In 1979, French filmmaker Michael Parbot made a documentary about the making of The Empire Strikes Back. Then, of course, only known as the sequel to Star Wars.
For over three decades, this documentary was thought lost. It had aired only once in December of 1981, with only snippets being preserved in recordings. A condensed version was made part of the complete Blu-Ray set of the saga in 2011
Fortunately, the whole documentary has been recently found, and is presented here in its entirety for the first time in almost 37 years.
Not one, but TWO trailers for Bumblebee, the latest Transformers feature film, have been released this week. Unlike all previous live action entries, this movie looks to be directly inspired by the original 1980s toys and cartoons. The original classic Transformers era has since been branded Generation 1, or G1 for short. We have listed the time codes for all the points of interest in these trailers. If you see something we don’t, don’t hesitate to let us know!
First up, Bumblebee Trailer 2
:11 Charlie Watson introduced. Now I may be wrong here, but to dust of some Transformers Geek Cred, there was a human girl in the original cartoon named Carly. She is Spike’s girlfriend, and in Transformers The Movie and Season 3 of the series, they are married. Perhaps coincidentally, there was a Carly in the third Bayformers movie, portrayed by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
:15 Charlie finds Bumblebee in the junkyard.
:21 She is given the car by Uncle Hank for her birthday (Len Cariou).
:25 She drives Bumblebee home, presumably without license plates or registration, but let’s suspend a little disbelief.
:27 Then a piece of Bumblebee, perhaps an arm, since that’s about where his arm would be while transformed, falls to the floor
:30 She shines a flashlight into Bumblebee’s eyes, and he transforms into his robot form
:54 Charlie’s voiceover says humans can be terrible about things they don’t understand, while military humvees shoot at Bumblebee. We also see a determined John Cena, aka Agent Burns. This possibly implies that Burns may be an antagonist. There is the theory that this may be a backdoor into another GI Joe movie, but I don’t recall any Joe named Burns. That’s not to say it can’t be, just that there wouldn’t be an established character from the 80s named Burns.
1:05 Airplane and a Huey Cobra helicopter fly but they turn out to be Triple Changers.
1:13 The red transformer talks to the military about a criminal, presumably Bumblebee. Which would make these characters Decepticons
1:15 A round pod is shown escaping from Cyberton. So perhaps Bumblebee is similar to Superman in fate.
1:23 Hailee asks Bumblebee if there is any family, Bumble points at her. This implies Bumblebee may not have any memory of his life on Cybertron, or the war with Decepticons.
1:30 Bumblebee’s retractable blade in action
1:33 Shockwave surrounded by what looks like Starscream and other Seekers. One of which could be Skywarp.
1:34 We see some transformers turning into jets on Cybertron
1:36 Agent Burns is shown stating that he sees firsthand what these things really are. Again, it’s a little open ended, where we don’t know if he trusts Bumblebee or not. He could be an antagonist, he could be helping the heroes. We just can’t tell yet
1:37 We see another jet transforming, and it looks like judging by the colors, it’s Starscream. And he looks like he’s a Harrier jet.
1:40 The real mark out moment: G1 Optimus Prime! Complete with Peter Cullen’s voice.
1:45 G1 Soundwave ejecting Ravage! I’m curious what Soundwave will transform into. Since the gimmick in the 1980s was a tape deck that would somehow change size.
1:47 Prime says you must protect earth and its people. Again, sounds like Bumblebee is getting the Superman storyline. which is not a bad thing.
1:51 Bumblebee vs. Grappling Hooks
1:56 Bumblebee puts on his battle mask look, and fires an arm canon.
2:00 A collapsing building on what looks like it’s on Cybertron. And is that Starscream again?
2:03 Another Harrier transforms. Could be Dirge, or even an Autobot like Powerglide if we’re going to have Autobot jets.
2:07 Starscream flying with Bumblebee by the throat. Reminds me of Thor vs. Iron Man in the first Avengers.
2:09 The military surrounds a fallen Bumblebee. Could he be taken captive?
2:12 Bumblebee fights with a Decepticon
2:22 And finally some humor to end on a funny note.
INTERNATIONAL Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVjRBaKd4JQ
This one seems to have more plot
0:00 Looks to be a longer shot of Starscream transforming from the last two trailers. And Starscream grabs Bumble be the neck. Links to that scene from 2:07 in the previous
:10 Starscream (at least we think it’s Starscream, we don’t truly know yet) threateningly asks Bumblebee “Where’s Optimus Prime”
:11 Starscream drops Bumblebee off a cliff, where he seemingly learns how to change into a VW beetle before passing out. So all those scenes of Starscream and Bumblebee fighting each other look to happen at the beginning of the movie, or at least chronologically before he meets Charlie.
