Sigh. Studios just don’t learn. Despite the fact that in the past 6 months there were strong plaudits for the visuals of films shot in 3D: Hugo and Prometheus, and terrible reviews for the 3D conversion jobs on just about every post conversion film other than Titanic, we are still going to get post production 3D conversions on films that weren’t meant to have them in the first place. The latest of these films is Man of Steel.
Yes that’s right, despite Christopher Nolan‘s vocal protests against 3D and even more violent protests against post production “retro fitted” 3D, Man of Steel (which he is producing at Warner Bros) will get the hideous treatment. Even though Nolan has created 2 (and most likely 3) of the biggest grossing films of all time for Warners without the use of 3D, he and director Zack Snyder could not influence the studio otherwise.
The fact that Nolan fought tooth and nail to get The Dark Knight Rises in 2D and has continued to be vocal against the format leads me to suggest that this decision has come down to Zack Snyder, who has been given total creative control on the project. Maybe he thought the Superman cape flapping in the wind would look great in 3D as well as slow motion.
In all fairness, he hasn’t exactly been jumping on the 3D band wagon either. It could have something more to do with studio’s cold feet over Snyder as a bankable filmmaker and the fact Superman doesn’t sell as big as Batman. Snyder’s past few films have been financially underwhelming and the last Superman outing totally bombed critically and financially. As we all know, the point of post conversion 3D is to make more money.
When you think about it, the studio probably just decided to put its foot down. Warner Bros did say not too long ago that every big tentpole would be 3D. So, the fact Man of Steel is getting the treatment doesn’t come as a surprise, especially when box office projections are dictating artistic merit over at Warner Bros.
I’m no lover of 3D, but I’m not a hater either. If done properly it can be quite entrancing, especially when great filmmakers get the opportunity to do it right. Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Peter Jackson have all been outspoken in saying that 3D can be an extension of the cinematic art and be another method of storytelling to draw the audience in. I agree with that, but this post conversion hackery is demeaning a format that intelligent people are flying the flag for and it totally undermines those efforts.
Man of Steel will also be converted into IMAX and IMAX 3D, with a press release saying:
The IMAX release of Man of Steel will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
With this they also released a plot synopsis, which you can read here:
In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to Earth from Krypton, a highly advanced, distant planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question ‘Why am I here?’ Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), Clark discovers having extraordinary abilities means making difficult decisions. When the world is in dire need of stability, an even greater threat emerges. Clark must become a Man of Steel, to protect the people he loves and shine as the world’s beacon of hope – Superman.
Man of Steel (now in 3D and IMAX) will hit cinemas on June 13th, 2013.
Source: Comic Book Movie
