In the past few years, 3-D has proven popular on a limited number of Imax screens, where screenings of pics such as "Superman Returns" and "The Polar Express" regularly have outgrossed their 2-D counterparts. Studios now are betting hundreds of millions of dollars on the expansion of new technology that works on any screen with a digital cinema system.

And one of the key goals is to re-establish the primacy of filmgoing. Though there are some developing technologies for 3-D at home, none compares to what's currently rolling out in theaters.

Studios are banking on 3-D in a variety of formats: animation ("Meet the Robinsons"), motion-capture (the Robert Zemeckis-helmed "Beowulf"), live-action ("Journey 3-D") and even revivals (1993 toon "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is now an annual event in 3-D, while George Lucas hopes to re-release his "Star Wars" pics in the format).

This story appeared on Variety.com.  You can read it here . 

Comments (4)

... : Josh The trouble with 3D is that it causes a strobe effect on anything that moves quickly across the screen. I noticed it all through Chicken Little and Monster House and it totally bugged the hell out of me. Unless the can create motion blur in 3D space I'll be sticking with ye olde flat cinema. February 6, 2007 MBLUR : Timmy Yeah, I agree about those two. But, if you notice that this is a problem (although less so) on even the flat version. There seems to be a rash of films lately that are turning down the motion blur for whatever reason. Single frame through either of those movies (especially Monster House) and you will see. February 6, 2007 squash and stretch : Kyle I'm not sure if Chicken Little had motion blur or not, but I'm not sure they needed it for the traditional way they animated that film, the flexibility of their characters. I think Monster House had some sort of a stop motion inspired design? Maybe that's why they opted to go without motion blur. Not that I think a stop motion design works well with motion captured performances. Anyway, about the 3D, I loved watching that in Chicken Little. Made it a much cooler movie going experience. Can't wait to see Robinsons in 3D. February 6, 2007 ... : vm I don't think there is any problem in using 3D real motion blur nowadays... PRMan renders it at lightning speed. February 9, 2007

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