Resident Evil: Afterlife is set to launch in theaters September 10, 2010.  The movie was shot using the same 3D camera system as Avatar.  The visuals should be stunning for sure – whether or not the plot will be solid remains to be seen.

Clash of the Titans is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name.  The story in the new film generally follows the plot line of the old film with a few key changes. Clash of the Titans 2010 was directed by Louis Leterrier, and features an all star cast that includes Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator: Salvation), Liam Neeson (Star Wars: Episode I, Taken, A-Team) and Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter, The Hurt Locker, Schindler’s List).  Clash of the Titans was also packed with CGI effects.

Unfortunately, the cast, script and effects didn’t play nice together.  A film as epic as the remake of Clash of the Titans should be can’t be rushed.  And that’s what I felt like during the entire movie.  It seemed like each scene was pushing past you to make room for the next scene.  It almost felt like I was watching a video game with objectives of each level being checked off as the movie progressed.

Fight Acrisius. Check. Fight Scorpions. Check. Find Witches. Check. Fight Medusa. Check. Show Medusa’s head to Kraken. Check. You win. Game over.

I went it with expectations as high as Lord of the Rings.  I left feeling I had just witnessed a Greek mythology version of Gone in Sixty Seconds.

Despite the great talent in the cast, the script never allowed them to connect with the audience.  Brief attempts at humor were cheap and unflattering to the tone of the movie.

Somehow, in the same 2-hour span of time, the 1981 version of the film managed to connect.  All of the gods seemed to have a role in the old film.  The gods in the 2010 film were superfluous (with the exception of Hades and Zeus).  And then, Perseus was a side show to the power plays on Mount Olympus.  In the old film, it was all about Perseus, with every other god trying to get back at Zeus by leading Perseus to destruction – and maybe that’s where the remake lost its way.

Visual effects were abundant throughout the movie.  Some were spectacular; however, most were disconnected.  Many parts of the movie felt like a special effects show instead of part of the film.  Does it really take 10 minutes for the Kraken to surface while Perseus is chasing flying monkeys on his flying horse?

The one hiatus from the rest of the disaster was Medusa, who stole the show even though she didn’t see enough screen time.  The effects artist nailed it with Medusa.  She was creepy, hideous and yet beautiful all at once.  We see a hint of who she was before her transformation by Aphrodite.  Even still, the battle with Medusa did not have the same intensity of the original film thanks to the presence of a hero that isn’t harmed by Medusa’s gaze.

As for the 3D version, don’t get your hopes up – it’s not the same kind of 3D you experienced in Avatar.  The film was shot in conventional 2D and then converted to 3D in post-production.  In short, it’s a waste and very underwhelming.

During several scenes, I took my 3D glasses off and couldn’t tell a difference.  The 3D effect is mildly appealing in only some scenes, and then only adds a bit of depth between the foreground and background.  It most certainly isn’t worth the premium that theaters are demanding for 3D screenings today.

It’s unfortunate that Clash of the Titans is being passed off as a 3D film; however, I won’t be surprised to see films converted to 3D as the medium gains popularity.  The big loser in this sham is the consuming public.

If you go see it, go to the 2D version.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t fault you for waiting for it come out on Blu-ray or DVD.

While I had seen many previews for How to Train Your Dragon, it seemed to have slipped under the radar.  After the first weekend and the rave reviews, however, I expect that it will pick up momentum in the weeks to come.

How to Train Your Dragon is fun from start to finish for both kids and adults.  The story is compelling, witty and very well presented.  The voice acting is great, with an all-star talent lineup of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler and several others.

While DreamWorks hasn’t necessarily been knocking it out of the park lately, How to Train Your Dragon can go head-to-head with recent animated films from any studio.  I connected with the characters (both human and dragon) in a way that is rare for an animated film.  The boy, Hiccup, and his dragon, Toothless, are an endearing pair and combine for some stunning visuals in the flying sequences.

The 3D effects are not in-your-face, and although there are some things that really pop off the screen, the 3D effects generally add depth and an immersive feel to the film.  The RealD 3D screening that I saw was smooth and seamless.

DreamWorks has a solid hit on its hands that will likely build quite a bit on its $43M opening weekend.  Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film are in the works for a later release.  I don’t see the 2D version of this film taking too much away from it because of the compelling story and character connections.

That said, How to Train Your Dragon 3D is definitely worth the price of admission at the theater.

My first screening of Avatar was in IMAX 3D, and it was great.  Yesterday, I caught Avatar in RealD 3D.

