Sci-Fi Storm

Just letting everyone know why there haven’t been too many updates – and don’t expect too many either. I’ve got another kid on the way, and other family emergencies all happening at the same time, so I’m stretched thinner than usual. And all those late nights watching the Red Sox…if I hear anything major I’ll post – and any contributions will make it easier on me. I hope to take some of my downtime if I end up with any to work on some new software (I’ve got bigger ideas than time allows alas) and get off the overly-bloated and complex (for this purpose) Slashcode and on to software of my own design. I wish I could decide on a light-on-dark vs. dark-on-light scheme – the latter makes certain image issues easier…Update: Little Elizabeth arrived at 8:25am 10/27, almost exactly 12 hours before the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series, where the Red Sox won their first in 86 years!

Part two of Chris Gould’s extensive comparison of the Star Wars Trilogy DVD release is up, this time for The Empire Strikes Back. Covered are things like the change in the Emperor, Han’s phantom jacket, and Boba Fett’s voice change. Updated: this time the link is visible… 🙁

I read about this before, but forgot to post: William Shatner, currently starring as the perfectly-cast, over-the-top Denny Crane on Boston Legal, is releasing a new album, titled “Has Been” – and he actually sings, as opposed to his previous spoken-word (and often ridiculed) treatment, “The Transformed Man”. Still, Nimoy singing “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins” is my all-time most disturbing musical experience (available on “Spaced Out: The Best of Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner”. This Google Search should net you some copies of the video if you still don’t believe in it…

The eagerly awaited Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King, with 50 extra minutes of footage, will be out on December 14th, and as usual is available as a 4 disc edition and a 5 discs gift set with model of Minas Tirith. Also, the Complete Extended Edition Trilogy is out that day. Wonder what is expected to be on the Extended Edition? Check out this German site (translated into English).

We’ve seen some details on the major changes Lucas has made yet again on the Star Wars Trilogy DVD release – Here is a detailed list of changes, both major and minor. Quite a good reference.

dugh writes “I had no idea that Glen Larson based Battlestar Galactica on the Book of Mormon. Oh, and the rest of the article is decent, too…” Updated 10/18: Sorry, it appears that after a few days you have to pay to read the article…

tchansen writes “According to TheForce.Net, LucasFilm is planning a live action TV series set in the Star Wars universe.

Also, sometime in November the first Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith movie trailer hits the theaters. According to an article (here and here) on the above site the trailer includes some juicy bits about the upcoming movie. Methinks that Mr. Lucas realizes that almost everyone knows what has to happen so he’s showing a bit to get us into the theater to see it. As if I need a reason to go to the movie – I’ve seen Episode I and II so much I’ve ’bout got them memorized.”

Word is just spreading that actor Tim Choate, known in the SF community for playing Zathras, the odd, third-person-speaking keeper (and all his brothers named Zathras) of the Great Machine on Babylon 5, was killed recently when he was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle on his way to appear in a play. Pat Tallman’s (Lyta Alexander) web site The Galactic Gateway has a message board with some details.

If you are in Britain, you can catch the new episodes of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series on BBC Radio 4 starting today at 6:30pm – probably too late to remind you for today, but there is a repeat Thursdays at 11:00pm. Not in Britain? Follow the link above and listen to the episode over the web after the Thursday broadcast – each episode will be available for seven days.

Anonymous Coward writes “Check out The Digital Bits updated review of the Star Wars: A New Hope DVD. Apparently there are some serious audio flaws, including the entire score being flipped on the rear channels. Lucasfilm says it’s not a flaw but a “deliberate creative decision”…”