Starting in 2012, Lucasfilm will be releasing one Star Wars film per year in 3-D. And right on cue, there's already an outcry over the fact that the first film will be The Phantom Menace. Oh, boo hoo. Look, I'm not a fan of the prequels, but those three films were absolutely made for 3-D -- so why not embrace the conversion? In anticipation, here are 12 scenes from the Star Wars saga that, if I didn't know better, were tailor-made to witness with a third dimension.
[In series-chronological order]
1. The Pod Race
I always thought this scene went on a bit too long. Then I remembered that the longer the race lasted, the less screen time Jar Jar Binks receives and the less I would have to hear Jake Lloyd speak. Regardless, this will be fantastic in 3-D.
2. Duel of the Fates
If this scene wasn't so spliced up -- intertwined with Anakin's space battle and the Gungan ground battle -- the two-on-one clash between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Darth Maul might have been the best lightsaber duel, from a technical standpoint, and the second best for 3-D. Emotionally, it still doesn't touch the battle between Luke and Vader at Cloud City.
3. Chase Through Coruscant
Attack of the Clones might be the weakest of the six films in regards to story, but it is the prettiest: Anakin and Obi-Wan chase Zam Wesell through an impossible maze of traffic and power couplings that already almost feels like it's in 3-D.
4. Battle of Geonosis
There's blaster fire and lightsabers everywhere! Plus, think of the fun it will be watching the audience duck as Jango Fett's decapitated head comes flying toward them.
5. Sith's Opening Dog Fight
Quite possibly the most underrated scene in all of the six Star Wars films. The opening to Revenge of the Sith is an absolute cluster of Republic and Separatist fighters, most of them flying right toward the screen.
6. Anakin and Obi-Wan's Duel
And this may be the most unnecessarily convoluted scene (swinging toward each other over lava?) in the history of cinema. But! A conversation to 3-D will make this "epic clash" interesting to watch. By far, of the six films, this is the duel most ready for 3-D (i.e. lots of flying stuff).
7. The Star Destroyer
Not the most awe-inspiring of 3-D scenes on this list -- but it is the most iconic. That poor Rebel Blockade Runner will look even punier next to a 3-D Star Destroyer.
8. Wedge Saves the Day
Wedge Antilles, the forgotten hero. Oh, sure, Luke Skywalker gets all the credit. And, sure, Wedge had to pull out of the final trench run. Luke even mentioned that Wedge couldn't do any good back there with his disabled ship. And Wedge said he was sorry, give the guy a break. Regardless, Wedge saves Luke's ass -- flying right toward the camera -- when Luke couldn't shake a measly Tie-Fighter just after the assault on the Death Star was launched.
9. Luke Almost Gets Crushed
The entire Battle of Hoth will be absolute eye-candy once converted to 3-D. (We have to wait until 2016? Really?) The thought of watching an All Terrain Armored Transport's giant front left foot come crashing down on us, as watched from Luke's perspective, is downright frightening.
10. The Asteroid Chase
Never tell Han the odds! Sure, the chances of successfully navigating an asteroid field are 3,720 to 1, but Han Solo had an advantage that we didn't at the time -- he could see the asteroids in 3-D! Soon we will, too. Also, see the little Tie-Fighter pilot that ejected in this scene? I want to feel his pain as he's ever so briefly floating toward me.
11. The Speeder Bike Chase
On a big screen, the speeder bike chase can already induce motion sickness. I'm looking forward to seeing that poor Biker Scout that Luke throws off the speeder bounce off that tree in 3-D.
12. It's a Trap!
Lando is told by Admiral Ackbar that the Death Star's shields are still up. It's a race to turn his squadron around and fly them straight into a waiting Imperial ambush. In every "making of" type feature on the Original Trilogy, it's this scene -- of the Millennium Falcon flying right at us through a billion Tie-Fighters -- that's always cited as one of the most complicated of the first three films to complete.