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Recently, I purchased two great high definition televisions. I also made the move to Blu-ray, and my new hi-def LCD TV's now wow me with incredibly realistic imagery and audio. At times, it feels as if I've really bought two wide screen windows, which magically allows me to see real live action shows whenever I feel the need for drama, comedy, horror or science fiction. When I popped in Blu-Ray versions of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and "There Will Be Blood", I spent most of the time marveling at the technical brilliance of the high resolution and sound, barely paying attention to the plots.
Perhaps I was a bit premature to celebrate my high tech revelry. Now that I'm firmly on the high definition TV bandwagon, and boast a respectable Blu-ray movie library, I already feel my investment may be obsolete. While shopping at my local stores for the televisions, and browsing online at Amazon and Walmart, an even newer television technology kept nagging at me to get my attention: 3D.
I haven't seen many 3D movies, but the few I've experienced were enjoyable. Most recently, I saw "Tron Legacy" in 3D, and while the visuals were beefy fun, the story felt a bit slapped together. When the 3D effects called attention to themselves, it was either merely neat or slightly jarring. A man who 'popped up' in the first row of the theater turned out to be a most effective 3D trick, which had me thinking, "Some fans take this seriously!" - noting the 'Tron' logo t-shirt he was wearing.
So, yes, while it's fun to have your head played to an extent that your mistaking actors in a movie as your fellow theater patrons, I just wonder how much that will translate into a daily home television experience. 3D every day? 3D all the time? 3D for me! Golly!
Just think about how intrusive it'll get. Each day, instead of zapping TV commercials, you'll probably want to linger in their magical 3D world. Maybe the siren song of 3D will be so tempting, viewers won't ever turn off the 3D option - nor take off those goofy 3D glasses.
Speaking of glasses, I don't know about you, but I'd ONLY buy a 3D television set if I can view it properly without glasses. I'll wear headphones to listen to music, and glasses for a 2 hour feature film with popcorn, but the prospect of wearing those annoying glasses day in and day out for hours of TV viewing leave me pretty cold.
That's just it. Day in and day out of 3D viewing? News casts in 3D? Talk shows like on Oprah's new OWN in 3D? Where will it all end? Do we really need to see a large Dr. Phil even larger in 3D?
There's just something serene for me about curling up in front of a small or mid range sized TV, and watching an old movie, or an illuminating documentary. Do I need such serenity invaded by the in my face of 3D? I just hope that if glasses aren't needed, there's an off button on the 3D TV remote. I think I'll be reaching for that, more often than I'll be channel surfing.
