THE MARTIAN Set To Overtake GLADIATOR As Ridley Scott's Top Box Office Draw

Ridley Scott has to be smiling broadly right now as his 3D space adventure THE MARTIAN continues to hold on to first place at the box office. In fact the Matt Damon starrer will overtake GLADIATOR as the top box office draw in all of Scott's releases sometime this week. THE MARTIAN currently stands at $182m and GLADIATOR did $188m worth of business back in 2000.

THE MARTIAN only dropped 27% this past weekend for an estimated take of $11.4m. Couple that with the bombs of SCOUT'S GUIDE, OUR BRAND IS CRISIS and BURNT (which I thought was very good) and voila - Martian Victory. Trouble is definitely on the horizon though as SPECTRE looms large this Friday. The latest James Bond installment just set records over in the UK during it's opening there. It'll open to huge business here as well and will hold it until THE HUNGER GAMES closes up shop with part 2 of MOCKINGJAY.

So congratulations to Ridley Scott for his achievement and continued success with 3D. An amazing accomplishment! Looking forward to ALIEN: PARADISE LOST and more native 3D from Scott and 3ality!!

Watch: First Clip From Ridley Scott's THE MARTIAN

Check out the first clip from Ridley Scott's THE MARTIAN from 20th Century Fox. The movie stars Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney based on the best selling novel from Andy Weir (an excellent read by the way).

The clip is reserved in that it doesn't give much away in regards to plot or characters, but definitely sets up a story based in real science and an expectation that it's believable. The crew has a great dynamic too. Ridley Scott is known for these traits and so my excitement for the movie is off the charts.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return. Based on a best-selling novel.

THE MARTIAN launches wide on October 2 and premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Watch: New Trailer For Ridley Scott's THE MARTIAN

Oh man - can't wait for this movie to touchdown. Matt Damon stars in director Ridley Scott's native 3D return to space and it looks like all systems go for a great movie here. The story should be amazing as I've read the book and hopefully they don't stray too far from the original material. It seems they aren't - Damon's character even uses the same terminology that's found in the book: "Here's the rub...".

I think Ridley is going to knock this one out of the park. Hopefully there's ample momentum here for his PROMETHEUS 2 afterward! 3ality Technica is behind the rigs for the production so you know the 3D in this movie will be jawdropping.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return.

Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Donald Glover, Mackenzie Davis, and Chiwetel Ejiofor

THE MARTIAN takes off October 2 in Real D 3D. Enjoy the trailer!

Both EVEREST and THE WALK Will Open Early In IMAX 3D

**UPDATE: 28 June - Just heard from 3ality that they in fact did NOT do native 3D on this production - so it's a conversion too. A battle between conversion houses it is then. Too bad.


Yes! Love when IMAX does this: They've announced that both EVEREST and THE WALK will open on September 18th and the 30th respectfully - ahead of their wide release dates.

EVEREST is a true story about a team's ascent to the highest peak in the world while THE WALK is the true story of Philippe Petit's attempt to cross the distance between the top of the World Trade Centers in NYC.

Correction: Both of these two IMAX 3D releases are 3D conversions. I can't wait to compare them because of their close release dates and both showing in the large format. I will also include comment on how the RealD projection is for comparison - I do have a RealD PLF (premium large format) screen here in town. I will definitely give these two a competitive review, head to head.

Here's the storyline for EVEREST:
This is the story of the 1996 Everest Film Expedition, a MacGillivray Freeman production in association with Arcturus Motion Pictures. Filmed in IMAX photography, EVEREST is the dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy. Their successful ascent of Mount Everest, just days after fellow mountaineers and friends died there, is a compelling story about the human spirit and a mountain they love, respect and sometimes fear.

Here's the storyline for THE WALK:
Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. Guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petit and his gang overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis, the director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to the Future, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry, The Walk is true big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. The film, a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80, unlike anything audiences have seen before, is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

EVEREST opens on September 18 and THE WALK opens on September 30 - BOTH in IMAX 3D!

Movie Review - THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES - 9.1 Stars!

Peter Jackson has done it again. He has nailed the genre and no one is better on the face of the earth in bringing such to the big screen. Furthermore Jackson is spearheading the future of cinema with his outstanding use of stereoscopic native 3D (using rigs from 3ality Technica) and High Frame Rates (48 fps).

That said, one really does have to watch all three Hobbit movies one after the other to get a sense of story and character development and so as a standalone movie I have to score those aspects much lower than I would if all three movies were one. I would wager most movie goers will have seen the previous two Hobbit movies however and the best way to see the whole story is to watch them all back to back to back.

I won't spoil the movie for those of you who haven't seen it as of yet. I will tell it is more of what you have come to expect from Peter Jackson and company. Thrilling adventure, magnificent characters and epic battles. Everything is as it should be from Howard Shore's magnificent score to the visuals to the acting performances.

I'll briefly diverge here for a moment. The sole operator of movie theaters in my area, Cineplex, has decided to not distribute THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES in HFR in my area - perhaps all of Canada - I'm checking into this. I am extremely disappointed in this decision. They have no competition here and so I have no way of checking out the HFR version of the movie. So I apologize to you that I can't comment on the HFR . I will say that judging from previous movies I have seen I believe variable frame rate will be the way of the future in that portions of movies will be shown in HFR while the remainder will toggle back to 24 fps. This way the effect will not be jarring and HFR will only be used for moments that truly will shine with the technology - such as slow motion.

So what did I love about the movie? Certainly I will elaborate in detail in the comment section below where spoilers are encouraged, but to be honest, I loved the whole thing. I have some questions that I'd like your opinions on (again in the comments) but overall I have seen the movie twice now, one in IMAX 3D and the other in AVX (7.1) 3D and it just keeps getting better.

