The Ultimate 3D Movie Preview and Release Date Schedule

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From /Film

2009:



July 24, 2009: G-Force

Official Plot Synopsis: “Producer Jerry Bruckheimer brings his first 3-D film to the big screen with G-Force, a comedy adventure about the latest evolution of a covert government program to train animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-Force are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of Sam Rockwell), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster (voice of Tracy Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of Penelope Cruz), a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert, Mooch, and a star-nosed mole, Speckles (voice of Nicolas Cage), the computer and information specialist. Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning visual effects master Hoyt Yeatman—G-Force takes audiences on a high-octane thrill ride, proving once and for all that size really doesn’t matter.”



July 29, 2009: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (25 minutes of 3D in IMAX)

The IMAX presentation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will feature approximately 25 minutes of 3D footage, split over the opening sequence and the film’s climax. Potter fans will remember that the 17-minute finale of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was also presented in IMAX 3D. I never got the chance to see the Phoenix finale in 3D, and didn’t hear a big buzz about it from fans.

A lot of fans had an adverse reaction to the 3D presentation in Superman Returns, which was a post up-conversion process. It’s my understanding that the Potter footage uses the same conversion process (i.e. it wasn’t shot using 3D cameras). I’m not totally against the idea of post processed 3D, but it leaves me with the icky feeling of seeing a black and white movie which has been converted to color.



August 28, 2009: The Final Destination

The first movie was built around an airplane crash, the second movie revolved around a highway accident, the third movie involved a deadly roller coaster ride, and now Final Destination 4, which has been given the more-confusing-than-clever title The Final Destination, takes us to a Nascar track where the race becomes deadly. Yes, it is just as stupid as it sounds. But hey, it might be fun in 3D? Watch the trailer here.



September 18, 2009: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Inspired by the beloved children’s book, Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. tells the story of a scientist named Flint Lockwood, who while trying to solve world hunger who encounters a problem of global proportions, as food begins to fall from the sky like rain. Written and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, executive producers of the television show How I Met Your Mother, and featuring a voice cast comprised of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Tracy Morgan and Mr. T. Watch the trailer here.



October 2, 2009: Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D Double Feature 2 Week Only Limited Engagement

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 will be released as a 3D double feature nationwide on October 2nd 2009. The double feature will first premiere at the 66th annual Venice Film Festival, which runs September 2nd - 12th 2009. The limited engagement will only run for two weeks. Toy Story 3 is still scheduled for a June 18th 2010 release. The first real trailer for the third film will be attached the the double feature, and will be presented in 3D.



October 23, 2009: The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D Re-Release

Disney will re-release the 3D up-conversion of Tim Burton’s holiday stop-animated classic in a limited amount of theaters.



October 23, 2009: Astroboy

Imagi Animation Studios, the guys responsible for the recent computer animated TMNT film, are making a big screen computer animated adaptation of AstroBoy. Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly.

Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it takes to be a hero. Watch the second teaser trailer here.



November 6, 2009: Robert Zemeckis’ A Christmas Carol

Disney’s A Christmas Carol is being billed as “a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3D motion picture event.” The official plot synopsis follows: Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman) and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.” Carrey not only plays Scrooge, but also the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. And Oldman does triple duty as Bob Cratchit, Marley and Tiny Tim. Check out some footage from the film here.



November 20, 2009: Planet 51

Ilion Animation Studios’ $60 million computer animated feature film Planet 51, tells the story of Earth astronaut Capt. Charles “Chuck” Baker, who lands on Planet 51, which is inhabited by creatures who live in fear of an alien invasion. Befriended by a young resident, the astronaut has to avoid capture in order to recover his spaceship and return home. Sounds like a great concept, but I already saw a movie called Terra with almost the EXACT SAME STORYLINE at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. To be fair, both Terra and Planet 51 were probably in production at the same time (I know Planet 51 has been in production for the last five years), so I’m not accusing. The animation in Planet is a lot more refined, as the production has a much higher budget. Watch the trailer.



December 18, 2009: Avatar

[Excerpt from Russ Fischer, photo above from the video game] Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a soldier who hasn’t found anything worth fighting for. Adding injury to insult, he’s lost the use of his legs. So when the opportunity comes to travel to the planet Pandora and work with a mining operation there, Jake accepts. What’s on Pandora that is so important? A mineral, found nowhere else, that is a game-changer with respect to energy production.

