Thank to faithful SOM reader Charlare for the tip!

Thanks to faithful Son of Macenstein reader Dave Cawley for the link!

Get it? “HA”, as in Joker?

Apparently the pizza tie in here is that Domino’s Pizza must have cut a licensing deal with Warner Bros., although I’d wager the fictional Gotham Pizza tastes 20 times better than Dominos. Unfortunately, we learn nothing from this clip, but it’s always fun when you come across stuff like this.

Actually, George Lucas himself must have been involved in the production, because not only is the Star War theme music used, but after a minute or two, actual footage from Episode IV is “seamlessly” spliced into the shots. I’m guessing Lucas used Turkey’s less stringent rating systems to do some of the hardcore violence the MPAA wouldn’t let him get away with in the States (like karate-chopping an alien in half, or, my favorite, ripping off an alien’s head, throwing it at another, who then inexplicably explodes).

Yes, there is no doubt this version is better than the original, and certainly contains far more jumping. The bold choice of combining the Luke and Han characters into one bad-ass, high jumping ass-kicking machine was brilliant, and really lets the audience focus on the jumping instead of the mindless dialogue that bogged down the original. The Darth Vader character’s helmet is also much pointier than the “girlishly smooth” helmet Vader wore in Lucas’ original, and only adds another element of danger as the hero jumps closer and closer.

Here’s hoping Lucas doesn’t ruin this version by going back in and digitally remastering it, adding little extra flying droids and such. This is one cinematic classic that deserves to remain pristine.

Thanks to faithful Son of Macenstein reader Arn for the link!
[via graphjam]

Thanks to faithful Son of Macenstein reader Art Vandelay for the link!

“You have 2 Balls. They’re very important, and they’re hidden inside your clothes!”

Not sure she needed a crystal ball to know that…

Perhaps the funniest thing is just how seriously the crowd and the girls seem to be taking this. Somehow I get the impression that these girls must be playing to get their father’s out of political prison or some such thing. Anyway, the idea is brilliant, and I expect to see an American version of this on SPIKE or G4 by Summer’s end.

(btw, check out the size of the “ass hole” (pardon my French) on the 3rd girl’s wall. Who are they expecting to show up and compete? Rosanne?)

The original Japanese version (below) is admittedly much funnier, but then it’s a sausage party, so as far as replay value goes, I’m sticking with the girls. Still, there’s something about Japanese game shows, with their screaming announcers, that is inherently awesome.

As much as I am looking forward to The Dark Knight, I think I am even more excited about the animated Batman: Gotham Knight DVD coming out in July. The mix of animation styles between the 6 stories looks amazing, and it’s looking like it might tell the story of Batman’s evolution far better than any feature film could.

I think the problem for me is that, like all comic book characters (with the notable exception of Susan Storm, pictured above), I think Batman looks a bit silly when brought to life with real people. Something about a cape and pointy ears… I honestly can’t see a criminal being scared of him. Yet somehow in the comics it seems more plausible, despite his ears being even pointier and his cape being so ridiculously long that he would never be able to walk let alone kick ass.