3D Movie Re-releases

[Hans Tucker]

Anyone else think this 3D phase with movies is getting out of hand. I see Lucas is releasing Star Wars 1 Phantom Menace in 3D next months (talk about milking it) and I saw a poster at the cinema advertising the release of James Cameron's Titanic in 3D for release in April...so they are going back over old movies to make them 3D. Gee..can't wait for 3D Ewoks...if 3D Jar Jar Binks wasn't enough.

[jjjnettie]

With 3D Tv's now comparable in price to a regular LCD TV of the same size I guess this is inevitable. :)

[Satchmo]

JB-HIFi have a special on at the moment- 42" 3D LCD TV with 3D Bluray player and 2 pairs of 3d glasses - $598

3D doesn't get much more accessible than that ...

[Stardrifter_WA]

I have a 3D TV and have found it to be less than adequate for movies, however, it is great for 3D games though. :D The forthcoming 4K TV's will make it much better for 3D movies.

[Poita]

I run a 3D projector, and it is great for movies and for gaming in 2D or 3D.
I am really looking forward to Hugo, but I'm not sure of the point of making older movies 3D, it is always going to be a kludge.

Does *anyone* want to sit through the Phantom Menace again, 3D or otherwise?

[multiweb]

Yup. I will. And probably will buy the series when it comes out on 3D bluray. :) Love watching 3D on my TV. I got Thor,The Green Lantern and Captain America last week from Amazon. I ear the extended version of LOTR is coming out soon. All remastered.

[kustard]

I don't mind the occasional 3D movie though I will often go to the standard version as I wear glasses and having to have the 3D glasses over my existing glasses occasionally gives me headaches.

No way would I have a 3D TV at home for the same reason until they produce high quality no extra glasses required 3D.

(Yes I know that there is already glasses-less 3D TV, but it's not at a good enough level IMHO).

[cventer]

Pointless in my view. I can't stand movies in 3d. Adds very little and can be distracting. Only decent 3d movie I have seen is avatar.

[multiweb]

I picked up a Samsung Plasma 2yrs ago on JB HI-FI specials. Came with glasses, movies, the lot. It's as good as the movies IMHO. Pretty hot. Good for gaming too. It's not using fields/scan lines like LG (which don't need glasses) so you don't lose res. The picture just gets slightly grainy when you look up close without the glasses but when you've got them on, wow! Very cool. I love it. My SONY NEX-5 takes 3D panoramas as well and it seems compatible with the screen. Just plug and play. Very cool too.

[Kevnool]

You betcha that movie is the bomb.
Gladly see it in 3D.
Cheers Kev

[Mariposa]

I don't know what the 3-D effects will add to a movie I've already seem. I wouldn't see them again for the same reason I don't see Hollywood version of movies that were great, such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, what is the point of it?...I've seem it already.
By the way, the 3d just annoys me. The only 3d movie I enjoyed is Avatar, which was genuinely shoot in 3D.
I love movies, but I only watch them once and that is it. I wouldn't watch the same movie twice, unless it is something extraordinary.

[Poita]

I have about 30 3D movies, and the ones that were made for 3D really shine, the 'converted' ones are awful.

Saw Hugo yesterday, absolutely brilliant a movie that truly utilises 3D as a story telling device. It *can* be done, but directors are still getting their heads around it.

I find the projector at home for 3D makes for the level of immersion required to get the most out of it, and the quality is actually better than the variable quality I get at most cinemas. The TV has great 3D, but just isn't big enough to really enjoy it.
If anyone wants to buy a top of the line SOny 3D 55" TV second hand, drop me a line :D

[stardust steve]

I got a free ticket thanks to Mum for the Phantom Menace 3D this Sunday morning and i will be loving every second :D

[Barrykgerdes]

Some of the re-released "action" movies in 3D are fun to watch but the 3D effect is computer generated and not true "stereoscopic" 3D and if you want to see the picture a second or third time you will probably enjoy the 2D original better.

For TV at present the switch mode viewing glasses give the best results (at a reduction in brilliance), but progress is being made in in passive glasses technology and the average viewer probably won't notice the difference and of course there is a lot of red/blue 3D free on the internet with the special viewer program and red/blue glasses.

For Movie screens polarised glasses are used to separate the left and right images that are thrown on the screen together.

The old re-releases can only be made 3D when there is movement of the "in focus" object so only some films are suitable for computer 3D generation.

Some of the newer films have been made with true 3D cameras. I think Avatar was and I think Hugo is too. but the technology is complicated and expensive and production is not economically viable unless a substantial return can be assured.

Cameras (Sony) can be bought to produce 3D movies in the red/blue technology but are quite expensive.

However I believe 3D is here to stay and will be developed and the special viewing requirements will eventually be overcome.

