Log in

View Full Version : BMW Films - The Best Car Chases Ever!

Jason Dunn
10-24-2002, 10:56 PM
<a href="http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=season1&amp;country=usa&amp;film=">http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=season1&amp;country=usa&amp;film=</a><br /><br />If you haven't seen BMW Films yet, run, don't walk, to your nearest Web browser and download them right away! :D Yeah, I know it's just marketing to pimp their products, but damn - they hired some talented pimps! Some of the best directors around like Guy Ritchie and John Woo direct some excellent actors in impressive action scenes. Each movie is under ten minutes long, but they're long enough to get into and really enjoy. The desktop PC versions look awesome full-screen, and the people behind BMW films were smart enough to make Pocket PC versions available for download. If you've been waiting for a reason to put a video on your Pocket PC and show off to friends, this is it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/dunn2002/bcar.jpg" /><br /><br />Here are links to the season one episodes and the first season two episode, all in Windows Media Video format:<br /><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Ambush_WMP_PPC.exe">Ambush</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Chosen_WMP_PPC.exe">Choosen</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Star_WMP_PPC.exe">Star</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Powder_WMP_PPC.exe">Powder</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Making_WMP_PPC.exe">The Making of BMW Films</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8122/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire1/downloads/Driving_WMP_PPC.exe">Driving Techniques</a><br />• <a href="http://a177.ch1.akamai.net/7/177/8123/v001/fallon.download.akamai.com/8122/hire2/downloads/Hostage_WMP_PPC.exe">Hostage</a><br /><br />You can check out the newer season two films at <a href="www.bmwfilms.com">www.bmwfilms.com</a>. <i>Ticker </i>and <i>Beat the Devil</i> will also be available for Pocket PC's in the next couple months as they come out!
Jason Dunn
10-25-2002, 12:13 AM
I just watched Hostage full screen on my desktop PC, and it was very cool...makes me want to go see The Transporter tonight! 8)
WillyG
10-25-2002, 12:49 AM
very cool...8)

Couldnt agree more. Two of my greatest passions are PPC and ... u guessed it, BMW. I have one of each, and i love them both :)
I didnt know BMW had created PPC versions of their BMW films. But im not surprised. We do know what OS the computer in the new 7-series run dont we? :wink:
I tried encoding the PC versions with Windows Media Encoder earlier this year, but i wasnt happy with the quality. This looks ok tho (if i only could get that 8.5 update to get rid of some of the skips)
My personal favorites are definately "Star" (the one with Madonna). That jump, and the drivers expression, in there always makes me smile. But what is that music in the background of the race? I have heard it a few times, but i cant figure out who it is. I want a wma of that song so i could listen to it with my Loox and headphone while driving and trying some of the tricks in the movie (to get guts and inspiration) :lol:
Leon
10-25-2002, 01:05 AM
That jump... But what is that music in the background of the race?
I don't know about the music in the background of the race but I love the way they 'borrowed' the music during the jump from the Blues Brothers movie when the two nazis make a (more or) less similar jump.
pt
10-25-2002, 01:51 AM
it's called "song #2" by blur (also called the "wohoo song) from the self titled album blur.

cheers,
pt


very cool...8)

Couldnt agree more. Two of my greatest passions are PPC and ... u guessed it, BMW. I have one of each, and i love them both :)
I didnt know BMW had created PPC versions of their BMW films. But im not surprised. We do know what OS the computer in the new 7-series run dont we? :wink:
I tried encoding the PC versions with Windows Media Encoder earlier this year, but i wasnt happy with the quality. This looks ok tho (if i only could get that 8.5 update to get rid of some of the skips)
My personal favorites are definately "Star" (the one with Madonna). That jump, and the drivers expression, in there always makes me smile. But what is that music in the background of the race? I have heard it a few times, but i cant figure out who it is. I want a wma of that song so i could listen to it with my Loox and headphone while driving and trying some of the tricks in the movie (to get guts and inspiration) :lol:
claytonl
10-25-2002, 03:06 AM
I wonder why Wong Kar Wai's "The Follow" is no longer available... :(
vincentsiaw
10-25-2002, 05:32 AM
i just wonder where to learn that kind of driving :wink:
normaldude
10-25-2002, 06:07 AM
That jump... But what is that music in the background of the race?
I don't know about the music in the background of the race but I love the way they 'borrowed' the music during the jump from the Blues Brothers movie when the two nazis make a (more or) less similar jump.

