole Kidman, she was so Hot in it!

100% agreed…wouldn’t kick her out of bed on a Monday morning

Thanks JHFan for all your hard work on this! 🙂

Thanks for this.

Thanks a lot

Hey, thanks for the fine effort! Will definitely give this a listen!

Since the only Batman material I have in my library is Elfman, Walker and Zimmer/Howard, I shall make this the first Goldenthal Batman to be added to the collection. Thanks a lot, I know I can take this over any other version.

hey DAK, have you heard it yet? It’s unlike anything you hear from Elfman to Zimmer. It’s Goldenthal being Goldenthal which is great if you like his music but can put you off after 5 sec when you can’t stand it.

I’d suggest that if this is your first time that you listen the BF score, or almost by Goldenthal in general, then it’s better to try the short OST version first.
I say this because the score is totally schizophrenic. One time you hear a big heroic theme and next some hilarious danceable number. And is this cacophony of music styles that can become an overwhelming experience to a first time listener, hence the OST suggestion first.

That album runs short but have most of the score principal ideas, so if you like that one then you’re good to go to enjoy more of this expanded version, but if don’t like it then stay away from any expanded version you’ve find around, otherwise headaches and ear bleedings are guaranteed! 🙂

Great share, thanks for taking the time to put this together!

People at school last year said I don’t listen to real music, because all I have on my iPod is soundtrack scores. And I don’t care what they think, I’m going to listen to music I like. And it’s all I listen to. Every single day. I love it. Even my co-workers at work know that it’s all I listen to. If they show me a movie, I can name the composer on the spot. I’ve just gotten that good. Some people tried to mess with me in Electronic Music class, they would play a track from a Soundtrack on iTunes, and without looking, I could name the movie, and the composer, within 5 seconds. They were surprised as fuck. It’s probably a weird talent to have, but I don’t care!

People at school last year said I don’t listen to real music, because all I have on my iPod is soundtrack scores. And I don’t care what they think, I’m going to listen to music I like. And it’s all I listen to. Every single day. I love it. Even my co-workers at work know that it’s all I listen to. If they show me a movie, I can name the composer on the spot. I’ve just gotten that good. Some people tried to mess with me in Electronic Music class, they would play a track from a Soundtrack on iTunes, and without looking, I could name the movie, and the composer, within 5 seconds. They were surprised as fuck. It’s probably a weird talent to have, but I don’t care!
Soundtrack Score Is Real Music LOL Its Written, Composed Ect Like Real Music And Has Its Own Section In Shops Like Pop Ect
All My IPod Is Film Music Ect.
TBH Its Better Than Some Of The Music Out These Days lol
Good For OST! Rock On :awsm:

great

Thanks for the share. Incredible score. The innovation in the music as well as the technique in making it exciting and harmonious….its real creativity. This Batman score is wonderful.

thanks!

Thank you very much.

im loving you custom score!!! got for batman and batman returns? or any plans to make those customs scores? 😀

A working link from 2014?

https://media.giphy.com/media/zIwIWQx12YNEI/giphy.gif

Anyway, thank you for the score!

Thank you JHFan!

Thanks!

Many thanks !

Thanks for the work.

It’s an awesome soundtrack, thanks for doing this!

I also enjoyed the film, very much.
:fabulousbatman:

Spotted the thread and decided to give this a listen. Thanks so much. Left you a rep JHFan! I have always liked the score to this!

wonderful post, pal !!! thanks a lot !!!