A bit like we were told about the take up of colour TV in the late 60's. Surveys said colour TV would not be taken up by very many because it would be expensive. But I was experimenting with colour TV and told everyone that this was not true and when it was seen in operation they would mortgage the house, sell the wife and kids etc just to get one.

Barry

[Barrykgerdes]

There is another very important thing to remember when viewing 3D movies photos etc and that is the condition of your eyes. You must have balanced vision from both eyes and this often requires specialised optometry.

If your vision is not corrected before viewing the 3D effect will often not be visible and prescription glasses must be worn under the 3D glasses.

Barry

[Darth Wader]

Yep, same here. Playing NBA in 3D is fantastic, though I can't play for long periods because the glasses annoy me after a while.

Personally I think 3D is a fad - if the TV I bought wasn't on special I wouldn't have bought it (cost $200 more than non-3D, so we thought what the hell). The same thing happened in the eighties with 3D movies and games - even the Sega Master System had a 3D peripheral.

Give it time, it'll die.

I will however go and see Star Wars in 3D. ;)

[Paul Haese]

While I agree that I think Lucas is working on his retirement fund, I do enjoy 3D. I bought a Samsung late last year and it produces great 3D. I think the experience of 3D is based on your individual stereo acuity. Many people have low acuity and this would mean they don't get as much out of it than someone with high acuity. I have seen a few 3D movies now and some are better than others but all of them given me the illusion I am wanting to see. Even upscaling is pretty good.

Great invention and most likely will be developed to the point of screens presenting 3D without glasses. Small screens can now, it is only a matter of time for the larger versions.

[Exfso]

If you want to be blown away, check out Avatar in 3D it is mind blowing. I purchased a genuine 3D version from overseas as it is not yet available in Australia unless you purchase a Panasonic 3D screen, they throw a copy of it in the packaging.:eyepop:

[Barrykgerdes]

I went out and bought a 3D movie camera today to experiment with. It is a two lens type and actually displays glass less 3D on the view finder. Quite spectacular.

It has an automatic mode which I have just about mastered but by the time I learn how all the rest works we will probably be into 4D.

Luckily the camera works as a normal 2D as well so that will be where my home movies will be generated.

Barry

[Satchmo]

Barry- can you post a link to the kind of camera you bought?

[clive milne]

Interesting dichotomy....
all the excitement over a simulated stereopsis effect on your television, versus the interest (or lack thereof) in binocular telescopes, as evidenced by the thread milage on IIS
and the relative preponderance of monocular vision telescopes on any observing field you could care to mention.

[bloodhound31]

^^^^This.

[Barrykgerdes]

It's a JVC Everio. I googled it (after I bought it)

It was the only one that I have seen in a shop and I have been doing some research for about 2 months. Plenty of online shops. Mainly for the Sony at about $1250. It was on special at $1280 and I think the advertised price is a bit over $1400

I am tired of buying cameras for astronomy at $2500 for my son so bought something for me. Got to spend my money on something for me for a change.

Barry

[Barrykgerdes]

I have read through the comments of posters to this thread and while some can't stand a bar of 3D others are quite enjoying the phenomena.

I have been interested in stereoscopic photography since my great uncle demonstrated his photography hobby about 70 years ago. 3D movies have also been around for at least 60 years that I know of. So those who think it is a passing fad are probably a bit pessamistic.

Digital technology has made the things that reduced the appeal of 3D movies more acceptable and the technology is quickly advancing to the stage where the main short coming of 3D displays needing special glasses will be overcome.

Making 3D Home movies is now quite easy with the special cameras available from the major camera/TV manufacturers however there are a few tricks that aren't very well explained in the manuals. Firstly full definition (MP4) can only be used if you have Blueray recording facilities. Check the prices before you contemplate this format.

However great standard DVD discs can be produced using the AVCHD method although the length is reduced to about 30 minutes (I don't think the visitors will mind that ;)). Bundled software to make the DVD's is relatively simple to use and most of the process is automatic. Be careful of MP4 clips as they will automatically be reduced to 2D.

Showing the finished movie on a 3D TV may present some problems. You will need a player that has 3D capabilities and HDMI interface. Next the TV may need to be manually changed for side by side viewing. On my Samsung this is messy as it needs to be done after the movie starts. but once set the results are spectacular.

Barry

[Astrobserver99]

Probably one of the best 3D effect films I have seen to date is the 3D Astronomy Movie at Swinburne. I saw Hugo 3D on Friday, while an excellent 3D movie, the 3D effects did not seem to have the same impact or depth. Have seen many of the other 3D movie releases, some with better 3D than others.
Recently purchased a 3D blu ray player and TV with 2D to 3D capability. Now everything can be watched in 3D. I am happy with this purchase and enjoy watching 3D. Considering the price of top quality 3D TV's is now equivalent to lower end DSLR's, I think they are a real bargain. May as well get 3D. You get both 2D and 3D.