Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die out?

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

The clearest indication of how far out of hand the 3D craze has gotten the advertisements for THOR add in little print also in 2D in SELECT THEATRES where it use to be the other way around that movies in 3D were in select theatresLast night I wanted to see THOR again but had to go this run down/freezing non chain theatre to find see 2D THOR. It’s just gotten ridiculous how 3D has overrun the movies

I was just wondering if anyone had heard of any solid evidence that 3D is nearing peaking and may find itself on the path to dying out again like the 1950’s and the 1980’s crazes( can anyone say Metal Storm: The Destruction of Jared Syn or something like that.

The one note of hope that I’ve found is an article on DARK HORIZONS saying that Tim Burton will NOT shoot DARK SHADOWS in 3D just for the sake of it for which I am very thankful as this is a 2012 movie I really and looking forward to.

Hopefully other directors will follow suit and god willing revenues at the box office will start to show a backlash or decline in attendance in 3D showings and hopefully that will drive 3D back to where it belongs…just for event films like AVATAR

 

[Beagleman]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I highly doubt it is going anywhere. I think in a few years the vast majority of films will be filmed in 3D and only some where it is a deliberate, artistic choice or the director doesn't like the format will be 2D...
Just like sound and color before.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

No, no hope at all.

The demand for it in the U.S. is softening some, but 3D is increasingly piling up the dollars in foreign markets. It's here to stay.

 

[Mysterion]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

If there was a truly kind and forgiving god running the universe, then yes 3D would go away. Unfortunately, I think we're screwed.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I highly doubt it is going anywhere. I think in a few years the vast majority of films will be filmed in 3D and only some where it is a deliberate, artistic choice or the director doesn't like the format will be 2D...
Just like sound and color before.

That is so bleak...I hope against hope it doesn't come to pass.

 

[scnj]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I'm pretty sure that when screen percentages are worked out and price difference is accounted for, Kung Fu Panda 2 has done better in 2D, but don't quote me on that.

The thing is, hardcore film audiences are getting tired of it, but for people who only visit the cinema every so often, it's still a novelty. That said, I think the times are changing. My local cinema only has five screens, all of which are 3D equipped. Around the time of Avatar/Alice in Wonderland, they only did 3D showings, but recently the showings have been split around 50/50.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I'm pretty sure that when screen percentages are worked out and price difference is accounted for, Kung Fu Panda 2 has done better in 2D, but don't quote me on that.

The thing is, hardcore film audiences are getting tired of it, but for people who only visit the cinema every so often, it's still a novelty. That said, I think the times are changing. My local cinema only has five screens, all of which are 3D equipped. Around the time of Avatar/Alice in Wonderland, they only did 3D showings, but recently the showings have been split around 50/50.

Thanks for the bit about the 50/50 split...hopefully that will "catch on" and there can at least be a choice.

 

[Greg Cox]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Both of our local multiplexes were showing THOR in both 2D and 3D.

I opted for 2D (in part because it fit my schedule better).

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Both of our local multiplexes were showing THOR in both 2D and 3D.

I opted for 2D (in part because it fit my schedule better).

Well, that's one of the things Greg...the scheduling for a 2D showing for you worked out but at least in my area the 2D version has been given the bums rush either out of the theaters as soon as possible or regulated to one showing at a forlorn hour such as 10PM...that's why I had to hunt down a 2D in an old decaying theatre because it was the only one showing it at a decent hour (7pm)

 

[Klaus]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

My theater is still showing Thor in both 2D and 3D... after what Avatar did to my eyes I'm not planning on going to another 3D movie at all, actually. If it's not in 2D I'll wait for the disc.

 

[StalwartUK]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I personally think that 3D is slowly fading out. At my regular cinema Tron Legacy was only available in 3D when that came out but Pirates of the Carribbean last month was in both and I wasn't the only one who opted for the 2D version.

Speaking of Tron Legacy the 3D was a real ripoff. Half the movie wasn't even in 3D. As for the rest the 3D was so weak in the end I just watched the whole movie with the glasses off.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Having a choice between the two is nice, but if theaters are making more money from the 3D screens, it's no wonder they stick with that. If people didn't like 3D, they'd stop going to 3D movies. It's not that hard to figure out.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Well, I stopped going ...

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Eventually those little "run down second-run theaters" won't be able to show 2D versions of movies without upgrading to new projection equipment - because the master plan here is for the studios to get out of distributing movies on film at all. So in the mid-run, a theater may decide to show a movie in 2D or 3D but they'll need digital projection to do either - there won't be prints.

I haven't seen a movie in 3D that I didn't enjoy seeing that way.

 

[mimic]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

You should just invest in some 2D glasses.

 

[infinix]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

The movie studios and major electronics companies can't push 3D down our throats fast enough.

1. 3D movies are hard to pirate in theaters, and blu-ray media is still too costly. So if everything was 3D, by natural selection, it would cut down on piracy.

2. Flat panel HD TVs are coming down in prices almost week by week. As of now, 3D sets have a much higher profit margin, therefore, 3D is getting the big push.

Personally, I hate having to wear 3D glasses, and paying $150 to $200 a pop for those "active" 3D glasses for home viewing is just insane. No 3D for me.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

You should just invest in some 2D glasses.

It seems obvious now that I think about it, but it turns out, when you wear 2 pairs of 2d glasses at once, they effectively become 4d glasses! I found myself able to see through both space and time, something I had only previously experienced while under the effects of completely legitimate medication.

Suddenly I was able to see the seconds ticking away as the universe aged, and I must say, they're very pretty-looking. These glasses are definitely a solid buy, especially in pairs. I want to buy a third set as I am very keen to see what the world looks like in 6 dimensions.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

I agree with you. There are only very few that have taken advantage of the technology properly. Very few movies have taken the time to be designed from the ground up to be 3D, with most 3D movies being the effect of it being added at a later stage, and then a lot of them are simply made up of gimmicks of things coming at the screen rather than a depth of field.


I was going to see Thor, but my Friend and I passed on it when we saw 3D was the only way to see it. I like having a choice. I don't like having the more expensive option forced onto me. The sad thing is, it was on a cheap night too, with the price of the 3D ticket offsetting the point of the cheap night. Unfortunately, I don't think 3D will go away anytime soon as long as they know they can make money from it, which seems to be really popular with kids movies.

We decided to wait and see it at the cheap theatre, but the sad thing is that even the cheap theatre has jumped on the 3D bandwagon and it can't be guaranteed that it will be shown in 2D when they know they can sell tickets to pay for the expensive projector.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

For movies, people will want to have a choice. In TV, we may all end up being forced to watch 3D TV, since in that industry, advertisers and not viewers are in charge, and 3D ads will prove irresistible to advertisers.

 

[ALF]

Re: Any REALISTIC hope that 3D MOVIES may soon LOSE popularity or die

Thanks, Temis. You saved me from typing all that.
Really, as long as I don't have to wear glasses, I'm fine with it. That is, the 3-D tech to come out in the next 10 years or so should remedy that problem.