Gargoyles The Movie: The Heroes Awaken

Gargoyles The Movie: The Heroes Awaken

Gargoyles The Movie: The Heroes Awaken is an 80-minute movie version of the "Awakening" five-parter that premiered at Walt Disney World in September of 1994. It was released on VHS and Laser Disk in 1995.

History

In 1994, while Frank Paur worked with editors and sound mixers on the five-part "Awakening" pilot, Greg Weisman was given the job of preparing a feature length movie-edit of the pilot for a September "World Premiere" at the Pleasure Island multiplex at the Walt Disney World park in Orlando, FL. To this end, he worked with a separate batch of editors and sound mixers to compile and compress the needed material and make it ready on time. [1]

Later, in 1995, when Buena Vista Home Video wanted to release the pilot on video and Laser Disk, they discovered there already existed a movie edit and released that version to home video, despite Greg Weisman's protestations. [2]

Description

Movie

Scotland, 994 A.D. The inhabitants of a medieval castle are protected from ruthless invaders by a mysterious race of powerful and noble creatures. Stone by day, alive by night...they are the Gargoyles, led by the mighty Goliath and the beautiful Demona. However, the uneasy alliance between humans and Gargoyles is soon betrayed - and the Gargoyles are put under a spell for 1,000 years. But by whom?

Manhattan, 1994. One by one, a small clan of surviving Gargoyles finally awakens - only to find their castle resting atop a New York skyscraper owned by wealthy industrialist David Xanatos. Xanatos wants them to recover valuables stolen by Commandos. But after 1,000 years, can humans be trusted?

This thrilling edge-of-your-seat adventures is packed with special effects from Disney's legendary animators and the voice talents of Ed Asner - and Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis from Star Trek: The Next Generations. And now you can swoop the Gargoyles up on video!

Game

It's a race against time...as you glide the gritty streets of Manhattan - one spin at a time. You'll face danger, Gargoyle-style, attempting to stop evil..stone cold! But wait! The combined interactive video footage and "action cards" add to the excitement as you soar forward to apparent victory, or suddenly hurtle backwards through New York City subways! Regardless, Xanatos must not succeed. It's up to you!

Everything Is Included Inside!

• Game Board of Manhattan Streets!
• 4 "Gargoyles" Character Pieces!
• "Gargoyles" Spinner!
• 3 Sets of 10 Action Cards!

Differences From "Awakening"

Due to the different schedules and teams, and limitations as to what material would be finished in time for the premiere screening, there are a few differences between the two versions. These differences include additional, different, or missing dialogue, as detailed below. The complete omission of any reference to the eggs in the rookery (at the behest of Greg's boss). [3] Finally, the absence of certain sequences, particularly those without a focus on Goliath and Elisa (such as Hudson and the TV, some of the Trio's adventures). See below for more details.

In addition, the movie feature a completely different sound mix more suited to theatres than television speakers. The movie also includes a Co-Producer credit for Greg Weisman.

"Awakening: Part One"

• The scene with the Captain of the Guard encouraging the soldiers to hold out until nightfall, along with the threat of dealing with him if they don't is cut.
• The scene with Broadway taking time to eat meat and then using the food to attack the vikings is cut. As well as Mary and Tom observing the action.
• The scene with Goliath and the Captain figuring that Hakon and the rest of the vikings followed the band of refugees given shelter in the castle is cut.
• As the vikings flee, a soldier says "Who needs the gargoyles?" as opposed to suggesting the vikings will think twice about attacking the castle.
• The scene in the dinner hall with the Captain speaking of Goliath's name in a positive light while Princess Katharine reminds them how the Biblical Goliath was a bully and savage is cut.
• Demona speaking of how Goliath's patience astounds her is cut.
• The Magus looking through the Grimorum Arcanorum is cut.
• The entirety of the Trio's time in the rookery is cut.

