'Phantom Menace' DVD to be 8 hours long
By PAUL CANTIN
Senior Reporter, JAM! Showbiz
"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" will finally materialize on DVD on Oct. 16 and, based on the pre-release hype, it'll be worth the wait.
Fans have been critical over the delay in bringing the May 1999 release to the booming DVD format, and a group of wanna-be filmmakers has even assembled their own alternative (some are claiming superior) version of the film, which is being sold through specialty stores as "The Phantom Edit."
But Lucasfilm Ltd. had stated the postponement was necessitated by creator George Lucas's desire to do justice to the film on the digital format, and that all will be right in the universe once fans lay their eyes on the DVD set.
"Enthusiastic fans of the film will be rewarded for their patience," Lucasfilm said in their statement at the official website (StarWars.com).
The double-disc set will feature a whopping six hours of bonus material, including "brand new visual-effects sequences executed just for the DVD release," bringing the entire program to 480 minutes.
Along with the expected THX mastering for superior sound and picture, the disc will feature audio commentary from writer-director Lucas and producer Rick McCallum, plus other technical people involved in creating the "Phantom Menace" look.
While there's no mention of a Jar-Jar delete feature, the disc also boasts:
-- Seven complete, never-before-seen deleted scenes.
-- A documentary entitled "The Beginning", chronicling the film's creation, drawn from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage.
-- Multi-angle storyboard and animatic options that detail the making of complex effects scenes.
-- Five behind-the-scenes featurettes explaining the development of "The Phantom Menace" storyline, designs, costumes, visual effects, and fight scenes.
-- The "Duel Of The Fates" music video.
-- Twelve episodes of "Lynne's Diaries," the on-the-set documentaries that first appeared at StarWars.com.
-- Galleries of advertising material and unreleased production photos.
-- The original theatrical teaser trailer, the full trailer, and seven TV spots
By PAUL CANTIN
Senior Reporter, JAM! Showbiz
"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" will finally materialize on DVD on Oct. 16 and, based on the pre-release hype, it'll be worth the wait.
Fans have been critical over the delay in bringing the May 1999 release to the booming DVD format, and a group of wanna-be filmmakers has even assembled their own alternative (some are claiming superior) version of the film, which is being sold through specialty stores as "The Phantom Edit."
But Lucasfilm Ltd. had stated the postponement was necessitated by creator George Lucas's desire to do justice to the film on the digital format, and that all will be right in the universe once fans lay their eyes on the DVD set.
"Enthusiastic fans of the film will be rewarded for their patience," Lucasfilm said in their statement at the official website (StarWars.com).
The double-disc set will feature a whopping six hours of bonus material, including "brand new visual-effects sequences executed just for the DVD release," bringing the entire program to 480 minutes.
Along with the expected THX mastering for superior sound and picture, the disc will feature audio commentary from writer-director Lucas and producer Rick McCallum, plus other technical people involved in creating the "Phantom Menace" look.
While there's no mention of a Jar-Jar delete feature, the disc also boasts:
-- Seven complete, never-before-seen deleted scenes.
-- A documentary entitled "The Beginning", chronicling the film's creation, drawn from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage.
-- Multi-angle storyboard and animatic options that detail the making of complex effects scenes.
-- Five behind-the-scenes featurettes explaining the development of "The Phantom Menace" storyline, designs, costumes, visual effects, and fight scenes.
-- The "Duel Of The Fates" music video.
-- Twelve episodes of "Lynne's Diaries," the on-the-set documentaries that first appeared at StarWars.com.
-- Galleries of advertising material and unreleased production photos.
-- The original theatrical teaser trailer, the full trailer, and seven TV spots
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