DISQUS

virto · 2 years ago

I didn't like the glasses, but the image quality was perfect! Sometimes too dark images what caused a little eye strain.
Rating: 8
Seen in Dolby 3D at Kinepolis Kortrijk in Belgium

jimdorey · 2 years ago

I agree regarding eye strain. With each eye effectively seeing a blank screen half of the time (but too fast a flicker for our eyes to see), movies tend to become dimmer. I have been hearing very good things about Dolby 3D. I may reconsider my recommendation of Real D based on their cheaper and brandable glasses and go with Dolby 3D and potentially a better performance. We'll see.

SC · 2 years ago

Saw it in Real-D, and it was disappointing compared to the IMAX 3D and amusement park 3D features I've seen. The screen was too dim and small, and the glasses were annoying because you could see the huge black frames while wearing them

I rate it 7/10 (compared to 10/10 for all other 3D movies I've seen- a bunch of IMAX 3D documentaries, the Terminator/Shrek/Muppets shows at various amusement parks, etc)

jimdorey · 2 years ago

As you know from my review, I gave the movie 8 out of 10 stars. I saw it at IMAX 3D and while it was impressive there were parts I knew that were sub-par. Like when the King threw coins at the camera, it was all very blurry while I have read other reviews where the coins were crystal clear and impressive. I am going to check out Beowulf again this weekend on Real D this time and compare the two.

8 out of 10; IMAX 3D.

elijah · 2 years ago

jimdorey,
I'm planning on seeing Beowulf next week. just wondering how the Real D experience compare to IMAX 3D

jimdorey · 2 years ago

Personally I liked the IMAX a little more. Bigger screen and sound. But the difference is very little really. I want to see it Dolby next, but that may take awhile!

jearr · 2 years ago

I saw Beowulf this weekend at a 3D Imax. I thought the quality of the 3D effects in general was stunning. There were a couple shots that seemed to show the limitations of the 3D effect, however. Early on, when a soldier on horseback threatens Beowulf with a spear, is an example Trying to have the entire spear poke out of the screen seemed to push the 3D effect too hard. It seemed to show that there are a limited number of discrete degrees of distance possible with the effect, which made the spear look a bit jagged. Ghosting was also visible. I think the glasses probably were part of the problem there. But another early scene, pulling back over the frozen forests around Herot, was haunting because of the 3D effect. The sense of closeness I felt to the trees as the camera blew past them was powerful usage of the effect. Also, the film made use of the maximum closeness possible with the 3D effect quite often, having objects appear directly in front of your field of vision, which genuinely caused an instinctive avoidance reaction. There was a beach scene near the end that showed a very smooth depth of field looking out over the pebbly shore. Overall it made me want to see other 3D Imax movies.

The glasses were a bit uncomfortable, but could be worn over my glasses, and were available in three sizes, which was nice. They only seemed to really work when facing the screen head-on. If I turned my head to look at something off to the side of the screen, the 3D effect would become more ghostly and less believable.

I'd give the experience an 8. I think it is a significant video technology that is capable of producing high-quality 3D effects under ideal circumstances. It definitely enhanced the movie significantly.

jimdorey · 2 years ago

Great review Jearr! I felt the same thing as you with the spear. IMAX has such a huge screen that the spear literally seemed to separate from the man in a unrealistic way. Don't expect this kind of spectacle from someone like James Cameron who is doing "Avatar"- he will be a traditionalist and shoot with artistic flavor. Zemeckis is a great Director for sure - a special effects leader - but I believe Avatar will show a new side of 3D not seen before.

Olivier · 2 years ago

I saw a few 3D movies (Superman, Harry Potter) in IMAX 3D at the Bridge in LA and did not like some of the 3D effects (the image was not always synchronized and it made me feel uncomfortable). This time, I purposely went to a simple digital 3D theater (Pacific Culver) to see Beowulf, and it was much much better. Actually, the best part of the 3D experience was the teaser for Coraline in 3D - I can't wait to see that one next year...

Tina · 2 years ago

I liked the glasses, image was great! WAY WAY better than that IMAX 3D documentary I saw at the Science Center... By the way I wear glasses so I always have to wear the glasses OVER my glasses. IMAX glasses uncomfortable and crappy, RealD however, very comfortable... I forgot I was wearing 2 sets of glasses. (By the way 90% of the time I do this, like in my Chemistry lab where I have to put goggles--both the stretchy kind and the lens kind--over my glasses I get headaches. It was a real surprise that I didn't feel sick in the film.)
RealD - 9 (The RealD screen I saw it on was REALLY huge though... Fox Theatre in LA... maybe why it was really clear to me?)
IMAX 3D (for the documentary I saw) - 5 (it had a lot of blurry edges and gave me a headache)