Star Wars Saga Coming at you in 3D

News, Projects, Rumors


Mesa going to be in 3-D?

Hollywood Reporter is saying that George Lucas and Industrial Light and Magic are currently in the process of converting all six Star Wars films into 3-D. Expect The Phantom Menace to hit screens in 2012 with each subsequent sequel being released in consecutive years. (this of course all depends on how well the first film does).

Lucas will be personally overseeing the process to make sure each film is as perfect as possible. Apparently, seeing Avatar convinced him that his babies were ready for the 3-D treatment.

Lucasfilm will use several higher-end conversion houses to complete on the project.

This is a rumor that has been circulating the internet for a while now. It seems Lucas was waiting until there were enough screens available to make the release a “sizable event.”

Currently, there are 2,000-2,500 3D locations. However, theaters are adding 500 3D screens a month in the U.S. to meet the demand of this new theatrical fad…er…um…medium. Also, Foreign exhibitors are pushing 3-D expansion as fast as they can, now that installation financing is readily available.

On the home viewing front is the potential breakthrough in 3-D TV technology. Samsung has flooded the market with 50,000-plus 3-D capable sets and Sony recently got it’s ball in the game as well. The home-viewing experience could be primed for 3D DVD versions of the films by the time the theatrical version have run their course.

Apparently, Lucas is setting up the theatrical re-re-releases as a lead-in to the “ultimate home-viewing experience.” Whatever that means.

Sound Off: I’ve been a Star Wars defender for years. I still state that the prequels, as bad as they are, are better than both the Matrix sequels. However, as much as I love them, the prequels have serious flaws and I don’t think 3-D is going to cover that up. Seeing Jar-Jar’s stupid tongue coming out of the screen and almost hitting me doesn’t excite me enough to want to see these films again in the theater. I mean, c’mon, does Lucas really need another $15 bucks a film from his all to eager fan base, hasn’t he dug into their pocketbooks enough?

Why can’t Lucas use his energies to come up with something new? Maybe make a new Star Wars film in 3-D? That way he could use Cameron’s 3-D technology and do it right. It’s already been proven that the 2-D to 3-D conversion doesn’t even remotely stand up to films shot in 3-D. If new films aren’t cutting the mustard, what makes Lucas think that his franchise will?

What I’m really excited for is seeing those boxes around the Tie Fighters in A New Hope in 3-D, now that’s something to stand up and cheer about. Also, when he gets to the original trilogy, will he use the Special Editions, or the original cuts? I don’t think I could take seeing Greedo shoot first on the big screen again, let alone in 3-D!

Lastly, thus far I am not even remotely excited about 3-D home viewing. What makes 3-D interesting is the larger than life screen. Until the wall in my living room is one giant screen and I don’t have to wear those stupid 3-D glasses I’ll be limiting my 3-D experiences to the theater, if that.

All that bitching aside, when the moment comes, I know the fanboy deep inside me is going to get all excited and go out and see them…. stupid Lucas……

What do you think? Are you willing to shell out more money to Lucas to see his six Star Wars films in 3-D or do you think it’s a complete waste of time?

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.

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years