The 3D Craze

3D glasses that hinder our movie going enjoyment

The 3D craze

Commentary by Frederick Cholowski

The first 3D movie came out in the 1950’s. Over 6 decades later 3D has taken off into what seems to be an untamable monster. Almost every big budget film is now in 3D and the craze doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. So inspired by a recent episode of Ebert presents At the Movies I have decided to give my opinion on the tech and where the future lies for 3D.

Let’s start with the positives before going all negative. 3D when used right adds an added sense of depth to a film. The depth effect (as I will call it for now) is most useful when used subtly like in recent Pixar films. The depth effect when used not well though can completely take you out of a feature such as in the new Harry Potter film.

Movies that are shot in 3D also usually look really good. The best example of this (and of the usage of 3D in general) is of course James Cameron’s Avatar. The film’s world feels large, expansive, and beautiful with the added depth that 3D can provide. Also Cameron’s Avatar avoids motion blurring and color dulling something that has plagued films that add 3D in post production.

Speaking of witch adding 3D effects in post production to a live action film should be banned outright. I have yet to see a single successful example of this. The problem with adding 3D in post production is that most of the time it’s just a cheep way to make an extra buck. The film usually isn’t filmed with 3D in mind and it falls into all of the generic 3D problems without any payoff at all.

The main problems that most 3D films run into are the issues of color dulling and blurring. The glasses you wear to view the 3D reduce the light amount of light that reaches the eyes. This significantly dulls the brightness and vibrancy of the colors that are present on screen. This is especially bad for animated films witch rely now a days on vibrant color.

Blurring is something that is apparent in almost all 3D movies especially ones with large action sequences. First off when the 3D focuses on one thing the rest of the images that would normally look just fine get blurred out. This problem gets even worse once the camera starts moving at a good pace like in an action scene. This causes the infamous motion blur, blurring that happens when the 3D cannot keep up with the movement of the camera. This is most apparent in the 2010 film Clash of the Titans when the camera moves fast and furious and the 3D cannot keep up creating a hard to follow picture.

So are there ways to fix it? Well glasses free 3D is on the market now for smaller screens. This would allow the picture to remain as bright and vibrant as a 2D film. The problem with this though is aligning it with everyone in a theater. It’s hard enough to get the 3D properly aligned for one person on the Nintendo 3Ds imagine trying to get it to work for 200 people in a theater.

Another way to fix it, abolish it completely. This is an idea I’m all in favor for. I mean when did we ever get the impression that 2D films weren’t good enough? We don’t need hands, feet and swords jumping out at us if it cost us more money and reduces the quality of the film we are watching. Brightness and color wins any day over that. I guess we are trying to move technology forward towards the virtual reality idea, but I get more engaged watching a 2D movie way more often then watching it in 3D. The little tricks pull me out of a film not help to suck me into it.

I do not like the idea of 3D nor do I pretend to. It dulls the colors and blurs the image. Most of the time 3D is just there to make a quick extra buck anyways. Really the only film I would watch in 3D instead of 2D is Avatar. Nothing before or since has enticed me to spend the extra $3 to see the 3D version. So next time your at the cinema save the cash and see it in 2D.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Review

Harry Ron and Hermione look on for one last time in the final Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

A+

A review by Frederick Cholowski

Note: Do not see this film in 3D. The post production added effects dull the colors and has motion blur issues. While this will have no effect on my review I definitely recommend seeking out a 2D showing.

After 7 books and 8 movies the Harry Potter franchise has reached its finale. A film that has been waited on since the final book came out in 2005 and expectations are off the wall. The final film needs to deliver. Well I’m glad to report that not only is the final Potter film worth watching it’s the best and most emotionally satisfying Potter film in the franchise.

Deathly Hallows part 2 starts right where the first part left off. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has taken the elder wand and things are looking quite grim for our heroes. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) still have to find and destroy more horcruxes before facing the dark lord himself. Meanwhile Hogwarts has turned into hell on earth thanks to the new headmaster Severus Snape (Alan Rickman).

For the first time in a long time the story in a Potter film is truly something special. First off director David Yates uses his special abilities in creating mood and atmosphere. Yates hits all the right notes here striking the perfect balance of heroism and darkness. As well the film doesn’t suffer from the poor pacing issues of the last film. The horcrux hunt doesn’t bog down the pace this time.

