The Top Ten 3D Movies Of 2009

Jim here. So what do you think - consensus on everybody's number 1? :-) I think so! Anyway, this list was due and I am sure others will want to voice their opinion as well so feel free to chime in with your top ten list too.

Here is mine in reverse order (Title - Studio | World Box Office | Tomatometer | Format - comment):

10. G-FORCE - Disney | $283m | 24% Fresh | CG / Live Action - A notable conversion effort.
9. THE FINAL DESTINATION - Warners | $153m | 28% Fresh | Live Action - Interesting seeing Death work in three dimensions.
8. DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Disney | $255m | 55% Fresh | CG MoCap - Visually quite stunning, though character's faces were soulless.
7. MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D - Lionsgate | $100m | 55% Fresh | Live Action - Very good revisit to the original horror.
6. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS - DWA | $382m | 72% Fresh | Animation - Not Dreamworks best, but far from worst. Expect much more with HTTYD.
5. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS - Sony | $195m | 85% Fresh | Animation - Excellent first outing in 3D animation for Sony. Impressed. Rivals DWA today.
4. CORALINE - Focus Features | $122m | 89% Fresh | Stop Motion - Henry Selick's vision and attention to details is astounding.
3. ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - Fox | $888m | 45% Fresh | Animation - There is no doubting the worldwide popularity. Family Appeal.
2. UP - Pixar | $683m | 98% Fresh | Animation - A masterpiece of storytelling. 3D used well.
1. AVATAR - Fox | $760m, Still In Theaters | 83% Fresh | CG PerfCap / Live Action - Revolutionary Cinema. Nothing short of an event movie for this generation. A must see... twice.

Honorable Mention: TOY STORY 1 & 2 3D Conversions.
Worst of 2009: BATTLE FOR TERRA

There is no doubting AVATAR as the top 3D movie of 2009. It may be the top MOVIE of the past decade. I certainly believe it is. Pixar has a heckuva entry with UP because the story is typical Pixar and so is the visual quality. And ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS was great family fun AND it raked in the cash.

All in all, a superb year for 3D! I look forward to 2010 and all the surprises in store: ALICE IN WONDERLAND, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, SHREK FOREVER AFTER, TOY STORY 3, MEGAMIND, RAPUNZEL, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SAW VII, TRON LEGACY to name a few.

Stay tuned for the 2010 3D Movie Viewing Guide! Now what is your top ten list for 3D in 2009?

Live In The UK? Free "Coraline" 3D Tickets!

Jim here. Get your free CORALINE tickets in the UK courtesy of The Times!

Check out this link to fill out a form for your tickets. If you don't use them, make sure you cancel them so that others can use them instead.

It seems you need a section of their newspaper as well: "And please remember you will now need to bring the relevant page from the newspaper with you on the day or the screening along with your online reservation confirmation."

From the website:
To claim your 4 tickets, enter your registered email address or if you are not yet registered for the screening programme click the register link.

Movie Passeword: 8544

Certificate: PG
Screening Date: Sunday April 26
Screening Time: 10:00am for 10:30am start
Locations: Basingstoke Festival Place, Bolton, Bristol Cribbs, Camberley, Cambridge, Cheshire Oaks, Croydon Grants, Cwmbran, Eastleigh, Edinburgh Omni, Greenwich O2, Hull, Leeds Kirkstall, Leicester, London West End, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Swansea, York

Still it is a free movie - so have at it!

Quick Post: Jonas Brothers' 4th Dimension Is Box Office

Jim here. Seems JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE has more than 3 dimensions as it plays first place at the box office quite well with a $4.8 million opening Friday. The strong start sets the stage for a $20m + weekend for the 'tween concert movie.

Sure, it is not matching the love affair 'tweens has with Hannah Montana last year, but hey - first place is first place. Great to have a 3D movie sitting in the drivers seat!

CORALINE dropped to $1.1 million Friday, but still made the top ten - hard to see that tough hit to it's bottom line by losing all those 3D screens. Still, CORALINE's presence is being felt.

Source: EW.com

Tell Me Again Why "Coraline", The Number Two Weekend Movie Has To Be Dumped?

Jim here. I am disgusted at the current scenario facing theater owners. Currently their 3D investment is paying off with CORALINE hauling in $11,432,124 over the past weekend - a whopping $8.8m of it generated through 3D screens. In fact, 74% of all of CORALINE's gross has been 3D!

