Search - Encounter in the Third Dimension (3-D) (Large Format) on DVD

Almost a masterpiece

Randy H. Farb | Flint, MI | 10/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This video uses the style of Mystery Science Theater, in that your host interacts with a smart-aleck computer/robot. Elvira makes a guest appearance, but the flaws come in where examples of films shot in 3D are shown; there are wonderful examples of 3D films, i.e., the Creature Of The Black Lagoon, the 3 Stooges,
House of Wax.Instead, we get Top Banana for goodness' sake."

Best 3D IMAX Film

Elak Swindell | Georgia USA | 12/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Haunted Castle" and "Alien Adventure" are great, but the concept and dimensional enjoyment of "Encounter in the Third Dimension" makes it better than the other two. The film is an excellent way of showing how 3D started and how it works with lots of prime examples thrown in, other than the entire movie itself. I do wish the mine ride was longer though (the one which ends with the big, round, stone ball slamming into the tunnel) and there was more shown of the T3 Experience. Sure, the Jules Verne "Journey to the Center of the Earth" ride certainly makes up for it, but the effects in the shorter example were awesome, like the bats. Best of all, the film doesn't look all that dated CGI wise for a 1998 production. Now I've definitely got to get the sequel "Misadventures in 3D" DVD. Noticed something stupid in the credits for "Encounter". Instead of saying "Cassandra Peterson as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark", it redundantly reads, "Elvira as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark". Unlike the other 3D IMAX films, this one is good either in stereo depth form or 2D wise. Of course, the best is 3D since that is the whole point of the story anyway. I highly recommend this movie to all 3D collectors."

Yawn!

D. Gregory | Los Angeles, California USA | 10/04/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The obvious attitude of the producers of this mess was clearly one of superiority. I mean, "After all, we're shooting in IMAX 3D instead of the nefarious over/under format!" Well, whoopdeedoo! I'll take THE BUBBLE, METALSTORM, or AMITYVILLE 3D any day over this. There is some nice computer graphics work here, but there's really no story to speak of. And their so-called "history of 3D presentation" is superficial at best. While surely impressive in Imax, ENCOUNTER looks stupid on your TV screen 'cause everything is covered in a long shot or a medium long shot. Yes, that may work on the giant behemoth Imax screen, but reduce it in size to your TV (even my big 36-inch JVC) and it's pretty unimpressive. Not only that, but if you're watching it in alternating-field 3D with liquid crystal glasses, then you're watching it in half the normal resolution you normally see on your NTSC screen -- so there's next to NO picture detail. If you want a good 3D DVD movie, search the web for one of the alternating field DVD's of something like IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, HOUSE OF WAX, or DIAL M FOR MURDER (sadly only available in 3D via pirated editions because the US distributors don't care enough to bother -- so were only left with legit DVD's of crap like ENCOUNTERS and amatuer videos of murderous clowns on the rampage). I would have given this two stars because it features (very briefly) Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson -- BUT THEY COVERED HER ONLY IN LONG SHOT TOO! They were REALLY stooopid, so they get one star. Boo!"

A fantastic encounter!

Boggman! | Laguna Hills, CA | 07/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Encounter in the third dimension" contains a pretty neat concept......

Let's film a 3-D documentary IN 3D about the history of 3D and 3D movies, throw in some clips of classic 3D movies and mix them with the latest and greatest in computer animated 3D virtual reality! AWESOME!

The movie has some great old footage, and is very informative while being consistently entertaining. A nice job all the way through- even though Elvira is grossly underused!! I can not wait to see what else NWAVE pictures has up their sleeve. They are definitely on the cutting edge of 3D home entertainment. I have yet to see anything that rivals "Encounter", "Alien Adventure" or "Haunted Castle" on the 3D market!

Very well done!

Do not watch this in 2D, howver; highly recommended for 3D lovers!!!

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