Then there is the last half of the film witch stuns. It’s a fast pace emotional roller coaster with numerous stand out moments. Then they actually get the ending right. Some people may argue that it’s a little anti climatic but I don’t think so. I couldn’t see them attempting to make it more cinematic without making it cheesy and stupid.

For the first time in a potter movie I’m impressed by the performances. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson all impress with the emotional depth they bring to each of their roles. Ralph Fiennes is great as Voldemort as he shows us two different sides of the villain. Of course Alan Rickman is amazing as Snape especially in a 5 minute segment late in the film that steals the show for me.

The special effects look really good here. Nothing feels cheesy or out of place here. The action scenes are great here and feel large and meaningful. Also the score in this film is fantastic. It is loud and bombastic when it needs to be, but then it quiets down and almost disappears when needed.

The finale of the Potter franchise is magical. It’s atmospheric and emotional well keeping the lighting pace. The most emotionally satisfying potter film to date Harry has certainly saved the best for last.

Good Fantasy to get over the Post Harry Potter Hangover: Harry Potter Week Part 2

Good Fantasy to get over the Post Harry Potter Hangover

Commentary by: Frederick Cholowski

    Well the Potter film franchise is coming to an end. What are you going to read/watch!!!!! You probably have a good idea but in case your super duper lost I'm here to recommend some fantasy!

 

A Song of Ice and Fire

    First book: A Game of Thrones

    Author: George R.R. Martin

        This is my #1 recommendation. I love this series because it's so unpredictable. No one is safe and you never know what's going to happen next. I'm on the four of five available books right now and am loving every second. Also an HBO original series titled Game of Thrones has been made based on the books and it is also amazing!!

 

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

    First book: The Alchemist

    Author: Michael Scott

        This is a fun little series from Irish fantasy writer Michael Scott. It's really fast pace and messes with a lot of mythology in ways that sort of make sense. It may not be the extreme rich detailed fantasy like the lord of the rings or song of ice and fire but for what it is it's a lot of fun.

 

The Inheritance Cycle

    First book: Eragon

    Author: Christopher Paolini

        The fourth book which has taken forever to come out is finally coming in November this is a great time to get into the franchise. It is a little slow sometimes and the story may resemble Star Wars at times but it's also very detailed and a lot of fun.

 

Lord of the Rings

    First book: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

        Who hasn't read these books or at least watched the movies. Tolkien's Lord of The Ring's remains one of the premier examples of fantasy. If you haven't read these why haven't you? That is all I'm going to say

    

Well there you go a place to start for now, and if you read all these well props to you. Anyways there you go if you have any favorites you can put them in the comments.

 

Tomorrow: Potter 7 part 2 preview

 

Looking Back at the Harry Potter Movies: Harry Potter Week Part 1

Looking Back at the Harry Potter Movies

Commentary by Frederick Cholowski

Well it’s almost over, the Harry Potter franchise which has spanned 7 novels and in a few days 8 movies is coming to a close. Those who know me know that I love the books, not read them 7 times and carve “nimbus 2000” into broomsticks love but still love it the same. Those who know me also know I simply like the films. Not saying they are bad by any stretch of the imagination (good means good) but not up to the level of the novels. Maybe it’s because they follow the novels too closely or lose a little charm at times but still I like them anyways. Well with the end of the film franchise (the book franchise ended a number of years ago) I have decided to look back and count down from my least favorite Potter film to my favorite Potter film (excluding the last one because it hasn’t been released yet).

7. The Chamber of Secrets

Ah yes number 2 my least favorite of the franchise. This was back when the films still hadn’t matured out of the we’re a bit kiddy faze. Don’t get me wrong I don’t dislike this film but it’s also the weakest in the franchise with a “we’re still young” feel. That would be radically changed in the next film but more on that later…

6. The Deathly Hallows Part 1

Here lies the reason why I’m only cautiously optimistic for the last film in the Potter franchise. This film didn’t work on its own it was just endless build up without achieving much. Then it just kind of ends! Right when the film starts to get some momentum going too. Again by no means a bad film but still one of the weakest in the franchise.

5. The Order of the Phoenix

How do you turn one of the best most richly detailed books in the franchise into the shortest film in the whole series? That is the question many Potter fans where asking when the fifth film in the franchise myself included. Not judging the book (which I usually try not to do) though this is a solid entry in the Potter franchise. It’s not great and feels a bit rushed but a solid film none the less

4. The Goblet of Fire

My favorite book in the whole series is the Goblet of Fire. I think it brings the series to new heights adding new depth and expands the franchise into new territory. Problem with this film is that this happened to the film series last film. More on that later. Anyhow Goblet of fire is a solid entry in the franchise and definitely deserves to be this high on this list.

