Thompson on Hollywood

Peter Travers Lists 10 Best 3-D Films; 'Avatar,' 'Life of Pi,' 'Dial M for Murder,' Leaves Out Key Titles

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With Ang Lee's 3-D achievement "The Life of Pi" earning strong reviews, Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers has compiled a list of the 10 best (and three worst) 3-D movies. Lee's adaptation of the Yann Martel novel ranks as the third best 3-D film, with -- you guessed it! -- James Cameron's "Avatar" as the reigning champ.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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November 23, 2012 2:51 PM
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Cameron Unveils Titanic 3-D Footage for April 2012 Release, Talks 3-D, Exploration, Avatar

James Cameron loves 3-D. He’s believed in it from the beginning—in fact, he’s personally responsible for the entire industry’s move toward 3-D, I was reminded at a Popular Mechanics high-rise lunch in Hearst Tower before Cameron accepted one of the magazine’s 2011 Breakthrough Awards (video of his Q & A, which digs into the Avatar sequels, and acceptance speech is below). Even though everyone told him and inventor Vince Pace that 3-D filmmaking was impossible, they rigged two HD cameras together “and figured it out,” he said, proving that it could be done. Thus they changed the entertainment industry, for better or worse. (Here’s my interview with Cameron about his love of science and exploration for the magazine.) Now he and Pace are testing new sophisticated servo-controlled light 3-D shoulder cameras for shooting sports and concerts, “serving broadcasters on a global basis,” Cameron said.

By Anne Thompson
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October 20, 2011 6:26 AM
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Geeking Out with Cameron at the 3D Summit: Titanic, Avatar, Theme Parks

This week, in his Immersed in Movies column, Bill Desowitz talks to James Cameron at the 3D Summit. Don't try to convince James Cameron that 3-D is faltering. He's still a true believer, despite some recent 3-D blowback. He laughed if off as growing pains and negative media spin at the 3D Entertainment Summit this week at the Hollywood & Highland Center, but said it's nothing that can't be fixed with a change of perception and better 3-D authoring and presentation.

By Bill Desowitz
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September 23, 2011 5:14 AM
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Avatar Gets Prime Disney Parks Real Estate; Pandora Lands in Harmony with Nature

Avatar is getting some prime real estate at Disney theme parks thanks to a long-term agreement between Fox, filmmaker/environmentalist James Cameron and studio that will surely result in prime paychecks for all.

By Sophia Savage
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September 20, 2011 7:08 AM
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3-D Summit: Speakers James Cameron, Vince Pace, Tom Rothman, Gene Simmons, Mick Hocking

The 4th Annual 3D Entertainment Summit and the 2nd Annual 3D Gaming Summit has lined up a roster of speakers for their event September 20 through 22 at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.

By Maggie Lange
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September 2, 2011 11:28 AM
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Comic-Con: Spielberg and Jackson Talk Tintin Collaboration, Jurassic Park 4, 3-D

Comic-Con welcomed Steven Spielberg, making his first visit to promote The Adventures of Tintin (December 23), with a standing ovation and the convention's Inkpot Life Achievement Award. Making a surprise visit during his The Hobbit hiatus was the film's producer Peter Jackson and Spielberg's favorite collaborator since George Lucas, said Spielberg. During a long conversation with the LAT's Geoff Boucher in Hall H, followed by a smaller press conference at the Hyatt, Spielberg and Jackson explained their love for Belgian Herge's comic books, how motion-capture as perfected by Weta during Avatar made it possible to bring these comics to life close to how they had been created, and when 3-D works and when it doesn't. Both men cited their connection to their inner child as the key to their creativity. When he grows up he'll stop making films, Spielberg said.

By Anne Thompson
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July 22, 2011 12:50 PM
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James Cameron and Michael Bay Talk State of 3-D, Avatar, Dark of the Moon, Video

Missionary James Cameron turned around Michael Bay's thinking on 3-D: Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the result. Anthony D'Alessandro reports on Thursday's presentation with the two men, who showed a 15-minute clip from Dark of the Moon as well as the new 3-D trailer, which will be attached to Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides this weekend (UPDATE: video below):Like two guys passionately conversing about hot-rod cars, directors James Cameron and Michael Bay kibitzed last night about the current state of 3-D and its use in the latter’s upcoming summer tentpole Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The night’s moderator at the Paramount lot presentation, The Hollywood Reporter's Jay Fernandez, introduced the evening with a clip of Bay accepting his 2009 ShoWest Vanguard award in which he slammed the visual format; claiming he would never be a practitioner of it.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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May 19, 2011 8:25 AM
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Japan Aftershocks May Stall Cameron's Avatar Deep-Sea Dive

In the wake of Japan's 9.0 earthquake, underwater maven James Cameron may have to wait a while before he executes his planned 6.5 mile submersible dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench off the coast of Japan for the Avatar sequel, reports Slate (via Coming Attractions). Aftershocks are the issue.

By Anne Thompson
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March 22, 2011 11:36 AM
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In Development: Akira Remake, Fincher for Jolie's Cleopatra, Agatha Christie and The Fighter 2

- Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures is eyeing several actors for a reworked script of Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s six-volume graphic novel Akira, reports Deadline. Harry Potter franchise screenwriter Steve Kloves (also writer-director of The Fabulous Baker Boys) is working on the rewrite and Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli) is signed on to direct in August. In contention for role #1 ("Tetsuo") are Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy; for role #2 ("Kaneda"), there's Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix. Our picks would be McAvoy and Fassbender, who will likely pass on this retelling.

By Sophia Savage
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March 22, 2011 5:30 AM
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James Cameron and Vince Pace to Deliver NAB Keynote

James Cameron and his Titanic and Avatar camera inventor Vince Pace will deliver the 2011 NAB shows keynote address on April 11. The NAB show is the biggest media show for filmed entertainment and its development across various platforms. Approximately 90,000 people come to Las Vegas for the event each year. In their address, current King of the 3-D world Cameron, and visual effects and 3-D innovator Pace will cover new developments in 3-D technology and their affect in the industry and storytelling. The full release in below: