The 3-D craze

[The Burgomaster]

What do you think of the 3-D craze?  I've read quite a few articles lately about the increase in 3-D movies (either originally produced in 3-D or converted to 3-D during post production such as CLASH OF THE TITANS), the trend toward all movies eventually being released in 3-D (seems like this will happen within the next 5 to 10 years), and the development of 3-D television programming.  I read one article that said most 3-D TVs will initially come with only 1 pair of glasses and each additional pair will cost $150.  There are even plans to convert older 2-D movies into 3-D . . . which will cause the same types of arguments that colorization caused . . . CITIZEN KANE in 3-D?  CASABLANCA in 3-D?  PSYCHO in 3-D?  Get ready, because here it comes.  I just hope they convert DOUBLE AGENT 73 and DEADLY WEAPONS into 3-D . . .

[Leah]

CITIZEN KANE in 3-D?  CASABLANCA in 3-D?  PSYCHO in 3-D?  

Not the Good ones! I just hope that the plan to have Citizen Kane, Casablanca, and Psycho to NOT be in color....Especially Psycho, it was made to be in Black and White for a reason!

[Psycho Circus]

I'm not interested in 3-D. If people are that bothered that films and such like should be reaching out and interacting with them, then they need to get outside quick and socialize! 

[3mnkids]

Its just another gimmick to make people go ewww, ahhhh...the plot sucks, but doesnt it look cool? No thanks.

[Joe the Destroyer]

Eh.  I watched one movie in 3D to see what all the fuss was about.  It wasn't worth the elevated price.  I'm sure this gimmick will die after a while. 

[Newt]

If people are that bothered that films and such like should be reaching out and interacting with them, then they need to get outside quick and socialize! 

 What??  In the same place with actual, REAL people???   Are you nuts??
It seems the more 'connected' we get electronically, the less connected we get.  What a world.  

[The Burgomaster]

Eh.  I watched one movie in 3D to see what all the fuss was about.  It wasn't worth the elevated price.  I'm sure this gimmick will die after a while. 

I'm not so sure.  Theaters are already investing big money to install 3-D equipment and most major manufacturers have already developed 3-D TVs and DVD players (by the way, I read that the 3-D glasses may not be compatible across different brands!)  Martin Scorsese's next film is already slated for 3-D.  Several TV networks are already scheduling 3-D programming (including ESPN for sporting events).  I don't see this going away anytime soon.  The articles I read predicted that movies and TV will be mostly, if not completely, using 3-D technology within the next 5 - 10 years.

[Flick James]

Part of it is the economy. People are troubled and want mindless entertainment. The type of movies you're likely to get in 3-D will surely fit the bill. Combine that with the fact that a movie ticket is a cheap night of entertainment compared to other ways poor Americans can amuse themselves, and this is why the movie industry tends to do well during recessions. Look at the Great Depression. The advent of sound in movies was a very big deal, and movie theatres were spending what was alot of money back then to format theatres for sound, all while the country was sinking into a deep economic depression. Why? Because the people were flocking to the theatres to escape from the harsh realities of the time. Could the 3-D surge be our current equivalent? I don't know, I just thought it was an interesting comparison.

[Flick James]

But do I like it? F**k no.

[Jack]

I've seen some junk in 3D and it's not something I'd care to experience any more than once in a blue moon as a novelty. 

[Raffine]

Somebody told me a long time ago that if you close one eye when watching a movie in the theater it looks like 3-D.

It works for me.


          "Wow! Lookit the 3-D!"

[Jim H]

Doesn't do much for me.  The illusion just doesn't seem to work as well for me as it did when I was younger, either.  It always looks broken up.  Because of this, it mostly is just a distraction for me.  I've pretty much decided that the extra cost of 3D is not worth it at the theatres.  Especially now now that they've bumped it up to $4 extra per ticket - meaning, it increases price almost 50% in my area. 

I do not think all films will ever come out only in 3D, but if they do it basically means I'll almost never go to the theatre anymore.  Which is sad, because I LIKE going to the theatre.

I also think the whole thing is a bit of a misnomer - traditional films are DESIGNED to look like they have depth and 3D in most cases, just as seen through a 2D plane.  That's why they so frequently layer things so much in the composition, and use dynamic lighting to make images pop. 

It's also pretty notable that, to date, I'm not aware of anything outside of fantasy/sci-fi/horror being made in 3D.  Basically, genre works (discounting a few documentaries). 

Once we start seeing tons of straight dramas, comedies, thrillers, and action movies in 3D, I'll be convinced it is an overall conversion of the industry.

[The Gravekeeper]

The way I see, the 3D craze has already died out twice. Most movies just don't need to be 3-dimensional (hell, some don't even need to be in colour) and it really shows when a company cuts corners (looks more like a pop-up book than like the characters are "real").

I'm pretty confident that the craze will die down again.

[SPazzo]

I've only seen two 3D films.  Avatar, and My Bloody Valentine 3D.  The latter was on DVD, and I didn't finish it; it was just too blurry.  Avatar in the theater wasn't half bad, but then again, it's Avatar.  It was a decent experience, but I wouldn't want all of my movie experiences to be like it.

[Trevor]

Word is that the third Jackass film will be in 3D. I can just imagine the kinds of stuff that will be chucked at the camera.