3. The Philosopher’s Stone

This is the one that started it all. Sure it has its shaky points but this film brought all the atmosphere and character into the franchise almost flawlessly. It’s always a treat when you get to see one of your favorite books jump to life on screen and the first Potter film did this on almost all the right notes.

2. The Half Blood Prince

I am in the minority of people who love this one. It gets some much needed character development and build in before racing to an interesting (yet a bit anticlimactic) finale. It succeeds in being a good set up film while also be able to stand alone as one of the best in the franchise.

1. The Prisoner of Azkaban

Funny how my least favorite book in the franchise becomes my favorite film. This took the Potter franchise in a new much needed direction. It was darker and more convincing while still keeping the charm of the series. It also managed to grow the sires up a couple of years to get older people involved. It’s the only film in the Potter franchise I would call truly great.

Tomorrow:

Fantasy to read or watch after Potter

Transformers Dark of the Moon Review

Bumblebee watching stuff pointlessly explode in Transformers Dark of the Moon

Transformers Dark of the Moon

D

A Review by Frederick Cholowski

Let’s get two things off the chest before we start this review. 1. I do not like Michael Bay films. I have always thought they were loud and stupid. 2. I am one of those people who “doesn’t get” this franchise or how it could appeal to anyone who turns their brain on if not for a brief second well watching. Well now that’s out of the way, Transformers 3 is a stupid movie. It combines stuff going boom with more stuff going boom. It (as the last two did) avoids something called “character development” or “a decent storyline”. I mean do I sound like I’m asking too much. Honestly the average 1 hour TV show dose a better job at these things than Transformers 3 dose in 2 and a half hours. That’s just sad.

Let’s not try to explain the plot because there isn’t much. Basically the evil Decepticons want to take over our planet and recreate their former planet in its place. It’s up to a bunch of army guys, the good robots the Autobots, and Shia LaBeouf (with his model girlfriend of course) to save the world. Wahoo!

Bay blamed the poor screenplay of the last Transformers film on the writers’ strike. So why is the screenplay here even worse? Don’t worry Michael Bay will find something. Maybe Bay should just abandon the whole idea of a screenplay and give us 90 minutes of stuff blowing up. It would be much better than sitting there for two and a half hours listing to all the actors scream at the machines (who PS aren’t listening most of the time guys).

Speaking of actors oh Shia LaBeouf would you please for the love of god stop embarrassing yourself on screen. I mean come on I can’t believe you could have gone lower after your last couple of films. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is basically the pretty face for Michael Bay’s cameras to exploit. I mean come on every time she walks into a room with men in it they stare at her butt. I mean you gave us a butt shot at the beginning of the film do we have to be told every 5 seconds she has a nice butt? Anyways Frances McDormand dose a very wink wink nudge nudge I’m in a crapy movie performance witch I thought was kind of fun. Lenard Nimoy even appears to be Sentinel Prime and he even utters one of his famous lines from Star Trek 2 Wrath of Kahn “The needs of many out way the needs of few”. I wonder who gave the ok on that one.

The one good thing in this film is the special effects. I didn’t get the chance to see this film in 3D so I don’t know how well that worked, but even in 2D the effects are breathtaking. Michael Bay finally gets the action scenes right so I’m not confused about who’s on whose side. The problem though is that the big set piece is anticlimactic and predictable. I pretty much saw what was coming next at every point of tension (not that I cared enough about the characters to have any sense of tension…). The other problem is by the time it gets to the big action scene the film has gone on for one and a half hours (and that one and a half hours is not good) so I was so tired of the movie by the time it got to the big set piece I didn’t care about anything that was going on.

To put it in simple man's terms Transformers Dark of the Moon is not a good film. That’s putting it lightly, really lightly. It’s one of those films that while may be pretty at points, is never decent enough to make me care. Plus it goes on and on and on and on for 157 minutes. This shouldn’t even warrant 90 minutes mind you 157 minutes of torture. Transformers while not the worst movie in recent memory (Vampires Suck still holds that one) is up there. I think when it’s all said and done Transformers 3 might just be my least favorite movie of the year.