3D Depth: Do you prefer strong 3D or conservative 3D?

[Zivouhr]

Assuming you have two normal functioning eyes that can regularly see three dimensions in your every day life, consider the following: (keep in mind, there are shades of 3D that are tough to categorize)

Putting the story of the movie aside and the type of movies you prefer to watch, do you prefer STRONG 3D, NORMAL 3D, or SUBTLE 3D? The following is all up for debate... (not counting errors, cardboard cutouts, etc)

EXTREME 3D
This is the farthest end of the 3D spectrum and is very rare, but this is when 3D is actually TOO strong most of the time, and it takes every last muscle in your eyes to barely be able to adjust to the 3D onscreen. In these cases, everything is almost popping off the screen to some degree, possibly intentional, but other times because the film wasn't converged post process during those moments. Best to sit far back, away from the screen to be able to view this more comfortably. A challenge to watch.
The only example I've seen so far is Blood of Ohma 3D, which is an independent side by side 3D movie. The 3D in the latter half tapers down to "strong 3D", but many shots in the first half fall into the extreme category. (up for debate)


STRONG 3D:
If you're a fan of 3D, I'm curious to find out how many of us prefer 3D that is STRONG, where there is a clear and unmistakable distinction between the layers of depth, so there is no mistake you're watching 3D. At the same time, it's not SO strong that it hurts your eyes trying to adjust. As long as they converged the 3D when editing it so most of the screen is "inside" your TV, your eyes will be able to handle it without a problem, despite the "Pop out" moments.
Great examples include Avatar 3D, Hugo 3D, Sammy's Adventures 3D, Open Season 3D, My Bloody Valentine 3D, many IMAX 3D titles, etc... (If you have more examples, feel free to list more) (up for debate)


NORMAL 3D (in the middle ground):
Yes, there is plenty of 3D that is between Strong and Conservative. These movies aren't stunning examples of 3D, but they're good enough to see depth so there is a sense of 3D present.
Some examples might include: Transformers 3D, Gnomeo and Juliet 3D, Kung Fu Panda 2 3D, Priest 3D, Captain America 3D, Green Lantern 3D, Monster House 3D, etc... (up for debate)


SUBTLE, CONSERVATIVE 3D:
On the other hand, there are movies where the 3D seems "more 2D than 3D". These are the movies where you flip up your glasses to make sure everything's working properly, because you can't tell if it's 2D or very subtle 3D. Some stereographers (the guys who create/edit the 3D) prefer to make the 3D reflective of the emotion in the scene, so if it's not an important scene, they artistically CHOOSE to make the 3D very subtle on purpose, even though the scene clearly could've had strong 3D. You know you're watching SUBTLE 3D when you take off your 3D glasses (if your set needs them...) and the screen looks nearly 2D, with very little double image onscreen.
Some examples of Conservative 3D (flat/subtle) include Clash of the Titans 3D, Tron Legacy 3D, Ghost Rider 2 3D, Conan 3D, Star Wars Episode I 3D, etc. (up for debate)

ARTISTIC 3D
Artistic choice, as considered here, is when the stereographer decides some scenes deserve "more 3D than others" instead of the entire movie having an even level of three dimensions, as we see in every day life, irrelevant of the emotional impact of the moment. Lion King, Star Wars I 3D, Up 3D are examples. One could argue that all 3D in a movie is an artistic choice, even if the goal is to make every scene have strong 3D, but another could argue it's more of a technical choice depending on the foreground, mid ground, background shots and balancing the 3D within that shot so the foreground is converged properly, like a mechanic fixing a car as a rough metaphor, and then depending on the film being filmed or converted post process into 3D.
In this poll, I'm not considering artistic choice because this poll is based on basic three dimensions APART FROM THE CONTENT/FILM/STORY/GENRE. With our own two functioning eyes, we can't choose which real world objects in real life, get more 3D and which deserve less. The poll is only about what level of strength you prefer to see your 3D, and is not about the movie itself.


