So - is 3D the future?

Rating: 3/10 (16 January 2010)

I figured that reviewing Avatar for its content would have been pointless, as there are thousands of reviews here that have already said everything. So I thought I'd take a different tack and review the 3D technology and the fact it's being touted as the next big thing; maybe even the answer to piracy. Avatar is the the one movie everyone's saying will kick-start the 3D revolution. People are insisting, "you HAVE to see Avatar in 3D! In IMAX!!"
Well, I did just that. IMAX and 3D with the full-on subwoofer surround sound experience. And I can report that the technology has a long way to go before it becomes the norm. So, what are the problems with it?
1) We're used to viewing the world in 3D and our eyes/brains adjust very quickly to depths of perspective. We don't even notice it. Sitting in a cinema, we are happy seeing a flat 2D projection because that's what we expect. Now, we are force-fed a fake 3D image through polarised glasses and our brains, unhappy with being momentarily tricked, start to unravel this false image. We look for the slightest anomaly to tell us that this isn't real. And when we find it, we disconnect. Then, we're fooled again - and the cycle repeats.
2) Maybe some folks out there had a better set-up, but my "3D" experience was often blurry at the edges, had noticeable double or ghost images and was curiously flat in some scenes. So again, we notice the fake and disconnect from the image.
3) With cinema's frame-rate of 24fps (the result of saving on expensive film stock back in the day), jerkiness during camera pans is still a problem in 2D. In 3D, the effect is even more pronounced and quite nauseating. Again, we disconnect.
4) After a while, the glasses became uncomfortable. My partner reported a headache as we were driving home.
5) Many people prefer the look of film over video. One reason for this is the use of shallow depth-of-field shots to focus our attention on something. Often, the out-of-focus objects are in the foreground. In real life, if you're staring into the distance, the brain can ignore such objects but with fake 3D, the object in the foreground suddenly takes on more 'importance'. The result is a huge out-of-focus object somewhere in front of you.
I could go on but you get the idea. There are simply too many inconsistencies with this fake 3D image to accept it. It becomes a fight between the eyes and the brain and, frankly, it's a relief when it's over.
3D cinema has been around in one form or another for donkey's years. You'd think, in 2010, we'd have technology that was actually pretty good. This isn't the case. Personally, I won't be seeing any more movies in 3D and if anyone asks, I shall encourage them to see Avatar in good old-fashioned 2D.
Oh - and what did I think of Avatar the movie? 3/10.