The closing ceremonies at Star Wars Celebration VI were dedicated to the release date announcement for the 3D theatrical releases of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
I was on hand to witness the sizzle reel for both films and I have to say I was pretty well wowed.
We were treated to what felt like five minutes of scenes of Attack of the Clones in 3D on a sharp digital projector and I was blown away. Perhaps it had everything to do with the atmosphere, sitting in a room with a couple of thousand Star Wars geeks will do that to you, but it was stunning. They showed pieces from every major sequence in the film, ending with the battle between Yoda and Dooku, which is still one of the finest moments in Star Wars history.
But, clearly, they saved the best for last.
They showed a large portion of the battle over Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith and I literally couldn’t breath while it was going. The depth and sophistication of that battle set to 3D was enough to make my head spin in all the right ways.
I said when it came out that Phantom Menace was the best post-conversion 3D I’d ever seen, but I was a liar. This stuff is even better.
And I have far less time to wait for them than I would have guessed.
Both films are coming out back to back next fall. Episode II hits theaters September 20, 2013 and Episode III comes October 11, 2013. Which is good news for all of us. Burning through the last of the prequels in one year means we HAVE to be closer to seeing the classic trilogy on the big screen again. After catching The Empire Strikes Back on the same screen at Celebration VI, I’m dying to take my kids to see these movies on the big screen again.
Here’s the official press release:
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox have announced the official release dates for the 3D theatrical launch of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Attendees at the closing ceremony for Star Wars Celebration VI, the franchise’s massive fan event, learned that the epic movies that chronicle the rise of the Galactic Empire will be released back-to-back, with Episode II hitting theaters on September 20, 2013 and Episode III arriving soon after on October 11, 2013.
With its deeply detailed worlds and engulfing action, Star Wars is perfectly suited for the immersive 3D theatrical experience. Episode II and III deliver such captivating locales as the gleaming clone hatcheries of rain-swept Kamino, and the fiery lava planet of Mustafar as well as spectacular action sequences like Yoda’s unforgettable debut as a lightsaber duelist, the explosive space and ground battles of the Clone Wars, and the dramatic showdown between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
Supervised by Industrial Light & Magic, the meticulous 3D conversion was undertaken by Prime Focus, the global visual entertainment services company. With their proprietary View-D™ process, Prime Focus transformed Episode II and III into 3D with the utmost respect for the source material, and with a keen eye for both technological consideration and artistic intentions.