Some scenes are literally crying out for more - or origin stories - or just singular character stories; essentially I want Jackson to continue to make Middle-earth stories, but with his own original ideas within the world. Again I can't say more here, but I will below.

So the native 3D was outstanding! A perfect blend of function (immersion and excitement) with the practical (forgetting the 3D was even there). In other words, this 3D that was shot on the world's leading native 3D rigs from 3ality Technica was perfectly executed. I saw no flaws to speak of at all. Battle scenes were amazing. Sweeping shots of cities and towns along with the jaw dropping vistas of New Zealand's 3D Middle-earth were inspired and delectable. Intimate character shots were oh so real in native 3D!

The visual effects of the movie were definitely in the genre wheelhouse of Weta Digital and they brought them to us with unreal precision. Suspension of disbelief came easy for me when the extremes were handled with care - from decisive serious scenes to comedic scenes didn't make me think at all about how it was done, but simply to live it.

70% of the initial world box office was generated from 3D ticket sales for the movie, underscoring that 3D is now part of our culture. Can't wait to see what 2015's 3D movies have in store for us!

Sadly, this will be the last trip to Tolkien's world - unless we are very lucky. But it was as if Peter Jackson himself said: "If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end, as to be worthy of remembrance."

If you have seen the movie already, then I invite you to read the comments below and join in on the conversation! And if you haven't seen the movie yet... WHAT? What are you waiting for? :-) Christmas? 'Cause you know, Christmas is here...

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES is now playing in 3D, IMAX 3D, HFR 3D and flat.

GOLD! THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES Will Open $75M+, Already At $122M+ Overseas - Over 70% Of Total From 3D Screens!

This is it guys. The last trip we will have to Middle-earth for a long time. So go out and enjoy it! Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES opened last night to massive midnight screenings and is projected to hit north of $75 million for the weekend. Add on the $122 million it has already made overseas and we're well on our way to another gigantic release for Tolkien's imagination. Well mostly Tolkien and some kind liberty by a fella known as Peter Jackson.

After seeing the first two releases in this franchise series, it really makes me wonder what Guillermo del Toro's versions would have been like. More practical effects I'm sure, but what would be the big differences? I'm hoping that perhaps some of those concepts get included in the upcoming trilogy blu-ray set for THE HOBBIT next year. They've got my money already, but that would be the icing on the cake.

Back to the matter at hand - I won't be able to see the finale until the weekend, but Tim says he's seen it already so it will be great to see his review on the movie and the native 3D. Mine will be coming forthwith! Can't wait to see all that native 3D goodness, all from the amazing 3D rigs of 3ality Technica. Bring it on!

Here's the movie's storyline:
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES is now playing in 3D, HFR 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

First Clip From THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES!

Check the first clip from THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES and Bilbo's bravery in spite of Gandalf's opinion of the situation.

The falling snow in this particular scene is going to add a enchanting piece of realism and immersion in native 3D! Stereographer Sean Kelly (my exclusive interview with him here) and his team using 3ality Technica native 3D rigs and RED Epic cameras are going to nail this movie, I can feel it. Add in the CG snow for optimal immersion and we have a perfect balance for this shot. Can't wait to see in three dimensions!

Here's the storyline for the movie:
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES opens on December 17, a mere 2 weeks from now! See it in 3D, HFR 3D and IMAX 3D.

**WARNING: Obvious spoilers in this clip as it is from the actual upcoming movie! Fair warning.

Fall Stereographer Interview Series - STALINGRAD's Céline Tricart

Our Fall Stereographer Series continues and has a great list of the world's best stereographers and technicians. Our goal is to enlighten you about the modern stereographer, his/her role in major tentpole productions, new technology and expert advice for the up and coming new generation of 3D creators. Be sure to check out all our interviews right here.

Next up is a fast-rising, behind the camera star in the 3D world, Céline Tricart. She's multi-talented as she is also a writer, director and producer - but I want to focus on her 3D passion. She is an independent filmmaker and was stereographer on Gordon Chan's THE FOUR 2 (2013), DERRIERE LES MURS (French supernatural thriller) and the short film OUTSIPLOU. Further testifying to her talents is the trust that large budget productions place on her as well - she was 3D Rig Technician for both Fedor Bondarchuk's STALINGRAD and Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION.

She has already directed several shorts, three of which were shot in 3D, and received many awards around the world. Since 2008 when she graduated from the famous ENS Louis Lumiere film school in Paris, she was the stereographer of more than 20 live broadcast, commercials and documentaries, and of the first French 3D feature film BEHIND THE WALLS from directors J. Lacombe and P. Sid (Sombrero Productions- 2010). She has worked with the R and D department of the french company Binocle (3D rigs and softwares) during 4 years as lead stereographer. Further, Céline has published a book about 3D storytelling in early 2013 which is available worldwide. She works now closely with the award-winning company 3ALITY Technica on numerous projects.

Celine is now developing her first feature film with award winning producer, Roger Frappier (“Jesus of Montreal”, “The Decline of the American Empire”, “The Grand Seduction”) and his Canadian production company, MAX FILMS. This film will of course be shot in 3D! Celine is also looking into TV as a fascinating new medium to tell her compelling stories. Her new book “Directing 3D: Concepts and Techniques for Stereoscopic Filmmakers” will be published by Focal Press in 2015 worldwide.

I think Céline represents one of the best of the best for up and coming stereographers in the world. Let's get to know her opinion on the Stereographer Series questions!