The music from the jump is "Ride of the Valkyries". Classical music.
Jason Dunn
10-25-2002, 06:19 AM
If you like sweet car chases in BMWs, and all-around kick-ass action, go see The Transporter (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0293662). I saw it tonight, and it was AWESOME - great fight scenes, and the opening car chase is excellent. Made me want to buy a BMW. :D
szamot
10-25-2002, 06:50 AM
does it look and sound better on the new player Jason? It sound rather tinny on the 8.5 on my ipaq.
Coralie
10-25-2002, 10:22 AM
i've seen some of these movies on my pc & had no idea that they came in pda version too. excellent!

does anyone know if there are any other ppc apps that will play the windows media player movie files? no matter what i did, wmp 8 would just not install properly on my 3630 ppc 2002.
Paul
10-25-2002, 10:41 AM
It would be unlikely that any other player would support wmv/wma files since it's closed. Microsoft wants to keep control of it.

Though I've heard that the WithMP3 guys are working on a video player that could possibly include wma/wmv support.
Rolf Olsen
10-25-2002, 01:33 PM
I am desperately seeking the follow, since it's not available anymore at the official website. Please contact me if you know where I can download (any kind of) a version.
Jonathon Watkins
10-25-2002, 01:36 PM
BBC has got a story up which includes reference to the BMW films:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2354345.stm
The car's the (movie) star
BMW's movies are not made on the cheap. The production company operates with $10m budgets for the 10 minute movies.

Stars like Guy Ritchie, Ang Lee and John Frankenheimer, as well as John Woo and Tony Scott, have directed the films.

And 14 million people saw the first series of BMW movies which were distributed via the internet.
Gerard
10-25-2002, 05:22 PM
I saw 'The Transporter' last week. About 20 guys and one woman were in the theatre of about 400 seats. My feeling, and I got the impression this was shared generally there, was that the first 20 minutes or so were confusing, sort of like a BMW commercial. Then people started laughing. More and more, we laughed until the last 20 minutes or so. Then it just got so very stupid I couldn't find it even funny any more, and similarly with the rest of the patrons, apparently.
I had gone into this dog thinking 'Luc Besson, eh? I wonder if he's come close to Le Professionel'. Nope. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a lowbrow piece of garbage, lacking any of the grace and sense of introspection and emotional tension so perfectly executed in the first film. I felt zero concern for this driver. His character was a simpleton. The oil fight reminded me of nothing so much as Riverdance, another monstrously over-choreographed strangeness. Still, I was able to laugh at this one, where Riverdance just makes me shake with fear.
Just a different opinion, but I'd certainly recommend waiting for the short version free, rather than pay the producers for the filler and tripe between the excellent driving sequences.
sundown
10-25-2002, 05:52 PM
I was supremely tickled when I heard they were making more BMW Films. I loved the first set and dig the cool style of Clive Owens. I hope they send a DVD of the whole series 2 later this year like they did last time.

I agree, Transporter was cool.
Jason Dunn
10-25-2002, 09:00 PM
I had gone into this dog thinking 'Luc Besson, eh? I wonder if he's come close to Le Professionel'. Nope. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a lowbrow piece of garbage, lacking any of the grace and sense of introspection and emotional tension so perfectly executed in the first film.

You're obviously not a fan of Kung Fu movies. :lol: That's basically what it was - an English-language Kung Fu movie with some great driving scenes. This genre of movies is not known for emotional depth - it's all about the action, stunts, and "wow" factor. Think Jackie Chan, only with less cheese. :wink:
Coralie
10-26-2002, 12:20 AM
Though I've heard that the WithMP3 guys are working on a video player that could possibly include wma/wmv support.

that would be very nice. i currently use withmp3 for my music now & am quite pleased with it. even more functionality would be a bonus. :D
topps
10-26-2002, 02:01 AM
I wonder why Wong Kar Wai's "The Follow" is no longer available... :(

Fight between Director and BMW?? dunno, just guessing.

Did anybody manage to get a copy of it before it was pulled off the air??

dt
TheDuk
10-26-2002, 02:04 AM
szamot...

does it look and sound better on the new player Jason? It sound rather tinny on the 8.5 on my ipaq.
how do you have 8.5 on your iPaq? Compaq hasn't released EUU3 yet.....
PeterLake
10-26-2002, 04:24 AM
I'm a little paranoid about viruses, and I notice that the downloads seem to be self-exploading .exe files.

Also, I thought BMW only offered the videos in MOV format.

I would love to watch these on my new iPaq 3955 (OK, I have a problem -- 3 years, 3 different PocketPC's), but overcaution is prevailing today.

Comments?
Jason Dunn
10-26-2002, 05:32 PM
I'm a little paranoid about viruses, and I notice that the downloads seem to be self-exploading .exe files.

