Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D

[Meds]

Someone pointed out that ESB has the ultimate shocker with Darth saying "I'm your father" shame that suprise will never have the effect on new viewers than it did on us.

[Dangelus]

Someone pointed out that ESB has the ultimate shocker with Darth saying "I'm your father" shame that suprise will never have the effect on new viewers than it did on us.

He will probably change the audio and rework that scene in the future since now his "vision" is complete and like you say that reveal is redundant to new viewers. Wouldn't put it past him. :(

[Dangelus]

So, I went to see this today in a good size theater.  Not a really big crowd at all.  Overall, while I enjoyed seeing the movie again on the big screen I found the 3D effect fairly mediocre.  It appeared obvious to me certain scenes that were effects heavy they were able to add some depth and "3D-ness" to the view, but much of the movie had nothing really altered.  I slipped the glasses up and down several times during the film and it was interesting, the scenes that didn't seem to be touched much looked like a standard movie picture.  When a scene with a little 3D showed up the scene would then show two distinct images that the 3D glasses trick your eyes and brain into seeing it with added depth or 3D.  I have to say overall I was a bit disappointed.  It appeared like many other converted to 3D films.  Actually to me the picture wasn't nearly as bright, crisp and sharp as the Blu-Ray image on my HDTV. 

Ok, now I know I've made my view on 3D films pretty well know but I went into this with as much of an open mind as I could.  But ultimately I just still feel it's a gimmick and didn't add much at all to seeing the film.  In fact like I said above I find the picture more vibrant and stunning on Blu-Ray.  So, that's my initial impressions of this first converted film from GL.

P.S.  I will say "The Hobbit" preview (filmed with 3D gear) looked amazing!

It's no surprise you didn't find the picture any better than your blu-ray. Unfortunately George for some reason didn't encode his digital masters at 4K like most studios have been doing for years but went with 1080p. So all his 3D conversions will be sourced from this too.

Yeah, I didn't get that either at first. My only guess is that he shot in 1080p as an early adopter and can't go up.

Actually, Phantom Menace was filmed on 35mm, the last Star Wars film to do so...

Yes the original negatives (at least for the original trilogy and TPM were shot on film so a much higher resolution digital transfer like 4K could have been achieved. Virtually every other movie even in the late nineties were transferring to 4K already but George inexplicably went with 1080p. Since all future releases are based on these digital masters (with the added SFX) then no higher resolution is possible from these without up conversion.

It wont be long before we have 4K consumer TVs in the stores and no doubt the successor to Blu-Ray will have 4K resolution. He would have to go back to the original negatives and rescan them for a "real" release on this format.

[ricdude]

@HawkeyeMeds: I think that revelation will still carry some shock value, as It is still a shock to Luke, after all. At that point in the story, we're focused on Luke's journey, and his reaction makes that moment pretty damn intense for the audience.

Even if *we* know the truth about their relationship, *he* is only finding out now, and the doubts he has about the truth of the statement still drive his character, and the plot forward.

Has anyone here actually shown the series to someone unfamiliar with it in plot-chronological order? Any data one way or the other?

[Bryancd]

I like the idea of showing someone who has never seen the films in the following order: 4,5,1,2,3,6

[jedijeff]

I like the idea of showing someone who has never seen the films in the following order: 4,5,1,2,3,6

That order is the way I think someone new to the series should view it as well. Next Time I watch the movies through, I am going to watch them in that order.

[QuadShot]

I don't understand that order at all? Are you guys being funny or serious? Cuz, that order would confuse completely...

[jedijeff]

I don't understand that order at all? Are you guys being funny or serious? Cuz, that order would confuse completely...

That is a serious order, I have heard it mentioned elsewhere before. ANH and ESB would follow luke and setup Vader as a bad guy, then you have the reveal of Vader as Lukes Father. Then go back and Tell how Anakin became Vader in the prequels. Then finish off with Jedi and Vaders redemption. Also it would add in some more time for a person to agonize over the fate of Han :) .

[billybob476]

I don't understand that order at all? Are you guys being funny or serious? Cuz, that order would confuse completely...

Yup, go to the cliffhanger, then go back to see "How did we get to this point", then end the series.

[Bryancd]

I don't understand that order at all? Are you guys being funny or serious? Cuz, that order would confuse completely...

Think about it, Al. Start with A New Hope and Empire to follow the great story about Luke and the mysterious villan Darth Vader. End with the revaltion about Vader being his father. Now flash back to the prequels and show the story of Vader/Lukes father. That way you can enjoy the OT and PT at the same time. Then jump back and conclude the story with Return of the Jedi. It allows someone to enjoy the Luke journey, which let's face it is way better then Anakins, and still  have the revlation in ESB have impact.

[billybob476]

I don't understand that order at all? Are you guys being funny or serious? Cuz, that order would confuse completely...

Think about it, Al. Start with A New Hope and Empire to follow the great story about Luke and the mysterious villan Darth Vader. End with the revaltion about Vader being his father. Now flash back to the prequels and show the story of Vader/Lukes father. That way you can enjoy the OT and PT at the same time. Then jump back and conclude the story with Return of the Jedi. It allows someone to enjoy the Luke journey, which let's face it is way better then Anakins, and still  have the revlation in ESB have impact.

And it all ends with muppets!

[Bryancd]

Nub nub!

[Dangelus]

Seems a plausible way to watch them.

Of course my preferred order will always be 4,5,6 ;)

[Bryancd]

It gives me so much joy to be able to love all 6 of these films without reservation. Just sayin' :) I have enough in my life to be cynical about, STAR WARS will never be one of them.

[Geekyfanboy]

It gives me so much joy to be able to love all 6 of these films without reservation. Just sayin' :) I have enough in my life to be cynical about, STAR WARS will never be one of them.

Couldn't have said it better Bryan!!!