Saturday 10 October 2009

Does every movie need to be in 3D?

Out of the last three films I've seen at the cinema two have been in 3D, Toy Story and Up. (I wish I could tell you what the third was but I've been sworn to secrecy. All I can say is it'll be coming to a cinema near you in 2010, and it's not Alice).

I've enjoyed both 3D experiences. Compared to watching 3D films in the 80s and 90s, where it was often akin to having a needle thrust into your eyeball for 90 minutes, today's state of the art 3D systems are incredibly easy on the eye. And I am very much looking forward to seeing A Christmas Carol, Avatar, Alice In Wonderland, Toy Story 3 and Tintin in 3D.

But does every movie need to be in 3D?

Yesterday I read that Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's upcoming horror film Cabin In The Woods has had its release bumped from this coming February until January 2011 just so they can add another dimension. While Neil Marshall has just signed on to direct Burst for Sam Raimi's Ghosthouse Productions and that too will be in 3D. Everyone, it seems, is doing the 3D thing.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the reason for it. I know studios and filmmakers are trying to give audiences a reason to go to the cinema to see a film, and not just wait for the DVD or Blu-ray or watch an illegal download.

But where will it end? Will we get to the stage that every movie is made in 3D. And will 2D go the way of black and white?

8 comments:

Gerard said...

The Cabin in the Woods thing is a dumb idea.

Mark Salisbury said...

In 3D, you mean? Or generally?

Gerard said...

Sorry - deciding to delay it so late in the game to convert it to 3-D after the fact. Film sounds fun.

Mark Salisbury said...

Agreed.

Unknown said...

I seriously doubt 3D will become the prevalent format. First off, at least right now, it is way too expensive and the studios are having a lot of trouble getting movie theaters on board, esp. during this economy.

I think the make or break film will be AVATAR. If Cameron's film does well that may give 3D a leg up but if it fails to live up to box office expectations that may kill it off.

Mark Salisbury said...

There's an awful lot riding on Avatar, not just the future of 3D.

Gina Sackman said...

I do not understand why they are making this film in 3D. I really hope theatres show it in its regular form. But mostly I hate that they've pushed it back. I'm a big Joss Whedon fan and so I knew about this when something was very first murmured FOREVER ago.

Mark Salisbury said...

I'm sure they're show it in 2D, too. As far as I can work out, the thinking behind this is this: that horror films have a box office ceiling, and by making it 3D that ceiling's stands a better chance of being bettered.