By Luis Montes
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

photo courtesy of Moody Gardens

"Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones" re-opened in 58 theaters across North America Nov. 1 after being converted to the world's largest film format using IMAX's new digitally re-mastering DMR technology process.

"Attack of the Clones" is the second film to take advantage of the DMR technology, which enables 35mm film size, picture quality and sound quality to be enhanced into the 70mm IMAX "big-screen" format. The first movie to be digitally remastered was "Apollo 13."

Moody Gardens, located at 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, Texas, began showing "Attack of the Clones" with a special midnight showing Oct. 31.

The movie starts with the traditional beginning, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." and from that point on, movie-goers are sure to enjoy the newly precise visual and special effects, color and sound, which are the most interesting aspects of the digitally remastered movie. The "big-screen" format highlights the thrilling action scenes throughout the entire movie.

From the warrior battle gear worn by the characters to the shiny space vehicles to the futuristic weapons, the remastered version will surely excite all Star Wars fanatics, IMAX movie fans or those simply interested in seeing an IMAX movie but have never found a movie worth seeing. Other digital re-mastering highlights include scenes from a car chase, a smashing asteroid belt, the Œ50s diner and the mustached lizard Dex's performance.

The theater holds hundreds of people, making it feel like you are at an event, not just a movie. Best of all, watching this kind of movie is like being a part of some of the most exciting scenes in the movie; you can be totally involved with the fictional worlds without ever leaving your seat.

While the ending is not new for most viewers, it is more exciting on the bigger screen version, receiving applause from the crowd in attendance.

The bottom line is seeing "Attack of the Clones" on a giant IMAX screen will be a lot of fun for visitors no matter how many times they have seen it. At this time the IMAX film is only being released in the United States and Canada.

The movie will play at Moody Gardens through Jan. 5. Show times are Monday - Thursday, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Friday - Sunday, 3 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8:20 p.m.

"Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones" stars Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid.

For more information, call (409) 744-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.

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