Theme parks attractions, on the other hand, last just a few minutes, so they need all kind of gimmicks (including 3D) to make it work.
Spider man at IOA works great with 3D; Pirates of the Caribbean's 3D did not add anything to the movie.
However I do believe basic 3D attractions aren't the best anymore. Give me Shrek 4D or It's Tough to Be A Bug any day as that kind of interaction currently isn't feasible (cost) at normal cinemas.
I'd say this is a good thing. Now that 3D imagery is somewhat tedious, theme parks are going to have to up the ante. Hopefully, they'll stop making the same old 3D films and resort to something innovative, instead.
Movies: At the theater you get more depth and "realistic" look at experience and coupled with the sound makes a great experience.
Theme Parks: Here you get a completely different experience with the gags, jokes and things popping out you. Here theater adds 4D elements that you cant get at movie theater as in water, bubble and other effects, rocking theater and chairs and even animatronics. Some cases, like Star Tours II and Toy Story Midway Mania, they include rides which is changing the industry!
It became a rule when the movie studios and theaters decided that they would make more money by charging a few extra dollars for the 3D presentations.
At my multiplex: 10$ regular viewing
14$ 3D
16$ Imax 3D
It is the SAME movie!
I think we've gone beyond 3-D being strictly for theme parks though. For goodness sake, you can watch movies and TV in 3-D at home now. It's up to theme parks to continue to push the envelope to give guests an experience they can't get at home or at the local multiplex.
Now why would you want to trade the bright vibrancy of colorful animation for some stuff popping out of the screen?!
The thing that disappoints me is how prevalent 3D films are. Yesterday my inlaws came by to watch my girls so my wife and I could catch the new Pirates movie. It was on 3 screens, 2 of them were in 3D. We saw it in 3D because we would have to wait 90 minutes to see the non-3D one. So I paid $26 (a matinee!) to see a darker, blurrier image. Thanks Hollywood?
You are 100% right. You don't like 3D, then don't see it. I agree. My point was that it has been getting harder and harder. Our local multiplex seems to have outfitted over half of their screens with 3D projection. They had one Pirate screen that only had two 2D showings. For example, we were able to see a movie at 12:00 (it was when our babysitters aka my in-laws were free). They had Pirates 3D at 12:00, 12:30 and Pirates 2D at 4:00 and 10:00 (that's it for the 2D). As parents that can't always dictate when our free time comes up, that is a major bummer. Our theater is 16 screens, supposedly 9 of which are 3D. What happens if and when the rest get outfitted? Just wait for the Blu Ray?
Oh and there definitely is a darkening of the image because of the polarizing lenses in the digital projectors as well as the glasses. I have seen articles that have stated that a 3D film can lose up to 70% of its brightness. Apparently these 3D projectors don't have the illumination chops and theater owners don't seem to care. Ever notice that in most theaters, the largest screens are never 3D? That is because most of the projectors can't handle them. To some people it isn't bothersome. But to me, it is a major annoyance. For example, the movie Up. I saw Up twice in the theater. The first time it was it was in 3D and looked muted. The second time it was in 2D and was vibrant.
I'm not saying 3D can't be great. It depends on the theater and their willingness to go the extra mile in giving theater goers an amazing experience. It also depends on the creators of the film. For example, like the movie or not, no one can deny that Avatar in 3D was awesome! The thing is, James Cameron is a major techie and not many people are as good at shot composition as he is (the man just knew how to do 3D). So that is why you get lots of poorly done 3D. Just let Cameron direct every 3D film, problem solved.
Oh and on a sidenote, IMAX 3D uses a different process and is all around awesome. I think if I could, I would watch every movie at an IMAX theater.
First, lets talk about 3D. The only true 3D are films SHOT IN 3D. This requires stereoscopic motion cameras. The majority of films are post 3D conversions. Pirates 4, Avatar, and the upcoming Transformers were/are shot in 3D. (Although Transformers will have a few post convert shots)
Animation lends itself to a post convert for obvious reasons, but since EVERYTHING is in focus generally on an animated film, it's not that bad. PIXAR is the only animation that I've seen to have out of focus foreground/background elements.
The surcharge is making a killing for the studios. I just ask that patrons do their research and not see the films that are post converted. (Drive Angry, Last Airbender)
Point Two: IMAX
Any IMAX screen that is in a refurbished theater, it's not truly IMAX. They removed the first few rows of seats, and stretched the screen from floor to ceiling. It's IMAX-Lite, or IMAX-Zero, or Diet IMAX.
True IMAX is has to follow certain requirements. Standard size is about 75' x 55'. It's a HUGE screen. I can name a few true screens in the country that I've been to: USH-Citywalk AMC, Houston Museum Natural Science, Grand Canyon, Richmond Science Museum, The Bridge - Los Angeles.
And even then, you may not be watching a movie shot in IMAX. The great science, history, etc documentaries like Everest are shot in IMAX. It's a large film format. There's a documentary on the Everest IMAX movie and it's crazy to see them carry the camera to the top.
I just hope that more people do the research and understand what they are really watching when they go to the theater. And not get rip-offed with the ticket prices.
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Until someone raises the topic of piracy.
And because of this, every one of our soon to be four IMAX theaters are full sized and absolutly stunning.
Utah has actually always been considered one of the top movie-watching states, especially with the high number of incredible films that have been produced here, and the world-renowned Sundance Film festival.
Now, there are DBOX motion theaters that are actually quite popular here and apparently move very well to the films.
