logo Sign In

Humdinger Analysis Thread : Glitch, Cryptography or Steganography?

Author
Time
 (Edited)

'Humdinger' Analysis Thread

The 'Humdinger' glitch is a frame in the digital master of the Star Wars (A New Hope) Special Edition created specifically for the 2004 DVD release and every subsequent release to date.

The error was brought to the attention of the OT.com community in a post by user canofhumdingers:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Harmys-STAR-WARS-Despecialized-Edition-HD-AVCHD-DVD9-and-NTSC-DVD5-AVAILABLE-see-1st-post/post/509807/#TopicPost509807

and has been named in his behalf.  Harmy prooved that it was an item specific to the 2004 upgrade by comparing various sources.

How to spot: Vader and his tie-fighters have just entered the battle.  Rebel Y-Wing Pilots in the Death Star trench notice the stopping of the gun towers and say 'three marks at two ten'.  Scene cuts to Vader and two ties flying down to Death Star.  ~1:45:40

 

Humdinger Picture Gallery

2004 DVD - (A_NEW_HOPE-2004DVD-Humdinger.jpg)

2004 DVD PAL - (A_NEW_HOPE-2004DVDPAL-Humdinger.jpg)

2006 German HDTV Broadcast - (Star.Wars.Episode.4.Eine.Neue.Hoffnung.HDTV.1080i.H264.German.AC3.DL.mkv_2006-Humdinger.jpg) 

2006 Cinemax HDTV Broadcast - (glitter.0074.ts_2006-Cinemax-Humdinger.jpg)

2007 Sky HDTV Broadcast - (Picture Forthcoming)

Need help on this one, can't get the file to play on my machine.

 

 

2007 German HDTV Broadcast - (Star.Wars.IV.A.New.Hope.1080p.h264.dd51.de.en.dc.ts_2007-Humdinger.jpg)

200_ Spike TV HDTV Broadcast - (Picture Forthcoming)

Need help on this one as well.

 

2011 Blu-Ray Preview Comic Con - (SanDiegoComic-Con2011_StarWarsBluRayAttraction_720p_H.264-AAC.mp4_snapshot_04.58_2011.07.24_18.17.04-Humdinger.jpg)

 

 

Need to do some test glitch recreation on the frame before.  See if there's a way to recreate these patterns.  Not sure which is closest to the 'source'.  The 2006 German HDTV Broadcast gets a vote for having some glitch but also below the glitch the correct pieces of the frame.  2006 Cinemax looks the same as the 2004 DVD just full 1080 resolution.  The vibrancy and clean glitch of the 2007 German HDTV Broadcast, also seems like one to consider as one recompression away from 'source'.

 

If you know of a different source to look into, please suggest it.  Also looking for people in the glitch world to ask if they might have opinions on how this came about and to suggest ideas for the differences seen above.

Author
Time

Have started checking out the versions which used one of the above to see how their recompression affects the Humdinger. 

In the Wookiegroomer X360 and Ewokgroomer versions, the Humdinger disappears.

Author
Time

I'm pretty sure that each dodgy pixel is a microscreen that explains why Lucas behaves the way he does.

It probably involves blood sucking lizard men, Vril powered Nazi flying saucers and a Mayan colander.

Author
Time

Bingowings said:

It probably involves blood sucking lizard men, Vril powered Nazi flying saucers and a Mayan colander.

*quickly steals idea for latest uni short film*

<span style=“font-weight: bold;”>The Most Handsomest Guy on OT.com</span>

Author
Time

I've figured it out!  George has been using a combination of steganography and subliminal messages in the PT that have successfully brainwashed legions of viewers into becoming hypnotized zombies that support his SE changes. We escaped because we don't like the PT, and therefore haven't watched it enough to become victims.

The humdimger glitch is not an encoding error, but a desperate encoded cry for help from someone in LFL who, in a brief moment of lucidity, hastily inserted a plea to be rescued.  I have decoded the message and it says: "please help, send troops, I am being tortured at Skywalker Sound by being forced to insert George's new effects into... into... blbqwggw... "

"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars

Author
Time

I don't understand why you guys are so obsessed about one tiny error in the movie, to the point that you had to give it a name and make a whole thread about it!

