3D Movies Might Not Be As Bad As Roger Ebert Claims

[Siberian Relic]

I don't care what the experts say, I can't stand it. The last movie I saw in 3D was Tron: Legacy, which supposedly had the best use of 3D since Avatar. Color me unimpressed. Sure, it was nifty....when I noticed it. I experienced no eye strain and no headache. The whole three dimensional ordeal left me cold and ambivalent.

It's just emphasis on the superficial. Put more dimensionality in places of the film that won't look dated once 3D's run its course.

 

[kypsilon]

I seem to remember 3D dying a loooooong time ago. Like, in the 70's. Honestly, we've better things to spend our money on. Like roads that don't accumulate snow in the winter.

 

[SaintWaldo]

Guess which one is Ebert?


There CANNOT be a more fitting response to Ebert than film, itself.

 

[Nifty]

All the science in the world won't stop 3D being a Hollywood gimmick.

 

[ThirdPrize]

In real life you can look at two things, one in the distance and one in the foreground, and neither goes "out of focus" when you focus on one. It may not be that clear but it doesn't blur. In films they tend to keep the action in focus and blur the rest (depth of field, etc) so as to draw your eye to the action. So in 3D films you get the unnatural fuzziness of the background that won't focus whatever you do with your eyes.

 

[ryo02]

3d can go crawl in a corner and die its a gimmick and Ill be glad when its gone.

 

[Scout Tactical]

I feel like the focus of this article was more about attacking Ebert than it was bringing up the enlightening counterargument.

I feel like Ebert gets an undue hard time from the videogame community. Granted, he's stubborn in his old age and doesn't think 'new' things can evolve into art (e.g.: properly applied 3D can't have truly great cinematic effects), but the Escapist seems to be particularly harsh on him. I suspect it has something to do with his position on videogames as an art.

 

[9Darksoul6]

In what way is Engber's point a scientific argument?
He's just trashing Ebert statement in a very educated way.

 

[Gamegodtre]

I'm taking my girl to see Tron 3D on saturday. Thanks for the buzzkill, Escapist.

If you're lucky, it'll rain, too.

if your really lucky the movie will freeze half way thru...

 

[Something Amyss]

Doesn't mean it's not a waste of money, though. doesn't suck.

True, but we should be wary of false claims.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'm sorry, but Ebert perfectly descibes my experience with 3D.

- Dark and fuzzy images.
- Scenes that look like they're cut into numerous pieces.
- An illusion that forces your brain into thinking it's three dimensional, i.e headaches.
- Paying more money for less quality.

Even if I sometimes disagree with the guy, Roger Ebert is the man.

 

[Meggiepants]

Slate is just pissed more people read Ebert's article about why 3D won't work than their article about why 3D won't work.

"The Problem With 3-D" by Slate columnist Daniel Engbar: http://www.slate.com/id/2215265/

Seriously, Slate, is your problem with 3D, or just Ebert?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Seriously, Slate, is your problem with 3D, or just Ebert?

Slate regularly publishes articles that attack popular pundits purely to get outrage-reaction. When Gary Gygax died, they published a scathing take down of Dungeons and Dragons within a week of his death.

Gutter-trash, the lot of them.

 

[ZodiacBraves]

What a surprise, another 3D thread where everyone sits around and hates on a technology they don't have to take part in. I personally like 3D movies and would hate to see them disappear, you all can go see your 2D movies and I'll still go watch my "gimmicky" 3D movies in peace.

 

[ZodiacBraves]

Double Post, please remove.

 

[Falseprophet]

I don't want to kneejerk hate on 3D. I can count on one hand the number of films where the 3D actually enhanced the experience: Avatar, Coraline, How to Train Your Dragon, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, maybe one or two more. Basically, I've only really liked it when the film was i) animated, and ii) involves a lot of flying or very detailed scenery. Maybe it's the exaggerated features of animated characters that makes it work.

I found the 3D in Tron Legacy to be pretty cool during the lightcycle and flying scenes, and rather pointless otherwise (and I saw it on IMAX). And I enjoyed the Green Hornet film, but the 3D added nothing and was clearly a scam to get more box office (almost no theatres in my city had a 2D option). That's unfortunately the lesson Hollywood has learned from 3D, hence their eagerness to cram it into everything.

 

[Meggiepants]

Seriously, Slate, is your problem with 3D, or just Ebert?

Slate regularly publishes articles that attack popular pundits purely to get outrage-reaction. When Gary Gygax died, they published a scathing take down of Dungeons and Dragons within a week of his death.

Gutter-trash, the lot of them.

You gave me a good chuckle. Thanks for that.

I don't think I've ever heard Slate called gutter-trash, but that explains a lot.

 

[rjc34]

I'm taking my girl to see Tron 3D on saturday. Thanks for the buzzkill, Escapist.

The 3D in Tron was absolutely horrid. I mean, if you really want to watch the terrible story, at least do it in 2D. Some parts of the movie aren't even in 3D. And the parts that are exhibit that cardboard cutout effect, and the cutouts that aren't the center of focus are blurry.

Honestly, no post production 3D movie will ever be good. The effect is cheap and actually makes a movie more painful to watch. Here's hoping something like Avatar will come along again.