The reason why 3D is so compelling to film makers
One word, Piracy, its one of the major reasons behind all these new 3D movies (besides the gimmick factor), think about it can you pirate a 3D movie? Probably not (at least for now). Its almost impossible to record a 3D movie by sneaking in with a camera. It stops or at least slows down the whole piracy culture, free-loaders going and downloading movies instead of going to the Theatres or buying the DVD. With 3D movies like Avatar, you cannot watch it and get the full experience unless you have the hardware, a 3D capable TV and the special glasses. Essentially they have cleverly enticed people to come in and watch the 3D films on the only available hardware that is capable of doing so. 3D theatres have unintended DRM if you know what I mean. This may change, when or if 3D TVs become mainstream as then you could just watch the pirated 3D film on your 3D TV.
This is in my opinion a big factor in why the movie industry is seemingly pushing 3D as the next great technology, I always wondered what they would do to get people to upgrade from their HD TVs, well it looks like 3D TVs are “it”.