Will 3D be possible for the "Spy Kids 3D" DVD release? (1 Viewer)

[Miles]

I was just wondering if it's possible to duplicate the 3D effect at home? Or would it require higher resolution than the DVD can offer?

Thanks,

Miles

 

[GregK]

Will we see a 3-D DVD version? .. Probably:
http://actionadventure.about.com/cs/...aa040203.htm#b

The 3-D format for this given film will be the red/blue anaglyph system for it's theatrical release, so I am assuming it will still be using the anaglyph format for the 3-D DVD version as well. Because the 3-D anaglyph format is known to be somewhat problematic, if the 3-D will actually work or look good in the theaters, let alone home video, will be the next big question ....

 

[GuruAskew]

if the 3-D will actually work or look good in the theaters, let alone home video, will be the next big question ....

Well, in the link you provided, Robert Rodriguez says that they did a DVD test and it looked great. I'm inclined to believe him.

 

[Brenton]

Regardless of whether or not it looks good in the theaters, I've been told that the anaglyph 3D format does not really work on DVD for reasons that I don't understand.

So to sum it up, I have no answer for your question.

 

[Rob T]

If it does work out well, I might just rent it to see even though I have no interest in Spy Kids.

 

[Rollie]

Well, it has been done before. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare is in 3-D. The DVD lets you choose to watch the ending with or without the 3-D effect. The box set even comes with 2 sets of glasses.

 

[James Reader]

The 3-D format for this given film will be the red/blue anaglyph system for it's theatrical release, so I am assuming it will still be using the anaglyph format for the 3-D DVD version as well.

As you state, the 3D format for the theatrical release doesn't have to match the 3D format used for the home release. After all the two images can be post-processed in any way to "combine" and form the 3D version.

However, I find it unlikely Disney would go for a red/blue anaglyph version on home video - in my experience this quickly leads to headaches! But there is hope if this form of 3D floats your boat, apparently the computer games (PC and GBA) actually use red/blue anaglyph for their 3D effects (yes, even the GBA) so it's not impossible the DVD will include it as well (I assume there will be a branching 3D version should this feature be included).

I would love to say that in preperation for the home release of "Ghosts of the Titanic" Disney would issue a field-sequential version of "Spy Kids 3D" as a test - but hey that's not going to happen - this is Disney we're talking about :frowning:

 

[Chris Dugger]

Well....

Miramax is releasing this also to DLP theatres in 3d.

So, one must assume that this process has been tested in multipule video formats.

The release structure is to use the red/blue for all formats.

Dugger

 

[RolandL]

The red/blue anaglyph 3-D looks terrible on DVD. Field sequential is the only 3-D method that looks good on video. The rest are garbage.

 

[GregK]

But there is hope if this form of 3D floats your boat

Actually anaglyph 3-D doesn't, as I too prefer the 3-D field-sequential video format. But sadly anaglyph DVDs have had a certain marketing appeal in some circles as they are "3-D ready" right off the shelf w/a pair or two of red/blue glasses included. This option may sound great from a marketing standpoint, but in reality if the end anaglyph 3-D image is crap, it just won't matter. Rodriguez never mentiones an alternate 3-D video format for the DVD release so at this point, I am assuming it will be anaglyph. (Yes I know what they say about assumptions. )

A quick technical note on anaglyph: Computer games can use anaglyph MUCH better than video, as the color bandwidth is uncompromised, but all consumer video formats, be they digital or analog, have greatly compromised the color bandwidth, enough to where total cancellation of the left / right images is usually pretty sad. And then if they also try to keep the original color information intact, the situation gets even worse. If you don't believe me, pick up "Comin' At Ya!", "The Bubble", or the 3-D finale of Freddy's Dead (avail only on the DVD box set or the old LD) or the 3-D section of Trinity & Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie". And if you buy Asian DVDs, there's a (legit) version of the IMAX 3-D film "The Magic Box", which has a color anaglyph version on tap. And there's even more anaglyph discs available. The point I am trying to make is anaglyph 3-D DVDs have been mediocre at best, and certainly inferior to the field-sequential video format. So IF the 3-D video format stays anaglyph, you may understand my somewhat leery approach to yet another anaglyph DVD video.

 

[James Reader]

Actually I thought the Freddy's Dead 3D segments were quite presentable on DVD - certainly much better than any television based rendering of red/blue anaglyph to date.

I have the IMAX 3D boxset, complete with field sequential glasses. However, despite having it for over 6 months now, I've yet to try it out (need to buy a voltage converter for the glasses being as I'm in the UK). Should "Spy Kids 3D" be released in field-sequential that may be the little push of motivation I need

 

[Steve Phillips]

Rodriguez has already stated the DVD will include the red/blue 3-D footage, but the VHS probably will not.

I think they should put a field sequential version on the disc as well, but I don't think they will.

Red/blue Anaglyph will likely work a bit better with HD broadcasts and eventual HD-DVDs than we have seen with previous TV/video attempts; but it still won't be "state of the art" 3-D.

I'm a bit surprised to see the SPY KIDS website touting this red/blue stuff as revolutionary and improved. The cameras capturing the images might be; but if they present it in an inferior format, it isn't going to win any new fans.

The red/blue stuff is OK for comic books and posters, and maybe even an occasional sequence in a movie or TV show; but it isn't good enough for an entire feature film. No, the dozens of color and B/W 3-D films in the fifties DID NOT use this process, they used the polarized glasses. People get confused since a few of them were later downconverted to red/blue for re-issue or TV broadcasts, but these versions are horrible in comparison. (The red/blue format was used for a few adult films shot in the 70s).

Over thirty of the older 3-D movies will be run in a festival in the LA areas this fall. If you want to see good 3-D, that's the place to see it, as they will all be run in the original polarized format.

 

[Brenton]

Will someone please be kind enough to explain to us why anaglyph doesn't work on home video formats, and what in the world the "field sequential" format is?

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Field sequential

As you know, NTSC doesn't work with progressive frames; rather it works in fields, with two fields equalling one frame of original content. Thus 60 fields per second equals the 30 fps frame rate. Since 3d is filmed with two cameras with a convergence point creating the 3D, they simply switch back and forth from the fields captured by one camera to the other. With the right glasses, this creates the three-dimensional effect. I may be off on some of the details, but that's the basic idea. Anyone with a vested interest in the topic feel free to jump in and correct me where needed.

 

[Steve Phillips]

Red/Blue anaglyph doesn't work well with movies in general; that's why it has not been used often. It's more suited to comic books, posters, and other print media. The glasses, being colored themselves, don't allow for natural color either. It is also subject to a lot of ghosting and color fringing. The only good thing about anaglyph is that it is simple; no special equipment other than the glasses are required. It works better on DVD than VHS because of the increased resolution; as I stated with HDTV they may experiment a bit more.

Field Sequential is used in some IMAX 3-D theatres; and at home for PC games and 3-D movies. Special LCD glasses are required, which come in both wired and wireless versions. It sounds complicated, but it really isn't. There are several DVD box sets for sale which contain three 3-D DVDs and two pairs of LCD glasses. These sets can easily be found for around $70 at major retailers and online. Just be careful, as there are quite a few public domain flat 2-D movies being sold as converted to 3-D (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, FLASH GORDON serials, etc) but this doesn't work.

Look for ULTIMATE IMAX 3-D COLLECTION, or the ULTIMATE 3-D HORROR COLLECTION; but avoid the HORROR COLLECTION II as it contains the non 3-D flicks. The newest "genuine" 3-D title is the IMAX 3-D film SOS PLANET.