Why 3D doesn't Work

[Bruce Malone]

This is a blog post written by Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar Winning Film Editor from Apocalypse now and a hell of a lot of other movies so i would trust this guy's opinion on matters such as this.

I received a letter that ends, as far as I am concerned, the discussion about 3D. It doesn't work with our brains and it never will.

The notion that we are asked to pay a premium to witness an inferior and inherently brain-confusing image is outrageous. The case is closed.

This letter is from Walter Murch, seen at left, the most respected film editor and sound designer in the modern cinema. As a editor, he must be intimately expert with how an image interacts with the audience's eyes. He won an Academy Award in 1979 for his work on "Apocalypse Now," whose sound was a crucial aspect of its effect.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/post_4.html

 

[Travesty]

I dunno, I know a ton of people here hate it, but I actually enjoy it. Although, I've only seen about 2 movies in 3D(Avatar and Toy Story 3), and it didn't disappoint or disgust me, either. And I REALLY enjoyed the short-movie right before Toy Story 3(Day and Night), and it blew me away with the use of 3D.

 

[TheOnlyOmega]

People just dont like it here because its the "In" thing, once it stops being around everywhere, I'm sure everyone will miss it.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I dunno, I know a ton of people here hate it, but I actually enjoy it. Although, I've only seen about 2 movies in 3D(Avatar and Toy Story 3), and it didn't disappoint or disgust me, either. And I REALLY enjoyed the short-movie right before Toy Story 3(Day and Night), and it blew me away with the use of 3D.

Those are probably one of the handful of movies where the 3d was even well done and i'm mainly referring to avatar as opposed to the other 90% of films since.

Also the article is not about hating on a trend but about why 3d does not enhance the movie experience and in fact takes away from a lot of the visualization.

I argued against 3d like a year ago on shh and most of the responses were "well you can see the 2d version" well it's 2011 and a lot of 3d films are now being released to many theaters in only their 3d format.

 

[hippie_hunter]

As long as the 3D is well done like in Avatar, Piranha 3D, Alice in Wonderland, and Tron: Legacy, it's an awesome gimmick. It's only really irksome when they do an incredibly ****** job with the 3D effect like in Clash of the Titans and the Last Airbender.

 

[Max J Power]

Here's an older article from Ebert that might be of interest.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/30/why-i-hate-3-d-and-you-should-too.html

I particularly liked this part.

When you look at a 2-D movie, it’s already in 3-D as far as your mind is concerned. When you see Lawrence of Arabia growing from a speck as he rides toward you across the desert, are you thinking, “Look how slowly he grows against the horizon”? Our minds use the principle of perspective to provide the third dimension. Adding one artificially can make the illusion less convincing.

 

[Bruce Malone]

^^^

Great Point the only thing i think 3D really adds to that effect is putting that image closer to your face. Almost like sitting inches away from your tv set.

 

[Travesty]

^^^

Great Point the only thing i think 3D really adds to that effect is putting that image closer to your face. Almost like sitting inches away from your tv set.

I don't see it that way. When I see 3D movies, it puts a different perspective on certain objects, not just all objects. It's not as severe as to say "it just puts the image closer to my face". It gives you a spatial depth, hence, the "extra" dimension.

 

[danoyse]

When 3D is done right, it's fantastic - How to Train Your Dragon looked so good in 3D that I saw it twice. It's a terrific technology, it's just not being used right in many cases.

 

[JewishHobbit]

The only 3D movies I've seen are Avatar, Up, and Despicable Me. Despicable Me was alright and I hated the other two. I'm getting to the point where if the movie's only available at my theatre in 3D I just pass on it. I won't pay for 3D anymore.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I don't mind 3D at all. I saw Resident Evil Apocalypse, which was a horrible movie, but the 3D effects were not difficult to watch. Avatar was the other that I saw and the more I saw it in 3D, the more I liked it. Both movies were in "REAL 3D" whatever that means.

I find the movie's 3D effects to be perfect when you sit closer to the middle of the theatre. The more you are out on the side, or too far to the left or right, the more that strobing artifact occurs.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I remember one time during Avatar I was looking off to the left side of the screen at something and it was just blurry as can be. The 3D wasn't working there at all and most of the movie I just found the glasses annoying. I later saw it at home in 2D and enjoyed the movie itself MUCH more.

 

[gwynplaine]

Avatar 3D was a great movie experience. All the other 3D movies I've seen since I didn't really care whether they were 2D or 3D, except maybe for Toy Story 3. But what I care the most about really is the story.