3D Blu-ray Review THE HTF 3D ADDICT: Clash of the Titans in 3D (2010) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

 

 

 

 

Clash of the Titans 3D

 

Studio: Warner Bros.

Product Release: November 16, 2010

Ratio: 2.4:1

Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Running Time: 106 Minutes

Rating: NR

 

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 2.5

3D Separation: 2.5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 0

 

 

For me, the most surprising aspect about this new

remake of Clash of the Titans was not the 3D itself but the

fact that it turned out to be more bearable of a film for me

to watch knowing in advance all the highly negative reviews

given to it by the critics.  It's not a great film, but I got through

it without any fidgeting on my couch.

The story hasn't changed much since the original 1981 film

starring Harry Hamlin and Laurence Olivier.  Basically, men

are questioning and growing tired of the Gods mistreatment 

and cruelty, rising up against them.  In this time a child is

born, a boy destined to change everything. That boy's name

is Perseus (Avatar's Sam Worthington).

While war rages against the Gods, Zeus (Liam Neeson)

is convinced by his brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes) to release

the Kraken to squelch the revolt by the men of Argos. 

It wasn't a good idea to mess with the original 1981 film

that featured the effects work of Ray Harryhausen which

has become something to be worshiped more than the

Gods or heroes of this version which has been muddled

with CGI that has none of the charm of the original stop-motion

effect technology.  

One thing I have learned about 3D from people in the industry

is that Directors need to educate themselves how to shoot a

film properly in the format or the results are going to be chaotic.

I say this because Clash of the Titans was not shot for 3D.

What Warner did in an effort to garner more box-office revenue

was to upconvert the film from 2D to 3D.  The downfalls of 

doing this kind of conversion can plainly be seen in the final 

product.

Clash of the Titans doesn't look horrible in 3D.  It just

doesn't look consistently great.  It's as if the studio labored

hard to optimize the best scenes of the film and then let

others go.  The result is 3D that looks quite passable at

times and at others, you would swear that you were watching

flat 2D.  Sometimes the seams in layers between characters

and background can clearly be seen. 

The overall level of separation (perception of depth) is 

minimal except for a few key scenes that include the

capturing of Medusa and the rise and defeat of the Kraken.

There's mostly the sense that there is 3D, but the level 

of it is quite uneven.

And, because the film was not shot for 3D the effects

work totally ruins the process at times.  You have these

fast-motion battle CGI scenes that come across as blurs

further hindered by shaky camera movement.

There is absolutely no "In Yo' Face" 3D to be seen here.

All objects stay squarely within the confines of the screen.

 

Overall image quality looks perfect with nice earthy tones.

The DTS-MA mix is very robust featuring the score by

Ramin Djawadi.  Lots of underlying bass here with a good

amount of effect noise.  I really enjoyed the use of vocals

across the channels such as a laughing Medusa or the

screeching of winged creatures attacking townspeople. 

This is an encompassing mix.

 

CONCLUSION

 

My best advice here is that if you already own the 

standard Blu-ray of Clash of the Titans there is no real

reason to upgrade as the 3D adds very little enhancement.

 

Equipment

 

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3808CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer

 

[Lord Dalek]

I imagine the failure of the 3D Conversion process used here was the main factor in why Warner canned the 3D version of Deathly Hallows Pt. 1.


Either that or its because that film is in Super 35 which would prove to be problematic grain wise.

 

[Vincent_P]

Modern film stocks combined with a Digital Intermediate should result in a very fine-grained image derived from a Super-35 negative, unless the grain is intentional.


Vincent

Originally Posted by Lord Dalek

I imagine the failure of the 3D Conversion process used here was the main factor in why Warner canned the 3D version of Deathly Hallows Pt. 1.


Either that or its because that film is in Super 35 which would prove to be problematic grain wise.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I think the more likely reason for canning the 3D version of Deathly Hallows Part I is that Warner simply didn't have enough lead time to do a decent conversion. They successfully converted segments of the preceding two films, but the amount of lead time required to do a decent conversion of an entire CG-heavy 146-minute film would have been substantial. Decent conversions can be done when it is made clear from the beginning that the production is shooting for 3D (as opposed to in 3D)--see Piranha 3D as an example, but those expectations have to be built into he production beforehand and the conversion process needs to be given ample time. Clash of the Titans is now forever etched in people's minds as how NOT to do 3D conversion in post.

 

[Zack Gibbs]

Yes they didn't have enough time, they're still converting Deathly Hallows Part 2. I imagine they'll probably complete the work on Part 1 eventually.