If you haven't seen the BEST 3D has to offer, be honest about it before commenting.

3D Examples where the majority of the film contains: (Subject to change)

STRONG 3D: (no particular order)
Avatar 3D, Hugo 3D, Open Season 3D, My Bloody Valentine 3D, many IMAX 3D titles, Drive Angry 3D, Resident Evil 3D, Alice in Wonderland 3D, Sammy's Adventures 3D, Tangled 3D, Underworld Awakening 3D, Three Musketeers 3D, Step Up 3D, Final Destination 5 3D, (more added later)


NORMAL 3D: (no particular order)
Gnomeo and Juliet 3D, Kung Fu Panda 2 3D, Priest 3D, Captain America 3D, Green Lantern 3D, Thor 3D, Monster House 3D, Piranha 3D, Legends of the Guardians 3D, Beowulf 3D, Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides 3D, Cars 2 3D, Bolt 3D, Puss 'n Boots 3D, Adventures of Tin Tin 3D, Cloudy w/Chance of Meatballs 3D, Beauty and the Beast 3D, Polar Express 3D, Rio 3D, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D, Journey 2 3D, Christmas Carol 3D, Despicable Me 3D, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D, Ice Age 3D, Green Hornet 3D, Smurfs 3D, Fright Night 3D, Yogi Bear 3D, Dolphin Tale 3D, How to Train Your Dragon 3D, Happy Feet 2 3D, Toy Story 3D, Coraline 3D, (more added later)


SUBTLE 3D: (no particular order)
Clash of the Titans 3D, Tron Legacy 3D, Ghost Rider 2 3D, Conan 3D, Star Wars Episode I 3D, Lion King 3D, Nightmare Before Christmas 3D, The Last Airbender 3D, (more added later)


UNDETERMINED: (Titles that I haven't seen or heard about the 3D quality)
Narnia 3D, Harry Potter 3D, Sanctum 3D,


Make your own list if you like.

[ObiWanShinobi]

I prefer strong to normal. Though I would consider Legend of the Guardians strong...I thought it had some of the best 3D in terms of depth and a satisfying amount of pop-out while still maintaining a strong of amount of detail throughout. It, like Avatar, was damn near reference quality for the format IMO.

I'd rate Thor 3D as very weak. It had very little depth/natural depth. The characters stood out like cardboard cutouts.

[Nommag]

I think when you pay a premium for 3d you should expect/get strong 3d. Any less then strong and it probably means that you will enjoy the cheaper 2d version.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by ObiWanShinobi

I prefer strong to normal. Though I would consider Legend of the Guardians strong... It, like Avatar, was damn near reference quality for the format IMO.

I'd rate Thor 3D as very weak. It had very little depth/natural depth. The characters stood out like cardboard cutouts.

I see what you're saying about Thor 3D. Even though the characters appear as cardboard props as in Alice in Wonderland, I still can see some nice depth there, so in that sense, it's not subtle during that scene in particular.

I'll have to watch Legends again. It's a great looking movie, but we're not counting the movie itself, just the 3D strength.

Originally Posted by Nommag

I think when you pay a premium for 3d you should expect/get strong 3d. Any less then strong and it probably means that you will enjoy the cheaper 2d version.

I agree. It makes 3D fans wonder why so many studios are putting out conservative 3D efforts like Ghost Rider 2 and even Star Wars The Phantom Menace I 3D (just to spark a debate) when they could've made the 3D a lot stronger with more time and money (I guess that's maybe one reason other than "artistic" choice)... If Avatar 3D was the original standard for Strong 3D, why are so many studios not reaching that level of depth? Not skilled enough? Afraid it might hurt people's eyes? Too much money and time needed to convert it properly from 2D?

[steelerik]

I have to say its STRONG for me all the way ... Gimme pop any day over subtlety. It's what I think I have paid for .. everyone has their own preference, but if I don't get pop I feel kinda short changed.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by steelerik

I have to say its STRONG for me all the way ... Gimme pop any day over subtlety. It's what I think I have paid for .. everyone has their own preference, but if I don't get pop I feel kinda short changed.

