Wing Commander On BBC1 This Saturday Night (December 27, 2006)

ChrisReid · 12-26-2006, 16:00

Starman noticed that this weekend's BBC ONE schedule has a special treat for Wing Commander fans in Europe. The WC Movie will be showing on Sunday morning at 12:15 am, shortly after midnight. It runs about 95 minutes in length until 1:50 am. The movie didn't get a proper theatrical release in Britain, and only got a DVD ins stores recently, so major broadcasts like this are neat.

Quote:

Wing Commander
Sun 31 Dec, 12:15 am - 1:50 am 95mins

Blair, a fighter pilot, joins an interstellar war to fight the evil Kilrathi who are trying to destroy the universe. [Chris Roberts, 1999][S]

--
Original update published on December 27, 2006

gwydion · 12-27-2006, 21:07

not really the best description ever... if the Kilrathi were trying to "destroy the universe", wouldn't that destroy them as well?
perhaps conquer the universe would've been better...

Delance · 12-27-2006, 21:35

That description has been around since the release of the movie for some reson.

AD · 12-28-2006, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delance

That description has been around since the release of the movie for some reson.

Since before the movie was released actually. There was horrible plot synopsis floating around for quite a while before the movie or the novelization came out, and it was absolutely terribe. Something about the Kilrathi getting a doomsday weapon that would destroy the universe. Eventually a proper synopsis emerged though.

Starman · 12-28-2006, 05:06

Well I'll be staying up to watch

Don · 12-28-2006, 05:21

As well as I...

McGruff · 12-28-2006, 16:16

Be sure to tell me what happens.

Bandit LOAF · 12-28-2006, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGruff

Be sure to tell me what happens.

Why did you think this was a smart thing to post?

McGruff · 12-28-2006, 17:24

While I didn't consider it a particularly smart thing to post, I did judge it to be acceptably benign. Come on, give me a little credit for effort!

Besides, if my British landlady happens to get the correct BBC here in the States, I may even stay up and watch the kickass intro.

Death · 12-29-2006, 04:05

It takes effort for you to be an idiot? I thought it was natural talent.

Starman · 12-30-2006, 16:22

Started 5 minutes late due to football overrun.

Also you've got to love the BBC announcer effort -

"You've played the game, now see the film..."
"Movie action inspired by the classic computer game Wing Commander..."

Edx · 12-30-2006, 16:29

ignore. Im an idiot.

Daimo · 12-30-2006, 17:31

I am most enjoying this!

I can get over them making the ships like submarines, is slightly plausable and I can see past the silly uniforms but why oh why did they make the Confed fighters so awful???

Great new Drathi style ships but why does it all look like starlancer? Did Digital Anvil to the graphics?

Interesting to see how manic got so cocky...OMG the kilrathi are on...

Starman · 12-30-2006, 17:40

Yes, I'm sure DA did all the CGI during the time they were developing Starlancer

Also correct me if I'm wrong but does Chris Robins have a cameo as the TCS Concordia SRA pilot who tractors Blair in?

Vinman · 12-30-2006, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starman

Yes, I'm sure DA did all the CGI during the time they were developing Starlancer

Also correct me if I'm wrong but does Chris Robins have a cameo as the TCS Concordia SRA pilot who tractors Blair in?

Yep!

It was neat to see him, at the end of wc4 or here in the movie

Starman · 12-31-2006, 01:57

Aye I spotted him in WCIV. But never till now in the movie which is strange I've seen it many times

Don · 12-31-2006, 04:06

Seeing that its been almost 4 years or so since I last saw the film, it was definitely worth it watching this weeks airing of the movie. I had already seen the film way before I started playing the games so it was quite a positive reminder on how cool the film was to me back then.

Although when I watch it now, there are quite a few things that irked me when comparing the games and the film, plot-wise I mean.

But on the whole it was quite good, Chris Roberts directing was well done, some of the action sequences were spectacular, the character development between Blair and Maniac was well recieved and the special effects were great.

Now, the next thing for me to do is purchase the DVD version of the film.

Franz29 · 12-31-2006, 10:28

Stayed up to watch it despite having watched the DVD a couple of times already this week. I was reading Pilgrim Stars at the same time (shame it ended the way it did).

The DVD is pretty basic, no extras to speak of (couple of TV spots and the theatrical trailer), but you should be able to find it cheap now. I wonder if this will ever see the light of an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray release with some decent extras and maybe the cut scenes of the traitor plot. The space footage would look beautiful in HD, and with the extra capacity of the discs, they could pretty much give us all the deleted footage.

