9 Classics We Might See -- And Want To See -- In 3-D
3-D's sweeping the land! This week we've had almost non-stop news of projects to be filmed in the process (Spy Hunter, Popeye, Buck Rogers, Gulliver's Travels, Narnia), discussion of movies that're being converted (Clash Of The Titans , Sucker Punch) and the retro-stereoscoping of other recent hits (Titanic , 300). Three-dimensionality's even been in the gaming, TV, fashion-action film and religious broadcasting news, too. It's the wave of the future I tells ya! But also the past. Around the time we hear that Woody Allen's Untitled Spring 2011 Project will be filmed in the process, I'm betting there will begin a flurry of conversions of actual classics. As Anthony Lane wrote in The New Yorker recently, it's hard to not be curious about what Casablanca might look like in 3-D. But, apart from that and dead-certs (The Wizard Of Oz , Star Wars , Lord Of The Rings) what other hits (and a few box-office misses) would be too hard to resist watching with the glasses on?
1. The Thing (1982) -- John Carpenter's underrated reinterpretation of John W. Campbell's 1938 short story "Who Goes There?" was a flop on release. But it remains a landmark of special effects make-up, with recent CGI efforts laughable in comparison. Rob Bottin's whipping alien tendrils, spider-legged heads and amputated forearms have a solidity to them that'd look great in your lap. And you could get lost in Dean Cundey's widescreen cinematography of the icy wasteland.
2. Grindhouse (2007) -- A flop on release but enormously appreciated by an audience who've found it on disc and wouldn't mind seeing it on the big screen if a reward could be dangled in front of them. That'd be Rose McGowan, gyrating inches before fanboy eyes. And if ever a movie presentation was suited to a gimmicky re-release, it's this one. Bonus: New posters could proclaim, "From the director of Inglourious Basterds".
3. Alien (1979) -- The face-hugger's jump and its chest-bursting exit would be freaky, granted, but Ridley Scott's suspense is all about those dark, dark corridors. Being "in" them could be more than we could handle.
4. Fight Club (1999) -- Another high-expectation release that dudded theatrically but that has a stellar following on DVD. David Fincher's movies always look kinda 3-D anyway but this one's got all the whiz-bang executives would need to greenlight a conversion. Brad Pitt's still a star and, hey, UFC back then was nothing, now it's huge. Someone's even kinda had a go at marrying the 3-D style of Panic Room's credits with Fight Club scenes.
5. The Lion King (1994) -- On its 20th anniversary, the kids who loved this will be approaching thirty. Many will have children of their own. The grandparents will want to come, too. The last DVD release was 2004. A 3-D theatrical would be a logical lead in to a collector's Blu-ray, which, by then, would also be 3-D.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) -- You'd be hard-pressed to find too many fans able to resist the prospect of seeing the dawn of man opener with added visual depth. Same goes for accompanying Bowman into his star-filled fate. You might however power a small city by hooking leads up to the energy generated by Stanley Kubrick spinning in his grave.
7. Rear Window (1954) -- Alfred Hitchcock gave 3-D a whirl with Dial M For Murder the same year, but perhaps this one would've better suited the format. It's all about the act of looking, after all.
8. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981) -- The rolling boulder, Indy reaching for the idol, the Ark's Godly laser beams, melting Nazis. Steve and George have been happy to tinker with past glories. Thirtieth anniversary's coming up.
9. Citizen Kane (1941) -- Deep focus and depth-of-field. Say no more (except -- two for two! -- spellcheck before you post to YouTube, kids.)
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Lawrence of Arabia
Showgirls
_Starship Troopers_ in the not-so-classic vein.
_The Birds_ would also be a good Hitchcock choice, even if it's not as classic a film as _Rear Window_ .
Apocalypse Now, Godfather II
I was never to crazy about old movies. Over acting!
Jess
http://www.anonymous-proxy.us.tc
This is quite possibly the worst list ever
They can't do citizen kane in 3D, it's illegal. They cannot change the format of the original.
yes 3D effects can change the old movies
Illegal? As in "against the law"? Ted Turner had the legal right to colorize "Casablanca"; what law prevents the copyright holder from doing whatever he wants with "Citizen Kane"?
Uh, Bobber, change the format? Relax, the old versions will still be around. 3D is just a version. ;-P
Welles had it in his contract that the film could never be altered. Turner got the smackdown laid on him back in the 80s by the Welles estate when he tried to colorize Kane.
If they don't have a 2D version in the theater I and a lot of others will not go see the movie. This 3D fad reminds me of when they were doing it in the 70s with Jaws 3D.
REALLY? You wasted 10-15 minutes making this list and didn't mention the obvious.
THE MATRIX
I'm still waiting for George Lucas to convert the Star Wars saga to 3-D. That would be pretty cool!
I want to see MANEATER staring Janine Lindermulder. That would be.. WICKED AWESOME !
No.
jesus christ,are you serious?!?!!?fight club?!2001?!dude,those movies are sacred.i don't want a 14 year old pimpled gamer boy wanna be jerk to take his prostitute girlfriend to 2001:A space odissey at the theater just because it's a 3d sci-fi...has everyone lost their minds with this 3d thing?!?
Leave Hitchcock alone, still trying to figure the whole "Dial M for Muder" 3D thing.
MATRIX & Star Wars.
Surprised no one mention Lord of the Rings or superhero films- any Batman, Spiderman or Ironman.
That´s because Spiderman is already in the process of being 3-D on the next reboot of the saga.
2001 sounds cool, Citizen Kane sounds stupid, and really, doesn´t anyone wants to see a Bruce Lee movie full converted into 3-D?
I, too, view 3-D conversion like colorization. I get that there will always be an option between the two and that the conversion will not displace the original. But, I can still hate the conversion and regard it as a violation of the artistic integrity of the original film. If the original filmmaker wishes to make the conversion, it is their prerogative and, in principle, I would be okay with it. But, if the filmmaker is against it or is no longer able to voice an opinion, leave it alone.
The Normandy scene in Saving Private Ryan would be intense as hell in 3D...
Also, I agree with Showgirls, because, really, why not? Some other ideas:
1. Starship Troopers. Actually, since we're on a Verhoeven trend here, why not RoboCop, also?
2. Blade Runner.
3. No Holds Barred. (well,maybe not, but absolutely hilarious to contemplate.)
4. The Matrix was an awesome idea, too.
5. Cube.
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
7. Twister. (It's about tornadoes, which pretty much demands 3D, no?)
Forget Rear Window. The Hitchcock film that should be here is Vertigo. A key point of the movie, using camera tricks to simulate, um, vertigo could have been tried in a new way.
Twister? I can't take a cow flying at me. Twice.
JURASSIC. PARK.
This 3D fad is bad enough but converting old movies is taking it too far. Altering 2001 and Citizen Kane goes beyond film blasphemy to being nearly as bad as actual blasphemy. I'm still angry about the updates that Raiders got for its DVD release. If you think I want it altered any more, you have got to be kidding me.
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