Films you absolutely must see in 3D

Luca Fontana

6.9.2017

Translation: machine translated

Personally, I'd advise you to watch these ten films in 3D. Of course, it's a matter of preference, and that's precisely why I want to know your favourite 3D films.

3D doesn't have it easy; not in home cinema anyway. There are enough reasons, and listing them all in this article would be impossible. Fortunately, I've already done so in this article:

In that article, I didn't just make assumptions about why the third dimension is in a bind. I've also looked at why 3D is more than a gimmick and what 'hardware' will allow you to delve into exotic and unknown universes in the future.

But here we're talking about the "software": the film. There are thousands of good 3D films out there. You just want to find them. But to save you the trouble of searching for them, I give you my top ten.

10th place: Titanic (1997) / Titanic 3D (2012)

Right on time for the 15th anniversary of the most financially successful film of all time, Cameron has delighted many (largely female) fans with a re-release of the classic - this time, in 3D. According to producer Landau, the conversion took 60 weeks and cost $18 million. My verdict: well worth it!

Let's start by putting preconceptions to rest. Titanic is not just a sappy film, it's also great cinema in terms of content, acting and, above all, craftsmanship. The drama is heightened by 3D. The noise of the engines in the engine room is even more impressive, the party on the lower deck even crazier, and the icy Atlantic water seeping through the cabin corridors even more chilling. And, at the latest after the stern of the boat rises into the air and you see the void over Rose and Jack's shoulder, you're left breathless.

9th place: Tron - Legacy(2010)

Tron: Legacy is the sequel to the classic film starring Jeff Bridges released in 1982. Fans of the first part eagerly awaited the sequel - and hoped it wouldn't destroy the cult status of the first instalment. Other viewers (myself included) simply had no idea what to expect after the trailer. A successful surprise.

Things like Daft Punk's electrifying soundtrack (which you can already hear in the trailer) or some excellent special effects dangerously close to an overdose of lightning effects contributed to the success. An optical spectacle that really comes into its own only in 3D - thanks in part to the action sequences filmed in IMAX format.

8th place: Gatsby the Magnificent (2013)

A film that has successfully made the transition from written form to cinematic form. The story is taken from a great classic of American literature: The Great Gatsby. When the launch of the film was postponed so that it could be converted to 3D afterwards, many people were surprised: was it, once again, about making more money in cinemas? Would the film really benefit from the third dimension?

At the "International 3D Society's Creative Arts Awards" the film won in the main category "Outstanding Live Action 3D Feature Film". The Great Gatsby is undoubtedly an excellent visual spectacle, but it is above all the close-ups of the actors that become truly impressive thanks to the depth effect. This is where we notice all the possibilities that 3D offers.

7th place: Pacific Rim (2013)

Haven't seen Pacific Rim yet? Then it's high time you did! Even if the trailer looks a bit special with all those bright lights and robot battles. Guillermo del Torri is a visionary and has proved with his two film adaptations of Hellboy and the critical favourite Pan's Labyrinth that he's resourceful. Especially when it comes to optics. And Pacific Rim is no exception.

And in 3D, please! When a canned man races a Godzilla-like monster through the streets and slowly topples skyscrapers, only 3D really manages to convey these effects.

And that's in 3D, please.

So gigantic monsters ("Kaijus") battle against robots piloted by humans. Are you thinking of "Power Rangers"? At the time, I thought: "If a film of the cult classic reappears in cinemas, it should look like this." Well, the remake was actually made, but, Pacific Rim is far more exciting!

6th place: Avatar (2009)

The film that started it all with the 3D boom. Of course it's on my list!

Avatar will certainly be remembered for its incredible visual effects. Immersing yourself in a fascinating new universe is one thing (just remember the Lord of the Rings trilogy), but feeling like you're moving through it and even living in it is another thing altogether!

Avatar will certainly be remembered for its incredible visual effects.

For Avatar, transporting us to a dream world and fluorescent nature at night is child's play. At the time, 3D offered exactly that effect of depth needed to immerse us in this universe like impatient little children. It's certainly the quintessential example of a film that would be unimaginable without 3D.

5th place: Gravity (2013)

One of my favourites. Gravity is Alfonso Cuarón's first film since Children of Men was released in 2006. The man with a weakness for incredibly long unedited single-shot film sequences (the film's first scene lasts 17 minutes!) delivers a masterpiece that can be cited alongside Avatar when it comes to talking about successful 3D cinema.

Like Avatar, Gravity plunges us into a universe that we can't experience on Earth. The space adventure only becomes concrete and tangible thanks to 3D. Like the characters in the film, we feel this sense of floating in space - often helplessly - and so develop a great respect and humility for the emptiness of space.

Even my most 3D-averse friends admitted that the 3D surcharge was worth it for Gravity. Now that's what I call a real compliment.

4th place: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

One of the most underrated adventure films of all time. Tinitn and Snowy is everything Indiana Jones 4 promised (but didn't deliver): bizarre characters, a mystery around which the whole film revolves, exotic locations around the world and ridiculous camera moves only possible in an animated film. With music by the undisputed master John Williams to accompany it all. Ah, 3D can be so beautiful!

My favourite moment is when Captain Haddock suffers hallucinations in the desert and reality and dream merge to make a majestic ship emerge and sail over the dunes stretching as far as the eye can see (see trailer). An impressive view in 3D that leaves you speechless. Equally spectacular: the car, motorbike, foot and tank (!) chase through the backstreets of a small oriental town by the sea - filmed in one go without editing.

3rd place: Jurassic Park (1993) / Jurassic Park 3D (2013)

At the top of his game, Steven Spielberg set himself the task of making a film that was a perfect blend of adventure, sci-fi and horror. We're talking about Jurassic Park. What's more, his composer John Williams created a soundtrack almost as mythical as the tyrannosaurus's merciless attack in the pouring rain.

The 20-year-old film material was treated lovingly during conversion and restoration. Some effects were worked on later to accentuate the 3D experience. A case in point? The rain during the tyrannosaurus attack has been digitally retouched in the 3D version to give the viewer an even more oppressive and realistic impression. 20 years after this masterpiece hit the screens, we have a 3D version so realistic you'd think it had been there all along.

2nd place: The Odyssey of Pi (2012)

If I had to name one film adaptation that succeeded almost perfectly in its transition from analogue to digital would be Pi's Odyssey. The magnificent spiritual story of a castaway on the high seas combined with surreal fantasies and a moving soundtrack unleash a veritable tornado of emotions that accompanied me through every second of the film, from start to finish.

Director Ang Lee shows how to develop the full potential of the already exciting story through the careful use of 3D. The film doesn't always have to be all action for the third dimension to work. Sometimes it's precisely the subtle use of 3D that allows viewers to become part of the universe rather than just contemplating it. If you've already seen the film in 3D, you know exactly why I've already found the opening credits fascinating.

1st place: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

"What a day. What a wonderful day!" shouts one of the main characters in the middle of one of the craziest, most insane chases ever staged. The film already gets off to a great start and, especially when it comes to the stunts, goes from strength to strength. So it's no surprise to learn that artists from 'Cirque du Soleil' were hired to shoot some of the film's dangerous scenes. And it shows in the film, when you realise that many of the wacky scenes were shot without any digital effects.

Now it's your opinion I'm interested in. What are your favourite 3D films? Are they on my list? Have I forgotten to mention any 3D gems? Let me know in the comments!

Here you'll find all the 3D Blu-rays in our range.

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Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more