Plus the fact that subtle 3D is not going to convince anyone sitting on the fence, deciding whether or not to buy a 3D HDTV or a standard HDTV. Let's pretend the only example in the store was Clash of the Titans 3D for lack of a better example, and they never saw another 3D movie out there to compare it to...

The more Strong 3D movies that are made, the better the 3DTV market will be. (though Normal 3D is acceptable, but they could've pushed the cameras/2D images apart just a bit more to get strong 3D).

[steelerik]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Plus the fact that subtle 3D is not going to convince anyone sitting on the fence, deciding whether or not to buy a 3D HDTV or a standard HDTV. Let's pretend the only example in the store was Clash of the Titans 3D for lack of a better example, and they never saw another 3D movie out there to compare it to...

The more Strong 3D movies that are made, the better the 3DTV market will be. (though Normal 3D is acceptable, but they could've pushed the cameras/2D images apart just a bit more to get strong 3D).

It's the poor 2D to 3D conversions that will kill the market if anything! Imagine if Sammy had hit the cinemas tho!

[Zivouhr]

I keep hearing great things about Sammy the Sea Turtle 3D. I know it's not sold in the US yet, but it should be.

[Nommag]

Sammy's adventure is my reference disc it knocks over every other 3d movie I own by a mile.

[Pfreddy]

I prefer strong. I would include Tangled in the strong category, right up there with the ones you listed. Of course Hugo is the new champ for live action IMHO!

[steelerik]

... hmm, is there a pattern forming? A bit early I know ...

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Nommag

Sammy's adventure is my reference disc it knocks over every other 3d movie I own by a mile.

Even Hugo 3D and Open Season 3D? Sounds like a must see, though just waiting for the price to go down and/or be sold in the US.

Originally Posted by steelerik

... hmm, is there a pattern forming? A bit early I know ...

Yes, it's nice to let the Studios out there who visit this site, know what 3D fans are looking for when they produce a movie filmed in 3D or converted from 2D.

Originally Posted by Pfreddy

I prefer strong. I would include Tangled in the strong category, right up there with the ones you listed. Of course Hugo is the new champ for live action IMHO!

Only saw it in 2D on TV, but have heard very good things about the 3D. Updated it into the list.

[BluBonnet]

There should be another choice in the poll... whichever 3-D best suits the movie.

The most enjoyable experience I've had in the last few years with 3-D has been, by FAR, the conversion of Star Wars TPM.

There have been other ones that were kind of fun with "strong" 3-D effects, like "Arthur Christmas" and even the latest "Harold & Kumar". But even though they were using fairly strong 3-D effects, they didn't necessarily make me want to watch them again right away.

TPM, on the other hand, I was excited about watching in 3-D four times in just one week.

There have been other 3-D movies with softer use of it, like "Toy Story 3", that I also enjoyed a lot.

The only 3-D movies I have seen after TPM have been "Ghost Rider" and "Journey 2", and in both cases, the 3-D was pretty weak, imho.

[rb4276]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

There should be another choice in the poll... whichever 3-D best suits the movie.

The most enjoyable experience I've had in the last few years with 3-D has been, by FAR, the conversion of Star Wars TPM.

There have been other ones that were kind of fun with "strong" 3-D effects, like "Arthur Christmas" and even the latest "Harold & Kumar". But even though they were using fairly strong 3-D effects, they didn't necessarily make me want to watch them again right away.

TPM, on the other hand, I was excited about watching in 3-D four times in just one week.

There have been other 3-D movies with softer use of it, like "Toy Story 3", that I also enjoyed a lot.

The only 3-D movies I have seen after TPM have been "Ghost Rider" and "Journey 2", and in both cases, the 3-D was pretty weak, imho.

It is actually comical reading all your posts bragging how many times you saw and how great the 3d was in star wars.

