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The Other side of the 30th Anniversary

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With the 30th Anniversary of the first film rapidly approaching, this seems like the ideal time for a theatrical run. Is anyone aware of rumblings of this? And would they show the (almost 10 years old) 1997 SE or would you imagine they would strike up new prints to match the DVD's they'd be selling? Thoughts?
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I heard that Lucas was going to send out a 3-D release of the movies. And, of course, they will be the SE. In fact, I would bet ROTJ has a floating Anakin head at the end. But in 3-D!! [sarcasm] Wow! Just like Jaws III [/sarcasm]. Only Jaws III will have been better.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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the 2007 theatrical run(cuz I'm pretty sure it is gonna happen) isn't gonna be 3-D, but It will be of the SE's (probably with more changes too)
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A recent comment by either Lucas or McCallum (i forget) said they are still working on trying to 3-D-ize the OT for a theatrical release in 2007. So maybe we'll see it after all.

Other than that, Celebration IV is on, and a "saga" boxset is rumored to be in the works.
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3-D was lame when it was popular. I'm surprised that Lucas isn't trying to present it in "smell-o-vision." I will not be seeing these movies in 3D. 3D gives me a headache. And even if it didn't, I would still make my head hurt.

I was hoping for an IMAX release. I saw Episode II in IMAX and the experiance was cool. I don't know if I would be able to keep quiet during the movie at specific scenes *coughdeathstarringscough* but it might be cool to actually feel the lightsaber go under the seats with each swing. It worked that way with Ep. II.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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I think the 3d thing might be neat as a fun gimmick. 3D films are not what they used to be. The T2-3D is probably the best modern example, and it really is something to experience; this new 3-D-ization process is supposed to yield similar results. I for one think it will be cool . I'm sure once we see the trench run, walker battle or speeder chase in 3D we will admit that it is a fun concept.
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When this whole 3-d thing starts going, Lucas is going to look pretty lame just converting his old movies while James Cameron is making TWO new movies, actually shot in 3-D. And the 30th anniversary is going to be kind of a joke if the 77 version is still being marginalized. "30 years ago we made a movie, but please don't watch it. Just buy a bunch of stuff that says 30th anniversary on it."
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Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
I'm surprised that Lucas isn't trying to present it in "smell-o-vision."


Don't give him ideas!

I can live with 80% of the SE additions. I even like the PT (overall). But not releasing the OOT in respectable condition? That's unacceptable.

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Originally posted by: Guy Caballero
When this whole 3-d thing starts going, Lucas is going to look pretty lame just converting his old movies while James Cameron is making TWO new movies, actually shot in 3-D. And the 30th anniversary is going to be kind of a joke if the 77 version is still being marginalized. "30 years ago we made a movie, but please don't watch it. Just buy a bunch of stuff that says 30th anniversary on it."


Great way to put it. I'm just so sick of everything Star Wars at this point. I'll just enjoy my widescreen VHS tapes of the OT, thank you. I still don't know if I'll be getting the DVD transfers. I feel like bootlegging them from friends when they purchase their copies.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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I don't know how ANYONE can see an Imax 3D release and NOT be totally floored about this. If it happens, it will be glorious.
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Maybe a 3D movie could be cool, or more likely an excuse for Lucas to make more "eye-popping" changes to the movie. And then the next video release will have the new changes of things coming at you towards the screen, but only it won't be in 3D. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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Originally posted by: BountyHunter
I don't know how ANYONE can see an Imax 3D release and NOT be totally floored about this. If it happens, it will be glorious.


Thats why I'm excited. I don't care if its the SE's in this case I jsut wanna see Star Wars on the big screen, cuz the only one I saw was Episode 3.
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We are talking some sort of new 3D process in any case. No red/blue glasses of the 50's or the polarized lenses that gave people headaches in the 80's. I just wish Lucas had been passionate enough about 3-D to have Viewmaster reels shot when the OT were being filmed.
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Where were you in '77?

