Cult action film "Revenge of the Shogun Women" is set to be released by Kino Lorber Studio Classics on 12/14/2021. The film - directed by Mei-Chun Chang - was initially released in 1977 in theaters during a 3D craze revival where films like "Jaws 3D" and "Friday the 13th -Part 3 3D" were all the rage in theaters. "Revenge of the Shogun Women" was not a huge hit upon its initial release, has never been released on DVD or BluRay formats, and was on the verge of being lost. Thankfully the folks over at 3-D Film Archive launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to restore the film (under the capable hands of Bob Furmanek) and now that restoration work is complete. The BluRay itself will contain both polarized and red/cyan 3D versions of the film. For those who do not wish to view the film in 3D, there will also be a 2D version made available in the same set!
In a day and age where 3D TV's are a rare and dying breed, a release like "Revenge of the Shogun Women" is sure to please fans of the format. It's also wonderful when an underground film is plucked from obscurity and saved through passionate film fans on sites like Kickstarter. For fans of 3D movies, "Revenge of the Shogun Women" is sure to be an interesting addition to their collection!
Labels:
disney,
marvel
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Saturday, September 4, 2021
In what may be a sort of 'last hurrah' for the BluRay 3D format, Marvel's "Black Widow" WILL be getting a 3D release on September 15th, 2021! This is especially good news for Marvel fans who were afraid the latest superhero movie would not be available in their favorite format, but in a way there's every reason to believe this will one of - if not the - final BluRay 3D release from Disney! See, you can't buy this from Zavii in England. You can't buy it in Canada. You can't buy it in France or any of the other European countries.
No, the only place you can buy "Black Widow" with a 3D copy is in Japan!
More precisely, you will need to buy a combo pack that includes the film in UltraHD 4K and MovieNEX (which is basically Disney's version of Movies Anywhere in Japan)! And yes: region locking will almost certainly be a thing, so hopefully you have a region free player. Now, as I state over and over on this site (almost to the point where I could just copy and paste many of my previous posts, change a few names, and call it a day) I am always happy when a 3D movie comes to disc. I feel even more happy in this case because Disney has been shunning the format in a way that I haven't seen them do since they first famously cancelled the US release of "Frozen" in BluRay 3D (thus setting off the domino effect of other studios ditching the format). Despite continuing to make movies in 3D, Disney movies that did NOT see a BluRay 3D release recently include:
Luca
Soul
Raya and the Last Dragon
Us Again (Short)
Olaf's Frozen Adventure (Special)
Mulan
And this isn't even counting the fact that "Free Guy" was recently announced with no BluRay 3D release (and "Jungle Cruise" is almost certain to follow)! It's not just Disney either: "The Boss Baby: Family Business" and "The Mitchell's vs. the Machines" either aren't getting a BluRay 3D release or will be getting NO physical release at all! Honestly, it seems like Warner Bros. is the only studio really bothering anymore (which is saying something since their parent company - AT&T - cares so little about movies they dumped their entire 2021 slate on HBO Max for basically free), seeing that "Godzilla vs. Kong" actually got a BluRay 3D release in AMERICA of all places! And now we have "Black Widow," coming out on BluRay 3D, yes, but in a combo pack that is highly expensive (Japan has some of the highest prices for movies in the world) and being packaged as basically a special feature. I haven't had to buy such a release since (in a weird case of deja vu) "Ralph Breaks the Internet" was only available in 3D in a similar way. And, yeah, I'm going to buy it. Its going to run me north of $80 to do so because...well, what choice do I have?
Yeah, it's going to look weird on my shelf with the Japanese text. Trust me, I know the feeling. It's already weird enough to have discs in my collection that have an alternate rating on them other than the MPA's; having a foreign text cover the artwork makes it extra weird. What choice do I have though? Kind of like how I've had to make the decision recently to see movies in 4DX as opposed to IMAX to get the 3D effect, if I have to go to Japan to get "Black Widow" in 3D I guess I have to go to Japan to get "Black Widow" in 3D. The fact that this is the only place to get it though, and that so many other movies in general have not gotten 3D releases, leads me to believe this very well may be one of the last BluRay 3D's we get in any form. Maybe Warner Bros. keeps the format alive a little bit more, but the fact that even Zavii isn't getting 3D versions anymore means the writing is likely truly on the wall.
