George Lucas previewed the first seven minutes of Ep. 3 at ShoWest on Thursday, and I’m happy to report the opening battle sequence does not disappoint (as for the rest of the film, time will tell).

In addition to the “R.O.T.S.” footage, Lucas screened the first eight minutes of “A New Hope” in 3-D digital, and the results were pretty impressive (the audience was blown away). Apparently Lucas is planning to re-release the entire saga theatrically in 2007 -- the series’ 30th anniversary -- and this time the presentation will be in 3-D.

Laugh if you will, but after having seen this presentation I can assure you that George Lucas’s 3-D is not our parents' 3-D.

As they used to say on SCTV in a bad Transylvanian accent (are there any good ones?):

3-D Monster Chiller Horror Theatre!!!

Very scary stuff!!!

Huzz :jest:

Thank you Count Floyd :)

Sometimes I just cannot resist the temptation to be silly!!

But this is cool news. I wonder if this means that we can look forward to seeing 3D DVD versions (or whatever the next format is) of the Star Wars films on store shelves in 2008 and 2009?

Huzz

Wow. Five posts and not a discouraging word yet (the skies were cloudy all day, though). :D

I had just read about this over at The Digital Bits. Fascinating. I'm intensely curious as to how this has been achieved.

I wonder, as well, if it may actually help the perception of the films in 3D that they were not filmed with 3D in mind. There was none of the somewhat artificial shot selection so often seen in 3D films.

I am totally flummoxed as to how in the world they were able to do this. According to what I read, this is a process which creates a 3D image from existing 2D movies. The mind boggles!

Qapla'

SSB

I wonder if this means that we can look forward to seeing 3D DVD versions (or whatever the next format is) of the Star Wars films on store shelves in 2008 and 2009?
According to the Digital Bits story (which was relaying info gleaned from James Cameron), the refresh rate on current TVs, including HD models, is too low. There would be lots of flickering.

Qapla'

SSB

I'm fascinated at how this can be achieved also. Can't even guess at the process. I saw "The Polar Express" in IMAX 3-D and it was phenomenal, but it's easier to wrap my head around the idea that a movie which is totally CGI could be rendered both "flat" and in 3-D. I am likewise flummoxed.

I'm curious what kind of glasses will be needed, I'm assuming it will be polarized 3-D instead of the red/green process, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be cost effective to outfit theaters with the shutter-lensed glasses on this big a release.

I posted this a while ago. It's a frame from Planet of the Apes I converted to 3D with Paint Shop Pro (get out your red/green glasses):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/bebruns/POTA3d1.jpg

I assume the new system does something similar on a much more sophisticated level.

I am likewise flummoxed.

Ewwww!!!!!

I knew Lucas had more plans for SW. But 3-D! He's cracked!

It's gonna SUCK!!!!!

(someone had to say it, I just wanted to get it over with).

I saw the Molly Ringwald sci-fi epic "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" in 3-D when it was in theaters. That sucked with or without 3-D. :freak:

I wouldn't be so quick to knock these new processes just yet.

There are several new technologies that, when merged, may be the closest thing to creating a holodeck-like, near-reality display simulation that we may experience in our lifetime.

The neatest thing is that the capability for reproducing just such an experience is only a few short years away, and it doesn't even utilize holograms for the effect. All of the basic elements are here. Now. They just need a little refinement in order to be made practical.

Check it out!

http://www.dcinematoday.com/dc/pr.aspx?newsID=204

and

http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2005-03-18T085249Z_01_DEN830004_RTRUKOC_0_FILM-3D.xml

Jim

Interesting, interesting... I'm going to be taking a definite "wait and see" attitude with regards to these developments...

Dan

With the support -- enthusiastic support, based on that second link -- of Peter Jackson and James Cameron as well as Lucas, this sounds like it must be the real deal. I find it hard to fathom that all three of these guys would come out with such strong support for this if they didn't truly believe it was commercially viable.

Qapla'

SSB

I saw the Molly Ringwald sci-fi epic "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" in 3-D when it was in theaters. That sucked with or without 3-D. :freak:
Yea, maybe....

...but what was she wearing?? :devil:

http://datelinehollywood.com/archives/2005/03/21/lucas-warns-final-star-wars-movie-not-suitable-for-children-adults-seniors/