Pandora is a lush but harsh planet. The air is poisonous to humans. Plants and creatures alike are predatory and very dangerous. And the natives, ten-foot tall blue humanoids called Na’vi, aren’t exactly pleased about the men and machinery that are scarring the surface and digging to find the unobtanium. Because the planet is so harsh, traditional armor and envirosuit solutions have been insufficient to protect miners. A sort of clone program has developed in which DNA from humans and Na’vi are combined. The result is essentially a cloned Na’vi that can house the consciousness of an individual with human DNA that matches the original clone material.

Jake Sully’s brother had been the original donor and controller for one such avatar. But he’s been killed, so the corporation has asked Jake to come to Pandora to pilot the (very expensive) body, as he’s got matching DNA. The upshot for Jake: he’ll be able to walk again. Read Russ Fischer’s full article Everything We Know About James Cameron’s Avatar.



2009: Thomas Jane’s The Dark Country

Thomas Jane directs and stars in this big screen adaptation about a couple en route from Las Vegas are forced to deal with a body out in the desert making their honeymoon one hellish ride. The mystery/thriller also stars Ron Pearlman and Lauren German.

2010:



January 15, 2010: (unconfirmed) Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil

Red Puckett (Hayden Panettiere, played by Anne Hathaway in the first film) is in training for the Sister Hoods, and now teaming with Wolf (Patrick Warburton), she must investigate the mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel (Bill Hader and Amy Poehler) and Mr. Alligator (Bill Murray). Comedian Martin Short will be taking over the role of the Woodsman from Jim Belushi. Benjy Gaither, Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton and Andy Dick have been confirmed as returning to their roles from the previous film. (photo above from the original film)



February 8, 2010: Beauty and the Beast in 3D

[excerpt from my ShoWest Report] When Disney first announced that they would be rereleasing Beauty and the Beast upconverted into Digital 3D, I was very skeptical. For a film like Toy Story, the up conversion makes sense because the movie was animated using 3D models. But with a hand drawn animated film like Beauty and the Beast, you have an entirely different animal altogether. I imagined someone ripping through the original film frame by frame, cutting out characters and objects, and separating them into layers, and that the result would look similar to the effect of the old multi-plane animation camera. Boy, I was wrong.

At Disney’s presentation at ShoWest, they premiered the just completed first scene featuring the musical number “Belle”. It blew me away. The best way I can put it is that Beauty and the Beast looked new again. I’m not a huge supporter of 3D, so don’t take this as me just drinking the kool aid being served at this exhibitor convention.Bell had what seemed like added dimension, and the whole thing worked incredibly well. I wish you could see the scene for yourself, because almost everyone I talked to in attendance was instantly sold. I can totally imagine Disney doing this with other releases. I’d like to see Lion King or some of the older classics back on the big screen.



March 5, 2010: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

Official Plot Synopsis: From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover; Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking-Glass” (1871) with stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history. Check out some character and concept photos here and here.

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March 19, 2010: Piranha 3-D



March 26, 2010: How to Train Your Dragon

Official Plot Synopsis: “An adventure comedy set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, based on the book by Cressida Cowell. The story centers around a Viking teenager, who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. Initiation is coming, and this is his one chance to prove his worthiness to his tribe and father. But when he encounters, and ultimately befriends, an injured dragon, his world is turned upside down. ” Based on the book by Cressida Cowell. Directed by Chris Sanders, and featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, TJ Miller and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

April 16, 2010: (3D unconfirmed) Robert Rodriguez’s Nerverackers



May 21, 2010: Shrek Forever After

Retitled from Shrek Goes Fourth, directed by Mike Mitchell (Duce Bigelow, Surviving Christmas, Sky High). The original all-star cast is set to return, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas.



June 18, 2010: Toy Story 3

The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3. All we know is that Andy grows up and is leaving for college. Lee Unkrich, co-director of Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo) directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine, brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. The voice talent confirmed includes: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty. Composer Randy Newman returns. Watch the teaser trailer.



July 9, 2010: Despicable Me

Official plot synopsis: “In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.”



July 30, 2010: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Written by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich (Brother Bear, Chicken Little Open Season), and directed by short filmmaker Brad Peyton, who is making his feature debut, the movie continues the story (setup by the 2001 original) of the battle between cats and dogs for control of Earth. Chris O’Donnell and Jack McBrayer play the live-action stars.



August 6, 2010: Step Up 3D

Fron Jon Chu, the director of Step Up 2 the Streets, comes a third movie in the franchise. Yawn.



