Movies in 3D

 I watched How to train your dragon in 3D with my kids and liked the way it looked but not the cost. Visually it was great and they didn’t do any hokey stuff towards the crowd, it just really looked 3D. A new kids movie is coming out soon called The Guardians of something or another and it looks totally awesome! The have a scene with the Owl flying though the rail and it blew my mind.

Well there's a bit of a difference, especially if you are watching it on an IMAX screen vs. a regular screen.  Most movies are shot in 2D and converted to 3D.  Avatar was actually shot on 3D cameras.  (Side note - James Cameron actually developed this technology.  About 8-9 years ago he made an IMAX 3D movie called Ghosts of the Abyss.  It was about the Titanic.  He shot it using a "2-lensed" camera that he and his brother created.)  I also think the right movie has to be shown in 3D.  I used to work for Disney when they started re-releasing classics, like Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, and creating 3D movies for IMAX.  I was part of the group that was responsible for this and is pretty much the reason why mainstream films are in 3D. (It's one of the topics on this site that I can speak with some proficiency about.)  It's not cheap to produce and show a movie in this format.  The projectors are more, there is the cost of buying and cleaning the glasses.  Plus you are paying for the experience.  Visually, Avatar was worth every penny to see it in 3D.  Maybe I have a certain bias for it because I was involved in some of the early 3D movies, but I still think it's a great way to see a movie.  

My wife and I agree that 3D is overrated (opinion of course).  We saw UP in 3D and I was not impressed, just pained by the headache I got.

There was an article out some time ago that said that upwards of almost half of all people really can't even SEE the 3D effects, and just get headaches from it...

I feel like 3D technology is not something that the public is really that excited about... (especially the costs associated with some of the years biggest blockbusters).  I asked my brother-in-law who is very up on television technology and he agreed that the 3D TV's are just not a great idea.  HDTV is not fully accepted or integrated yet and they want to shove a TV that is going to cost us $x,000 to buy??? 

I just don't feel like anything is added to a movie/sporting event/television show by adding 3D...  its just more expensive...

end rant

I do respect the technology and find it great for many other uses (medical, micro-imaging, etc.) I just don't feel like its something that should be forced on people during a economic downturn.

I believe (may be wrong) that Up and bolt are a different kind of 3D then the new style of 3D. How to train your dragon really looked 3D and had to use a different screen then a normal movie. When I saw Up in 3D it was on a normal movie screen.

Make sure never to take a sponge handed out on the run course then.  Heh.  If you think glasses are bad....