Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
You know why. (Just be warned, the cheapest shipping from StarWarsShop is ten bucks! Target isn’t looking so bad…)
To celebrate the occasion, USA Today has an article on bonding via DVD, and Blogcritics wonders who owns the movies – creators or fans?
No review copies of the new DVDs? The ‘piracy’ excuse seems kind of silly – there’s little (reported) that hasn’t been seen before, and has probably been illegally avaliable via all the usual suspects for years.
Of course, savvy fans – apparently not the bloggers at EW, at least before the fanboy hoards got to them – already know the transfers of the ‘originals’ are straight from the ’93 laserdisc masters and thus not going to be as good as the 2004 editions.
Popwatch’s second point/theory is something to ponder – are these stopgap DVDs? We do have that 2007 box set rumor.
Or, y’know, they’re just doing this on the cheap. It does seem strange seeing how much LFL loves to court publicity. And it makes me wonder if there’s something else on the discs. (Damn that Kool-Aid!) A preview of the animated TV show? The box set? Jar Jar in carbonite? Only LFL knows for sure… But don’t hold your breath.
The bonus DVD menus for Return of the Jedi are less than thrilling. But then, it is the 80’s, when everything was fugly. Especially Luke’s hair.
Giant box set of the Saga in 2007, maybe. Those Digital Bits – they’re totally psychic when it comes to putting two and two together. Totally. 2007 does seem pretty soon, though, what with the new DVDs just days away – I’d guess 2008, which would continue the pattern of new DVDs every two years, or whenever one of those TV shows finally materializes. But I don’t think anyone doubts we’ll see a mega-box set before the decade is out.
For good measure, here’s a digital Yoda in Episode I from the ROTS bonus DVD.
No Exile cover, but that’s understandable give the huge slideshow of the differences between the 1977 and 2004 versions of Episode IV that went up tonight.
Also…
– A look at the new LEGO game.
– Natalie Portman auctioning signed collectibles for charity.
– More of those giant wall coverings for Euro fans.
– Drawing Lego Han and Stormtrooper.
A look at the DVD menus on the ANH bonus disks from the official site, while TFN reports on Walmart extras.
Here’s some of what’s been going on in the outside world.
Revenge of the Sith won two DVD awards. Also on the official site, November 2006 Comics.
Speaking of comics, don’t bother looking for Legacy #3 in stores. It was supposed to come out today (the schedule even said so until this morning) but it’s… not. Word on the boards is that last week’s books didn’t ship either. (I don’t know: I only buy Legacy.) Dark Horse isn’t the only one: Something is rotten in the comics industry.
“May the force be with you” tops online quote poll. And I don’t think TFN linked the poll, which means it might actually have won fair and square. Cool.
Some new Star Wars miniatures debuted at GenCon. The set includes a “Mystral” Shadow Guard, but unless they came with booze and/or naked men, I don’t think any of us noticed. Also, it seems they’re restarting the RPG.
Colleen Doran witnesses The Fan From Hell. I think we’ve found one that beats the Woodtick, folks.
Those damn Harry Potter plagiarists made it all the way up the fannish blog chain to John Scalzi. Twice.
Other stuff I would have blogged:
– NASA has misplaced the original moon landing tapes. Our tax dollars at work!
– Daniel Radcliffe is down with Harry Potter dying.
– Crazy mofo has “temporary” Wolverine piercing. My hand hurts just looking at it.
– Hayden Christensen making some movie.
– Things writers have no control over. (Add to the list: Killing Chewbacca.)
– The Top 8 Shows For SF Myth Busters.
– 11 Things in Fantasy/That I Don’t Promise Not to Use (or Keep Using) in My Writing and 6 More Things I Could do Without in Fantastic Literature & I don’t plan to use except to make fun of.
LFL pushed the nostalgia angle – not surprising with the DVD release and 30-year anniversary.
The big news is LFL flying in 200 501st members and other costumed fans to take part in 2007’s Tournament of Roses Parade. Not much new about Celebration IV – at least the one in L.A. But it was announced that LFL plans to hold another con next year – Celebration Europe, in London next July.
And we finally get something to go on with one of the TV shows – the animated show will take place late in the Clone Wars, and Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda and others will appear.
And it looks like the Secrets of 07 mystery is indeed a game. Focused on the Force and set between ROTS and ANH, it’ll contain both existing and new characters.
In short, there’s a lot going on, so be sure to read the starwars.com report. There are several video clips from the Spectacular available for Hyperspace members as well.
Last night the Sci-Fi Channel ran a preview for the new season of Battlestar Galactica. Is it October yet?
Meanwhile, if you can handle waiting a little less longer for a fix, the second half of the last season will be out on DVD in September.