At least its not fully operational.
August 16, 2008 2:17 PM Subscribe
The Death Star rises over San Francisco. A video. Just some footage shot during Imperial Fleet Week in SF.
Republicans planning to invade SF already?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:34 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:34 PM on August 16, 2008
Gee, ya think?
We've known for awhile that pictures weren't trustworthy, but it's starting to look like even home movies aren't. Those are very solid effects. Add in something that people expect to be there, and I'm not at all sure that it would be easily detectable.
posted by Malor at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
We've known for awhile that pictures weren't trustworthy, but it's starting to look like even home movies aren't. Those are very solid effects. Add in something that people expect to be there, and I'm not at all sure that it would be easily detectable.
posted by Malor at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Not the best Star Wars movie, but in all seriousness, better than The Phantom Menace.
posted by Prospero at 2:36 PM on August 16, 2008 [17 favorites]
posted by Prospero at 2:36 PM on August 16, 2008 [17 favorites]
Neat.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 2:38 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 2:38 PM on August 16, 2008
And yeah, I know it's not canon or Lucas-produced, but in a better world, it is.
posted by Prospero at 2:38 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Prospero at 2:38 PM on August 16, 2008
The walkers and spacecraft may not have been that convincing, but the coloring and luminescence of the Death Star was pretty believable. Of course, shaky camera and "holy shit!"s always help to bring that touch of realism.
posted by Harry at 2:39 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Harry at 2:39 PM on August 16, 2008
Holy crap that was pretty cool. I didn't know about the parrots of Telegraph Hill until now.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2008
Wish I knew what it was about certain sites and video which is passed the filename as a variable in the URL that prevents them from playing on this machine. Drat.
posted by maxwelton at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by maxwelton at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2008
This was great. I particularly liked how the tourist footage was low quality and banal.
posted by Nelson at 2:41 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Nelson at 2:41 PM on August 16, 2008
Cool. They just need a little variety in the light source for the Death Star.
posted by starman at 2:42 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by starman at 2:42 PM on August 16, 2008
Huh. I thought the Imperial Fleet was based in Redmond.
posted by felix betachat at 2:43 PM on August 16, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by felix betachat at 2:43 PM on August 16, 2008 [3 favorites]
I thought the Imperial Fleet was based in Redmond.
They were, until 2004. There were always problems though. The forward shields of galactic cruisers interfered with mobile phone signals, the walkers tore up the asphalt, and TIE fighter pilots had little respect for air traffic in the region. But in the end, pre-existing zoning laws gave Redmond the leverage they needed to force the Imperial Fleet out.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:51 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
They were, until 2004. There were always problems though. The forward shields of galactic cruisers interfered with mobile phone signals, the walkers tore up the asphalt, and TIE fighter pilots had little respect for air traffic in the region. But in the end, pre-existing zoning laws gave Redmond the leverage they needed to force the Imperial Fleet out.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:51 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
But in the end, pre-existing zoning laws gave Redmond the leverage they needed to force the Imperial Fleet out.
Plus, someone just made a deal to keep the Empire out of there forever.
posted by starman at 2:56 PM on August 16, 2008 [6 favorites]
Plus, someone just made a deal to keep the Empire out of there forever.
posted by starman at 2:56 PM on August 16, 2008 [6 favorites]
We've known for awhile that pictures weren't trustworthy, but it's starting to look like even home movies aren't. Those are very solid effects.
Don't be too proud of this technological terror they've constructed. The ability to fake a film is insignificant compared to the powers of the Force.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:56 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
Don't be too proud of this technological terror they've constructed. The ability to fake a film is insignificant compared to the powers of the Force.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:56 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
The sunny non-foggy skies are more obviously photoshopped in than the death star.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:57 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:57 PM on August 16, 2008
When Fascism Comes to America it Will be Wrapped in White Plastic Armor and Carrying a BlasTech E-11 Blaster Rifle
posted by homunculus at 3:02 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:02 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
thanks for reminding me that the star destroyer is one of the most gorgeous spacecraft ever created.
