Does any of you have the Imax-3D pack? I need help. (1 Viewer)

[Luis M]

I wanted to get these 3 dvds that come with the 3D glasses and special 3D box but I have heard that it may not be compatible with projection or high def tvs. Does anybody who has bought the set has a projection or high def tv? If yes, have you got any problems?
Please,if possible let me know what tv brand you own.

 

[Jeff_P]

Luis,

I have the 3d set but not a projection or HDTV set. If I remember correctly people were having problems with the line doubler. When the DVD is set to 3D mode the screen gets very blurry and I guess the line doubler was having some effect.

Can anyone else clear this up for me and Luis? I came very close to getting an HDTV this holiday but had to hold off becuase of money. But hopefully next year.

 

[Luis M]

Jeff, How good is this dvd set? Is it worth the money?

 

[Joe Schwartz]

I don't have this set (yet), but from what I've read, I'm guessing that it uses alternating interlaced fields for the left/right-eye images. If that's true, then the 3D effect would be ruined by any TV that tried to display a progressive image.

 

[Joe Schwartz]

Update: I just received it, and it works exactly as I described. For the 3D effect to work, you must view the DVDs on an interlaced display. A progressive display will try to combine the alternating left/right-eye fields into single frames, which ruins the effect.

 

[Jeff_P]

Luis,

I havent had the time to watch all 3 yet but based on the one I am watching "Encounter in the third dimension", I would highly recomend this to anyone that enjoys 3D. This is by far the best 3D on a home unit I have ever seen. The surround on "Encounter" is pretty good also.

Jeff

 

[Joe Schwartz]

I agree that the 3D effect is very good, most of the time. It's very effective at showing depth into the TV screen, but not as good at showing objects popping out of the screen. This might be improved by increasing my viewing distance, but I'm limited by the length of the cables. (I'll buy a longer video cable to try this.)
My favorite DVD of the three is Haunted Castle. I think it has the best 3D effects by far, and excellent surround sound. All three DVDs have a DTS-ES audio track as well as DD-EX.
At the price I paid ($75 at dvdplanet.com), this set is a bargain. It's a great introduction to home 3D. There are a few drawbacks, though:
1. The LCD shutter glasses flicker in sync with the interlaced video signal, which some people might find distracting or headache-inducing. But since the 3D effect depends on it, this flickering is unavoidable.
2. As I mentioned above, the wires are too short -- they allow a viewing distance of only about 6 feet. You can buy wireless glasses separately, or buy a longer video cable.
3. Also as mentioned, the 3D effect depends on an interlaced display. It won't work with a deinterlaced progressive display. It might work with a simple line doubler, but that's just a guess.
4. The three included DVDs are pretty boring, and they consist almost entirely of computer-generated graphics. I probably won't watch them more than 2 or 3 times. I'd love to see some live-action 3D films available on DVD. Apparently, there are many available on VHS that should work with these glasses. Encounters in the 3rd Dimension contains some short live-action clips, but they're very small -- they occupy only about 1/9 of the screen (probably because this was originally shown on a huge IMAX screen).
For more information and another opinion, check out this review of the package.

 

[Jeff_P]

Apparently, there are many available on VHS that should work with these glasses

Has anyone tried this with VHS movies? I have The Robot Monster and The Mask on VHS as 3D. I will have to try it. I also have a Skid Row that included one 3D video. I will let you know how it works out.

 

[Joe Schwartz]

Jeff, keep in mind that the movies must be recorded in field-sequential format in order to work with LCD shutter glasses. The old red/blue 3D movies won't work with these glasses.

 

[MikeDE]

Well, if you get tired of watching these, please sell me your outfit. I'd love to get this, but can't swing it right now. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Mike

 

[Jeff_P]

I went to BestBuy yesterday to spend a $150 gift certificate and I noticed a DVD called 'Ultimate G's'. I picked it up becuase it had the same sticker that the other movies in the box set had about getting the 3D glassed. I watched some it last night. It is mostly live action and most of the 3D effects did not go great compared to the other discs.

I also tried this out on my Skid Row video and it did not work either. As mentioned in an earlier post I did not even try this on titles like 'The Mask' or 'Robot Monster' since they used the red/blue 3D technology.

