Rant: 3D Is A Gimmick

Recently, the third dimension has taken movie theaters by storm. It has been gaining mainstream popularity since 2007 with the release of Beowulf 3D: the IMAX experience. So, the question is: Does 3D cinema enhance a movie-goer’s experience? I say no. There are two large problems that persist with each 3D movie that I see.

The first problem is the picture quality is horrible. This is due to how the 3D image is made. The 3D effect is created by projecting two superimposed images onto the screen through polarizing filters. With the special glasses, these images form into one and create a sense of depth to the viewer, but you no longer get the high definition you would receive from a normal screen. The picture appears grainy and unfocused, especially during scenes of frantic movements and actions. The images popping out of the screen do not make up for how distracting the unfocused picture is. I spend more time mentally complaining that the picture sucks than focusing on the movie itself. If you decide that you don’t want to wear your glasses (if they are getting uncomfortable or you could not afford them) your movie experience will be absolute garbage. Without the glasses, the picture you see will be two distinct images and an array of colors which makes determining what is going on in the movie impossible. This makes glasses a necessity if you are in a 3D screening.

My second problem with 3D pictures is how the effect defines the movie instead of the other way around. It is a cheap trick or gimmick to sell more tickets. The effect leads audiences into going to movies to see objects careening toward them, instead of engrossing themselves in the characters and story. Afterward, discussions will be about how cool item X looked in 3D and not of how the characters developed or how the story evolved. Editors will leave plot/character developments out because they need time for the audiences to recover from the 3D effect. Ultimately, 3D only detracts from the development of the story.

Roger Ebert says this in his review of Monsters vs. Aliens, and I quote, “I will say this first and get it out of the way: 3-D is a distraction and an annoyance. Younger moviegoers may think they like it because they’ve been told to, and picture quality is usually far from their minds. But for anyone who would just like to be left alone to see the darned thing, like me, it’s a constant nudge in the ribs saying never mind the story, just see how neat I look.” I could not agree more fully. Until the release of Avatar by James Cameron, I believe that 3D is something that should stay as far away from theaters as possible.

What Do You Think? Discuss.