The Phantom Menace in 3D

[Buzz Bumble]

The promo adverts have started playing on TV.

[thehiflyer]

It was great to see it at Sylvia Park on Saturday, although after an early morning wakeup and troop I fell asleep after the Pod race, missed all of the Coruscant stuff and woke up in time for the Duel of the Fates.

I thought the conversion was pretty good, with a good range of depth. The level of depth was definitely done on a shot by shot basis and was never too in your face.

The Star Wars fan in me still likes Episode 1( I was surprised I remembered most of the lines from it) even if the film fan in me thinks otherwise. I think the best thing about the 3D re-releases is just getting the chance to see it at the cinema again and hoping a new generation of fans will get out there and see it

[Buzz Bumble]

It was great to see it at Sylvia Park on Saturday...

Errr ... The Preview screening is on Wednesday, or did the official costume people at the Sylvia Park event get an even earlier preview??

I think the best thing about the 3D re-releases is just getting the chance to see it at the cinema again and hoping a new generation of fans will get out there and see it

For those in Auckland, the Berkeley cinema in Takapuna (North Shore) plays old movies every Sunday at 3:00pm - and best of all tickets are only $10!! It's part of the Hoyts chain, so Hoyts vouchers can be used too. They've played movies like the Back to the Future trilogy and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (yesterday was the Grease sing-along, so that was one best avoided ). Look in the NZ Herald towards the end of the week and on Saturday (in the Weekend magazine section) to see which movie is playing, or the cinema times listings on the Hoyts.co.nz, Flicks.co.nz or ViewAuckland.co.nz websites should tell you too.



I had an idle thought yesterday - I wonder if Episode I 3D wil be played in the IMAX cinema. Although not specifically "IMAX-ised", it might still look even better on that massive screen.

[Anaria]

It was great to see it at Sylvia Park on Saturday...

Errr ... The Preview screening is on Wednesday, or did the official costume people at the Sylvia Park event get an even earlier preview??

...

I had an idle thought yesterday - I wonder if Episode I 3D wil be played in the IMAX cinema. Although not specifically "IMAX-ised", it might still look even better on that massive screen.

There was a private screening for official attendees and a few invited guests. Juliet had fun seeing how many times she could spot Matthew Wood's name in the credits (she met him at the Ranch), and to hear Vader at the end

Yeah, I've also wondered if it will be screened at Imax (either here or in the US). I haven't read anything about it so far though.

Looking forward to seeing it again on Wednesday Just being able to see a Star Wars film on the big screen again is so much fun, and I love the way the costumes look in 3D

[r2d2]

Looking forward to the advanced sreening in Christchurch tonight at the Palms at 8.30pm also

[Buzz Bumble]

According to the banner advert in the latest Hoyts junk email, Episode I 3D is being shown in three different cinema types: D-Box, LA Premiere and Xtreme Screen.

I rarely go to the cinema and never in 3D before, so I have no idea what the difference is or which is the "best" (no doubt whichever is the most over-priced), nor if Event cinemas' various versions are better.

[BobaFett420]

Going this weekend soooo excited!!!

[Anaria]

According to the banner advert in the latest Hoyts junk email, Episode I 3D is being shown in three different cinema types: D-Box, LA Premiere and Xtreme Screen.

I rarely go to the cinema and never in 3D before, so I have no idea what the difference is or which is the "best" (no doubt whichever is the most over-priced), nor if Event cinemas' various versions are better.

La Premiere is like Gold Class (recliner seats) at the back of the regular cinemas, Xtreme Screen is described as 'the biggest and loudest' experience, and D-Box sounds like a cinema version of the Motion Master ride at Rainbows End.

I certainly enjoyed seeing it in La Premiere this evening, the big recliners seats are nice A little surprised at the turnout though, all the advertisement on Saturday, and tonight's theatre was about half full. Great to see a lot of kids though, all wearing their Star Wars tshirts and carrying lightsabers Loved the applause at the opening, when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan first appear, when Darth Maul starts the fight on Naboo, and end credits It's just so neat being able to watch a SW film on the big screen with other fans again

[fredstar]

I rarely go to the cinema and never in 3D before, so I have no idea what the difference is or which is the "best" (no doubt whichever is the most over-priced), nor if Event cinemas' various versions are better.

La Premiere is like Gold Class (recliner seats) at the back of the regular cinemas, Xtreme Screen is described as 'the biggest and loudest' experience, and D-Box sounds like a cinema version of the Motion Master ride at Rainbows End.

I certainly enjoyed seeing it in La Premiere this evening, the big recliners seats are nice A little surprised at the turnout though, all the advertisement on Saturday, and tonight's theatre was about half full. Great to see a lot of kids though, all wearing their Star Wars tshirts and carrying lightsabers Loved the applause at the opening, when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan first appear, when Darth Maul starts the fight on Naboo, and end credits It's just so neat being able to watch a SW film on the big screen with other fans again

Good to see you guys last night. Yeah I caved and ended up watching it even though it's my least favourite out of the Saga.

I won't winge and moan about Episode I. I've spent the last 13 years doing that already. We all know it sucks and nothing we say or do will ever change that.

Regarding the 3D conversion...It looked pretty cool on the big screen again but then I started to notice all the layering and blur efx used to make it "3d".
It's like in Photoshop when you make front layers sharp and background layers blurry. To be honest it wasn't so good. I blame James Cameron for setting the standard

Over all I kept an open mind and knew what to expect.

Jar Jar, your still terrible, even in 3D. (sorry couldn't resist)

Bring on AOTC and ROTS

[Anaria]

I think that's going to be unavoidable when you take a film that wasn't shot with 3D in mind, some shots won't work as well as others. Will be interesting to compare it to others that have been converted, like Titanic. And if ticket sales for Ep1 aren't what Lucasfilm hope, then we won't see the others in cinemas. For me, I love the prequels, and am taking the opportunity to see it multiple times

Looks like Event Cinemas is only screening this in standard 3D theatres, no Imax (not even Gold Class). I have heard that some cinemas in the US are screening it in 2D - according to the Hoyts website, they offer it in 2D as well.