May 9, 2010

3D how I hate thee

How quickly entertainment technology does change. In just a couple of decades we've gone from watching our 13" CRT TVs (without even a remote control) to this. This overwhelming, ever-changing, mess of a techno-heavy industry. It's gotten to the point now that manufacturers just seem to be gambling on every new fad that pops up and then trying to force it to stick. The latest of these, and definitely my most hated one, is the surge of 3D. It has invaded the big screens and is now threatening to take over the small screens (television) and the even smaller screens (portable gaming and cell phones).


Why? Why, why why!?!?! Who is asking for this? How many people actually want 3D? How many people think 3D enhances their experience at the movies? Who wants to have to wear glasses to watch TV at home? Am I going insane here or is the industry trying to shove this in our face and tell us that this is the future of entertainment?

No longer are movie producers listening to their consumers. No longer are the entertainers providing the public with what they want. Now a days FADs can make you so much money that they must be worth investing in. Maybe let's save that discussion for another post because that doesn't just apply to the movie industry.

I, for one, can say that 3D should not be the way of the future. It does not enhance my movie-going experience. In fact it significantly decreases it and I actually consider not seeing many movies if they are only offered in 3D. 3D is a novelty and should be used as sparingly as any other novelty. Every new movie that comes out does not need to be in 3D. Surely money can be made with a good 2D movie. Hmm.... now that I think about it maybe not. I am always confused at the box-office results every weekend. Maybe I am out of touch. In today's entertainment world you can't seem to make money by pain-stakingly crafting an incredible movie like The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which only made a paltry 42.2 M at the box-office (worldwide!!). Instead you can make 292.3 M by making G-Force (which, to be honest, I haven't seen). Heck, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs made more on opening weekend than the Fantastic Mr. Fox ever did! Both the latter movies were apparently in 3D.

Roger Ebert, in a recent article had this to say of 3D:


"3-D is a waste of a perfectly good dimension. Hollywood's current crazy stampede toward it is suicidal. It adds nothing essential to the moviegoing experience. For some, it is an annoying distraction. For others, it creates nausea and headaches. It is driven largely to sell expensive projection equipment and add a $5 to $7.50 surcharge on already expensive movie tickets. Its image is noticeably darker than standard 2-D. It is unsuitable for grown-up films of any seriousness. It limits the freedom of directors to make films as they choose. For moviegoers in the PG-13 and R ranges, it only rarely provides an experience worth paying a premium for."


All I have to say is "FINALLY!! A prominent film critic has put this point forward!". I hope this message spreads wide and far and I hope people share it. If you hate 3D, then tell everyone you know. Fill out surveys. Contact the big wigs in LA. Please don't let it be the future. Even my beloved (although not yet purchased) Sony Bravia XBR series TVs are planning on going 3D. As far as I'm concerned that would be the lowest you could go. Taking the amazing technology of the XBR series and throwing it all out the window for an over-hyped fad.

So tell me, friends, am I alone? What do you think? Do you like 3D?
Leave your comments below and I will judge you thenceforth. :)

3 comments:

  1. On the bright side if your beloved wife...I mean Sony Bravia goes 3D then think how cheap the old 2D ones will be and then you can finally buy it.
    Mwah

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  2. Agreed. In 3D:
    -everything has a weird sheen and comes off as overly artificial and CG
    -everything is dim as if looking through sunglasses (well, basically you are)
    -glasses over glasses plain sucks
    -$3 surcharge for a crappier experience
    Avatar is the only movie I've seen that overcomes the drawbacks of 3D. Eventually the studios will realize they've over-saturated the market with too much bad 3D and people aren't going to take it anymore. But people are stupid, so who knows.

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  3. Thanks for the comments, my 2 friends! :)

    ReplyDelete