Some years ago now I remember reading in a magazine – I think it was Empire or Total Film – about the coming of 3D cinema.

According to said article, it was what a room full of movie moguls in Hollywood had come up with as the answer to the problem of video piracy. The idea was that the 3D technology would add something to the movie going experience, something that would not be reproducible in peoples homes, hence giving them an incentive to go to cinemas and pay to see movies rather than downloading them for free from the Internet.

The question is, “Would it work?”

Well, we’ll soon see because now it is a reality. It’s been around for a month or two and there have already been successes including Ice Age 3 in 3D and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. And coming shortly, The Final Destination, which I’m rather curious to see myself.

How 3D Cinema Could Influence the Future of Film Making

The whole idea of 3D films made me think. As a movie enthusiast, I became curious to see what it would be like, especially after I heard (and I haven’t checked this fact) that you don’t need special glasses to make it 3D.

But as an aspiring director I began to wonder whether the 3D would become purely an addition to the movie that added something special to the experience, or whether the technology would actually have an effect on how movies are made, whether directors would begin composing shots that would look better in 3D such as things almost hitting the audience in the face etc.

It would appear I’m on the same wavelength as James Cameron, the mind behind Titanic and the first two Terminator movies who has been part of the team who have created the new 3D technology and whose new 3D epic “Avatar” is coming to a 3D cinema near you in December; who had thought of some of the very same questions that I did (probably before I thought of them too).

The Avatar trailer is here it looks like it has all the makings of  a true blockbuster.

In an interview, he addressed this very point saying that 3D should compliment the movie rather than affect how the story is told. The film must stand up without the 3D because it will later be released on blu-ray disc and DVD and will have to hold its own in the home entertainment market.

But that’s for now. I can easily see in the future certain scenes being made to take advantage of the 3D experience which will then be cut out when the film is released for home entertainement. We already have, with DVD, differing versions hitting the home entertainment market than hit theatres. DVD has already thrown directors an artistic lifeline, allowing them to mass distribute director’s cuts of movies where the theatrical release was editted either for commercial reasons or censorship.

I can certainly see 3D making horror movies scarier and sex scenes more arousing. But on that note, is there a danger that this sort of film could make the jump from mere entertainment to becoming something more?

The Death of Convensional Cinema?

I seriously doubt it. For the time being, 3D is something that only big budget Hollywood movies can afford to do, much the same as colour back in the early days, and because of that there are still going to be countless “conventional” releases for years to come. I’ve also been hearing mixed reviews from people who have already had the 3D experience. Not everybody seems to like it.

Let Me Know Your Thoughts…

Comment away! I’m interested to hear your views. Also I’d like to hear from anybody who has already seen a 3D movie. What did you think? Is it worth the extra ticket price?