Hi Céline, I really want to thank you for taking the time to chat with me today! Could you tell me what's your favorite 3D movie and why?
Céline Tricart: My pleasure Jim. Gravity of course! 3D is the perfect way to tell this particular story, the tension relies on distances, depths, space! It's also technically very well done but to me it's first and foremost a good story and a director who wanted to use stereoscopy to enhance his storytelling.

Explain your thoughts on the native 3D vs. 3D conversion debate as it stands with today's technology?
CT: The real debate is elsewhere. I don't care if it's native 3D or conversion, if the 3D is considered as a filmmaking tool and used properly in accordance to the story, then I'm in. I believe in the future of hybrid movies, part of it being shot natively, part of it converted depending on what's easier / has a better quality / is cheaper. I generally prefer native 3D because it means having 3D monitors on set and that gives the creative crew the opportunity to learn this new medium and use it in a better way.

Right. Real-time feedback to the creatives. What do you make of the negative comments that Seamus McGarvey has made regarding 3D?
CT: Clearly this interview is dated. He talks about lenses changes that takes 45min while today it's between 3 and 4 minutes with a good 3D rig and an efficient 3D crew. It's funny he doesn't even remember the exact name of the rig he used. I guess the DP who used the first HD cameras in the 90's probably had the same point of view... But it would have been unfair to use these reviews to judge the HD cameras of the years 2000. It's also funny he said they had a stereographer on set on Avengers who was a pain in the ass... Avengers is, still today, one of the best 3D-converted movies, to me it means it was definitely worth it! People don't like to change, that's why most DPs hate digital compared to film, and 3D compared to 2D. I don't mind! As far as I'm concerned, I'm always on the lookout for new ways of telling compelling stories. Intellectual curiosity and need for experimentation is the best human quality I think.

Speaking of change, how to you position China now on the world cinema stage now that they have ~20,000 3D screens in place and growing?
CT: Definitely the biggest player out there for 3D box office. Most of the tentpoles now integrate Chinese locations and famous local stars. And the Chinese audience loves 3D! They're not stupid though, and if the studios keep sending them bad 3D conversions we'll get bored and upset. I hope they won't kill the golden goose...

What brought you to 3D in the first place? (chance, study, interest, etc)
CT: Chance! I feel really lucky to know a bit about 3D and have this amazing additional tool as a director! It was 2006, I was in film school in Paris and the french 3D club organized a screening in our projection room. It was basically a bunch of retired guys, building 3D rigs in their garage but they said something that changed my life: they said 3D was ready technically (well, almost!) and now what was desperately needed was writers, directors, artists to transform it into an art form. It blew my mind! I decided to write my end-of study essay about 3D storytelling and I directed a 6-minutes short film in 3D. It was very empowering to feel like a pioneer, to reinvent all the filmmaking rules and create a new language for this technology.

What is your preferred set up on set? (camera, rig, lens, etc)
CT: Technology is changing very fast... If I had to shoot a feature tomorrow I would probably choose Red Epics with 15-40 Optimo and a TS5 3ality Technica rig. With this configuration I know I can shoot as fast as in 2D and do steadycam, handheld...

Are there any new stereoscopic technologies coming out in the field that has your interest?
CT: I'm really interested in VR and shooting a fiction in 360 degrees 3D ! I can almost hear people complaining about it: "What's the point of not having a point of view decided by the director? What if the audience is not looking at the main character? Film was so much better..." VR is a new challenge, we'll have to figure out what storytelling in VR means... I'm very excited about it !

When working with optics do you find there is disparity between how long it takes to make a 2D lens change verses a modern 3D set up?
CT: Of course, you have to change 2 lenses instead of one and to redo the 3D alignment... With a decent crew and a modern 3D rig it shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 minutes though.

If you have worked with 3D conversions as a stereographer adviser on set, how are the general interactions with the cinematographer and director as opposed to a native 3D production?
CT: I've worked as an on-set stereographer for a Chinese movie that was shot in 2D and later converted. I had a blast! The Chinese / Hong Kong crew has eager to learn and "think in 3D" despite the fact they were shooting with a 2D Arri alexa like they usually do. I trained the DP and director as much as I could, and stayed on set for two weeks. The first few days I had to intervene a lot, mostly about the framing (get rid of blurry foregrounds, over the shoulder etc.) and the depth of field. After a week I didn't have to say anything anymore. They got it right away, embraced it and had a lot of fun with it!

What would be your favorite shot for 3D and why?
CT: Long steadycam POV shot I guess... Works really well and 3D makes sense as we see in 3D in real life.

Obviously 3D has matured since the late 2000's both in technology and expertise. What credentials / experience would you mention that helps separate you from the field and brings you to the top of the industry?
CT: I don't think I'm at the top of the industry! I'm still learning, and enjoying it a lot! My ultimate goal is to direct a 3D feature film, hopefully soon... Then I'll be able to use this credential and pretend I'm at the top in the industry !

Many would agree with me that you should be mentioned in the best of the best. Speaking of learning, what education would you recommend to up and coming stereographers / cinematographers in today's world?
CT: I'm not very familiar with US film schools, but I think the best education is to watch as many 3D movies as possible, take notes of what you liked / disliked, and then watch the movie again without the 3D glasses so you can identify the type of 3D settings or shots that works best. And do some tests, experiments! It's very easy to build a cheap 3D camera or to buy some of the prosumer ones out there.

Do you have a post-production software preference for working with the stereo images to do any fine tuning you need to do?
CT: Not really, the software changes and gets better every year.

