3D: From Optional Gimmick to Default Setting?

[Casual Shinji]

It would be an understatement to say I am no fan of 3D. I never felt any need to rant about it though as long as its existence didn't interfer with my own gaming/movie experience.

That all appears to have changed when I tried to get tickets for the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus, and saw to my dismay that the only version running in theaters is the 3D one. I checked theater after theater, but a regular 2D version is nowhere to be found. I ultimately just caved and booked tickets for a showing this friday, but I'm still severely steamed at this turn of events.
Maybe this isn't a new thing, because I heard the same happened with The Avengers. I haven't gone to a movie theater in a long time. But is this really how big blockbuster movies will be shown in theaters from now on; In 3D without the choice to see it in regular 2D?

Is it the same in America and the rest of Europe as it is over here in Holland?

 

[Hazy992]

Don't know about Prometheus but here in the UK The Avengers had 2D and 3D screenings. I went to see the 2D version because my friends and I hate 3D.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I seriously hope that 3D won't be the way to see movies from now on, God I hate 3D.

I know The Avengers has a 2D and 3D option, and I had to look and Prometheus is shown in both versions.

Of course, that's the case unless the movie theatre close to me is lying, and they should go to hell for that if they are.

 

[Mayhaps]

[rant]
I live in Sweden, I haven't seen The Avengers yet, I won't ever pay (extra, mind you) to see another movie in "3D".
I didn't see Wrath of the titans or the latest underworld movie either, when I sent an e-mail to the cinema owners, who own every cinema I know of, they just said "It's not we who choose what to show" and went on to tell me I should place my complaint to them I gave up. I haven't paid for a single movie ticket since then, not even for 2D movies. It's your bloody problem if you can't give your customer what you want you ask your supplier for that.

It's a gimmick that allows them to push the prices up, nothing else, "3D" has been around for a very long time, and it's not impressive.
[/rant]

It's a gimmick, and I don't know a single person in real life who chooses when given the option of "3D" over 2D

 

[Casual Shinji]

Don't know about Prometheus but here in the UK The Avengers had 2D and 3D screenings. I went to see the 2D version because my friends and I hate 3D.

I wouldn't hate 3D so much if only it didn't make my eyeballs feel like they're in a vise. I only ever saw one movie in 3D, and I couldn't sleep the following night because my eyes where fucking killing me. But still... I really wanna see Prometheus.

 

[Hazy992]

Don't know about Prometheus but here in the UK The Avengers had 2D and 3D screenings. I went to see the 2D version because my friends and I hate 3D.

I wouldn't hate 3D so much if only it didn't make my eyeballs feel like they're in a vise. I only ever saw one movie in 3D, and I couldn't sleep the following night because my eyes where fucking killing me. But still... I really wanna see Prometheus.

Well then you're gonna have to decide between your health and your entertainment I don't like 3D because I just see it as a pointless gimmick that does nothing to add to the experience while at the same time giving an excuse to charge more for tickets.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Don't know about Prometheus but here in the UK The Avengers had 2D and 3D screenings. I went to see the 2D version because my friends and I hate 3D.

I wouldn't hate 3D so much if only it didn't make my eyeballs feel like they're in a vise. I only ever saw one movie in 3D, and I couldn't sleep the following night because my eyes where fucking killing me. But still... I really wanna see Prometheus.

Well then you're gonna have to decide between your health and your entertainment I don't like 3D because I just see it as a pointless gimmick that does nothing to add to the experience while at the same time giving an excuse to charge more for tickets.

I know, I know... But I really wanna see Prometheus. Any other movie and I would've cared, but this is the one film where I can't wait for the DVD release.

It's like he first movie I go to see in theaters in a year, and then they pull this shit.

 

[Grygor]

For what it's worth, if you hate 3D but can't find any 2D showings, you can buy specially-made 3D glasses that have the same polarization for both lenses, allowing you to watch a 3D movie as if it was in glorious 2D.

Just google 2D glasses, and you should find a wide variety of places selling them - they're usually fairly cheap.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I'm yet to encounter a film only being available in my city in the South-west of England. Infact, I'd say it's harder to find 3D showings than 2D. To the point where I think I've only ever seen one film in 3D at the cinema, and that was Jackass 3.

I'm probably not then qualified to make a sweeping comment about the quality of 3D in the cinema. If these comments are anything to go by then I can only assume that it's far inferior to the 3D set-up I have in my home.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

There's a cinema near me that has a permanent promotion where they don't charge any extra for 3D movies. Ka-ching!

So I don't really mind it at all, but if I had to pay extra that would probably change.

