More 3D Comin’ at Ya!

George Lucas has already spoken in the past of re-releasing all of the Star Wars films in 3D, and apparently 2012 will be the year when enough theatres will be equipped to display Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. 

If the reception is favourable, the rest of the series will debut in 3D, but the real question isn't whether people will be willing to pay a premium for a ticket to have 'Mannequin Anakin' and Jar Jar Binks invading your private space bubble; it's whether anyone will care about the franchise.

George isn't testing the waters; that's all smoke and mirrors. He's releasing Episode 1 to get everyone siked for the rest of the films that are also being converted to 3D.

2012 is also far ahead that he'll snag a generation too young to know anything else but the 3 awful prequels that made older and wiser fans queasy (and bored). The generation who grew up on the original first 3 films from the 70s and 80s are economically irrelevant because they're not the ones who will make George more money; they'll buy the original trilogy on Blu-ray and maybe BR 3D when the full 3D setup doesn't cost $4000. They'll likely catch the originals on the big screen as well, but it's the younger consumer base who'll keep the franchise alive, as George regurgitates mediocre material in three dimensions in cinemas, and in your home.

Not that the following singular post and series of reader comments reflect the fan base at large, but there will be people who just won't care anymore, and the only benefit will be George's pickiness for perfect effects yielding an improved cinematic delivery system, if not a standard that won't mandate multiple mixes and formats and prints for international release, as was done for James Cameron's Avatar. Further thoughts and media links are also available at the Digital Bits.

Sticking to 3D news, the Toronto Star reports that CBC will broadcast 2 hockey games in 3D on the following nights: Dec. 11, and Feb. 20, 2011. Unlike the recent airing of Queen Elizabeth in 3D, the hockey games will require a proper 3D set and glasses.

Incidentally, there are still some local postal outlets that have stock of the ColorCode 3D glasses needed for the Queen 3D broadcast. Not sure whether the glasses will get junked or shoved into storage for a repeat airing sometime in the future, but I managed to get a pair from the small outlet in the Loblaws at Queen's Quay and Leslie via a friend (thanks, Hauke!), making it possible to review the CBC and Channel 4 edits of the special in 3D. Watch for the reviews around the middle of next week.

Lastly, there's more 3D gear making the news at Atlanta's CEDIA Expo, such as JVC's HD-3D projection system, with models whose price ranges span $4,495 to $11,995 USD.

Hey, I remember when Sony's industrial 1.33:1 projection system cost $56,000 CAD back in the mid-90s, so things have improved for early adopters with big wallets.

I think.

Mark R. Hasan, Editor
KQEK.com

Avatar Gets Allocated in Canada

To help Canadian merchants understand the allocation policy for Avatar when it hits stores Thursday April 22 (Earth Day), Fox Home Video sent a handy FAQ which makes it clear Avatar will debut as a plain movie-only edition in 2D – nothing unexpected, since that info was already available in February.

What is surprising, however, is the film’s limited availability to merchants and buyers alike.

As stated in Fox’s FAQ:

“Allocation will be heavily controlled by Fox and James Cameron. The most likely reason is to ensure the market is not flooded and the title sell [sic] through clean with very little returns… Avatar has been offered as a one-time order only… This version will be available for 10 weeks before being discontinued. A 3D Special Extended Edition is planned for 4th quarter of 2010.”

“Flooded” seems a rather rich term, but the thinking is perhaps it’ll sate the rental market, satisfy those who must own the film, and keep the film in a kind of limited circulation until the fall when it debuts in 3D Blu-ray as more 3D sets and 3D Blu-ray players make their way to consumers.

I’m not sure if it’s bold, proactive, or a means to keep the film active in theatres while a legit home video version exists to buy, and then to rent. The question is whether people will care to buy the film yet again in the fall, or will there be a calming down period where those delighted by the theatrical 3D experience won’t even bother owning the film because

a) the 3D process has earned more praise than the story, and after several months, people might feel the story’s weaknesses will be more apparent on a flat/2D home screen

b) with 3D TV + player retail combos debuting for under $4000 (or sets by Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony roughly priced between $2200-$4000 Canadian), exactly how successful will the nascent format be, since 1080i sets and lower are selling for a pittance, now that average consumers are getting used to 1080p sets and Blu-ray players. (Meaning: do people really want to buy the core home theatre hardware again?)

I love 3D, so I’m watching the HD version’s launch and peoples’ reactions with interest, but even if 2/3’s of the rumored thirty-seven 3D films slated for 2010-2011 release are available on DVD and/or Blu-ray, will those titles – which will sell for a premium – really motivate people to re-buy serious hardware?

And if they don’t within the next 8 months, will Avatar still be a blockbuster home video release, or will people pass on re-buying the film?

If there is going to be a ‘flood,’ it might be the used DVD shops that’ll be stacked with bare bones copies a year from now...

- MRH