Family Vacation in 3D?

Source: Blu-ray.com

Now I never specifically went on the quintessential family vacation to the Grand Canyon, but I did go on many road trips with my family as a kid. (Un)Fortunately nothing as ridiculous as National Lampoon occurred, but they had their ups, downs and all arounds.

Now with the June release of Grand Canyon Adventure: River At Risk loading up the station wagon and hitting the road, as nostalgic as it is, may be a thing of the past since the German film studio Imagion has filmed a 3D Grand Canyon experience using IMAX 3D cameras. The Blu-ray itself will feature 3D menus as well as a 3D BD live application.

While this nature documentary is narrated by an American, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., it is only available in Europe for the time being. Nature documentaries on Blu-ray are amazing. I have always said the BBC series Planet Earth is crack for my eyes, and one featuring the Grand Canyon could be both majestic and badass and it doesn't hurt that it was shot in IMAX 3D.

Would you buy a 3D Blu-ray nature documentary? It sounds kind of like a niche market, but I think I would watch the Blu-ray over walking on the Grand Canyon Skywalk, that scares the hell out of me!

No 3-D for Bats 3?

Source: MovieWeb.com

Breathe a sigh of relief. Cinematographer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Wally Pfister has no intentions on using a 3-D format in the (still unannounced, but seriously how can it not happen) third installment of the Nolan/Bale Batman franchise.

Pfister actually was very adamant about not shooting in what he calls the "3-D fad" claiming that the format might have worn off by the time the movie is released. He does leave the option of shooting at least some of the film in IMAX, just like the infamous bank robbery scene from The Dark Knight, which for anyone who saw that sequence you know that is good news.

What is known for sure at this point, according to Pfister, is that Bats 3 is going to happen and it will be shot old school on film. Right now there is a tentative release date of sometime in 2012, but seeing as the film is in no farther than pre-preproduction that time frame could easily change.

3-D(eath!)

Source: Samsung.com

“Warning: Children and teenagers may be more susceptible to health issues associated with viewing in 3D and should be closely supervised when viewing these images.”

So starts the fine print on Samsung Australia’s new 3-D site. There are of course the legitimate health warnings that need mentioning of course, but these are the ones you see before any movies or video games. It is the ones that are more familiar to roller coaster enthusiasts that should make you raise an eyebrow.

Here are a couple of my favorite excerpts; the first one is my personal favorite:

“Viewing in 3D may cause disorientation for some viewers. Accordingly, DO NOT place your television near open stairwells, cables, balconies, or other objects that can be tripped over, run into, knocked down, broken or fallen over.”

And a warning for all you fashion gurus out there trying to make 3-D glasses en vogue:

“Do not use the 3D glasses for any other purpose than for viewing 3D television. Wearing the 3D glasses for any other purpose (as general spectacles, sunglasses, protective goggles, etc.) may be physically harmful to you and may weaken your eyesight.”

And this one you are more likely to see at the gate to the Tilt-a-Whirl:

“Pregnant women … those who are sleep deprived or under the influence of alcohol should avoid utilizing the unit’s 3D functionality.”

Well crud everybody, what does this all mean? 3-D movies, which are for a large part directed at children, are more likely to cause health problems in our youth. People will be falling over themselves, down stairwells, over balconies and face planting into their TV screens. Are you expecting? Then expect not to be watching anything in the third dimension. Have you been boozing while watching Avatar again? Poor choice, I predict puke-age in your near future.

It’s the 3-Docalypse! Or maybe (more likely) it is just Samsung Australia trying to cover its assets. Humorous none the less!

Sharp Backs 3-D Format

Source: Blu-ray.com

It seems that everybody has been sipping the 3-D Kool-Aid, and Sharp is no exception. They have just announced that they are developing a new TV for their AQUOS series touted as the “Worlds First Four-Primary-Color 3-D LCD TV” which promises increased picture quality and is supposedly 80% brighter than anything else currently on the market. 80% brighter? I guess the 3-D glasses are both for your viewing pleasure and retina protection.

What does all of this mean for you? Unless you are living in the Land of the Rising Sun not a whole lot, as the initial release this summer will be Japanese exclusive. But what happens in Japan has a knack for infiltrating into the rest of the world and Sharp predicts that by 2012 (barring the Apocalypse) over ten million 3-D TV sets worldwide and their goal is to be a large part of that.

Nota Bene: If you can tell me what is supposed to be on that 3-D TV screen I will be impressed. My money is on a Lady Gaga music video.

World Cup in the Third Dimension?!

Source: PR Newswire

Didn’t get tickets to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? Well that sucks. Thankfully FIFA has teamed up with Sony to make you feel less left out and more like you are right there in Soccer City, Johannesburg when ball meets foot. That’s right, this summer an unprecedented global 3-D event will be going down, and if you get your hands on the right technology you can participate.

The plan is to film over 25 of the games in 3-D and create a feed to be broadcast on special 3-D channels. According to FIFA TV they already have found a partner in the US with ESPN and in Spain, Sogecable and they expect more networks to follow. A live feed is also in the works, with the possibility of public theater screenings for select matches.

If you have a 3-D capable TV by the time this summer roles around (and who won’t!) you should have the opportunity to partake what Hiroko Saito of Sony proclaims as a “entirely new viewing experience”. Don’t plan on having a 3-D TV in time for the World Cup? You will still have the chance to visit one of the over 4,000 Sony stores worldwide in which Sony, tenaciously on the forefront of 3-D technology, will use this as a promotional tool for their new 3-D Bravia TVs.

In case you thought that was all, Sony has also has revealed that they will be releasing an official 3-D FIFA Blu-ray later this year. For more information and a preliminary schedule of what games will be in 3-D visit PR Newswire.

Nota Bene: Personally, I just can't wait to experience a real soccer riot without the messy side-effects like being trampled to death.