Comments on: Is 3D DOA?

Slate argues that the problem with 3D is that it "always has, always will" hurt your eyes. And I tend to agree.

[nickelsworth]

Yes, I want the holographic video that has been predicted by futurists for decades. And while I'm making demands, where are those jetpacks that we were all supposed to be flying around with long before now? I'm still driving a car, and they are still recycling the 3-d movie concept. . . sigh...

[razacla]

My wife and \i watched Journey to the centre of the earth 3d last night and both suffered eye strain, We fount the picture very dark through the glasses, We were watching blue ray on a pojector which was on the brightest setting, all in all there were a few 3d spechal effects through out the movy but I think the 2d version would have been just as watchable.

[michaelprete]

I also have astigmatism, I wear trifocals, and I had absolutely no problem watching 3D movies. I love them. I thought Coraline was fun, and Beowulf was fantastic. (How can you NOT be excited about Angelina Joli practically nude in 3D?!) I wear the provided 3D glasses over my own glasses and totally forget I'm wearing them until I get up to walk out of the theater. I experienced no "eye strain" and no headaches. I'm amazed that others have suffered so much and complained so loudly. Although I often go to matinees to get reduced prices on movies, I don't object to the $2 surcharge for the 3D version in Tucson. I think its totally worth it and I want more!

[tonhogg]

Well some time has passed and it looks like the answer to is 3d doa would be no. Still only a few theaters can show a 3dmovie in 3d, the rest show it in 2d, and the 3d out sells the 2d movie between 2 and 4 to 1. Sometimes as high as 6 to 1. Most movieplexes are showing the movies in both 2d and 3d. Obviously a lot of people are willing to drive further and pay more for a 3d movie. Also this has now become the longest 3d wave in history. The big one of the 1950's only lasted two years. This one started with Polar Express in 2004, 4 and a half years ago.

The ones you should really be blaming for this are the individuals paying to see the movies. If they wouldn't pay to see them then the movie studios would just abandone 3d.

[tonhogg]

Well just read that since the 3d showings of these 3d movie have been so successful that Peter Jackson who directed the Lord of the Rings movies has now decided that he wants to do all his live action movies in 3d from now on. 3d still not looking to doa to me.

[tonhogg]

Well 3d still going strong. Final Destination 3d got 70% of money from ticket sales from 3d. Now Avatar is coming up soon and we know how good that 3d ticket sales for that movie is going to be. Just read that 3d is doing well enough that 3d production of movies has now gone up. There are now 60 3d movies in the works. I don't think 3d is going to fail to badly do you now.

[tonhogg]

Sorry guys, A Christmas Carol just came out and the 3d did better for ticket sales than the 2d ticket sales for this movie. 3d still just keeps doing well. People are paying to see the 3d version and by passing the 2d version even though it is cause them all so much really bad eye strain that they are violently throwing up in the theater ailses.

But funny how I never witness this at the 3d showing that I go to. Everyone seems to use the glasses the whole movie and leave smiling. Maybe they threw up and I just didn't smell it.

[andyslaptop]

3D does cause eye strain for every person. My wife cannot wear 3D glasses for more then about 5 minutes; so watching movies or TV in 3D is out. I start having problems at about 80 minutes. Untill there is a technology that does not require the viewer to wear glasses; 3D is out.

[henpeck]

I am no 3D fan, but took my kid to see Avatar in 3D. My last 3D movie was Spy Kids (3?4?). I hated it and it gave me a headache. Lousy movie in any D.

I got no headache at Avatar, and in fact liked the film. It's pure cowboys and Indians, and the indians win. And, the never-nevr land of Pandora is beautiful. . . .

NB however, my kid and her friend had already seen Avatar in 2D, and they both said 3D didn't add that much.