THE TEN Best 3D Blockbusters
The Ten is a new featured article brand at Movies.MMGN.com. Each week, a new list will appear featuring ten specific items from all types of film across many different genres.
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Avatar (2009)
It's still unclear whether "I see you" is a little in-house joke referencing 3D, or if Cameron still sucks at writing believable dialogue. Even so, Avatar made going to the movies painful again, blasting a trillion colours directly into your eyeball, and in spectacular 3D!
Seriously though, Avatar is a spectacle when viewed on the big-screen and in 3D. It doesn't rely on it to wow the audience, but instead uses it to bring the audience into Pandora.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline was filmed in 3D and animated with 3D figures, meaning the depth to the actual finished product was quite superb. It does what 3D is supposed to do - bring you into the world of the film. It did it well, and went on to be one of the best films of 2009. Now, if only it wasn't so damn freaky...
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
This 2008 hack of a film staring Brendan Fraser is included on this list because of its sheer crapness when not watched in 3D. Journey is essentially plotless and characterless, or it may as well be, but the 3D actually makes it slightly less painful to watch. This is one of a few recent movies that rely almost entirely on 3D to offer an entertaining experience. Note to self: Don't buy the DVD.
Superman Returns: An IMAX 3-D Experience (2006)
If ever a movie needed a punch to the face just to get a response out of it, it's Superman Returns. No action, a Superman almost completely void of personality and the talentless Kate Bosworth made this return less than memorable. However, the 20-or-so minutes of 3D bliss this film had to offer added plenty of worth to the overall experience. While you will probably never get a chance to see it this way again, be pleased to know that somewhere, somehow, people on the planet were actually enjoying Superman Returns. And in fantastic 3D. And in IMAX. The downside? You had to take your glasses off once the 3D scenes had finish. But it was worth it!
T2 3-D: Battle Across Time (1996)
While not technically a movie, this Universal Studios ride/show is still one of the most popular attractions at the theme park. It stars the T2 cast (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong, Linda Hamilton, and Robert Patrick), and may very well have been Cameron's first foray into 3D madness. The ride has visitors sitting in an auditorium watching things unfold on the screen (in fantastic 3D, at least for the time) as the walls and floors around them shake. While the technology wasn't quite there yet to pull the audience into the world on the screen, Cameron was able to improvise and use the world around the viewers to enhance the 3D experience.
Beowulf (2007)
There's no wonder why Ray Winstone jumped at the oppurtunity to star in Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf; he'd be young, fit, charismatic and a living legend. Zemeckis blended CGI, motion capture and 3D perfectly, creating one of the most spectacular 3D viewing experiences of our time. Absolutely stunning on Blu-Ray, this is another one that you must absolutely see in 3D. Be on the look-out for future releases.
Up (2009)
Often herald as Pixar's most personal film to date, Up is a perfect blend of childish humour, adult themes and good ol' fashioned family fun. Probably the best aspect of the viewing experience was that the 3D never seemed forced, but rather "there" to enhance the experience slightly. While Up won't be remembered for its use of 3D, it still uses it just enough, and well enough, to be included in this list.
U2 3D (2007)
Filmed during the band's legendary "Vertigo" tour in 2006, U2 3D is a 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. It was shot entirely using 3D camera technology, and looks absolutely spectacular on a big IMAX screen. If you've got the stomach to sit through a few hours of Bono, then U2 3D is well worth the ride. If you don't, then you're missing out!
House of Wax (1953)
While riding the 3D craze of the 50s, House of Wax is still, to this day, known as one of the greatest 3D movies. It also packs plenty a punch, offering a rather thrilling and tense viewing experience. Funnily enough, director André De Toth couldn't even watch the film in 3D because he was blind in one eye. We can only wonder what Louis Leterrier's excuse is for that abomination known as "Clash of the Titans 3D".
Dial M For Murder (1954)
Like House of Wax, Dial M For Murder was filmed using a Natural Vision 3D, meaning the 3D experience was unique and rather ahead of its time. However, the 3D craze had ended by the time it was released, and a vast majority of the viewing public only saw it in 2D. The 3D version is occasionally re-released at independant cinemas around the place, but it's a very rare occurance. Many 3D fanatics will claim this to be one of the earliest movies to perfect the 3D viewing experience, despite the fact the entire film was essentially filmed on one set.
And the worst...
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
In yet another Tim Burton film staring his lover (Depp, not Carter), this massive misstep is almost unwatchable in 3D. Best to just stay away from this piece of junk altogether.