Well, with the end of August we wave a wistful goodbye to this year's blockbuster season. Compared to the summer months, the fall can seem like a down period at the box office as folks across the country drink apple cider, go on hay rides, and revel in the joys of football season.
But for the rest of us cinephiles, there are usually just enough gems scattered throughout September and October to hold us over until things pick up again for the holiday season. We've actually got a pretty respectable 11 3D flicks hitting theaters in the next three months, with a whopping seven in November alone (I'm pretty sure that's the most we've seen in a month).
Grab your glasses and meet me at the cinema!
September
- 9/2: Shark Night 3D (Sierra Pictures) - Hoping to ride the aquatic bloodbath coattails of Pirannah 3D, Shark Night promises to show audiences everywhere what happens when you cross the Saw franchise with Deep Blue Sea. Or Jaws. Or Lake Placid. Eschewing the horror-comedy campiness that made Pirannah 3D a suprise success, Shark Night will tread in darker waters. The behind-the-scenes puppet master angle could be interesting, but we're not holding our breath for this one.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 9/23: Dolphin Tale (Alcon Entertainment / Warner Bros.) - Inspired by a true story, this family flick has some big name talent involved and promises to be a heartwarming tale that focuses on companionship and compassion. Maybe it'll catch some momentum from family auidences that decided to pass on Spy Kids 4, although we typically use movies like this as examples of when not to use 3D.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
October
Without a doubt, October's 3D releases have a higher profile than the relatively low-key September lineup. Puss in Boots is probably the most popular character to come out of the Shrek franchise, and although previous Three Musketeers films have been relatively lackluster at the box office, Orlando Bloom has always been pretty good in these kinds of roles.
- 10/21: The Three Musketeers (Summit Entertainment ) - Yeah, it's a story that's been told a few times already. But this one has a Steampunk twist, and honestly this is exactly the sort of film that can really shine in the 3D format. Paul W.S Anderson might not be the best director in Hollywood, but you can at least count on his films not to be dull. The trailers look decent, and advance word of mouth for 3D in the film has been quite postive so far.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 10/28: Puss in Boots (DreamWorks Animation) - Puss in Boots has probably been the best thing about the Shrek franchise since the character's debut in the Ogre's second film. It'd be tempting to write off the film as your typical spinoff cash-grab, but Puss in Boots is a genuinely funny character and the trailers haven't been half bad. I actually have more interest in seeing this than any Shrek film since Shrek 2.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
November
Lot of ground to cover in November, so let's get right to it:
- 11/4: A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (Warner Bros) - It's one of those movies that probably didn't need to be in 3D, but the inevitable 3D cloud of smoke effect will probably be good enough to garner some laughs. The first two efforts were funny (borderline hilarious), but it's hard to imagine there's much ground that hasn't been covered. The Christmas setting should add a bit of intrigue to an otherwise played out franchise.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 11/11: Immortals (Relativity Media) - I have relatively high hopes for Immortals. The Theseus myth is some great source material, and the 300 production team is involved, so we're guaranteed a visual feast. Assuming the script is a bit more polished than recent Greek epic, Clash of the Titans, this one could be a nice little November gem. Should look great in 3D, of course.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 11/18: Happy Feet Two (Warner Bros.) - Of all the trailers shown at the Deathly Hallows Part 2 midnight screening, Happy Feet Two easily got the strongest reaction. The original film was well loved and really well made—I have a strong feeling the sequel is in position to upstage Alvin and the Chipmunks as the family hit of the holiday season. Thinking back to Happy Feet one, there are some scenes that would have worked incredibly well in 3D, so this should play really well.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 11/23: Arthur Christmas (Columbia Pictures) - Arthur Christmas is a wildcard. Sony Pictures Animation has been a mixed bag in the past. If they hit a high note like they did with Surf's Up and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, then this should be a holiday treat. Unfortunately, Sony is also responsible for recent blunder The Smurfs.
IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
- 11/23: Hugo (Paramount) - I can't say I'm incredibly excited for the movie itself, but I think this is an important film for the 3D format. A classic director like Martin Scorcese automatically brings a lot of credibility to his films, and the fact that he excited about 3D is encouraging. If it's recieved well, this film could go a long way toward convincing audiences that stereo is more than just a "gimmick," simply because of Scorcese's involvement.
**Edit - Please disregard what I said in the first line—this ended up being my film of the year! IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