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Speaking of 3D, has anyoe looked at the new Samsung 3D-monitor technology? Looks neat, but you need to have your head centered on the screen to get the effect properly.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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Originally posted by: SilverWook
We are talking some sort of new 3D process in any case. No red/blue glasses of the 50's or the polarized lenses that gave people headaches in the 80's. I just wish Lucas had been passionate enough about 3-D to have Viewmaster reels shot when the OT were being filmed.


That’s also what I’ve heard regarding the new 3D films. Still I fear what additional changes will be made by George while converting the films to 3D.
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CGI, 3D and all that other shit is of no interest or use to me. What I want is a good story. I'm currently listening to the Star Wars Radio Dramas, which are just audio, no picture whatsoever, 3D or otherwise, and they are supremely entertaining. Why? Good characters, script and story development. Lucas can do whatever he wants to Star Wars - if he keeps changing the story for the worse (Greedo shooting first, etc) all the effects in the world won't do any good. Wake up George, for fuck sake!!

War does not make one great.

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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
I'm currently listening to the Star Wars Radio Dramas...


Oh my god! Those are so good, aren't they?! I LOVED them. I listened to all three dramas about 6-7 months ago and it was a real treat. I mean a real, real treat. Every day (for just about 3 weeks) I would look forward to crawling into bed that evening, snuggle myself in, turning off all the lights, and put my headphones on. Man it was awesome. My whole room would be dark except for the faint optical kiss that my glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling gave off, and I would just let my mind be taken to a galaxy far, far away.

I recomend that everyone do this. Go out to you local library and rent the radio dramas. That's what I did. (Then I burnt copies for my own personal use. *shhhh*)
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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3-D might be a fun little gimmick. The lightsaber could swing out at the audience. All I pray for is that they use polarized lenzes. not only do the blue/red ones f up the coloring (coughspykidscough) but they give me a headache. Polarized is flawless, in my opinion.

Though I'd rather just see the OOT in theaters....like that'll ever happen.
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Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
I'm currently listening to the Star Wars Radio Dramas...


Oh my god! Those are so good, aren't they?!

Yeah, they're really good. I had a little trouble getting to grips with different actors playing most of the main characters, and also different deliveries of lines, but I got over it. There's a lot more detail than in the movies too. I'm nearly done with ANH so I'll be moving onto ESB soon - I'm a little dubious about John Lithgow as Yoda, but we'll see...

War does not make one great.

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I'm a little dubious about John Lithgow as Yoda, but we'll see...


He does a damn fine job IMO.

Jenny, what you said about putting on the headphones and curling up in bed and listening every night, I did exactly that just a few months ago. Two episodes a night while lying in bed. Star Wars, Empire & Jedi. It is great to experience a little Theatre of the Mind, especially when it is Star Wars!
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Originally posted by: BountyHunter
I don't know how ANYONE can see an Imax 3D release and NOT be totally floored about this. If it happens, it will be glorious.


agree'd
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/bgiffen/bigbluerig.jpg
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The 30th anniversary theatrical run will be in 3D, so next year we'll be able to look as cool as these guys!

http://kineticpast.com/starwars/directors3d.jpg

That photo was taken last year at a conference where George Lucas showed 3D clips of ANH and AOTC. Here's a few quotes from that conference -

“When I first saw In-Three’s Dimensionalization® process I was truly amazed. The 3D was of a quality better than anything I had previously experienced. Seeing my own Star Wars images in authentic 3D convinced me that it would be a whole new way for audiences to be able to re-live the Star Wars films. Dimensionalization® will significantly enhance the realism of any movie presented in this process.”
– George Lucas

“It’s really a beautiful system, and one of the reasons I’m promoting it today is I’m extremely anxious to reissue that old group of films I did so long ago in a galaxy far away,” Lucas said. “When you see some of this test footage, it’s shockingly good, and you can see how people would want to go see it. It means we can repurpose a lot of old movies, and at the same time it really gives a whole new dimension to the movies we’re making now.”
– George Lucas