I know there is a lot of questions as to why, but it's really simple: the pandemic changed everything. When the pandemic hit theaters closed. Streaming got more popular. More companies decided to put their eggs into their own streaming services. Physical media became cumbersome to make when factories were shut down and production slowed to a halt. It's much easier to stream things than to buy them on disc (in some ways its cheaper as well). Theaters are open again but the theatrical window has shrunk again. Disney has made it clear their future is in Disney+ and they've restructured their company in a way that makes this VERY clear! Ironically, it actually costs LESS money to stream 3D movies than 4K or HDR, but with the 3D TV's still not being made why bother put them up that way?! BluRay 3D has been a niche product for years selling around 20,000-60,000 discs a title. Sure, part of the reason is that limited supplies of these titles are made in the first place, but these are not number huge corporations are interested in.
They aren't even interested in producing physical media anymore. Streaming is cheaper for them and better for the planet. It's a win-win as far as they are concerned. Yes, there are problems with this thinking, but it doesn't matter; this is the direction Disney is going and every studio they own just has to live with it. If you really love 3D, buy every disc you can, whether they come from Canada, Europe, or Asia. If there's a movie you want to see in 3D, catch it while its in theaters or risk never experiencing it that way. No, I'm not shutting down the blog, but there is less reason to update it. Do you really want to read a bunch of new posts saying that a movie is NOT coming to BluRay 3D?! Man, that's so common now its not even funny. I'll talk about a 3D release that is coming and how to get it, but saying a movie isn't getting a BluRay 3D release is like bringing up a politician and announcing they're corrupt: it isn't really news after awhile! But hey, if you like "Black Widow," I'm happy you have this chance...even if you'll need to have katakana written all over the case.
Labels:
AMC,
IMAX,
marvel,
sony
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Friday, May 21, 2021
Although the future of 3D is still in question after Covid-19 almost destroyed the theater business (as well as proved to have an annoying fog problem for those wearing masks), it seems Sony intends to release "Venom: Let there be Carnage" in RealD 3D when the film is released in September (if the latest poster is to be believed). No word yet on whether or not the IMAX release will also be in 3D (which the previous film was released in). Although I'm still not sure how many theaters are going to be dedicating valuable screen time to 3D movies in the coming months, fans of the format can take some comfort knowing that "Godzilla vs. Kong" had 3D and 4DX screenings in America (and by all accounts did very well).
What will also be of comfort is the continued relaxing of mask regulations for those who have been vaccinated. With (hopefully) the vast majority of people vaccinated by September, wearing masks should be less of an issue, and thus fogging of the glasses won't be a concern. Although it's nice to see movies still coming out in 3D, I would be lying if I said I wanted to see this particular film in 3D. The original "Venom" was a dark movie. The 3D made things worse. If the second film is shot brighter this won't be a concern, but it is worth noting none-the-less. For fans of 3D, you have at least one more release to look forward to!
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Friday, April 30, 2021
I know there hasn't been a lot of activity here as of late. That is partly because the world of cinema more-or-less came to a halt this past year. Movie theaters were closed for most of the year. The future of our favorite chains are still in peril. The historic Cinerama Dome and ArcLight went dark (and there is no word on who will save them). The Oscars just had their lowest ratings in history (despite the fact that the nominees were widely available on streaming sites for anyone to see). Movies were either delayed a year or two or sold to Netflix to recoup some of the money that was invested. With all this chaos in the film industry, not many people were wondering what was going to happen with 3D, a format that has had diminishing returns for a long time. Yet as I sit here - the only guy who even bothers to keep a blog dedicated to the format (as far as I know) - 3D is in no better or worse shape than it was before. Despite "Trolls: World Tour" being the start of the 'day-and-date' release strategy, the film was still released on BluRay 3D both internationally and in the states (something the first film still has yet to do).
You never know when you'll be able to buy these at Best Buy.
