Back to the Big Screen: Classic movies are being re-released in 3D

Every time she saw the commercial for the release of The Lion King 3D, there would be an excited screech in the air. She’d eventually calm down, but just couldn’t wait for the movie to come out.

Sophomore Dana Walker is one of the many Northwood students who went to see the re-release of a movie in 3D. Lately, many movies that were made in the 90s, like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Titanic, are being remade and shown in theaters again in 3D.

“It made me really happy because a lot of people don’t like Disney movies anymore, and it’s always fun to go with a friend and watch,” said Walker.

Disney is preparing for more movies to come to life in 3D picture: Finding Nemo this September and The Little Mermaid in 2013.

Disney re-releases their films on a schedule. It gives opportunity for a new generation to watch these classic Disney films that current high school students viewed as children.

“The films they re-release are quality films and I think it’s wonderful that a new generation will be able to see them,” said Lori Carlin, the theater arts director.

The Lion King was originally hand drawn, which made it harder to animate into 3D. It took a total of 60 artists, four sequence supervisors, a stereographer and roughly four months to convert The Lion King. Artists took the original image, added depth markings to the picture, and then used a layering system to add the markings into the image with the computer. Titanic, however, was already digital, so artists only had to use computer technology to convert it, which took a total of 60 weeks.

The Lion King was already the highest-grossing animated film in box office history, and when it returned to the box office, it made an estimated $29.3 million the first weekend.

“I think if you look at it from a profit standpoint, it’s a no brainer. Of course you want to [re-release] and make more money, but as far as an artistic standpoint, it’s just overkill,” said Carlin.

Titanic is re-releasing April 6 and is currently the second highest-grossing movie of all time, ringing in $1.8 billion. Director James Cameron spent $18 million to convert the movie into 3D, but most experts believe it will take in much more at the box office.

Carlin saw both The Lion King 3D and Beauty and the Beast 3D. She liked the movies, but preferred they hadn’t been in 3D.

“I didn’t think there was any need to do [3D], but I understand that some people like it,” said Carlin.

Some students enjoyed the 3D.

“It was like you were actually in Africa with all the animals and the rain dropping on you,” said sophomore Blair Schemmer, describing The Lion King 3D.

Many of the movies being re-released are movies that students watched during their childhood. Most were excited to hear and see past favorites hit the big screen again.

“It brought my childhood back,” said sophomore Yasmine Malik. “I loved it because I felt like a little kid again.”

— Tori Nothnagel