STAR WARS EP 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE in 3D

[filkertom]

I am so not there.

Now you're just grabbing for all the fucking money you can, George. Remember saying that, after Ep 3, you wanted to make some "little films"? I do. I remember thinking at the time that you would never again make a little film, because after all these years of riding at the head of a marketing juggernaut the likes of which the world has never seen, you couldn't stop.

George? Let me clue you in: A lot of people aren't all that thrilled with 3D technology when it works properly. The retro-fitted shit has destroyed movie franchises in the cradle. And you want to give us Jake Lloyd and Jar-Jar in 3D? That 3D?

Now, more than ever, George Lucas needs someone to tell him "no".

Sigh. Okay. If you could make a favorite book or comic or TV show or animated series into a 3D movie, a good 3D movie, would you? And, if so, which one? I could deal with a done-right tale of Babylon 5 during the Shadow war -- just for the spaceships. And maybe Claudia Christian.

Comments

[ravenclaw-eric.livejournal.com]

I'll never do 3D. I can't. Due to some uncorrected vision problems in my childhood, my eyes only work one-at-a-time...IOW, when I'm using one the other one's all but off-line. I don't have binocular vision, and 3D of any sort just doesn't work for me.

It was a failed experiment in the '50s, and it didn't just fail because the movies it was tried on s*cked dead goats.

[jss]

IAWTC.

[realinterrobang.livejournal.com]

Yes, this exactly. If 3D ever becomes the norm for visual media, I'm going to have to quit consuming it altogether.

Not only do my eyes not work together, but I have astigmatism (deformity of the eye lens) in two different degrees (very bad in my left eye, mild in my right), which means that instead of focusing neatly on a single point inside my eye, photons kind of get sprayed around like reflecting a flashlight off a funhouse mirror. In my left eye, where it's really bad, everything looks blurry and wibbly. Astigmatism is common -- about 1 in 3 people has it, according to Wikipedia.

The only thing I think I could possibly get out of a 3D movie is a raging headache. (In conjunction with my I-hate-digital-animation posts hereabouts recently, I sound like a genuine-article Luddite, but oh well.)

[per_solo]

Just a minor quibble...wasn't it Jake Lloyd? If I remember right, he's from here...and I heard some interesting stories about him at conventions. Need to verify those at some point.

A favorite into a 3D movie? Can't think of one, though B5 is a great choice. Hell, I'd almost kill for a "Myth" series of movies (Asprin's Myth Books will always be a favorite).

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

You're right -- fixed.

[per_solo]

Just checking to see if my memory was faulty. :-) Otherwise? 100%+ agreement...no desire whatsoever to see the Prequels again...don't even remember why I have them on DVD...aside from, when I bought them, it was in hopes that Lucas would release the OT on DVD too..

Ah, how young and foolish I was...

[alverant.livejournal.com]

I saw Avatar in 3d and normal and it was better normal. Last year I saw Megamind also in 3d (because that was the only way my favorite theater had it) and it was great, but not because of the 3d effects. It should look better when I get my blu-ray copy next week.

I understand Drive Angry is pretty good in 3D. But personally, I'm with you. I'm not thrilled with 3D when it's working the way it should. Retrofitting existing movies to be in 3D cliff dives into that Uncanny Valley. Whatever immersion 3D is suppose to give us is wrenched away by having to wear those stupid glasses. Since we both wear glasses, you know what I'm talking about.

I don't think anything would really improve by filming it in 3D. It's best when it's subtle and being subtle isn't in Hollywood's vocabulary. Not when it costs so much. They'll do what they can to heighten the 3D experience at the cost of everything else.

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

Fantastic Voyage or Barbarella.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

By the same token, Forbidden Planet or My Living Doll. ;)

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind seeing remakes of either, 3D or not. Who would you cast in remakes of Forbidden Planet or My Living Doll? Or is this a topic for another entry?

