Shawshank - The Duality Cut

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Shawshank The Duality Cut
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
142 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
113 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
This edit intercuts between two timelines. The first one taking place mostly after Andy escapes, the second one taking place before his escape.
Intention:
I wanted to modify the narrative structure of the movie to create a new viewing experience.
By reordering the scenes and by giving it a modern pacing
As a secondary goal, I wanted to remove the opening trial scene because it’s not well written.
Special Thanks:
I wish to thank futon88 for providing me with valuable feedbacks. tremault for guidance with the Black and White. VarsityEditor, PanteraSteel, Heavyside and Wraith, because you engaged with mw in the conversation thread and that does make a difference! Thanks to all of you who left thumbs up or read this!
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
I tried to find a certain symmetry between the scenes I was intercutting. I created a detailed log of all the scenes with timings and notes to get a better understanding of what I was working with, to get to know the source material better. It was inspired by a spreadsheet shared by Wraith for his Unbreakable-Glass-Split edit.
It definitely helped understand the script better and the pacing as well. It also helped laying down the first version of the new scene order.
Cuts and Additions:
/ Scenes in black and white, mostly after Andy’s escape
* Scenes in color, mostly before Andy’s escape
- Removed scenes

Castle Rock Entertainment Presents title card
/ Andy in solitary, receives visit from Norton
- trimmed some of Norton’s lines
/ Andy talks with Red after 2 months in solitary
- trimmed all allusions to Andy being innocent and other light trims
- removed allusions to Brooks
Shortened opening credits
* Red’s first parole hearing and Andy gets out of the bus
- trimmed out Red’s betting against Andy
/ Fellows worry about Andy’s acquisition of a length of rope
* New prisoners meet Norton and Hadley, then get cleaned
/ Norton’s shoes shining and Andy’s last night
- light trims
* First night, Fat Ass murder
- removed a shot of the guard yelling lights out
/ Morning after the escape, guard realizes Andy is missing
* First morning, cafeteria food and shower with Bogs
- Lightly trimmed Brooks feeding the bird
/ Tunnel reveal and search party for Andy
* Andy talks to Red for the first time and asks for a rock hammer
/ Norton’s shoe shining, different point of view ‘how often do you look at a man’s shoes?’
- removed three short scenes usually shown just before
Andy writing his name on his cell wall
Andy starts tunnel behind the poster
Andy spreading rubbles in the yard
* Red receives the rock pick then passes it to Andy. And Andy’s first two years montage
/ Andy’s escape
- Removed everything after he crawls out of his tunnel
- Removed the announcement of the roof resurfacing
* Roof resurfacing and drinking beer
/ Norton commits suicide (placed here for better transition)
* Andy needs a Rita Hayworth poster and Bogs gets beaten down by Hadley
* Searching for rocks in the field
/ Andy visits banks, sends a Fort Hancock’s postcard to Red, memories of Andy
* Cell inspection and bible talk, Andy gets a new job at the library
- Removed a line from the prisoner mopping the floor
- Removed Andy filing taxes report for everyone
*Andy writes a letter a week to get books
/ Red’s liberation is approved
* Brooks is freed but institutionalized
- Removed Brooks life outside of prison
/ Red’s life outside prison begins
* Andy reads Brook’s letter, receives books and vinyls for the library, plays music
/ Red works at the grocery
* Talking about hope in the cafeteria, and Andy gives Red a harmonica
- Removed a lonely night with the new poster of Marilyn Monroe
- Removed Red’s 30-year parole hearing
/ Red buys a compass and leaves town for Buxton
* Library renovations and Norton’s inside-out program and bribe.
- Some light trims
* Andy explains Norton’s shady schemes to Red and his involvement
- Trimmed a bit at the end
/ Red finds the Oak tree in Buxton
- Removed Tommy’s introduction, bus scene and woodworking scene
* Tommy’s theft stories, Andy teaches Tommy, Tommy learns why Andy is in jail
/ Red finds the metal box under the oak tree
* Tommy tells the story of Elmo Blatch. Norton sends Andy in solitary for a month
* Tommy receives his diploma
/ Red reads Andy’s letter under the tree
/* Red leaves Maine and reaches Andy at Zihuatanejo (going back to color)
End credits
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
142 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
113 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
This edit intercuts between two timelines. The first one taking place mostly after Andy escapes, the second one taking place before his escape.
Intention:
I wanted to modify the narrative structure of the movie to create a new viewing experience.
By reordering the scenes and by giving it a modern pacing
As a secondary goal, I wanted to remove the opening trial scene because it’s not well written.
Special Thanks:
I wish to thank futon88 for providing me with valuable feedbacks. tremault for guidance with the Black and White. VarsityEditor, PanteraSteel, Heavyside and Wraith, because you engaged with mw in the conversation thread and that does make a difference! Thanks to all of you who left thumbs up or read this!
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
I tried to find a certain symmetry between the scenes I was intercutting. I created a detailed log of all the scenes with timings and notes to get a better understanding of what I was working with, to get to know the source material better. It was inspired by a spreadsheet shared by Wraith for his Unbreakable-Glass-Split edit.
It definitely helped understand the script better and the pacing as well. It also helped laying down the first version of the new scene order.
Cuts and Additions:
/ Scenes in black and white, mostly after Andy’s escape
* Scenes in color, mostly before Andy’s escape
- Removed scenes

