Should You See "Wicked" in RealD 3D or IMAX 2D?

"Wicked" is opening this weekend and chances are it will be HUGE! I was fortunate enough to see a sneak preview(s) of the film and have written my review on my main website. There are no shortage of options for viewers to watch the film: IMAX 2D, 4DX, RPX, and RealD 3D. Chances are there is a Cinemark XD screen that will have a showing or two in 3D (and honestly, if you live near one of those, that would be the best way to view the film). But what if you have to make a choice? Which version is the best? Well, let's start by nixing the 4DX screening, as the movement in the cinema doesn't really make sense until near the end of the movie, and most of the time the seats just jerk around every time an actor does a dance move in a pitiful attempt to justify the 4DX experience.

Yeah, some of the water and lighting effects are nice, but, again, it only truly feels like it is coming together near the end. The IMAX screening had the best sound, and if you want the best aural experience than the IMAX version is THE version to see! IMAX has had a leg up in terms of the sound department, to the point where it is sometimes a good enough reason to skip the 3D visuals. However, all that being said, the 3D effects in the movie are EXTREMELY well done, with the opening shots gaining new life with the 3D effects and the climax being a tad more exciting with the depth that is brought when the show stopping number is sung on screen! So, the final verdict here is that the 3D version is the best, and if you can find a premium screen that is showing it in 3D then that will be the version you will want to seek out. 

That being said, if sound is more important to you, that may be reason enough to see it in IMAX even without the 3D visuals.

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"Transformers One" to be Screened in IMAX 3D

This is a public service announcement I used to do (and am now going to continue resume) to say that it appears many IMAX's will have one to two 3D screenings of Paramount Pictures upcoming (and surprisingly good) "Transformers One." I have not seen the movie in 3D myself (the critics screening was a standard 2D presentation), but many scenes in the movie were shot in a way that I wondered how it looked in 3D. It appears IMAX thinks they are noteworthy enough to dedicate some showings to presenting it in 3D, so that is likely a huge vote of confidence for the quality of the 3D. Several AMC PRIME locations will also be showing the movie in 3D in case you don't live near an IMAX.

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"Coraline" 4K 3D Re-Release Shows that Great 3D is Still Profitable

Yeah, yeah, I know it's been awhile since I've updated this blog. I promise once again not to fall too far behind (though we'll see how long that promise lasts). I may actually mean it this time because with the Apple Vision Pro making 3D movie drops an event again, there just might be more to talk about. Right now I want to talk briefly about the 4K 3D re-release of Henry Selick's (NOT Tim Burton's) "Coraline," which started out as a one-night Fathom Event and got extended to a one-week release due to great pre-sale numbers. The release has since been extended to a second week where it has (thus far) earned a staggering $37.7 million in its re-release! A few things to keep in mind about this re-release:

1. "Coraline" made roughly the same amount of money during the opening of this re-release as it did when it was first released back in 2010.
2. This re-release made more money than the re-releases of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," "Avatar," and several of the 3D re-releases of Disney classic films (you'll note that all of these movies had 3D re-releases as well).
3. Due to this re-release Laika's upcoming film - "Wildwood" - is getting a huge boost.
4. None of these screenings qualify for Regal Unlimited or AMC Stubs A-List (believe me, I've looked).
5. Most tickets sold have been for the 3D screenings, and most are continuously sold out.

The reasons for this re-release doing especially well are numerous. From the movie becoming a nostalgia cult classic, to the lack of competition from family films, to the fact that "Coraline" has become a classic movie that is now being passed on to the next generation, there is one reason that is (obviously) being overlooked: the 3D presentation itself. While I personally do not believe "Coraline" is the best 3D presentation of an animated film (that honor is a tossup between "How to Train Your Dragon" and Robert Zemeckis's "A Christmas Carol"), it is one of those essential 3D movies that loses something when you watch it in 2D.

The 3D is so essential that even standard BluRays of the film typically have the red and green anaglyph glasses so viewers can somewhat enjoy the immersive experience. So when it came time to do this re-release, the people at Laika and Fathom Events wisely leaned into the fact that this was a 4K 3D presentation. There were many people who have not seen "Coraline" in 3D for many years, and they have fond memories of doing so. Seeing that 3D TVs are still MIA (for the time being), this was one of the only ways for fans of the film to see the 3D presentation of "Coraline" in a way that wasn't completely compromised by old technology.