I know, I know, I am dreaming here. Oh well.

AD · 12-31-2006, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franz29

Stayed up to watch it despite having watched the DVD a couple of times already this week. I was reading Pilgrim Stars at the same time (shame it ended the way it did).

The DVD is pretty basic, no extras to speak of (couple of TV spots and the theatrical trailer), but you should be able to find it cheap now. I wonder if this will ever see the light of an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray release with some decent extras and maybe the cut scenes of the traitor plot. The space footage would look beautiful in HD, and with the extra capacity of the discs, they could pretty much give us all the deleted footage.

I know, I know, I am dreaming here. Oh well.

There's already an HD transfer that's been broadcast a lot on HBO's HD movie channel. So there's no real reason for it not to get a blu-ray release... (Fox is currently supporting Blu-ray so expect to see it there before it's ever on HD-DVD).

Franz29 · 01-01-2007, 01:38

Thanks for the info AD.

I guess it just depends on whether Fox see a cost-return benefit from pressing the discs. Would the movie sell enough to justify the process, which, IIRC, is a lot more expensive than regular DVD?

Oh well, I can hope (and maybe start a letter campaign

)

Edx · 01-01-2007, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franz29

The DVD is pretty basic, no extras to speak of (couple of TV spots and the theatrical trailer), .

Does that also include Region 1 as well? As I know Region 2 usually ends up getting the short straw with extras.

Franz29 · 01-01-2007, 10:15

Mine is a Region 1 disk, although the R2 version looks to be exactly the same (aside from the obvious NTSC/PAL differences).

As a note, the R2 disk is in the play.com sale for 4.99 pounds so any UK wingnuts that don't have it yet (shame on you

) can pick it up for a song.

Vinman · 01-31-2007, 05:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franz29

Thanks for the info AD.

I guess it just depends on whether Fox see a cost-return benefit from pressing the discs. Would the movie sell enough to justify the process, which, IIRC, is a lot more expensive than regular DVD?

Oh well, I can hope (and maybe start a letter campaign

)

I think I recall hearing that the DVD sold well for a movie that didn't do very well in theatres

Bandit LOAF · 02-03-2007, 08:13

WC DVDs are short on extras everywhere. One of the EU release (Spain, maybe?) has the 'making of' part from the EPK... and the Japanese release is pretty cool, with an animated Tiger's Claw hangar menu and stuff like a translation of a timeline I wrote.

Mace · 02-03-2007, 11:07

I picked up my copy in the "free record shop"

I payd less for it actually, 7.99, minus 5 percent because I have a discount card.

Sales appear to go rather frequently for that movie what i heard.

The VHS release was handled back then by our local video rent shop as a big thing, many copies standing by on the shelves, and back then it was not received as well.

Houkiboshi · 02-03-2007, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daimo

I am most enjoying this!

I can get over them making the ships like submarines, is slightly plausable and I can see past the silly uniforms but why oh why did they make the Confed fighters so awful???

Great new Drathi style ships but why does it all look like starlancer? Did Digital Anvil to the graphics?

Interesting to see how manic got so cocky...OMG the kilrathi are on...

Well, if you play Starlancer, you see that the movies in the game end the cut scenes are sometimes actual shots of the Wing Commander movie...

Quite a good game by the way...

By the way, has anybody analyzed the ship of the movie... some of them are really cool (like Tolwyn’s flag ship, the TCS Concordia Super Cruiser)

12-27-2006, 21:35	#3
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,222	That description has been around since the release of the movie for some reson. __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

12-28-2006, 05:06	#5
Starman Cadet Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Essex, United Kingdom Posts: 63	Well I'll be staying up to watch __________________ "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) / Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn (2612-2674) Got some news0r?

12-28-2006, 05:21	#6
Don 1st Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 235	As well as I... __________________ "Whereas the passion, lies a degree of lunacy" SJ, 2006

12-29-2006, 04:05	#10
Death gh0d Administrator Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Taylors, SC, USA Posts: 2,088	It takes effort for you to be an idiot? I thought it was natural talent. __________________ SubCrid Death Official Net.Nazi, LOAF's Merry Guild A Meeting of Minds - a (mostly) cliche-free "first contact" story; updated periodically If you don't fear ^Death_ then there's a socket loose in your fear factory, buddy. - The Book of LOAF

12-30-2006, 16:22	#11
Starman Cadet Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Essex, United Kingdom Posts: 63	Started 5 minutes late due to football overrun. Also you've got to love the BBC announcer effort - "You've played the game, now see the film..." "Movie action inspired by the classic computer game Wing Commander..." __________________ "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) / Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn (2612-2674) Got some news0r?

