Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I think possibly someone made the mistake of allowing Neeson to see The Phantom Menace.

Well considering he was IN the Phantom Menace, I'd say it was 99.99999% likely that he saw it at one point or another.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

It was never shot. There were "issues" with getting Liam Neeson to do this. Nobody really knows why it didn't happen.

It was the accident, there's no mystery.

[Jumpman]

Peter,

The only reason I never bought that excuse was because, via the script, Neeson's work for Episode III was only voice work. He physically didn't make an appearance in the script.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Peter,

The only reason I never bought that excuse was because, via the script, Neeson's work for Episode III was only voice work. He physically didn't make an appearance in the script.

So Neeson faked the severity of the accident?

Lucas is lying?

[Jeff Kleist]

You can read the scene, and an awesome backstory on Count Dooku in the novelization

Anyone else ever read Orson Scott Card's novelization of The Abyss? No one ever remembers that one, but he did a huge amount of character and story expansion beyond what was in the script (with Cameron's blessing)

The scene was originally to be shot, then the accident had it change to a voiceover and no one was happy so they probably just decided to dump it. They certainly could strike a deal to do it now though, Force Ghosts aren't that expensive

[Azyiu]

@ Jeff

Someone might have asked you this pricing related question before.

Anyway, BD / dvd movies are priced quite "reasonable" in the US or the UK. Sometimes they cost nearly as much as a music cd or lower in some cases. Yet, that cannot be said about Japanese BDs / dvds. They are routinely priced as much as 3 times higher than the price of a music cd. Do you know why is that? Does it have something to do with a special profit sharing system that is unique to the Japanese market? Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Kleist]

Japan is a rental market, and rental pricing was never really abandoned there like it was here. People, outside of collectors don't buy a lot of media, and what they do buy is often recycled fairly quickly through used shops GameStop style. This has started to change a bit, with large swaths of catalog frequently given special bargain issues in the 2-3000 yen range instead of their normal 4500-7000 prices. Even on the more reasonably priced titles, the numbers of copies they sell there per capita still pales in comparison to the US or UK (Transformers sold 10% of the copies in Japan that it did in the US, and that was the #1 BD of the year there at 30,000 units).

Of course, there's all the other usual reasons for even base prices to be higher. The distribution system that often has 3 levels in the same city, the general higher cost of living/doing business and the rest. A movie ticket in Japan is around $25 the last time I went, and may be even more by now.

My numbers may be a little off, so someone else feel free to correct me or provide more current info.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Well considering he was IN the Phantom Menace, I'd say it was 99.99999% likely that he saw it at one point or another.

Not sure you're catching the tenor of the joke...

[Azyiu]

Thanks, Jeff!

Second question. Do you or does anyone know of any used dvd / BD shops in Tokyo? My wife and I will be visiting Tokyo in mid April, and I would love to check out some used dvds/BDs. The only one I know of is Book Off, and they don't seem to have enough documentary / special interest-type stuff.

[Shand754]

Any chance of the Indiana Jones movies this year or will they be held back with a potential fith movie or as we are getting Star Wars this year?

[Jeff Kleist]

Second question. Do you or does anyone know of any used dvd / BD shops in Tokyo? My wife and I will be visiting Tokyo in mid April, and I would love to check out some used dvds/BDs. The only one I know of is Book Off, and they don't seem to have enough documentary / special interest-type stuff.

Just go to Akihabara and throw a rock. Look for signs with CD/DVD/Blu-ray on them (english characters). Liberty is a decent place. If you're looking for documentary/SI stuff you're likely to be SOL. Blu-ray used selection has not been the greatest (I usually only found a handful of discs, mostly anime and genre films when I looked and if you want catalog depth for that sort of thing, I suggest buying new at Yodobashi Camera (Shinjuku Station East Exit, down the escalator from HMV (check out the one in Shibuya as well) or Akihabara) or Tower Records (Shibuya or southeast corner of Shinjuku Station). For both Shibuys stores go out the Hachiko exit and go straight up the main drag, can't miss 'em. You also might want to try Tsutaya there for previously viewed rental copies. Right now there's a Sony and WB priced down promotion going on that includes Japan and international exclusive titles like Equilibrium and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

You can pull another trick. You can order from Amazon Japan and have it sent to your hotel. If credit card address is an issue, you can pay for your order at a convienience store (Lawson? There should be one every 16 feet ) That'll save you some money anyway.