[Nommag]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Even Hugo 3D and Open Season 3D? Sounds like a must see, though just waiting for the price to go down and/or be sold in the US.

Havn't seen Hugo or open season, Hugo only just came out at cinema's here.

Sammy's adventure is reference because so much of it is significantly sticking out of the screen, and i'm not just talking about the occasional pop or a little depth. In the 3rd scene when the fish come of the TV they actually expand as they get closer to your face and you feel like you could grab them or if you lean forward they will hit you in the face. The pop-out effects linger and are quite intense, with some characters spending a lot of their time in front of the tv. I could watch sammy's over and over again because of the picture (and neat little sound track)

If avatar and my bloody valentine are strong then sammys is extreme.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by rb4276

It is actually comical reading all your posts bragging how many times you saw and how great the 3d was in star wars.

I can't help being super duper excited to have watched one of the greatest movies of all time, in absolutely AWESOME 3-D.

One down, five to go.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Nommag

Sammy's adventure
In the 3rd scene when the fish come of the TV they actually expand as they get closer to your face and you feel like you could grab them or if you lean forward they will hit you in the face. The pop-out effects linger and are quite intense, with some characters spending a lot of their time in front of the tv. I could watch sammy's over and over again because of the picture (and neat little sound track)

If avatar and my bloody valentine are strong then sammys is extreme.

Sounds like some of those IMAX movies, where they have the fish right in front of the screen and while in the theater (the ones at the theme parks) you can literally grab the fish it seems, only inches in front of your face. The key thing is, it's easy to look at without straining a good set of eyes.

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

There should be another choice in the poll... whichever 3-D best suits the movie.

The most enjoyable experience I've had in the last few years with 3-D has been, by FAR, the conversion of Star Wars TPM.

That would be more of an artistic choice more than a strength level of 3D. We're not counting the movie theme/story/genre itself here, just the 3D. By the way, your point of view on 3D is actually what inspired me to start the thread. (To) Get an idea of the 3D people are looking for in a movie they pay to watch.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

That would be more of an artistic choice more than a strength level of 3D. We're not counting the movie theme/story/genre itself here, just the 3D. By the way, your point of view on 3D is actually what inspired me to start the thread. Get an idea of the 3D people are looking for in a movie they pay to watch.

And when is using a certain kind of 3-D (strong, subtle, etc.) *not* an artistic choice?

Is someone who pushes the 3-D to the max *not* making an artistic choice when they do that? Or do you see it as merely a marketing ploy?

And please don't say condescending things like "get an idea of...", at least not if you want to show that you respect points of view different from your own.

No matter what people say in an online board, it is almost guaranteed to NOT be representative of all audiences, because many of them do not have time for it or do not care to post in online forums. Especially parents with young kids, who already have a gazillion things to do at home.

[Captain Jack]

Strong 3D for me.

Subtle 3D gives me the shits, if I am going to the effort to wear 3D glasses, I don't want to forget I'm watching a 3D film otherwise what's the point.

[mseeley]

Strong and normal 3D for me all the way!

I think Tron should be put in the normal 3d range. While I admit watching it at home recently, the 3d felt a little subtler to me at home than it did when I saw it in the theaters at Imax 3d and real d 3d formats. I hope I didn't get a bad copy lol.

It could just be that I just need to let it soak in rather than constantly making sure I'm seeing 3d. I tried doing it while watching part of it during of the recent watches I mentioned and it seemed much more 3d I think in some ways.

I'd have to say though that Clash of the Titans is my 3d guilty pleasure. While you can tell that the conversion still needs more work, I really appreciate it still for what they were able to pull off. There's a shot during the Medusa scene where Perseus and the Djin are hanging over the edge and just as the shot cuts and shows Perseus start to swing and try to lift his friend to safety is a perfect and dazzling sense of 3d for me. Feels like you are looking precariously over into the abyss. Amazing stuff!: Alot of the Kraken stuff is good too.