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Expert Reaction: Jurassic World returns to 3D cinema

Posted on 5 June 2018

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom returns to cinemas this week in 3D; Dr Nick Jones, lecturer in film, television and digital culture, at the University of York's Department of Theatre, Film and Television, comments on the continued popularity of 3D technologies:

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“When Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom arrives in UK cinemas this week audiences will be able to see it in either 2D or 3D. This is hardly novel – today, an overwhelming amount of Hollywood blockbusters are released in 3D, a state of affairs unthinkable before the record-breaking grosses of Avatar in 2009.

“The original Jurassic Park was a huge success when it came out in 1993, and represented a significant step forward in digital special effects. It was re-released in 3D in 2013, and again benefited from cutting edge digital tools – only this time not for the creation of realistic velociraptors, but for the conversion of these raptors from 2D to 3D.

"This conversion may have made the whole film a different experience, but the primary draw was undoubtedly dinosaurs that were even more solid, textured, and spectacular than before.

Rollicking action

“Fallen Kingdom employs the same technology, and promises to provide the expected 3D thrills of rollicking action-adventure and digital stuntwork. More than this, the film demonstrates a continued effort on the part of the US film industry to use 3D to curb piracy, increase profits, and court Asian markets, where 3D screenings are much more common.

“Variety magazine may have recently reported that 3D box office takings are at a record low, but films like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, as well as the forthcoming Mission: Impossible – Fallout (the first in this franchise to be in 3D) and even arthouse Cannes success Long Day’s Journey into Night, all prove that the format still has some appeal to filmmakers and audiences alike."

Read Dr Jones' blog for the British Academy about the continuned appeal of 3D movie-making here: https://www.britac.ac.uk/blog/force-strong-3d-cinema

Dr Jones will also be talking about contemporary 3D cinema experiences at the British Academy's Summer Showcase on Friday, 22 June and Saturday, 23 June in London.  For more information visit: https://www.britac.ac.uk/summershowcase/2018/contemporary-3d-cinema-space-digital-age

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