What's more, even though "The Croods: A New Age" did shockingly well in theaters, there were virtually no reports of 3D screenings anywhere (despite advertising it on the poster). Yet the movie does have a BluRay 3D release here in the states. "Wonder Woman 1984" was basically given away for free on HBO Max while it was released in a 2D only format in theaters, yet a few BluRay 3D copies were made for purchasing in the states (not internationally as far as I'm aware). Strangely though, Disney films "Soul" and "Raya and the Last Dragon" not only didn't have any 3D screenings in general, but there are no release plans for BluRay 3D's despite both films having 3D versions available. While it looked like Covid would put the final nail in the coffin for 3D movies in theaters, "Godzilla vs. Kong" DID receive 3D dedicated screenings at AMC Theaters (who continues to advertise how safe the 3D movie going experience is) while people who saw the two monsters duke it out in 4DX and select RPX screenings also got to experience the film in three dimensions. 3D TV's are still not in production, but glasses-free 3D is making nice progress. Finally, while 3D display was taken out of the new XBox Series X and PlayStation 5, the format survives through Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR (as well as Nintendo 3DS to a certain extent).
In short, nothing still makes sense, and we are in no worse a place than we were before.
Is 3D still in a place where it has more to drop, or are we in a position where we've hit rock bottom and there's nowhere for the format to go but up? It's hard to say. I can't exactly say I'm an expert in these things (and I certainly didn't see a global pandemic that would almost destroy the very industry I love coming). I can't even tell you if the 3D screenings of "Godzilla vs. Kong" sold out because people genuinely wanted to see the film that way or if the 25% capacity cap forced people to see it in a format they would rather not. Heck, did we not get theatrical 3D releases of "The Croods: A New Age," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "Wonder Woman 1984" because it was still too early to even toy with the idea, and did the release of "Godzilla vs. Kong" come along at just the right time as people were getting vaccinated, so theaters decided they'd give it a go?! Were there contract obligations to follow? I don't know. I truly don't know. Here's what I do know: 3D - for all its ups and downs - is still something that fascinates people every other decade or so.
Despite not being released in theaters, the 3D version still found it's way to BluRay 3D in America and other territories.
Technology keeps looking for new ways to experiment with the format. Artists still want to use it. BluRay 3D fans are dedicated mother f*&kers (enough so that three movies with NO theatrical 3D releases got home video releases)! The theatrical experience is NOT dead and people will ALWAYS want to go out to see movies!!!In short...we're at another transitional period. We honestly won't know where 3D really is until "Black Widow" comes out. Marvel movies lean heavily on 3D for extra money, so how that is released will determine where we are. Will we get a theatrical 3D release with import BluRay 3D? Will we get a theatrical 3D release but no physical release? Or will we get neither? Or, what about the fourth option: that Disney is putting all their eggs into the (3D free) Disney+ and don't care all that much about theatrical or physical media anymore, so we really shouldn't base anything on them?!
Nobody truly knows anything at this point.
The reality is that in the grand scheme of things, 3D isn't much of a concern for anyone. We're just now getting vaccinated and the world might be back to normal in another year or two. A niche visual format isn't too many peoples top priority (I include myself in that category). That said, as I have clinged to hope throughout the past year, so too will I do so going forward. I am happy that we are still getting BluRay 3D releases (in the states none-the-less)! I happily paid money to see "Godzilla vs. Kong" in 4DX and RPX 3D (and IMAX...what, it's been awhile since I've been to the movies; I was going to watch anything in these formats)! I also take comfort in the fact that key blockbuster movies coming out in the next few years have completed 3D versions, meaning the format will likely be around in some form for awhile. As for this blog I will still update it once in awhile. No one really reads it anymore (and there's not enough news to keep it updated on a daily basis), but I enjoy returning to it here and there, and hopefully a day will come when updates are more frequent! By that time maybe we can look back at posts like this and laugh, wishing that we could reach through our computers and give past me some comfort for what's to come. Who knows (not me, that's for sure)?!
This was awsome in 3D and totally worth seeing in theaters!
Labels:
4k 3d,
PS5,
vudu,
XBox
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
While the XBox One and Playstation 4 had the ability to play BluRay 3D discs (and - in the case of the PS4 - stream 3D movies from VUDU), it appears that the new XBox Series X and Playstation 5 consoles do NOT support 3D of any kind! Frankly, the news isn't that surprising, but it does mean you might want to keep those system around if they are used as primary players of 3D content. More info in the video above.
3D has survived many troubles. It's survived $3-$4 surcharges on ticket prices. It's survived 3D TV's dying. It's survived the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios going 2D. IMAX still shows it (however infrequently). Every year there are at least a few articles written about the 'death of 3D,' and every year passes and the format is still a common occurrence in movie theaters and theme parks. What's more, foreign markets have kept the format alive and well, and with glasses free 3D TV's making remarkable progress, it seemed like the format would never really go away, it would just...be taking it easy for awhile.