How important is resolution? Would more pixels be more important for stereo 3D? Higher dynamic range? HFR?
CT: None of these are "necessary" for 3D. It's a matter of storytelling, again. Is the story demanding a higher resolution? HFR? HDR? Maybe no, maybe yes! I like the HFR technology but to be honest I didn't really like it in "The Hobbit". It's a fantasy film, taking place in an imaginary and magic world, I don't think the realistic effect of the HFR is suitable for this type of story.

Are there any specialty filters that you find enhance the stereo images? How about specialty filters that you have found should never be used?
CT: Whatever filter the DP wants to use, we can make it work. Sometimes it's tricky because it means ordering a filter big enough to cover the entire mirror box of a 3D rig. Some specialty filters can create different effects on each lenses and therefore retinal rivalry. That's why I believe in hybrid filmmaking: Is a particular scene requires a specialty filter and the director doesn't want to add it in post, then why not shooting this scene in 2D and convert it in 3D in post ?

Split focus diopters are a popular tool in 2D. Do you think a director looking for an effect like that can get that in stereo 3D?
CT: I've never try to do it in native 3D but it's probably worth trying, especially because we love wide depth of field in 3D! If it's technically too challenging, then again this shot can be converted in post. Anything is possible!

Open mic: What is the biggest challenge that you'd like to openly discuss about today's 3D?
CT: Same thing as 2, 3, 4 years ago: We have to get rid of the ticket upcharge for 3D! Do we pay an upcharge to see a movie in cinemascope? In color? In surround sound? If seeing a movie in 3D cost as much as a 2D movie, it will encourage independent filmmakers and smaller budget to shoot in 3D because they'll know their audience will go and see it.

Open mic: What are you happiest about in the 3D field?
CT: The technology and 3D rigs have never been better, and the best 3D movies I've ever seen has been released in the last 3 years. It's very encouraging to see talented directors getting interested in this new language! Hopefully the new generation will have the same open mind.

If there was one thing you could change about the industry what would it be?
CT: No upcharge for 3D movies!

Thanks so much for your time on this Céline! Congratulations on TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION being the number one box office movie around the world thus far for 2014! Almost $1.1 billion. And... I loved the 3D. Looking forward to seeing more of your stereo work soon Céline!

Stay tuned for our next interview in the Fall Stereographer Series coming soon!

Movie Review: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL - 9 Stars

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I thoroughly enjoyed OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, much more than I thought I would. You know, James Franco either works or he doesn't work there is little in between and thank goodness he works very well as Raimi's wizard. A good choice in fact. I thought the casting in general was quite well done.

Here's the official storyline:
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

The 3D is amazing. Right up there with LIFE OF PI, HUGO, THE HOBBIT and AVATAR. Sam Raimi and 3ality Technica sent it soaring. The moment I saw the first trailer with the black and white small screen and the blowing flames I knew that we had the potential of something very good here for 3D. When you use extra black space on the edges it allows you to overplay the 3D when needed - like the flames. And when he widened the shot and brought in color as the balloon emerged from the tornado - pure magic. No wonder Disney was all over this.

I loved, loved Danny Elfman's score throughout this! He deserves to be commended.

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OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL currently sits with $280 million in worldwide box office only 10 days into release. Another 3D blockbuster to say the least.

You really should go see this movie if you haven't already. And bring your family if you have young ones. The finale is especially fun and had me smiling ear to ear. A wonderful story, spectacular scenery and immersion and a satisfying conclusion. Easily 9 stars. Enjoy!

Movie Review: TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D - 8 Stars! No Spoilers...

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I liked this movie much more than I thought I would. I was thinking about where they could go with this "same old, same old"; I didn't really think that director John Luessenhop and his team had the go ahead to do something a little off base.

Wrong. What I got was actually an entertaining story that made you pay attention. That doesn't happen too many times in this genre of film. Sad that it doesn't happen more often but perhaps the times are changing.

Another thing - this movie introduces us further to many future movie stars. One of them is a sure fire thing - Scott Eastwood. Yes, that's Clint's son. And he's a dead ringer for him. He grabs the screen in the same fashion as his dad - just wait until he works out his own expressive nuances and he's golden. You can see huge improvements in his acting capabilities and pay attention to his character because it's important.

Another is Alexandra Daddario who first really stepped forward in the PERCY JACKSON franchise (the second movie SEA OF MONSTERS is in post right now). Other than being striking, she can also flip a switch and really amp up her acting chops. Although she does need to work on her horror movie "tripping skills". You'll know what I mean.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family—or so they thought.

Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars.

So let's address our ratings categories one at a time shall we?

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Stereoscopic 3D - 88%. First of all I will let you know that this movie was shot in native 3D using 3ality Technica 3D camera rigs. So great pedigree there. However I found that the 3D could have been used much more effectively in many different scenes. The few that stand out for me are street level shots of the feminine and masculine wiles of the actors as well as the up close and personal chainsaw scenes which you will immediately see for yourself - they probably were CG effects regardless.

Ray Hannisian was the stereographer.

But more upsetting to me was the presence of what I call "Bright Illumination Fog". Whenever there was a bright light shining into the camera and more often in this movie, the sun's reflection on car's windshields there was a jarring fog that would appear on the screen and obscure the scene and break the suspension of disbelief for the audience - well, at least me. I know I am tuned in to things like this, but I REALLY despise this lack of detail. There is a scientific reason why this phenomenon happens which I won't go into right now, but it's easily solved by using a 2D to 3D conversion for those scenes. There are some things that conversion are simply better at and this is one of them. Don't get me wrong - I prefer native 3D currently, but unless this issue can be worked out within that scope - convert parts of it. Problem solved.

Visual / Special Effects / Stunts - 91%. For the most part was very well done and perhaps the best element of the whole production. Hats off to the team. Scenes were believable and that is HUGE. Recommend a stunt double for Daddario at times.

