# Do you like "3D" movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740 "2010-09-06T01:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/1 "2010-09-06T01:58:23Z")
So there was a question about ticket prices, and a remark on one theater, > [@What's the average ticket price for a 3D movie?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-average-ticket-price-for-a-3d-movie/552725/1): > > But one big disadvantage is that they do not have the new 3D technology. Is it? “3D” movies, of course, aren’t three-dimensional, not even in illusion; if you turn away from the 2D screen, there won’t be any image beside or behind or above you. _That_ might open up some interesting new avenues for immersive storytelling, but it seems to me it would be a different medium than anything film has ever done, including the latest gimmickry. But this stuff that’s in the movie theaters now–does anyone here actually like it? Does anyone feel that it really adds something valuable to the experience of an otherwise well-made film? (If it does, shouldn’t the filmmakers refuse to turn out 2D versions of the same projects?) ---
**Author:** ![AmunRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AmunRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmunRa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/2 "2010-09-06T02:12:41Z")
I don’t think my opinion means a whole lot in this thread, but FWIW I haven’t even felt that it was worth the extra cost of the ticket to give it a shot. I like my 2D movies just fine thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/3 "2010-09-06T02:13:46Z")
I hate this new trend. It seems as if the movie industry is attempting what it attempted back in the 50s when it got competition from television. Now there are more ways to enjoy entertainment and they’ve gone back to gimmicky 3-D. When I see an ad for a 3-D movie, I automatically think “Oh, a crappy movie they think they have to market by using 3-D to get people in the theater rather than focus on a good story.” ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/4 "2010-09-06T02:27:34Z")
As a rule, I don’t care for 3D movies, for the reasons you stated, and also because they’re so damned _dim_. I mean, yes, I’ll admit that the 3D in **Avatar** was sorta nifty at first, and that I do very much enjoy the 3D movies that are on exhibition at the various Walt Disney World theme parks (especially **It’s Tough to Be a Bug** ), and that, Disney theme park movies aside, I’ve never seen a Pixar release in 3D. But, really, on the whole, I think 3D movies are just a particularly-successful-at-this-time gimmick that’ll cool sooner rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/5 "2010-09-06T02:31:37Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > I hate this new trend. It seems as if the movie industry is attempting what it attempted back in the 50s when it got competition from television. True. But _some_ of the desperate innovations, such as [Cinerama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinerama), were (and are) pretty nifty. > [@Shawn1767](#): > > Now there are more ways to enjoy entertainment and they’ve gone back to gimmicky 3-D. When I see an ad for a 3-D movie, I automatically think “Oh, a crappy movie they think they have to market by using 3-D to get people in the theater rather than focus on a good story.” Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/6 "2010-09-06T02:54:37Z")
The last “3-D experience” I saw was the Spiderman ride at Universal Orlando and it made me fairly nauseas. The only “3-D film” I had seen before that featured Michael Jackson at Epcot in the 90’s. But that was actual 4-D because it involved kinetic and physical effects. Very reALISTIC AND I WOULD BET TRUMPS THE AVATAR EXPERIENCE EVEN IN imax. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/7 "2010-09-06T02:57:50Z")
I don’t care for it. And not only because wearing the 3D glasses over my glasses is awkward and silly. It just doesn’t add anything to the experience for me. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/8 "2010-09-06T03:05:56Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > “3D” movies, of course, aren’t three-dimensional, not even in illusion; if you turn away from the 2D screen, there won’t be any image beside or behind or above you. A good stereo image is still much more immersive than mono. Great 3D is definitely worth the added ticket price, and if the intent is to compete with recent gains in home theatre, then (at least in my case) it’s working: We only get out to the theatre for “spectacle” movies, and for the last few years they have been disproportionately 3D. I don’t think a 3D presentation would add anything significant to, say, _Dinner for Schmucks_, but it’s a huge plus for an eye-candy flick. We had intended to see _Iron Man 2_ in the theatre, but didn’t get around to it and are instead waiting patiently for the Bluray next month. If it was in (actual, decent) 3D (and not a fakey afterthought,) I doubt that I’d still have to be vigilant about avoiding spoilers. Of course, [I think](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2523736&l=893fd2918a&id=551442651) everything [is better](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2499398&l=8ce4c4465f&id=551442651) in [3D](http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194470&id=551442651&l=60e80ae275), so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/9 "2010-09-06T03:12:03Z")
