Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D

[Rico]

Looks like the weekend total box office was about $22.5 million and TPM (3D) came in fourth place.  I have no idea if that's good enough or not for Fox/Lucas.  We'll see how it holds up in the coming weeks.

[Bryancd]

Looks like the weekend total box office was about $22.5 million and TPM (3D) came in fourth place.  I have no idea if that's good enough or not for Fox/Lucas.  We'll see how it holds up in the coming weeks.

From a report I heard on SWAN, Arnie said Fox was looking for a $20 million opening weekend, so this is a beat and bodes well for us seeing more releases. McCallum even said so much in a recent interview they discussed on the ForceCast, they are already working on parts of the OT.

[Dangelus]

I'd imagine the subsequent movies would gross more than TPM too. I doubt they'd drop plans for future 3D releases on this basis.

[Bryancd]

I'd imagine the subsequent movies would gross more than TPM too. I doubt they'd drop plans for future 3D releases on this basis.

For sure, and then if you factor in 3D TV's being more available in the future, they will want to be able to offer 3D versions of all the films. So this can defer all the costs for that eventual release. Brilliant.

[Bryancd]

I have also been hearing that the quality of the theater makes a difference in how good the image quality is which makes sense.

[jedijeff]

Just want to thank you Bryan for sticking up for the movies, and saying what I was thinking myself. I to like both the Original Trilogy and the Prequels, maybe I am a fanboy, but I do agree there are some spots in the movies that could be a bit better, but I never really understood why people would write off the movies as garbage and the worst movies ever made. I guess that comes up for Trek as well, as being a Star Trek fan I have watched every minute of every series and movie to date, but always was puzzled why some people would claim they were big Star Trek fans, but refuse to watch a series, or spend time tearing it down. Guess that is just me :)

[ChrisMC]

Just want to thank you Bryan for sticking up for the movies, and saying what I was thinking myself. I to like both the Original Trilogy and the Prequels, maybe I am a fanboy, but I do agree there are some spots in the movies that could be a bit better, but I never really understood why people would write off the movies as garbage and the worst movies ever made. I guess that comes up for Trek as well, as being a Star Trek fan I have watched every minute of every series and movie to date, but always was puzzled why some people would claim they were big Star Trek fans, but refuse to watch a series, or spend time tearing it down. Guess that is just me :)

Yeah, I tend to agree with this mindset. The first Star Wars movie was a HUGE movie for my generation and we put it on a pedestal. I don't even think the actual movie is as good as my IDEA of how good it was (if that makes any sense). My mind went nuts when I started hearing about the prequels in the late '80s. No way they could have lived up to the hype. They are good, in their way, and even though I notive many flaws in storytelling and acting, I still LOVE them. I don't know what that says about me. I'm certainly very critical of other movies and have bailed on many with less flaws. I'm not sure being a 'fanboy' is a bad thing. I get to completely enjoy something even after 35 years. That's pretty impressive. Annie Hall won Best Picture for 1977. Don't see too many people having group viewings or dressing up like Diane Keaton.

[Bromptonboy]

Annie Hall won Best Picture for 1977. Don't see to many people having group viewings or dressing up like Diane Keaton.

You weren't in 7th grade with me back then - when all the girls dressed like Annie Hall.  :)  Although you are spot on about the group viewings...

[ChrisMC]

Annie Hall won Best Picture for 1977. Don't see to many people having group viewings or dressing up like Diane Keaton.

You weren't in 7th grade with me back then - when all the girls dressed like Annie Hall.  :)  Although you are spot on about the group viewings...

HaHa, No...I was in pre-k. My style was comprised of shirts with turtles, dinosaurs, or Spider-Man on them. I mean, when something becomes a phenomenon, it doesn't age. I have watched the Godfather once a year for 20 years. It never gets old for me. Maybe I'm mental and have to watch movies over and over and over. Strike that, I AM mental, not maybe.

[Rico]

I have also been hearing that the quality of the theater makes a difference in how good the image quality is which makes sense.

Just to be clear, the viewing I saw yesterday was in a top notch theater.  Actually it's the same theater that's been voted the best in SE Michigan several years in a row.  My Blu-Ray disc on my HDTV at home still looks better.  Now, back when I saw the prequels in this theater in non-3D they looked vibrant and amazing.

