In the past few years, an old trend has returned to Hollywood in the form of 3D movies. 3D films have been produced since the fifties, rising and falling in popularity about once every decade. Until now, the technology has been seen as little more than a gimmick.
Today, while many still see 3D as an unnecessary addition to the viewing experience, it now seems poised and ready to make a comeback. And this time, it may be here to stay. More and more films are being filmed in 3D, or are being converted to a 3D format for their release.
Even older films are seeing 3D implementation. This past week, Lucasfilm announced plans to re-release all six Star Wars films in the format, starting in 2012.
Ian Torr, a senior in English, is among those who feel 3D is little more than fluff.
“These days, we’re seeing mostly remakes and recycled ideas in Hollywood,” Torr said. “All the 3D seems like just a way to hide the fact that all of these new films are based on old ideas, things we’ve already seen.”
Despite the backlash from some, the renewed interest can be justified by two key factors: the downplaying of cheap, gimmick 3D effects, and advancements in the technology behind new 3D entertainment.
Older 3D films are known for their use of the technology in the admittedly cheap way, whereby objects appear to fly off the screen to “punch” the viewer in the face. This can be seen in some of the earliest 3D films, such as the 1953 feature House of Wax. That film’s use of 3D was sparse, but it included a scene of a man playing with not one, but two paddleball rackets, just for the effect of the balls seemingly reaching out to the audience.
Today, the reemergence of polarized 3D glasses has allowed for a new focus to be taken on. Modern films that utilize 3D use it to create depth of field for the on-screen world. This effect is especially important in animated features such as last year’s Avatar and Coraline, which are given a greater sense of realism through their use of the depth effect.
Christina Foster, a sophomore in Management and Business Administration, sees the benefits of these new technologies.
“As we obtain more technology and knowledge on developing and incorporating 3D into movies and games,” Foster said, “we get closer to bridging the gap between fiction and real life, and are able to experience scenarios and sensations in more intimate ways.”
Adding to the longevity of the technology is the new push for 3D in video games. Sony is pushing 3D support in upcoming games for the PS3, as well as their new line of 3D-capable television sets.
For those who can’t afford to upgrade televisions just yet, there are even games such as the game of the year edition of Batman: Arkham Asylum, which feature a 3D mode that can be viewed on 2D televisions. The highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops will also feature a similar mode when it is released in November.
Of course, the biggest leap forward in 3D gaming comes from Nintendo’s recently announced handheld, the Nintendo 3DS. Premiered at this year’s E3, the new system will be the successor to the popular Nintendo DS, and features 3D imaging without the need for any kind of specialized glasses.
At the end of September, the system’s release date was announced as February 16 of next year in Japan, and probably a month later in the States. While falling inside of the release window promised at E3, many feel that Nintendo risks a lot by dragging its feet on the release.
Craig Harris, an editor for the gaming site IGN, shares the worry that Nintendo is making a mistake by waiting.
“The longer Nintendo holds onto the system, the greater the chance that another cool gadget will sneak in there with a glasses-free stereoscopic display to steal the 3DS system’s thunder,” Harris said in a recent editorial. “I’ll bet we’ll see at least three consumer grade mainstream products hit the market before Nintendo’s now, like a 3D picture frame or a digital camera.”
Regardless of imitators, The 3DS has a great deal of hype, and numerous third-party developers have already shown off impressive tech demos. Capcom announced the long-awaited third game in the Mega Man Legends series, as well as a new Resident Evil game using the same engine as Resident Evil 5.
More impressive than the 3D effects are the improved graphics, a leap ahead of the original DS. With graphics that rival even current generation 360 and PS3 games, it is clear that Nintendo has made a legitimate evolution in its handheld market, as opposed to simply slapping on 3D to try and move units.
As 3D technology continues to develop, it remains to be seen how permanent its current popularity is. As with any special effect, it can be used either with subtlety, as with Avatar, or be a pointless addition, such as in this past summer’s biggest 3D flop, The Last Airbender. It is left to the filmmakers and game developers to prove the technology’s worth in future projects.
