In 2009, cinema returns to … the third dimension!
Friday, January 9th, 2009Looking over the films scheduled for 2009 release, the thing that most strikes me (apart from worries that a studio lawsuit could delay the March 6 release of Watchmen) is the omnipresence of 3-D. A theatrical gimmick that has proliferated over the past few years, 3-D exhibition and the funny glasses look to be inescapable in the upcoming year. More theaters will have the capacity to show films in digital 3-D thanks to the increased conversion to digital projection, and Hollywood clearly believe the gimmick to be worth the investment.
3-D can turn a lousy movie into a fun experience: I vividly remember having a blast seeing Friday the 13th Part III when I was in high school. The New York Times suggests that 3-D could revitalize the horror genre. This summer’s bloody thrillers include Piranha 3-D and a sequel with possibly the best title in movie history — Final Destination: Death Trip 3-D. The trailer for next week’s My Bloody Valentine 3-D (a remake of the 1981 slasher flick) makes its “date movie” value its major selling point:
Putting aside the schlock, at least three of the most potentially stunning films of 2009, including the latest from Pixar and the director of the highest-grossing film in history, will employ 3-D effects.
