Comments on: Who shows the best view of 3D 'Beowulf'?

The movie can be seen with three 3D projection technologies: Imax, Real D, and Dolby 3D. Herewith, I declare a winner in technical quality.

[emellaich]

Dolby 3D Question - color blind?

I read your description of how Dolby 3D works using slightly different versions of the RGB color spectrum. My son is color blind. Is there any prediction/tests on how well Dolby 3D will work with color blind individuals?

Thanks,
Michael

[Shankland]

excellent question--I'll investigate

I'll check with the company and follow up with a post here.

[alegr]

Doesn't matter

I think the color (wavelength) difference only serves to pass through a filter on either left or right eye. The vewer doesn't have to tell them apart.

[Penguinisto]

Good article.

I play with 3D/CG as a hobby (though with stills, more than animation).

A lot of what I've seen (so far) looks increasingly within reach of the hobbyist market (though a render farm to handle animations of those resolutions is more than just a little out of reach ;) ). With enough time and patience, I suspect that I could re-create 90% of any scene in the flick by using tools that cost less than $500 apiece (at most - many of the tools are literally and legally free).

I've also felt that as a new medium, CG is something that movie directors are only now beginning to get comfortable with. I get the feeling that most directors are still feeling their way around in the dark when it comes to CG, with very few exceptions (e.g. [i]Final Fantasy[/i] or [i]Toy Story[/i] as early examples).

I think the reason why stems from the tension between trying to show off the tech, and trying to tell a story. Full-on CG (esp. anything well-built) is a bit of an overload for the average viewer's eyeballs, methinks. OTOH, I have seen some instances where it has been blended well into the scenery (or in 100% CG scenes, balanced well).

Best-fit analogy? It's almost like a teenager with a Porsche 911 as his first car - he's torn between the "oh-crap-this-is-so-damned-cool! LOOK!" effect, and the more important aspect of driving the vehicle well. It creates a bit of a discomfort (hell, even more than a few adults that I know have come across that same tension).

A good flick would distract from that tension, or at least reconcile it enough to make it a non-issue. A solid flick would use that tension as a tool, but in a way that isn't obtrusive or obvious at first glance.

But at least now the directors are beginning to grok that. :)

/P

[robengle]

Dolby color not very faithful

While I would agree with the assessment that the Dolby system performs quite well with regard to crosstalk elimination (ghosting), the color fidelity of the system has a lot to be desired. The result is a color experience which is inconsistent with the original material as produced by the filmmakers. The (nearly) neutral density polarizing filters used by IMAX and Real-D are much more faithful to the look of the film.

[paul7986]

DUH - Pirate at home, get 3D version only in theatre

Because such experience is out of the economics of consumers!

Technology maybe a thorn in content's side now, but it is also it's savior and not by locking down content. That is not the answer

Glad to see this 3D evolution occurring.. in the long run it will compel those content lost due to current technology, back into theaters with this future evolving technology!

[hammerhead48]

3D at home sooner than you think

The RealD system is an optical filter in front of the projector lense. The projector is a DLP projector very similar to the DLP home projectors. Chances a very good that with the addition of the filter to the home projector, that 3D at home will occur. There's a Samsung DLP projection TV with an unused connector inside labeled 3D right now, so it's just a matter of time, maybe two years or less. So save your glasses!

[andrewfear]

All of the current generation DLP televisions already support 3D now, without needing a filter. They can use shutter glasses and work with checkerboard pattern 3d content.