If you read my Avatar review, then you’ll see that I experienced some slight issues with out of focus objects in the foreground of a few scenes.  I wanted to compare this issue with 3D experience of RealD.

Most of the recent films that I’ve watched in 3D have been in RealD 3D, which have been very impressive for the most part.  I expected the RealD version of Avatar to outshine the IMAX 3D version; however, once I got settled in, I really couldn’t tell that much difference in the overall video and 3D quality.

I think that Avatar is slightly smoother in RealD, but not by much. In fact, I would recommend seeing Avatar in IMAX 3D as opposed to RealD.  The screen size makes a big difference in the viewing experience.  The top and bottom of the film screen were just too limiting after having seen it in IMAX 3D.

That’s not saying it was a bad experience in RealD 3D.  The 3D glasses were a world better in RealD 3D.  The special effects looked just as good in RealD, just not as big.  And that’s what makes IMAX 3D such an epic experience.

If you’re trying to decide which 3D version to see, my recommendation is the IMAX 3D version.

Talk about an anticipated release… It’s been a decade and a half since James Cameron originally conceived this movie and realized that the technology didn’t exist to make the film.  After more than 4 years in production, the film was finally released for the public to behold tonight at 12:01 AM.  I was there wearing 3D glasses in front of an IMAX screen to see what all the fuss was about.

Simply put, Avatar is the kind of movie that makes us want to go to the movies again.  So many films come out that make me say, “eh, I’ll wait for the DVD.”  Avatar is not one of those films.

When I saw the first trailer for Avatar, I questioned whether James Cameron could sell us on the Na’vi characters, which are indigenous to the planet Pandora.  I also had a sense of the whole White Man vs. Native Americans and a Dances With Wolves Aliens feeling.  Granted, I think there is still a strong parallel for this in the story, but I was sold on the Na’vi when Jake Sully woke up in his Na’vi Avatar for the first time.

For two and a half hours, James Cameron takes us on an out-of-our-world and into Pandora in the year 2154 while humans are attempting to mine a precious metal from underneath the Na’vi.  Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, is a former US Marine who is thrust into the Avatar program because his twin brother died and Jake needs the money.

The Avatar program uses human DNA in a genetically engineered Na’vi body to create a neurological link between a human and his or her respective Na’vi avatar.  The result is a true role-playing experience with full sensory feedback and responses. The science end of this project is very low key during the film.  You are fed enough information to buy into the concept without bogging down the plot with too many details of how it works.  The result is a pretty smooth transition because what we really want to see and learn more about is the Na’vi.

The pace of the film is calculated to build to an intense climax.  There is something for everyone in Avatar – love, romance, duty, action, betrayal and redemption.  I had the feeling of an incredible ride throughout the film.  It never slowed to a pace where I found myself pondering too far beyond the present scene.  While I wanted to know what was going the happen next, I also remained content in the moment of the story being told.  It was just beautiful storytelling throughout the film.

How does he do it though?

Pandora and the Na’vi seem so real.  You get the feeling that you are there, or at least that you could go there.  Sam Worthington makes a pleasant transition between the human Jake Sully and his Na’vi couterpart – and Jake is Jake on either side of the link.

Likewise, Zoe Saldaña is the beautiful Na’vi woman Neytiri.  Saldaña sells Neytiri as a strong and smart Na’vi, who also happens to be the tribe leader’s daughter.  When Sully and Neytiri meet, you are rooting for them from then on.  It’s a fun adventure that they take you on, and you a gratuitous grand tour of Pandora as a result of their bonding experiences.

You can get a pretty good flavor of the overall theme of the plot by watching the longer versions of the trailers.  Personally, I’d recommend to stop reading about the movie before actually seeing it.  I felt like I read far too much and saw too much behind the scenes before watching the film.  There are a lot of things that I would have preferred to see on the big screen for the first time.

I’ll get to the special effects in a minute, but the real thing that sells the movie is a great blend of the acting and special effects.  Without solid efforts by Worthington and Saldaña, you just couldn’t buy into the Na’vi.  However, because you believe in them, you feel the empathy for the Na’vi and have no problem siding with them in the battle against the invading humans.

Cameron’s Avatar story is told with such rich details of this other world.  Elements of science pushed by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) help to ease you into believing that all living things on Pandora really are connected by some biological energy.  It’s not quite the Force, but not too far off either.  It’s a powerful piece of the story on Pandora that ultimately becomes the key to the Na’vi survival.

Special Effects, IMAX and 3D

Immersive.

