The Rise of 3D Movies

3D movies are big business. Ever since Avatar, the film industry has become enamored with 3D, releasing a steady stream of 3D blockbusters year-round. Most of this is due to the tremendous amount of money from the $3-4 up charge they get on each 3D ticket. Unless 3D abruptly stops drawing in audiences, it looks like the format is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Although 3D has come a long ways over the past several years, but several problems keep popping up.

The biggest problem is when 3D becomes a commercial and not an artistic decision. Recently, prominent sci-fi filmmaker and writer JJ Abrams admitted that he was forced to make Star Trek: Into Darkness in 3D. Although Abrams confessed that the final 3D conversion was tolerable and far better than he had expected, the principle behind it is concerning to say the least.

Not the worst choice for 3D, but certainly not the next Avatar.

A large amount of films are given 3D conversions or are shot in 3D simply because that is what other films are doing. Iron Man 3, which wasn't even shot in 3D, was given a 3D conversion simply because all superhero films are doing it, and that's where the money is at. Although the final film didn't have any significant 3D blunders, it was still nothing more than another 3D conversion

Making the decision to convert films into 3D purely based on greed can have disastrous consequences. 2010's Clash Of The Titans was slammed for its unplanned and poorly done 3D conversion and now serves as the poster-boy on how not to do 3D conversions. Despite this, Clash Of The Titans went on to quadruple its production budget, undoubtebldy bolstered by 3D upcharges. Thankfully, Warner Bros. put significantly more time and effort into the 3D conversion of the sequel Wrath Of The Titans.

If 3D is used properly, it can be one of the most useful tools in a film-maker can use. Last year's Life of Pi was a spectacular use of 3d that proved the format's worth. Life of Pi was planned and shot in 3D, which is what led to it becoming one of the most acclaimed 3D films in years. The moral of this is that 3D can work as long as its not forced on filmmakers. The best 3D films are those that are the result of filmmakers who are passionate about the format, not those that are forced into 3D by greedy studio executives.