[X]

Just want to thank you Bryan for sticking up for the movies, and saying what I was thinking myself. I to like both the Original Trilogy and the Prequels, maybe I am a fanboy, but I do agree there are some spots in the movies that could be a bit better, but I never really understood why people would write off the movies as garbage and the worst movies ever made. I guess that comes up for Trek as well, as being a Star Trek fan I have watched every minute of every series and movie to date, but always was puzzled why some people would claim they were big Star Trek fans, but refuse to watch a series, or spend time tearing it down. Guess that is just me :)

Yeah, I tend to agree with this mindset. The first Star Wars movie was a HUGE movie for my generation and we put it on a pedestal. I don't even think the actual movie is as good as my IDEA of how good it was (if that makes any sense). My mind went nuts when I started hearing about the prequels in the late '80s. No way they could have lived up to the hype. They are good, in their way, and even though I notive many flaws in storytelling and acting, I still LOVE them. I don't know what that says about me. I'm certainly very critical of other movies and have bailed on many with less flaws. I'm not sure being a 'fanboy' is a bad thing. I get to completely enjoy something even after 35 years. That's pretty impressive. Annie Hall won Best Picture for 1977. Don't see too many people having group viewings or dressing up like Diane Keaton.

I have to agree with you here with some of this. I love the OT, but if I have to be honest with myself, they are heavily flawed and clunky on the dialog. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of them, but I'd be a fool to put them anywhere on my top best of lists. If I continue to be honest with myself, The new trilogy isn't anywhere worse than the OT in terms of visuals or dialog. Most of the visuals are better, but I can't put my childhood brain into my adult body and accept flaws that I could ignore as a child. The PT is easily on par with the OT in all aspect if not better films as a whole, but I'm just not the same kid I was and what was great as a child doesn't mean the same thing as an adult. Hell, an empty cardboard box was great as a child...

[ChrisMC]

Just want to thank you Bryan for sticking up for the movies, and saying what I was thinking myself. I to like both the Original Trilogy and the Prequels, maybe I am a fanboy, but I do agree there are some spots in the movies that could be a bit better, but I never really understood why people would write off the movies as garbage and the worst movies ever made. I guess that comes up for Trek as well, as being a Star Trek fan I have watched every minute of every series and movie to date, but always was puzzled why some people would claim they were big Star Trek fans, but refuse to watch a series, or spend time tearing it down. Guess that is just me :)

Yeah, I tend to agree with this mindset. The first Star Wars movie was a HUGE movie for my generation and we put it on a pedestal. I don't even think the actual movie is as good as my IDEA of how good it was (if that makes any sense). My mind went nuts when I started hearing about the prequels in the late '80s. No way they could have lived up to the hype. They are good, in their way, and even though I notive many flaws in storytelling and acting, I still LOVE them. I don't know what that says about me. I'm certainly very critical of other movies and have bailed on many with less flaws. I'm not sure being a 'fanboy' is a bad thing. I get to completely enjoy something even after 35 years. That's pretty impressive. Annie Hall won Best Picture for 1977. Don't see too many people having group viewings or dressing up like Diane Keaton.

I have to agree with you here with some of this. I love the OT, but if I have to be honest with myself, they are heavily flawed and clunky on the dialog. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of them, but I'd be a fool to put them anywhere on my top best of lists. If I continue to be honest with myself, The new trilogy isn't anywhere worse than the OT in terms of visuals or dialog. Most of the visuals are better, but I can't put my childhood brain into my adult body and accept flaws that I could ignore as a child. The PT is easily on par with the OT in all aspect if not better films as a whole, but I'm just not the same kid I was and what was great as a child doesn't mean the same thing as an adult. Hell, an empty cardboard box was great as a child...

Well stated. My 9 year-old self would have loved the crap out of the prequels. Losing childhood wonder is a tough thing when you realize it's happened!

[Meds]

If anyone says the acting in AOTC is good I'm flying over there and gluing shirts on Bryan ;)

[ChrisMC]

I don't think anything THAT crazy has been said.

[X]

If anyone says the acting in AOTC is good I'm flying over there and gluing shirts on Bryan ;)

LOL non one is saying that at all. Merely, take the OT, and honestly consider how you would judge it if, as in the thought exercise Al brought up, everything was done exactly as it was and released today. I really can't say that there was worse acting. I think that it was pretty on par with the other movies in the franchise when you take away the magic of childhood nostalgia. Were the Ewoks any less annoying to our parents as Jar Jar was to us? The OT has a place of magic in my heart, but it's not Ben Hur. Love, as they say, is blind and I think that the PT is pretty much the twin sister of the girl we love, but somehow see them as ugly compare to her identical looking sibling..