:30 Variant scenes of Charlie driving Bumblebee home and meeting him. It looks like Charlie coins the name Bumblebee.
1:09 Charlie tries to repair something in Bumblebee, and uncovers the message of Optimus Prime giving his pep talk.
1:17 Some other shots that were at least partially used in the last trailer, including Prime on Cybertron and the Decepticons meeting the military to warn about Bumblebee.
1:36 A huge explosion to remind us Michael Bay is still involved with this film.
1:49 Prime gives the designation “B127”, rather than Bumblebee. This makes sense in the end because what are robots on an alien world going to know about Earth bees anyway?
1:50 Ravage vs. Optimus Prime?!?
1:55 Bumblebee flees from the military.
2:02 Some additional footage of Bumblebee fighting the Huey Cobra Decepticon.
2:11 More footage of Bumblebee, well, bumbling around the house. Still funnier than the pot brownie jokes from Revenge Of The Fallen.
Did you catch anything we missed? Anything else to add? Sound off below, or hit us up on Facebook and Twitter!
You have probably heard of The Phantom, and yes you’ve probably seen him in a newspaper comic strip. But do you truly know the origin of The Phantom? Seth and Crazy Train talk the creation of The Phantom, as well as his origin. Why is the character called The Ghost Who Walks?
A lot of people may not know how long The Phantom has been around. Creator Lee Falk started writing the character in 1936, and continued to write up until his death in 1999. That means he had a 63 year run writing Phantom, which could be a record for longest stint for a writer on a specific character. The Phantom has also been in print regularly since 1936, which is a record for oldest superhero title at 82 years and counting.
If you want to learn more about The Phantom, there is the awesome Phantom Wiki. And check out the good people at Chronicle Chamber, who have a podcast dedicated to all things Phantom!
A few photos have leaked from the set of the yet to be titled fourth Avengers film. The movie will of course be released in 2019 as a direct follow up to Avengers: Infinity War. If you’ve seen that film (and if you haven’t, why are you reading this?) you know that half the universe’s population is willed out of existence by Thanos.
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and many of the other major players made the survive list, while Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Nick Fury weren’t so fortunate.
Now, with the leaking of this photo on the next page, we can that as some point during the film, Steve Rogers…
… SHAVES! Yes fans, that is a clean shaven Cap below!
Hopefully that got you to laugh or smile. Only eight more months until the fourth Avengers film hits theaters, and we can finally see the fate of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!.
There are only two main subject in this episode of Geekville Radio, but they are real doozies. Seth and Crazy Train are joined by fellow Superman and Burt Reynolds fan David McKinney of South Atlanta Wrestling. The three talk the recent news about the potential departure of Henry Cavill from the DC Movie Universe as Superman, and the recent passing of Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds.
CAVILL NO LONGER SUPERMAN?
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Henry Cavill may indeed be leaving the role of Superman. Reports indicate that the hold up stems from negotiations to cameo in Shazam. Cavill had recently signed to appear in the Netflix series The Witcher, and sources told THR that scheduling would not permit Cavill from making an appearance in the film.
Another source, according to the report, stated the fallout may have happened due to a change in direction by Warner Bros.
“That’s because the studio has shifted its focus to a Supergirl movie, which will be an origin story featuring a teen superheroine. This effectively removes an actor of Cavill’s age from the storyline’s equation given that Superman, aka Kal-El, would be an infant, according to DC lore.”
Warner Bros. released a statement
“We have a great relationship and great respect for Henry Cavill that continues to remain unchanged. Additionally we have made no current decisions regarding any upcoming Superman films.”
All three panelists hold out hope that Cavill will appear in at least one more film before leaving, if he’s leaving at all.
BURT REYNOLDS (1936-2018)
Burt Reynolds passed away last week at the age of 82. Contrary to earlier claims, Reynolds was actually born in Michigan, not Waycross Georgia. Which means the icon of so many Southern flavored movies wasn’t actually Southern.
Seth, Train, and David all pay tribute and share memories from their favorite Burt Reynolds movies. Deliverance was a breakthrough leading man role, but it was his light-hearted car chase action comedies (Smokey & The Bandit, Cannonball Run) that became his signature genre in the 1970s. In the 80s he made more mature dramas and thrillers, such as Sharky’s Machine and Stick.
David talks about a story involving a young Reynolds and Clint Eastwood leaving their respective TV Western roles (Gunsmoke and Rawhide). Seth mentions a movie originally written for Reynolds that wound up going to Eastwood.
So, at the end of this episode, the panelists officially induct Burt Reynolds into Geekville Radio’s Honorary Southerners
The upcoming home video release of Solo: A Star Wars Story will be packed with at least one deleted scene. In it, Han is shown piloting a TIE Fighter in a mission that doesn’t end well. He then is punished for insubordination and placed in infantry duty, which is where he encounters Tobias Beckett and company.
