The 3D Conspiracy

Editorial

Recently I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, and I enjoyed the experience. The scene where (spoiler alert if you haven't seen it yet) Voldemort explodes into a cloud of ash and floats out into the audience was a beautifully executed use of 3D. It was a standout scene for me, and the special Harry Potter 3D glasses were a nice touch too. But I've heard rumours and grumblings that the 2D version is actually a lot clearer, brighter and easier to watch.

This week I saw Captain America: The First Avenger in 3D - sadly, no gimmicky glasses, but it was nice seeing Chris Evans and his pumped pecs in glorious 3D. Despite a couple of moments where his shield comes flying out from the screen, there wasn't much in the way of 3D brilliance. The film itself was a lot of fun; a good mix of action, self-aware humour and cheesiness, but it makes you wonder how necessary the 3D was. It'll be interesting to see the sexy Ryan Reynolds flying around in body-hugging superhero Lycra for Green Lantern in a couple of weeks, to see how essential 3D is for that experience, of course.

Next week I'll be seeing Kylie 3D: Aphrodite Les Folies at the cinema; a 3D filmed version of her recent concert tour. I actually saw the concert, and I was standing right near the catwalk, so I got to see her up close and personal, and even managed to get glimpses of the gold Speedos her male dancers were wearing under their provocative Greek toga skirts as they passed by. I'm not sure how seeing the concert in 3D will beat that. I'm also not sure why we're getting Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, and what that will add to the whole campness of the Glee experience.

I have a theory that 3D is just a marketing strategy to ensure, or at least maintain, cinema audiences. In an age where even DVDs are becoming an endangered species, thanks to internet downloads, I wouldn't be surprised if movie studio execs have sat around their board rooms discussing how to get more bums on seats, and decided that 3D is the way to lure couch potatoes into the cinemas. At a time where people are happier shopping from their PC, anything to get people out of the house isn't a bad thing. But is 3D really the way of the future?

I've already ruminated on what this trend could bring us, but instead of putting all hope in 3D and CGI, how about making films that tell good stories, and tell them well? I'm not against a simple action adventure flick, and Captain America is a good example of what happens when they're done well (it's better than Thor), but surely that can't be all that's left in the Hollywood arsenal. The 3D sheen is going to wear off pretty quickly - if it hasn't already, and then where will the movie makers be? Probably in a dark 3D hole they just can't climb out of. And the gimmicky glasses aren't going to help them find their way out either.

Tim Hunter, Citysearch

Read more from the Reel Movie Hunter here.