Cinema 3-D

To say that 3-D movies have taken a long ime to become accepted is an undesrtatement: the first one (now lost) was produced in 1922, and for generations they have been considered as little more than a gimmick. All that changed in 2009, however, with a series of films including Up and Avatar. Whereas previous 3-D technology made objects leap forward grom the screen, the new technology creates a depth-of-field similar to the way we see the real world. And as James Cameron proved with the 3-D realization of his alien planet in Avatar, the technology can now make action scenes more visceral and the visual experience more beautiful. For the film industry, which has lost billions because of internet downloading, 3-D offers the public a good reason to see films in the cinema. One day, no doubt, this advantage will disappear as home screens become 3-D, too. but for the next few years the magic will be back where it is supposed to be - in the cinema.