It also goes on to prove what I have been saying here for years: that a great 3D presentation is not only something that can help the movies but can still be profitable. As a result of this I fully expect a few more re-releases of 3D movies that were hits back in the day to be released in theaters once again. This will be great for 3D fans who want to relive these experiences in theaters once more. Will it result in a new wave of 3D movies? Eh...I expect it might inspire 3D coats of paint to popular 2D movies instead. Which is a shame because a huge lesson that should be learned from this is that great 3D not only makes great movies better, but can also be profitable in the long run. I expect Hollywood to learn the wrong lesson once again.

@icritickevintrod

Laika’s “Coraline” is Still a 3D Masterpiece

♬ original sound - icritic

My brief YouTube Short review

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Two 3D Films Nominated at the 96th Annual Academy Awards

 

Though the list is getting shorter by the year, two 3D movies did manage to get Oscar Nominations at the 96th Annual Academy Awards. The first is "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3," directed by James Gunn. This movie was nominated for Best Visual Effects. Needless to say, seeing that the film was shot in 3D, it's safe to say the 3D visuals were integral to the film getting a nomination here. The other film was Pixar's "Elemental," which got a nomination for Best Animated Feature. One of the producers said he preferred audiences to watch this movie in 3D, and as someone who has regularly criticized Pixar's 3D output, I will say this is one of the best 3D movies they have produced.

The winners will be announced on March 10, 2024.

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Is 2024 The Year 3D Makes a Comeback?

 

Happy New Year everyone!

Alright, I'm a bit late saying that. It's also been...several months since I updated. Looks like life got away from me again. I apologize for that. That does not mean my love for 3D has diminished, only that there is not much to speak of in the world of 3D. However, that may be about to change. In a few months, Apple will be unveiling their newest toy to the world: The Apple Vision Pro. For those who are unaware of what it is, well...it's Apple's answer to the Metaverse. Will it be successful? Hard to say. While very few Apple products have failed these past couple of decades, they are still wading into an industry that is being created before our very eyes (one that the public may not exactly be on board to partake in).

Unlike Meta's foray into the business with the Oculus Rift, Apple has been selling the concept of the device as an entertainment device rather than a virtual reality simulator. Not only was Disney+ one of the first things announced for the device, but Apple announced that over 150 movies would be available in 3D for Apple Vision Pro users! Now, this isn't something that everyone is going to get; at $3,499, it is unlikely you will find this item in the homes of anyone but the most hardcore techies (the average person is likely to spend this money on a trip to Disneyland).

So, in many ways, this 3D delivery device is still going to be a niche product. Yet niche products can lead the way to resurgences. What happens if the audience for this device really warms to 3D movies? Would it be difficult for Apple to issue a firmware update and soon Apple TV devices can display 3D (I genuinely have no idea if this is a possibility, but let's pretend for a moment it is)? What if the 3D option becomes popular enough that at least one TV manufacturer decides to reincorporate 3D displays in their sets to appeal to that Apple crowd? "Avatar: The Way of Water" was recently a massive hit in 3D, showing that when done properly audiences will accept it.

While 3D was always a struggle for streaming, the technology has improved to the point where we are now streaming 4K (3D, for the record, takes less bandwidth to stream than 4K does). If Apple can activate 3D streaming for their Apple Vision Pro customers, what's to say they can't do so for their TV consumers? Heck, VUDU has stubbornly refused to stop selling 3D movies (thank God), so they may be ahead of the game as it is. Then there are the glasses-free 3D TVs. Look...they aren't perfect. Personally, if this is the direction they're going, I hope they wait several more years until the technology is seamless. We don't need what happened with the first glasses support 3D TVs to happen again.

Here's the bottom line: Big things come from small beginnings. While we already had a 3D boom, if Apple makes the format popular again who knows what will happen? We've already had a few hit 3D movies recently. That's one small step. Having a new home device to watch these movies is the next. If Apple automatically gives available 3D upgrades to people who own their movies digitally (like they did with 4K), that will be another small step. Take enough small steps and you're eventually walking. Where are we walking to? Who knows, but let us find out together!

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