Is 3D just a fad?

[Jawa Ex Machina]

You seem to be an avid hater of 3d from what I can tell from this and other threads. Me personally I'm half half, I'm only trying to weight in on the other side that's not often heard on these boards.

But can I ask you why exactly you hate it? Do you get headaches from it? Do you feel it's pointless and too much? What if ticket prices were the same?

Basically why would you rather have seen it in 2D rather than 3D? Some people here are claiming it adds nothing to the story. If that's the case why is it bad in 3D? Or did 3D detract from the story for Avatar for you?

Personally Avatar wouldn't have been worth watching for me if it weren't for the 3D. I've also heard a lot of praise for the 3D in Avatar.

Like I said, I think it not only detracts from the story but actually works against the storytelling by being distracting. It takes the viewers out of the moment by reminding them they're watching a movie. Compare this to say a good multi-channel sound mix that creates a truer 3D experience by actually submerging the viewer into what he's seeing on screen.

By chance I actually found they were selling out Avatar blu-rays at half price last night, so I bought the 6 disc extended cut box and started watching it in 2D. What I discovered was how flat the picture looked without the 3D. Everything is in focus, the background is lit the same color as the person in the foreground (and they're all wearing blue in blue light indoors) while things are moving around in the background. They should have done something about that for the 2D release of the film. Most of it was green screen anyway, I'm sure they could have done something...

 

[Everts]

I hope it is a fad. I have worked on three 3D films and it is like making two films at once and there are a lot of headaches to make it work properly without the audience getting dizzy. I also worked on Tron and of all of my 70 plus films, it is the one of which I am most proud. Whether you can see it in the theatre or not, the art direction and the CG heads were amazing. Tough film to make but a good ride. I think the subtle 3D effect could have been pushed a bit harder. I also thought Avatar was brilliant. No, I won't buy a 3D TV.

Nice , sounds like you had an exciting year !

Clue was a masterpiece .

 

[Rashdan]

I don't think it's a fad because of the investment being made by all the Film and TV companies into 3D. But it's not going to replace 2d films. It will just exist alongside 2D films. The same way black and white films are still being made even though colour is available. It will depend entirely on the type of film being made. I personally don't enjoy watching 3D films because I have to wear glasses on top my my own glasses so the effect is a bit lost on me. But even if it did have an effect on me I probably wouldn't notice it once the Characters and the Story got hold of me. The same way I forget I'm watching a b&w film once I'm engaged in the story and characters.

 

[Jawa Ex Machina]

I probably wouldn't notice it once the Characters and the Story got hold of me. The same way I forget I'm watching a b&w film once I'm engaged in the story and characters.

This is the biggest problem IMHO.

The difference between a black and white film vs a color film is that even when you consciously forget about it because you're immerged in story and character, the difference is still there on an emotional level. Technicolor Nosferatu would not be the same as Black and White Nosferatu emotionally for the viewer while 3D wouldn't change anything. If color was used the way 3D is used, you'd have a film that every now and then increases the saturation very suddenly to remind you you're watching a color film.

I've yet to see a 3D film that doesn't point or throw things at the audience. Even Avatar does this on a number of occasions.

Just look at Tron Legacy. They used 3D the same way they used color in The Wizard of Oz. In Tron, only the "special" world is 3D, in Oz, only the "special" world is color. Still, emotionally it's not the same. And I even liked the way 3D was used in that film, and the film itself.

 

[MattinSTL]

Until they can do 3D without glasses I don't need it.

Not the only person to say this, but first to post it.

I couldn't agree more. I've heard that there could be 3D capable TVs in our future... that will do 3D w/o glasses... and simply have a good normal picture for everything else. I could see buying one of those... and of course, +1 on the idea that one day we can have 3D movies w/o glasses. At that point I wouldn't see it as a fad.

The way 3D is being USED right now? Yeah... it's a fad. For most 3D movies I've seen... it's not much different then Moe sticking a pool cue out at the audience, who should be wowed by getting Curly's perspective of getting poked in the eye.

There have been few movies where the 3D is used in a subtle way, to emphasize a scene that should bring the audience in... (and of course as stated, at that point you ask what the extra $4 was for)... or you have a really rare effort where the 3D is pretty well integrated throughout... and you accept it as part of the ride (Avatar).

IMO... 3D as it stands right now... is a fad. If it can evolve seamlessly into an otherwise well made movie or tv show... then it'll be here to stay. Ultimately I think it's the way of the future, but not until they get it sorted... and somehow get it to work without glasses.

If it starts to get a real foothold in the market... initially it will split people into two camps... just like high hz refresh tvs do now. I can't STAND my brother's tv when it's set on 120-240hz... to me it looks ridiculous... RIDICULOUS... it gives me a headache to see Jaws looking like I shot it with my handicam, instead of looking like a movie... but he insists I'm nuts and it looks BETTER then the original. People who buy 3D tvs are going to make that same argument... and hopefully they don't become a majority... otherwise the rest of us will be scrambling for an "old tech" TV that doesn't ruin all of our movies... or... maybe the manufacturers will do what they do in many of the high refresh TVs... and give the rest of us the option to switch it off.

 

[J Bellari]

Interesting how at CES 2011 Intel and Microsoft are trying to re-enter the Video sales arena thru CPU's and set-top boxes, BUT WITH HARDWARE DRM!

The 3D PUSH is ultimately about Corporate Profit, how companies can protect their assets from being digitally duplicated short-term, upsell Cable packages and Discs, and sell more equipment you don't really need now
that you have finally got your perfectly good 1080p HDTV... just like the above 120+Hz scam...

... plus, I bet a consortium agrees on a new standard once they get enough early adapters, so they can repackage it all over again and sell the NEW solution...

Except, headache inducing 3D is OK with them for a quick buck today...


PS. That being said, my wallet-inducing headache is trying to figure out an "affordable" 3D setup (Under $5K and fullHD 3D) I can experiment with ...
maybe JVC has the perfect solution this week at CES with 4K, we can hope

 

[Brandon Rice]

I hope it's a fad...