They were clean for me - they're just self-extracting .exe files with a WMV inside. :-)
Ed Hansberry
10-26-2002, 09:23 PM
I'm a little paranoid about viruses, and I notice that the downloads seem to be self-exploading .exe files.

They were clean for me - they're just self-extracting .exe files with a WMV inside. :-)

It is just a self extracting zip file. If you have WinZip installed, just right-click on the file and Open in WinZip then unzip it.

I too want "The Follow."
Ed Hansberry
10-26-2002, 09:27 PM
By the way, if you haven't seen Ronin, rent it today. It was done in 1997/8 by John Frankenheimer, the same one that did Ambush, the first BMW film. IMHO, the driving in Ronin is better than any of the BMW film's I've seen. The 8 minute car chase is fantastic! 8O
Rolf Olsen
10-26-2002, 11:25 PM
I too want "The Follow."

For those of you who wants the missing movie: The Follow, a kind soul responded to my request earlier in this thread and I now have a PPC version (sorry no high quality version) of it.

It's around 4.5 meg so if only someone could supply me with a place to put the file, you could all download it from there. I just don't have the connection to host the file myself :(.
Coralie
10-26-2002, 11:49 PM
i have plenty of room on my webspace if you would like to get it to me somehow. i can keep it up there for a month or so .. :)
Coralie
10-26-2002, 11:55 PM
well, there you go. on further investigation, i also happen to have a full version of "the follow" which i can put up there alongside the ppc version. i'll post another message when it's been uploaded &amp; let you all know where it is. it's in a .mov format, i hope that's okay.

we're suffering from a speed-limited connection at the moment (grrrrr, optpus! :x ), so give me a while ..
Jason Dunn
10-27-2002, 12:09 AM
By the way, if you haven't seen Ronin, rent it today.

Agreed, Ronin rocks! :D
Jason Dunn
10-27-2002, 12:11 AM
well, there you go. on further investigation, i also happen to have a full version of "the follow" which i can put up there alongside the ppc version. i'll post another message when it's been uploaded & let you all know where it is. it's in a .mov format, i hope that's okay.

Uh, guys? Unless BMW gave you permission to distribute their stuff, please be careful about announcing that you have something they pulled and are offering it for download. My hunch is they'd be cool it, but you never know - remember that even freeware applications can't be distributed without permission.
Coralie
10-27-2002, 12:19 AM
Uh, guys? Unless BMW gave you permission to distribute their stuff, please be careful about announcing that you have something they pulled and are offering it for download. My hunch is they'd be cool it, but you never know - remember that even freeware applications can't be distributed without permission.
thanks for the heads-up, jason. i hadn't thought about that, actually. now that you mention it though, i thought that as long as you're not making any money from it, then it was okay? of course, in reality, i really don't know anything about that kind of stuff .. :?
Jason Dunn
10-27-2002, 12:22 AM
i thought that as long as you're not making any money from it, then it was okay?

No, unfortunately that's not the way it works (in the US and Canada at least). If it were up to me, heck, I'd host it here, but the video is BMW's intellectual property, and they have a right to control the distribution. There's nothing stopping you from sending the download URL via private messaging, but I'd caution you against putting the URL in this forum.

Personally, I think the whole thing is silly, but lawyers took over the world a long time ago... :cry:
Coralie
10-27-2002, 12:24 AM
hey .. "the follow" is available on the bmw site! maybe i should have read the previous posts better or something.

anyway, it's here: http://intl.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=season1&country=australia&film=.
Jason Dunn
10-27-2002, 12:25 AM
http://intl.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=archive&country=australia&film=follow

"This film is no longer available."

:cry:
Coralie
10-27-2002, 12:30 AM
"This film is no longer available."

:cry:
oh .. bummer. :(

well, all that said .. i have a copy of the full version, so without upsetting any lawyers, you can contact me via private messaging (gosh, i hope i know how to work pm'ing. haven't used it before :oops: ) if you'd like to discuss seeing it.
toshtoshtosh
10-27-2002, 12:50 AM
The best car scenes ever were in another Luc Besson movie.

It's called Taxi and it's in french. If you like car scenes try and get a hold of it. No BMWs.. Mercedes and Peugeots.
Engnrjeff
11-11-2002, 07:18 PM
:cry: Has anyone had problems with the sound playing? my Jornada 568 plays every other movie I have downloaded fine, but the new BMW Film Ticker doesn't have any sound. What gives?

Jeff
reefman
07-17-2003, 04:21 PM
:cry: Has anyone had problems with the sound playing? my Jornada 568 plays every other movie I have downloaded fine, but the new BMW Film Ticker doesn't have any sound. What gives?

