Let me begin by saying that I am in no way anti-3D. I lived through every 3D film in the '50s, and generally was bored with them.
I took a serious look at over 20 3D releases, and came away generally pleased.
In my research, I eliminated any discs that were not easily available to the general public -- more later.
The list of titles that I examined on both a 55" flat panel as well as via JVC projection encompassed about
half a dozen live action films, the same number of animated features and about ten shorts.
I have problems with how the films are being presented and viewed.
Let's go to facts.
Last summer I added a new Samsung to my environment in order to see and report on 3D. Half a year later, the thousand or so dollars that I spent on optics enabling the films to be viewed will no longer function on Samsung's latest flat panels. Not a great way to keep customers in the fold.
Let's discuss glasses for a moment. The optics are generally off-color. Those in from JVC are decidedly green, for absolutely no reason that I can find. Assuming that they must have density, why not go for a nice neutral?
Green?!
While Xpand will be coming out with their universal X104 later this year, I've not seen them. I'm told that they will bridge the gap between different vendors and communication mechanisms, and may be colorless. I'll report on those once I have them in hand.
The one thing that I find abhorrent is the concept that one must purchase several flat panels a year, or at least enough glasses to cover an outing from your third graders' entire class. In terms of marketing, the concept of forcing people to buy monitors or glasses in order to get the 3D product that they may wish is about as idiotic as things come. One certain sci-fi title, which I'll not mention, as it isn't in general distribution was going for well over $100 a copy on eBay, and that's what I had to pay to see if it was any good on Blu-ray.
Not allowing the consumer the ability to purchase the Blu-rays that want to see, is akin to shooting the rollout of the system in one foot, while forcing consumers to view through colored optics nicely puts a hole in the other.
For anyone who takes the concept of home theater seriously, there is currently no way to tune a viewing surface.
Buy manufacturers optics, you get one color, buy a universal a few weeks later you get another, with no way to adjust color while multiple pairs are in use. Does one throw away the first few pairs purchased? Not a problem. Let's burn some $500 bills.
Is 3D enjoyable?
Yes, generally, as long as you don't mind viewing a dim image and wearing glasses.
I still prefer a good script.
What I've learned from going over the various releases is that a single company stands at the fore in terms of quality.
Disney.
While Warners' animated Owl film is fun, some of their live action fare is virtually worthless. Saw, from Lionsgate, works in 3D, while Sony's fish picture gave me a headache.
Disney is at the top of the heap with the animated A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland and the live action Step Up.
The absolutely best 3D feature out there is Disney's Tron Legacy, packaged with the original Tron. This is nice story-telling with
brilliantly used 3D. If one were to purchase just one 3D film, Tron should be it.
Generally short films from IMAX are too expensive, but will come down. They range from nicely produced, some of the undersea pieces, to a near abhorrent flying picture that's a bore like many IMAX films of yore.
The various animated features such as Cloudy, are fun, but the real treat is seeing a live-action film shot in 3D, not converted in post like Warner's Clash of the Titans.
Kenny Chesney, from Image is fun, as long as one is a Chesney fan.
My take on 3D is very simple.
It isn't ready for prime time.
Between changes in glasses and synchronization systems possibly yet to come, and only now discussion underway for some sort of standard, we're back to Beta vs. VHS, and red vs. blu.
If you really have to have the toy now, pick up a nice panel or projector that does a great job with 2D, purchase a minimal number of pairs of glasses, checking them for any color before putting down your cash. If they have color, don't buy them. Then buy the Disney releases for their overall quality, and add a couple of others if you must.
But my advice is to generally steer clear until the manufacturers decide whether they want the steering wheel on the right, or on the left.
For those who already have 3D, add Tron Legacy to your library. It 's the best out there.
RAH
