7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A parody of Star Wars, presented in the form of a movie preview. Young Fluke Starbucker, under the tutelage of Auggie "Ben" Doggie, learns to master the power of the Farce, while teaming up with Ham Salad to rescue Princess Anne-Droid and aid her fight against the evil Empire.
Starring: Jeff Hale, Ernie FosseliusShort | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In the, "hey, maybe the universe does have a sense of humor" department, Hardware Wars showed up in my review queue just as I have been wending my way through two rather elaborate Star Wars adjacent series which aired on Disney+ and which are both new to home theater media (in both 1080 and 4K UHD), Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Complete Series and Andor: The Complete First Season (reviews forthcoming in the next few days). Hardware Wars may not have the production values of those two series, but it has something arguably just as important, namely a completely goofy sense of humor that revisits the "original" Star Wars film (that would be Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope for you persnickety types) in a decidedly (and intentionally) lo-fi manner that substitutes everyday household appliances for things like the Millennium Falcon.
Hardware Wars is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual's MVD Rewind imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.33:1. The back cover of this release states this is a "brand new 2K transfer from the only known surviving element, a 16mm reversal release print". A text card prefacing the short provides a bit more information, as follows:
Hardware Wars was scanned in 2K resolution from the only known surviving element, a 16mm reversal release print.If I may momentarily be as insouciant as Hardware Wars itself, I might also add that "removing or even reducing" dirt or other damage might have been unfeasible from a budgetary standpoint. What's a bit odd about this presentation is that the supplements include a 2012 HD Master which some online sources state was culled from the original camera negative, which may beg the question as to what happened between then and now. The video quality of the supplemental version may in fact offer better clarity and contrast and a less splotchy looking grain field than the apparently newer scan, but at least it's on the disc for fans to do their own comparison viewing. (For just one example of the quality differences, compare the scene of Fluke "repairing" Artie Deco and discovering Princess Anne-Droid's message.) What's on tap here is often pretty rough looking, with a very gritty grain field that has obviously not been "managed" in any way, shape or form. Detail levels are at least decent, and elements like the obvious strings supporting the flying objects can still be made out quite clearly.
Due to poor handling of the camera original during the editing process, a large amount of dirt and damage is inherent to the production, especially during the film's frequent optical effect and dupe sequences. As this damage has been present since the film was initially released in 1978, it has been retained here, as removing or even reducing it would not accurately represent how audiences first experienced the film.
Hardware Wars features either LPCM 2.0 or LPCM 2.0 Mono audio, and I'd stick with the stereo track for a number of reasons. The original 2.0 mono track is fine, really, but it does reveal quite a bit more damage and a somewhat muffled sound when compared to the brighter, clearer stereo version. Both tracks deliver the goofy dialogue and voiceover along with score and sound effects elements with reasonable force, though the film's lo-fi ambience certainly pervades to the audio as well as the video. Optional English subtitles are available.
For me personally, Hardware Wars easily outpaces Spaceballs, and the fact that Fosselius made this on an incredibly tiny budget just gives it extra charm. Video quality is what it is, though it does strike me as strange that the 2012 HD Master offered on this disc wasn't revisited rather than this apparently newer scan of a secondary element. The supplements, while mostly in standard definition, are often hilarious. Recommended.
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