James Cameron's AVATAR - 3D will be 1.85 and 2D will be full Scope

I was going to post this, but ya beat me to it!

This just reeks of compromise no matter how you spin it, at least to me. You're rendering/shooting elements for the scope wings that the 3D people won't see, so you must be shooting 1.85:1 safe, so why the 'scope release at all? Why not focus your energy and effort on making the best 1.85:1 film you can? I don't get it. Then again, Cameron has always been a cheerleader for Super35, which I've always thought had it's own set of issues. Or... is he shooting constant width and giving the 3D print more info top and bottom? Oy.

For someone who is supposed to be such a perfectionist, how do you do the same film cropped 2 different ways?

(and if you thought The Dark Knight caused heartburn with us CIH folk, wait until this one hits Blu. There's no telling what the AR will be!)

This is just speculation but if Cameron is starting out with 2.35 for each camera, the only way for the entire image to be in 3D is if he crops it down to 1.85ish.

The reason is that when you overlay your two 2D 2.35 frames, the inner section of the image will be in 3D, but the outer section on both cameras is 2D.

If you start out shooting with a greater aspect ratio, just throwing out a number here, say 3.50, then you could crop it down and end up with a full 3D 2.35 image.

To better understand this, close and open each of your eyes separately, and note which part of your vision is shared by both eyes, and that which is not.

Well I guess since it's shot digitally it's native 1,78:1 so the 2,35 version is certainly a crop, much like "the Dark knight" where the IMAX footage was shot with the much more substantial crop in mind. (1,33:1 to 2,35:1)

Even though I don't like multiple formats I can see the point of 3D in 1:1,85. Just as long as picture is HUGE...

Being immersed is the key with 3D!

It doesn't matter if it's digital, you can frame it with any aspect ratio. The image would be cropped on the left side of your left eye camera, and the right side of your right eye camera.

There is no vertical cropping.

If he shoots it at "full frame" there is no reason why the BD can't be Scope when it is released. It is will be the same as TDK which as we all know works quite well with CIH.

The BD release should be interesting. There are rumors that Panasonic wants Cameron's Avatar in their 3d blu-ray format to showcase their 3d blu-ray implementation. This is all hear-say, but if true that would mean the 3D version would be in 1.78...and at least for that disc you would be limited to a 1.78 2d version as well.

However, so far their have been multiple releases of films in 3d, versions in 3d and versions in 2d, so hopefully we will also get a 2.35 2d version.

So long as it is "real 3D" and not that lame effort used for the Journey To The Centre Of The Earth".

The Dolby 3D system is passive and uses a single 3 chip DLP at 2048 x 1080 with pollarized glasses. You get full colour and very good 3D imaging. Therefore there should be no reason why the home version on BD can't be reformated for 1920 x 1080. The colour filtered glasses used on the above mentioned title is NOT good enough IMHO.

Here's a nice read on current 3D Cinema:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post15388203

So, you are saying he is shooting in scope but will crop that down to 1.85 for 3D?

I don't think that is right based on the quote in the first post. The first line states: "Cameron never thought he'd shoot a new movie in 1.85 ratio." It says "shoot a new movie in 1.85." Sounds to me like he is shooting open frame and will center crop for the 2D scope release. That's how I read it. If that is the case then I would want the BD release to be in 1:85, 3D or 2D. Sense the 1:85 would still be an approved ratio by Cameron, I'd just like to see as much image as possible in the home. Of course, I'll buy it no matter what ratio it is released as, assuming I like the movie to begin with.

Ive heard the name 'AVATAR' around in magazines regarding this movie but what exactly is it about?

From Rottentomatoes;

Thanks Mike looking forward to it.