No word yet on other deleted scenes making the cut, but this particular scene shows the Corellian with plenty of his signature snark.
Solo: A Star Wars Story hits home video on September 25th.
In the latest chapter in the ongoing controversy for Guardians Of The Galaxy 3, the movie is reported to be on hold after Disney made the decision to not reinstate director James Gunn. Dave Bautista has stated that he isn’t sure he wants to return.
“They’re putting the movie off. It’s on hold indefinitely. To be honest with you, I don’t know if I want to work for Disney.”
2. Also part of the DC Movie Universe will be an as of yet untitled Joker/Harley movie that would further explore the relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn. Leto and Robbie would likely return for that film that has been described as “When Harry Met Sally On Benzedrine”.
Also on the docket, a possible Birds Of Prey movie. Margot Robbie has reportedly expressed desire to portray Harley in her own standalone film. Birds Of Prey has been a title for DC that involved an all-female cast in various incarnations over the years. Harley has been part of the group in the comics since her turn as a more anti-hero type character. Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) is set to direct off a Christina Hodson (Bumblebee) story. It is yet to be announced whether the film will feature Leto as Joker.
It’s the last show of the month. And to be a little different, we are debuting a new segment. We like to call it Geekville Radio’s Nostalgia Trip. The debut edition of Geekville Radio’s Nostalgia Trip is devoted to the classic 1980s TV show The Dukes Of Hazzard. Seth “Zandrax” Zillmann and “Crazy Train” Jonathan Bolick talk the history of the show and why it is so iconic almost 40 years later.
As ardent fans know, Dukes was actually spun off of a 1975 feature film Moonrunners, which had a very similar vibe. Both that film and the TV series were created by Gy Waldron, and are based on the stories of Jerry Rushing. Crazy Train provides a brief course in moonshine whiskey and moonshine running.
How well do you know the background of Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Uncle Jesse? No matter your level of Dukes fandom, you might learn a few things. Which Duke was a Vietnam Vet? Which was a star football player in high school?
And of course, what good are the heroes without the villains? JD “Boss” Hogg, Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, Deputies Enos Strate and Cledus Hogg made up the recurring antagonists for The Duke family. Then of course there were the out of town strangers that would be up to no good each week.
You knew trouble was coming to Hazzard when you saw a basic Plymouth Fury riding into town.
Seth and Train also dive into the 1982-83 season which had the controversial replacement Dukes, Coy and Vance.
But perhaps most importantly, they talk the vehicles.
While Hazzard Country Georgia may not actually exist, Train does provide geographical evidence as to where Hazzard County would be on a map if it did. Don’t believe us? Listen to Train’s evidence and you’ll hear why.
Now you know where to find Hazzard County Georgia!
If you’re a 70s kid like Train, an 80s kid like Seth, or even came to love Dukes Of Hazzard after the fact, there is something for you in this edition of Geekville Radio’s Nostalgia Trip. Our goal is that, regardless of your level of fandom, you’ll enjoy this podcast and maybe even learn something about what was arguably the most “Southern” TV show to ever air on television.
As mentioned during the show, Crazy Train has amassed a list of Outlaw Country songs for Spotify, which fit perfectly with the attitude of Dukes Of Hazzard.
Look up our shows on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter, and Crazy Train can be reached on Twitter. Give us a subscribe and let us know! We encourage your feedback!
Zandrax and Crazy Train are back with four main topics in the news.
First off, Mark Hamill has been cast in the second season of Knightfall. He will portray Talus, and will debut in the second season.
“a battle-hardened Knight Templar veteran of the Crusades, who survived captivity for ten years in the Holy Land and is tasked with training the new initiates to the Order”
No premiere date is listed as of our recording, but presumably the second season will premiere late this year.
Disney has released the first glimpses of the Resistance animated series with this trailer
This is quite the departure from the 3D CGI animated of the previous two series. Does this look like another can’t miss? Or is it less appealing that the previous shows.
Marvel has teased the full blown Iron Fist costume in the teaser for Season 2.
Both Zandrax and Train liked the trailer, and any fan of Iron Fist comic will probably be happy with what’s teased.
In DC news, Watchmen has been picked up for a full season on HBO. Jeremy Irons leads the cast for the series that will be set in present day, 30 years after the events of Watchmen took place.
What did you think of these trailers? Or any of the other news? Sound off below!
Welcome to our inaugural episode of The Lesser Known Geek Hall Of Fame, the latest channel for Geekville Radio. For our first episode, we decided to look at one of the earliest characters in pulp magazines, The Shadow. Follow along in these show notes for the podcast.