However, COVID-19 could actually change that (and I'm not being hyperbolic either).
Because while it's nice to see 3D TV's without glasses make some real headway, the reality is that until they are perfected, glasses will be needed to continue to properly see 3D. 3D will need to be projected in order to keep enough interest in it for glasses free 3D to still be seen as a worthwhile pursuit. The problem is that as we slowly begin to reopen the world (and this includes our theaters and parks) there is going to be a 'new normal' for a period of time until a vaccination can be made (or until the cases are so small it's not worth worrying about). Since the pandemic started we now know that the virus primarily passes through the droplets people spew when they talk, laugh, pant, and scream (AKA: Wear a damn mask everyone), however a small amount of cases can be caused by the virus being on the surface of something.
Touch a handle that has the virus and then wipe your face a few seconds later and...yep, you can get Covid-19. Now, most 3D glasses come individually pre-packaged, so you would THINK this wouldn't be a detriment! However, there is so much going against 3D right now. Ticket sales are still down. People will question whether a pair of IMAX glasses are "clean" if they are coming off a rack. Theaters will be capped when it comes to attendance. This means (when theaters reopen) we'll be entering a world where glasses that aren't pre-packaged will be seen as suspicious, demand will still be down, and theaters might really not want to dedicate screens for a format that isn't high in demand as it is (never mind the unanswered question if most will even want to return to theaters at all)!
It's not just 3D either; I question whether 4DX will be hindered as well (is it really "safe" to see a movie where wind effects can spread things in the air?). I know that the world is a very different place these days. It's going to be different for at least a couple of years. We already know many businesses that closed will not reopen and people will move away that never return. Some things we used to do might go away as well. Though I suspect 3D will be given another shot ten years down the road, I do genuinely worry that Covid-19 might actually knock 3D down for a good while. There hasn't been a lot to talk about in the world of 3D, but as long as it exists in some form I will update this blog. Updates might not be frequent though.
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Thursday, May 14, 2020
"Trolls World Tour" ended up skipping a 3D release in theaters. Heck, minus a few drive-in theaters, it famously skipped theaters entirely! This was such a drastic thing to happen, that when it turned out to be a very profitable move for Universal, AMC Theaters sai they were effectively banning ALL Universal films in their theaters when they re-open (though I'm 90% certain there will be a compromise before that happens)! While I do know that there are more important things going on in the world than worrying about whether or not a movie gets shown in 3D, I have stated multiple times that I really enjoyed the first "Trolls" in 3D (and am still disappointed to this day I can't watch it in that format again). I was worried that we'd never get to see this in 3D at all. Thankfully, though it had to (understandably) bypass the theaters, if you're willing to play the import game you CAN get it in 3D over at Zavii! What's more: There are THREE ways to get it! A two disk 'Dance Party Edition,' a limited steelbook edition (which will likely sell out quickly), and a two movie collection with the first "Trolls!"
It's that latter edition that I am most curious about. It's pretty obvious that this means the "Trolls World Tour" disk will be the 3D version. However...does that also mean the first movie will be in 3D as well? Is this going to be the first chance we've had in years to re-watch the original movie in the 3D version is was so clearly made for? I suppose we'll have to wait and see. For the record, I've pre-ordered both the steelbook AND the two movie collection! I know that seems redundant, but if the two movie collection DOES have the first movie in 3D, then I certainly want to report on it! If it doesn't...well, I'll send it back and keep the steelbook edition! Keep in mind I have NO idea if these will be region free, so buy at your own risk (I've decided to remove that fear by buying a region free BluRay player, so I'll let you know what the disk is like either way)!
My latest 3D YouTube endeavor involves me going over some movies that have 3D versions available (in some cases were filmed in 3D), but, for one reason or another, you can no longer watch. This is actually the first in what's going to be a series, so I'll keep you updated on future videos! Also, while you're at it, feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel (where I am a lot more active than I am here, I must admit)!
