The STAR WARS parody film, HARDWARE WARS, had previously been announced for a blu-ray release from MVD Entertainment Group as part of their MVD Rewind Collection. This release had originally been announced for a February 20th, 2024 release (delayed to April 23rd, 2024). It was delayed and we now know why:
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."
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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)
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