AVATAR Director James Cameron On Why 3D Isn't Dead And What Technical Changes To Expect From Re-Release

AVATAR Director James Cameron On Why 3D Isn't Dead And What Technical Changes To Expect From Re-Release

Avatar director James Cameron opens up on exactly what he's done to remaster the 2009 movie for the big screen again and shares his take on why 3D is still a format moviegoers are willing to embrace...

By JoshWilding - Sep 16, 2022 07:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Avatar
Source: SFFGazette.com

Since we first learned that Avatar would return to theaters on September 23, there are many who have wondered why. Yes, now seems like a good time with Avatar: The Way of Water just a couple of months away, but it's not as if the 2009 blockbuster hasn't graced the big screen since then (a re-release during the pandemic saw it top Avengers: Endgame at the box office again). 

We were on hand during the global press conference for Avatar's re-release earlier this week, and filmmaker James Cameron kicked things off by explaining the technical changes to the movie. He also offered some compelling reasons why it's worth watching this particular version of the movie on the big screen again.

"We authored the film for the big screen in 3D. And now we've remastered it in 4K, in high-dynamic range and [included] some 48-frame-per-second sections in the film," the director explains. "It's looking better than it ever looked, even back in its initial release."

"Even if [you've seen] the movie on streaming or Blu-ray, [you] still haven't really seen the movie the way we intended it to be seen. And, you know, we just watched the film recently when we finished the whole remastering process, and it kinda blew us away."

Following Avatar's huge level of success when it was originally released in theaters thirteen years ago, many studios attempted to replicate that by taking the lazy approach of converting movies into 3D. It didn't really work and as audiences came to realise the format had become little more than a gimmick, the craze died down and has mostly gone away. 

For Cameron, however, he believes there's still room for 3D movies (a valid point when they're actually shot in 3D, of course). 

"I would say that 3D was embraced in general for a period of time," he explains. "I mean, Avatar won Best Cinematography with a 3D digital camera. No digital camera had ever won the Best Cinematography Oscar before. 3D appears to most people to be over, but it's really not over. It's just been accepted. It's just now part of the choices that you face when you go to a theater."

"When colour first came out, it was a big deal. People used to go see movies because they were in colour. I think around the time of Avatar, people went to see movies because they were in 3D. Nobody's gonna go see a movie today because it's in 3D," Cameron continued. "It's all the other factors by which we choose a film. In terms of long-term cultural impact...well, I guess we'll find out if people show up for Avatar[: The Way of Water]."

Everything we've heard from those who have seen footage from the sequel in 3D has been overwhelmingly positive, so something tells us Cameron is about to bring 3D back in a big way. That will likely begin with the Avatar re-release, though, and it will definitely be refreshing to experience a movie that makes good use of the format again. 

To whet audiences' appetites, Disney/20th Century Studios will re-release Avatar in theaters on September 23. As for Avatar: The Way of Water, that arrives in theaters worldwide on December 16.
 

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 9/16/2022, 7:39 AM
I still have my lg 3d tv, it's not as good as the almighty G1 but watching Avatar at home while tripping in 3d.. there's no comparison lol. Bet we get a 3d tv Renaissance once again. Got my re release tickets ready and hyped for the sequel. I like how he hired a different crew for each movie to keep the focus on the current movie. Plus a story group to create the overall story, we're not getting Pocahontas again lol. Raising the bar like always Jim!
Moriakum
Moriakum - 9/16/2022, 7:41 AM
It’s dead. It’s a gimmick that no one cares anymore. There’s no 3D TVs being made for years. Oh it’s so dead.
Quinn
Quinn - 9/17/2022, 3:08 AM
@Moriakum - False
Moriakum
Moriakum - 9/17/2022, 4:01 AM
@Quinn -
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/16/2022, 7:45 AM
''people went to see movies because they were in 3D. Nobody's gonna go see a movie today because it's in 3D''

That's surprisingly correct. Even without the 3D I think Avatar is still a visually stunning movie, and that's the reason why I'm going to see the sequel in cinemas as well.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 9/16/2022, 7:49 AM
3D is more dead than your career, Jimmy.

Is really sad to see one of the best director in history in the state he has been for the past 25 years.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 9/16/2022, 7:52 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - Had Cameron made the sequel 15 years ago right after the first Avatar then he could have legitimized real 3D. As it stands his lovely long delay hurt the product.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 9/16/2022, 7:53 AM
@TyrantBossMedia - I agree
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 9/16/2022, 10:11 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - how is his career dead? He has been working on massive project getting $millions.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 9/16/2022, 5:04 PM
@TheSuperMex - His last good movie was released 25 years ago!
And quality aside, he released just one (1) movie in those 25 years!
Quinn
Quinn - 9/17/2022, 3:09 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - He's the biggest director ever. How is his career dead?
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 9/17/2022, 10:20 AM
@Quinn - See my response to TheSuperMex.

And yes, he *was* the biggest director ever; Aliens, Abyss, Terminator 2, True Lies, freaking TITANIC, all in the span of a decade...but a I dont know if shooting Titanic broke him or what, but his past 25 years...he onle made ONE movie, and I dont care how much money it made, Avatar wasnt good.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 9/16/2022, 7:50 AM
“ "When colour first came out, it was a big deal.”

Now now Cameron is American so when he says “color” he surely doesn’t spell it “colour” like the Brits.

NicolausCopernicus
NicolausCopernicus - 9/16/2022, 8:53 AM
@TyrantBossMedia - Also, I´m pretty sure that ther wasnt a ticket price differentiation when color came out, jimmy boy
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 9/16/2022, 11:17 AM
@NicolausCopernicus - Good question. That prompted me to do a little research.
The cost of tickets for movies was from 10 cents to 25 cents.
25 cents were for larger productions like The Ten Commandments, Gone With the Wind, etc.
10 cents were for older and smaller lower budget films.

Color films cost three times to make than black and white films then so color films would have been bigger budget hence they would have cost more.
And that actually make sense.
TheSpiderX
TheSpiderX - 9/16/2022, 9:07 PM
@TyrantBossMedia - He's actually Canadian and we do spell colour that way. ;)
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 9/16/2022, 7:51 AM
I've never been that into 3D before, first movie I saw was the Hobbit and it was the worst movie going experience I ever had (went to midnight showing like I did for all of LOTR). Recently though I got a Virtual Reality headset and have been absolutely loving watching 3D movies there. I saw Dune and even Avatar 3D for first time in there and it was gorgeous. Saw SM: NWH on it in 3D, I had seen it on a tv multiple times, and there were many things I never even noticed before so was almost like watching it for the first time.
Tasmaniac
Tasmaniac - 9/16/2022, 8:08 AM
@WarMonkey - Doctor Strange in 3D with those mirror dimension scenes was flat out amazing.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/16/2022, 7:53 AM
Jaws releasing in imax and 3d before avatar that may be give away I don’t watch 3d grace beyound trailer always pushes 3d on people she wears glasses sometimes in her video she should know how uncomfortable it is wear two pairs glasses on her face
marvel72
marvel72 - 9/16/2022, 8:49 AM
I have only seen a couple of 3D movies The Amazing Spider-Man and Transformers:Revenge Of The Fallen.

I also have seen Friday The 13th Part 3 in 3D terrible movie only good when the killing starts and Jason gets his iconic ice hockey mask.
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 9/16/2022, 10:08 AM
Do 3D movies in theaters still come out? Feels like ages since I saw a 3D movie.
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