James Cameron was right when he said this movie couldn’t be made in 1994.  Heck, I just watched it and can’t believe it’s on movie screens in 2009.  The bar for special effects has been raised so far beyond what I thought was possible.

The amount of CGI is mind boggling.  Even the leading characters are CGI thanks to Cameron’s new motion-capture process.  Unlike other movies, however, the CGI in Avatar looks real.  I can’t tell what’s been filmed in the real world and what’s been created with computers.  I think that’s the bar every film strives for, but no film has nailed it to the level that Avatar achieved.

The IMAX 3D experience was also solid.  There were a handful of scenes where the on-screen image had a shallow depth-of-field in the foreground that distracted from the 3D viewing experience; however, I felt that the overall experience was very solid.  This film was intended as a 3D experience before principal photography began.  A modified version of Cameron’s 3D Fusion Camera System was used by for the live action shooting – and it was bang-on good.

So many scenes put you right in there with Jake and Neytiri.  And, I have to admit, I jumped a few times.  The 3D just added to the intensity level.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the RealD 3D experience may be a little smoother overall.  I know for sure that the glasses are better.  I don’t know what’s up with the crappy glasses they handed out at the IMAX screening, but they were rather uncomfortable and set a little far away from my eyes.  I’ll update this review after I have a chance to screen a RealD 3D version of the film.

From the "Are you kidding me? department..."

Almost every scene gave you that true feeling of depth so that you feel like you’re looking into the scene instead of watching a screen.  If anything, Avatar is a strong signal that 3D technology is here and it’s ready.

Now, can I just get that setup at home?

Also, I don’t want to leave out the music.  One of the best parts of the film, the sound and music mesh perfectly with the other components of Avatar to aid in the immersive experience.

Winding Up and Recommendations

Avatar is my movie pick of the year by a long shot.  This film is why we go to the movies.

To you, Mr. Cameron, I give you my applause and my thanks for making such an incredible movie. I’m waiting for your sequel.  Not necessarily an Avatar sequel, but your sequel.  How are you going to top this?

To you, Hollywood, this is what we want to see.  Stop the remakes of previously popular films from yesteryear and let artists paint with a blank canvas.  Do that, and you just might get a masterpiece like Avatar.

James Cameron’s Avatar will be shown in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D.  It’s scheduled for release on December 18, 2009, just in time for Christmas.

You can bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to catch this in 3D.  Although, I’ll probably stick with RealD 3D as opposed to the IMAX version.  Expect a review shortly after the release date.

More on Avatar at Tech Tilt.

The latest iteration of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, was released in both IMAX 3D and Disney Digital 3D.  I caught the 3D version, but not IMAX.

The 3D Setup and Previews

As with all of the recent 3D flicks I’ve attended, I received a pair of RealD 3D glasses for the show.  It seems like every time I go to the movies, they improve on the quality of these glasses.  This was the sturdiest pair of RealD 3D glasses that I’ve had yet.

Before I get into the meat of the movie, I’ll also point out that there were some great 3D previews shown as well.  Toy Story 3 had a long full 3D trailer, as did How to Train Your Dragon.  You can tell that Hollywood is really set on 3D being a big deal in 2010 and beyond.  The animation and 3D effects just keep getting smoother and smoother.

How the Story Went

Now, the story isn’t any secret of course.  We’ve all seen many takes on Charles Dickens’ story.  From Muppets to musicals, there are so many variations, and each one has its own fans and critics.  Jim Carrey’s Scrooge story will be no different.

Jim Carrey knocked it out of the park with his acting.  Every time I see a Jim Carrey movie, he just gets better and better.  He absolutely makes this movie and shines through all the special effects, animation and any other distractions within.

I would consider Carrey’s Scrooge story to be one of the darker versions of the tale.  Some of the encounters with the ghosts are definitely scarier than what you experience from the Muppets’ story or Albert Finney’s musical version.  That said, the story was well told overall and it was a fun movie-going experience for families.  I would caution parents with younger children to consider their own kids’ tolerance for strong thematic elements.

3D and Special Effects

The 3D animation did not disappoint.  Although, at some points in the film, I felt like it came to a bit of a stall so the creators could show off their amazing special effects.  While the effects were stunning for the most part, as we neared the end of the film, I began to wonder just how many more “flying” or chase sequences could be thrown in.  The effects were almost pushed over the edge at these times to a point where the tail wagged the dog.

As for the 3D effects in general, Disney nailed it again with an almost seamless display of 3D theater.  The snow was spectacular, particularly in some of the solemn and still life sequences.  It really looked like it was snowing inside the theater.

