P3D Re: 3D on Video

[Michael Watters <mwatters@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Xochi asks:
>Also, does anyone know where I can purchase anaglyph 3-D films which have
>been put on videotape? I know Rhino distributes 3 of these films for about
>$10 each - I found them in a Border's book store. The Mask (1960) has some
>pretty nifty effects, but Robot Monster had no discernible 3-D that I 

>noticed. There's another called Catwomen on the Moon that I haven't seen. 


Anaglyph on videotape generally looks pretty crappy (with NTSC).  Of the films that Rhino is  
selling ONLY The Mask looks any good.  Probably because it was filmed in anaglyph to begin  
with.  The other two look pretty horrible.  One reason for this is that they must not have been able  
to find a complete 3D print of the two films.  Consequently, they flip back and forth between  
anaglyph and B&W flat images.  Spiffy huh?

>You'd think Creature from the Black Lagoon, at least, would be available 

>on video somewhere.

It was released in anaglyph on Beta.  Good luck finding a copy.  No clue if it'd even work given  
the general problems of anaglyph on TV.

>Oh, and are those LCD 3-D units worth buying? The anaglyph films on video
>I've seen have been pretty horrible; I certainly wouldn't want to spend
>~$100+ for something which is basically a piece of junk. 


Oh yeah!  They work VERY differently and do a great job of seperating the L&R images.  You  
don't lose color either.  The primary downside is that there's VERY little available to watch with  
the darn things.  I haven't been following this very closely lately and this might have changed  
though.   The only thing I've used mine for is watching my own home movies.  (including a  
couple of DEVO concerts I shot.  Any spuds signed onto the list since I last was here?)

Why nobody's doing anything with 3D movies:
   Combination of a lack of a decent home-viewing system and a lack of demand I'm sure.  The  
simple fact is that most of the world considers 3D to be a gimmick and doesn't want to have to  
wear special glasses/goggles/whatever just to watch TV.   3D-TV Corp used to carry a few old  
3D movies, but from what I've seen the prints they used for the transfers were bloody awful.  Last  
time I checked their www site none of the more interesting films were listed either.  Doesn't help  
that the lion's share of 3D movies ever made basically suck.  (DialM, KissMeKate and House of  
Wax being probably the only real exceptions).  :)
   I DO think there is room for a successful nitch market of 3D TV stuff, but lack of films is the  
primary issue they'd have to address first.

mike


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