Is 3D a gimmick in your opinion?

[briggaman]

Being that 3D has started to come back at full force, I was wondering what you all make of it this time around. Do you enjoy seeing things stick out of a screen? How does it actually improve your viewing experience? Do you think it is just a gimmick?

I'll start off by saying that I really don't see the point in 3D and feel that it is being overhyped right now. Personally I don't gain any extra enjoyment from seeing a few things pop out at me on screen. Plus, I really don't see the point of paying extra at the cinema to see something like this. I have tried it out a couple of times now and I certainly won't be wasting my money on it again.

The 3D TV's coming out and such suggest that 3D will be around for quite some time. Hopefully it is just a passing fad as I can't for the life of me see what is so good about it. It has been around for years as a novelty and I really don't see it becoming any more than that. However, in todays world people seem to enjoy following the pack a lot more and thus it may actually continue to stick around.

Can anyone honestly say that 3D has made a film so much better than it was in 2D though? I honestly can't and I think it is a major gimmick. Perhaps it can be fun seeing one film in 3D every few months. Although I really don't see what is so special about it at all. Obviously the film companies etc see the draw to it as they can lap up the money that people go and spend (or waste in my opinion) on it.

Anyway, what do you all think?

[Stevo985]

It's overhyped. Films in 3D honestly don't add much to the experience imo. It's a novelty at first but you forget that it's in 3D to be honest.

But I've seen trailers for Sport in 3D and it looks incredible to be honest, so I'm actually looking forward to seeing if that takes off.

[The_Rev]

As long as you have to wear those shitty glasses, its a gimmick.

[Sureshot]

Depends how it's done. I think it works well when it subtly gives a greater sense of depth, but it definitely feels gimmicky when 3D stuff is purely chucked in there for wow-factor. I'll go to Alton Towers if I want that.

[cheltenham_villa]

watched the manure chelsea game in 3d and for me it definately adds to the viewing experience. Not really gimmicky just like the above poster said, good depth. Sports like golf also look great in 3d, its like looking into a goldfish bowl just a bit more fun.

[Designer1]

Really not a fan of it, particularly the movies that it's been added to retrospectively.

[kidlewis]

I remember people saying internet, mp3 players and cameras on your mobile were a gimmick and wouldn't really catch on. Now it's hard to find a phone released today that doesn't do at least 2 of those things.

It will be around for a while in my opinion.

Certain things will really benefit from HD, others it won't really add to the experience.

[Grant(aka_eddy)]

I'm not a fan from what i've seen so far, exacerbated by just how much it is being pushed by the market that wants people to invest in it and upgrade their equipment. It really is being hyped from every direction.

I'm hearing that sport in 3D is awesome though and really i need to see a bit more before i judge.

I dont forsee that i would ever buy the glasses and link up box in addition to a tv for my home, so it needs to get to become 'glassless' for me to want to invest. It's expensive, limits how many people can watch and makes you look a tw@t.

On the plus side it is driving down prices on lcd, plasma and led tv's which is a bonus. I love the picture quality of led and may look to invest in one of those soon.

[Amsterdam_Neil_D]

Total gimmick. Only invented to try and stop piracy (and to add to the average cost of going to the cinema), they could of course stop piracy by giving the customer what they want but they choose not too and have tried this route instead.

Luckily it's not really working as planned as people will be patient and wait for the DVD rips to appear, has done none of their aims so far as piracy so it's all good. Considering the quality of TV's/sound at home coupled with the rise in internet speeds the night out at the cinema hopefully won't have long to run now.

[Chindie]

Gimmick added to justify higher prices and combat piracy (a misguided attempt as anyone who's ever acquired a film that way in the name of research will discover that there's a lot more than just blokes with a camcorder under their jacket out there).

[Gringo]

I remember people saying internet, mp3 players and cameras on your mobile were a gimmick and wouldn't really catch on.

I don't.

[mjmooney]

Considering the quality of TV's/sound at home coupled with the rise in internet speeds the night out at the cinema hopefully won't have long to run now.

I think that's a shame (though I agree with you it's their own fault).

Funnily enough I recently re-read a sf story from the 40s [*] that predicted people would become more and more insular, staying in their homes and communicating electronically, with a rise in the incidence of agoraphobia. Strangely prescient I think, with kids playing games online rather than going out to the park, "home cinema", drinking cheap booze at home killing off visits to the pub, etc., etc.

[*] EDIT: For anyone that's interested, "Huddling Place" by Clifford D. Simak (1944).

[Pelle]

I've only seen "Avatar" in 3D and thought it was amazing. I guess it depends on the film itself, too. I mean, watching "Shawshank redemption" in 3D might not be the same as watching a movie like "Avatar" in 3D. I'll try to wtach more of it in the future.

But yes, the downsides of the format are the prices and those ridiculous and uncomfortable glasses, I have to admit.

[PompeyVillan]

I don't like 3D at all. Although I've never been particularly interested in the visceral experience of cinema anyway. It's just a gimmick, and an expensive one.

I'd be interested in seeing 3D sport. But whether I'll be interested after I've seen it for the first time, I don't know.

[KevMur]

Probably a gimmick.

Saw 'Alice in Wonderland' in 3D, and it did nothing for the film whatsoever.

And it was a distraction TBH.

It probably suits certain movies, like 'Avatar', but that might be a one-off.

I may review my opinion after seeing sport in 3D.

Until I get the chance to do that, I'll be avoiding it.

[Meath_Villan]

3d on say sky tv is a joke they should think about using the money they spunked on this to lower the prices of products they have

[leviramsey]

leviramsey"]3D TV will be about as successful as AM stereo or HD Radio.

[Oaks]

Ive only seen Avatar in 3d and i thought it was awful. But to be honest most of the films so far that have been 3d i dont really have any interest in seeing.

Give me a well written film, with a good pace and good acting and even good special effects, than Avatar and such like and im happy. Ive always liked going to the cinema, especially for the more blockbuster type films. I think it will always have a place in the world. Ive never been into downloading films ive wanted to see either.

[ChrisVillan]

It's a needless technology being foist upon us by the industry when we don't really need it.

Ergo, it won't catch on until Jobs is on stage with i-3D.

[The_Rev]

I remember people saying internet, mp3 players and cameras on your mobile were a gimmick and wouldn't really catch on. Now it's hard to find a phone released today that doesn't do at least 2 of those things.

It will be around for a while in my opinion.

Certain things will really benefit from HD, others it won't really add to the experience.

There were probably people who said the invention of fire, the wheel, the printing press and the internal combustion engine were gimmicks too. Just because they were also wrong doesn't mean that 3D isn't a gimmick.

3D in its current form clearly is. Its a device to get people into cinemas and to (hopefully) cut down on piracy, but that's it. It's not going to become a part of people daily lives like the internet, the .mp3 file or a camera on a mobile phone are. Maybe one day there will be a time when everything is broadcast in 3D onto screens where you don't need to wear silly glasses or where you don't need to sit in a very specific location, but that is a way off yet. I mean, look at how slowly its taken high definition to take off. We still don't really have it yet, its there if you want it but its not become a standard, and companies have been pushing that for a decade.