The Phantom Menace 3D Release

[I Grok Spock]

I enjoyed seeing it on the big screen again. You know, Jake Lloyd actually did have some good scenes - the dinner table convo at Shmi's pad most of all. He really did well there.

Overall, the pace is still too plodding. I don't hate Jar Jar, but there's just one too many slapstick moments and "How wude" jokes. Taxation and trade routes and treaties are all still deadly dull. But, it is a watchable movie, with some fun moments. Plus the 3D was okay, some scenes more successful than others, but overall it worked. I hope they make it until the OT, because I am very interested to see how they will turn out. I suppose if they can get past AOTC 3D box-office wise, they should be in the clear.

 

[EnsignRicky]

After all the hype lately surrounding The Phantom Menace, I decided to watch it last night. I've got to tell you, it was definitely a refreshing viewing experience. I'm going to have to listen to some of the other audio tracks some day.

Not to knock the whole theatrical release, and 3-D aside, which I could take or leave, I'm one of those who enjoy movies far more in the comfort of their own homes. And less than five months on the heels of the Blu-Ray release, I'm still content that I already have far more than I could ask for.

That being said, It's still good to see Star Wars is back on the big screen. Even if it is from my couch.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I understand not going to see this if you have the Blu-rays. I do not. I did not even have a player yet when those came out. I only finally got one on black Friday. I decided to only get stuff on Blu-ray if I don't have it on DVDs.

Plus I love seeing films on the big screen. So I been deliberately waiting to see this again this way. I probably will get the Blu-rays once the price goes way down.

 

[Tom]

Why are QuiGon and Anakin running to the ship on Tatoine right before Darth Maul shows up and fights Quigon? Quigon was running so fast the Anakin had a hard time getting catching up and said he was tired. was there a missing scene right before the fight?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I seem to remember a deleted scene where Qui-Gon takes down the probe droid. I believe that, once he spotted it and figured he was being tracked, he wanted he and Anakin to hurry the hell out of there.

I personally think Lucas should have had that kind of momentum from the start. Although the Tatooine sections aren't that bad, really, he could have lit a fire under everything to keep the audience involved.

I always thought that the way he should have written it was to have Qui-Gon unable to buy the stupid part, but as he arrives in town, the race is about to start - or maybe it's already started - and he (having sensed the Force in the boy) places what money he does have on him, and winning the part. There. That would move the story along while getting rid of endless pages of dialogue such as "Watto doesn't know I built a pod. We could say it was your pod and enter the race yadda yadda!"

 

[Set Harth]

ANAKIN runs to join QUI-GON, who has already started down the street. As they walk along together, QUI-GON notices something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly, without breaking his stride, he ignites his laser sword, swings around, and lunges forward and cuts a lurking PROBE DROID in half. QUI-GON inspects the sparking and fizzing DROID.

ANAKIN : What is it?
QUI-GON : Probe droid. Very unusual... not like anything I've seen before. Come on.

QUI-GON and ANAKIN start running.

.

 

[PsychoPere]

Rick McCallum seems pretty convinced that the live-action series(tentatively titled "UNDERWORLD") will go ahead as planned, but it'll take a few more years before it hits the small screen. Right now more than thirty writers from all over the world are submitting story ideas and first-draft scripts for the show's initial episodes.

I thought I had read something a while back about LucasFilm already having something like fifty finished scripts. Was that just an unconfirmed rumor?

I'm going to have to listen to some of the other audio tracks some day.

The commentary tracks? I'd recommend having coffee when you do so; Lucas occasionally says interesting things, but Ben Burtt will put you to sleep.

 

[Broccoli]

Why are QuiGon and Anakin running to the ship on Tatoine right before Darth Maul shows up and fights Quigon? Quigon was running so fast the Anakin had a hard time getting catching up and said he was tired. was there a missing scene right before the fight?

Right before they left for the ship, they had lunch at the Tatooine Taco Bell, and, well...

 

[I Grok Spock]

Advance to 3:55

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VGool2gXFm0#t=235s[/yt]

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

ANAKIN runs to join QUI-GON, who has already started down the street. As they walk along together, QUI-GON notices something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly, without breaking his stride, he ignites his laser sword, swings around, and lunges forward and cuts a lurking PROBE DROID in half. QUI-GON inspects the sparking and fizzing DROID.

ANAKIN : What is it?
QUI-GON : Probe droid. Very unusual... not like anything I've seen before. Come on.

QUI-GON and ANAKIN start running.

.

I think that scene was on the DVD deleted scenes....

 

[Set Harth]

Yes.