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I don't need 3D films. They sometimes make me want to barf, depending on the camera moves (there were a couple of times in Tron: Legacy, and the 3D in that film actually worked fairly well). Of course, some camera moves make me want to barf in 2D, too (looking at you, J.J. Abrams - loved your take on Star Trek, but would you *please* quit moving the damn camera so much).

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

Thinking about it, what I'd like to see in 3-D?

Apollo 13.

Yes, it's already a movie, and doesn't fit in your criteria.

But that's the one I'd pick, especially for the liftoff sequence.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I could work with that. I could really work with a few space flights being specifically filmed in 3D. Where the hell is James Cameron when we need him?

Along those lines...

[msgeek.livejournal.com]

Royal Space Force: The Wings Of Honneamise. Another story about the beginnings of a space program. It was also the coming-out party for Gainax. I would love to see the story retold, maybe in a mix of 2D and 3D, like the current Evangelion movies.

One thing I don't want to see: a Blade Runner sequel or prequel. In 2D or 3D.

[shadowofsummer.livejournal.com]

But when that little kid says "Hey Artoo -- let's go left!" you're totally going to see that left. It'll be so awesome the line will seem like solid gold instead of stilted hackwork.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

Justice League: World War III.

I'm not sure it would work well, but I'd love to see what they could do with the scene where E*V*E*R*B*O*D*Y takes off to go help Superman.

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

I vote for "Flatland" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8oiwnNlyE4). n.n

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

...Oh my goodness.

That's...wow. I'm impressed with the trailer, at least. Includes enough of the lesser-known aspects of the book that I was fairly sure this wasn't just a fan trailer.

One minor quibble: At least one of the circles had a female voice, which is practically anti-canon. But I don't know how well the original novel's geometric gender breakdown -- to say nothing of the class system -- would play to modern audiences.

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the book yet, but I read to the end of the trailer; apparently there's a website where you can purchase the full movie on DVD.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Oh, you took the words right out of my mouth. Well, actually, I suspect your comment is why Tom posted the link to the trailer that put Flatland into my head in the first place.

One of my favorite books. Though "Planiverse" was even more fun to think about.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

Are we talking 3D for "leaping from the screen effects?" Or depth of field view, like you'd get from a good ViewMaster slide? The former is a hackneyed gimmick. The latter... has potential for any number of stories, but risks becoming one more overused tool. I don't think I'd use 3D either way, yet.

[malada.livejournal.com]

Mmm... Claudia Christian.

-m

[kyril.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

Do. Not. Like. 3D. I can't see it! My eyes do not function interactively, due to my albinism.

I am really glad that Rango is NOT in 3D. I refuse to go and see a movie in 3D, unless I want a migraine of stupendous proportions.

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm conflicted about 3D.

On the one hand, sure, it's impressive that we can more realistically simulate depth on a flat surface now.

On the other hand...yeesh, put it back in your pants already, guys.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

I haven't been seeing 3D theater movies lately (or any movies really) because I'm cheeep like that (just now coming out of furlough pain) and I'm not real sanguine about yet another thing that cuts more darn lines between those are Fit and Able to See It Properly, (Like Real People Ya Know) vs. those geeky [insult canonical insult of your choice] who for various really intriguing reasons (as some have explained already) can't stand it, can't see it at all, or get carsick enough to throw up in the restroom after twenty minutes of it. Personally don't know how I'll react, but from my reaction to shaky camera work I'm rather expecting to join the line for the trashcans.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

Nope. I can cope quite happily with pictures in 2D. I don't need things flying at my nose every few seconds to make it seem more real.

[thistlethorn.livejournal.com]

Claudia Christian, yes! How I loved her in Bab 5.

Jar-Jar Binks in *any*-D, even in 1-D (which he so already *was*) makes me shudder. In 3-D? An abomination.

I've never even bothered to see the 1-3 eps (big yawn), although I loved the originals, but even seeing a couple of minutes of Jar-Jar was, well, jarring. You just want a fucking Imperial Walker foot to omg-accidentally-on-purpose make him go SPLAT.