12-27-2006, 21:07	#2
gwydion Cadet Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 59	not really the best description ever... if the Kilrathi were trying to "destroy the universe", wouldn't that destroy them as well? perhaps conquer the universe would've been better...

12-28-2006, 16:16	#7
McGruff Forever Cadet Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: CIC brig Posts: 2,578	Be sure to tell me what happens.

12-28-2006, 17:24	#9
McGruff Forever Cadet Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: CIC brig Posts: 2,578	While I didn't consider it a particularly smart thing to post, I did judge it to be acceptably benign. Come on, give me a little credit for effort! Besides, if my British landlady happens to get the correct BBC here in the States, I may even stay up and watch the kickass intro.

12-30-2006, 16:29	#12
Edx Captain Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 397	ignore. Im an idiot.

12-30-2006, 17:31	#13
Daimo Cadet Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	I am most enjoying this! I can get over them making the ships like submarines, is slightly plausable and I can see past the silly uniforms but why oh why did they make the Confed fighters so awful??? Great new Drathi style ships but why does it all look like starlancer? Did Digital Anvil to the graphics? Interesting to see how manic got so cocky...OMG the kilrathi are on...

12-30-2006, 17:40	#14
Starman Cadet Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Essex, United Kingdom Posts: 63	Yes, I'm sure DA did all the CGI during the time they were developing Starlancer Also correct me if I'm wrong but does Chris Robins have a cameo as the TCS Concordia SRA pilot who tractors Blair in? __________________ "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) / Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn (2612-2674) Got some news0r?

12-31-2006, 01:57	#16
Starman Cadet Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Essex, United Kingdom Posts: 63	Aye I spotted him in WCIV. But never till now in the movie which is strange I've seen it many times __________________ "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) / Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn (2612-2674) Got some news0r?

12-31-2006, 04:06	#17
Don 1st Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 235	Seeing that its been almost 4 years or so since I last saw the film, it was definitely worth it watching this weeks airing of the movie. I had already seen the film way before I started playing the games so it was quite a positive reminder on how cool the film was to me back then. Although when I watch it now, there are quite a few things that irked me when comparing the games and the film, plot-wise I mean. But on the whole it was quite good, Chris Roberts directing was well done, some of the action sequences were spectacular, the character development between Blair and Maniac was well recieved and the special effects were great. Now, the next thing for me to do is purchase the DVD version of the film. __________________ "Whereas the passion, lies a degree of lunacy" SJ, 2006

12-31-2006, 10:28	#18
Franz29 Cadet Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 28	Stayed up to watch it despite having watched the DVD a couple of times already this week. I was reading Pilgrim Stars at the same time (shame it ended the way it did). The DVD is pretty basic, no extras to speak of (couple of TV spots and the theatrical trailer), but you should be able to find it cheap now. I wonder if this will ever see the light of an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray release with some decent extras and maybe the cut scenes of the traitor plot. The space footage would look beautiful in HD, and with the extra capacity of the discs, they could pretty much give us all the deleted footage. I know, I know, I am dreaming here. Oh well.

01-01-2007, 01:38	#20
Franz29 Cadet Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 28	Thanks for the info AD. I guess it just depends on whether Fox see a cost-return benefit from pressing the discs. Would the movie sell enough to justify the process, which, IIRC, is a lot more expensive than regular DVD? Oh well, I can hope (and maybe start a letter campaign ) __________________ ------ -- Stephen -- Atomic Batteries to Power -- Turbines to Speed...

01-01-2007, 10:15	#22
Franz29 Cadet Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 28	Mine is a Region 1 disk, although the R2 version looks to be exactly the same (aside from the obvious NTSC/PAL differences). As a note, the R2 disk is in the play.com sale for 4.99 pounds so any UK wingnuts that don't have it yet (shame on you ) can pick it up for a song. __________________ ------ -- Stephen -- Atomic Batteries to Power -- Turbines to Speed...

02-03-2007, 08:13	#24
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,934	WC DVDs are short on extras everywhere. One of the EU release (Spain, maybe?) has the 'making of' part from the EPK... and the Japanese release is pretty cool, with an animated Tiger's Claw hangar menu and stuff like a translation of a timeline I wrote. __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-03-2007, 11:07	#25
Mace Major Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Netherlands Posts: 516	I picked up my copy in the "free record shop" I payd less for it actually, 7.99, minus 5 percent because I have a discount card. Sales appear to go rather frequently for that movie what i heard. The VHS release was handled back then by our local video rent shop as a big thing, many copies standing by on the shelves, and back then it was not received as well.