 

[geK0]

Once 3D films can:

-have a seamless illusion of depth that doesn't make the viewer go cross-eyed and get a headache
-be seen without the aid of glasses
-be noticeable throughout the film

I will enjoy them; until then, I will NOT pay the extra money they charge for a 3D ticket.

 

[godofallu]

Oh 3D in film is ok.

It's when they start to add it to videogames that I get hesitant.

 

[Marter]

Most of the time, there's at least one 2D showing at my local theater. Depends on the movie, though. There was one for The Avengers -- compared to three or four 3D screenings -- but there was only 3D for Underworld: Awakening.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Am I the only one here who actually LIKES 3d movies?

No, I like it when it's done right. I've only seen two movies that have done it right, though: Toy Story 3 and the re-release of Star Wars: Episode I. The latter was really surprising, since it was a 2D upconversion. They even managed to get the texture on Qui Gon's robe to pop into 3D, so mad props on that.

By the way, "done right" in this case means "everything goes into the screen as if it were a window, nothing comes out of it." Stuff going in is more engaging. Stuff popping out is headache inducing. Even Avatar failed to really get that right.

 

[Xanadu84]

In a pretty small town, there were plenty of 2d showings: I actually misread the listing, and accidentally went to a 3D showing. Best thing I can say is that in avengers, the 3D didn't actively detract from the movie very much. Just costed more and I hate wearing glasses.

I'm predicting that since people will grudgingly pay more for 3D if they have to, 2D movies will start costing more then the 3D because its a "less desirable format" when really, it's more desirable.

3D films MAY be interesting once cinematography and filmmaking and the like alter there techniques to utilize 3D in a non-gimmicky way. So far, Avatar is the only film I can think of that was better because it was in 3D. It will be interesting to see how competent people do this.

By the way, "done right" in this case means "everything goes into the screen as if it were a window, nothing comes out of it." Stuff going in is more engaging. Stuff popping out is headache inducing

I read this...paused...and thought, "You know what, he is absolutely right!" thinking about all the experiences Ive had with 3D, I may have only rarely felt like 3D was a positive thing, but it was always the popping-out 3D that made me actively grumble about distracting, gimmicky bullshit.

Its that kind of critical thinking that might make 3D technology worth a damn.

 

[Astoria]

I think they've been trying that at the cinema near where I live. There hasn't been many 2D showings of movies if any when they first come out but I think sales must be terrible because there's always showings in the second week. Fortunately there's a much better cinema not too far away that always has 2D just because there's 30 cinemas fill.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

In a pretty small town, there were plenty of 2d showings: I actually misread the listing, and accidentally went to a 3D showing. Best thing I can say is that in avengers, the 3D didn't actively detract from the movie very much. Just costed more and I hate wearing glasses.

I'm predicting that since people will grudgingly pay more for 3D if they have to, 2D movies will start costing more then the 3D because its a "less desirable format" when really, it's more desirable.

3D films MAY be interesting once cinematography and filmmaking and the like alter there techniques to utilize 3D in a non-gimmicky way. So far, Avatar is the only film I can think of that was better because it was in 3D. It will be interesting to see how competent people do this.

By the way, "done right" in this case means "everything goes into the screen as if it were a window, nothing comes out of it." Stuff going in is more engaging. Stuff popping out is headache inducing

I read this...paused...and thought, "You know what, he is absolutely right!" thinking about all the experiences Ive had with 3D, I may have only rarely felt like 3D was a positive thing, but it was always the popping-out 3D that made me actively grumble about distracting, gimmicky bullshit.

Its that kind of critical thinking that might make 3D technology worth a damn.

Agreed.

I have 2 3D screens in my home and fairly extensive experience with what 3D does and can do. It's at it's best when it's aiming to appear natural, there's nothing natural about a gun coming way out of the screen at you...it's stupid. It points to how new film making with 3D as a consideration is, especially outside of animated works. The need to poke you in the eye is just born of immaturity. "Hey! Look what we can do!"...this'll pass.

There are some things that are commonplace in film making that don't lend themselves well to 3D. The first thing that comes to mind is the super-fast cuts style of a lot of modern action films. Shakey cam is questionable too. These are(in my opinion) 2 things that we could do with having less of in films, whether they be 2D or 3D.

Oh 3D in film is ok.

It's when they start to add it to videogames that I get hesitant.

Wha!? 3D in games can be absolutely fantastic.

I'm yet to experience anything on the ps3 that is really impressive, but then it's easy to understand why the ps3 would fall short in this regard...the current gen of consoles can't manage the 1080p they were originally boasting even when they only have to output the image once.

A good 3D screen attatched to a powerful pc can give some outstanding results. Arkham City was mind-blowing at times with this set-up. I genuinely had to stop playing Alan Wake in 3D the other night because it was stressing me out, that's how immersive and terrifying it became.