Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Star Wars Ep2 in 70mm ?

This is topic Star Wars Ep2 in 70mm ? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jonathan Smiles (Member # 926) on 08-10-2001, 11:34 AM:

There has been some discussion on rec.arts.movies.tech about Ep2 having some 70mm release prints.

Well in my past dealings with Lucasfilm prior to Ep1, Fox wanted 70mm for the prestige and added value, but Lucasfim wanted digital projection to be hyped for Ep1 instead.

As we know there are a lot of 70mm capable theatres around the world and some of the multiplexes in the UK at least, have designed their biggest room to take a 70mm projector if they needed to (easier to find a DP75, Victoria 8 etc than pay for a DLP video projector).

How many of you out there are:
1, 70mm ready
2, Also have DTS
3, Have the DTS 70mm reader
4, Want Ep2 on 70mm
5, How would you rate (out of 10) the condition of your 70mm lens?

Blowing up 1920x1080 24p to 70mm, will I have seen Super8mm blown up to IMAX so there are limits – at least they ditched HD-CAM and are recording straight to hard disc, now if they had shot in 65mm.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-10-2001, 12:56 PM:

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid.

You would really start to notice the lack of detail in the 2K HD original and CGI when blown up to 70mm.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Jonathan Smiles (Member # 926) on 08-10-2001, 01:28 PM:

Exactly what I meant by the 8mm to IMAX blowup, it still looks like 8mm, you can't polish a turd.

Posted by Rory Burke (Member # 512) on 08-10-2001, 02:02 PM:

i still think they should make all star wars in 70mm dolby mag......God, those were the days!

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-10-2001, 02:33 PM:

Rory Burke said: "i still think they should make all star wars in 70mm dolby mag......God, those were the days!"

Remember, those "Star Wars" episodes were shot on 35mm film. I agree they looked great on a huge 70mm screen. But nothing tops well done 65mm origination like "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Sound of Music" or "Patton" to show the "Splendor of 70mm":
Splendor of 70mm (Part 1)
Splendor of 70mm (Part 2)
Todd-AO
Ultra Panavision
Lawrence of Arabia

Posted by Rory Burke (Member # 512) on 08-10-2001, 07:30 PM:

John P:

YES!!! I agree completely. Once the popularity of the 1st star wars release was apparent it would have been fabulous in hindsight if someone had made the executive decision to film the sequels in 70mm.... that's all!!

Rory

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 08-10-2001, 07:54 PM:

I'm sure I remember there being a threat that if you didn't have DLP you wouldn't be showing episode 2. Does anyone else remember that?

------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-10-2001, 08:20 PM:

I was told by undercover Lucasfilm people that the last S.W.'s installment will be released in comic book form sometime after cloneing is perfected!
Mark @ GTS

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-10-2001, 11:56 PM:

I have to laugh at any threats that Lucasfilm might possibly make about only showing "Episode II: Send In the Clones" in DLP. That certainly has to be a rumor, George Lucas really couldn't possibly be that silly and unrealistic could he?

As far as 70mm goes and blowing up DLP, I think it is all a baseless rumor. But I do think it is sad that so many people are eaten up with this all things "digital" hype. What ever happened to just making a film in the highest quality format available? 70mm holds that title, not DLP.

Posted by Danny Hart (Member # 659) on 08-11-2001, 09:16 PM:

George does this EVERY TIME he releases a film. He says "I've invented a new sound / picture format, if you can't play it you'll not get the film..." etc, whether it's THX, SRD-EX... This is the next thing.

Sure, Georgey. We'll play your film. But you pay for the equipment if you want it shown your way. And for future "upgrades" you'll require.

Posted by Greg Anderson (Member # 235) on 08-12-2001, 01:25 AM:

Easy, now.

Don't be too harsh with my pal, Mr. Lucas. If it hadn't been for his "unrealistic" practices then I never would have had the chance to work with 70mm at all in 1983. And if you're going to make a movie with wall-to-wall CGI then who's to say that DLP isn't the best format for such a movie?

I'm still waiting for someone to have the guts to show The Horse Whisperer in DLP and claim that digital cinema is the way to go for all kinds of movies.

Posted by Jonathan Smiles (Member # 926) on 08-13-2001, 10:02 AM:

Just to point out that DLP (Digital Light Processing) refers to the Texas Instruments (TI) digital projector "engine", a movie would not be blown up from DLP, but from 1920x1080 digital source.

Last time I talked to TI the projector chips where only up to 1280x1080 res but may be 1920x1080 now.

As for the hype of digital projection, can't agree more, digital does not mean quality in same way analogue does not mean inferior.

No back to my questions - how many theatres are 70mm DTS ready and have 70mm lenses in good condition?