While 3-D may have had a stay of execution with the success of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, that doesn’t mean some in Hollywood see it as being around for the long-term.
Among those are Oscar winner, Stephen Spielberg and Peter Jackson. At the panel on the upcoming TinTin, Jackson says he believes that 3-D is starting to backfire.
“After Avatar, it survived as this experience worthy of higher prices, but audiences know that there are good movies in 3D and there are bad movies in 3D. And they can see a movie that’s just as bad in 3D as it is in 2D. It’s starting to backfire a little bit. With the right movie it can make a good film great and a great film amazing. But the price issue needs to be addressed… it’s just another step forward,” Jackson says.
“I’m certainly hoping that 3D gets to the point where people do not notice it, because then it becomes another tool. And then maybe audiences don’t have to pay such exorbitant prices for a ticket… I hope the prices will come down. I wouldn’t shoot everything in 3D, like a small romantic comedy,” he added. “It can’t be done by everybody. You need a trained eye. And filmmakers who care about doing it should be bringing in collaborators. It’s not a new lens on the camera, it’s not a fire-it-up and forget it tool. It isn’t for everybody.”
Imho the story should be most important.
If you have a good story then flashy tricks and tools are not absolutely necessary. (And as a result high ticket-prices). If you need flashy tricks and tools (it was Cameron who said he couldn't make Avatar without 3D) than you don't have confidence in the story you are telling. And it might be better to go do something else.
Does this mean 3D should not be used. No, but only if it has an actual reason for being in the movie. Not because it is new and a special attraction for your movie.
What would be next? 4D?
Happened to have an interesting experience with my Netflix queue this past week. Back-to-back I watched "Tron:Legacy" and then "Monsters."
What an amazing contrast.
Tron, filled with muliti-million dollar CG eye candy in every frame, was nothing but hollow characters in a cliche and boring story.
Where as Monsters was a very authentic, real and imaginative story about two characters you actually cared about with just enough special effects to enhance and strengthen it.
Lessons to be learned here.
Most movies just use 3-D because it's harder to pirate. It's kinda hard to bootleg a 3-D movie.