The Death star looked good. All in all, a nice proof of concept film.
Great garnish for any reel.
posted by Busithoth at 3:48 PM on August 16, 2008
The Death star looked good. All in all, a nice proof of concept film.
Great garnish for any reel.
posted by Busithoth at 3:48 PM on August 16, 2008
"...If I'm the leader of the Rebel Alliance, I walk right into Union Square, I set up my little holographic podium, and I say, "Listen, citizens of San Francisco, if you vote against military recruiting, you're not going to get another credit in Alliance funds...And if the Empire comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in Alderaan is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead."
-- Bill O'Reilly
(Who, to the surprise of absolutely no one, later revealed himself as the evil-yet-only-marginally effective Darth Bilious.)
posted by PlusDistance at 3:55 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
-- Bill O'Reilly
(Who, to the surprise of absolutely no one, later revealed himself as the evil-yet-only-marginally effective Darth Bilious.)
posted by PlusDistance at 3:55 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
So, if the Imperial Fleet came to San Francisco, which is where Starfleet Headquarters is based, who would win?
posted by dhartung at 4:54 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by dhartung at 4:54 PM on August 16, 2008
When the hell are they gonna FINISH that fracking thing? Talk about Imperial bloat.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 5:22 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 5:22 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
... if the Imperial Fleet came to San Francisco, which is where Starfleet Headquarters is based, who would win?
Starfleet, of course. Duh.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:34 PM on August 16, 2008
Starfleet, of course. Duh.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:34 PM on August 16, 2008
This was great!
posted by Hands of Manos at 5:38 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Hands of Manos at 5:38 PM on August 16, 2008
Starfleet, of course. Duh.
At the risk of sounding like a total nerd... Dude, the Death Star can blow up the entire planet.
posted by knave at 5:44 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
At the risk of sounding like a total nerd... Dude, the Death Star can blow up the entire planet.
posted by knave at 5:44 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, like Starfleet doesn't know where that exhaust vent is. Sheesh.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 6:11 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 6:11 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was sure this post was going to be about this freaky building.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:47 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:47 PM on August 16, 2008
slightly off topic but there have been several yoda references so i'll carry on, in the original movies yoda only speaks in his now trademark swapped around lingo when he first meets luke and is being a bit of a dick. when he's being serious it's pretty much standard except occasionally when he refers to himself. i can understand why the linguistic quirk got picked up by the popular consciousness but i thought it odd lucas chose to have him speak that way through the entirety of the three prequels as it turned him into a ridiculous parody of himself (not if anything to say about it, i have) until i remembered lucas is a hack that is.
posted by chelegonian at 7:06 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by chelegonian at 7:06 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
So, if the Imperial Fleet came to San Francisco, which is where Starfleet Headquarters is based, who would win?
The viewing public? Nerds everywhere? Cthulhu?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:16 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
The viewing public? Nerds everywhere? Cthulhu?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:16 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
Starfleet, of course. Duh.
Psh, I doubt the enterprise could even break the 4 parsec mark in the Kessel run.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 7:22 PM on August 16, 2008
Psh, I doubt the enterprise could even break the 4 parsec mark in the Kessel run.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 7:22 PM on August 16, 2008
Gosh, everyone seems awfully calm about the whole thing. "Silly old Galactic Empire invasions... I just ignore them." But where's Bullitt when you need him?
slightly off topic but there have been several yoda references so i'll carry on, in the original movies yoda only speaks in his now trademark swapped around lingo when he first meets luke and is being a bit of a dick.
"Stopped they must be, on this all depends." "Yes yes, to Obi-Wan you listen!" "When gone am I, the last of the Jedi will I be."
You might wanna double-check your argument there... He had always talked like that (well, maybe not always), and it's just more noticeable in the prequels because he has so much more dialogue altogether. Lucas might be a hack for other reasons, but this ain't one of 'em.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 7:58 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
slightly off topic but there have been several yoda references so i'll carry on, in the original movies yoda only speaks in his now trademark swapped around lingo when he first meets luke and is being a bit of a dick.