Now take that away. Yes, that's right. The second highest grossing movie of the weekend is going to be losing about half of its theaters (and supposedly 74% of its future earnings) in favor of bringing in a limited time engagement of JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE. Disney says it will only be one week - but we all know what happened last year with the 3D Hannah Montana concert - it stayed, and stayed. Sure CORALINE will gain back some 2D screens probably, but that is not the point.

What I want to stress here are two items:
1. I am NOT anti-JONAS BROTHERS. To the contrary, their concert is going to kick some serious butt because they used top notch 3D technology to get it done. I will be going to check it out.
2. The 3D screen conversions are taking FAR TOO LONG. Credit crunch or not, there is such a thing as financial wisdom and clearly the movie industry is in for a great year this year and it is most likely recession fueled. Yet there is no money around to be used for making more money? Strange indeed. Perhaps Mark Cuban can kick start things with a rapid rollout of 3D for the Carmike chain if he can brandish his new power there (at last look, he had 9.4% ownership)

Anyway, as Neil Gaiman lamented last week if you have not seen CORALINE in 3D yet - which is by far the better way of seeing it - then get your butt to your local 3D theater pronto. You have until Friday - JONAS BROTHERS takes over then.

Some theaters could actually split screen time between them but there is no guarantee of this happening at all. I am saddened that the 3D screens are being treated like two kids fighting over a game controller. Enough of this idiotic dragging of heels for 3D screen deployment. Get it done - money is being thrown away.

Stats courtesy of Box Office Mojo

Neil Gaiman: This Is The Last Weekend For "Coraline"

Jim here. Well it is true. Neil Gaiman updated his fans via Twitter that this is the last weekend for audiences to see CORALINE in 3D theaters in the US.

His tweet verbatim: "For the USA, this is your last chance 3D Coraline Weekend. On Friday week The Jonas Bros 3D take the 3D screens. You Have Been Warned."

Good advice. If you have not seen CORALINE yet in 3D - what are you waiting for? Time is ticking on the stop motion picture because there are only so many 3D screens to go around and we all know that Disney gets SERIOUS this time of year. Remember HANNAH MONTANA hanging on to those 3D screens last year and keeping U2 3D out in the cold?

Amazing "Coraline" Expands Business Sunday

**Update: Feb 16 - Make that estimate $19,109,000! Wow - audiences are really loving CORALINE and the theater averages are excellent!

Jim here. According to Box Office Mojo, CORALINE is proving to have some legs.

Estimates for today actually have the movie increasing it's take ($5,600,000) compared to the first week's Sunday business ($5,216,545) last week. That's pretty rare and underscores a couple of things: First, word-of-mouth is awesome for CORALINE. Secondly, well made 3D movies have a longer shelf life than standard 2D as there are fewer 3D screens and if demand is high, the interest remains for audiences.

Opening weekend for CORALINE had her making $16,849,640 while this weekend has her on pace for a $15,323,000 haul. That is only a drop of 9.1% week over week!

If you haven't seen the movie yet- - do yourself a favor and see it because you will not be able to enjoy it at home in modern 3D for quite some time. Even when you do, the bigger the screen the better. CORALINE is an experience you need to immerse yourself into! 3D is really the only way to see this one.

Review: "Coraline" - MUST SEE

Jim here. Saw CORALINE last night as I know a couple of others have judging from the comments on the last post. And wow. What a movie.

First of all, I saw some 3D trailers before the show: ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS, Pixar's UP and MONSTERS VS. ALIENS were all teed up. First time for me seeing the UP trailer in 3D. They all look great of course - all of them are must sees.

Then on to CORALINE. I must say it was very tastfully done. The opening credits reminded me that this movie was all handcrafted and done with extreme attention to detail. It is amazing what Henry Selick is capable of. Astounding really.

It is such a refreshing movie from so many angles. First of all it is not a live action, nor is it an animation. So stop motion has a lot going for it from the experience point of view. Of course Selick is THE master of stop motion.

Secondly, the character development is captivating! Obviously Selick had a great canvas from which to work from Neil Gaiman's award winning novel. From the thick accented gentleman renting above Coraline to the two rotund ladies below - entertainment was first and foremost. You could almost taste the wonderful roast chicken Coraline's "other mother" was preparing. In fact, I am kinda hungry right now.

I don't like to give much away during my reviews so I am purposely avoiding details - yet want to give you a taste for your dollar before you go. Absolutely, this movie does NOT disappoint. Gaiman fans will adore the transition to the screen because it is ARTFULLY done. Articulate care given to beloved characters - how can you ask more than that?

It is simply a wonderful, well told, wicked adventure that I can sincerely recommend. While their are some adult themes, I believe it is perfectly fine for children of say 12 and up - perhaps even younger.

