So as Christmas comes rolling and the ad's start to play for all the latest 3D light and airy festive fun I realised that I have let my blog go for way too long. What started out as a positive attempt to flex my movie critiquing muscles quickly went out of the door like a fitness dvd at new years. In this relatively short space of time the game seems to be changing and my life also couldn't be more different.
I currently reside in New Zealand, and yes I have been geeking out on all sorts of Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit related escapades, one of which resulted in me spotting Sir Peter Jackson driving down Stone St in his big flashy Merc. Needless to say the country is incredible, with sights abounding that remind you of the infamous trilogy. I will be here until late next year (if the money and jobs hold out).
As my life has changed the landscape of cinema seems to be moving at albeit a slower pace. With 3D being touted by Mark Kermode as a passing phase I honestly thought that would be the case too . . . however with many major films by some serious heavyweight directors being shot in 3D you can't help but wonder if its really going to stick around. One film to rule them all will of course be the Hobbit which is being filmed right now in 3D in ways that are completely new to the medium. 3D could be made or (heaven forbid) broken by the two Hobbit movies, the first won't see the light of day until November/December 2012. But with the likes of Martin Scorcese in full support of 3D could we be in the middle of a revolution. In my opinion I don't think there's any winning or losing to be had here . . . films will always be shot in the traditional way, just as IMAX has captivated the globe, 3D will remain, but it will never be pasted over everything, just like IMAX only caters to certain types of films. In fact had I been writing reviews this year you would have seen that for once 3D actually enhanced a cinematic experience for me. If anyone saw Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, you know what I mean. A completely mind numbing experience, maybe not quite as barf inducing as the last outing, but still nuttier than a nut cake. However having been shot in 3D and being a balls out action movie with some fantastic CGI effects, I couldn't help but marvel at the depth of the images and way the 3D pulled you in to the action. There is some colour loss still there is motion blur but in a film like Transformers it's not exactly a huge hindrance. For all the nay sayers I really believe that 3D has found its place in films that go out to wow audiences with visuals, it just has had teething problems with dreaded retro fitting, prime example being the morbidly bad Clash Of The Titans which wasn't filmed in 3D yet got kitted out with it in cinemas, ugggh! James Cameron, Martin Scorcese, Peter Jackson and George Lucas appear to have nothing but faith in the future of 3D, and as the reissues of their films coupled with the release of future projects are birthed to the world we will just have to hold the final judgement of 3D until then. I neither applaud nor denounce the take over of 3D but like every new technology (it doesn't even feel that new any more) its further development may result in great things.
There's obviously lots more going on in the world of cinema, the development of motion capture which has me anticipating the release of Tintin (a film made in NZ but not released until Christmas meanwhile back home they can go and see it now!!). The power of the reboot, with Spiderman and Superman both hoping to do what Chris Nolan did for Batman (we'd like to see them try). And the development of retail technology that is giving gifted individuals the power to realise their cinematic potential, case in point Monsters which although it wasn't on the whole amazing, is more than made up by the fact it was a debut film that cost bugger all to make and was made on an at home set up.
Apologies for the very general post, especially on the well versed subject of 3D, but there's my 2 cents on the whole thing anyway. I promise for a review in the near future, its been far too long since I did one but being in New Zealand and exploring the country has kept me out of cinema for the most part. For all those shocked and not knowing the Hobbit was being shot in 3D, take a gander at the link below.
Hobbit Production Diary No.4
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