"The first time I saw In-Three’s work over a year ago all of us at LucasFilm were totally “Wow’d”. We sat there in amazement seeing our own familiar scenes in 3D. I was truly stunned that these guys actually developed a technology that can produce such high quality 3D pictures. The realism that they were able to create was unlike anything I’d ever seen. In-Three has developed an entirely new post production technology. With In-Three’s 3D process film makers no longer have to concern themselves with the complexity, uncertainties, and expense of shooting with dual cameras. Believe me, we have seen a lot of 3D, but In-Three’s is the only one that delivers. We’re sold."
– Rick McCallum, Producer of Star Wars

“I’m here to lend my support along with the other filmmakers in saying that I think this is one of the most exciting developments in cinema to come along for a long long time. The fact that we can now make three-dimensional films that don’t have eyestrain, they’re bright, they’re sharp, they’re clear, there’s no muddiness, there’s no double imaging. The technology now exists to do perfect 3D.”
– Peter Jackson (Video Testimonial at Showest 2005 )

“Though I still love 3D original photography, the technical solution provided by In-Three was a welcome addition to our palette of stereo film-making tools. They were able to add real depth to the 2D video images captured by our robotic vehicles, and these shots blended beautifully with our 3D shots. I predict that their innovative techniques will continue to expand the possibilities for 3D content."
– James Cameron

"After shooting in 70mm 3D for Disneyland's "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience", I know how complicated this format can be. With In-Three's technique, completely convincing depth is created from any two-dimensional film. George Lucas showed me In-Three's work at I.L.M.. Seeing Star Wars in 3D was amazing enough, but when I saw John Travolta singing "Greased Lightning" in 3D I was blown away. It was just like being back on the set. I know every fan in the world would come back to the theater again to see a complete 3D version. The possibilities are mind-boggling."
– Randal Kleiser, Director of “Grease”

"You know, this post process that In-Three is doing, it works. The guys that run it, hundreds of people sit there and they make decisions about what should be close to the audience and what should be far, and they rotoscope and outline them and the computer sort of throws in as well. I don't need to be a part of that. It just happens. It's a service. You pay them X amount of dollars and they give you back your movie in 3-D. They haven't fully done Star Wars yet, but they've done parts of Casablanca and Wizard of Oz. They did part of one of the early Star Wars films – they did a lot of things for the demo. And it looks great... I don't know if you have seen many great 3-D presentations, but they're just amazing and that can really bring you much more into a film than what you're seeing now. And when digital is in place in the theaters, that's going to pretty much be it. The glasses are small and lightweight, you don't get headaches anymore, it looks amazing, and you can design effects scenes in depth."
– Dennis Muren, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

So basically, whether you like it or not, you can expect many new and old 3D releases next year.

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So, Lucas has six movies to dimensionalize and exhibit. The Popular Science article I read on the process suggests one will be released each year. I don't know if/how 3D movies will be available on home video, but I'm guessing HD media is more than adequate -- that's six BD movies to release, starting as early as 2008. Lucas may be reticent and hold out on the home 3D releases until more people have Blu-Ray players, or his favored format may lose the war. In any case, I doubt it'll be a tentpole product.

And let's not forget the long-rumored 2007 Ultimate Definitive Final Saga Boxed Set! That ought to be good for about two years, before they break the movies out and sell them individually. After that, there's VOD rights, then cable, then network TV.

In addition to the movies, there's the SW TV show starting around 2008. In accordance with TV series practices, expect DVD/BD releases to begin around 2009. It will have to last at least five seasons to be syndicated, so expect DVD releases until 2014.

If they time it right, Lucasfilm will have at least one major release every year for many years to come. Their plate is full until 2015, at least. Around 2016, expect the rumbling for a proper release of the O-OT to begin again.
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