Adults will love the movie as well. Of course the imagery and 3D are spectacular - CORALINE is a groundbreaking movie. The only 'comin' at ya' moments are used sparingly and with purpose. The 3D is creatively used for immersion - stunning!

One thing I can easily vouch for - you WILL become immersed in this movie. It is wondeful to see a movie that could easily be a dreamstate for so many - and become a part of it. Well done Mr. Selick.

Special thanks to Empire Theatres for the screening.

3D Geek Alert: Coraline Figures At Entertainment Earth

I thought these figures look remarkably similar to the real deal in tonight's opening of CORALINE. So in the interest of celebrating the moment, I present to you three bendable CORALINE figures... Make your own stop motion movie!

The figures are available at Entertainment Earth for $42.49. They also have a larger set of CORALINE characters available here.

I have always wanted to make a stop motion movie - it is such a cool genre. Enjoy the movie this weekend!

So... There's This Little Movie Called "Coraline" Coming Out This Friday...

Jim here. Most of you guys have heard about CORALINE right? Let me tell you, I have been looking forward to this since it was announced!

If you have checked out my Top 10 Most Anticipated 3D Movies For 2009, then you know how highly I regard this movie. I placed it in fourth place ahead of ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS and Pixar's UP - so it has to be good right? :-)

I feel that we have the makings of a smash hit here. First of all, writer Neil Gaiman really hit the nail on the head with his story - after all it won the Hugo, Bram Stoker and Nebula awards back in 2002, and is available in over 30 languages. So you can check off the storyline as being a winner - I doubt if Selick has strayed very far from a winning formula.

Secondly, Henry Selick is a master of stop motion! Most of you have seen A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and can vouch for his passion for that genre.

Now throw in 3D and you have the palette to create something memorable and quite frankly, Oscar worthy. The effects are going to be stunning. Selick will be able to take the shots he has had in his heard for years (he had the manuscript for CORALINE before it was even printed) and bring them to fruition perfectly. Remember, everything in the movie is handmade and positionable by Selick's whims.

If you have not seen a 3D movie yet - get out to see this one. The ingredients are all there - treat yourself to a GREAT movie. CORALINE opens this Friday!

Image courtest of Randi Mason

The Darker Side of "Coraline"

Jim here. This was what I was waiting for from Laika - the darker side of CORALINE. We all knew it was in there, but to date it had been fluffed over with the behind the scenes clips and the dazzling new world that is Coraline's.

But this is Henry Selick! You know - THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Henry Selick. And if you have read Neil Gaiman's book, then you know that there are going to be some very interesting treatments to be explored throughout this movie.

So have a watch of the latest CORALINE trailer - it's on the darker side... :-)



CORALINE opens February 6th!

Now A New "Coraline" Official Trailer Online!

First we saw an update to the official website for CORALINE today that showed us some new production videos of the 3D stop action movie - now another new trailer has been made available.

Check out all the (stop) action below!

New Coraline Production Videos Online! Codes Revealed...

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Even more codes available (and therefore more video clips!) - try these too: MOUSTACHIO, ARMPITHAIR, PUPPETLOVE and SWEATERXXS - Thanks Moonrover!

Jim here. Want to see more Coraline production video clips? (Others are available here). These new ones look great too - I can't believe the attention to detail that they are putting into this movie! Here's what you do:

1. Go to www.Coraline.com
2. Enter in one of these codes (each has a different video clip):
BUTTONEYES
STOPMOTION
3. Enjoy!

Coraline is a stereoscopic 3D stop motion movie adapted from a very popular Neil Gaiman story - directed by Henry Selick who also is famous for A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Tell me what you think of them... Thanks P880 for the scoop!

Coraline One Sheet Hits The Interwebs!

Love this new poster for CORALINE - a stereoscopic 3D stop action film directed by Henry Selick and original story by Neil Gaiman.

This movie should have some breathtaking effects and lighting - these guys KNOW what they are doing with stop action. It'll be otherworldly and I can't wait.

Wonder what's the youngest a child can be to see this movie? (Using a good parent as an example!)

Here is all of our CORALINE coverage.

Quick Post: Interview Links For Henry Selick Of "Coraline" And Jon Landau Of "Avatar"

Hey all - Jim here. I have a couple of links for you to discover: 

1. Text interview with Henry Selick (CORALINE) - he goes over much of why he chose to do CORALINE and there are some minor spoilers. Special thanks to Ralf who sent me this link!

2. Video interview with Jon Landau (AVATAR) where he talks technology and 3D vitual worlds. Special thanks goes out to Mizra who sent me this link!

