The ‘Star Wars’ Films Have Been Changed Again On Blu-ray

From slashfilm [excerpt], First up, the frame size on The Phantom Menace will be more complete than it was on previous releases. Meaning, where on your DVD you might not be able to see a character on the right of the frame, now you will. This is because transfer technology in 1999 wasn’t as good as it is now so, in 2011, they can transfer a more complete image. Plus, the images will be cleaned up, so no subtle ghosting around certain objects.

As for the original trilogy, many things that were wrong with the 2004 DVDs have been updated. Color timing is no longer an issue as all the lightsabers have been enhanced and made more uniform. Plus, several of the cute, quirky visual mistakes in the films have been changed. For example, you will no longer be able to see the puppeteers arm on the Wampa in Empire Strikes Back.

The audio has also been significantly improved with this release, particularly in A New Hope. Apparently there were issues with the back channels and some of the score was too low in the mix, but that’s all been corrected. In some cases, they even went back to the 1976 files to get the right sounds.

So far, that’s all positive. Cosmetic changes that, yes, might take a way from the gruff feel of the originals but, on a high end Blu-ray release, you can forgive. But that’s not all. Sit down for this one. Here’s a quote from the Digital Bits article:

Once again, George has apparently added a few new “surprises” into these films. I don’t know what they are and didn’t get to see any of them on Friday, but I was assured that there will be “new things to notice” when we watch the films. I think we can safely assume that one of them will be the new all-digital Yoda in Episode I. Way back when Episode III was released on DVD, ILM digital effects supervisor Pablo Helman confirmed to me that the puppet Yoda in Episode I was replaced with a digital version to better match his appearance in Episodes II and III. In fact, the Episode III DVD extras includes a clip of the Episode I digital Yoda. However, this Blu-ray set is really the first opportunity we’ll have to see it in full. What the other changes to these films may be, I have no idea, but I suspect there will be no lack of blog posts on this very subject within hours of the first discs becoming available to fans.

Caption Results!

Octopunk takes Archie.

Panel 1

Archie: Jugbrain, if you want more product you need to get me my fucking MONEY, man.

Jughead: Archie, you gotta help me, man! I'm gonna get sick real soon! Ohhhh, man... I never wanted a hamburger as bad as this...

Panel 2

Archie: Fan out, boys, no business here! Put the word out that Jug's out of charity.

Panel 3

Jughead: Okay, fine! But if you think I can handle getting your money when you leave me jacked up like this, you're--

Panel 4

Jughead: Yeah now this is a perfect example. I have no idea is this is actually happening or not.

It fit perfectly with the pictures and I like the "fan out, boys, no business her!" line.



For me Prince Valiant was all about panel 4. Hence Catfreeek wins:


Panel 1

Narration: Aah the life of a Prince. Beautiful women to cook for you and cater to every whim.

Panel 2

Narration: Oh, those cheeky devils, adding a little love potion to the meat.

Panel 3

Narration: Everyone partakes in the enchanted meal. It won't be long before the whole group is feeling randy.

Panel 4

Narration: Prince Valiant explains to the women, the proper technique for a double handjob.

Panel 5

Narration: After inspecting the women carefully, Prince Valiant takes his pick of the harem and departs to his chambers.

Finally, the orgy is in full swing. Cornelius mounts his woman for a game of chicken, while Sir Vedimir tries to impress with his best bucking bronco manuever.



Catfreeek also took Beetle Baily:

Panel 1

Sarge: "Hey Beetle, how you feeling? Can I get you anything?"

Beetle: "I sure could use a handjob."

Panel 2

*Awkward silence*

Panel 3

Beetle: "Ha! I just wanted to see the look on your face! No seriously, can you send in Miss Buxley, my balls are killing me."



Handsome Stan wins Flash Gordon:

Panel 1

Ant: "Finally, the ants of planet Arcturus will have a new planet to rule! As advance scout, I must find a landing site for our advance fleet!"

Panel 2

Ant: "What the deuce??? It seems our scientists have made a huge miscalculation of scale. How embarrassing."

Flash: "Zzzzzzzz-zzzzzzz..."

Panel 3

Ant: "All is not lost! Your picnics shall be OURS, Eathling!"

Flash: "What a great nap. Time for some potato salad!"



However this week's contest came down to a Mary Worth Showdown between Handsome Stan, who pioked up where he left off last time with Mary's dissatisfaction with the Leprosy Diner.

Panel 1

Mary: "I'm telling you, the coffee here is great! And I know there's an opening for a waitress position. If you just fill out an application - "

Greta: "But (sob) - but with parts of my face just falling off randomly...(sob)..."

Panel 2

Mary: "Dear, if I can live with a lower jawbone dropping into my bran flakes, then you can to!"

Vs. JPX

Mary: “You have to calm down, dear. It’s terrible that T-Bone left you for another woman but you’re going to be okay.”

Friend: “[sob] No man will ever love me again. I’m getting older; I have a crappy job, and two young kids. I carry too much baggage.”

Panel 2

Mary: I know, right? Isn’t it funny that I’m nearly 3 times your age and my life is just dandy while yours is kind of hopeless?”