September 24, 2010: Zack Snyder’s Guardians of Ga’hoole

Zack Snyder’s animated film adaptation of Kathryn Lansky’s children’s book Guardians of Ga’Hoole (part of a 14 book bestselling kids series) has been described the tone as more “Harry Potter” “than Happy Feet.” The story follows a young barn owl named Soren, who is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie’s,where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He and his new friends escape to the island of Ga’Hoole, to assist its noble, wise owls who fight the army being created by the wicked rulers of St. Aggie’s. The voice cast includes Jim Sturgess (21), Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean), Rachael Taylor (Transformers) and David Wenham (300). It has been rumored that Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) will make-up the voice cast lead roles, but that has yet to be officially confirmed.



October 1, 2010: Alpha and Omega

Directed by Anthony Bell (My Rugrats Vacation), this animated family adventure comedy is about two mismatched young wolves thrown are together by circumstance. Featuring the voice talent of Heyden Panettiere, Justin Long, Christina Ricci, and Dennis Hopper.



October 22: (unconfirmed) The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D Re-Release

Disney will rerelease the 3D up-conversion of Tim Burton’s holiday stop-animated classic in a limited amount of theaters.



November 5: Dreamwork Animation’s Oobermind

DreamWorks Animation’s Oobermind is the superhero comedy project being produced by Ben Stiller, formerly titled Master Mind. Written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, Oobermind is a satirical take on superhero movies (think The Incredibles). When super villain Oobermind (Robert Downey Jr) defeats his arch-rival Metro Man, the world should be his oyster. But instead, Oobermind falls into total despair. It turns out that life without a rival is life without a point for him. So he creates a new superhero rival. Unfortunately, the new hero wants to be a super villain too. Who can we turn to? Who has what it takes to stand up to this menace? Who will defend the innocent? Oobermind! That’s who. Tina Fey also provides her voice for the film.


November 15: (unconfirmed) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I IMAX

The last two IMAX releases of the Harry Potter films have featured 3D footage, so it’s very possible that Deathly Hallows: Part I will as well.



December 2010: Disney’s Rapunzel

Directed by Glen Keane and Dean Wellins, this new telling of the classic fairy tale, will transport audiences “to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair, lots of hair.” Keane wants this computer animated film to look and feel like a traditional hand-drawn Disney Classic, but in 3D.

A short clip of test footage was shown at Siggraph 2005, where is gained a lot of attention. Apparently the film uses a non-photorealistic rendering technique which will make the surface look like it is painted but still containing depth and dimensions. The movie’s visual style is being based on French Rococo artist Jean-Honore Fragonard’s painting “The Swing”. It should be noted that the image above is an older image of Rapunzel, before they revamped (the project was originally titled Rapunzel Unbraided). See more concept art here.



December 17: The Smurfs 3D

Directed by Raja Gosnell, who previously helmed Scooby Doo and its sequel, and more recently Beverly Hills Chihuahua, the film will be a live-action 3D hybrid,



Late 2010: (unconfirmed release date) Tron 2

The official plot synopsis follows: “Tron 2 is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.” The sequel is helmed by commercial director Joseph Kosinski (you can see some of his fantastic work here).



2010: (unconfirmed) Laika Entertainment’s Here Be Monsters

Based on the novel by Alan Snow, and produced by Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas), this family adventure tells the story of a young boy tries to save his town from an evil takeover. Based on the children’s novel by Alan Snow.



2010: IMAX: Hubble 3D

Made by the same filmmaking team behind Space Station 3D, Hubble 3D will chronicle the amazing saga of the greatest success in space since the Moon Landing. “Featuring stunning on-orbit coverage of the telescope’s final repair and jaw-dropping IMAX 3D flights through distant galaxies, Hubble’s astonishing legacy will be captured for generations to come.”



2010: Joe Dante’s The Hole

The Hole tells the story of Susan (Teri Polo), a mother who moves with her teen sons to a rural house where the three discover a bottomless hole in the basement.



2010: Alex Winter’s The Gate

[excerpt from Russ Fischer] Alex Winter (yeah, that Bill and Ted Alex Winter) has found financing for his proposed 3D remake of The Gate, which origially starred a very young and round-faced Stephen Dorff as a kid who finds a gate to a prison containing ancient demons. Naturally, they want to take over the world, just like the army of remakes we’ve been facing down for the last few years.

We don’t know much about the plot details. The original followed Glen (Dorff), his sister Al (Christa Denton) and Glen’s friend Terry (Louis Tripp) and their fight against demons unleashed from an unusual gate found when an old tree is removed from Glen’s backyard. The kids learn the truth about the tiny demons from a metal record which is actually a demonic tome called The Dark Book. No better way to engage and make fun of mid-’80s paranoia about that satanic metal music! The film was fun and creepy, with some great practical effects. H2O has hired Pixomondo (2012, Ninja Assassin) to do the effects this time, but I expect they’ll be largely digital. Let’s hope for at least a few good practical demon dolls.