The 3D effects gave a depth to the entire movie that I really haven’t appreciated before.  When I saw Disney’s UP in 3D, I thought it was the best 3D translation I had ever seen.  I have to put Disney’s A Christmas Carol right up there with it, if not a notch above.

Looking into some of the rooms or outside of windows in scenes produced an immersing experience.  It felt like A Christmas Carol was truly striving for a 3D experience from the story board to the big screen.  In UP 3D, the 3D experience seemed more subtle and passive.  In A Christmas Carol 3D, you are pushed into the scenes with the characters.  It makes you want to reach out and capture a snowflake before it landed on the seat in front of you.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol 3D Review Conclusion

The effects were stunning, no doubt.  Unfortunately, it felt like the effects were pushed too far in some sequences, creating a “just for show” feel.  Disney’s A Christmas Carol is certainly worth seeing in Disney Digital 3D; however, the movie doesn’t have that “timeless classic” feel to it that should have been the case because Jim Carrey’s acting was spectacular.  Additionally, the darker scenes may keep it from being a children’s favorite, and parents should definitely take a pre-screening of the film before turning your children loose to watch it at will.

Disney is bringing Tron back to the big screen with Tron: Legacy, which will be available in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D at certain locations.  The Disney Digital 3D effects in the recent Pixar flick, UP, was the best 3D experience that I have had (See UP 3D Review).  While the old Tron film is quite dated, the following trailer shows how far the Tron concept has come in nearly 30 years.

UP 3D had a very subtle use of 3D effects, which was very effective.  Hopefully, we’ll get the same treatment in Tron Legacy 3D, but with more wizwow thanks to the sci-fi setting and action sequences that were absent from UP.

The new Tron Legacy film clearly has the old Tron at its heart, but is so much more polished thanks to the technological advances along the way.  I don’t really care much for the original Tron in terms of its dialogue and storytelling.  Hopefully, those aspects will be improved as well.

Tron Legacy is set some 25 years after the original Tron, where Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), who is the son of Kevin Flynn from the original Tron (role reprised by Jeff Bridges), finds his way into the program world and is reunited with his dad.  Together, they must navigate their way across the program environment to escape it once and for all.

The full IMAX press release is below.

Tron: Legacy to be Released as IMAX 3D Film On December 17, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) today announced that Tron: Legacy, the intense, high-tech 3D adventure starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, will be released to IMAX(R) theatres in IMAX(R) 3D simultaneously with the film’s wide release on December 17, 2010. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Tron: Legacy will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology. Tron: Legacy is the third film of the previously announced five-picture agreement between IMAX and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

“This is an ideal movie for IMAX’s immersive format,” said Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. “Tron: Legacy already packs a punch in Disney Digital 3D(TM), and to give audiences the option to experience the enhanced premium IMAX 3D version is a real treat. We’re particularly excited to reach a much wider audience now that the IMAX network is expanding with its digital locations.”

“2010 is shaping up to be a powerful year for IMAX 3D releases, and Disney’s Tron: Legacy is a great addition,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “We believe the buzz that already surrounds this film, combined with its fan-boy following and high-tech visual effects makes it a perfect fit for IMAX and we look forward to its release next year.”

“We share a common goal with our partners at Disney, which is to transport people to places they normally can’t go, and the world of Tron is certainly one of those cool places,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Since I saw the first glimpse of Tron: Legacy in 3D over a year ago, I’ve felt it was the perfect match for the The IMAX Experience.”

TRON: LEGACY is set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Quorra (WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. The 3D adventure is directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Sean Baily, Jeffrey Silver, Steven Lisberger and written by Lisberger, Richard Jeffries, Brian Klugman & Lee Stemthal, Eddy Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, and Bill Wheeler.

Disney’s UP debuted in theaters on May 29, 2009.  Up was the tenth Pixar film.  It was also the tenth time a Pixar film took the number one slot on opening weekend.

UP – Content Review

Pixar doesn’t mess around.  This was genuinely one of the best movies I’ve ever seen and I’ll have to say that it’s my favorite Pixar movie to date.

In all the previews that I saw, I was very skeptical going into this flick.  It didn’t seem like I would enjoy it at all.  A grumpy old fart floating around in his house thanks to a bunch of balloons?  Come on?  I’m a 30-year-old male.  I like action, sci-fi and explosions.

If anything, I thought the kids would enjoy it because the dog looked kind of funny in the previews.  Boy, had I made some poor assumptions.  Truth be told, I should have known better.  Pixar has always knocked my socks off with their animation and story telling.  They don’t do anything half way.

