Avatar comes out tomorrow on DVD and Blu-ray, and that got me thinking about our post from many moons ago on 3D and its usefulness. As a follow-up to that, I’d like to hear your thoughts on whether or not 3D is making movies better, and if it’s worth the markup on ticket price.
Say what you will about Avatar, and everyone with internet access has, but to me it’s one of the few movies that has gotten 3D right. Many of the other features that have recently come out in 3D use the technique only as a gimmick, kind of a “DEAR LORD IT’S COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE SCREEN AT US!!” kind of a thing, rather than as something that actually enhances the movie-watching experience.
The 3D in Avatar was mainly used to create the feeling of depth and produce a more immersive experience. So far, it doesn’t seem like any other movie has done that.
So what are your thoughts on the latest 3D movies? Let me know by leaving a comment.
“The Pulfrich Effect is a psycho-physical perception wherein lateral motion of an object in the field of view is interpreted by the visual cortex as having a depth component, due to a relative different in signal timings between the two eyes.” – via wikipedia
…. or in other words – 3-D! Yes, we’ve heard of it. Yes, we’ve donned the glasses with ever increasing style. And yes, one of Biff’s cronies from Back to the Future even is actually credited with that name.
What seemed to amaze audiences in the 1950’s is gearing up for a new generation, but is it really worth all the hype? Up until recently it’s always been a bit of a gimmick showing up occasionally in a cheesy movie here and there (Jaws 3-D, Spy Kids 3-D, and even an episode of Home Improvement). If you have the time, I encourage reading some of the history of 3-D. You’ll find it’s a bit nerdy at best, but interest in this phenomenon recently has people taking it more seriously. I just feel there are more drawbacks than benefits, however. Let’s be honest, it’s not necessary to enjoy a movie. It never has been. I could argue the best movies ever made actually lacked this three-dimensional branding. It hikes the already expensive movie prices up a few dollars more and then requires me to put an unwashed pair of dirty glasses on my face while challenging my equilibrium throughout not only the pre-views, but also a full-length feature film. Was IMAX not enough? I mean, since Apple owns stock and bought out the alphabet’s letter i, maybe there was a copyright infringement issue? I’m not sure, but for the past few months there has been at least one movie advertised in 3-D and I only hear of more on the way in the coming months.
But that’s not all, television is next. Direct TV announced that in June, it will have four channels directed toward 3-D content. This includes ESPN, arriving just in time for the 2010 World Cup, which will be the first time a major sporting event is broadcast in 3D. That’s pretty cool, but I feel like I missed the memo when 2-D became old news? I imagined hover boards for the future, not sitting on my couch with my designer Ray-Ban ROYGBIV’s on waiting for my turn on Dungeons and Dragons. Apparently, I can also find my way on Google Maps in 3-D as well (April fool’s joke). Anyway, I’m just not spending money on the silliness of what this recent crazy might lead to.
Secretly, I admit 3-D is fun. I just want it to be worth everyone’s time and money. My concern is that the fun will be taken out of it if it becomes so customary and expected though. Things seem to lose their “ooh/ahh” factor when it’s the norm.
Check out: http://evadethenoise.com/2010/04/01/not-exactly-pulfrich-harmony/
This is my take on the 3-D outbreak. Pure commercialism. When they start going thru the movie vault and re-issuing moves that I have bought 3 times before, I am going to get a little irratated. Not to mention I now have to buy a new blu ray player, a new AV processor and maybe a new projector because the blu ray signal is now HDMI 1.4. Is it worth it, IMHO I don’t think so. A lot of people have problems with 3-D due to the fact they have a dominant eye. That makes it difficult to use both eyes together to reveal the 3-D effect. I am one of those and it takes concentration to get the effect the movie wants you to see. It was a fad in the 50′s and I think with the tight economy, people are just not going to jump on the 3-D wagon in droves, but in small numbers that will doom the movement.
3D is pretty cool, but what’s the force that’s going to push it, and will I have to rush out and spending $2000+ for a 3D TV?
Just went into a big-box store recently and they had a 3D movie playing, I guess on a special 3D set? The glasses were all gone, so it was hard to watch. Is that what we’ll come to expect in the future?
Here are my thoughts on the new 3D craze. My family and I love it. I was recently in the market for a television we bought one that can also play 3d. After my first ESPN 3D game and a few documentaries I’m Hooked. The new real 3d versions of these movies are night and day better than the old red and blue technology. Journey to the Center of the Earth was beautiful on my 55” and I agree with the original author that the non gimmicky let’s throw something else at the camera moments in many of the documentaries I’ve seen and in the sports we’ve watched is much more enjoyable. But to answer the original question, How’s all that 3d working for you” to be honest not all that well. Why? The content for the most part is locked in exclusive deals and now that there are starting to be retail versions the major rental companies are not getting on board. The typical sales cycle is like this, See it in the theater if possible but with time and cost that may occur for a family of four once a month or two. Rent it, if you are really blown away by it either viewing you add it to your collection. No one buys to watch to see if they like the movie enough to buy it. Among the 3d boards it’s a couple things are becoming clear. People who buy 3d tv’s where buying tv’s anyway and the feature made sense as the cost are about the same. As more films are shot in 3d or have the 3d tag which ever content provider be it satellite, cable, Blockbuster, Netflix or Redbox, can provide the most content quickly will win the business of the early adopters. As the goggle prices fall ($100 from 150 in three months) 3d is becoming more affordable. Lastly the studios risk shooting themselves in the foot and killing the Goose before they’ve had a chance to see it lay more than one golden egg. Personally I’m waiting on Blockbuster to get it in gear and start renting 3d blu ray as the titles are released ,otherwise I’ll go back to on demand rentals through cable for my 3d (and every other) movie rentals and they will lose my business for good. Which is sad because for once the usual story a commercial machine effectively selling consumers products with technology that really doesn’t deliver is reversed. The technology is great but the commercial machine is so bent on milking the consumer it can’t deliver the product.
I bought the samsung 50 in plasma 3d tv from best buy great deal great picture wish blockbuster rented 3d movies tho movies are a little pricey. I only payed 999 for tv and starter pack the glasses are expensive about 150 a piece good deal i thought
Ok I think 3d TV is awesome. 3d content, however, is a challenge to find. Currently Direct TV has four 3d channels. I remember noot too long ago it was high def channels we were wanting and when they started coming out it was like a wild fire growing. I would expect the same with 3d tv. I understand some poeple have concerns but as the word gets out how over the top 3d is and all the fears people have concerning them are for not, people are goign to get them in droves. I am very exited about the future of 3d television and happy I have one of the first ones.
We just got an amazing deal on a 55″ 3d led tv packaged with the bluray player and glasses. It really wasn’t much more than the non-3d TVs and will make movie night tons of fun. I just wish blockbuster would catchup and start renting the 3d blurays. Right now if we want to watch one we have to buy it.
I just purchased a Vizio Theater 3d tv set, and all I can say is awesome. With 3d, the tv seems larger because it has depth. I can’t seem to find streaming 3d movies on this site, but I do use another but won’t mention it’s name here. I’m sure sooner or later streaming will be available on demand here. Can’t wait.
How’s that colour working out for you! Really Surround sound?
Honestly the same things the “experts” are saying here could be (and probably were) said for every tech we consider everyday now…
I love my 3D TV but where are the movies. Everyone should love this. Samsung has made it affordable. Ebay has the glasses cheap. Now we just need the movies, oh by the way HDMI cables came with it