George Lucas to release Star Wars in 3D

[reverend]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11434545

The entire Star Wars film saga is to be converted into 3D, director George Lucas has announced.

A statement on the Star Wars website said: "The cutting edge conversion will take that immersion to the next thrilling level."

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is expected to be released in 2012, with the remaining films to follow.

Last month, it was announced that 3D films had helped boost UK box office takings by 8%.

It has been reported that Lucas had delayed converting the Star Wars movies into 3D until there were enough screens available to screen them.

Following the success of James Cameron's Avatar, which broke several box office records, 3D movies have become more common.

This year, Alice In Wonderland, Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After were all released in 3D and proved to be a big hit at cinemas.

But reactions to the news about Star Wars have been mixed.

"Watching TPM (The Phantom Menace) in 3D would be like the car actually crashing into your face as opposed to just unfolding before your eyes," British Star Trek actor and science fiction fan Simon Pegg said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

GeorgeMcCallum added: "Do you not think that star wars in 3D may ruin the context of the film, messing around with a movie which is already so popular?"

Industrial Light & Magic, part of Lucas' production company Lucasfilms, specialising in visual effects, will supervise the project.

John Knoll from the company said: "Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right.

"It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results.

"For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience."

In April, DreamWorks announced the first three Shrek movies would be converted to 3D.

[Nibb]

Fuck me....can it be bled any drier??

[reverend]

I know - what's even worse is that I'll probably end up paying to see them all again at the IMAX! Aren't they due on BluRay soon anyway? I'd happily pay for a set of the original films in high def - doubt we'll ever see them like that though

[Mystical_2K]

Fuck me....can it be bled any drier??

yes and mr lucas will continue to milk the shit out of it until he dies, then his kids get to start rippin them apart

[Conkers]

He may be milking it... But I'll be there to see them :0)

[doughboy]

Fuck me....can it be bled any drier??

There was a South Park episode about this

[Kushty]

Stop whining. Star Wars rules. If you don't like it, don't pay to see it. I'll pay to watch every one of them again.

[Greyfox]

Does he not have enough money?!

[{{909}}]

any conversion cannot be compared to avatar which was filmed and even storyboarded for 3D, yet again GL is just finding a way to get his movies into the cinemas again and I certainly wont be payng to watch the phantom fucking menace again. Part of me died when i watched that the first time.

Its like George himself doesn't understand the appeal of his own movies sometimes. If we wanted cutting edge visuals, I wouldn't expect them from a movie that's as old as I am.

[willp2003]

blu-ray won't be out for another year, so i don't expect to see 3d any time soon.
it depends whether he keeps the original films as they were or starts fucking around with them like he did with the special editions.

[{{909}}]

the blurays will be the 'special' editions anyway (of the original trilogy), which make my blood boil. Ill stick with the Laser disk remaster dvds.

[ptm]

Think of the bright side - When Jar Jar Binks leans out of the screen, we might finally be able to punch the fucker!!

[greens117]

Next will be the India Jones movie's ill bet !

[Agent47]

GL's 10 year plan has been leaked.

[yazooo]

I was hoping this was a joke when I saw the thread title!!!

Don't get me wrong, am a huge Star Wars fan and own several versions of the films, and will be eagerly waiting for the Blu Rays next year. But this 3D bullshit has to stop!!! Maybe I'll be proved wrong and they'll manage some awesome conversion, but a film shot so many years ago was never done so with this in mind - it is nothing but joining the current band wagon and making more money out of the fans!

There is so many things they could do with these films - how about a decent special edition?!? Concentrate on the rumoured TV series or new IP? They should be ashamed of themsevles that fans have produced better quality versions of their films (check out Adywan fan edit).

Grrr this 3D stuff really gets up my nose! Yes Avatar looked pretty (story was shit - see Dance with Wolves for original story line) but for that one movie there has followed a whole bunch of rubbsih and it doesn't seem to end!

[Agent47]

Fuck 3D I hope by the time 2012 comes 3D will be dead. Who do we thank for this 3D hype Jim Cameron and his shitty Avatar movie. Avatar had nice effects but the 3D was meh. If Avatar was released with no 3D and low budget special effects, would it have made the same money, hell no. It made so much money due to the fact that people were paying a lot more for seeing it in 3D than 2D.

Jim Cameron has a big fucking ego like that prick Lucas.

[cyprus]

Jim Cameron has a big fucking ego like that prick Lucas.

You can make as many allegations about Cameron as you like. You must know him personally I take? Either way Cameron has made some of the best films of my generation and for me is one of the best Director/Producers to have lived.

Point Break
True Lies
Titanic
Terminator
Rambo II
The Abyss
Aliens
Avatar

Show a little respect before spouting off your bollocks.

[Mule]

I actually think Star Wars would be an ideal film for conversion to 3D, it has the scenes to pull it off.

[yazooo]

Oh my I just read Titanic coming in 3D - why doesn't that surprise me!?

According to some LA Times blog it will cost Lucas around 100,000 grand a minute for the 3D conversion, so around 12million for the first film. Then they'll charge more for ticket prices as it's 3D - serious profit margin there.

[crazyadi]

i cant see 3D effects anyway so i dont give a shit