Movie: Is 'Star Wars Episode I' better on 3D?

Moviegoers will get a blast from the past as "Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace" opens this week in Metro Manila Cinemas. The 1999 release is back in theaters, and this time, the first movie in the “Star Wars” saga is in 3D.

 

Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic visual effects supervisor John Knoll says the new dimension makes the film more immersive.

 

“The extra dimension makes the audience feel like they are more present in the Star Wars universe. I wanted to make sure that we were not turning this into a gimmick. It's something that should feel natural and not cause eye-strain or cheapen the product so I was not looking for places to poke stuff out of the camera. I went for naturalistic stereo as though the movie had actually been shot in stereo. I think the film looks better than it ever looked before," he says in a press release.

 

As someone who prefers watching movies without having to keep adjusting 3D glasses, I wasn't too keen on 136 minutes in the theater. I also wasn't too sure if the 3D would make that big a difference—as far as I could remember, there was a lot of talk in “Episode I.”

 

In George Lucas' highly anticipated installment, Anakin Skywalker's epic story begins when he is discovered on Tatooine, a desert planet where Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi make an emergency landing. They just rescued Queen Amidala from Naboo, which has been blockaded by the Trade Federation army after Naboo opposed the Galactic Republic's taxation on trade routes.

 

As the first of a three-part prequel to the well-loved original trilogy, “Episode I” got mixed reactions when it came out 16 years after the last in the original epic series. Some “Star Wars” fans were disappointed by the film, perhaps due to the overwhelming expectations based on the success of the original three. Movie review website Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 60 percent rating, saying that plot and character development is lacking. On the other hand, it says there's plenty of eye candy to behold.

 

On this point it's not difficult to agree, with Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. But one new character, Jar Jar Binks, is generally seen as a nuisance. Although cute to the kids, the computer generated Gungan is supposed to provide comic relief, but often comes across as trying to be cute.

 

As I fell in line for the movie, I wondered if I really wanted to see Jar Jar Binks again.

 

Meeting a stormtrooper

 

Then a stormtrooper waved at me, and my reservations began to fade in the blur of light sabers and camera flashes. As it often happens at many “Star Wars” premieres, members of the Philippine Outpost of the 501st Legion arrived dressed in full “Star Wars” garb. 

 

I heard my name, and looked around to see who was calling me. And then I realized it was the stormtrooper. Actually, it was a friend, Regina Layug Rosero who managed to say her name through her helmet. She also managed to tell me that another friend was C3PO. It took me a while to realize what was happening, and she later told me how funny my reaction was.

 

"You looked so flabbergasted that a clone trooper was talking to you, then there was that moment of recognition," she said. 

 

The thing is, their “Star Wars” costumes are so accurate that it's easy to get carried away and forget that they aren't actually foot soldiers for the Galactic Empire. Although the theater gates were already open, hardly anyone was going inside. Everyone was busy having their photos taken with the characters.

 

Before the movie began, I observed that much of the audience was composed of families. Apart from it being a Sunday, the “Star Wars” fans who are parents found this to be a great opportunity to introduce their kids, some too young to have seen the movie when it came out 13 years ago, to the series. One kid, as it turned out, was even nicknamed Jar Jar.

 

"I hope this is good," said one man as he settled into his seat.

 

From 2D to 3D

 

Active 3D conversion work on “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” began in 2010, and the film underwent a frame-by-frame conversion, which Lucas says was easier said than done. 

 

"It took us a long time to develop a structure in which we could actually do a really good conversion of a 2D film into a 3D film,” shares Lucas.    

 

“Originally I was not a big fan of 3D. I really thought 3D was a gimmick," he says. But when he saw the test of “Star Wars” in 3D, he realized it would be worth it. "I realized how great it was and how great it looked," he says.

 

“I'm really excited about the new big screen release of the film. We’ve worked very hard to get the best quality 3D we could. The big screen experience is so much better than watching it on television. It was designed to put you in the environment and surround you with the sound and the picture. There is nothing like it. I'm so glad that we were able to bring this whole experience to the next generation. This will be the third generation that will be able to see it on the big screen and when you're young, it’s an overwhelming and powerful event,” says Lucas.

 

In a galaxy far, far away

 

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." the movie begins as the audience erupts in cheers.

 

It was definitely good to watch the movie with surround sound. I felt that I only really appreciated the 3D experience during the podrace, which was a lot of fun. It really drew you in, and I got so absorbed in the race that I was gripping the armrests until the winner was declared.

 

But what really made the experience worth it was the audience. Unlike movies that you see for the first time, there's no pressure to be quiet when it's a re-release. Chances are, the rest of the audience won't mind as much if you're noisy. And, if the crowd is anything like the one at this premiere, they'll probably be noisy, too.

 

The screening was peppered with loud reactions from the audience, especially comments on Anakin's smooth moves. "Dapat pala ganyan ‘yung mga linya ko," one guy said after Anakin asks Padme if she's an angel. "You must be one. Maybe you just don't know it," the precocious Vader-to-be continues.

 

“Star Wars” may be a fictional galaxy film, but with cheesy lines and dialogue that could be overheard today, it's a lot like real life.

 

"Ahh, my Lord, is that, legal?" asks Nute. "I will make it legal," replies Darth Sidious. Noting these bits and imagining them in present day circumstances was a lot more entertaining than the silly Jar Jar Binks, but all in all, it was fun. 

 

Perhaps, what is more exciting is the fact that the entire saga will be converted to 3D—something that "Star Wars" fans can look forward to in the coming years. –KG, GMA News