20 Classic Films We Want To See In 3D
Annie Hall (1977)
Why In 3D? Woody's classic comedy might not seem to be the logical choice for the dimension-adding treatment (after all, do we really need to see even '70s era Woody's phizog leering out at us?) but Hall has some real potential.
Key 3D Moment: There can only be one. Woody's Alvy Singer sneezes into the lines of cocaine, only for the white power to come floating around us in the cinema.
But would it be funnier? We'd say, ooh, 23%.
Evil Dead II (1987)
Why In 3D? Don't you think Sam Raimi would get a malicious chuckle about trying to extend the chaos inflicted on Bruce Campbell out into the audience?
You can just see him smiling and making plans to add an extra, CG-boosted flyball eyeball in there…
Key 3D Moment: When Ash turns the tables on the chainsaw-wielding beast, grabbing the killer's hands and turning the chainsaw back on itself, leading the creature to saw itself in half.
Bloody. Awesome.
The Incredibles (2004)
Why In 3D? Pixar is finally pushing ahead with 3D versions of its movies and while Toy Story and its follow-up are good choices, we'd kill to see Brad Bird's superhero adventure given the treatment.
The action scenes alone lend themselves perfectly to the frame-breaking style.
Key 3D Moment: The big finish, with our heroes taking on Syndrome's robot. Think of Sam Jackson's Frozone sliding around our heads to take on the metallic monster.
You'd gasp. You'd clap. You'd wonder when Bird will get around to that sequel.
Psycho (1960)
Why In 3D? Hitch might not have been a William Castle-level showman, but he appreciated the inventive use of a good gimmick. Heck, he made director cameos into a spectator sport.
So we're sure he'd approve of taking his most famous shocker and giving it a little dimensional polish.
Key 3D Moment: Like you don't know where this is going - Shower. Lady. Knife. Chocolate sauce… sorry, Blood. You'd be cowering behind your cinema seat.
2001 (1968)
Why In 3D? Stanley Kubrick's stylish, bitterly cold frames would envelope you in their austere embrace and you'd finally be completely submerged in his futuristic world. And the epic scale of the film is well suited to the 3D format.
Key 3D Moment: Dave Bowman's (Keir Dullea) trip - literally - into the star-filled monolith and his journey through its psychedelic colour tunnels. Now you too can get a feeling for what it might be like to watch while under the influence of something. Apparently.
Fantasia (1940)
Why In 3D? For all the shiny additions of the 1999 re-release, we'll take the 1940 original for sheer nostalgia value. Walt meant for it to be big - and 3D would help make it even bigger and broader.
Key 3D Moment: So many to choose from. We'd pick Dance Of Hours, because the idea of prancing hippos, elephants and ostriches just makes us grin.
Sunshine (2007)
Why In 3D? It's true that Danny Boyle's stab at sci-fi features many character-based, quieter moments that might not benefit from a format shift, but there's enough big scale space - and sun - time to warrant it.
Key 3D Moment: The heady climax with Cillian Murphy trying to avoid the toasty captain of the last ship headed to the sun.
They might want to include shades in the 3D glasses, though - just in case.
Fight Club (1999)
Why In 3D? Easily one of our favourite movies of all time and it's crammed with startling imagery and visual trickery.
3D could be just another weapon in David Fincher's arsenal, though we'd want him to pull off the impossible and come back to personally supervise the new version.
Key 3D Moment: A lot of the film would work, but we're particularly anxious to experience the build-up to and detonation of the narrator's apartment. The plane-crash would be extra-terrifying, too.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have just lost cabin pressure…. And our minds.
The Passion Of The Christ (2004)
Why In 3D? Weird choice? Well, maybe. But those who love the film are, ahem, passionate about it despite (because of) the relentless depiction of bloody violence.
If Mel Gibson's wanting the audience to feel what Jesus went through, what better way than to have them ducking flying blood splats.
Key 3D Moment: One guess - and we're not talking about Jesus wandering in the garden of Gethsemane. Yes - the slow march to Golgotha.
