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Strap On Your Glasses for More 3D

1,500 more 3D capable screens are coming to theaters soon. Are we headed into the future of filmmaking or back to the 1950s?
By  · Published on July 3rd, 2008

A little later in the week, you’ll be fortunate enough to read my review for Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. I know. It’ll be tough to contain yourself until then, but perhaps the news that even more 3D-capable theaters will be hitting the landscape will tide you over.

According to ComingSoon, Cinemark and RealD are going to be bringing 1,500 shiny new 3D screens into their theaters all across the country. This is good news for filmmakers for movies like Journey and Avatar that are shot in 3D using new camera technology. It means wider distribution in the desired format, and it also means a seriously cool experience for the audience.

Plus, the incredible part about the new camera technology is that, since the camera is housed as one unit, it essentially shoots a 3D version of the scene while shooting two identical 2D versions. This means a movie can be created in standard version and in 3D at the same time.

The press release from RealD is filled with a ton of over-excited quotes about how they are thrilled beyond measure that Cinemark is on board, and how they all want to hug each other in a field of rainbows forever, but the real question is – are you going to be excited about it?

I fall right in the middle of skeptical-land (which is about three miles away from that field of rainbows). I’m totally down for more 3D content, but I think it’s more gimmick than anything else. We’re still a few years off from it becoming a total immersion experience, but this is certainly a step in the right direction.

Speaking of steps in the right direction, I can only hope that this boon in technology charts a path for more movies like this one to be made:

Do you think the new 3D technology will be used for good or for gimmick? Are more Nudes in 3D in our future? Did you notice how Harold Lloyd is the producer for “Hollywood Nudes in 3-D” starring Suzanne Lloyd? Do you think they’re brother and sister or that they’re married? Which is creepier?

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Movie stuff at VanityFair, Thrillist, IndieWire, Film School Rejects, and The Broken Projector Podcast@brokenprojector | Writing short stories at Adventitious.