"Awakening: Part Two"

• A brief bit where the vikings are happy with their victory is cut.
• The quick blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot where Hudson gets his sword off a Viking is cut.
• The fight between the clan and vikings are cut, including Broadway reaching for the leg of meat.
• Goliath's request to the Princess about caring for the eggs in the rookery is cut.
• Several shots of the present day the castle in the present while Xanatos arrives is cut.
• After Owen brings up that work on the castle will be astronomical in cost, a new line from Xanatos ("Then it had better be worth it") is added before his request of a crew.
• Owen bringing up the castle supposedly being haunted is cut, as is Xanatos response.
• The disassembling of the castle as well as gathering up the clan by Xanatos Construction workers is cut.
• The music played while the clan awakens for the first time in Manhattan is replaced with another track.
• Goliath's awakening is a different effect in the movie, and there is an additional shot in the movie that's not in the episode of Xanatos stumbling backwards while shielding his face.
• Goliath asking how long they were asleep is cut, while Xanatos answering him is kept in. Mention of the eggs and them being gone is also cut.
• Broadway's fight with a Commando is cut, as is his "Nice mask." line.
• Xanatos firing at the Commandos while saying "Time to take the gloves off." is cut.
• The music playing when Elisa's arrival is replaced with another track.
• Goliath going over the edge of the building and climbing up is cut.
• Lexington being restrained by a Commando is cut.
• Brooklyn asking about the weapons used against them is cut.
• Goliath asking Xanatos why he was attacked up to the former declaring that he won't trust humans again is cut.

"Awakening: Part Three"

• Xanatos clarifying that the claim of an exploding generator being info for the press only is cut.
• In the episode, Elisa's line about weapons permits is, "I assume THEY have permits." In the movie, it's "I assume YOU have permits."
• The trio's exploration and mishap in the kitchen is cut, though the references to the scene are kept.
• Hudson checking out the TV room is cut.
• Brendan and Margot's appearance starts with the former looking for the cause of their car stopping. The scene before it where it stops is cut.
• The scene of Goliath fighting the thugs has an additional shot in the movie, where we see Goliath bash two of the thugs' heads together. In the TV version, it's not clear what Goliath does to cause these thugs to be unconscious.

"Awakening: Part Four"

• The Trio finishing their exploration of the city and attempting to hail a taxi is cut.
• Hudson channel surfing while in the TV room is cut.
• Elisa shooting a Commando is cut.
• Elisa stopping shaking off Bruno and the other Commando is cut.
• The Jogger going by and asking about the statue is cut.
• Prior to stating that the clan better not be harmed, Goliath has added dialogue ("Godspeed lads"). Though Demona reassuring him that though they are young, but trained by the best (i.e., him) is cut.
• Goliath and Demona's happiness of being able to glide together again as well as Xanatos watching their departure is cut.
• Near the end of the episode, when the Trio is breaking into the Cyberbiotics Tower, Brooklyn has a line deleted, resulting in Broadway's reply being redubbed from, "No problem", to "Come on. Let's do it!"

"Awakening: Part Five"

• The scene with the Cyberbiotics Commander and his men being informed of the other Fortresses being hit is cut.
• In the movie version, the Station 2 Commander has an additional line when he sees Hudson on camera: "What on Earth?".
• When Hudson and Bronx jump onto the subway car roof, Hudson has an awkwardly-dubbed line in the movie that is not in the episode: "I know, boy, but any port in a storm.".
• After the Captain of Fortress-1 asks who Goliath is, there is an additional line from Goliath answering, "Your nightmare.".
• Lexington also had an awkwardly-dubbed line when he's dodging fire from the Steel Clan: "I think it's safe to say they're not our friends!"
• Hudson's line, "And they said the middle ages were barbaric." is cut.

Bonus Material

The version released to home video also included a few extras.

• A small "Behind the Scenes" featurette at the beginning, narrated by Jonathan Frakes and featuring interviews with Keith David, Salli Richardson, Marina Sirtis, Greg Weisman, Jamie Thomason, Michael Reaves and others.
• A Gargoyles Interactive Video Boardgame in which the players, with help from Elisa, race against both time and Demona to stop Xanatos's plan.

See Also

• Gargoyles: Volume 1-4 (VHS)