Alien (1979)
Why In 3D? We'd want to be drawn in to the dirty, practical, space-trucker world of Ridley Scott's future-shocker. And once everything kicks off, there's plenty that would benefit from the scare-boosting potential of 3D.
Key 3D Moment: Chestburst!
Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
Why In 3D? Arthur Penn's chronicle of the bloody, brutal, on-the-run pair may not seem like a natural fit, but the chance to be drawn into the bank raids and - see below - the bullet-flinging finale is one we'd happily take on.
Key 3D Moment: We'd highlight the final scene, with the pair headed straight for us. And no, we're not looking to do any pointless CG tinkering.
The Dam Busters (1955)
Why In 3D? Peter Jackson's had his eye on remaking this for a while now and he's been testing 3D tech to give the new version more impact.
But the original holds up well, so we'd go back and add a little 3D magic to help it along.
Key 3D Moment: The raid, with bouncing bombs coming flying straight at your face. Not literally.
Requiem For A Dream (2000)
Why In 3D? Bet you thought we'd pick The Fountain out of Darren Aronofsky's CV. Too easy. Requiem is a tough yet brilliant watch and Aronofsky's surreal, immersive, voyeuristic camerawork would be given an extra layer.
Key 3D Moment: The early chest-cam moments would benefit most from 3D-ification.
But - probably best to avoid drawing the audience into the "sexy" party that Jennifer Connelly ends up attending later on…
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Why In 3D? Another film on the remake trail, we think Sam Peckinpah's kinetic original would beautifully in 3D. It'd be wonderful to fantasise about kicking around in the same dust as the the aging horse-wranglers as they take on the changing times around them.
Key 3D Moment: The ambush that sees Pike (WIlliam Holden) and his outlaws attacked by Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan) and the bloody exchange of bullets that follows.
Jaws (1975)
Why In 3D? Anyone who has ridden the Jaws ride at the Universal studios theme parks knows that, even despite it being a rubbery, mechanical beast, a shark lurching straight at you can make you leave your seat - and your lunch behind.
So what better movie - given that Spielberg baked such moments into the plot - to throw in our faces?
Yes, we know the third film dabbled with the dimensions, but the original has an advantage in that it's not crap.
Key 3D Moment: Bruce the shark launching himself through the bottom of Quint, Brody and Hooper's boat. Surprise!
The head-rolling-from-boat bit would be stirring, too.
Independence Day (1996)
Why In 3D? Sure, it's big, loud and ridiculous, but when it comes down to it, Roland Emmerich's just a big ol' showman who likes things to go boom in a big way and damn the consequences.
So we can't think of a better filmmaker to embrace the idea of going back and making his older films even more immersive.
Key 3D Moment: When the naughty aliens take out Los Angeles' downtown area with a well-timed blast.
The resulting firestorm and torrent of flying cars/debris would sear the corneas of anyone who glimpsed it in 3D. Emmerich would love it.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Why In 3D? Spielberg again, and a movie that would best take advantage of selective 3D. We're not sure every scene needs to be converted, but we certainly know which one demands to be experienced in the format.
Key 3D Moment: As if you couldn't guess - the celebrated Normandy landing opener.
The sound design is already tweaked to make you think that gun shots are flying into the water around you - why not add to the chaos and madness with a little extra visual oomph?
Planet Earth (2006)
Why In 3D? The nature documentary that became so successful it was turned into a film is a prime example of work that would be enhanced by the careful use of 3D elements.
Key 3D Moment: Easy - the snow leopard hunting scenes and the whitecap shark.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Why In 3D? "Dear Peter Jackson - we know you are embracing 3D in a big way, so why not go back to the LOTR franchise when you've got a minute and oversee some 3D work on the more epic moments. New Line would thank you for the extra money."
Key 3D Moment: There are plenty to choose from, though we'd go with Gollum's fatal plunge into Mordor's boiling lava pool.
Top Gun (1986)
Why In 3D? We're not sure The Cruiser's toothy grin or his smug, blue-hued seduction of Kelly McGillis needs the 3D overhaul, but Tony Scott and his second unit crew loaded the 'Gun with plenty of amazing aerial combat.
Key 3D Moment: The dogfight where Maverick and Goose end up taking a dip in the ocean.