So much for Marvel Studio’s, “we’re not sure how we feel about 3D” posits.
Both “Thor” and “Captain America” are confirmed for the stereoscopic treatment.
“We came to feel that in our case 3D could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experience,” Kenneth Branagh told the L.A. Times in a piece published early this morning. That’s a great quote and all, but it fails to illicit the key point. “Thor” wasn’t shot in 3D, so this means conversion 3D.
“Captain America” won’t be authored in 3D either. Director Joe Johnston (“Jumanji,” “The Wolf Man”)did some 3D shooting tests which he called “a nightmare” because of the bulky cameras, calibration issues and impedance on mobility among other issues. But he’s now apparently a firm believer of conversion 3D even though there hasn’t been any films to date show that have proven otherwise.
But Johnston believes (hopes) the 2D-to-3D upping will improve. “It’s a new challenge and it’s exciting,” he said diplomatically.
Marvel is aware of the ill-will towards bad conversion. “I’d say there’s not a great feeling out there for conversion based on some of the films that may have succeeded financially but had their artistry come under fire,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige acknowledged. Yet he pledged that “an unprecedented amount of time” would be spent to make the conversion process seamless and not headache-inducing. It’s also comical of Feige to put on this conversion spin by saying, “In being able to think in 3-D from the start — and having every bit of our special effects rendered in true 3-D — we have the opportunity to do it right.” Yes, but you’re not shooting it in 3D! Man, that’s some good spin though.
Oh yeah and above is your first officially production still look at Anthony Hopkins (Odin) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki) in Branagh’s “Thor” (we’ve already seen a few looks at Chris Hemsworth as the Asgardian hero). We’ll admit the idea of Kenneth Branagh directing a Marvel film had us really excited at first, we sort of like when ideas take a left turn, but so far, all the images (especially that terrible Entertainment Tonight footage) look incredibly campy and we think the above photo looks incredibly silly. Maybe it’ll look better on screen? We’re not holding out breath and our initial excitement for the film is quickly evaporating.
“Thor” also stars Natalie Portman (the love interest), Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, probably Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Rene Russo and Adriana Barraza. “Captain America” stars Chris Evans Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan and Toby Jones.
“Thor” in post-conversion 3D will hit theaters May 6, 2011. “Captain America: The First Avenger” in not authentic 3D will follow on July 22, 2011.