 

 

 

 

;-)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

TV's Frink said:

I don't understand why you guys are so obsessed about one tiny error in the movie, to the point that you had to give it a name and make a whole thread about it!

 

 

 

 

;-)

I couldn't agree with you more Frink, pretty silly really, but what do we know right? yet another dumb nickname like GOUT, now humdinger, jeez.

LMAO! now we need to analyze it as well? just WOW.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Well, I like it ;-)

BTW. the DVD screenshot in my thread is from PAL 2004 DVD, I suppose you used NTSC for your screen, so you may want to add it :-)

Another thing that may be worth checking is the pan&scan DVD, if anyone's got it.

Author
Time

dark_jedi said:

TV's Frink said:

I don't understand why you guys are so obsessed about one tiny error in the movie, to the point that you had to give it a name and make a whole thread about it!

 

 

 

 

;-)

I couldn't agree with you more Frink, pretty silly really, but what do we know right? yet another dumb nickname like GOUT, now humdinger, jeez.

LMAO! now we need to analyze it as well? just WOW.

Er...did you see the winky?

Author
Time
 (Edited)

TV's Frink said:

dark_jedi said:

TV's Frink said:

I don't understand why you guys are so obsessed about one tiny error in the movie, to the point that you had to give it a name and make a whole thread about it!

 

 

 

 

;-)

I couldn't agree with you more Frink, pretty silly really, but what do we know right? yet another dumb nickname like GOUT, now humdinger, jeez.

LMAO! now we need to analyze it as well? just WOW.

Er...did you see the winky?

I did but I ignored it, another wasted topic on this shit LOL, my opinion only, what in the hell do you guys think to gain by this now? is petition going to be started? or a boycott of the Blu's? I just don't get it.

Author
Time

Well, the importance of the glitch in my eyes is that it proves the Blu is recycling an old master, as discussed in the Blu thread.

As for the glitch itself, I find it interesting but ultimately not a big deal.  It certainly wouldn't stop me from buying the set if it was the only issue.

Author
Time

Funny thing, my wife just recently told me while I have been fixing all these damn bad frames in ESB for my Blu-ray project, and then burning a test copy just to find more LOL, she said "you are way to anal over this Star Wars shit, I can't even see those frames, will anyone else?" well the point is, I can, and I want to make my favorite of the 3 the best I can, so I guess in a sense maybe I am "Star Wars anal" LOL, but my God, I can't even hold a candle to a few here, they give anal a WHOLE new meaning.

Author
Time

DJ, there was a discussion of this in another thread.  The interest in the glitch isn't the glitch itself (I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to see it), but its usefulness as a fingerprint as to which transfer a particular release is using.  If you'll recall, the various kenkraly's out there have been saying the blu-ray will be a new transfer. Well, the humdinger proves beyond all doubt that it isn't.  That is what is interesting about the glitch... I don't think it's anal at all.

"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

DJ, there was a discussion of this in another thread.  The interest in the glitch isn't the glitch itself (I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to see it), but its usefulness as a fingerprint as to which transfer a particular release is using.  If you'll recall, the various kenkraly's out there have been saying the blu-ray will be a new transfer. Well, the humdinger proves beyond all doubt that it isn't.  That is what is interesting about the glitch... I don't think it's anal at all.

I understand that, but to start a thread to analyse it even further? crazy shit to me LOL, but whatever, and for me personally, I am not buying any of that crap until I see the BD Set for myself this Sept. WAAAAY to many pessimists pushing their views over, and over, and over, OH, and also the kenkraly's to are doing just as much pushing, THANK GOD the thread has been closed at blu-ray.com for now, but instead of closing the thread they should just unholster the damn BAN HAMMER again.

I am of the mind that I want to see this stuff for myself, then and only then will I be 100% certain, I just can't follow all this crap that people keep spouting blindly, I mean, I know it has been beatin to death, but if you(meaning anyone that feels this way) are that dead certain that it is what it is, why KEEP posting about it, just don't buy it, it really is that simple.

When I say "blindly" I am meaning that the person or persons in question, still have not seen it for themselves on their own equipment.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Well, that's the thing though, you can't judge with certainty from colours and such until you've actually seen the blus, but when this glitch appears, it means it is the 2004 transfer, no doubt about it. There's practically a zero chance that the same error would appear again in a different transfer.