I’ve seen only three 3D movies. _UP_, _Toy Story 3_, and _Avatar_. From what I’ve been able to tell, each did it right, but would likely have been just as successful without the 3D. What it did do for me, on _Avatar_, was make teh artificially created environment look like a real place, a lot more effectively than in 2D. Apart from that, it added very little. I think 3D will fade, and become an infrequent niche, perhaps only for IMAX. I think they’re misinterpreting the buzz, it will turn, and there will be less future for 3D than they are banking on. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/10 "2010-09-06T03:13:36Z")
I didn’t like it in the 50s and I don’t like it now. 3-D was very short-lived then, and will disappear again very soon. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/11 "2010-09-06T03:18:56Z")
And taht Nickelodeon, Johnny Rocket, “captured” Kinetic ride at Universal in '05 did make me sick on the verge of wanting off that infernal machine. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/12 "2010-09-06T03:20:16Z")
I’ve only seen one movie in 3-D, “Avatar” (in IMAX, no less), and it gave me a massive headache. That said, I thought it was worth it for the special effects. I don’t really care if I see another movie in 3-D or not, and I sure don’t plan to get a tv that is going to give me a headache every time I turn it on. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/13 "2010-09-06T03:24:39Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > I hate this new trend. It seems as if the movie industry is attempting what it attempted back in the 50s when it got competition from television. Now there are more ways to enjoy entertainment and they’ve gone back to gimmicky 3-D. When I see an ad for a 3-D movie, I automatically think “Oh, a crappy movie they think they have to market by using 3-D to get people in the theater rather than focus on a good story.” If theaters are to survive, they have to do _something_ home theaters can’t. Since both can tell a story equally well, it falls to distinguishing via visual style. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/14 "2010-09-06T03:27:30Z")
AS FAR AS REALISM AND A GREAT XCIENCE APPLIED IN REAKLIFE, THE tWISTER rIDE AT uNIVERSAL WAS A QUAINT AND IMPRESSIVE eXPERIENCE, BUT NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS THE bATTLESTAR gALACTICA RIDE AT yNIVERSAL hOLLYWOOD IN THE '80’S. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/15 "2010-09-06T03:32:39Z")
Originally posted by Bosstone: > [@](#): > > If theaters are to survive, they have to do something home theaters can’t. Um, then I think we’d better sound the death knell… [http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/Full-HD-3D/VIERA-VT25-Series-Plasma-Full-HD-3D-HDTVs.list.153047](http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/Full-HD-3D/VIERA-VT25-Series-Plasma-Full-HD-3D-HDTVs.list.153047) Also, wouldn’t that have been the same argument back in the 50s when they were competing with television, yet, they eventually abandoned 3-D. ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/16 "2010-09-06T03:35:38Z")
With rare exceptions, 3-D actually detracts from my movie going experience. I’ve tried it about a half dozen times. And in each case it was an annoying distraction that gave me a headache. Rather than paying more for 3-D, for me it is now a code for “don’t bother.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/17 "2010-09-06T03:45:12Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > Originally posted by Bosstone: > > > [@](#): > > > > If theaters are to survive, they have to do something home theaters can’t. > > Um, then I think we’d better sound the death knell… Yeah, I’m more interested in a 3D display for gaming – but I’m 3D will still get me into the theatre, for the same reasons that a big spectacle will still get me into the theatre - it just ain’t the same on a small screen (no matter how “big” the small screen is, and it’ll be a ways off before a massive 3D monitor is anywhere close to my price point, anyway.) > [@](#): > > Also, wouldn’t that have been the same argument back in the 50s when they were competing with television, yet, they eventually abandoned 3-D. There isn’t really much comparison between the 3D used in the _It Came From Outer Space_ (or even in _Jaws 3D_ or other '80s 3D films) and current 3D movies. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/18 "2010-09-06T03:57:18Z")
I really liked the Shrek movie in 3D. I’ll see any movie in 3d as long as I can get for matinee or discount prices. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/19 "2010-09-06T03:57:23Z")
For a few specific genres, it’s worth it. For instance, if they ever released a half-decent _Warhammer 40,000_ movie, I’d definitely want to see it in 3d, just to convey the sheer scale of the setting. _Avatar_ fell into this category for me. For everything else, it’s only going to make the movie worse and more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740/20 "2010-09-06T04:07:28Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > AS FAR AS REALISM AND A GREAT XCIENCE APPLIED IN REAKLIFE, THE tWISTER rIDE AT uNIVERSAL WAS A QUAINT AND IMPRESSIVE eXPERIENCE, BUT NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS THE bATTLESTAR gALACTICA RIDE AT yNIVERSAL hOLLYWOOD IN THE '80’S. tHE jAWS EXPERIENCE WAS BRAND NEW AT yNIVERALS hOLLYWOOD THE SAME TIME i VISITED. i GOT TO SEE THE ORIGINAL bATES mOTEL AND pSYCHO hOUSE ON THE HILL, IF YOU CAN DAsE THAT? lIKE THE pOTTER, jAWS WAS INCEPTION. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-3d-movies/552740.md?page=2)