Way back during my first month of blogging, I wrote about my the last time I saw a Star Wars movie in the theater. It was probably the sixth or seventh (or maybe eighth) time I saw Return of the Sith in the theaters. But my rationale for going was sound. As I wrote at the time, I figured there won’t be many more times that I can say a Star Wars movie is playing in the movie theaters.
Well tonight, the opportunity presented itself as Star Wars Episode I opened in 3-D in theaters. True, The Phantom Menace is the worst of the six Star Wars movies. But it’s an entertaining flick, and if I’m going to catch the other parts of the saga when their 3-D release hits the theaters in coming years, I might as well start with the first movie.
For a 12-year-old movie not originally shot in 3-D, the conversion wasn’t that bad. There were some scenes that didn’t feel like they had any 3-D elements at all. There were some (like the space scenes) that felt like there should have been more use of 3-D. And there were others where it felt well done. Overall, I’ve seen the movie a lot and I was surprised at the number of things (mostly in the background) that I haven’t seen or noticed before.
There were a lot of kids in the theater, who seemed entertained, which was nice to see. There was a boy next to me who really enjoyed the movie. I’m glad for him that they just get better from here on out (and part of me couldn’t help but think that The Phantom Menace could have been so much better had George stuck to his original script).
So if things keep to their current schedule, we’ll get a Star Wars movie in 3-D each year over the next six years. Even though I’ve stopped counting the number of times I’ve gotten to see these movies (in the theater and at home), it will be nice to see them again. And by the time the Original Trilogy gets out, just maybe I’ll bring Hope along.
I’m always asked if I’ll give George more money to see the same movies again…and yes, I will…but my excuse, like yours, is sound – it’s not often you get to see classic movies on the big screen.
Now, the newest SW films aren’t “classic” and I’ll probably go to see Sith as it was actually fun, but the original trilogy is on my can’t wait list. I don’t know how the conversion to 3D will go or what it will result in, but I’d even pay to see those three again in 2D. Even with big screens at home, you can’t beat a 50-foot screen with huge sound and room full of excited fans.
Nice to know I’m not the only one who feels that way about seeing Star Wars in the theater. One of the best parts of the experience is seeing it with others (especially kids who are seeing it for the first time on the big screen).