The 3D Movies thread

TerrorFirmer

I thought it might be interesting to have a thread on decent 3D movies - that is to say, quality of movies aside, movies that make very good use of the 3D format.

I think 3D gets a very bad name as a gimmick and novelty thanks to innumerable lazy, post-production conversions - Clash of the Titans 3D springs to mind as the laziest example of band-wagoning that cheapens the format - but when done right, I think the format can add a lot to a movie.

Now, everyone knows Avatar as the poster child of the format - and as yet, to be equaled, let alone bettered - but what 3D movies have you seen that you think deserve a mention?

For me, there's a few I've seen that I found the 3D adds fantastic immersion. Most are natively shot in 3D, but there are a few notable exceptions, such as Gravity 3D which was done post-production but nonetheless excels.

The following are movies I particularly enjoyed in 3D, having seen most 3D offerings of the past 5 or 6 years.

Avatar
The Final Destination
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D
Saw 3D
Dredd
My Bloody Valentine
Pirahna 3D and its sequel Pirahna 3DD
Gravity
Jurassic Park 3D

What recommendations would anyone have for those interested in watching movies that make genuine use of the 3D medium?

The Strawman Argument

I've only seen Hugo, Life of Pi and Gravity in 3D. The first two had lots of nice moments in 3D but Gravity was the only one where the 3D felt truly vital to the experience. Haven't seen Avatar but I find it very hard to imagine it equalling Gravity in terms of utilising 3D.


Goodbye to Language presumably is a great display of the potential of 3D, if nothing else, I missed it though

johnny_ultimate

Having seen dozens of 3d films, very often with great reluctance, and including some of the supposed poster boys for the tech, Life of Pi is the only one I would have given a tenuous recommendation for (and maybe Avatar to a lesser degree). It felt like it had visually been designed with depth in mind and had some neat tricks to enhance the effect (such as temporarily - if distractingly - altering the aspect ratio to allow more space for objects to convincingly 'leave' the screen). Even then though as the film went on the 3D acclimatised to the point where it almost felt redundant (IMO the case in every film), and the significant trade offs to light (although it helped that the film was very vivid in terms of colour) and smoothness of motion were obvious as always. That film was an exception, though, and in pretty much every other case I have found 3D an awful addition.

I saw Goodbye to Language last year, however, and I would confidently say it's the only 3D film anybody ever needs to see. Godard uses the tech in a way that is playful, sarcastic, provocative and even startling. It's harsh and aggressive, but also potent and intelligent. There are visual puns, experiments with different types of cameras and two scenes which are hands down the most impressive use of 3D imaginable. But the funny thing about Goodbye to Language is feels as much like an essay on the technology's limitations as in its potential, and many of Godard's uses of the tech could not be replicated by anybody else.

Frank O. Pinion

I love watching 3D horror films, The Final Destination, My Bloody Valentine, etc. But what was the last new 3D horror? Texas Chainsaw (2013)? There should be at least 1 new 3D horror film every October.

Frozen looked great in 3D.

Joeface

So far I have only really enjoyed Dredd in 3D , it was one of the few I have seen that was just filmed in 3D and none of the gimmick stuff thrown at you. Avatar was the same but that falls down on been Ferngully/Smurfs collaboration.Visually stunning that's about it.

DoYouEvenLift

Would be interesting to see if there's a trend with criticised 3D experiences being from post converted/not true 3D movies, compare them with the list on this site http://realorfake3d.com. Surprised to see Star Wars Episode VII going with post conversion, disappointing really.


Life of Pi and Avatar are about the best 3D live action movies but animated movies are the best in the format, How to Train Your Dragon is really good.

McLoughlin

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet is the best one but due to distribution issues never got released over here only in europe.

positron

I really enjoyed both Avatar and Life of Pi in 3D. I think they both make great use of 3D.

In Life of Pi for instance, when Pi is out on the ocean on his makeshift raft, and Richard Parker on the boat, couple of waves away and the 3D effect of the distance (or lack of) between them was just amazing, it's as if the tiger playing a menacing hide and seek with Pi. It could not be effectively portrayed withoot 3D.

shazzerman

I have a few 3D films in my collection. The best ones are The Creature from the Black Lagoon, House of Wax, Dial M for Murder, and a great little B pic called Man in the Dark with Edmond O'Brien. I enjoyed the retrofitted Jurassic Park too. I'll be getting the Godard film too.

Charlie19

Life of Pi was brilliant in 3d, I watched that and Piranha 3d the weekend I got my new tv and haven't bothered with them since.

I went the cinema a while back to see Sanctum and it was a terrible choice for it to be 3d movie.

Wedwood

Some of the older movie conversions are worth a look, Titanic is brilliant, as is Jurassic Park. I hear Predator is a good one as well but can't find it anywhere. I also got the Wizard of Oz ( yes the 1939 movie) recently, which is absolutely superb.

On the newer ones, I'd recommend Tintin, A Christmas Carol, Hugo, Star Trek Into Darkness, Avatar and of course Gravity.

Incidentally, I gather all of the Star Wars movies have been converted into 3D, they were supposed to get theatrical releases, but that was scrapped after Disney purchased Lucasfilm, albeit The Phantom Menace was released before the sale.

Now that's a 3D box set worth getting, no doubt will be released to tie in with Episode 7.

shazzerman

I must get that Wizard of Oz conversion. I think the older films use the pop-out effect a lot more than the modern 3D films. The best example is in an early scene from The Creature from the Black Lagoon, when a fossilised arm comes right out of the screen to almost touch your nose - great fun. The thing about these 3D films too is that the PQ is nearly always crystal clear: House of Wax, in terms of PQ, is light years ahead of the DVD.
Having said all that, it is just a gimmick, but can be worth doing.