Cinematography - 84%. Again the total visual package lies with the Director and the Cinematographer (and Stereographer) and those Bright Illumination Fogs really get to me. Other than that, I thought the scenes were lit correctly and framed well. Nothing too much to take issue with here.

Sound / Score - 75%. Again, not much to comment on here. The closing credits were scored very well, but the rest of the movie was truly unremarkable - which is in most cases a good thing. You don't need to be taken out of the movie by noticing the music unless the director intends for you to be (like Tarantino). So an above average grade here because if you mess up with the score and sound, the whole movie drops immeasureably.

Directing - 78%. Luessenhop could have nailed this thing but didn't. He's above average I will say, but there were a number of errors that bother me. Follow Eastwood's character to the end of his arc and you will understand part of my concern. But listen - great job on the interesting story and character development that normally doesn't happen in this genre. Pacing was abrupt at times but successfully pushed the story forward.

Suspension of Disbelief - 76%. Some of the acting (especially in the early scenes) really do affect this grade. I need to be convinced of emotions and that wasn't happening in some scenes. When that blows up then I shake my head. However, once the movie got some steam up, the acting improved. Another inconsistency with Luessenhop I found.

Character Development - 82%. Well played.  Sure, some characters fell off (like the above mentioned Eastwood who played Carl) but overall it was a pleasure to watch. I won't give away details but suffice to say that even horror movies deal with humans and with that comes emotion and less than perfect lives. I like the attention to detail with several elements of Daddario's character Heather for example.

Acting - 74%. The early scenes were a mess pure and simple. They should have been shot those until the best results were achieved because I was not enjoying the movie from the get-go. But after 10 minutes or so it all picked up. I thought that Shaun Sipos (who plays Darryl) did an outstanding job and he should be going places. Look for a major break out role for this guy coming soon, I'm sure.

Story - 71%. THE most important element of a movie. Characters have to be who they are. They can't all make huge unexpected turns at once and not expect the audience to pick up on that and wonder "What the heck?". So yes, there were a few moments like that in the story. One involves Sipos' Darryl character and the rest of the group. You'll know it when you see it. It just wouldn't happen that way. Oh well. Nice character arcs though for both Daddario's Heather and Dan Yeager's Leatherface. As far as the acts are concerned, the first act suffered along. The second act picked up significant steam and the third act was satisfying - could have been better... but satisfying. In other words: Stick around. It'll be worth it.

Overall a great horror movie to go see on the big screen in 3D. TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D is now playing. I give the movie 8 stars out of 10.

Thanks so much to Empire Theatres for the screening! The projection was bright and the service awesome.

New Character Poster For OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

...And we have Rachel Weisz as the wicked witch from Disney's OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL looking rather menacing.

I am actually looking forward to seeing this native 3D production and I'm not really a fan of the original story. Did I just say that out loud?

Here's the storyline for the movie:
OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL opens on March 8, 2013.

Source: Cine1

New Character Posters For THE GREAT GATSBY

We've got a couple of new character posters for Baz Luhrmann's upcoming take on Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY featuring Myrtle Wilson (played by Isla Fisher) and Tom Buchanan (played by Joel Edgerton).

Clearly dazzling colors and impeccable style will be front and center for the movie and I can't wait to see the visuals in native 3D!

Here's the movie's storyline:
The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

THE GREAT GATSBY opens May 10, 2013.

Movie Review: THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - 9.5 Stars!!

We've waited a LONG time for this movie to come out, the first of three from Peter Jackson and company. The wait was worth it. Remember when all of this was just a pipe dream and the legal issues between New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson seemed insurmountable. Then I received those emails from my source within Jackson's camp that hinted at a silver lining. Of course I immediately passed them on to you: That the hobbit was going to go ahead; Peter Jackson will direct; it will be three movies not two or one; and they will be shot in native 3D. Sure there were distractions along the way but the end result was exactly what my source had told us from day one: We'll be getting what we've always dreamed of.

And now that day has come. I must admit when I first saw the HFR opening scenes I do not know exactly what to expect. To the untrained eye which most of us has, the characters seem to speed up and slow down and even simple camera panning had issues with uneven, at times jerking motion. It sounds worse than it is. I will be the first to say I was nervous. In all the reviews that I had read prior to seeing the movie there was no indication that you would get used to what you're watching on the screen. But I am here to reassure you today that you will indeed get used to what's on the screen and moreover you will be engulfed in such a realistic journey that it may bring tears to your eyes. You WILL get used to the HFR experience, some faster than others. I have yet to see HFR a second time but when I do I will let you know if my eyes get used to the experience faster the second time.

Once my eyes adjusted after perhaps 10 min. of watching the movie I was only reminded of the HFR experience a handful at times afterwards mainly during periods of the movie that were slower so I had time to think for myself. But oh the times when I forgot about the HFR and just was completely immersed in flying over the group of dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo as they travel towards the lonely Mountain. I'm not ashamed to say I had tears in my eyes at that moment. We are witnessing the dawn of a new generation of cinematic experience in HFR. When I spoke with James Cameron at Cinemacon and what he showed us his HFR 3D testing, I was floored - and that was with simple slow-motion clips from a closed set. Peter Jackson has given us a full cinematic experience of one of the most beloved classic stories ever told and combining that with 3-D and HFR was pure genius.

Where shall I begin? Good question. I think I have to start with the tip of the hat to Peter Jackson and the sheer will and determination of the man to get this production underway from the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his way is nothing short of amazing. New Zealand could not ask for a better ambassador to represent them on the world stage. His vision, his loyalty to Tolkien, his creativity along with Fran and Phillipa and not to forget Guillermo del Toro, and his bottomless pit of energy that Jackson can draw upon must be pointed out in any review of the hobbit.