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Monday, January 13, 2020
As the nominations for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards were announced, eight 3D films scored nominations. Like the previous few years, they mostly involved visual effects heavy movies and none were for Best Picture. A few were for Best Animated Feature though. The nominated films include:
Avengers: Endgame
Frozen II
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
The Lion King
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Missing Link
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Toy Story 4
It should be noted while there are BluRay 3D's for most of the films released internationally, the 3D version of Laika's "Missing Link" remains...well, missing (ho ho) in action (unsurprising given the weak box office returns of the film). The awards will be be presented on February 9th, 2020.
Labels:
Universal
Posted by
Kevin T. Rodriguez
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
DreamWorks and Pearls "Abominable" is available on BluRay 3D. In America. Like, this is no joke: someone other than Warner Bros. is releasing a movie on BluRay 3D as we close out 2019. It's amazing to think that I almost missed this story as BluRay 3D's are so rare in the states, I resigned myself to importing them from now on (which will be easy to do thanks to my new LG UltraHD BluRay 3D region free player that my wife got me for Christmas...I love you honey)! When she mentioned she wanted to get this movie I got online to see which country I needed to import this from, only to find out that it can be bought here in the states! Unbelievable! Universal didn't even do that for "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" (which completes what I consider to be a perfect 3D trilogy) or "Despicable Me 3," but for some reason they decided "Abominable" was worth going out of the way to do this for.
I mean...I'm not complaining, but I do find Universal's special exceptions to be a little on the odd side. The last time I remember them doing this was for "The Grinch," which was a fairly substandard 3D experience. However movies that did NOT get BluRay 3D releases in the states include:
"Captain Underpants: The First Chapter"
"Trolls"
"How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World"
"The Secret Life of Pets 2"
"Hobbs & Shaw"
What's more strange, Universal doesn't release that many 3D movies, and for this list I went back three years. They did release "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," "Skyscraper," and "Pacific Rim: Uprising" on BluRay 3D here in the states in limited quantities at least, so I'm not sure why they largely are doing this at random for their animated films. Also, it should be noted, "Abominable" will cost about $45 if you decide to get it on BluRay 3D; more than double the cost of the standard BluRay (and even more than the 4K release)! Granted, this makes sense as this is truly a niche product at this point, and I am more than willing to pay that price so long as I can buy the disk. Either way, this is both a happy and confusing surprise. Happy because it's one more 3D disk I can legally buy in the states without doing the import game. Confusing because it's not a movie too many people saw, and the demand for a 3D release was fairly low. I suppose beggers can't be choosers though, so I'm buying my copy from Best Buy before it sells out (it's also available on Amazon for those who have no moral issues with purchasing from them).
So...there was a debate about 3D on "The John Campea Show" a day or two ago (depending on when this goes up) that I just KNEW I would have to comment on for this blog! It concerned a question sent in by a viewer who was upset that his local theater was showing the 3D version of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in coveted earlier time slots, where as his preferred choice of 2D was being shown at inconvenient times like 1:45am (I personally think he's lucky; I have the exact opposite problem). This resulted in Campea going into one of his famous rants about how no one likes the 3D format, how it needs to die, and that no one wants to see 3D (while at the same time admitting some 15% of people do...oddly enough). The discussion was then turned over to Robert Burnett who had some unique insights of the format (being a fan himself) and Erin Cummings, who admitted to being burned by 3D but open to learning more about the process itself.
Overall, it was a great discussion from everyone all around, and it's certainly worth talking about here. If you want to watch the whole segment (and I strongly recommend you do) I have embedded the video below...
For those who might not have time, I'll summarize the points made by all three individuals the best I can and give my response to the points made in the order of appearance (though I also think watching the video will be faster than reading this but, eh, if you want to help me feel like my work is being appreciated... ^_^;).
John Campea
Out of the three, Campea is by far the most vocal about his hate for 3D. This is unsurprising because he sees 3D not as a means to tell a story but as a way to gouge customers for extra money at the box office (which, to be fair, is sometimes the case). He strongly condemns the theaters who are "forcing people" to see "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in the 3D format as people would much rather see it in 2D. He uses a poll he set up on his Twitter account as support for his argument, as from a total of over 2,400 responses, 89% percent said they would prefer to see the film in 2D (Editor's note: As of this writing the poll has over 6,500 responses and the number of '2D preferred' shrinks slightly to 87%). He claims that this means that theaters should only devote about 15% of their screen time to 3D movies (a fair argument, I will admit). However they instead choose to price gouge their customers for a format they don't like, have never liked, and don't want to see. He then goes into a huge rant about how no one likes 3D and it needs to die (and yesterday, if he had it his way). Campea also makes some points about theaters making a bad movie experience with too many previews that I am almost 100% in agreement with, but it's not important to the topic of this blog (another reason to watch the whole video). My Take
I love John Campea! He's my favorite person in the world to disagree with! While there is a good portion of the time I agree with what he has to say, when I disagree with him it is both frustrating and fun to watch someone who is so well versed in movies giving a perfectly plausible argument that I ultimately disagree with, but I can't help respect. If we were sparring vocally with each other in the same room, he'd be my Siskel: Someone I would fight like hell with to prove wrong, but ultimately not take it so seriously we wouldn't shake hands after our sparring match and say "well done, sir!"
