Watch $27,000 Batman Fan Film City of Scars

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Watch $27,000 Batman Fan Film <i>City of Scars</i>  

I can’t really say much for the writing or acting, but visually Aaron Schoenke’s Batman fan film City of Scars is kind of impressive — particularly when you consider it was shot over 21 days with a budget of just $27,000.

The 30-minute short, which debuted today at Daily Motion, covers familiar territory:

When the Joker escapes from Arkham and murders the parents of a young boy, Batman recalls the pain of losing his own parents as a child. He is pushed past his limits to the point where his focus becomes revenge on all who stand in his way, including many of Gotham’s underworld. Finally, Batman is forced to look at the psychological profile of his own mind and accept the consequences of his life to find resolve.

Like I said, it’s fairly well-worn ground. But still, it looks pretty good, right?

  • Christachella

    aww damn it… manly tears… ;_;

  • HeyLookMail

    Having worked with a few indie filmmakers, I'm not terribly impressed considering the budget.

    The costume and the bike were great — the Batman logo was nice too.

    I liked most of the casting, visually speaking, and the Scarface dummy was incredible. The locations for the club, Crime Alley, and even the city were a bit bizarre. None of them quite felt right for a variety of reasons.

    That said, the V.O. at the end was interminable, and the movie relied too much on it throughout. It also didn't help that the dialogue (V.O. and otherwise) was weak, which made OK actors come off even worse.

    And, sadly, the movie wasn't saying anything new. Nothing new about Batman, crime, or murder.

    I really wanted to like it and think Schoenke has potential. What would've been more compelling for me, rather than yet another fan-made dark Batman film, is something more in the style of Brave & the Bold — if he could've pulled that tone off in live-action, I'd be impressed.

  • Davey Boy Smith

    Perhaps you ought to post elsewhere if all you're going to do is make snide remarks.

  • Guest

    I thought it was just okay. I didn't like that Batman looked so muscular. The outfit looked kinda silly and his make-up under the mask were coming off. The Joker wasn't intimidating at all, or funny to listen to, or look at. Wish the setting would've been more beautiful to look at as well but still stay dark of course. Lastly, Batman's narrating didn't make me feel sorry for him. It felt silly too.

  • Jack

    All I could think about watching this was how feasible a weekly TV series could be. This was amazing..

  • Yeahdude

    lame

  • Bathuac

    Really amazing, i agree that acting and scripting is not the best thing ever but it delivers and I felt like I was watching an old Batman The Animated Series episode, excellent bat-suit, excellent Harley Quinn, more than excellent Scar face, totally loved the Batman narrator thing it gives the old detective movie feeling to it, The joker was amazing I only have a complain for his make up I thing his mouth needed a bigger / psycho smile. Definetly this is something old Batman fans would love to see turned into a tv series.

  • krysmo

    appreciate the work, but not a really fresh vision of batman. felt like i've seen something like this many times before.

  • Italian_pride26

    i can see why people dont agree with the originality of the story but really to draw attention and make it known you cant really do something that people arent familiar with. I think it was a good interpretation and i thought the Joker was great. He really felt like the real Joker. Heath Ledger never did to me. He was great as a different style dont get me wrong but I grew up watching Batman TAS and really could link this Joker to that. And the comics.

  • Jhawkins1047

    It wasn't a snide remark. I just don't think you really understand the character.

  • Jbwbubba

    It was good, good quality for the money. They won't do it because of film money but these guys should be brought in to do a weekly series. Only problem was the obvious telegraph that the boy would kill the joker when he looked at the gun.

    Not thrilled with Canary's appearnce. It would seem to be a nod to Miller's recent dark Batman and Robin series, in which Black Canary worked in a bar and was inspired by BAtman to become Black Canary.

  • Toshio_PopsMan

    Awesome!