Who would've thought that this small island nation could not only compete with the likes of Hollywood but surpass them. I don't believe there's anything untouchable for Jackson and his team. What a remarkable statement. Watching THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY and seeing the maturation of Jackson's directing style meshed with the new technologies that his team are introducing was mesmerizing. The sweeping camera motions over the heads of the dwarves in the Goblin King's cavern immediately brought to mind to me motion capture at its best. I lost some of the suspension of disbelief at that moment because I knew how Jackson was shooting it and I was analyzing it, but to the average theater goer that won't be an issue at all. Their jaws will just be open and tiny bit; eyes wide open.

So let's dissect the movie with my 'infamous' Star Analysis method. First let's talk about the story – obviously Jackson and his team adapted the story from Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and in order to make three movies about the tale may be stretching it a bit. Clearly he had more resources than just the story though - I'm sure the appendices will come into play, especially in the third movie. But I appreciated all the time spent in showing the audience what a comfortable life Bilbo has prior to Gandalf and the dwarves showing up at his door. It can't be overstated that Bilbo's life was turned completely upside down. And then there's the matter of introducing all these short characters and that the new generation of moviegoers may have never seen THE LORD OF THE RINGS, so their introduction to Gandalf and Bilbo must consider that. Not to mention the shire and the whole of Middle-earth. So with these issues in consideration I think Jackson and his team did a remarkable job with the adaptation thus far of the hobbit. I gave the story a 92% leaving plenty of room for improvement but reflecting upon the challenges that must've gone into AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY. I love that Bilbo made a very uncomfortable decision to join the dwarves of course, and he really doesn't know what he's getting himself into. But I think coming in contact with the ring emboldened him whether he wanted it to or not. Remember from THE LORD OF THE RINGS how the ring affected Bilbo in the end; it wasn't pretty.

I thought the acting and character development held up very well despite the restrictions of all the prosthetics that had to be in place due to the high frame rate production. I thought the various personalities of the characters had ample opportunity to shine especially Thorin Oakenshield. and what can you say about Ian McKellen? I feel every time we see him on the big screen is a gift to the culture of mankind – he is that good.

Here is the first facet of the film that I thought truly deserved a near-perfect mark. Suspension of disbelief. The Elf's home Rivendell in particular was breathtaking. Through Jackson's HFR experience and the expertise displayed in the perfect stereoscopic 3-D cinematography with 3ality Technica, we have the opportunity to step through the silver screen and be one step closer to the world of the directors mind. Sure AVATAR was amazing and I'm convinced that AVATAR 2 and 3 with their high frame rate will be remarkable as well, but let's face it this was our first HFR experience and I for one am ecstatic about where we're going. you may have read what some other critics have complained about and I really don't think that they've given the format chance at all. Some of these critics have forgotten how to suspend their disbelief when they are presented with such jaw dropping beauty in a new technology such as HFR. To them I say open your minds and don't poison the thoughts of your readers with an ignorant response.

The directing of Peter Jackson was near perfect and I think Andy Serkis is truly coming into his own as a director and of course he is the single best motion and performance capture artist alive today. I think the single most exciting thing about this category of my review is seeing how Peter Jackson is maturing at the helm. I can just see him playing in this giant sandbox of creativity with these toys of high technology always within reach of him. I can only imagine what experiences he has in store for us down the road with the story. His new use of motion capture and his virtual camera utility added a huge boost to my reception of AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

The movie score of Howard Shore was the near perfect complement to the visual treats presented. While at times I thought the music extended a bit too far, I loved the new melodic thrusts for THE HOBBIT. And I thought the audio clues from the Lord of the rings were brought in and is suitable and tasteful manner so that it didn't overly influence the movie. I thought there might be a risk of that in watching some of the trailers and I certainly did not want to see a prequel to the Lord of the rings. I wanted to see and hear the hobbit trilogy. And that folks is what were getting.

Next is the cinematography. Andrew Lesnie has nailed it. First of all I have to say that his marriage of motion and performance capture prowess with his classical use of traditional lensing has produced a timeless piece of work. It's rare that someone can not only use but excel at blending the two into something compelling. All too often either the visual effects or the technical execution of directing photography takes center stage while something else visually suffers. Not so with an unexpected journey – we're not only getting a movie here, were seeing history in the making.

The visual effects of the deus ex machina Great Eagles was one of the highlights of the movie for me. The majesty of these beasts were captured impeccably and my thoughts roamed to what we can expect from Jackson for the presentation of Smaug. I can only imagine how Smaug will soar. You can't help but think it's the Eagles multiplied 100 fold. The goblin King looked amazing as did the trolls. You can watch a featurette of how they created the trolls using motion capture here. The hint of what the necromancer looks like excites me too.

Finally I bring you the perfect stereoscopic 3D experience. Not once did I experience disbelief in the movie based upon the 3-D. The expertise and obviously the 3D rigging equipment from 3ality Technica combined with the Red Epic cameras proved to be a match made in Middle-earth heaven. There does not seem to be anything that we can't do now in 3D. Impressive with me was that there was no fogging on the screen from any source of light. This always bothers me and every time I see it I shudder. Not this time. Again I must bring up the sweeping, outdoor aerial shot over the shoulders of Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves as they ran along a craggy hill because the 3D truly brought it home. The HFR sharpened the screen into reality but the 3D pulled us in. I gave the hobbit: an unexpected journey 100% score for their stereoscopic 3D. I expect more of the same for parts two and three.

