PT Phantom Menace 3D Review

I think it varies by theater chain, and sometimes within each movie. From what I have noticed watching the 3-D version in two different chains, it would appear that the Scat ("Ice Age" character) short film comes attached to the print of TPM. That would explain, perhaps, why there seems to be so little pause between the short and the start of the actual movie.

Guess I could have done without the Scat short, but after all the movie is still aimed mostly at kids and I guess they'd kind of enjoy it...

 

Yeah, the Scat short didn't do much for me.

 

Why would they need to "cover up" something when it's so easy to digitally remove stuff?

Sorry to hear you're not a Jar Jar fan - he seems so much more real in 3-D and I still like him every bit as much as I did 13 years ago... that also goes for the other CG characters, especially Watto and Sebulba (that they look better integrated into the movie when they're 3-D, I mean).

I've a hunch the 3-D conversions will become better and better over the next few years, simply because software grows more powerful all the time. By the time they get to the OT, we'll probably be seeing some really awesome stuff!!!

 

It doesn't matter that the puppet was there, physically. All they have to do is grab the image of the floor/wall from a frame where Yoda is not in, and then just put that on top. There were quite a few scenes in TPM that were digitally recomposed, even back in 1999, because GL liked some elements of a shot and wanted to combine from different takes. It's all in the blu-ray commentary. Listen for example to the scene in Amidala's Royal Starship when they're congratulating R2-D2.

Again, I'm not saying they did or didn't, just it doesn't seem like it would be such a big problem if they wanted to go that way... actually seems a bit easier than having to create a digital Yoda that's just the exact size to "cover up" the old one.

 

They should call it 2 1/2 D or something. It's wasn't much of 3D. I couldn't even tell in 85% of the movie.

 

Mark Kermode thought the 3D conversion was unimpressive.

 

Maybe its just me, but I can never tell if English people are joking or being serious, hehe! Half way through he hasn't gotten to the 3D part yet... he's still talking 99.

 

Oh, don't be sensitive. It's called humor; look into it. You completely ignored the fact that I followed my negative remark with a positive one, and I even said the film is worth the admission.

 

He hates Star Wars though. And he hates 3D. And when I say he hates Star Wars, I mean he hates everything from Star Wars (1977) on.

I'm genuinely surprised at that. I thought Gunga City and the Planet Core would be one of the most enhanced aspects of TPM 3D.

 

I've noticed before, but now you get a pretty close look at Anakin's power wrench. (I donno what it's actually called, that's just my name for it )

 

To me, the 3-D in those scenes was a moderate/good improvement, depending on the shot. I liked being able to look out the "windows" of the big room that is Boss Nass's throne; imho you can notice the depth of the stuff that's behind. Also the shots with the bongo cockpit and all the stuff in the back... when the first fish starts chasing them.

Those shots looked a lot better to me.

 

Me neither, so I just end up laughing at everything they say. That's probably why I don't have any English friends anymore.

 

Seen Phantom Menace 3D today with my wife and son. Was very impressed with the 3D quality. It was the first 3D movie we've ever been to.

The best "in your face" effects were the Lucasfilm logo, Opening crawl, pod race crashes, and Anakin's magnetic retrieval tool.

The rest of the movie was still good, in that it still had lots of depth. Very cool.

We all enjoyed it.

 

Jar Jar could be the everyman perspective. Really though, there's a lesson to his humor. Jar Jar is one of those surprising characters. He appears to be an idiot who nobody wants to tolerate, but he brings peace to Naboo!
Young Anakin is more of an everyboy perspective, though. Most boys like to think they're good at a particular thing, or that they're special in some way or another, and want to impress a girl. They also would have a hard time leaving their mothers forever. Anakin may not be an everyman Force-ability-wise, but he's a slave too, and a little defensive about it.

 

Just saw "THE PHANTOM MENACE" today. The 3-D effects really didn't do much for me. But I wasn't surprised. The 3-D effects never do. They didn't for "AVATAR" or any other movie I've seen with those effects. But I still enjoyed the movie immensely. In fact, I found myself on edge through the whole movie, despite knowing how it ended. "TPM" is my sister's least favorite SW movie. She had expected to fall asleep by the middle of the movie. And yet, she was clearly awake through the whole thing . . . at least according to her. Hmmm . . . interesting.

It was really nice to see a SW movie on the big screen again, after so many years.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Lucas special editions.

Something that would objectively fix an effect, like removing matte boxes? Too much work. On the other hand, if it's as easy as a few clicks on the ol' iMac, then sure, go ahead and make Vader yell there just for the heck of it.

 

yeah , I hope they colorise the old "Three Stooges" movies and convert them into 3D too , that'd be great , I'm sure Lucas would love that too , he's a big Stooges fan

 

Now you're just being sarcastic. You should know Lucas would never be in favor of films being modified (at least by anyone but the original filmmakers).

 

All true, and yet...



Another reliably hilarious review from Mark Kermode!

I love how he always works himself up into a storm when he reviews something he doesn't like.

Haters may say the best thing about the prequels being bad (or perceived as being bad) is RLM; but I say it's the ridiculously funny ranting of Mark Kermode.

Love that guy, love him. Sometimes, the fun of film is not the fun of film at all, but the way certain people -- beyond yourself -- respond to films.

BTW: Nice anecdote from him about interviewing Lucas at the end.

 

Saw it Sunday afternoon with my fellow 42-year-old prequel-loving friend. There were maybe 6 or 8 other people in the auditorium. The projection was murky and the sound was waaaaay too low. (I like to be knocked out of my seat when the STAR WARS logo zooms into space!) Other than that I enjoyed it immensely. Well, I enjoyed parts of it immensely; one of my gripes about this film (which I rate higher than ROTJ but lower than the other STAR WARS films) is that it drags in the middle. Of course, having seen the thing 40+ times could have something to do with it.

Seriously, I've felt that way since the first screening on opening night in 1999. Now, with no remote handy to pause for snack and beer breaks, I found it dragged something terrible. I found myself writhing in my seat a little bit. Just get to the podrace already! Much of the lead-up to the race, esp. the dinner scene, is really very poorly paced, IMO.

The 3D is pretty cool; I've been a fan of the format since 1983. But after a while you just kind of forget about the 3D. For me it's just fun seeing a SW movie -- any SW movie -- on the big screen!

Highlights included seeing the various extra DVD scenes (engine revving, extended racer intros, etc.) on the big screen for the first time. And, most especially CGI Yoda in all his nuanced glory. This is truly an exceptional computer-animated performance, full of subtle facial movements and emoting with the eyes. Really, really fantastic and pleasing to watch the ILM team at the top of their game here.

I plan to re-watch it next weekend with my wife (who was sick, may the Force be with her) at a different theater. Hoping for better projection and sound.