Jeff

On my new 2210 the sound is there but almost inaudible at max volume setting :(
Don't Panic!
07-17-2003, 06:16 PM
:cry: Has anyone had problems with the sound playing? my Jornada 568 plays every other movie I have downloaded fine, but the new BMW Film Ticker doesn't have any sound. What gives?

Jeff

On my new 2210 the sound is there but almost inaudible at max volume setting :(reefman-Double check that your system volume (on the top bar) is also set to a high level. WMP's volume control no longer controls both.

HTH

Don't Panic!
Bobby
upplepop
07-17-2003, 07:34 PM
In case anyone is still following this topic, The Follow is back on the BMWfilms.com website (under Season 1). A Pocket PC version is downloadable as well
Ratel10mm
12-16-2003, 05:49 PM
I've finally got my HP5550, and the first of the series is one of the first things I dowloaded for it!
BUT...

I'm experiencing very crackly sound from my 5550, and the video is very pixillated. I'm using Windows Media player, which came pre loaded on the Ipaq.

Is there a problem with my machine. or is this normal for a 5550? :oops:
Ed Hansberry
12-16-2003, 07:07 PM
I'm experiencing very crackly sound from my 5550, and the video is very pixillated. I'm using Windows Media player, which came pre loaded on the Ipaq.

Is there a problem with my machine. or is this normal for a 5550? :oops:
Sound is fine on my 2215. It is a bit pixelated, but the WMV file on my desktop is too. I think they took a bit too much out of it to get it small. When you go from 80MB in high quality to 5MB for a Pocket PC, you are going to lose some resolution. See how it looks on your desktop player. It should look the same on your PPC.
Dave Beauvais
12-16-2003, 09:22 PM
I ordered the DVD (http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=dvdlanding&country=usa&film=) a re-ripped them. :)
dMores
12-17-2003, 01:00 AM
how do they get those clean around-the-corner-drifts to look like a video game. obviously, the camera must have been mounted on the bmw, but then again, there's no jitter or anything, and no visible camera-hook-up-thing.

then again, it's too realistic to have been done on the computer. the smoke, the dirt etc. that must be real.
Ed Hansberry
12-17-2003, 02:46 AM
If you like this, you need to rent the Ronan DVD. It is incredible. John Frankenheimer (sp?) did it. he also did one of the 1st year BMW films - the Chase perhaps. Seeing that Audi S8 Quattro doing that same drift is awesome. The DVD has commentary on how it was all done. I mey watch my copy again this weekend. :D
that_kid
12-17-2003, 03:42 AM
Yes Ronin has one of the best chase scenes I've ever seen. The next good chase scene is from bad boys II but Ronin is still king.
Ed Hansberry
12-17-2003, 04:56 AM
Yes Ronin has one of the best chase scenes I've ever seen. The next good chase scene is from bad boys II but Ronin is still king.
One? Which one? The Audi? The chase car scene in the middle? Di Nero after the BMW at the end? That movie was nothing but great chase scenes. :)
dMores
12-17-2003, 09:08 AM
man, i was standing in my chair when they were driving like 200mph through those really narrow streets. i almost couldn't stand it.
sometimes you noticed the stuntmen-pedestrians just barely making it across the street.

absolutely amazing. ronin ... a must-have in every dvd-rack.

btw ... i found a "making of bmw films" which answered my camera question.
Ratel10mm
12-17-2003, 11:16 AM
Hello Ed, thanks for the reply.

I've looked at it on the desktop, and yes, it is very pixillated there too.
It's a little irritating, but what the hell - it's still cool to watch films on my IPaq! 8) I guess the super smooth film I saw on a 2210 in Dixon's was specially tinkered with to impres the buyers. :roll:
However, the crackly sound is bugging me, as it's noticable in any program I'm running. I've put a post here:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16964&start=10
Perhaps you or some of the other 5550 users would be kind enough to comment? Thanks very much. :)

As for Ronin, I agree with everyone - it is one awesome car chase!
that_kid
12-17-2003, 01:38 PM
One? Which one? The Audi? The chase car scene in the middle? Di Nero after the BMW at the end? That movie was nothing but great chase scenes. :)

True, that whole movie is a chase scene. Now that you have me thinking about it, I'll have to watch it tonight. Those cars sounded great through my home theater system. Come to think of it, I'm going to convert this movie to divx so I can watch it on my ppc :D
that_kid
12-17-2003, 01:41 PM
Perhaps you or some of the other 5550 users would be kind enough to comment? Thanks very much. :)


I used to have that crackling sound in my 5555 to, I don't know what happened but now it's gone. Maybe it came about from one of the updates not sure but I know when I first got mine I had the same problem.