Encounter in the Third Dimension (3-D) (Large Format)
Without question, 3-D technology has come a long way since the days of  red and green cardboard glasses, andEncounter in the Third  Dimensionis ample proof. This half-hour feature--also  available inThe Ultimate  3-D Collection, which includes two other films and the H3D  "i-glasses" hardware needed to generate the 3-D imaging--tells the story  of three-dimensional cinema, in the process showing off a lot of what the  technology can do. Elvira's presence is largely incidental; the best  section by far is a dramatic tour through an otherworldly chasm. The  film's sense of depth is astoundingly convincing, especially during the  many point-of-view sequences; crags and dinosaur limbs seem to jut  halfway between the screen and your viewing position. The disc's image  and color resolution are not as good as we've come to expect from DVD,  however.Originally produced to showcase "large-format" 3-D (i.e., a towering IMAX  screen),Encounterfeatures fun snippets of old films and even a  few stereographic still photos. Sadly, none of these fills the screen or  lasts very long, and the process reverts to standard 2-D imaging in  pause mode. The sound is well above average, enhancing the sense of  depth with a seamless DTS surround mix that works well even in  headphones.--Michael Mikesell