3-D another fad for profit-hungry studios

• Source: Global Times
• [10:15 May 19 2010]
• Comments

Filming in 3-D is expensive. The technique that James Cameron uses in Avatar and the style that is universally regarded as the best, involves a large, cumbersome two-camera system.

The other major systems for making 3-D films involve digitally reshaping a 2-D film by separating layers of the various scenes.

For audience members too there are problems. There is the fun of dodging flying spears and teacups but sitting at the wrong angle to the screen can dilute the experience. Then there are those silly spectacles that you have to wear. More pointedly though is the fact that some people become ill while watching 3-D films.

Says leading British optometrist James Sutton: "The problem is that 3-D offers a completely unnatural situation. It forces the eyes to work extremely hard. For many people, especially children, it causes eye strain, headaches and dizziness. Watching a busy action film, you can get what feels like motion sickness."

Artistically too there are problems. The great classic films shot not just in 2-D but in black and white will remain classics - they managed to survive Ted Turner's colorization project and will always remain great pieces of art.

Leading Chinese director Zhang Yimou said 3-D movies wouldn't replace 2-D for logistical and cultural reasons. "Undoubtedly, Avatar has considerably boosted the development of 3-D movies," Zhang said after receiving the outstanding contribution award at the 4th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong in March. "I think James Cameron is too optimistic about the future of 3-D movies."

Paul LePetit, now a Global Times staff member, has been writing about films and theater over 20 years. He has interviewed many of Hollywood's biggest stars and attended scores of international film festivals.