I loved “Avatar.”
The use of 3D made the experience of seeing it in the theater a completely different experience than what was available in traditional formats.
Watching the film later on Blu-Ray confirmed that the 3D made a huge difference; it showed us what 3D could do for film and storytelling. “It would change the way we watch movies,” is something I heard often and agreed with.
Unfortunately, few if any of the movies released in 3D since have lived up to that potential. I had high hopes for this summer’s slate of big budget 3D fare, but after seeing “Thor” I have to say I’m not optimistic. As much as I liked the movie itself, 3D brought nothing to the table. In fact I found myself feeling that it actually got in the way, making the film dark and or blurry, and I thought more than once that I should have just saved some money and seen it in 2D. Not a good sign.
Was anyone going to demonstrate how 3D can essentially and completely change the experience of a film? Well, at a small booth at the MIPTV market in Cannes last month I got my answer from a pretty unexpected place.
Marc Dorcel, a French porn producer, was demonstrating his VOD DorcelVision for 3D TV’s and the results blew my mind, pun semi-intended. It was a simple video, a beautiful half-naked woman sitting on a table reaching out to camera. The glasses were still large and clunky but once you put them on, the 3D was so clear and the woman reached out so realistically that you immediately felt like you were actually in the room with her, so much so that I actually felt like I had to apologize to my wife. It showed how film can go from voyeuristic to for lack of a better term experiential. It became a completely different experience for the audience. It is a simple and sensational example but one that mainstream Hollywood films are still missing.
My father told me that he would go to the movies every weekend as a child and sit in the very front row of a double feature because he “wanted to be inside the film.” I followed in his footsteps — as a kid I would give anything to be able to enter the many fantastic worlds of Star Wars just like I finally felt as the audience was brought off the transport ship to see Pandora for the first time.
I keep hoping that mainstream films will find a way to capture the magic made possible by 3D, to recapture what “Avatar” accomplished, a new, unique story experience. Until then, I guess porn will have to lead the way.
Guest blogger Frank Krueger is an actor and producer (“The Darkness Descending“).
Thor may not be a great example: it was originally filmed in 2D then converted to 3D. Might explain some of the blurriness and darkness.