3D Blu-ray Movies

3D blu-ray titles we’re going to carry in the FBW…..

The Lion King (converted from 2D)

A Haunting in Salem (shot in 3D)

Tron Legacy (shot in 3D)

The Green Lantern (converted from 2D)

Captain America (converted from 2D)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (shot in 3D)

Thor (converted from 2D)

IMAX Under the Sea (shot in 3D)

IMAX Deep Sea (shot in 3D)

Sanctum (shot in 3D)

Despicable Me (converted from 2D)

OK, so in a nutshell, the selection of 3D blu-ray movies out there is mostly rubbish, but that isn’t to say that it hasn’t been fun watching them. As you might expect, the converted 2D films are less immersive than those originally shot with either the Fusion or Paradise 3D camera systems. The converted films can take on the feeling of stage scenery placed one behind the other to create a sense of depth. The Green Lantern was particularly prone to this annoying phenomena while Captain America, a film that was also shot in 2D and converted in post production, for some reason, wasn’t.

The IMAX underwater films are by far the most realistic. The images float outward from the screen and seem to hang in the middle of the room. The “Potato Cod” scene in Under the Sea is just too fantastic. For a couple of moments the fish just sits there about 6 inches off your nose. It’s gotta be seen to be believed. The murky depths seem to lend themselves to 3D, perhaps because we only ever see them in real life through a diving mask. Regardless, both of the IMAX films are must-see 3D experiences.

The bulk of the 3D feature film experience is actually in the other direction. It’s rare for objects to come off the screen, but the sense of depth can feel positively realistic. In this regard, Pirates, for one, worked well as a 3D picture. A Haunting in Salem, from Asylum Pictures, is an unbelievable stinker in any of 1, 2 or 3 dimensions. It had tons of potential but man o’ man, this one is just about unwatchable. The animated pictures felt “layered” to me as well. The imagery is beautiful on rendered animation, but the depth seems somehow false. I’ve not seen any animation created using the 3D Fusion camera yet so I’ll reserve judgment until Kung Fu Panda 2 rolls out in a month or two.

So far, the two best 3D films I’ve seen are Captain America and Sanctum. As I stated above, Captain America started as a 2D film and was converted to 3D, but whatever the hell they did worked like a charm. The film isn’t even all that bad, but I kinda ruined it for myself when it dawned on me that the guy playing Captain America looks just like Kenneth from 30 Rock. I couldn’t take him seriously after that. Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull is, however, fabulous. Sanctum is a real 3D treat and stands on its own as a modestly-watchable movie as well. It’s an adventure film about divers exploring the Esa’ala Cave, an massive underwater cave system in Papua New Guinea. Were it not in 3D, I probably wouldn’t have watched it, but the added dimension makes for an immensely-engaging couple of hours. I think James Cameron had a hand in this one.

And speaking of Mr. Cameron, the 3D blu-ray of Avatar is still tied up with Panasonic’s 3D player deal and won’t likely release to retailers until sometime during the 1^st quarter of 2012. I’ve gotta say that I’m interested in seeing Avatar as Mr. Cameron intended because the 2D version of the 1D story left me flat. On the horizon is another 3D title I’m looking forward to – Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. I think it releases in November sometime. I’ve yet to get to either Tron Legacy or Thor, because I’ve got to watch something of substance first before my brain turns completely to mush. Perhaps Attack the Block.

A final note about 3D blu-ray – you can’t watch it on a regular TV/player combo like you can with 3D DVD releases. The images encoded on 3D blu-ray disks require a 3D player, 3D glasses and a compatible 3D TV. Don’t bother trying because it simply won’t work.

So far I’d give the movies an average rating of about 5 out of 10 and the 3D experience a 6.5. I’ve found it interesting that the experience of watching Hollywood dross like Pirates or The Green Lantern is much improved in the 3D rendering. Is it just fad? ….probably, but for the foreseeable future the studios seem intent on pushing it so, who am I to say?