 

[cooleddie74]

A couple of those deleted scenes were put back into the DVD and BluRay versions of the film. I wish a couple of others had been as well. They were kind of interesting.

 

[DarthPipes]

I seem to remember a deleted scene where Qui-Gon takes down the probe droid. I believe that, once he spotted it and figured he was being tracked, he wanted he and Anakin to hurry the hell out of there.

I personally think Lucas should have had that kind of momentum from the start. Although the Tatooine sections aren't that bad, really, he could have lit a fire under everything to keep the audience involved.

I always thought that the way he should have written it was to have Qui-Gon unable to buy the stupid part, but as he arrives in town, the race is about to start - or maybe it's already started - and he (having sensed the Force in the boy) places what money he does have on him, and winning the part. There. That would move the story along while getting rid of endless pages of dialogue such as "Watto doesn't know I built a pod. We could say it was your pod and enter the race yadda yadda!"

I think the Tatooine scenes are some of the better ones in the film but I do think they suffer because you don't get that sense of a threat hanging over them. Yeah, Maul arrives on the planet but just waits around for half a day as his probe droids do all the searching. Maybe if he had been stalking them himself, there would have been more tension.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I seem to remember a deleted scene where Qui-Gon takes down the probe droid. I believe that, once he spotted it and figured he was being tracked, he wanted he and Anakin to hurry the hell out of there.

I personally think Lucas should have had that kind of momentum from the start. Although the Tatooine sections aren't that bad, really, he could have lit a fire under everything to keep the audience involved.

I always thought that the way he should have written it was to have Qui-Gon unable to buy the stupid part, but as he arrives in town, the race is about to start - or maybe it's already started - and he (having sensed the Force in the boy) places what money he does have on him, and winning the part. There. That would move the story along while getting rid of endless pages of dialogue such as "Watto doesn't know I built a pod. We could say it was your pod and enter the race yadda yadda!"

I think the Tatooine scenes are some of the better ones in the film but I do think they suffer because you don't get that sense of a threat hanging over them. Yeah, Maul arrives on the planet but just waits around for half a day as his probe droids do all the searching. Maybe if he had been stalking them himself, there would have been more tension.

What makes the Tatooine scenes appealing is that they have a sense of reality to them.. the places and people seem tangible, almost the way the Mos Eisley scenes were, but I think that we can both agree that Lucas should have looked at the writing/pacing of these scenes and tried to figure out a way to move them along. It was a missed opportunity having Darth Maul on Tatoooine without him doing anything. I remember when I first saw the movie... my skin was crawling with tension at the shot of the three probe droids taking off in different directions, one to each settlement.

Maybe it's me but I also wanted to see more of the Sith Infiltrator!

 

[Set Harth]

Especially now that we know it was designed by Tenebrous.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

Yeah, what's-his-name's rant of Smurfs was classic.

I believe that was Jake.

link.

 

[Trekker4747]

Yeah, Jake, his rants were classic during these reviews. Look forward to what they do this Summer.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I always thought that the way he should have written it was to have Qui-Gon unable to buy the stupid part, but as he arrives in town, the race is about to start - or maybe it's already started - and he (having sensed the Force in the boy) places what money he does have on him, and winning the part. There. That would move the story along while getting rid of endless pages of dialogue such as "Watto doesn't know I built a pod. We could say it was your pod and enter the race yadda yadda!"

Honestly this example pretty much sums up 90% of what's wrong with all 3 prequels. Lucas just has to have his constant scenes of people arriving, departing, and talking. He seems to have lost the ability to make a plot flow and move along.

He has commented on how he dislikes the actual act of writing, and boy does it show. All 3 films feel like first drafts, where you know your plot beats, and you just bang out scene after scene, plodding your way to connect the dots.

 

[Joerib]

Ok just seen it and I gotta say WTF?? I am tripping my copy that I saw looked like it was hella cropped it reminded me of pan an scan (4:3)... Did anyone else notice this or is this normal?? I also think they missed a lot of opportunities to show case the 3D...

 

[ladyheather69]

I have not read, nor do I think I will read, all the posts here. I think I got to page 13 of comments.
My family--2 kids- 14 and 18, my husband and I, went to see PT in 3D the Saturday after it came out. We all really enjoyed it!
It was a good, fun movie. Thought it was one of the better 3D movies I have seen. Including movies specifically made to be 3D.

And to add my 2 cents: I wasn't ever a huge fan of the prequel movies, but I have no say in what George Lucas does with this franchise. It is his choice to change or redo or completely remake them as he sees fit. I can scream and cry and moan all I want, but why? Lucas won't change them back for me, so my plan is to enjoy them as is and realize that I LOVE the Star Wars universe! Warts and all.