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The truths they don't want you to read....

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Nothing profound

It has been great to have been largely out of circulation for the past couple of weeks, albeit partially enforced and partially optional, as it has given us an opportunity to do stuff other than work and being ited to the computer.

I've no profound observations on American culture, at the moment anyway, but it has been an *experience* in every sense of the word.

At Disney Hollywood Studios we got to see the Muppets in 3D, using a new laser technology that required a unique set of glasses in what was (presumably) an experience that can't yet be repeated in ordinary cinemas.

It was utterly, utterly, fabulous, with the effects being utterly realistic. I think that the effects were done in such a way that there were multiple deliveries of the 15 minute film across different sections of the theatre.

We were in the front row, and at one point the boys were jumping up and trying to catch the bubbles that were floating across in front of them.

I don't know how they did it, but it is quite obviously very expensive, complicated and requires huge productions costs to deliver. If only it could be repeated everywhere.

Following that, at 10:30 one morning we went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D, HD and enhanced sound in the cinema complex at Disney. At $55 for all 5 of us it wasn't cheap, with popcorn, Coke and sweets on top, but it was delivered using the now-standard 3D format and the usual 3D glasses.

The film was fantastic, but the effects were so poor in comparison to the Muppets, although they were still great. Based on an island in the Inner Hebrides, the wild and hairy Vikings were voiced by Gerrard Butler, Craig "Bing Hitler" Ferguson and David Tennant, with the others having incongruous American accents.

The kids loved it too, and we may go to see another 3D movie just of the sheer enjoyment, and I would encourage anyone who has a chance to experience the technology.

2 comments:

Captain Swing said...

Isn't it always the same, whenever the Yanks want a voice over in a cartoon for a wild or evil character they always use a british or even better still a Scottish Actor, or am I just being paranoid?

There must be whole generations of American kids who were/are traumatised by the sound of Scottish/English voices, maybe we ought to start making cartoons where the Americans are are the baddies. Now there is a suggestion for a job creation scheme.

Anonymous said...

shirley the 3D experience, while not repeatable at any cinema is on the go at any theatre?!