3D Shorts: FINAL DESTINATION Gets New Name; 50 YEARS Gets Distribution; HUMPTY DUMPTY Gets New Poster

Hey Jim here. Got some quick 3D news for you...

- FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D is no longer. It has been renamed to THE FINAL DESTINATION - nothing too drastic, but better if you ask me. Almost sounds like a reboot attempt from scratch rather than as part of a franchise. (Source: Box Office Mojo)

Ok. Name change. Not sure about the timing, but I didn't really like the first one anyway...

- AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS has picked up distribution while at the Cannes Film Festival through Universal Music Group. Apparently the deal was consumated after a presentation of the movie which also included about 15 minutes of 3D. Moreover, it is not just for North American theatrical distribution but also DVD, TV, Non-theatrical and global soundtrack rights. (Source: Animation Magazine)

Love it when a plan comes together. Looks like UMG fell in love the project - can't wait to see it.

- Sony and Regal Cinemas have shaken hands on a 4K digital projector rollout to ~5,000 screens over the next 3 to 5 years. Of special note is that they have a grand total of ~6,700 screens right now, so digital will be making up about 75% of all their screens. This comes right on the heels of another massive 4K projector deal with AMC (4,700 screens) - making Sony 4K the industry leader right out of no where. That is if you can ever say that about Sony. 4K is the real deal guys. Congrats on the deals. And bring on 3D! :-)

Well if you had any doubt about Sony's entry in digital and 3D, you can drop them now. That is a rather resounding industry endorsement don't you think? I have seen the tech first hand (albeit a smallish screen) and it does look amazing.

- HUMPTY DUMPTY has revealed his box office teeth early - a new poster has the human/alien creature pulling a Jack Nicholson from behind a hole in a door. The movie is about an alien that wreaks havoc on humans after his mother is "abused by two rednecks in the Deep South". I think it has a great deal of potential... (Source: MySpace via ShockTilYouDrop)

Kinda disturbing character don't you think? And if the Executive Producer (Mark Ordesky) has anything to do with it, the FX are gonna be WILD.

Sony Demonstrates 4k Tech (ShoWest 2009)

Michael here.  Sony has been pushing their 4K technology heavily at ShoWest.  Tuesday evening's The Soloist screening was projected using a Sony 4K projector from a 4K Digital Cinema Package (which was scanned at 4K resolution from the original film negative).  Sony also has a demo of their 4K 3D projector on the tradeshow floor, where they are showing a variety of footage, including a reel from PACE and various trailers for 3D movies.

The image quality of The Soloist was amazing: vivid colors, great contrast, and an image resolution that fully captured the finest nuances of the original film--and all this on a very large screen.  4K certainly offers an improvement over 2K when you are viewing a 4K-sourced image on a large screen from a short distance.  The number of films capable of producing 4K DCP files should be increasing rapidly, as movie studios opt for more 4K digital intermediates for archival purposes.

The 4K 3D system (on which Sony is partnering with Real D) is actually projecting dual 2K images simultaneously, as opposed to the triple-flash system of 2K projectors.  Technically, the dual projection is supposed to be easier on the eyes/brain than the triple-flash process due to less black space between frames, but given the small screen and ambient lighting present at the Sony booth, it was hard for me to tell any difference.

As we reported, Sony has signed a deal with AMC to roll out their 4K projectors on approximately 5000 screens by 2012, pulling them within striking distance of the number of 2k DLP installations.

My one caveat about 4K is that I would rather see 2K content filmed and projected at 48 frames per second than 4K, given the choice.  Hopefully, both 4K and 2K projector companies, along with 3D system companies such as Real-D, Dolby, and XpanD will soon offer solutions for 48 frames per second projection in both 2D and 3D.

Click here for a great Variety interview with James Cameron where he explains the benefits of 48 frames per second 3D cinema.