"Stopped they must be, on this all depends." "Yes yes, to Obi-Wan you listen!" "When gone am I, the last of the Jedi will I be."
You might wanna double-check your argument there... He had always talked like that (well, maybe not always), and it's just more noticeable in the prequels because he has so much more dialogue altogether. Lucas might be a hack for other reasons, but this ain't one of 'em.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 7:58 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, like Starfleet doesn't know where that exhaust vent is. Sheesh.
Well, I mean uh there's this little hole, it was kinda an aesthetic choice by the architect...
youtube
posted by nudar at 8:04 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, I mean uh there's this little hole, it was kinda an aesthetic choice by the architect...
youtube
posted by nudar at 8:04 PM on August 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
Vader was missing too. Maybe he's still outside Seattle.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 8:28 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 8:28 PM on August 16, 2008
Psh, I doubt the enterprise could even break the 4 parsec mark in the Kessel run.
Consider the normal route for the Kessel Run was 18 parsecs, but a fast ship like the Millennium Falcon could take a shortcut though a dangerous region of space and reduce the distance to as little as 12 parsecs.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:38 PM on August 16, 2008
Consider the normal route for the Kessel Run was 18 parsecs, but a fast ship like the Millennium Falcon could take a shortcut though a dangerous region of space and reduce the distance to as little as 12 parsecs.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:38 PM on August 16, 2008
I've got a bad feeling about this.
posted by mazola at 9:07 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by mazola at 9:07 PM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]
Consider the normal route for the Kessel Run was 18 parsecs, but a fast ship like the Millennium Falcon could take a shortcut though a dangerous region of space and reduce the distance to as little as 12 parsecs.
I like to consider that it's just a movie.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:08 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I like to consider that it's just a movie.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:08 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
In case it isn't mentioned: I linked a link to a comparison of the AT-ATs to the Oakland cranes , & then had a malware flareup. It may have been the first Google link, a recurrence of a previous problem, or something else, but I contacted the mods to remove that link just in case.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:22 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by Pronoiac at 9:22 PM on August 16, 2008
I like the protest footage in the middle. That's how you know for sure it's San Francisco.
Also, nice cameo for the famous parrots.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:56 PM on August 16, 2008
Also, nice cameo for the famous parrots.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:56 PM on August 16, 2008
Interview with the creator, Michael Horn. via Laughing Squid
posted by gingerbeer at 11:27 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 11:27 PM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
The shot of the cars coming over the hill with the Death Star looming in the background is a stunning visual. Most impressive.
Cloverfield would've been a better movie if everyone in that had been as nonchalant about a monster tearing up New York.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:32 AM on August 17, 2008
Cloverfield would've been a better movie if everyone in that had been as nonchalant about a monster tearing up New York.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:32 AM on August 17, 2008
The viewing public? Nerds everywhere? Cthulhu?
My money is on Cthulhu, as he is free from concerns about value for money and what the Internets think.
posted by Sparx at 4:12 AM on August 17, 2008
My money is on Cthulhu, as he is free from concerns about value for money and what the Internets think.
posted by Sparx at 4:12 AM on August 17, 2008
But I was going to Market Street Station to pick up some power converters...
posted by JibberJabber at 8:55 AM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by JibberJabber at 8:55 AM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Alive in Joberg and Tetra Vaal spring to mind, but are much more unsettling.
posted by FidelDonson at 9:11 AM on August 17, 2008
posted by FidelDonson at 9:11 AM on August 17, 2008
That's no moon.
posted by stumcg at 2:54 PM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by stumcg at 2:54 PM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Fake" or not, the verisimilitude falls apart the minute they show TIE fighters hovering - who do they think they're kidding? What are they even doing airborne, trying to drag those wings through an atmosphere?
Most unrealistic depiction of light fighter craft in an interstellar invasion of San Francisco and the bay area ever. I demand my money back.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:02 AM on August 18, 2008
Most unrealistic depiction of light fighter craft in an interstellar invasion of San Francisco and the bay area ever. I demand my money back.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:02 AM on August 18, 2008
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