I thought I would reprint what Steve Schklair of 3ality Technica had to say to me about HFR and it bears serious thought:
"Every change in cinema technology has come with negative comments and naysayers. This includes the advent of color, sound, digital, and 3D. If you remember back to the early days of digital, there was a company selling a process that would artificially insert weave, grain, scratches and dirt into a pristine digital image so that it would have a “film look”. Motion artifacts in 2D are distracting, and in 3D they are especially distracting. Shooting HFR makes for better images and sharper less distracting pictures. Because it does not look like what people are used to, it comes with the same detractors as did color, sound, digital, and 3D. I agree with Peter Jackson in that you have to see an entire movie at 48 and not just a few minutes. When you become immersed in the story, the difference in look will become secondary to the story. Eventually, like all new technologies in our business, it will become the accepted norm. History shows that to always be true."

In closing I have to say I'm disappointed with a number of my peers who call themselves movie critics and supposedly are supposed to represent the good interests of the moviegoing public. The vitriol I have read about THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY has been uncalled for in my opinion. I think the public should be made aware of the fact that their eyes will take some time to adjust to the HFR experience and I suspect everybody will be different in how they do so. I would estimate that most audience members will be fully adjusted to the experience within 5 to 15 minutes. Some will be shorter and longer than that but I suspect most will fall within that window. And I can't emphasize this enough: It is worth the wait. You will be transported. Like never before. And whatever you hear, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is certainly cinematic - in fact it is the new definition of cinema - everyone else must catch up. It's history in the making. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy!

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is playing now in HFR 3-D, IMAX 3-D, RealD 3-D, and flat. I give the movie 9.5 stars out of 10.

Thanks so much to Empire Theatres for the amazing screening! The HFR experience was remarkable, the projection was bright and the service impeccable as always. I'll be seeing the movie again in IMAX!

Must Watch: New Trailer For Bryan Singer's JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

Bryan Singer's JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (Formerly JACK THE GIANT KILLER) is looking like a great time at the theater! I hoping to see the CGI cleaned up and little bit by release, but you can count on this: Picture perfect 3D as our friends at 3ality Digital are behind the rigs being used on the production.

Ewan McGregor is looking very good in his role, adding a needed touch of believability to the story based on a fairy tale.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Jack the Giant Slayer tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER opens on March 1, 2013.


Hit the jump to watch the trailer...

New Image And First Clip From TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D

You've been waiting and here it is: The first clip from John Luessenhop's TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D. I can't wait to see this thing in theaters - shot in NATIVE 3D with 3ality Technica rigs too.

We've also got a new image from the movie too, featuring good ol' Leatherface looking over his menagerie of mayhem methods (you see what I did there? Alliteration!).

The movie stars Dan Yeager, Bill Moseley, Alexandra Daddario, Scott Eastwood, John Dugan, Sue Rock, Tania Raymonde, Gunnar Hansen, Tobe Hooper, Paul Rae, Keram Malicki-Sánchez, Ritchie Montgomery, Shaun Sipos, Trey Songz, Marilyn Burns, Thom Barry and Richard Riehle.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Lionsgate’s TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family – or so they thought. 

Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. 

But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars.

For all of our TC3D coverage, click here.

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D revs up on Jaunary 4, 2013.

Hit the jump to watch the first clip!

LEARN -- How G.I. JOE: RETALIATION Uses 3D // LISTEN -- Marc Webb Discusses 3D, James Cameron And More!

Today we've got a double shot of 3D goodness from producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (G.I. JOE: RETALIATION) and director Marc Webb (THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN).

First, Di Bonaventura opens up about advancements in 3D conversion and how it affected the new release date for G.I. JOE: RETALIATION:

"We learned a lot about 3D—I personally learned a lot about 3D in Transformers. The conversion part of the 3D process is night and day, you know, every three, four months it’s better than it was before. It’s amazing how fast that thing has changes. And originally we didn’t really have the time or the resources to try to figure out how to shoot it in 3D in the time frame that we were originally talking about, you know, starting in August and releasing in June. So this delay has allowed us to go at it now.

Jon [Chu] has some sequences that are really, there’s a phenomenal—for G.I. Joe fans it’s going to be one of the really great scenes for them, because there’s a fight between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow in a hallway that is so perfect for 3D I can’t tell you. It’s going to be like one of the coolest fights ever in 3D, because there’s so much about it that’s dynamic. That’s going to be really fun. And you know people have seen bits and pieces of the Himalayan sort of rock climbing thing, it’s almost 3D without having turned into 3D, so I can’t wait to see that. That one’s going to be like what the hell?"

//

Finally we have director Marc Webb (and VFX Supervisor Jerome Chang) talking all about the 3D in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and how he used his 3ality Technica 3D rigs on set, outfitted with Red Epic cameras.

The result? A truly AMAZING experience in 3D. Well done Marc and 3ality. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3D is now available for purchase from Amazon and would make a perfect gift for the Marvel fans in your life!

Hit the jump to hear Marc!





How much of a learning curve was there filming your first 3D movie with the 3ality Technica System?
There was a lot of time that we spent with the red cameras and 3ality early on. We just felt that there’s a big testing phase. Before that there was just a conceptualization of 3D, trying to figure out the best way for those sequences to work and try to make sure that we were exploiting it and doing it in a way that made 3D a meaningful part of the storytelling language. That took a lot of watching 3D movies and understanding the technology and talking to different filmmakers to see how best to exploit that.

