Onwards to Past Cinema

The trailer for Toy Story 1 and 2, to be shown in 3D version in October as a double bill. (In Japan, Toy Story 1 in 3D will be released in October, and Toy Story 2, in February 2010.) 3D in cinema seems to be gathering steam these days, with kiddie CGI films and re-releases being unveiled in 3D format. Baby steps are being taken towards more mainstream fare, such as Tim Burton's upcoming Alice in Wonderland. Beyond cinema, the world's first 3D digital camera, Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D System, will be released in the fall.

The buzz surrounding 3D is in some ways baffling. After all, 3D films aren't stictly new, when considering its previous lives in 1950s horror films. And in re-releasing the Toy Story films (which I'm sure will still be a fresh and crowd-pleasing experience as ever), we're effectively getting excited about a 15-year-old film. Are we sufficiently removed from the 3D generation, and is technology advanced to the point that 3D looks like a brand spaking novelty again? Will it take root this time, revolutionizing cinema, or will it be another fad, gradually faded away in 10 years' time? Only one way to find out...