And as to why we have to keep posting about it? Well, for one, we want the least amount of people possible buying this set - LFL needs to be punished for putting out yet another half-arsed release and pushed to do better next time. And also, at least for me, it's a bit of a pride thing - when we said we had good reasons to believe that they'll recycle the 04 transfer and some people were laughing at us, it feels nice when new evidence appears to support our opinion and it's fun discussing it. And of course there won't be no actual world changing outcome of this discussion but we just enjoy it. We're not really following any goal...

(DJ: what in the hell do you guys think to gain by this now? is petition going to be started? or a boycott of the Blu's?)

...we're just having a bit of fun :-) Why does that seem so weird. There are people somewhere on the internet discussing pasta strainers right now...

Author
Time

Harmy said:

And as to why we have to keep posting about it? Well, for one, we want the least amount of people possible buying this set

LMA completely off! good luck with that one my Friend, not going to happen, you just watch the sales on Sept. 16th.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Well, I know but still, we have to get the gospel out there. Every saved soul counts.

;-)

Btw. You did read the rest of my post, didn't you, cuz that was the part I meant seriously.

Author
Time

Oh and all this made me forget the important question - none, are you sure it's not in the WookieGroomer release? How would that be possible. Is he still around? Maybe he fixed it or something. It couldn't have just disappeared, could it? 

Author
Time
 (Edited)

It does NOT prove shit to me, anything could have been shown there, there are arguments on both sides that have merit, not just this one, like I said, I will not believe shit until I physically look at these myself, I am not going to take anyone's word on the internet, I don't care how pessimistic they are, and what "supposed" proof they have, did they see the blu-ray themselves on there own equipment? I think not.

I personally am still cautiously optimistic about this whole deal, I really hope that this internet crap is wrong, but one just does not know, not yet, now if I end up seeing this shit myself, well at that time, it will be a huge bummer, but I am not going to get ALL worked up now, like some here LOL, I can wait it out.

But anyways, might want to get back on topic and start the analysis on that single frame LOL, just love reading these very humorous conspiracy theories some come up with, very entertaining.

Author
Time

I'm not worked up...   <-- note, please read with "i care" luke voice

I am amusedly interested in what could cause such a glitch, since I've never seen one like that before.  I also will be interested to see if the glitch turns up on the actual blu-ray when someone here on this board purchases it.  For instance, now that the word is out, it is entirely possible that LFL will go in last minute and remove the glitch just to mess with us and keep his zombie army rah-rah-ing.  But seriously, now that Harmy's set has come out, the only thing that could get me worked up is if LFL actually restores SW from an original 70mm print.  Now that would be worth getting worked up about.

I agree with Harmy.  Mainly, us geeks just enjoy talking about minutia like this.

"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars

Author
Time

The whole 2004 transfer is basically one big glitch, so even if they got rid of this little one in the last minute, you're still gonna be able to see if it's the same one used for the blu-ray.

It's the original 2004 edition in hi-def. :)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

Author
Time

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

But seriously, now that Harmy's set has come out, the only thing that could get me worked up is if LFL actually restores SW from an original 70mm print.  Now that would be worth getting worked up about.

Ah, but then you would have a restored version that is from a cropped source. 2.35 to 2.21. ;)

I'll admit that in my dreams of planning the ultimate OOT set, the 70mm version is Disc 2.

What is this glitch though? The Lucas Barcode?

 

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time

captainsolo said:

Ah, but then you would have a restored version that is from a cropped source. 2.35 to 2.21. ;)

Wait... really? They didn't letterbox things when they were on 70mm? I guess that explains were this DVNR-free French laserdisc was from, unless it was an Incredible Shrinking Ratio issue...

Author
Time

Not true, when you look at these 70mm cell scans, there's actually more picture information on the sides than there is in the 2004 SE, which is the least cropped transfer to date.

Author
Time

Harmy said:

Not true, when you look at these 70mm cell scans, there's actually more picture information on the sides than there is in the 2004 SE, which is the least cropped transfer to date.

It seems to me that those could be 35mm, the reason behind my thinking is that this shot wasn't in the 70mm version:

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com