According to this article they are, and I certainly hope they're right.

http://www.slate.com/id/2303814/pagenum/all/#p1

This time last year, there were whispers among film executives and industry-watchers that 3-D cinema had worked its way down a blind alley with its pockets full of cash. That summer, the format seemed like the answer to all of Hollywood's problems: shrinking ticket sales, video piracy, home-theater viewing. The studios had put out a run of record-smashing, premium-priced blockbusters: Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon, Clash of the Titans, Shrek Forever After, and Toy Story 3�a half-dozen 3-D movies that earned more than $2 billion in domestic sales. Yet by the end of August 2010, the future of cinema was starting to look unsteady on its feet. Box-office returns from the next wave of 3-D films were disappointing. The revival needed reviving...

I hope so. Talk about beating a dead horse. Everytime they try to sell this crap they end up with the same results.

Movies don't need 3D - they need bigger screens. My visits to the IMAX were way more memorable than any 3D movie experience I've ever had.

The studios and theatre chains are desperately trying to find a solution to the stagnant attendance which has now been occuring for several years. The peak of ticket sales was in 2002 and ever since then it's been a steady decline.

Some will argue that the declining attendance is due to lower quality movies but studies have shown that the advent of online streaming, online DVD services and on-demand movies are the major factors.

the overall quality is lagging for me. I rarely go to the theater, being content to watch them on HBO, cinemax, stars, etc. when they get on cable, and most of those don't hold my interest long. I'm thinking of cutting cable way back, and just using netflix.

I think Top Gun 3D will revive the technology.

Its the cost, almost �50 for an evening

I can't tell if you are being serious or not Fritz. lol

I have no problem with 3D when it's implemented well but it was inevitable that Hollywood was going to try too hard to capitalize on the success of Avatar by forcing 3D onto movies that didn't need it.

Agreed with Panzer,

I love 3D in movies, but if they just half ass it into a movie then it's a complete waste. I also find it insulting that they think they could get away with it.

I loved Tron in 3D. Watched it multiple times in 3D. Wish I had the money for a 3DTV.

I hate when 3D is half-arsed. I also hate 3D's double the ticket price.

Jaws 3D anyone.


Wheels

It's interesting that you bring that one up because I'm sure we remember the short lived 3D fad from the 80's. And yeah, Jaws III was a terrible movie. I'm sure Dennis Quaid still regrets doing that one.

One good thing about it at the time was a hot 21 year old running around in a Bikini for several scenes in the movie named Lea Thompson.

I expect 20 years from now the 3D fad of the 2000's will be looked on with the same disdain as we look back at the 3D fad of the 1950's and 1980's.


Wheels

Yup, that was 2 years before she got her big break in Back to the Future.

I don't really care for 3D. I liked it in Avatar and Tron, but besides those two movies, I don't see the added value. It's like CGI, it looks nice, but doesn't really add to the story.

Jaz

Personally I like 3D when done well. I thought Avatar was an amazing cinema experience. Obviously 3D isn't the be all and end all, but with the right type of movie it can add a lot.

I have a 3D TV but have not yet purchased any 3d blu-rays yet. I stopped by best buy and was pretty unimpressed with the 3d section. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding which to purchase (outside of Avatar)? Just looking for a couple that really showcases the 3d effect. I notice there are many imax style or documentary 3d releases as well.

3D is a joke.. another gimmick. Albeit with different implementations 3D movie technology has been around almost as long as "talkies" have and it has never caught on. The only reason 3D is succeeding the way it is is because of advertising and it being shoved down our throats.

I'm not saying 3D isn't cool because it can be really nice if done correctly but I haven't seen a movie yet where I felt the addition of 3D really added anything significant to it. If I had to choose between a well thought out plot, good acting and a story line the piqued my interest over a crap movie full of effects and 3D I will choose the former any day of the week.

As far as I'm concerned the only reason 3D was brought back from the dead was because ticket sales were dwindling and they needed an excuse to charge more money in order to bring profits back up. I honestly don't understand how any cinema can stay in business these days. I haven't seen any near me stay regularly busy in years. Yes they were packed opening night of Harry Potter 8 but I went to see it the very next night at 7pm at we weren't even at 40% capacity.

If the movie industry would stop focusing on special effects, gimmicks (like 3D), remakes and reboots I think they would be in a much better situation. Instead it's like they are all selling out - making crap movies that they know will make money because.. well because there really isn't anything better to see. Personally I think almost all of the best selling movies of all time were never expected to pull much of a profit in the first place. Movies like Star Wars or Clerks were made because they were good and not because marketing executives felt that they could sell it.

As far as I'm concerned the Movie and Music industries are in a very sad state of affairs.

Surely they make there money on the $900.00 popcorn bucket? the movie is just a scam to lure you to the overpriced food.

When i went and saw Cowboys and aliens i think there was like 12 people in the cinema, Rise of the apes was about 40 odd the first time and 15 or so the second.

The last time i went to a packed to the gills opening night was Jackass That was a really great cinematic and atmospheric experience.


3d , meh..3d is everywhere i look, 2d freaks me out though