3D, the Wave of the Futrue…and the Past.

When television took over in the 1950s the Hollywood encountered something previously unthinkable to them. Competition.  “Why should I go to a movie theatre if I can watch moving pictures from my living room?” thought the average movie-goer.  Movies were no longer the universal entertainment medium they once were (at one point 90 million people went to the movies a week).  While television tapped into what the public wanted, Hollywood churned out retread after retread with the same aging, contracted workers who made all those classics in the 40s.  It’s no coincidence that the great films of the 50s and 60s came from Europe, hmmm but they had television back then didn’t they?  Why did their movies still do well?  Whatever the cause, something needed to be done, Hollywood needed a game-changer to get people back into the theatre.  What could studios possibly do?  Make better movies?  Nah, how about gimmicks?

Drive-in movies (clearly a compromise with viewers, “how about you leave your living room but you don’t have to leave your car”), cinemascope (still surviving today), smell-o-vision (how did this not take off?) and 3D (movies, with a third dimension, and killer glasses.)  A flash in the pan when it was first introduced in 1952, 3D all but died out in 1955 because of expenses, maintenance problems, oh, and people didn’t give a crap.  Aside from the early success of some horror flicks (I credit Vincent Price) audiences did not respond. Often films released in both formats were outgrossed by their “lesser” dual dimension versions.  Apparently Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder” was filmed in 3D but only released in 2D.

Thankfully, the Americans eventually caught on (or all the old fogies died out) to what the rest of the world already knew out and started making good movies again.  The new Hollywood of the 70s brought a young generation to the cinema, television and movies were able to live in peace and Hollywood was saved.

3D, with the rest of its brethren became forgotten relics of a misguided industry.  By the 90s drive in theatres were all but closed down, smell-o-vision was just a hilarious thing to say and 3D, taking a final stake to the heart with “Jaws 3D” was defunct.  The End.

………or is it?

They thought the movies were safe.
They thought their troubles were behind them.
They.  Thought.  Wrong.

Coming soon to your computer.  The easiest way to waste time and not go the movies.  THE INTERNET!

The powerful, sprawling World Wide Web, again presented an alternative to movie-goers, that, in light of the rising tickets prices they gladly opted for.  This spelled certain doom for Hollywood who once again faced declining ticket sales in the face of their new adversary and once again, they took action.

What new trick would they have up their sleeve this time to send the public to the theatre in droves?  How about the same exact one that didn’t work last time.

3D is back, apparently.  Over the past few years it has slowly crept back into the cinema, at first in children’s films like “Chicken Little” then spreading to higher profile releases like “Beowulf” (the highlight was the IMAX logo, seriously).  Now films are being released in something called “Real D,” which is supposed to be better somehow but I swear is just a different name for marketing purposes.  Regardless, it has had an impact.   Last summer’s dreadful looking “Journey to the Center of the Earth” starring Brendan how-are-you-still-in-movies Fraiser quietly grossed $240 million worldwide, despite being released in the shadow of  “The Dark Knight” (that’s going to be the name of my new band).   And if a Brenden Fraiser movie was a hit something must be working right?

Whether it’s just a marketing tool or people actually like it, 3D seems to be generating some cash and everyday more and more 3D films are put in the pipeline.  Still, with many theatres not equipped with the newer technology needed to screen these films, it has not quite become mainstream.  Though many predict it’s only a matter of time.  The two highest profile 3D films yet will be released this year, Dreamworks “Monsters vs Aliens” later this month and James I’m-the-king-of the-world-for-making-a-movie-that-made teenagers-cry-and-no-one-likes-anymore Cameron’s big budget Sci-Fi film “Avatar”.  The success of these films will likely determine which side of the precipice 3D will fall.

Personally, I find whole thing rather silly.  I don’t have a hatred for 3D movies, but I’ve never had an experience with one that was greatly enhanced by the extra dimension (except at Disney world, that was awesome).  One problem is the glasses.  As soon as they figure out how to do it without that ridiculous eyewear I think 3D will probably take off.  Until then it’s not going to be the way most people see movies anytime soon.

But more than the glasses, it’s the mentality.  I say to Hollywood, just try to make better movies.  I know that’s easier said than done but when a movie is good people will go see it.  Expecting people to show up to see whatever you put out there is just plain lazy.  Plus, as soon as 3D movies take off so will 3D TV and then what?  Smell-o-vision makes a comeback (don’t be surprised)?

Worry about the what’s in the package, not how it’s wrapped.  [Insert slow clap here].