Here is a brief history of 3D. 3D in movies is hardly new. It started a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Actually it was in Los Angeles in 1922. It was a movie called "The Power of Love" and it was shown in what they call anaglyph 3D. Basically it comes out in 2 colors (in this case red and green) to give the illusion of depth. They required the 3D glasses that almost everyone from the 50's or 80's would recognize immediately. But times changed and as we get to the 1950's we see a change from red and green to red and blue. And thus stereoscopic filmmaking was born.
By the 1950s we had the "golden age" of 3D movies. The technology had greatly improved thanks to polaroid cameras and now such movies as "The French Line", "Taza, Son of Cochise", and of course the most famous 3D movie of its time, "The Creature From the Black Lagoon." All the major studios were making 3D movies. Stars as varied as Vincent Price to the 3 Stooges were all doing 3D movies. Major Hollywood Blockbusters and B movie trash were all doing 3D.
So what happened? 3D back then had some huge problems that just couldn't be fixed with the technology of the time. 1) you were showing two prints of the movie at the same time. If they got out of sync, it became very noticable. 2) headaches and eyestrain were not that uncommon. 3) if you were sitting to the sides, you wouldn't get the effect. and 4) any cartoons in 3D looked like cardboard cutouts. And thus the fad mostly went away.
Over time the technology got better and 3D was used more sparingly. By the early 1980s, the fad had come back. Westerns and horror movies in 3D became very popular. Movies like "Comin' At Ya!" and "Parasite" were big hits so more 3D movies were on the way. Then somebody somewhere got cute with the marketing of 3D movies. Horror sequels were all over the place and some of them were up to their 3rd installment. Part 3.... 3D.... hilarious! Get it? Because it's the 3rd movie and it's in 3D. Yeah, it's more than a bit lame. But that's why we have movies like Jaws 3D. It's the third in the series but it's called Jaws 3D. They also did Friday the 13th part 3 in 3D and Amityville 3D.
How were the movies? In a word... bad. They relied way too much on the novelty of 3D. Far too many scenes of things flying at the screen and not to mention horrible stories. But the real nail in the coffin was the price to produce some of these movies.
But like any horror movie fan will tell you, just because the coffin is closed, doesn't mean it won't open up again. Enter IMAX, Disney, and the King of Pop: Michael Jackson. Oh yes. I have to bring up Captain Eo. IMAX was using 3D for more documentary type movies. But good old MJ wanted to do something different. He made a music video shot in 3D as an attraction at Disneyland. It's still in operation as far as I know. Overall, a good video. If you are in Disneyland, go see it.
IMAX came up with what is called alternate eye shutterglass technology. It's a fancy way of saying your eyes are blinking. But it happens to work very well in making 3D effects. This began a lot of what I would call "gimmick movies". These are attractions specifically to be in 3D and they aren't whole movies. They are usually about 30 minute shorts. And of course they were successful because 3D was new and novel again.
So we hit the fast forward button again and we are now in the early part of the 2000s. James Cameron just loves 3D. There's no other way to say it. Ghosts of the Abyss, Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, and the Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl all with 3D in mind: all of them using technology James Cameron helped design along with Vince Pace.
While many movies bombed at the box office, some were more successful. The Polar Express for example did amazingly well. But if we are going to talk about successful 3D movies, the first one on everyone's mind these days is Avatar.
Avatar was a groundbreaking movie. The 3D technology was unlike anyone had ever seen before. And in terms of finance, Avatar is one of the most successful movies ever made. So, 3D movies made a resurgence. Now just about all movies are made in 3D. It's even to the point where we have game consoles using 3D technology! Man it sure has come along way from the goofy red and green paper glasses.
Even with new technology, here's the problem with 3D. 1) The 'hazing' effect. Sometimes things in the background look too far away and sometimes blurred out all together in favor of objects in the foreground. 2) eyestrain, headaches, and motion sickness. Sometimes it's just too much to take in. 3) color loss. With the new 3D glasses, they are tinted dark to get rid of some of the harsh edges. So if you are going to watch a 3D movie shot at night... bring a book. 4) It's too prevalent. 3D is added to movies that have no business being in 3D. 5) It's expensive!!!!!!
Avatar might be one of the most successful movies of all time, but it's also the single most expensive movie ever made! Let's not forget that the average ticket price for 3D is at least 3 to 5 dollars more than a normal 2D movie. And what do you get for your money? What does it add to the movie except a novelty? I can't call it a cheap novelty because it definately isn't cheap.
Bottom line: Some movies do benefit from 3D. But usually they are the "popcorn" movies. They are the cheesy B movie schlock that are meant to be entertaining in an ironic way. I loved Drive Angry in 3D because it's a very stupid movie with lots of stuff flying at the screen. It wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable in normal format. Movies like Tron: Legacy benefitted by having the grid scenes in 3D but did anyone get any benefit from seeing The Green Hornet in 3D?
Avatar was meant to be an experience. 3D added to that immersive world full of colors and weird things everywhere. But did it make the story any better? 3D is a distraction. It's an expensive distraction to hide bad movies and squeeze more money out of the audience. And I promise, 2D won't ask you to buy a new tv just so you can enjoy it at home.
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