That out of the way...boy does he $%^# up his own argument in more ways than one this time.
First off, we have him complaining that theaters are price gouging customers on 3D and forcing them to see a version of the movie they don't want to see. Well, as someone who DOES prefer to watch 3D (and already has his "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" IMAX 3D ticket in hand) it sometimes feels like I'm part of the small group that gets shafted all the time just because the version I want to see isn't as popular. When I got my ticket for the movie, I had ONE show time to pick if I wanted to see it in IMAX 3D (my preferred format)! The fact that it is at 4:15pm doesn't mean they are forcing people to see a version of the film they don't want to, it just means they are providing that 15% capacity rule to the people who want to see it as a reasonable time. Also, as someone who DOES prefer the 3D format, it's interesting that he doesn't stand up for my desire to see the 3D version at a reasonable time (thus forcing me to see "Avengers: Endgame" in IMAX 3D at the 'ripe' time of 11:45pm...yay...). He does admit that this isn't every theater in the world though, so I will give him that. What about his complaint that theaters are forcing 3D on people with more prime show times though? Well, I decided to look up the AMC Burbank 16 show times (a theater we both LOVE by the way) and...
...well, on preview night, there appears to be a lot more 2D showings than 3D showings (and there are a couple of 2D show times that are almost sold out, confirming that Campea is likely right about there being more demand for those showings). However, what about the premium screenings?
In this case we have a rare (I want to stress that point) case in which ALL the IMAX screenings that night are in 3D! In contrast, all the Dolby screenings are in 2D (even though they are perfectly capable of projecting some excellent 3D images). So in this case there is a 50% choice between the two, and if you are a fan of 2D and want to see the movie on preview night and those Dolby premium screenings are sold out...well, I guess you're forced (sorry, couldn't resist) to see the film in IMAX 3D or a standard screen. On the positive side, IMAX 3D almost never costs more money than a IMAX 2D screening (those surcharges are typically for regular screens, and when IMAX does charge more, it's usually by only $1). Still, this is more 3D on opening night than we usually get, so does this add some credence to the complaint that theaters are forcing 3D on 'Star Wars' fans here? What does Friday (the actual opening day) look like?
Well, well, well...it appears on opening day there is only one IMAX 3D show time. While there ARE more 3D screenings of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" than usual, the 2D show times still easily outnumber the 3D screenings (particularly in Dolby)! As more times are announced, I bet you those screenings will be 2D, meaning that there will be a healthy balance. I will admit that the added amount of 3D screens might come off as "price gouging" in Campea's eyes, but seeing as that the previous 'Star Wars' films (with "Solo" being the exception) were all EXCELLENT in 3D and made those movies better on a visual level, it's difficult to determine if this is the theater 'price gouging' as he says, or whether there is simply more demand to see a movie like "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 3D (movies with flight and water are especially helped by the 3D format). Either way, there appears to be a good balance here and there are still FAR more 2D screenings than 3D screenings!
For Campea one IMAX 3D screening may be too much in his eyes, because despite the fact that he admits by his own poll the theaters should be serving 10%-15% of their screens with 3D, he then goes on one of his famous rants about how no one likes 3D, no one wants to see "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 3D, and that the format needs to die already. Um...weren't you just saying there were 10%-15% of people who LIKE 3D movies?! Doesn't that suggest that maybe 3D shouldn't go away per se, but rather change with the specific demand (his co-host Erin has an interesting idea that we'll discuss in a minute)? 10%-15% may not sound like a lot, but to an industry that sells I don't know how many millions of tickets a year (particularly to movies like this), that's a LOT of people you are saying doesn't matter! That's also a LOT of money being left on the table!
