You’d think with all the pushing George Lucas did with his Star Wars prequels and digital projection that the filmmaker would refuse to put out any movie that wasn’t digital. I’m just waiting for the day I have to make a trip across town to the theater with digital projection instead of using the closer one with standard projectors, and I have always assumed it would be someone like Lucas who would force that change.
Apparently George has lessened his promotion of the digital format, as JoBlo reports that this summer’s big Lucas-produced picture, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull won’t be shopped to digital theaters. According to their source, Spielberg is behind the decision, with requests made that theaters who can’t project standard 35mm film letting Paramount know they’ll have a problem, because Indy isn’t being shipped in a digital format.
I’m curious what might have led to this decision. Is Spielberg afraid of what an aged Indy might look like in digital clarity? Are the effects looking less believable if they are shown digitally? Or is Spielberg just trying to retain that serialized feeling for his hero – a character born in a 35mm world - or is that too "John McClane" for Harrison Ford's character? Of course, this also makes me wonder whether Indy will see release on the higher definition home formats or if Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will only see release on DVD when the time comes to take Indy home.
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I thinkit is obvous thatunlike MOST people in Hollywood, Mr. Steven Spielberg has integirty and vctually values the look and feel ohhis franchise. He still cares about that old-school feel that the older movies had and for that I am immensly thankful.
To date, all of his movies have been shot the expensive way - on film and I'm glad to see that he's sticking with it.
I really don't appreciate you second guessing that decision.
The decision is probably based on the fact that digital projection systems lack the clarity of film based projection systems (not the other way around) and that Spielberg has the industry clout to prevent his film being presented in an inferior format. I've never seen a digital projection system that approaches 35mm film projection systems. It will happen one day but at the moment it's still about 5 or 10 years in the future.
It's an interesting decision from Spielberg. I'd be happy to see it in whatever format but would definately prefer to see it on film. Let's hope the new movie is worth all the fuss.
- Konrad Lenz.
i'm glad its being released in the 35mm format. even the "young indianas" are filmed this way. conitinuity! . he did say it was supposed to have that old saturday serial feel to it when he made the first one. so why break a good thing!
YAY!
~sian
Konrad, have you actually ever seen a Digital Cinema theater? I was skeptical until I saw one, and since then, I hate going back to 35mm.
The quality is far better than 35mm. To me, much like going from DVD to BlueRay on 1080. Or like old 75mm cinemascope. And 3D movies look as good as anything seen at Disney now. Only topped by the best IMAX 3D movies.
I never believed that digital projection would be so good.
Spielberg should have released select prints in 70mm - that would have pleased many who know that 70mm blowup prints are superior to 35mm prints - but that's water under the bridge at this point. Ironically, Paramount were no dummies not limiting all digital theatres from not booking Indy 4, they knew the power of the dollar - they superceded Spielberg's inital demands.
on a side note: Christopher Nolan prevented Warner Bros. to releasing 'The Dark Knights' to the three IMAX digital screens debuting in the Washington DC area this month. Nolan wanted and knew that IMAX digital does not mirror the 70mm resolution of IMAX 'film' stock delivers.
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You’d think with all the pushing George Lucas did with his Star Wars prequels and digital projection that the filmmaker would refuse to put out any movie that wasn’t digital. I’m just waiting for the day I have to make a trip across town to the theater with digital projection instead of using the closer one with standard projectors, and I have always assumed it would be someone like Lucas who would force that change.
February 28th, 2008 at 18:20
I thinkit is obvous thatunlike MOST people in Hollywood, Mr. Steven Spielberg has integirty and vctually values the look and feel ohhis franchise. He still cares about that old-school feel that the older movies had and for that I am immensly thankful.
To date, all of his movies have been shot the expensive way - on film and I'm glad to see that he's sticking with it.
I really don't appreciate you second guessing that decision.