Culture

Hollywood's 3-D risk

by Paul Conneally | January 12, 2009 at 11:29 am

260 views | 36 Recommendations | 9 comments

The dream of 3-D movies has been around for a long time. I remember as a boy going to the cinema donning my 3-D specs and watching The House of Wax starring Vincent Price where in one scene a guy is seen bouncing a paddle-ball on elastic from his bat backwards and forwards seemingly into our faces and yes, I flinched, but this incarnation of 3-D hit a dead end - a fad too far.

More recently I've watched 3-D movies at amusement parks and that's where they seemed destined to stay until now as Hollywood embraces 3-D like never before with many films in production or pre-production. All this effort could prove a very costly mistake if the film theatres don't come on board and install the new technology required to show the new 3-D format films. The other mistake would be to go for gimmicks to show off what 3-D can do rather than make a good film with good story, good acting, good pictures but in 3-D.

I have no idea if one will have to wear 3-D goggles as with old formats but I look forward to seeing the results of Hollywood's latest trend and secretly hope that we will indeed have to wear those green and red specs.

the full moon
over The Essoldo
icy pavement

paul conneally

The imminent full-bore return to 3-D filmmaking, upon which the movie industry is placing many of its hopes, is in danger of becoming Hollywood's latest flub.

Some of the mightiest forces in film - Jeffrey Katzenberg, James Cameron, John Lasseter - think the multiplex masses will soon demand that all movies be shown in newly available digital 3-D. Katzenberg, in particular, has pushed the format, trotting the globe to herald the technology as a transformative moment for cinema akin to the introduction of sound.

His bandwagon has a lot of passengers, at least in Hollywood. Walt Disney alone has 15 three-dimensional movies in its pipeline.

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Jarrett Martineau

at 14:03 on January 12th, 2009

Great post. I'm a fan of 3D flicks, despite the red & blue glasses-induced headaches, but this new format could be equally entertaining, if not just as much of a commercial disaster. We'll see! ;)

Paul Conneally

at 14:46 on January 12th, 2009

I hope the films are good and that the 3-d works with the flow rather than stands out like a sore thumb as some kind of add-on. maybe we'll have to learn a new cinematic visual language.

Brazilian (not verified)

at 19:35 on January 12th, 2009

I agree with Lotus Flower, I would prefer not to had 3d at all if it doesn't go with the film and is just a novelty add-on....

RegiNP

at 03:09 on January 13th, 2009

Disney Hollywood Studios provided 3-D glasses for passholders to the annual light show for 2009. The glasses didn't do much to accent the Christmas lights when worn, but they made great digital camera lens filters. Thousands of people crowded into this stadium-sized space were joyfully transfmuted, sent to an otherworldly place where everything was bright and glowed. Escapism achieved offscreen. There were no film tie-ins at the park, but they are certainly branding their future audience.

RegiNP has contributed a photo to this story.

lefty_liberated

at 03:42 on January 13th, 2009

Disney utilizies slave labor to produce their toys. I do my best to boycott the company altogether.The only thing I can positive is I think they offer same sex benefits.

Paul Conneally

at 10:54 on January 13th, 2009

so looks like the glasses stay!

lefty_liberated

at 03:41 on January 13th, 2009

I love campy stuff.

NV HighSchoolLexa

at 14:08 on January 13th, 2009

i was at a 3d imax theather in los angeles with my mom. we were just waiting for the movie to start and were enjoying taking pictures of ourselves in the funny pictures. I love 3d movies...they get you into the action!

NV HighSchoolLexa has contributed a photo to this story.