Sure, not having the choice for 3D at all doesn't mean people will stop going to movies, but that is still a substantial amount of people who want to pay for them none-the-less, and so the format doesn't need to die, it simply needs to evolve or change focus. Also...I do want to throw in one more thing before we move on to Burnett. This wasn't specifically brought up during the segment, but I want to bring it up anyway. Campea has been commenting on the whole 'Martin Scorsese vs Marvel' situation (and has been one of the more fair commentators on the subject). When Scorsese first made his comments about Marvel movies, he said he didn't watch them. Sure, he tried to watch them, but they just weren't for him. Campea (in a much more respectful tone than he gave to 3D fans) suggested that while Scorsese was a god amongst film makers, as someone who didn't watch Marvel movies, maybe he wasn't technically qualified to be making comments on them (saying they aren't cinema, they are more like amusement park rides, etc, etc).
Personally, John, I would like to humbly suggest (as someone who is not as big as you and will NEVER be watched/read as much as you) that maybe you aren't qualified to be making comments on 3D as a viable format/business? After all, you don't watch them. You have no idea if these movies would be helped or hurt by being in 3D. You really don't see how good the format can and how much better it's gotten ("Alita: Battle Angel," "Gemini Man," "Mad Max: Fury Road"). For that matter...to my knowledge, you don't own a theater. You don't know how many tickets to 3D films are sold in general. I don't think your Twitter poll (being as limited in scope as it is) gives you the right to say 3D needs to die because no one wants it. If that were TRULY the case, then no one would be buying tickets at all, and the theaters wouldn't show them period! The fact that IMAX made a big deal about going '2D only' (and I've written extensively about that) yet still manages to squeak in some 3D showings suggest that there IS an audience for them! It suggests that people DO enjoy them!
And as someone who admits to not watching them, and (again, to my knowledge) doesn't own a theater, I would like to humbly suggest you aren't qualified to be making comments about this particular subject. On a side note, I too get to go to critic screenings sometimes, and in most cases there appear to be the choice of 3D or 2D (particularly with Marvel movies), and there have been a couple times ("Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2" and "Gemini Man" come to mind) where there were people actively picking the 3D version over the 2D version, so it's not like critics who like 3D don't exist. Personally, I think it just depends on the movie and whether or not the critic wants to see that particular one in 3D. That's just me though. Alright, let's move on to Robert.
Robert Burnett
Of the three, Robert Burnett is the biggest fan of 3D. He admits to owning a 3D TV and projector (if I heard correctly) and imports many 3D films from Europe (like many of us do). He is, however, very critical of the theatrical 3D experience and says it needs to die, but for very different reasons than Campea. Instead of blaming the format itself as being the problem, he believes the problem is that for years it has been projected poorly by theaters who want to save money on bulbs (long story, but read up on it here). He mentions that "Avatar" is the only theatrical 3D experience that was met with overwhelming positive reception because James Cameron demanded that theaters project it a certain way (and left instructions on how to do it). Otherwise he claims 3D screenings are usually dim, dark, and theaters have been too slow to address the issue.
By not addressing the issue for so many years, it has burnt out too many people who will never give it another chance ("done in by our own greed" as he so excellently puts it). He claims that home 3D is a far superior experience and prefers to wait until he can watch it at home (while he laments on the fact that 3D TV's are no longer being made). He says the only 3D screenings he trusts now are IMAX 3D with laser projection. Otherwise...he skips it. The risk of a sub-par display is too great these days. Taking all this into account, he feels there is no saving the theatrical 3D market at this point, and it's probably best to let it pass by and save it for Europe and Asia who are doing it properly. Oddly enough, he doesn't comment on the fact that even in Campea's poll, there are 10%-15% of audiences who still see 3D.
My Take
With all due respect to Campea, Robert Burnett is my favorite member on the show. He is incredibly smart, very insightful, and I think he does a good job at looking at the other side of issues and explaining them in a ways that is understandable to everyone (not that Campea doesn't do that as well, but...Burnett's just a little bit better at it). I think he and Campea work great with one another and I am more than happy that he is a semi-regular on the show. In contrast to Campea, Burnett IS a fan of 3D! I appreciate this because it kept the conversation from being too one sided. And yes, I actually agree with him to a certain extent. As a 3D fan myself, I am VERY particular about where I see my 3D movies and what screens I see them on! I prefer IMAX and now that I've seen 3D in laser their projection with "Ne Zha" I am even more sold that this is the best way to experience it. Beyond that, Cinemark XD is a good screen. AMC PRIME actually has consistently great 3D projection, and should always be picked over a regular 3D screen.
