Hardware Wars (1978) (MVD Rewind Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Update: Hardware Wars will now be given a new HD master overseen by Vinegar Syndrome.

HARDWARE WARS: UPDATE

Just dropping in to give you an update on our MVD Rewind Collection release of Hardware Wars (Collector's Edition). After the issue with "Joysticks", we went back and re-QC'd our Blu-ray release of "Hardware Wars".
Originally, we were provided and HD master of the feature from the licensor that was a 2012 2K HD master approved by director Ernie Fosselius. Upon further review we felt that it appeared a little too dark and given this master had been completed twelve years ago, MVD made the decision to go back and do a new 2024 2K HD master for this release and approached our friends at Vinegar Syndrome to oversee the new transfer.
Collectors should know that "Hardware Wars" always had a DIY, "rough around the edges" element to the film since it's inception due to it's low budget nature (for example... "laser blast" effects were done by literally manually scratching the negative to make it look like a "laser beam" was emanating from the blasters) and both the 2012 HD master and the new 2024 HD master, while certainly a vast improvement over the previous VHS and DVD releases, will still have that "DIY" look and feel to it. Upon completing the new 2024 transfer, VS sent over the following message:
-
"HARDWARE WARS was scanned in 2K resolution from the only known surviving element, a 16mm Reversal Release print.
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 originally released in 1978, it has been retained here, as removing or even reducing it would not accurately represent how audiences first experienced the film."
-
So, in addition to the new 2024 HD master being on this release, at the request of the director, we will also be including the 2012 HD version as an option for the viewer.
Another small change is we have removed the Special Features option "Video Commentary with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius (13 mins)". This feature did not contain any video of the director actually performing the commentary, as it was basically an SD version of the film with the same commentary that will be available to enjoy as an option on the main feature, so due to its redundancy (and really serving no purpose), it was eliminated.
We have also added a second audio track of the Original Mono Audio on the main feature as a viewing option.
Here is a list of the final features of MVD Entertainment Group's release of "Hardware Wars":
• Brand new 2K HD transfer from the only known surviving element, a 16mm Reversal Release print presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio
• LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio
• Original Mono Audio
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius
• “Hardware Wars” 2012 HD Master, approved by director Ernie Fosselius
• "Hardware Wars" Directors Cut (10:15, SD)
• "Hardware Wars" Prequel featurette (05:23, SD)
• "Hardware Wars" Foreign Version (11:19, SD)
• 1978 Creature Features Interview with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius (12:12, SD)
• "Hardware Wars Saves Christmas" featurette (06:09, SD)
• “Hardware Wars” Trailer (SD)
• Awards Reel (01:08, SD)
• “Porklips Now” (21:38, SD) 1980 parody of “Apocalypse Now” from director Ernie Fosselius
• “Plan 9.1 From Outer Space” (20:46, SD) 2009 parody remake of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” with puppets from director Ernie Fosselius
• Reversible Artwork
• Collectible Mini-Poster
• Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)

MVD Rewind has just announced plans to release Hardware Wars on Blu-ray on February 20th April 23rd.

https://www.amazon.com/Hardware-Wars...s%2C359&sr=8-1

COMING 2/20/24... Making it's HD Definition Debut... MVD Rewind Collection #57 - Hardware Wars (Collector’s Edition)
THE RETURN OF THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS PARODY! YOU’LL LAUGH! YOU’LL CRY! YOU’LL KISS 20 BUCKS GOODBYE!
Fluke Starbucker (Scott Mathews) must learn to master the power of “The Farce” with help from Artie Deco, 4-Q-2 (Frank Robertson), Princess Anne-Droid (Cindy Furgatch), Ham Salad (Bob Knickerbocker), and the rest of the Red Eye Knights.
In 1978 writer / director Ernie Fosselius (former member of “The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo”) created the very first “Star Wars” parody, HARDWARE WARS. Complete with cardboard sets and visible wires (holding up ships which were various household appliances), the film was shot over four days with a budget of around $8,000. Now, nearly 50 years later, the original version of this classic short that George Lucas called his “favorite Star Wars parody” (in a 1999 interview on the UK's The Big Breakfast TV show) has been restored in High Definition for a whole new generation of cult movie fans to discover!

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Brand new 2K HD transfer from the original camera negative of the original 1978 short supervised by director Ernie Fosselius presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio
• LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius
• Video Commentary with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius (13 mins)
• "Hardware Wars" Directors Cut (10:15, SD)
• "Hardware Wars" Prequel featurette (05:23, SD)
• "Hardware Wars" Foreign Version (11:19, SD)
• 1978 Creature Features Interview with Writer / Director Ernie Fosselius (12:12, SD)
• "Hardware Wars Saves Christmas" featurette (06:09, SD)
• “Hardware Wars” Trailer (SD)
• Awards Reel (01:08, SD)
• “Porklips Now” (21:38, SD) 1980 parody of “Apocalypse Now” from director Ernie Fosselius
• “Plan 9.1 From Outer Space” (20:46, SD) 2009 parody remake of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” with puppets from director Ernie Fosselius
• Reversible Artwork
• Collectible Mini-Poster
• Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)


TITLE: Hardware Wars (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
SKU: MVD13747BR
UPC /Barcode: 760137137474
$19.95 SRP
Street Date: 2/20/24
Color, RT: 13 min
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Year: 1978
Audio: LPCM Stereo 2.0
MPAA Rating: NR (use NOT RATED logo)
ALSO AVAILABLE ON STANDARD EDITION DVD:
TITLE: Hardware Wars (Standard Edition) [DVD]
SKU: MVD14021D
UPC /Barcode: 760137140214
$14.95 SRP
Street Date: 2/20/24

[mar3o]

Is this really happening this time? I thought this was announced years ago and then didn't happen?