Are you going anywhere outside Tokyo? I've always had the best luck on cool used stuff in Kyoto, Nagoya and Hiroshima, I think the traffic flow is just too high in Tokyo to catch large amounts of good merch, at least on movies.

Make sure you go to Harajuku on a Sunday, and walk down Omotesando to Kiddyland, it's the greatest Toy store on earth since the demise of FAO Schwartz

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Just go to Akihabara and throw a rock. Look for signs with CD/DVD/Blu-ray on them (english characters). Liberty is a decent place. If you're looking for documentary/SI stuff you're likely to be SOL. Blu-ray used selection has not been the greatest (I usually only found a handful of discs, mostly anime and genre films when I looked and if you want catalog depth for that sort of thing, I suggest buying new at Yodobashi Camera (Shinjuku Station East Exit, down the escalator from HMV (check out the one in Shibuya as well) or Akihabara) or Tower Records (Shibuya or southeast corner of Shinjuku Station). For both Shibuys stores go out the Hachiko exit and go straight up the main drag, can't miss 'em. You also might want to try Tsutaya there for previously viewed rental copies. Right now there's a Sony and WB priced down promotion going on that includes Japan and international exclusive titles like Equilibrium and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

You can pull another trick. You can order from Amazon Japan and have it sent to your hotel. If credit card address is an issue, you can pay for your order at a convienience store (Lawson? There should be one every 16 feet ) That'll save you some money anyway.

Are you going anywhere outside Tokyo? I've always had the best luck on cool used stuff in Kyoto, Nagoya and Hiroshima, I think the traffic flow is just too high in Tokyo to catch large amounts of good merch, at least on movies.

Make sure you go to Harajuku on a Sunday, and walk down Omotesando to Kiddyland, it's the greatest Toy store on earth since the demise of FAO Schwartz

Many many thanks there, Jeff.

True, the traffic in Tokyo is just too high and you will have to be lucky to run into cool stuff. Like you've mentioned, that Tower Records in Shinjuku offers a pretty decent collection of dvds, but not as much on BDs the last summer I went. Guess I will have to pay that place another visit this time, as well as that HMV in Ikebukuro. I stayed at the Metropolis Hotel the last time, literally next door to that said HMV, yet I never set foot in there... stupid me... As for Akihabara, I got there slightly "late" (past 7:30pm) last time, and all those used cd/dvd stores were all closed already... I ended up visiting one of those cosplay cafes instead what a fun experience though...

Oh yeah, was thinking about having Amazon JP to send my order(s) to the hotel, just didn't know if that idea would work. Credit card doesn't seem to be an issue for me with Amazon JP though. Thanks for the tip!

No, I don't think we are visiting Kyoto on this trip, so I guess I will just have to try my luck in Tokyo... geez... why don't more American / UK companies release more SI stuff like the Virtual Trip series by Pony Canyon?

[Jeff Kleist]

Last time I was at HMV in Ikebukuro (2007), their Blu-ray selection was smaller than one of my small DVD racks,

No, I don't think we are visiting Kyoto on this trip, so I guess I will just have to try my luck in Tokyo... geez... why don't more American / UK companies release more SI stuff like the Virtual Trip series by Pony Canyon?

That I can't tell you, but I can tell you that Tower in Shinjuku definately had a pile of those when I was there last spring. They also had the badass Blu-ray where they mounted a camera to the nose of a bullet train for a 2 hour run.

The only reason I mentioned the CC is that you'd be ordering to your hotel instead of a usual address, you don't want your card red flagged while you're in-country

Do morning/lunch in Harajuku on Sunday then go to Akiba (take the Yamanote line to Shinjuku station and then shoot across town on the Chuo line to Akiba, 30 minutes-ish). They have the "pedestrian paradise" running again so it'll be a fun time.

