Commenting on the Critics with Simon Columb…
Mark Kermode, on Tuesday 5th November 2013, revealed on his Uncut Blog:
“Gravity … is worth seeing … in 3D. That’s all. Thank you.”
Watch the video in full on his site here.
Wittertainment listeners and fans will see this moment as ground-breaking. Mark Kermode has rallied against 3D for years and, though appreciating the purpose in rare cases, he argues it is a temporary fad. His war against 3D even reached fever-pitch whereby a friend created anti-3D glasses for him – that ‘corrected’ the 3D-ness so it could be enjoyed in 2D. But, as I experienced last night – and Mark Kermode himself has agreed – Gravity is something else.
Shaken and shocked from such a visceral experience, as the credits ran on the screen ahead of me I realised that the experience could not be reproduced. In fact, even if I had a Hi-Def, 3D home-cinema system that vainly tried to recreate the universe – it simply wouldn’t stack up against the cinema experience. The vast scale of space on the screen is a part of the experience. Despite my own high-rating and positive review of the film, I doubt I will purchase the film on release as it won’t be the same. Of course, Gravity is not the only one. Life of Pi sits in the same camp, as does Avatar. These are experiences that cannot be downgraded to the home cinema and demand the full, wide screen of the cinema.
Combine these frustrations with the short-term nature of theatrical releases – if I’m lucky, a month left to watch Gravity again? And slowly, but surely, we are building a catalogue of 3D titles that will benefit from a re-release. Talking to a friend post-Gravity screening, he explained how he didn’t see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at the cinema. He wanted to see the 3D, 48fps version and – in the hope of not missing the sequel The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – he will have to settle for a DVD watch of the former in preparation for the latter. If only a cinema would re-release this film…
But why not? Maybe the future is exclusive 3D cinemas. Obviously, new releases would take precedent in extended runs (seems to be new ones every week anyway) but crucially it also provides an opportunity to re-watch and enjoy what-could-now-be-described-as “classic” 3D films. My friend could then watch The Hobbit as intended and, in a few years, when Gravity is on, I can enjoy it the way it was intended. Not to mention the 3D versions of Star Wars, Titanic and Jurassic Park that will always maintain their audiences, while families will introduce the films to younger generations. Top Gun and Predator have had 3D Blu-ray releases without adjoining theatrical re-releases – this could be a fun night out for those who are fans of the original but aren’t committed to home-cinema enough to buy a 3D TV. Seriously, it might not be that bad …
It is one thing for Mark Kermode to admit 3D has its place in film – but would Kermode appreciate an exclusively 3D cinema chain? Not now perhaps… but in the future? Maybe.
Originally published November 10, 2013. Updated April 15, 2018.