Castle Rock Entertainment Presents title card
/ Andy in solitary, receives visit from Norton
- trimmed some of Norton’s lines
/ Andy talks with Red after 2 months in solitary
- trimmed all allusions to Andy being innocent and other light trims
- removed allusions to Brooks
Shortened opening credits
* Red’s first parole hearing and Andy gets out of the bus
- trimmed out Red’s betting against Andy
/ Fellows worry about Andy’s acquisition of a length of rope
* New prisoners meet Norton and Hadley, then get cleaned
/ Norton’s shoes shining and Andy’s last night
- light trims
* First night, Fat Ass murder
- removed a shot of the guard yelling lights out
/ Morning after the escape, guard realizes Andy is missing
* First morning, cafeteria food and shower with Bogs
- Lightly trimmed Brooks feeding the bird
/ Tunnel reveal and search party for Andy
* Andy talks to Red for the first time and asks for a rock hammer
/ Norton’s shoe shining, different point of view ‘how often do you look at a man’s shoes?’
- removed three short scenes usually shown just before
Andy writing his name on his cell wall
Andy starts tunnel behind the poster
Andy spreading rubbles in the yard
* Red receives the rock pick then passes it to Andy. And Andy’s first two years montage
/ Andy’s escape
- Removed everything after he crawls out of his tunnel
- Removed the announcement of the roof resurfacing
* Roof resurfacing and drinking beer
/ Norton commits suicide (placed here for better transition)
* Andy needs a Rita Hayworth poster and Bogs gets beaten down by Hadley
* Searching for rocks in the field
/ Andy visits banks, sends a Fort Hancock’s postcard to Red, memories of Andy
* Cell inspection and bible talk, Andy gets a new job at the library
- Removed a line from the prisoner mopping the floor
- Removed Andy filing taxes report for everyone
*Andy writes a letter a week to get books
/ Red’s liberation is approved
* Brooks is freed but institutionalized
- Removed Brooks life outside of prison
/ Red’s life outside prison begins
* Andy reads Brook’s letter, receives books and vinyls for the library, plays music
/ Red works at the grocery
* Talking about hope in the cafeteria, and Andy gives Red a harmonica
- Removed a lonely night with the new poster of Marilyn Monroe
- Removed Red’s 30-year parole hearing
/ Red buys a compass and leaves town for Buxton
* Library renovations and Norton’s inside-out program and bribe.
- Some light trims
* Andy explains Norton’s shady schemes to Red and his involvement
- Trimmed a bit at the end
/ Red finds the Oak tree in Buxton
- Removed Tommy’s introduction, bus scene and woodworking scene
* Tommy’s theft stories, Andy teaches Tommy, Tommy learns why Andy is in jail
/ Red finds the metal box under the oak tree
* Tommy tells the story of Elmo Blatch. Norton sends Andy in solitary for a month
* Tommy receives his diploma
/ Red reads Andy’s letter under the tree
/* Red leaves Maine and reaches Andy at Zihuatanejo (going back to color)
End credits

Trusted Reviewer review

1 review
Overall rating
 
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
Spoilers ahead.

This edit takes the first half of The Shawshank Redemption and plays it out chronologically, up to Andy’s one month solitary confinement, whilst splicing in the second half of the film, mostly chronologically, in black and white throughout.

Very good A/V quality. Black and white scenes look good. Bitrate 12.5 mbps. Audio editing is mostly good, besides clashing scores at 07:50. Great and varied transitions, and audio editing, between scenes from the different timelines.

The new structure creates a lot more mystery as to who Andy is and why he’s in prison. The flow and pacing of the two storylines is good.