I'm going back in March, tell you what, remind me after the 10th, and I'll try to do an advance scout for you. I'll ask Pony Canyon while I'm there if those titles have any international licensees.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Last time I was at HMV in Ikebukuro (2007), their Blu-ray selection was smaller than one of my small DVD racks,

I am not surprised! Hopefully things are changed for the better this time around.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

That I can't tell you, but I can tell you that Tower in Shinjuku definately had a pile of those when I was there last spring. They also had the badass Blu-ray where they mounted a camera to the nose of a bullet train for a 2 hour run.

That is one of those SI discs I am looking to buy! I've got a dvd copy of the "Farewell to the Zero" (or whatever the correct translated name might be) bullet train, and that thing has some nice cinematic works there!

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The only reason I mentioned the CC is that you'd be ordering to your hotel instead of a usual address, you don't want your card red flagged while you're in-country

Hmm... so IF I do place an order (unless I see some really good deal a week or less before my visit), should I just leave the hotel address as the shipping address? Or should I do anything special, just in case I got my card red flagged?

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Do morning/lunch in Harajuku on Sunday then go to Akiba (take the Yamanote line to Shinjuku station and then shoot across town on the Chuo line to Akiba, 30 minutes-ish). They have the "pedestrian paradise" running again so it'll be a fun time.

Thanks, will try to do that!! We are actually planning to spend 6 or 7 days in and around Tokyo. We plan to take the bullet train for a "short" day trip during that time too. Since we are at it, any scenic place(s) along bullet train routes surrounding Tokyo you might recommend?

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'm going back in March, tell you what, remind me after the 10th, and I'll try to do an advance scout for you. I'll ask Pony Canyon while I'm there if those titles have any international licensees.

Many many thanks!!! We will likely be there between 15th and 21st in April.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Make sure you go to Harajuku on a Sunday, and walk down Omotesando to Kiddyland, it's the greatest Toy store on earth since the demise of FAO Schwartz

I remember the first time I went there. I saw the Escheresque bonus levels of Sonic the Hedgehog for the first time, on a CRT projector.

[Jeff Kleist]

I should also recommend at the corner before Kiddyland (right across from Condommania, with the hilarious happy condoms in the window) there is a family that sells used Kimonos at great prices on weekends. Good place to park the wife, they have everything from casual wear to the uber nice ones.

Hmm... so IF I do place an order (unless I see some really good deal a week or less before my visit), should I just leave the hotel address as the shipping address? Or should I do anything special, just in case I got my card red flagged?

You should call your CC company I guess and add the hotel address as a valid shipping, explain what you're doing.

Thanks, will try to do that!! We are actually planning to spend 6 or 7 days in and around Tokyo. We plan to take the bullet train for a "short" day trip during that time too. Since we are at it, any scenic place(s) along bullet train routes surrounding Tokyo you might recommend?

Getting on the bullet train and going any distance is expensive

My personal recommendation is leaving early in the morning and going to Kyoto, which is also the home of my favorite media store in Japan (Beaver Records). It's about 2 hours, but I suggest you buy a Japan Rail pass. Not only is all your JR rides free on it, but it costs about the same as going to Kyoto and gives you unlimited rides for the duration on all JR trains. The train ride is really beautiful because you get the full monty of mount fuji for about 5 straight minutes.

I remember the first time I went there. I saw the Escheresque bonus levels of Sonic the Hedgehog for the first time, on a CRT projector.

Yeah, they don't even carry games or more than a handful of DVDs anymore.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Getting on the bullet train and going any distance is expensive

... but worth it, IMO. Also, the Romance Car is a nice compromise.

[Jeff Kleist]

Worth it yes, still expensive

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Worth it yes, still expensive

So Jeff how did you feel about the news today regarding SW in September?

[Jeff Kleist]

That they should have chosen a different Fox guy that doesn't laugh when he looks at Darth Vader It's impressive how well he held it together