What were you able to learn from what James Cameron has done with 3D?
James Cameron has a very specific philosophy about 3D that it doesn’t interfere with the story, that it’s about creating a sense of depth and enhance the sense of realism rather than making it a gimmick. The actual component of doing your visual effects in stereo is the fact that even the texture of Spidey’s suit, the roughness on how thickness the web lines are, the amount of frayed material. We would have to make sure that you could feel that also in stereo, because when we looked at the footage of the real actors you could see in the the cashmere sweater the individual threads. That amount of detail would then have to be added not only to Spider-Man, but also to Lizard. You have to see the bump or the scales of his skin. The whole stereo aspect really complicated, or added an additional challenge, to the visual effects in terms of digital imagery.

What was the most challenging, but rewarding, 3D sequence you filmed?
The most challenging and rewarding I think to me was the final battle, or the crane sequence, was probably the most fun. The crane sequence is emotional, but you get that sense of vertigo and velocity. It was a really fun part of the 3D experience. There was a sequence that I designed specifically to exploit 3D and have that actor – have Spider-Man — come up into your foreground and fall away. We’re adjusted the conversion to the depth to make it feel as exciting as possible

What are the challenges that remain when it comes to enticing people to upgrade to 3D at home?
I think there are people that assume that 3D is something that’s exclusive to the theatrical experience, but there’s a lot of value of playing with it at home. It gets fun. You’re closer to the screen. It can feel equally as immersive, but I think people are driven to buy new technology and they’re always looking for ways to keep up with the Jones’ as we say. There’s been a lot of investment in technology and Sony has done a lot of work in 3D technology. It’s just a way to connect deeper to the material that you’re viewing.

Where do you plan on taking Spidey in the next film?
Spidey will endure, overcome, and expand upon all of our favorite parts of the Spiderman Universe.  How is that for coy and ambiguous?

 
 

Sources: Forbes | Collider

Movie Review: SILENT HILL: REVELATION - 7 Stars

Click to enlarge

I just saw SILENT HILL: REVELATION last night and I have mixed thoughts about it. If you are a fan of horror, the video game and heck, movies with a good story and characters than you probably won't be jumping for joy at the end of it.

However, I will say that the 3D looked amazing. The cinematography, 3ality Technica (3D camera rigs & expertise) and the visual effects saved whats left of the movie and actually salvaged a 7 out of 10 score from me. Without them we're probably looking at a 4 or 5 star movie.

Why? Where to begin. How about at the top - directing. Michael J. Bassett (SOLOMON KANE) just didn't get the job done here. What irked me most was when you have an actor of the caliber of Sean Bean and you have scenes where he does look all that good at all, you're in trouble. Bassett couldn't have had enough takes for these scenes or just couldn't edit it effectively.

Hit the jump for more...




**SPOILER**
Another example of poor directing is when Kit Harington's character Vincent literally tells Heather that he is part of the cult and was in fact sent into reality to bring her back to Silent Hill. HE TELLS HER THAT. Instead of showing her. Instead of having her suddenly come to that shocking revelation that he isn't what he appears to be. Instead of building up the psychological tension. *sigh*
** END SPOILER **

The acting was passable most of the time, but nothing memorable. Suspension of disbelief was broken in quite a few spots - too many times for my liking. For example the nurses looked real (great job!) but the spider creature I found to be too fake - not visceral enough for me. I did like the detail they put into describing how that monster came about though.

Click to enlarge

The sound should have been much more too. It passed, but not remarkably so. Things like the town air raid horn should have used many, many more times to build tension - even little chunks of it worked into the score would have really given the movie that little extra push.

But the biggest two flaws of this movie to me was the lack of a compelling story and the almost total disappearance of the town of Silent Hill as an extra character. Yes, the location was so well done in the first two acts of the original SILENT HILL that it seemed to be alive and contributing to the telling of the story. It was that good. All that is practically gone in this one.

But if you enjoy 3D, some awesome visual effects and one particularly good battle scene at the end (with respectable background info to amp it up), then by all means go see it! Definitely in 3D. 

7 out of 10 stars.

Special thanks to Empire Theatres for the screening in RealD 3D. The screen was crisp and well lit as well as a perfect sound level!

New Poster For TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D!

Click to enlarge

Check out the new poster for TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D featuring none other than Leatherface himself.

This poster is a New York Comic Con exclusive that Alexandra Daddario will be signing in person at the Javitz center tomorrow. For those not able to attend NYCC, be sure to check out the Texas Chainsaw 3D Facebook page to win a signed copy yourself. http://www.facebook.com/TexasChainsaw3D

With gruesome surprises in store for a whole new generation, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D stars Alexandra Daddario (Heather Miller) and Dan Yeager (Leatherface), Introducing Tremaine ‘Trey Songz’ Neverson (Ryan), Scott Eastwood (Carl), Tania Raymonde (Nikki), Shaun Sipos (Darryl), Keram Malicki-Sanchez (Kenny), James MacDonald (Officer Marvin), Thom Barry (Sheriff Hooper), Paul Rae (Burt Hartman), Richard Riehle (Farnsworth) along with special appearances from four beloved cast members from previous installments of the franchise: Gunnar Hansen (the original Leatherface), Marilyn Burns, John Dugan and Bill Moseley.

Directed by John Luessenhop, from a screenplay by Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms, based on a story by Stephen Susco and Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan and based on characters created by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper, and produced by Carl Mazzocone. Lionsgate presents a Millennium Films production and Main Line Pictures production.

Here's the movie's official storyline:
Lionsgate’s TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family – or so they thought.

Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars.

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D opens on January 4, 2013 and is a native 3D production utilizing 3ality Technica 3D camera rigs and expertise. Apparently there is converted 3D footage from the original Tobe Hooper 1974 classic in it. Can't wait for this one!