We go from Red narrating in the main timeline about “Andy kept to himself at first”, to Red’s narration in the later timeline about Andy escaping, and then back to Red continuing to narrate in the main timeline about Andy speaking after a month. Splitting Red’s main timeline narration like this here is confusing. Similar issue at 57:46.

The transition between “this place could’ve got the best of him” and Andy staring at the rope is an inspired one - although by this point we know that Andy isn’t thinking of committing suicide.

The misdirection of the viewer into thinking that Andy has killed himself for the first half an hour or so is a good choice. You find out that Andy has escaped, which lessens the tension of the first storyline; instead it’s replaced by curiosity as to how Andy got to the point of escaping. For first time viewers, this order is inferior, but a good alternate take for those who have already seen the original.

I like the choice to have Red leaving (b&w timeline) right after talking about being institutionalised (main timeline). It then cuts from “Brooks was here” (b&w) to Andy reading Brooks’ letter - excellent choice. Cutting out Brooks’ little subplot works for well for this edit, you get all the info you need from the way Daedal has structured these scenes.

The viewer is kept ignorant of why Andy is in prison and if he’s innocent up til the end, another good choice.

Personal preference: I think most or all of Red’s narration can go, at least for the black and white scenes. A lot of exposition that the audience doesn’t need to hear, and a lot of redundant info too. The narration also spoils that Andy is taking the Warden’s money and on the whole reduces the mystery around the b&w timeline.
The Warden saying “salvation lies within” and giving back the Bible could have led into the scene of the Warden opening that same Bible and reading that line.

Conclusion - this is a well executed alternate take of The Shawshank Redemption, and a good viewing for those who’ve seen it before. Daedal has strong editing ability and the edit is of professional quality.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0

User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(3)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(3)
Visual Editing
 
9.7(3)
Narrative
 
9.3(3)
Enjoyment
 
10.0(3)
Overall rating
 
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This was very very fun for me to watch. I've seen the original more times than I can count and for the first time in a long while I found myself intrigued by the mystery of the next scene.

Visually the black and white really helped separate the two halves, but I think given the "flashback" nature of seeing something in black and white and especially with the color beach scene at the end (I thought color was the past?) the color palettes of the two halves should be reversed.

Narratively I was really impressed by how well the two halves played off of each other! Off the top of my head there was "receiving the poster / "when Raquel was spilling her secret" and ESPECIALLY juxtaposing Redd's parole with Brooks's parole. I really think you should have kept the suicide in (though I loved that you removed Tommy's death). I like that Andy finally escaped because the straw that broke his back was that he knew he would never be released, not because Tommy died.

Overall I have to say this was one of the most interesting edits I've seen in a long while, and while there are a few issues with the visual narrative, I think this was a great undertaking by someone with a REAL grasp of the story. Very VERY excellent work!!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
The constellation Daedal is in the ascendant. Remarkability is certainly as strong point with this rendition of that now classic tale of a banker's redemption to humanity through the sins of others. At first it seemed crazy to think of messing with this one but by golly, gosh, and gudzuntite we've got an improvement on the original here. At least with the vantage of hinter sight. This edit is one for the fans for sure. It manages to spread the buzz of the finale through the whole thing, more or less. Freeman's steady narrative working out perfectly in this regard. It offers a duality in contrast to its progenitor. That being depressingly intrigueing with and quintessential pay-off at the end. This being intrigueingly repriseing of the otherwise sacrosanct screenplay. Its like 'The Shawshank Revellation' with all the best bits wrapped up in an enigma with rainbow springing out of pots of gold all over the place. For real.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
For me this is one of my favorite movies. If I see it on TV no matter where it is in the film I watch. And I guess seeing so many TV versions many of the scenes were new to me. I know how hard it must be to make a movie from a Stephen King story since there are so many subplots in his stories. But what was taken out of this didn't detract at all. Rather than watching a story about a prison friendship. I watched a more of a reminiscing of some events. The going back and forth from black and white to color is not a distraction. As what was tried here to give a new viewing experience, for me that is achieved. The pacing and length work well. As usual no techie stuff just enjoyment from me. On my popcorn scale I will give this a 7 out of 5. That's how much I enjoyed this. My only distraction if it is one. Every time I see Clancy Brown in something, I am always waiting to see if Sean Penn hits him with a pillow cover full of soda cans. Well now ya gotta excuse my I need to go pinch a loaf before the warden gets back

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0