Enjoy! I am actually posting this from my car from a rogue unsecured wi-fi network and I don't have the bandwidth to download and watch the video yet!

"Coraline" Budget Set At $75 Million - New Set Photos

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Fearnet has more exclusive set shots here!

Wow. It costs a lot to make a stop action movie in 3D. Well at least if it is done right and that is exactly what Henry Selick is known for - doing it right. 

It looks like CORALINE's budget is $75 million. Thats a lot of action! Let's take a look at some of the behind the scenes action below:

First Photo - Coraline on her home's steps.

Second Photo - Project plan for the CORALINE production shoot. MASSIVE!

Third Photo - Various replacement faces for Coraline as she shows emotion or speaks.

Coraline is slated for full release in February 2009 with a limited preview release this December. To view more behind the scenes CORALINE shots, check this out.

Photos courtesy of David Strick

Source: LA Times

Awesome CORALINE Craftmanship: 4 New Advance Featurettes!

**Update: Aug 18: More Coraline video added!

Jim here. Got some great advance video clips for the upcoming 2009 3D stop action movie CORALINE! The movie is based on Neil Gaiman's work and focuses on a girl's adventures in an alternative reality where things are not quite as they should be.

Directing is Henry Selick who you will remember also brought us JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH as well as NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I can only imagine the surprises he has conjured for this latest effort.

Dakota Fanning (Coraline) Teri Hatcher (Coraline's mother) lend voices to the characters.

CORALINE opens wide on February 6th, 2009 with select screenings this December. Check out the awesome clips below as this movie is bound to open a lot of eyes to the power of 3D across all movie formats, including stop action.











AWESOME advance look! The imagery will be out a dream and Gaiman's stories are well, ALWAYS superlative. We are lucking out with this one guys...

Coraline Release Set: Are We Looking At Another 3D Theater Clash??

According to IMDB, Coraline's wide release date has been set: February 6th, 2009. However, in fine award seeking fashion, it will also be seen in limited release in December of THIS year.

Hmmm. Disney's "Bolt" is scheduled for release for November 26th and by that time of year we MAY be able to see optimistically 2000 3D theaters in the US in total - are we going to see another clash of 3D films like we did between "U2 3D" and Hannah Montana? U2's concert was superior (my opinion) but suffered due to timing and limited 3D theaters (less than 700 in that case). If you will remember, Disney's "Best of Both Worlds" was also scheduled as a one week "limited" engagement. We all know what happened there - money happened.

Let's get these scheduling executives working together here and not at each other's throats. Look, we are only looking at a window of another 18 months until there are sufficient 3D theaters that we don't have to worry about these things nearly as much. Until then; make it work.

You don't have to look far for futher conflicts: Lions Gate's "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" launches a couple weeks before Valentines on January 23rd! I don't think they want to give up the Valentine's Day box office seeing as their movie is based on the 'celebration'. Yet, there's Coraline pegged for Feb 6th. Sandwiching that is Dreamworks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens" slated for March 27th.

Make. It. Work. - Damn.

Coraline 3D Trailer Now Available Online

**UPDATE (Feb 21st): My apologies - the originating source stated that this trailer is in 3D and of course it cannot be polarized as it would need to have a 3D system like a theater would have. It does not even appear to be in anaglyph 3D (red and cyan glasses). Enjoy it anyway! It is much clearer than the older hand held camcorder one.

Guys - here is the new Coraline 3D trailer and if you have got 3D polarized glasses - USE 'EM! It is much clearer than the hand held camcorder version that I posted back on January 16th. Check it out. Thanks for the heads-up Andrea.

Digg This!

"Coraline" 3D Trailer Captured By Camcorder

Check out this handheld camcorder captured 2D video clip of the 3D movie trailer for "Coraline" that was shown during Beowulf in November. Note that the quality is not all that great due to the above constraints, BUT it does give you a sense of where they are going with the movie regarding content and 3D experience.

Coraline is due in theaters this fall and stars the voices of Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher - more details in our list of upcoming 3D movies.

Listen for the ewwws and ahhhs of the audience to cue you when the 3D effects are in their face!



Digg This!

Coraline 3D: Awesome New Teaser Clip!

Coraline is an exciting new animation coming out in the latter half of 2008 starring the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane and Keith David. The story revolves around a little girl who discovers a secret portal to a parallel but slightly different universe. The animation in this film is striking and of course by adding in that third dimension we are really going to be in for a treat.

Check out this awesome new teaser clip from Neil Gaiman.