Star Tours Film Quality SUCKS!

[figment1986]

My plan to fix Star tours.... (for MGM & DL...)

1. invest in new digital technology to make the ride more realistic...
2. Develope 3-4 different story lines that begin and end the same... (Tatooni)
3. Develop different programs for each simulator to follow the different films...
4. Make the giftshop work with the over all theme of the ride and land... (WDW.. movie set to tatooni, DL... tatooni space port...)
5. Redo the interior to upgrade it to new technology, & chage out the saftey film to have me as a face character demonstrating how to do it properly :devil: ... along with the imagineers who helped make the ride possable....

Ok.. those are my ideas....

[Eddie from the 80s]

I've been there, they have ONE 8 story IMAX which has 70mm and has some digital presantions every once in a while, the rest of the theaters are 35mm film with digital sound like every other nice theater in the United States.

I thought all IMAX presentations are shown in 70mm?

Standard IMAX: 15 perforations per frame - 1.91" x 2.74", Area = 5.23 sq. in., (48.5mm x 69.6mm, Area = 3376 sq. mm

IMAX Dome: 15 perforations per frame - 1.98" x 2.74" Ovoid, Area = 4.13 sq. in., (50.29mm x 69.6mm Ovoid, Area = 2665 sq. mm

Also, isn't the frame rate higher than 24fps in some IMAX formats? What frame rate is Soarin' Over California shot at? It seems to be higher than 24fps.

From www.1570films.com/imax.htm
"The popular success of Imax's 3D systems, IMAX® 3D and IMAX® 3D Dome, led to the development of IMAX® HD, which is shot and projected at 48 frames-per-second, twice the normal motion picture standard frame rate, providing even greater depth of field, clarity of detail and steadiness to the already spectacular IMAX image."

I've been to the Edwards IMAX in Irvine Spectrum and the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Both were unbelievable.

It's great to see a film buff on here, btw. I'm not trying to be a smart-alec here, just trying to learn more since I'm a home theater junkie who's confused at all the HD formats and projections types.

[jsmith157]

I used to manage a theater, but I left right as we got the new digital projector for Episode II. What I did see though, I couldn't make out a whole lot of difference other than some color variations. Could you explain the lack of depth issue a little more for the rest of us?

[swagdaddy]

This puppy needed to go to puppy lake a few years ago.

[not_onwaltsblacklist]

The last time i went on it i had the same experience you did. Too bad, it seemed a lot more realistic when i was young.

[desertdweller]

But I try to get down to Hollywood to see new films if I can (nothing like a Hollywood presatation!) and they are still mostly useing film and belive me if there is going to be this big digital change that I have been hearing about for the last 5 years Hollywood would be the first place to make it.

Great, informative postings and discussion, Boingo. I made the trek to Hollywood numerous times to see big films over the years because of the theaters and projected image quality.

Are you aware of or have you been to the Warner Theater on Hollywood Boulevard? It was built by Stanley Warner as a state of the art showplace to show Warner films in the late '20s. I understand USC runs it now and the industry uses it frequently for special showings since it is equipped with all the latest projection capabilities along with 35mm, 70mm and I'm sure the Cinerama projectors are still in the booth. A year or so ago they had a special event that used the same image but projected in every way possible for the audience to compare sharpness, grain, etc. Would've been interesting.

I saw How The West Was Won there back in the '60s and 2001 had a nearly two year run there. It was turned into a multiplex but I believe the auditorium was restored a few years ago when USC got involved. Sadly, the movie palace decor wasn't but it still has a spectacular lobby.

[sediment]

Apparantley Eisner can't play nice with his friends.

That will be hard to prove or disprove.

[Ascendant]

People don't realize that models are still used heavily in the Prequel Trilogy SW films. Those Naboo fighters in Phantom Menace? Models.

I think they're really only physical models in about 10% of the shots. Most of the time they're digital. But I would agree that it's the compositing rather than the models themselves. I'm about four months away from getting my AA in computer animation and I still think the Original Trilogy/Star Tours physical models look much more realistic than any of the digital models in the Prequels. They still use lots and lots of physical models though, but mostly for environments and scanning into the computer. You know that big arena that the Jedi and Padme fight the monsters in at the end of Episode II? That's a model about six feet high.

