Star Wars in 3D — Coming Soon

When I went to see Star Wars – Episode II: Attack of the Clones, I did it in digital, on an IMAX screen. I said to myself (and anybody who would listen) that I just wish that it had been in 3D. “Wouldn’t that be awesome?” When the Special Editions on the original Star Wars trilogy came out, I sat in the IMAX theater and watched the Star Destroyer come over my head and said, “Man, I wish this was in 3D.” My wife asked me how much I would pay for that. I said I’d probably pay $50 for a ticket to see Star Wars in 3D — more, if I had it.

Well, thank you, James Cameron. Avatar has proved that it’s possible to do it right, apparently, and while some films just shouldn’t be made in 3D — Step Up 3D? Really? — there are some that are just begging for it.

So I was thrilled when my wife woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me that Lucasfilm has announced that all six Star Wars films would be converted to 3D and shown in theaters starting in 2012. I mumbled that that was great, and that I’d of course have to buy them again, to add to my collection. All I could think of was Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black holding up a mini-disc and saying “Of course that means I’ll have to by The White Album again.”

She reminded me of what I’d said when the Special Edition was first announced: “Now you know that some geek is going to sit there with two DVD players and two TVs and compare the two of them to see what the differences are. My only question is, ‘Where can I get another DVD player?’”

Now, I am really happy about the decision when it comes to the prequels. They’re mostly CGI anyway, so converting them should be pretty straightforward. And of course the chase scenes just BEG for it.

The originals, however … not so much. First off, since they weren’t originally CGI (forget the Special Edition here) they’ll have to be retrofitted, and that scares me for two reasons. Yes, the space battles could do with some great 3D effects, but … well, let’s face it. Star Wars (the original) was, by today’s standards, pretty sedate.

The second reason? Four words: Clash of the Titans. I mean, I’d like to think that retrofitting isn’t always bad. That Lucas, of all people, would take his time and do it right.

But even the new ones will be a challenge, because if the first film out is The Phantom Menace Lucas is already starting out in a deep, deep hole.

Hey, maybe he’ll take this opportunity to “strategically excise” the midichlorians. Hey, a guy can hope!