Tobar

I actually reposted it. So far it's still up there. They ended up deleting two of my comments and both had the url for the savestarwars.com article on the GOUT.

Mr. Bungle said:

Well stated. And when you break it down to that very simple point (and when you highlight film preservation), Lucas ends up looking like the childish one, not the "obsessive fans". 

The GOUT release definitely succeed for GL in that it did exactly what he hoped it would do: displease the people who wanted the OUT, and misinform everyone else. I cannot tell you how many comments and articles I've read online that state "Lucas released them on DVD and still that was not enough for you losers. You just need something to complain about." Infuriating.

Thanks! =) Yeah I see a lot of that going on too. It always bugs me.

Mr. Bungle said:

Tobar said:

Wow. I took the time to write out a decent length reply to the article and it looks like they've deleted it. =(

Repost it here if you can.

I actually lost it when they did that. I think they deleted it because I linked to savestarwars.com. So I went ahead and rewrote it leaving that out. I think I did a better job the first time but this is pretty much it:

This article COMPLETELY misses the point. The issue isn't whether Lucas has the right to changes his films. It's about the preservation of them in their original form.

First off let me state that I am in no way a Lucas basher. I appreciate what he's done for the industry and the fact that he gave us the original trilogy in the first place. What I and others like me take issue with is the fact that this man who claims to champion the cause of film preservation neglects to do the same for his own films.

The boycott of the blu-rays and (though there really weren't any for) the 3D release of TPM were done in the hopes that if they flopped Lucas would finally feel the need to preserve and release the original theatrical versions.

What's that you say? They released the theatrical versions on DVD in 2006? Why yes they did but that release was terrible. They were included as bonus discs tacked on to the previously released 2004 SE set. That would have been fine if they had been properly restored and presented but instead of that they literally just slapped laserdisc masters from 1993 on the discs and called it a day. Those transfers of the films are TERRIBLE. They're riddled with artifacting, aliasing and they didn't even bother to make them anamorphic.

George and some fans still don't seem to get it. All this controversy would end if they just released the original theatrical versions in comparable quality to the latest SE release. All we want is a release of the films that are up to today's home video standards. That's all.

Wow. I took the time to write out a decent length reply to the article and it looks like they've deleted it. =(

Great Weekend at the Box Office for The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace has matched expectations and brought in a very healthy $23 million dollars at the North American box office, taking fourth spot for the weekend.

It was a very bouyant weekend, 30% up on last years matching frame with four movies grossing north of $20 million, a first for February. Impressively The Phantom Menacebrought in enough to become the 29th biggest opening for a February. Not bad for a 13 year old film that was only released on Blu-ray a few short months ago.

Beyond that, the $23 million elevates The Phantom Menace domestic box office total to $454,088,301, taking it above E.T and Shrek 2 into the all-time 5th position, just behind A New Hope. While it only requires another $6 million to pass A New Hope it's unlikely to catch the 3rd place film The Dark Knight which is currently $79 million ahead.

On the worldwide front The Phantom Menace has risen from 18th to 15th positon, passing two Harry Potter entries Half-Blood Prince and Order of the Phoenix. With $947,317,558 worldwide and international figures yet to arrive it's a formality as to whether or not The Phantom Menace joins the billion dollar club. To put our prediction hats on, an admittedly optimistic $200 million worldwide haul would pull the film into the all-time 3rd position, just ahead of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

So, now we wait for the official announcement of Attack of the Clones 3D for February 2013...

Source

I've been having that issue in this thread today.

Beyond the Trailer - TPM 3D

I really trust Grace and this has me wondering if the theater I went to see this in was just really crappy. I'm almost tempted to go see it at one of the local AMC theaters but their prices are ridiculous and I really don't want to pay to see this again.

Baronlando said:

eiyosus said:

Marvel Comic adaptation, Greedo does get a shot off in the panel where he gets blasted.  

No he doesn't actually. The comic is even more un-special editiony.  He doesn't even get to finish his sentence when Han kills him.

I was about to say, that's not how it goes down in my copy:

Oh man you have no idea how bummed I was when I missed a big anniversary screening of Creature From the Black Lagoon a few years ago. Julie Adams was there and it was the original non-anaglyph 3D as well.

The only conversion I've been impressed with is Titanic and that's just based on the trailer. They really made it look like it was shot that way. Luckily I got passes to an advanced screening of it on Tuesday.