When some masked hero manages to drag Eisner away in a potato sack we're gonna get three more rides, and they're undoubtedly gonna be mostly computer modelled, regardless of personal taste. Oh, and I say "three more rides" with religious conviction rather than informed opinion. Nine minutes of effects should be no problem whatsoever for ILM right now, especially since the "continual shot" approach would be about ten times easier with digital effects versus analog ones. Still...it's kind of like waiting for the Second Coming.

As for the screens, my vote is for digital. I saw Episode II in a digital theater on a huge screen and it was mind-blowingly immersive. Send the original Star Tours film off to Lowry Digital Images to get the same clean-up that the Original Trilogy DVDs got, install some digital projectors, revamp the queue, install three more ride movies and Star Tours will be on the map!

[Boingonut]

I like the ride the way it is

[mistersh0w]

Sorry if you've read my ramblings about Star Tours on another board...ahem....But I think it would be best if they updated Star Tours soon...in my opinion....What better time to swoop down and cash in on the inevitable box-office success of Episode 3? I have a bad feeling that Star Wars fever won't last long after this last one...Seeing as most fans abandoned "LucasLand" after the atrocities that are Episode's 1 and 2....

Oh by the way Boingonut, awesome screename! Oingo Boingo is my favorite band!

[Kushana]

I have a bad feeling that Star Wars fever won't last long after this last one...Seeing as most fans abandoned "LucasLand" after the atrocities that are Episode's 1 and 2....

I think it's quite a reach to say that "most fans" gave up on Lucas after Eps I and II. Do I think the more recent films are up to par with the originals? Nope. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to see Ep III as soon as it comes out. Because Lucas has owned me since I was a tot.

Us (true) SW fans are a slavishly devoted bunch, and we're not going to stop buying the novels/comics, playing the video games, quoting the (often hilariously bad) dialogue or loving the Original Trilogy because the prequels leave a lot to be desired. And still, those prequels make bank, subpar or no.

Anyway, I definitely agree the ride film needs to be updated, BADLY, rather than letting it continue to fall apart. It's depressing. Once we're rid of Eisner for good, I only hope Lucas has interest in working with WDI on an update. I know he claims to be all about "moving on" and doing non-SW-related things, but c'mon.

[captveg]

Lucas isn't moving on with ALL SW relating things, just feature films. There will still be video games, comics, books, etc.; a TV series is in the works. Lucas just isn't going to focus his PRIMARY efforts on SW, which is good, because I'd like to see more THX-1138 type films from him, personally.

[Cousin Orville]

It's true that the old ridefilem is jst that. They could always program the ship to be dodging the scratches!

You all assume the new ride won't be botched. I think they should keep the ride just the way it is.. what if Lucas puts in JarJar Binks? What if they make Rex more PC where he has good driving skills and mentions how kids must be "wild about safety". Ride redos seldom are better than their opus (Innoventions,Stitch, Carousel,Lincoln,). Do you really want a Castle with squirrels on it?

[captsmith84]

I know all you are like anti-digital projetion. But if a new film was done, they could use the same system as in Mission: Space at Epcot in WDW. It's clearer then ANY simulator screen, and is more realistic too.

[mistersh0w]

Us (true) SW fans are a slavishly devoted bunch, and we're not going to stop buying the novels/comics, playing the video games, quoting the (often hilariously bad) dialogue or loving the Original Trilogy because the prequels leave a lot to be desired. And still, those prequels make bank, subpar or no.

Ok i'll admit, i'm a Star Wars fan. I've played the video games, just beat KOTOR. In my garage there's about five boxes filled with unopened Star Wars junk. I just think the new trilogy sucks, that's just my opinion. I'll probably be in line at the midnight showing of Episode 3, but not because i'm a Star Wars fan, and not because I spent my childhood wearing out our BETA copies of 4,5, and 6. But because I want to see Lucas put his "saga" to rest...let it die a glorious death. In full 16:9 aspect ratio, projected in beautiful high quality THX certified digital projection. On a bed of millions, upon millions of dollars...BUT, not to stray too far from the topic, I still think Lucas is an amazing story teller, and an amazing idea man. And if he came back to WDI, i'm sure they'd come up with a great update for Star Tours, if not an awesome new ride idea! That's just my 2 credits...egh, i mean cents...