Dolby has great 3D, but I haven't seen them do a 3D film in a LOOOOONNNNG time (so long in fact that the last time I saw one in the format was "Inside Out" all the way back in 2015)!!! If given a regular screen AMC is better than most. Regal is the worst. Don't know why, but they are. If you are in Orange County, Starlight 4 Star Cinema does great 3D when they decide to do it at all. I think I got off topic there for a bit...well, the point is there ARE great places to see 3D! However, the fact that I am surrounded by almost a hundred theaters within 60 miles and limit myself to less than a dozen of them to see a 3D movie speaks volumes about the quality of most 3D screenings. And Burnett is right when he says this problem has gone on for far too long and has ruined the perception of 3D. I don't know if I agree with burning the whole thing to ground, but there is a LOT of work to do if it is to turn around and survive!
I personally think there is something there to save, but do theaters want to put in the effort? I'm not sure if they do. We know the TV market isn't interested in trying again until glasses free TV's become a reality. But people keep asking about it, which means someone clearly loves it. I think Burnett went a little extreme that it was too late to save the format, but he was spot on about pretty much everything else (and even with the one thing I disagree with I admit it will take a lot of work to turn around). Finally, co-host Erin Cummings gives her two cents. It's the briefest, but it also contains the best "ah ha" moment in the entire segment.
Erin Cummings
Oh the three, Erin Cummings is the most indifferent. She claims to have been burnt by bad 3D screenings one too many times to want to give it a serious go again. After hearing about Robert's complaints she does wonder out loud if a movie theater that is designed specifically for the niche market of 3D would be better (because they would - in theory - optimize ALL their showings to be the best). She ends with comments about how she doesn't need things flying around her all the time (the joke too graphic to reprint here), but does admit that she enjoys the five minute rides at Disneyland (she just doesn't want that for two hours).
My Take
From the perspective as a casual viewer, I hear comments like Erin's a LOT! Been burnt too many times, 3D tickets cost too much money, fine for theme parks but not more than that, all the usual bullet points. Funny enough though, she makes the best suggestion about having 3D exclusive theaters whose reputation on great 3D makes a lot of sense in more ways than one. If there was a theater house that specialized in quality 3D and didn't cost much more than a regular ticket, you would be killing two birds with one stone. First of all, a 3D dedicated theater would be where that small but dedicated 3D crowd could go and see their movies, freeing up the average theater to not have 3D showings at all. Since they would be 3D only, they would make sure that their screenings would be of the highest quality, meaning people would be walking away with mostly good experiences (and likely to recommend it to their friends).
So these theaters would be filling a niche, freeing up the AMC and Regal theaters to not have to deal with the format in the near future, AND the reputation of 3D could slowly be built up again! Sounds like a win-win situation all around! Now, who would run these theaters? I don't know. It's a thought experiment right now, so give me a break! All joking aside, she does admit she liked "Avatar" and some of the theme park attractions. I think those comments backs up Burnett's points because that movie and those attractions WERE properly projected for the best possible experience! Most movies are not, which is one of the major problems with 3D today. Whether she realized it or not, she made a strong case for keeping 3D, but doing it right by the audiences. Also, she made a comment at one point she needed to read up more on how 3D works. Well...I may not have the most technical blog (and without an editor the occasional spelling error occurs), but I can point in her the right direction if she wants to see some great 3D experiences and movies (shameless plug, I know).
In Conclusion
Phew...THAT was a lot to unpack, right?! I have to say, it was a VERY interesting 14 minutes! I obviously sided with Burnett the most, but Campea and Cummings made great points as well. It was a big reminder of why I love this show so much! Either way, these are my thoughts on what was said. Why do all of you think? Is there a viewpoint you agree with more than the others? Leave your comments below and keep an eye on this space for more 3D commentary! Also, whatever format you see "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in, hopefully it is a good movie that we all can enjoy! And live long and prosper. Oh, wait, that's the OTHER sci-fi series people gripe about online. Um...may the force be with you, always!
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