Well that's the thing. In my theater they were loud and rowdy before the film started but then shut up for the most part once it did. With the exception of a couple of well timed wisecracks.

My experience tonight wasn't much better. I arrived at 10 to try and get a decent seat. We were only the second in line which is pretty sad for a Star Wars film. The line got bigger as time passed but the theater never even filled to capacity.

The loudest jerk in the theater decided to sit right behind me and he was drunk as a skunk. He shouted at least ten times throughout the night that, "THE POD RACE IS THE ONLY REASON THIS FILM EXISTS!" Amongst other annoying drivel. The crowd itself was largely the college set. There were also a couple families. I saw at least four fully robed Jedi in the theater with two people wandering around with clone trooper helmets on. There was a lot of Star Wars themed apparel.

As for the film itself....ugh. It was strange I've seen TPM a respectable amount of times but I ended up catching little lines I didn't remember hearing before. Which was odd because I thought I pretty much had that film memorized. The 3D was terrible! There's depth but it was almost indiscernible. The other problem was that they didn't bother to brighten the film to counteract the darkening of the 3D glasses so the whole film is pretty murky.

The only part of the presentation I found enjoyable was the sound. It started off really quiet which is not what you want right at the beginning of the film when music kicks in but I think they eventually figured it out and turned it up. Very rich sound and I think it really underscored the fact that I need to get a good sound system for my home. =P

I really dug that movie. It's especially interesting if you know the history of the CIA as it covers it pretty well.

Hah, we both posted about this at the exact same time. =P

The Hollywood Reporter: In this 3D conversion of what is Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace, were there any changes made to any characters or the plot, or was it just a conversion?

George Lucas: Changes are not unusual — I mean, most movies when they release them they make changes. But somehow, when I make the slightest change, everybody thinks it’s the end of the world. That whole issue between filmmakers and the studios with the studios being able to change things without even letting the director of the movie know … I’m very much involved in that [so that’s not happening here]. … My job is to try to make the best possible movie it can be — and the current version is the Blu-ray version. That’s the one that’s been made into 3D. But it’s just a conversion. We haven’t made any changes other than the 3D.

5 Questions With George Lucas: Controversial 'Star Wars' Changes, SOPA and 'Indiana Jones 5'

George Lucas on the 3D Conversion Process

(includes his perspective on depth)

I really dig that photo they used as a backdrop.

The Double Fine Adventure kickstarter. So the old Lucasarts adventure games are some of my all time favorite games and now two of the big names from back in the day (Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert) are back and want to do a new point and click adventure game! When I first stumbled on this last night it had only been up a couple hours and they had raised around 35k. As of this morning they've raised over 600k. That's 200k over what they were aiming for. =P

I definitely recommend contributing at least $15 as that gets you a copy of the game.

Ah yeah I haven't seen any evidence of that other than the fact that he put John Knoll in charge of the conversion process.

Of the handful of times I rode it that only happened twice and it was always Naboo. It was definitely my favorite ending. So what are you calling bull on?

bkev said:

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

 

ImperialFighter said:

George doesn't like 3D That 'comes out at you' from the screen (!)

The skeptic in me wonders if he "doesn't like" that sort of 3D because he can't do it with the source material he has.  Because that statement is inconsistent with Sy Snootles' ROTJ Special Edition lips.

I'm going to have to disagree based on the new Star Tours.  Outside of one shot, at least on my path, the 3D was more about depth and perspective than shock and amazement with things popping out at you.  That project suggests that he actually means it when he says he's not crazy about 3D as a spectacle, but more as an enhancement.

You're inside a ship on that ride. You can't have stuff popping out at you all the time unless you're supposed to be sucked out into space. The only appropriate time to have something pop out at you is if it literally bursts through the cockpit window.

Where's the quote of Lucas saying he only likes 3D for the depth? So far the only person I've seen talk about it is John Knoll and he's the person who was put in charge of the conversion.

Just stumbled on this and thought it was funny.

From Famous Monsters of Filmland #142 (1978)

2-10-12

I was bored...

SilverWook said:

I wonder how much of that critical reaction was just a post prequels hangover?

I'd guess very little, it was absolutely terrible. Oh how I wish they had made the Malevolence Trilogy the movie.

SilverWook said:

Wonder if there will be complaints if the '02 version isn't on the Blu Ray?

Judging by this response I doubt it.