Tag Archives: Video Home System

Global Thermonuclear War

Posted on by Standard 1

Those are still scary words.  Ha ha ha.  ☢

Today, I was made aware (via ThinkGeek on Twitter) that this was the day in 1983 that the movie WarGames was released.  This is one that’s at the top of my “favorite movies from my childhood” list.

Another Twitter post (from TB5918) linked to some cool WarGames sounds at Movie Sounds Central.

When I was younger, the USSR was still around and there was this really weird thin Cold War line between them being the enemy or a friend.  It was clear that our respective governments were unsure of the other, but the people in each place were just curious about each other.  They were a great movie bad guy.  Every stock film bad guy was a Communist from the USSR because they were so easy to identify and to fear.

WarGames not only appealed to the budding computer geek in me, but it really pointed out to me that maybe the Soviets weren’t the bad guy.  Maybe we were.  Maybe no one was.  Plus, the whole machines taking over thing kind’ve messed with my little mind.

I was also fascinated with how he hacked a payphone.  I never did get to try that out.  (For the kids, this is a payphone.)

I know my parents had to spend mad cash on renting this VHS (and possibly Betamax, we had one of those first…) for me multiple times.  I have it on DVD at home somewhere now.  I rescued it from the Walmart $5 DVD mid-aisle bin.

I really recommend checking this out if you’ve never seen it or if you have no idea what I’m talking about.  If you have seen it, go watch it again!  (Hey – even Rotten Tomatoes likes it.)

I’m gonna have to make a “Favorite movies from my childhood” list.

Maybe I can convince the wife that we need to watch this tonight, to mark the occasion…

WarGames | JOSHUA

Joshua

Star Wars Blu-Ray Speculation

Posted on by Standard 7

THE TEN Things That The Forthcoming Star Wars Blu-ray Should Include.Yesterday via Twitter, I saw an article from TheForce.net about another article (or Editorial, I guess) at DVDACTIVE: THE TEN Things That The Forthcoming Star Wars Blu-ray Should Include.  Of course, I felt the need to weigh in.  I for one am salivating at the prospect of all of the movies being released in one package and the prospect of new  (and newly unearthed) material.  After all, Mr. Lucas has stated over the years that they’re all part of one large story.  They ought to be presented that way, right?

Firstly, I agree with Marcus Doidge who wants all versions of the movies (especially IV, V, & VI).  I’m going to guess that all of us do… or at least we want the option to watch the edit that we prefer.  Some of us are quite partial to the Emperor being a lady in a mask with chimp eyes, Han shooting first, and not having either version of the Han/Jabba scene… I guess.  Personally, the most annoying offense to me is the newly recorded Ewok celebration song and the wholly unnecessary new musical number in Jabba’s palace.  “Yub Nub” for the win.  I’d certainly like the option for those parts of the movie to play through seamlessly as I want to see them!

I don’t see this happening though, as George Lucas seems to consistently say or imply through many interviews that each new edit is getting closer to his original vision, and that all previous versions are rendered irrelevant by the new scenes and additions as they were meant to be.  It’s almost like he’s angry or spiteful for people being so attached to their favorite versions.

Toward the end of his THE TEN list though, Doidge cites that he wants to see something new… as in a wholly new feature for Blu-ray in general.  I also agree with this… why not a “Choose Your Own Adventure” type movie?  Fan edits exist out there… why not have the option to do that in your Blu-ray player before the movie begins?  Perhaps with an option to save your favorite personal versions?  I envision a multiple choice check-box type of scene listing before the movie begins where you can pick if you want to see Han shoot first, a glowing translucent Sebastian Shaw or Hayden Christensen, and maybe finally a newly filmed scene where the Wookie gets a medal?  I’d like to see it.  It would be more fun that a straight-up “pick your release”, as it would be all yours.  Making your own movie would be as easy as building your own sub at Quiznos.

Love the pop-up idea too.  Geeks like factoids, right?  This has to be a no-brainer.  There is a wealth of information out there… there could even be multiple pop up factoid tracks.  Info/trivia from within the Star Wars universe could be on one track, and film production or special effects notes, bloopers, release histories, etc. could go on another.

As far as extras… I would expect no less that all the deleted scenes that we’ve seen before plus more, a documentary or two — something cool like the History Channel’s Star Wars Tech or Legacy Revealed.  A gag-reel type montage of Star Wars parody clips would be awesome too… like Bill Murray singing “Star Wars” on SNL — anything in that vein.

I’d really love to see Mr. Lucas finally buckle under pressure and release the atrociously awesome Holiday Special.  Why not?  It’s out there.  Copies exist.  Get a clean copy and put it out there, or digitally clean up one of the bootlegs!  Why not make money off of the camp of the whole thing while you can?  You can’t tell me this is the one morality/vision line that George Lucas can’t cross?  If you’re that embarrassed, put it as an Easter egg somewhere on one of the Blu-rays and never acknowledge it again.

Also… why not include the made for TV Ewok movies, and the new animated Clone Wars movie?   Then we could watch ALL of them in chronological order.

This is how it goes, isn’t it?

  • Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  • Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  • Star Wars: Clone Wars (animated microseries)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (3D CGI movie)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (3D CGI series)
  • Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  • Star Wars: Droids (animated series)
  • Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
  • Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (made for TV movie)
  • Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (made for TV movie)
  • Star Wars: Ewoks (animated series)
  • Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Call me crazy, but barring any restrictions from my bank account… I’d buy ’em all in one package.  Maybe it ought to come with a working Dejarik board?