'Star Wars' saga set for 3D release starting 2012

[Deberg_1990]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...92835d50e86a3a



Big news on the 3D front.

Sources indicate that George Lucas is set on rereleasing the "Star Wars" franchise in new 3D conversions beginning in 2012. Although 3D versions have been rumored for some time, Lucas purportedly was waiting until there were enough screens available to make the release a sizable event.

Fox, which released all six original "Star Wars" films, also would release the 3D versions.

Episode I, "The Phantom Menace," would be first out of star-dock during early 2012. After that, each film would be released in order at the same time in consecutive years, depending on how well the first rerelease does.

Each conversion takes at least a year to complete, with Lucas overseeing the process to make sure each is as perfect as possible. He has said that the "Avatar" experience convinced him that "Star Wars" is ready for the state-of-the-art 3D treatment.

Starting with "Phantom Menace," Lucasfilm would use several higher-end conversion houses to work on the project. By late winter or early spring in 2012, the exhibition industry should have all the 3D screens anyone could want for such a release.

At present, pics are limited to 2,000-2,500 3D locations owing to an insufficient installed base of projectors and screens. Movie theaters are adding 3D screens at a clip of 500 a month in the U.S. Foreign exhibitors also are pushing into 3D as quickly as possible now that financing for the installations is flowing.

Also pushing the timetable is a potential breakthrough in 3D TV technology. With Samsung penetrating the market with 50,000-plus 3D-equipped sets and Sony recently sending its version to market, the home-viewing experience could be primed for 3D DVD versions of the films by the time the new 3D theatrical releases have run their course.

Lucas purportedly is lining up the theatrical rereleases as a lead-in to the ultimate home-viewing experience. Beyond that, the property would launch to other 3D media.

In the meantime, Lucas plans a comprehensive Blu-ray Disc set of the six films next year, which would include upgraded picture and sound quality, new deleted scenes and special features.

[Frazod]

I might - MIGHT - go see the original Star Wars in 3D for old times sake. As for the last three overblown shitfests? Forget it.

[Hammock Parties]

Come on, bro.

Seeing the lightsaber duel and the podrace in DLP and 3D is gonna be awesome.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Claytex

Come on, bro.

Seeing the lightsaber duel and the podrace in DLP and 3D is gonna be awesome.

ANOTHER reason to be pissed - they should not have offed Darth Maul, at least not in th efirst prequel. Easily the best villian since Vader. And a badass, to boot. To get cut down by a padawan? Come on! [/nerd rant]

[Hammock Parties]

Darth Maul was a cool villain because he looked cool. He had zero depth, which is not surprising because he was written by Lucas.

He could have been ****ing awesome if someone else had fleshed him out but as it stands, he's just the Boba Fett of the prequels. Cool looking with little substance.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by Claytex

Darth Maul was a cool villain because he looked cool. He had zero depth, which is not surprising because he was written by Lucas.

He could have been ****ing awesome if someone else had fleshed him out but as it stands, he's just the Boba Fett of the prequels. Cool looking with little substance.

There was a book written after the movie that fleshed out his character a little bit more with stuff that happened pre-Episode 1. All in all he was just a big badass, not really a deep backstory like Han Solo or the like.

I just wished they would have fleshed out Dooku a lot more, given he played the central role in the Clone Wars plot. You'd think they would tell us in the movies that Dooku was at one point Yoda's star padawan and deserted the Jedi because he didn't agree with the light side limitations, but they didn't because the script was written by a reeruned chimp.

[007]

Originally Posted by Swanman

There was a book written after the movie that fleshed out his character a little bit more with stuff that happened pre-Episode 1. All in all he was just a big badass, not really a deep backstory like Han Solo or the like.

I just wished they would have fleshed out Dooku a lot more, given he played the central role in the Clone Wars plot. You'd think they would tell us in the movies that Dooku was at one point Yoda's star padawan and deserted the Jedi because he didn't agree with the light side limitations, but they didn't because the script was written by a reeruned chimp.

You are giving too much credit

[Huffmeister]

I must be the only one that enjoyed the prequels.

Was the story as good as episodes 4-6? No.
Were there things that annoyed me in episodes 1-3? Sure.
Were episodes 1-3 fun to watch? Yes, absolutely.

I understand that people are disappointed by the lack of depth, because I was a bit disappointed, too. But the bottom line is that they're fun movies to watch. I think they get bashed way more than they deserve. I think it's a combination of: (a) people's childhood memories of the originals make them seem deeper than they actually are, (b) the originals set the bar extremely high, and (c) prequel hating is the popular thing to do.

[007]

Originally Posted by Huffmeister

I must be the only one that enjoyed the prequels.

Was the story as good as episodes 4-6? No.
Were there things that annoyed me in episodes 1-3? Sure.
Were episodes 1-3 fun to watch? Yes, absolutely.

I understand that people are disappointed by the lack of depth, because I was a bit disappointed, too. But the bottom line is that they're fun movies to watch. I think they get bashed way more than they deserve. I think it's a combination of: (a) people's childhood memories of the originals make them seem deeper than they actually are, (b) the originals set the bar extremely high, and (c) prequel hating is the popular thing to do.

No, really if Lucas hadn't insisted on directing they would have been tons better.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Huffmeister

I understand that people are disappointed by the lack of depth, because I was a bit disappointed, too. But the bottom line is that they're fun movies to watch. I think they get bashed way more than they deserve. I think it's a combination of: (a) people's childhood memories of the originals make them seem deeper than they actually are, (b) the originals set the bar extremely high, and (c) prequel hating is the popular thing to do.

d) Inane, idiotic dialogue that no actor can salvage.

[keg in kc]

I didn't find them fun to watch at all. They were bad movies, plain and simple. Poorly written and poorly executed.

[DMAC]

[Deberg_1990]

im curious to see how this does at the box office this weekend. My guess is, not very well. I wonder why they didnt start out with the more highly regarded orginal trilogy??

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

im curious to see how this does at the box office this weekend. My guess is, not very well. I wonder why they didnt start out with the more highly regarded orginal trilogy??

Because Darth Lucas is a ****ing douche.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

im curious to see how this does at the box office this weekend. My guess is, not very well. I wonder why they didnt start out with the more highly regarded orginal trilogy??

Bullshit. It will be the hottest ticket this weekend, just so parents can take the kids to see Star Wars on the big screen.

[DMAC]

Originally Posted by Han Solo

Bullshit. It will be the hottest ticket this weekend, just so parents can take the kids to see Star Wars on the big screen.

I'm not. Hopefully my kids will never know about the newer ones.