Since production on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice started before the big 3D milkshake that Avatar brought to the yard, the temptation to convert it to 3D in post production has Disney thinking.
And they thought it would be a bad idea. So Disney’s latest live action feature is staying outside of the 3D buzz and will be releasing it in 2D.
But an interesting story came of this, as before the craze hit director Jon Turteltaub said this would be great in 3D and the studio shot down the idea!
Corporate hot shots failed to recognize the appeal of 3D a few years back when The Sorcerer’s Apprentice began filming, the multi-billion dollar Avatar having not yet dropped as an example of where the technology is going. This decision was made outside of the circle of filmmakers actually working on the film and instead was made in an office by a bunch of suits. Director Jon Turteltaub says:
“We said ‘This is a perfect 3D movie,’ And they said, ‘Oh, that’s silly. No one’s doing 3D. And it’s a waste of money.’ True story.”
So while Turteltaub might have been a step ahead of his time, I find it interesting that the studio shot it down so fast. Just inconceivable back then. Now it seems everything is in 3D (it only seems that way).
This is just one step closer to having resposibility with this power of 3D technology.
Most of the perception of 3D as a gimmick instead of a useful special effect comes from films unneccesarily being filmed in 3D. Now I know there are some nay-sayers out there who think NO FILM should be done in 3D but that is just ludicrous. 3D is just a visual technique, and one very effective if used right. Just like CGI. Before the refinement of CG technology, we were using stop motion puppets and models. Other valid techniques for the time, but now very common place because it works better. Will 3D be around forever? Only if they continue to refine it and make it work better.
Avatar was made better for having it, and clearly the springboard on which these money grabbers are basing their motivations to go 3D.
But some films are not affected at all if in 3D. Monsters vs Aliens was a lot of fun in 3D, as it tends to lean to the realism in the animated genre. But Alice in Wonderland, as visual as it was – didn’t need to be in 3D. It gained nothing from the effect.
Then you get films like Clash of the Titans, which I only saw in traditional 2D because I didn’t feel a need to see that in 3D, but its reportedly the worst attempt to transfer in post, trying to jump on the 3D craze.
So while Disney is planning the release of their Sorcerer’s Apprentice, I am happy that they are willing to let it be presented as it was intended.