I just wish I had a bigger TV. I am watching these movies on a 27'. I can just imagine on a nice big screen how greater these effects would look.

 

[Joe Schwartz]

Jeff, can you give me a little more description of the "Ultimate G's" video? I considered buying that one, but I thought it was all CGI with no live action. I'm curious now that you say it's mostly live action.

My TV is also 27", and I've found that I get the best effect by sitting pretty close to the screen -- about 4 feet away, in my case. (I bought longer video cables and tried sitting farther away, but it made the 3D less effective.)

It also helps to watch them in a dark room, to minimize any flickering in your peripheral vision. And since the glasses make the image appear darker, it helps to increase the brightness and contrast of your TV.

 

[GregK]

A quick 3-D note on the "Ultimate G's" 3-D DVD":

It's important to note that the movie itself (unless there

was a corrected version put out) is reverse field oriented,

meaning you need to switch the "normal / reverse" button

on the controller box for the 3-D glasses. The intro and

3-D test pattern sequence are correct, but the movie is

reversed. ..Just watch a scene in the film with depth,

then flip the switch and you'll see what I mean.

-Greg-

PS: There is now a fifth field-sequential 3-D DVD

available, but it's an XXXer. Anchor Bay was rumored to

be considering a 3-D DVD of "Parasite", but the word is

those plans are now on hold....

 

[Jeff_P]

Joe,

I watched about 3/4 of the disc on Saturday night at about 3:00am in the morning so I was not at my most attentive state. Most of this disc was about this boy and his dream of flying. I also watched some scenes later that had him flying a plane that look OK at moments. I bought this at Best Buy for 14.99 so I considre it a decent investment towards my 3D system.

 

[Joe Schwartz]

LOL, I saw Parasite in 3D when it first came out 20 years ago. What an awful, awful movie. Its awfulness was surpassed only by Metalstorm.
Thanks for the info about Ultimate G's -- I'll probably pick it up. I just wish we could get DVD versions of the live-action 3D films that IMAX produced, like The Last Buffalo or Wings of Courage.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Greg, what is the name of that XXX title if you don't mind sharing? I saw one that must have been from the 70s ... what a hoot ...

- Jeff

 

[Jesse Skeen]

Yeah, I want that 3-D porno on DVD whatever it is! I have one on VHS called "Sexcalibur", filmed in 1982, that's pretty funny (some creative uses of 3-D, cool music, and awful special effects!) I've also got "The Stewardesses" from 1969, which is softcore and one of the highest-grossing 3-D movies ever (once you've seen this, you can say you've seen everything!)

 

[GregK]

Greg, what is the name of that XXX title if you don't mind sharing? I saw one that must have been from the 70s ... what a hoot ...

They can be real riot. I heard about someone seeing "The
Stewardesses" in 3-D back in the early 70's, and someone
had called the theater and was looking for a patron in the
audience, so the manager stood in front of the screen and
asked if "Joe so-n-so" was in the house. Problem was, the
film was at a section where a pair of legs were sticking
out of the screen and the manager wasn't located in the
umm.. err, well.. best position stereoscopically. :b
Nobody could hear the manager over all of the laughter.
The 3-D DVD XXXer title is a new feature called "Doria",
or "Erotek Dimensions". Like the Slingshot discs, it is
reported that both a 2-D and a 3-D version are included.
Note the running time is listed around 30 minutes.
http://www.vrstandard.com/products/3dtv/3dmovies.htm
(look at the bottom of the page)
Erotek (Outrageous Films) Info:
http://www.outrageousfilms.com/
Link Removed
I should note that the above version of "The Stewardesses"
was the R rated version, and the above links should answer
most questions on the fifth commercial 3-D field-sequential
DVD. I did hint at this XXX 3-D DVD previously, but I would
like to respect forum rules on material that may be deemed
"too sexually explicit".

 

[Jesse Skeen]

"The Stewardesses" is soft-core by today's standards, though still outrageous for 1969. The copy I have has the "X" rating on the poster covered by an "R", but this'd probably still get an NC17 if released today. It does have somewhat of a plot, and some memorable dialogue too!