Alice in Wonderland
Maybe because we are further into the image, 3D returns me to a childlike sense of wonder. As with Avatar, we journey into a fabulous fantasy world, but here it’s peopled with engaging, amusing creatures. I had a smile on my face for most of this endearing and imaginative extension of Lewis Carroll. 5 stars out of 5, but one deducted for the formulaic climax. The final shot of the coda is masterful, and shows that effective 3D isn’t only about having things thrown at you.
An Education
A light but sober visit to Britain in the very early 60s. I’d forgotten there was a time when further education meant Oxford or Cambridge, and when the rare woman who went there had the options of teaching, civil service, or most likely marriage. Fascinating history without a hint of nostalgia. (4 stars out of 5)
District 9
This low-key, small-scale science fiction yarn is superbly executed. It’s a bit like Cloverfield in style, but much better. It wasn’t a pleasure to watch, but is carried off with such panache that I went along with it. I think there’s even a small message about redemption buried under the special effects. (4 stars out of 5)
After my second 3D movie, I'm won over to this innovation and look forward to seeing almost anything in the format. (Next weekend's awful-looking Clash of the Titans will be a severe test of my enthusiasm.) I think that, in the same way that stereo took over the audio world, 3D is the future of cinema: old films will be given poor 3D makeovers, and most new movies will be made in it. Perhaps sooner rather than later: Today I read that Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders were all filming 3D projects.
--Julian
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