Also, my friend Marcia says that all of Anakin Skywalker's problems stem from them having called the kid "Annie." *g*

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

Okay, now you've just put the image of Darth Vader singing "Tomorrow" in my head. Thanks.

[doctorpinkerton.livejournal.com]

This might be OK, in the unlikely event that George takes some editing tips from The Phantom Edit, uses digital replacement technology to replace Jake Lloyd with, say, ANYBODY else, and doesn't charge anybody to see it.

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

Okay, to blue-sky this, and to bring in a recent book that I'd love to own but can't afford - Phil Foglio's Agatha Hetrodyne and the Airship City.

The thing is...Mr. and Mrs. Foglio are known for drawing attractive women. And as you know, he did the Xenophile graphic novels...stories of erotica - NOT porn. To do a Girl Genius story with just a LEETLE sexing-up, especially given 3-D, would tie in with the Claudia Christian commentaries going on above. (Not to mention the real erotica for us fanboys, seeing these complicated clockwork and steam-powered machines rendered and running in 3-D.)

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

Amen. While not -specifically- my taste, I've yet to see an unattractive woman in any Foglio venture.

(Kinda curious to see what they do/did with Massha, if the Myth series adaptations go/went that far.)

Hells, if nothing else, I'd like to see a Girl Genius movie, period. If only so I can finally hear that "Heterodyning" music.

Yes, I know it's a nod to Doc Savage, whose mighty powers of concentration would fill the air with a humming noise. It's still a cool device.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

3D never worked for me. Not since they played Revenge of the Creature in 3D back when Count Scary was on NBC. Maybe it is because one eye is weaker than the other in a big way.

If I were to choose a cartoon or comic to do in 3D I'd be very interested in doing Nodwick or maybe a Shadowrun movie.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

If I want to see a good drama in 3D I go to the theatre.

[cscottd.livejournal.com]

I'm not interested in 3D, until/unless the technology reaches the no-glasses-required stage. If/when that ever happens, I'll take a look at it and reconsider.

And I'm not interested in seeing another version of The Phantom Menace... well, ever.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

"I could deal with a done-right tale of Babylon 5 during the Shadow war -- just for the spaceships. And maybe Claudia Christian."

"Maybe"?? Try "definitely!!" Or must I shun the non-believer? (Shuuuun)

Seriously, I agree. George has lost perspective completely.

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

"Lost perspective"?

I see what you did, there.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove a thing.

What did I do?

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

"Lost perspective"?

In a thread about 3D movies?

...that wasn't deliberate?

[saganth.livejournal.com]

*blink... blink... blinks some more..... headdesksTHUDow*

Um, it actually was not deliberate.

*FACEPALMS and groans*

[rickvs.livejournal.com]

3-d doesn't add a lot of utility for me, even when it's working as designed. That said, if they made a 3-d movie of "Battle of the Planets", I think I'd make time to go see it.

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

Add me to the list of people physically unable to watch 3-D movies... The Husband *LOVED* Avatar in 3-D, for me it meant eyestrain, headache, neckache and frustration. If I sit perfectly still, never moving head, neck of eyes, the effect works, the minute I move, everything goes out of focus completely!

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

I'm quite capable of seeing three-D movies, but I have two friends who can't for various reasons. I don't mind a 3-D movie, but when there's no 2-D alternative to a particular movie, that's a problem.

There's another problem with 3-D tech, already mentioned by other folks: it gets used as a gimmick. You want to do a movie in 3-D? Better make sure you're telling a ripping good story first. And if you're doing THAT, is the 3-D really *necessary*?

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

I lost all respect for George when he helped rape one of my childhood friends in Peru.

[davidkingsley.livejournal.com]

I usually don't care much for 3D but am looking forward to seeing some 3D power ring effects in the upcoming Green Lantern movie.