Chez PLJ

Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s been a looooong time since we’ve posted anything to this site. There will be spotty posting for the next week or so as two thirds of PLJ juggle a killer work deadline (while the other third will enjoy the Weather Network while decapitating his chocolate bunny…)

A couple of weeks back we saw Coraline, which was quite enjoyable: Amazing stop-motion animation and a story that didn’t fall apart in the third act like some of Henry Selick’s previous movies. The only irritating thing for me (and only a little bit irritating—we’re talking vague itch and not a real pain in the neck) was that the movie was in 3-D and we had to wear those goofy glasses.

3-D, far from being the amazing new innovation in movies is simply a rehash of the old movie 3-D technology in digital form. What was surprising to me when I looked it up was that the new system is not much different than the old one; contrary to myth, the old movies never used red and blue lenses, but used a polarized system much like the current one. Red and blue lenses were actually popularized by 3-D comic books.

When the whole family saw Bolt in 3-D a few months back, I was relieved to find that the two-thirds of PLJ who can’t see stereoscopically didn’t find the glasses too annoying (though obviously getting no benefit from the technology. And still having to pay the premium price. And wear the extra pair of glasses.) The sad thing is that when Pixar’s next, Up, rolls out, I’m betting that it will be hard to find a decent (big, digital, good sound) screen in T.O. showing it in good ol’ 2-D.

Speaking as one of the stereoscopically-challenged, here’s hoping 3-D’s a fad.