This one made me laugh hysterically. "I know, right?" is one of those things that's not funny in person but it's just hilarious in written form. Also Mary's insensitive response the exact opposite of what you'd expect her to say. It's pretty damn perfect.

It's an extremely difficult decision but I'm going to give the edge to Handsome Stan for being the first person to advance a storyline on Caption Day. Congrats Handsome Stan!

Earthquake hits East Coast!!!

I just wanted an excuse to put his picture up. May he rest in peace.

Our stage in Brooklyn totally shook for a couple minutes. Pretty trippy.

Rumored list of deleted scenes for Star Wars Blu-Ray

EPISODE IV

Tosche Station
Old Woman on Tatooine
Aunt Beru's Blue Milk
The Search for R2-D2
Cantina Rough Cut
Stormtrooper Search
Darth Vader Widens the Search
Alternate Biggs and Luke Reunion


EPISODE V

Han and Leia: Extended Echo Base Argument
Luke's Recovery
Luke and Leia: Medical Center
Deleted Wampa Scenes
The Fate of General Veers
Yoda's Test
Hiding in the Asteroid
Alternate Han and Leia Kiss
Lobot's Capture
Leia Tends to Luke


EPISODE VI

Vader's Arrival and Reaching Out to Luke
Tatooine Sandstorm
Rebel Raid on the Bunker
Jerjerrod's Conflict
Battle of Endor: The Lost Rebels

[JPX] There is also a list of deleted scenes for the new trilogy if you care. Go here to see the full list.

The flops of 2011 (so far)

From denofgeek, This was supposed to be a pivotal film for Warner Bros. Aware that its DC brand was reliant on Batman and Superman movies to keep it bubbling, the plan was to bring in another big-budget superhero film, and potentially build up to a full Justice League movie, like Marvel’s The Avengers. The problem? Green Lantern just didn’t measure up.

The warning signs were illuminated when Warner Bros agreed to stump up $9m for extra effects work perilously close to the film’s release date. A massive marketing spend, meanwhile, helped the film to a decent $53m opening weekend in America. But from then on, rotten word of mouth strangled the film. It found its way to $115m in the US in the end, but the real damage was done at the worldwide box office.

In a year where films such as Harry Potter 7b and Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 have seen 70-80% of their takings comes from outside the States, Green Lantern bombed. Its non-US haul to date is just $61m. Potter stands at $857m, while Pirates has grabbed $798m of non-US business. Even Hollywood comedies, traditionally poor travellers, have been working in non-US markets. Green Lantern, in spite of that massive marketing roll-out, simply failed to do so.

Warner Bros is bullish, insisting that a sequel is still planned. It will be replacing director Martin Campbell, but it’ll also be patently aware that the underperformance of Green Lantern might just have iced those Justice League plans for a few more years yet. Perhaps that’s why Warner Bros is rumoured to be focusing on a Batman-Superman movie instead…

See them all here

I can't believe that I'm saying this but the Ghost Rider sequel looks like fun

Happy Birthday JPX!

Our Godfather of Bloggery is turning XX today, the old bastard. Fortunately DCD just reminded me and asked after damaging photos, unfortunately I'm using this one instead, which is only damaging because association with me has been known to rattle the sturdiest of reputations.

Caught this during our way-too-brief trip back East two weeks ago.

Where's Wall-E?

From Geekologie: Every robot ever made (but not really, but close)

Check out the big version here.

Captions!

Good luck with this one...

Archie's Gag Bag



Prince Valiant



Flash Gordon



Mary Worth



Beatle Bailey

Here’s Captain America’s New Costume in Broad Daylight, Of Course

From thesuperficial, I don’t know what the hell is going on this summer, but apparently every single movie is shooting directly in front of the paparazzi because now here’s Chris Evans in his new Captain America costume on the Cleveland set of The Avengers. I say new because for those of you who have sex with women, Cap’s – us dorks call him Cap – mythology involves him being frozen in the Arctic where he’s eventually thawed out in the present day and continues to battle tyranny and, I dunno, let’s say socialized medicine. That seems like a modern twist portions of America can get behind.

Lazy bastard, Leonard Nimoy retiring for good in October

From denofgeek, This time, it looks like it's definite: Leonard Nimoy is officially retiring, at the age of 80..

For those who have been following the recent work of Leonard Nimoy, what we’re about to talk about won’t be much of a surprise. But it seems that the great man is finally retiring for good this coming October.

Nimoy has threatened retirement a lot in recent times, but he’s been lured back to acting in particular by his role in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek big screen reboot (which he won't be appearing in the sequel to), and a plum part in Fringe. However, at 80 years old, it looks like Nimoy has decided enough is enough this time.

He’s been talking on his Twitter feed about his last events, and the Star Trek convention taking place in Chicago this October will be it. Nimoy isn’t just retiring from acting this time, he’s retiring from the convention circuit too, of which he’s been a fervent supporter.

It’ll bring the curtain down on an incredible career, with his iconic role of Spock spanning nearly five decades of his life, in one form or another. Of course, there’s far more to Nimoy than that (lest we forget, he’s directed a few hit movies in his time, too), and we can but wish him a long and happy retirement. You can’t say he hasn’t earned it.