3D Chat

[Samuel_Scott]

Grand Canyon Adventure - Like the IMAX documentary I watched last night the 3D is stunning, but the documentary a little basic. The making of on the disc is really fascinating though, showing how they managed to get the 3D IMAX cameras around and set up shots.

Nobody else watching anything in 3D or just me?

[Samuel_Scott]

Megamind - Never seen this film before and I enjoyed it, though there are better computer animated films out there. The 3D was solid though, something I think Dreamworks has always managed slightly better than Pixar. Film: 3.5/5 3D: 4.5/5

[Samuel_Scott]

Texas Chainsaw - There were parts of the film that were interesting, but everything just fell to the wayside. I much preferred the remake to this "sequel". 3D wise, some scenes were very good. Some nice pop outs, but when in more standard scenes, depth wasn't as good as it could've been. Film: 2/5 3D: 3.5/5

[Samuel_Scott]

Apartment 1303 - Lazy horror, poorly acted. 3D was average. Some good depth in parts, but too many scenes felt overly flat.

Film: 1.5/5
3D: 3/5

[Markus_Lang]

I had a sad episode with my 3D playback. I owned a Samsung UE46F6400 which had a wonderful 3D image in HD. Two months ago I noticed that the 3D playback doesn’t funtion anymore: the image started to blink in certain 3D modes (see e.g. this video). Luckily this happened three weeks before the 2-year warranty period ended. The TV was picked up by the service company, but after some 5 weeks I was informed that the TV cannot be repaired, and as this model isn’t available anymore, I will receive full refund.

Lucky so far.

So I decided to buy a Sony KDL-50W809C, a Full HD television with active 3D, with that money.

Only when I started to watch Pacific Rim 3D it became apparent that the 3D playback is inferior: 3D is shown with halved resolution (540p). I learned that Sony is not the only manufacturer to do this and it is utmost difficult to find out whether a certain model actually shows 3D in High Definition (1080p) or not. Panasonic even has a 4K television which shows 3D in 540p!

Therefore the Sony TV was returned and a Samsung UE48H6400 bought instead. This one is 2" smaller and €150 cheaper than the Sony and it shows also 3D in Full HD.

People are simply taken in when they are led to believe that some Full HD TVs also show 3D in Full HD (when using active 3D technique).

So I was two months (including Christmas) without a proper TV and a possibility to watch 3D Blu-rays and now look forward to finally viewing such immortal classics as Paranormal Xperience 3D and Creature from the Black Lagoon as they should be seen. When the latter was tested, it looked better than the other 1950s 3D movies that I have. For instance, this shot protrudes nicely:

[Markus_Lang]

I recently watched Banshee Capter from the German 3D-Blu-ray. Although the 3D-cinematography is very interesting and bold, the image quality seems to suffer from low bit-rate. The movie takes only 18.8 GB on the disc. Compare this to Despicable Me 3D which is about the same length but takes 38 GB.

[Samuel_Scott]

Ghostbusters - Some cracking depth and some nice low level pop-outs throughout. There were a couple of odd looking shots which I don't think were quite pulled off, but overall the 3D here is among the best of the last few years IMO.

[Samuel_Scott]

The BFG - Moderate depth throughout, but some scenes were stunning (anything in the BFG's home). Certainly one for the pick-up list I think. 6.5/10

[Samuel_Scott]

Suicide Squad - Credits looked great in 3D, whilst the film looked good. Quite flat in parts but some nice mid level pop outs in some of the more action packed scenes. I'd say the 3D was at about Marvel standard. 6.5/10

[Samuel_Scott]

Ben-Hur - Moderate depth, but many dialogue-based scenes appeared flat and action was a little too fast for 3D a lot of the time. There were a couple of cracking moments that showed what the 3D should have been like throughout though. 6/10

[Samuel_Scott]

Doctor Strange - The best use of 3D in a Marvel film to date. Some absolutely mesmerising sequences.

[Samuel_Scott]

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Whilst the film may have been a solid 3/5, the 3D fared much better. I'd go as far as to say the 3D was almost reference quality. There was plenty of depth throughout, the special effects made good use of the 3D, and there were a couple of gimmicky pop outs which were very nice indeed, even with faster moving objects which often struggle 3D wise. 4.5/5

[Samuel_Scott]

Step Up 5: All In - Sure, these dance movies are very similar, but they do seem to work well with the 3D as the cameras remain stationary for the set-pieces. The dance choreography not quite as good as the previous films, but the 3D again suits the genre very well. 3D = 4/5

[Samuel_Scott]

Forgot to mention it, but Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is easily Marvel's best use of 3D yet IMO.

Picked up a few in recent weeks too including Jurassic World and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.

[Samuel_Scott]

Forgot to mention here, Wonder Woman had decent 3D. A few of the scenes were mid-depth, but the action scenes were done well.

[Ain_Uussaar]

Wonder Woman was released here in 2D only.

I have only seen two films in 3D at the cinema (Kong: Skull Island; Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge) and so far I must say I prefer 3D experiences I have had with Blu-rays on my TV. Tho I should buy Kong and Pirates on 3D Blu-ray to have a fair comparison.

[Samuel_Scott]

I find the 3D to be stronger at home too Ain, but I think that is because I can have an awesome seating position.

[Samuel_Scott]

The Mummy - Fairly average depth throughout, though there was one very good scene in 3D:

[Reveal] Spoiler:

The birds flying through the front of the airplane

3/5 for the 3D.

[Samuel_Scott]

Thor: Ragnorok - Marvel are getting better at 3D now and putting more effort in. This had some good depth and a few very nice shots. 4/5

[Samuel_Scott]

Justice League - Very good 3D throughout. Plenty of depth and some absolutely stunning shots. What Snyder loses in substance, he almost makes up for in style. 3D is worth an easy 4/5.