Wuh-Oh
Is 3D on the fritz now that they're reworking the Star Wars saga in the format?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/business/media/30panda.html?_r=2
I think the biggest problem is that most of the recent releases in 3D aren't justifying the higher ticket prices, especially with the economy being what it is. Most of what I'd heard from people who saw movies like "Tron: Legacy" or the latest POTC is that the 3D added absolutely nothing to the films and may even have detracted from them. It's coming across more and more like a cheap gimmick.
When "Avatar" came out, it was shot natively in 3D by one of the best technical filmmakers ever and 3D was a bit more of a novelty at the end of 2009 than it is now. But Hollywood read it as, "3D's arrived! Yay!" And they rushed to put every big film out in 3D, hoping to make more bucks off of the higher 3D/IMAX prices that they thought audiences were willing to pay. I don't know how "Thor"'s 3D release has done, though the film has done very well overall. I assume "Harry Potter" will make a crapload of money even if the film consists of shadow puppets. I heard that "Breaking Dawn" may also get the 3D treatment, another red-hot franchise flick with an ultra-devoted base. All you have to have is some shirtless Taylor Lautner and it won't matter if the 3D is any good or not.
Update: "Breaking Dawn" won't be in 3D.
So, where will this leave TPM 3D? Not to put too much pressure on Lucasfilm or Fox but this is the film that's going to have to turn it around for 3D. Unlike "Kung Fu Panda 2," the entire point of the re-release is to bring the "Avatar" experience to Star Wars. If it can't reignite that magic for 3D, then it's over for the whole format. They are going to have to go all out to make sure folks who aren't hardcore Star Wars fans are going to pay $16-20 to see a film they'll have available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or on Spike at any given holiday weekend. If it doesn't look anything less than spectacular, then they need to delay or scrap it.
We'll see what happens at Comic Con.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/business/media/30panda.html?_r=2
I think the biggest problem is that most of the recent releases in 3D aren't justifying the higher ticket prices, especially with the economy being what it is. Most of what I'd heard from people who saw movies like "Tron: Legacy" or the latest POTC is that the 3D added absolutely nothing to the films and may even have detracted from them. It's coming across more and more like a cheap gimmick.
When "Avatar" came out, it was shot natively in 3D by one of the best technical filmmakers ever and 3D was a bit more of a novelty at the end of 2009 than it is now. But Hollywood read it as, "3D's arrived! Yay!" And they rushed to put every big film out in 3D, hoping to make more bucks off of the higher 3D/IMAX prices that they thought audiences were willing to pay. I don't know how "Thor"'s 3D release has done, though the film has done very well overall. I assume "Harry Potter" will make a crapload of money even if the film consists of shadow puppets. I heard that "Breaking Dawn" may also get the 3D treatment, another red-hot franchise flick with an ultra-devoted base. All you have to have is some shirtless Taylor Lautner and it won't matter if the 3D is any good or not.
Update: "Breaking Dawn" won't be in 3D.
So, where will this leave TPM 3D? Not to put too much pressure on Lucasfilm or Fox but this is the film that's going to have to turn it around for 3D. Unlike "Kung Fu Panda 2," the entire point of the re-release is to bring the "Avatar" experience to Star Wars. If it can't reignite that magic for 3D, then it's over for the whole format. They are going to have to go all out to make sure folks who aren't hardcore Star Wars fans are going to pay $16-20 to see a film they'll have available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or on Spike at any given holiday weekend. If it doesn't look anything less than spectacular, then they need to delay or scrap it.
We'll see what happens at Comic Con.