Francis Ford Coppola Hates 3-D, Too

The majority of people who are going to see Avatar, or any of the other 3-D movies have no idea who Coppola is, and don't care what he thinks. Hell, I know who he is, and even to me, he's coming across as a bitter old man, afraid of new technology. Just because they film something in 3-D doesn't mean you have to like it. Just like everyone doesn't have to like all your films. It's called freedom of choice. What a concept!

FINALLY. a movie director who knows his sh-t. I'm so sick of this stupid 3D trend. I personally do not want to watch a movie with glasses either!

I think a very very few films truly benifit from 3-D. For most of them, its merely a gimmick used to draw those that confuse technology with a well done film. I think Avator did gain from 3-D but it was almost made for the visual effects more than the story. I am not a big Coppola fan overall, but in this situation I agree.

3-D first came out in the 1950s in such masterpieces as "Bwana Devil," and a small gang of others I can't recall. Then came Cinerama, then Cinemascope, all gimmicks from the studios to goose up ticket prices. It was all fun. I even recall a film - "Earthquake" - that set special speakers in the theaters to replicate the feeling of an earthquake (and if you moved to just the right place you could get the actual effect), and there were other side-show attempts like smell-o-vision to prise the extra bucks from the public. Entertaining? Sure. But so is a whoopie cushion. Once. Coppola is a craftsperson. The technology is a reworking of what was already there. All you gotta do is look for it. It's all about the money. Choice? Sure. Just don't mix that up with politics.

"who hasn't directed a significant film since. . ." What the hell is that? Careful, Matthew. Your bias is showing.

With the economy as bad as it is today, I feel studios releasing pictures in that
3-D form just to make more money when they spend so much money in the original shooting form is unconchanable. My family went to see Avatar in 3D and asked if I wanted to go and being on a fixed income the way way over 10 dollar price tag was a bit too high.
I am from the old school of movies and enjoyed movies that were plain, simple, enjoyable and entertaining and actors and directors did not require salaries that break the bank.

The film industry will milk it for all it is worth. Unfortunately they will make all of the loud action films in to 3-D so who cares anyway. Those will make lots of money and that will please them. As far as film goes the independent ones are still the best and Roger and Francis care about real film making and thier opinion matters to those of us that love those types of films. There is a difference between films and movies. As far as movies go people like Jerry Bruckheimer or whatever his name is will love 3-D.

I agree with Copola.

3-d was a big flop in early 80's, and going to be bigger flop now with the economy the way it is

I too concur with Mr. Coppola. It's all about cashing in, and unfortunately most of who don't know better walk into them theatres and reinforce the 3-D phenomenon...

3d is not even what it should be with the technology we have today. They just want a quick buck so they turn every movie into a cheap version of 3d nowadays. I've only seen two 3d movies in my lifetime that actually had the images truly come out at you where it would feel like you could touch them. They layers now are barely there. There is no effort to make you feel like you are a part of the film. A true 3d movie cannot be viewed without the glasses. Nowadays, they are making two simple versions, regular films, and a quick layered version (calling it 3d). This is not true 3d. I'm not wasting my money.

"Captain EO" was brilliant? I'll admit it's been a couple of decades since I've seen it, but that was one of my least favorite attractions at Disneyland.

I HATE IT TOO & I HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. I LOVE MOVIES BUT HAVE ALL BUT STOPPED GOING. THEY HAVE RAISED THE TICKET PRICES. THEY CHARGE YOU FOR THE GLASSES & THEN WANT THEM BACK WHEN YOU LEAVE THE THEATER. THEN, OF COURSE, MOST OF THEM AREN'T WORTH GOING TO. IT IS ALL A $$$ GRABBING SCAM & PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE JUDAS GOAT. ALSO, HAVE YOU READ THE INFO ON HAVING 3D TV THAT CLAIMS THAT IT WILL CAUSE SEIZURES IN SOME PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER VIEWERS. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE FAMILIES WILL BUY THE BIGGER & NECESSARILY THE BETTER NEW ITEMS AND THEN SCREAM BECAUSE THEY ARE IN MORE DEBT---HO-HUM!!!!

3D is not going away, get used to it. In fact eventually we will no longer need the glasses but rather you will be able to see movies in holograph form. It will be like your actually there, on the street or in the movie while everything happens around you. 3D movies are simply a step towards holograpic virtual movies that will truly be mindblowing.

Personally, I like 3D movies. It is a gimmick and the movies that use it as such and have spears coming right at your face, or some such, are a lot of fun. Of course, though, such a gimmick isn't for all movies. As for not liking watching movies with glasses on, every movie I go see I watch with glasses on, it's not a problem for me and with the 3D movies it's just a different kind of glasses. Mr. Coppola has a right to his opinion but if he wanted to do a real service for the people who buy the tickets he'd get together with George Lucas, Steve Spielberg and others with industry clout and do something about the awful experience going to the movie theater has become with the louts flashing cell phones constantly, putting their feet up on the seats, talking all through the show, letting their babies cry, etc., etc., etc. Everyone who goes to the movie theater knows the "laundry list." I remember some years ago George Lucas used his clout to demand theaters upgrade their sound systems or he wouldn't let them have the latest Star Wars , that was nice but I'd much rather have an okay sound system than have to deal with some punk's stinking bare feet near my head. --PL

I agree, I think 3-D is pretty stupid. I have never judged a movie by its effects. The story is much more important, but too many moviegoers put the special effects first. If people didn't go to watch bad movies with good effects, the directors wouldn't keep making them.

And on another note, concerning which movies are popular and which aren't... you know how everyone says Avatar outgrossed Titanic? A few of us, on a quick study on the effects of inflation, calculated how much money people had spent on various movie tickets in... something like 2005 dollars. It's been a while; we couldn't even include Avatar in the comparison. Anyway, if you adjust, then the original Star Wars outgrossed Titanic. Which makes me wonder how accurate that Avatar-outgrossed-Titanic statistic is. Especially since a 3-D ticket is more expensive than a regular ticket.

3-D is a stupid, expensive fad.

Yea 3-D does nothing for the movies. Now they want us to buy Blue Ray 3D DVD Players with HD 3D TVs where your required to wear black glasses that look like they come from the movie Men In Black??? Stop how would 3-D help a movie lets say like Dark Knight which was excellent or some chick flick with a good story? 3-D is a another way of making movie night expensive and ridiculous.