J.J. Abrams Talks Star Trek 2

In an interview with Collider, J.J. Abrams set the record straight on some controversies that emerged from this summer’s blockbuster Star Trek, and laid the groundwork for an eagerly anticipated sequel. One of the elements that was praised in his take on the classic sci-fi series is how much fun it was for both diehards and nonfans, and Abrams says he and writing team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are trying to keep that feeling.

One of the ways he may be looking at adding an element of wonder to the production is filming the sequel in 3D.

So Are 3D Movies A Gimmick?

With the incredible recent popularity and profitability of 3D movies, the real unanswered question is of their long term viability. Right now there is no real consensus as to whether stereoscopic filmmaking will be the way of the future or just a gimmicky flavor of the month. Dreamworks head Jeffrey Katzenberg (looking a bit like Gonzo) laid out his vision for the industry’s future at the 3D Entertainment Summit that would see a rise in ticket prices as well.

Halloween To Dress Up Michael Myers In 3D

Coming off of a weekend where is finished third at the box office with a gross of a little over $17 million, the 10^th edition of Halloween is already being given a sequel. This time Michael Myers will be terrorizing Haddonfield in 3D… and without Rob Zombie.

Watch It!: 100 Years of Special Effects

We’ve come a long way, baby. In recent weeks we have gotten to see some huge leaps in special effects, be it the extreme realism of the prawns in District 9 or the incredible Avatar preview in IMAX 3D, filming technology has come a long way since a hat could pop out of an easel in 1900. In fact, its hard to believe how incredible special effects were in the late 1960s and 1970s, when 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars amazed audiences nationwide.

To celebrate the feats of the film industry, YouTube user “bengraphics” put together a montage of 26 films from 1900 to 2008 that demonstrate how far visual effects have come, from The Enchanted Drawing to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The video not only shows the finished clips, but also shows the work behind the camera to demonstrate how it was done. Enjoy!

Watch It!: Ice Age in 4D

Yesterday we wrote an article about James Cameron’s team up with Panasonic to bring the 3D experience out of the theater and into living rooms. While this video is a bit old (it came out when Ice Age 3 did), it is more talking about the attempted advancement of the way we watch film and, perhaps, the danger of taking it to far. Some may view it as a bad thing, but if films start allowing me to jump to alternate dimensions and time-lines, you won’t be able to get me out of the theater. Hit the jump!

James Cameron and Panasonic Are Bringing 3-D To You

James Cameron’s Avatar, as we learned last week, is facing a problem: in 3-D, it would appear that he has created a world of spectacle and wonder, using the technology that we have to its greatest levels. In 2-D, however, no matter what size the screen, Avatar looks like nothing more than Delgo 2. This could pose a huge financial risk for 20th Century Fox, as digital projection is not yet ubiquitous and the extra charge for for glasses that turns off frugal consumers (and in this economic climate, who could blame them?). Having worked with the technologies over the last decade, James Cameron is determined to expand the range of the new style and is now working with Panasonic to bring 3-D presentation, in conjunction with Blu-Ray,  into households.

Avatar Really Is The Future

Clear your schedule on December 18^th: you are going to see Avatar. I know the title comes off as fanboy hyperbole but we didn’t overstate things on twitter, as James Cameron’s pet project lives up to all the hype. Don’t bother watching the trailer online – this movie was meant to be seen in Imax 3D. Not five minutes after the Avatar day screening, we saw the official trailer in front of Inglorious Basterds (which you also need to see) in traditional 2D cinema, and could not believe it was the same movie.

“The Hobbit” Rumors… In 3D

According to the folks over at Martketsaw there are all sorts of big rumors coming from The Hobbit set to be directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced by Peter Jackson fresh off the success of District 9.