THE FORCE IS BACK IN 3D “STAR WARS EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE”

From visionary filmmaker George Lucas, “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace” is back with an immersive 3D dimension for a richer cinematic experience.

Following the first acclaimed and hugely successful Star Wars films, ”Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.  The movie starred Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as his apprentice Obi-Wan-Kenobi, a determined young Jedi Knight. Natalie Portman played Queen Amidala. Jake Lloyd starred as Anakin Skywalker. It is a fantastically exciting adventure set 32 years before the events of the original.  The film follows Anakin’s journey as he pursues his dreams and confronts his fears in the midst of a galaxy in turmoil.

Writer, director and producer George Lucas is the creator of the phenomenally successful Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones   series. Lucas directed his first feature film, THX 1138, in 1970. In 1971, Lucas formed his own film company, Lucasfilm Ltd. In 1973, he co-wrote and directed AMERICAN GRAFFITI. Four years later, Lucas wrote and directed STAR WARS, which broke all box office records and earned seven Oscars.

Q:        Can you discuss what drives this story?

A:         “The primary story is about fathers and sons. STAR WARS is about generations, about one generation having to try to improve on what the generation before it did. It is about one generation living with the mistakes that the previous generation made.  The story is twofold:  Why does somebody who starts out being good become bad?  It  also reflects the father’s journey,  how he becomes bad  and it follows the journey of the son who refuses to become bad and in the process redeems his father.  A new generation needs to try to improve  the world.”

Q:        What made you want to convert this film into 3D?

A:         “Originally I was not a big fan of 3D. I really thought 3D was a gimmick. Then later on I was trying to get digital projectors into the theaters. I was doing a presentation in Las Vegas. Bob Zemeckis and Jim Cameron came up to me  and said: ‘We want to get 3D into the theaters. Would you join us in showing the theater owners that you can do 3D?’   And I said: ‘That’d be good because in order to do 3D you have to have digital theaters. So it would promote my idea of digital theaters.’ Then when I saw the test that we did of STAR WARS in 3D, I realized how great it was and how great it looked.

Q:        How exactly does seeing the film in 3D enrich the experience?

A:         “It’s like the difference between watching a film in black and white and  watching a film in color.  It works in black and white but it works better in color.  It is the same thing with 3D.   You don’t have to watch in 3D, but it actually works better in 3D.   The depth brings a lot of reality to the digital characters like Jar Jar Binks and Watto. You just feel that they’re more realistic.”

Q:        Who are your inspirations?

A:         “As a young director I was inspired by Akira  Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Richard Lester and John Ford.  Now that I’m an old man, I guess I do more inspiring than I am inspired.”

Q:        What is your vision for the future of film?

A:         “We live in a very exciting time. Digital technology is going to democratize the business, which means anybody can do it.  It’s like being a writer:  if you’ve got the talent, you automatically have the means. For a $5,000 investment you can build a whole studio.  You can have the special effects, the editing, the camera, the whole thing.”

Q:        How significant is 3D?

A:         “I think 3D is here to stay.  It’s a better way to watch a movie. It makes it look more real and it works especially well on fantasy and science-fiction films.”

“Star Wars Episode 1 Phantom Menace” (3D) opens February 9 in all 3D cinemas in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Laguna, Ilocos, Dagupan, Baguio, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark, Bicol, Bohol, Tacloban, Gensan, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo and Cagayan De Oro.