Fox seriously considering Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3-D?

March 23, 2010 Paul Martin The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Movie News 18

There is word that discussion is happening to run 3-D conversion on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. This is very costly and very controversial at the moment, considering that 3-D is the hottest thing going in theaters at the moment. First this, from Deadline Hollywood: “Hard conversion conversations are being had now at studios on films that include Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Gulliver’s Travels and The Hobbit. Executives are weighing competitive issues and the potential benefits of higher ticket prices against the $100,000 per running time minute that is being used as a rule-of-thumb conversion cost.” [Update: It’s happening, but will screen in both 3-D and 2-D.]

Now, personally I’ve got nothing against 3-D. I really enjoy seeing films that are created with 3-D in mind, in 3-D. Avatar was the first live-action film shot in true 3-D. What does that mean? Well, James Cameron and a friend created a new camera that shot with two lenses side-by-side that would capture what your eyes see. The result is real 3-D. What you would have seen if you were on the set, walking through a scene, you see with the footage that you see in Avatar. That, my friends, is part of what makes it revolutionary. And I stress part. It’s got many other things that make it revolutionary, but you can read about that elsewhere.

When it comes to 3-D conversions of live action movies (such as Clash of the Titans), or even stop-motion animation (like The Nightmare Before Christmas), it’s what I like to call “fake 3-D,” “forced 3-D” or “faux 3-D.” It’s not placing another lens in the shot, because that’s impossible. Instead, it’s taking the footage and altering the images to make things pop out in 3-D. It’s what they’re also doing with the next two Harry Potter films, and they’re doing this with Titanic, and talks have been on-going for The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Disney also just finished converting Beauty and the Beast which I’ve heard was stunning, but that’s 2-D animation so it’s not as difficult to take line-drawings and separate them from the painted backgrounds and make it 3-D

These are things that I have a little bit of a problem with. It’s not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just confusing for the general public. Take Alice in Wonderland for example. It’s not real 3-D. Avatar is real 3-D. Alice in Wonderland is converted to 3-D. But people don’t generally know that. It doesn’t look the same, it doesn’t feel the same, and it’s not the same experience.

Now, there is a third variation. When Pixar releases their films in 3-D, such as the recent double feature of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, they actually went back into the original film, and added a second camera to every single shot, and re-rendered the entire film from beginning to end. It created a new experience for each film, and they took another look at each shot, making sure that they were all framed properly for the 3-D. Toy Story 3 was also done in that way.

But when it comes to Narnia in 3-D, converted, I don’t know how I feel. On the one hand, taking this voyage in 3-D would be visually stunning. Really getting immersed into the oceans of Narnia could be quite breathtaking. Especially with what I’ve seen of the movie so far. We already know that doing 3-D as an afterthought will have no negative effect on the story. On the other hand, it was shot for 2-D, and I already felt drawn in by the magic of what I was seeing, and it was only five minutes of footage.

What do you think?

Considering the Story is not effected, would you see Dawn Treader in 3-D?

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18 Comments

  1. Oh nononono! :-S I’m sorry but I haven’t ever seen forced 3d work well. :-S That’s a matter of opinion, of course, but…

    Anyway, I fear it will be an unnecessary distraction from the story. If they were going to do this, they really ought to have SHOT it in REAL 3d in the first place. :-S

    • Those cameras are mighty expensive, considering how few of them actually exist at the moment. I know Sony is using those for their Spider-Man reboot. But yeah… my opinion is mostly in the editorial.

  2. I agree with RE de Leon. If you’re going to do it, do it right. I saw Avatar, and it was amazing. There’s no denying that ANY of the Narnia films would be just as breathtaking in 3D. But save it for the next movie. I’m already worried aobut it not being the same experience just from it being a new director and new production company. Do an amazing job with this one, and save the 3-d for the next movie and do it right. In my humble opinion…lol

  3. i voted no, but simply because i think dawn treader is better off 2-d. i could see doing the hobbit in 3d, and think that that would be amazing, but id like to see narnia stick to 2d

  4. I would see Dawn Treader in 3D, but that doesn’t mean I really want to. I saw Prince Caspian multiple times in the theater and will do the same with VDT, so I wouldn’t mind watching it in both 3D and 2D. If I were only able to watch one, however, I would want 2D, because, like you said, it was shot for 2D, and will look better that way.

  5. Since we know none of the shots in the movie are ONLY for the 3D effect I wouldnt be opposed to it. 3D movies can be very profitable, but I would watch the movie in 2D first, and then watch it in 3D.

  6. I’m with Eliseo – put VDT out in 2-D first (partly to be consistent with the first two movies – look how well the first movie did in 2-D!) and convert it to 3-D later. The cost is probably prohibitive, even with raised ticket prices. It would be wise to see how the film does at the box office in 2-D first.

  7. Wake me when this latest 3D fad is over. By all means, Hollywood, let’s spend more money on gimmicks and jack up ticket prices. That’s what America’s clamoring for.
    The modern 3D effect was cute, what, the first time I saw it (Journey to the Center of the Earth IIRC). By “Alice” it was just tiresome, eye-straining, and annoying. Unfortunately, Avatar’s success means that idiotic executives all think we’re clamoring for 3D.
    Seriously. Make. 3D. Go. Away.
    The possibility of this has poisoned my anticipation of Dawn Treader. I have a headache just thinking about this movie now.

  8. P.S.
    This will also drive up the costs of production and give them another reason to kill “Silver Chair.” Since executives are genetically incapable now of thinking “People are tired of 3D”, they’ll assume, “People don’t want Narnia movies.”

  9. The Harry Potter films already shown in 3D were a waste of time and money. They were fake 3D and only a small part of the film was converted. Very underwhelming. Tom Hank’s Polar Express was 3D from the beginning and to great effect. That was one of the few 3D films that I have seen where 3D added to a good story. I voted ‘not sure’ because for 3D to work Apted had to have 3D in mind from the beginning of the project. If you want to know if 3D would work in VDT ask Apted. Please, Fox, don’t convert VDT just to have a 3D movie. If VDT was not shot in 3D then it is too late.

  10. Did you see the Tim Burton’s Alice? Well, He did it same thing Fox wants to do: Shot in 2D and converted in 3D. I think we can be sure they will do a great job. Now, if you want, you can watch de 2D version at Cinemas (That’s marketing, guys)

  11. Well, since I’m gonna watch it more than once in theaters, I’ll definitely be trying to see it in 3D. I’m watching it 2D the first time, though.

  12. I have seen the converted ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Tim Burton and it turned out fairly nice, though nothing like James Cameron’s AVATAR. More than anything whether it be in 2D or 3D, I am all about a good story with very few exception, like the landmark AVATAR. If VDT not only have the theme of the book but the soul of the story, then I’ll probably take a few viewings more, maybe in both the 2D and 3D all together.

  14. I cannot watch 3-D movies. My eyes strain or my head hurts by the time I leave the theater. I have seen 2 qty 3-D movies and both times my eyes hurt, once my head had begun to hurt. Please stop the horror. I feel that movies only being released in 3-D is a disservice to a group of people who have a vision disability that was previously unrecognized. I can no longer go to the movies with my daughter. I will not pay more for a ticket for myself and have to keep my eyes shut while in the seat.

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