Beowulf: A Before and After Movie

[Steel_Wind]

My understanding is that Polar Express was a 3d IMAX movie, made by these same exact people, on the same exact equipment. They improved the technique, but as far as I can tell you are not seeing something new in this movie that wasn't already in Polar Express 3D.

I thought the difference was the Real D 3d projector tech Sony has used in non-Imax theatres to bring 3d to more screens.

 

[Kaodi]

What good is a technique that can only be reproduced in some theatres? If you want to save the silver screen, it has to be accessible to all of them.

 

[Steel_Wind]

What good is a technique that can only be reproduced in some theatres? If you want to save the silver screen, it has to be accessible to all of them.

Uhmm...that's the point with Sony's Real D 3d system:

The Real-D system uses a single projector but places an active filter, which can switch between two different types of polarization, in front of the projection lens. This allows the viewer to wear much simpler and more lightweight passive glasses. The IMAX system uses a two projector system where each lens has a fixed polarizing filter over it. They integrate the two film transports and lenses with one lamp house which makes it look like one GIANT projector. Older 35mm projection single-projector systems used a split lens which would polarize the top half of the frame one way and the bottom half another and then superimpose the two halves on the screen. The primary issues that help decide which system to use are synchronization of the left and right eyes, the amount of light that needs to reach the screen, and cost. Synchronization has become less of an issue now that we have digital cinema but was a real problem for two-projector 35mm systems. The reason light output is an issue is that the extra filters added to the system can cause a significant reduction in light level. A two projector system will cost more but produce more light. One advantage of the Real-D system is that it allows theater owners to upgrade for stereo presentation without buying another projector.

 

[Mistwell]

I thought the difference was the Real D 3d projector tech Sony has used in non-Imax theatres to bring 3d to more screens.

Yeah but you made it seem like we were SEEING something new. We are not. We're are seeing something already done, but that can be seen in more theaters...but that's not such a dramatic change.

I don't see production companies clamoring to do this sort of movie all over the place. Like I said earlier, the look of the animation is outright annoying to many people (including myself). It's a limited niche that will grow, but it won't fundamentally change most movies. I liked this movie, but I would have liked it more if it were actually live action with CG as opposed to animation, in the style of Lord of the Rings instead of Polar Express.

 

[Jubilee]

I saw Beowulf in 3d this weekend and honestly, I don't really feel like it added that much to the experience. Sure, they could spatter blood at the audience and throw weapons at us, but how exactly does that improve my viewing experience?

I did not, for the most part, enjoy the digital imaging animation technique. The opening scene, in particular, was very disappointing - people looked stiff and unreal. Also, no one's eyes seemed to either be alive or tracking properly. The only thing I liked about it was the truly aged look they managed to get with the characters that survived from the first to second half of the movie. Sure, most of the time they didn't look as creepy as the people did in Polar Express - but that's not saying much, because Polar Express was _really_ creepy!

3d gives me a headache. I guess it's because of the eye strength thing, plus the glasses were pinching against my head, or pinching my prescription glasses against my head. I would rather have seen it in 2d.

Otherwise, overall the story was definately different from the source material, but had much greater depth of character than the original poem (that's not really saying much, alas). Grendel was interesting and definately horrifying. The dragon was awesome.

/ali

 

[WayneLigon]

3D is still just a gimmick as long as you have to wear glasses, especially glasses over other glasses. It certainly looked better than most other 3D films I've seen, but I doubt the technique will be used in more than a couple movies every 2-5 years.

If there is a groundbreaking thing, it's the vastly improved human-detail CGI models. In my lifetime I expect them to supplant the vast majority of the SAG membership, as well as close down most clothing, set construction, and stunt work.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Theatre should have been dead following movies and TV, but people still watch plays, damn their eyes. There will likely always be room for traditional film and unless something drastically changes, a simple production not dealing with fantasy elements will be cheeper and simpler to do with real actors, sets and props than in a totally CG world.

 

[Mort]

If there is a groundbreaking thing, it's the vastly improved human-detail CGI models. In my lifetime I expect them to supplant the vast majority of the SAG membership, as well as close down most clothing, set construction, and stunt work.

I have my doubts here. Beowulf, while great CGI, is still very very clearly CGI. Maybe it can be made much better - but I'll bet the cost, even in the far future, will outweigh the benefit for most productions. As of now, this kind of animation is suitable for some movies but not for the vast majority. In most movies people will be put off the by the clearly inhuman nature of the characters on the screen (my understanding is that Polar Express suffered greatly from this problem).

Not to mention, even if technology becomes good enough to have computer models indistinguishable from real people at an affordable price, the politics and unions of Hollywood will likely keep it away from the mainstream for a very long time.

 

[Mistwell]

If there is a groundbreaking thing, it's the vastly improved human-detail CGI models. In my lifetime I expect them to supplant the vast majority of the SAG membership

Yeah that ain't gonna happen in your lifetime.

 

[Arnwyn]

3D is here to stay. It is no fad and it is no gimmick.

Do you still have to wear the idiotic glasses?