By the time the credits rolled, I (Mr. 30-year-old action and sci-fi fan) had laugh, cried (embarrassingly, quite a bit) and truly connected with the old fart, dog and the kid in the movie.  My 6-year-old son loved the movie too.

The balance of humor and overall story that is conveyed speaks to kids and adults in different ways; however, the message is strong and the movie is certainly entertaining for all.  I can’t count the times that my son and I have randomly shout “Squirrel!” since seeing UP – thanks to Dug’s (the dog) best line of the movie.

UP – 3D and Effects Review

This is where UP really sets itself apart from other 3D movies.  Most 3D movies that I’ve seen are really made to be 3D movies.  That is, the effects are built around the fact that you are going to be watching it in 3D.  Someone reaches their arm toward the camera, which produces the effect of the arm coming toward the audience.  This effect is particularly noticeable when you watch the movie in standard 2D.  A couple of movies where I think they overdid it a bit were Journey to the Center of the Earth and My Bloody Valentine.  In each of these, the effect is very distracting when you see the movie again in 2D.

You don’t get that sensation when watching UP.  The 3D effects are subtle, yet immersive.   This was the first movie that I have seen in 3D where I forgot I had 3D glasses on and was watching a 3D movie.  So many scenes in other movies are made in order to tailor to the 3D effects.  UP isn’t like that and is a great step in the right direction toward getting the balance between 3D and 2D viewing just right.

The RealD 3D glasses were great and weren’t so cumbersome that they became distracting to the viewing experience.  The glasses were distributed to ticket holders as we walked into the theater in sealed plastic as seen in the above image.  While they aren’t quite Oakleys, the get the job done in reasonable comfort.

UP 3D Review – Conclusion

All in all UP scores big on the 3D effects and overall experience.  I can highly recommend this movie to anyone.  It’s a great experience and one that I’m sure I will see many times.  While I look forward to the Blu-ray and DVD version, I am cautiously optimistic that the 3D effects will translate well over to the small screen.

RealD has been making huge waves in the 3D theater experience over the past couple of years.  Now, RealD is breaking into Austria’s Cineplexx theaters to add RealD 3D to 100 screens (there are only around 200 total screens under the Cineplexx banner).  More details on the RealD and Cineplexx deal in the press release below.

LONDON & VIENNA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–RealD, the world’s leading outfitter of 3D movie theatres, has partnered with Cineplexx GmbH, the largest cinema chain in Austria, to add RealD 3D capabilities to 100 of its nearly 200 screens. The rollout will begin immediately on 15 screens upgraded with RealD 3D technology, with an additional 45 screens to be equipped by the end of September 2009 and the remaining screens upgraded within the next 12 months.

“Adding Cineplexx to the RealD footprint further advances our rapid growth in Europe,” stated Bob Mayson, managing director of RealD Europe Ltd. “We’re thrilled to deliver the market-leading RealD 3D experience to Austria’s leading exhibitor.”

“We are aware of the recent important developments in the cinema industry regarding 3D exhibition and we are glad that we agreed upon this partnership with the global leader in 3D technology to be able to supply our customers with the best technology available,” stated Mr. Christian Langhammer, CEO of Cineplexx.

Added Mr. Christof Papousek, Cineplexx, CFO, “Partnering with RealD is attractive for us not only from the technical point of view but also from a business perspective. Without large capital expenses, Cineplexx will benefit from additional revenue from RealD 3D exhibitions.”

RealD’s next-generation technology is deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform with over 8,000 screens under contract and over 2,900 screens installed in more than 45 countries with over 200 exhibition partners. A bright spot for the entertainment industry, RealD 3D is driving box office to the tune of three to four times per screen revenue of the same film on 2D screens.

About Cineplexx

Cineplexx Kinobetriebe GmbH was founded in 1993 and is a 100% subsidiary of Constantin Film-Holding GmbH, which belongs to the Austrian family Langhammer. Cineplexx emerged in the transition phase during the 1990s when traditional cinemas were closed and multiplex cinemas entered the market. Constantin Film realized this trend and developed a multiplex chain with 20 cinemas and 193 screens across Austria. A sister company is still operating 10 traditional cinemas in the arthouse and original-version segment. For more info, visit www.cineplexx.at.

About RealD

RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and realistic digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s new generation technology, deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform, provides a stunningly lifelike viewing experience. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provider of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing, and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D visualization technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more. www.RealD.com.