Great news if it's happening.

Too bad it doesn't include "Closet cases of the Nerd Kind" which was included with the old VHS tape "Hardware Wars and Other Film farces". I guess different rights, or unavailable. I guess that one didn't come from Ernie Fosselius?

Still a nice selection of extras.

[bergman864]

At first I thought this said Hardware (and just that). Almost did a backflip.

[Stanis]

Happy to finally be able to watch Porklips. I asked MVD if the "Special Edition" that lampooned Georges CGI special editions would be included, and they said no which isn't a deal breaker for me, that was the version I bought from Suncost on VHS and watched to death but this official version is fantastic!

[IndyMLVC]

Of course. Right after I bought it digitally in HD.

[starmike]

I have this on 16mm

[gkolb]

Finally! (Hope it’s for real this time.)

[whiteberry]

We still need these two Star Wars movies on blu-ray:

L'umanoide (1979) aka The Humanoid

The Humanoid (1979) Trailer - YouTube

Hyperspace (1984) aka Gremloids

Gremloids (1984) - YouTube

[starmike]

What about Closet Encounters of the Nerd Kind?

[Röckzilla]

Hardware Wars (1978)... officially on Blu-ray...?!

Oh hell yeah!
Now then, can one of the reputable boutique labels please properly release Thumb Wars The Phantom Cuticle (1999) on Blu-ray next...?

I really want to see the outrage from diehard Star Wars nerds go thermonuclear when they realize that they're living in a world where all of these made it to Blu-ray before their precious unaltered original trilogy...

[drb999]

I haven’t seen this is like 40 years. I’ve gotta get this.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by starmike

What about Closet Encounters of the Nerd Kind?

Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind can be seen on Youtube, but of course looks like crap as expected thanks to lousy sources and horrendous compression. I did mention this title in my post above. I'd love to see it included but I guess they don't have the rights to it, or it couldn't be located.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by Röckzilla

Now then, can one of the reputable boutique labels please properly release Thumb Wars The Phantom Cuticle (1999) on Blu-ray next...?

[Show spoiler]

I really want to see the outrage from diehard Star Wars nerds go thermonuclear when they realize that they're living in a world where all of these made it to Blu-ray before their precious unaltered original trilogy...

Steve Oedenkirk is planning on making a new Thumb Wars short so I wouldn't be surprised if he also released a HD remaster to go along with it.

Would love that and Kung Pow Enter The Fist on Blu-ray.

[Röckzilla]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

Steve Oedenkirk is planning on making a new Thumb Wars short so I wouldn't be surprised if he also released a HD remaster to go along with it.

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

Would love that and Kung Pow Enter The Fist on Blu-ray.

Unfortunately I believe Mickey and his pals will be keeping Kung Pow! Enter The Fist (2002), along with pretty much every other 20th Cetury Fox title, locked away in the Di$ney vault for the foreseeable future."Sad to say."


Until then, maybe someone else (Arrow Video, 88 Films, etc....) could properly restore and give us a completely original/uncut version of Jimmy Wang Yu's Tiger And Crane Fists "a.k.a. the savage killers" (1976) on Blu-ray! Well, hopefully.

Sorry everyone, back on topic with discussing Hardware Wars (1978) now...

[MifuneFan]

Snce it was brought up, I will just say Kung Pow is one of my fav. movies. Easily the movie I've quoted the most in my life too. My gf and I cracked up the other day watching a movie where a character said "You go that way" because we both simultaneously thought of the line from Kung Pow "You go that way, I'll go home".

[Röckzilla]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Snce it was brought up, I will just say Kung Pow is one of my fav. movies. Easily the movie I've quoted the most in my life too. My Gf and I cracked up the other day watching a movie where a character said "You go that way" because we both thought of the line from Kung Pow "You go that way, I'll go home".

Dude, same!
I probably quote this movie at least once a day, every day without ever realizing it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Röckzilla

Dude, same!
I probably quote this movie at least once a day, every day without ever realizing it.

That's a lot of nuts! quotes!

[Infallible Presence]

As a "Star Wars" fan I'm excited. However, as person how knows we're about to p*ss away $20-30 for 13 minute short with extras, I'm not. But I gotta upgrade my scratched-up DVD. I order well over 50 of them from Borders over a year and finally gave up. Luckily, despite the scratches the DVD fine.

[Röckzilla]

Originally Posted by Infallible Presence

As a "Star Wars" I'm excited. However, as person how knows we're about to p*ss away $20-30 for 13 minute short with extras, I'm not. But I gotta upgrade my scratched-up DVD. I order well over 50 of them from Borders over a year and finally gave up. Luckily, despite the scratches the DVD fine.

[Infallible Presence]

Originally Posted by Röckzilla

[Show spoiler]

The irony of forgetting to put fan.