(From syracusenewtimes.com)
Sometimes the movie schedule isn’t the best fit for my life.
Saturday, there was someplace my dear wife Karen had to be at 3 p.m., no ifs, ands or buts about it. (Hello, tax preparer.)
We wanted to see “Insurgent” beforehand. And I must say, that was a good call, as the day unfolded. (Hello, but satisfying meeting with tax preparer.)
The noon showing of the second in the series from the YA novels by Veronica Roth at the Regal Cinemas chain in Syracuse mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA was in Real 3D. We’d never been. I have this vision thing, you see, I don’t so well out of one eye, my whole life. I’ve feared this would cause me to see blurry squiggles while the rest of the audience ducked cool effects.
Well, I must report that all was well. To this one-eyed guy (OK, that’s a stretch) the movie looked very much like a regular showing. Karen, on the other hand, said we’d picked a great movie for our first Real 3D experience.
Shailene Woodley and Theo James put in a good turn in this second installment of the “Divergent” series from the YA novels by Veronica Roth.
You can read my take on it in today’s installment of my weekly movie review blog on the Syracuse New Times site by clicking the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/insurgent-deals-in-dystopian-fantasy/
Meanwhile, I’m also taking the opportunity to make this the final answer to PriorHouse, who tagged me in the Black & White Challenge.
Me in 2D and Black-and-White.
I asked MDW Karen to take a shot of me in the theater wearing the Real 3D glasses before the trailers started. I was thrilled at what she caught on the screen, considering it was our first trip to this dimension.
Today I am going to tag Rachel of Rachel’s Whims to participate in the 5 Post Black & White Challenge. My classmate in Photo 101 is a real corker in writing and photography. I like her work.
Have you gone to a 3D movie in the theater, and if so, which movie, and did the experience wow you a lot or a little? Have you considered buying a 3D flat screen TV, and why or why not? Are you a fan of the ‘Divergent’ and ‘Insurgent’ franchise, and why or why not?
Mark Bialczak 
thanks for the link up mark 🙂 – and I almost saw this movie with my boys but plans changed- anyhow, I look forward to seeing it even more now. and glad your vision allowed for a decent viewing – and like your other reader – too much #D for me gives me a headache sometimes too – even tho the best 3-D I have seen was at disney world back in the day – ha!
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Disney was the world leader, right, Y?!
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Probably… even though I always think of Imax films when I think of 3-D – I wonder who really did the leading – hm
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IMAX was a whole other ball of wax, with the big, curved dome screen. Separate company, on its own, I believe, Y.
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I believe you are right – and have a good night M
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I’ve only recently heard about 3D TV’s…. and I really don’t even understand the need for them, to be frank with ya…. Are there really that many movies and TV shows that are shot in 3D? Maybe it’s more for gamers? (The one guy I know who has one is a game-a-holic.) I think Karen did a fabulous job of capturing you and the perfect screen shot behind you! YAY, Karen! 😀 I recently bought a 4K Ultra HD TV, which feels to me like I am actually there, even in old shows (which of course I prefer) that were not shot in high def. Just last week, I found myself inside the Ricardos’ living room along with Fred and Ethel, and after that, I joined Ward and June in their kitchen when Wally and The Beav got home from school. It was pretty amazing. As for 3D movies, I saw The Titanic in 3D, but about 30 minutes into it, I had to take the glasses off, because it just gave me a headache. I liked it much better without.
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Your new TV sounds like the best ever, Rachel. Wow! I love it!! Ultra HD envy, I have. ❤
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A real corker! That’s a first! hahaha! Okay so I can take any 5 photos I like as long as they’re in black and white?
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Yup. Any five, your choice, make them B&W. And that brother-getting-engaged post convinced me of your corkiness for sure!
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First, I thought the movie was great. Really well done! Second of all, that b&w photo of you is off the charts! Way to go, Karen!
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Thanks, Aud. Me and my 3D. Ha. 2D all the way. I’m glad you liked the movie, too. It was good.
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They’re great books, I found the movies were good, but I had a different picture in my head.
I get headaches from 3D. Allegedly, close to 20% of the population can’t see 3D.
I got such an ugly cry from the book, “The Fault in our Stars”, I have to wait to see the movie in the privacy of my home. 😉
Dystopian is popular because we’re already living it to some degree and books, movies, TV shows are a safe place for our brains to try and process it.
Love, love, love your picture! 🙂
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I am in the 20 percent then, Donna. Oh, well.
“The Fault in our Stars” was absolutely fantastic, and yes, a two-box-of-Kleenex tear-inducer. You will love it through the waterworks, my friend.
Interesting point on Dystropian. I prefer to compartmentalize it so far back and then ignore it completely, I guess.
And thanks for your photo love. 🙂
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I made the mistake of reading “Fault” in the bookstore, so I’ve learned my lesson about the movie. Can’t wait, tissues at the ready. 🙂
Your photos (and posts) are very love-worthy. 😉
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You must be a speed reader to get through it at the bookstore, Donna. I can see the library, where they expect you to linger and put out semi-easychairs. Is this at a B&N with a Starbucks? Even so, the chairs are too uncomfortable, no?
Thank you for your flattery. I am all afluster. 🙂
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In Canada, our big bookstore is Chapters and yes, they have fairly comfy chairs, the staff know me, and seem fine with anyone reading there. And I rarely do a whole book in one sitting, unless I get engrossed. 🙂
Like you ever get all afluster, buster. 😉
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Chapters allows you to read by the Book. Now there’s a good post for you, Donna, for the title possibility alone. 🙂 Seriously, that’s a good deal that it’s comfortable and inviting.
And, no, not much fluster to muster.
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lol I might just use that… 😉
It’s great, especially for newer books the library makes me wait for or doesn’t have. 🙂
At least the praise won’t lose its luster. 🙂
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Ha! B/W at a 3-D movie, I like it. good picture of you in your glasses Mark
I’m not familiar with the Divergent series. I don’t watch many new movies – just what’s on the small screen.
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Small screen movies are pretty good these days. And quick to get there, too, Paul.
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I never got the full effect of 3-D until the last few years. For some reasons it would not work ‘for’ me. But now it does. Go figure. I loved it when it finally did. But not enough to do 3-D at home, I don’t watch enough to buy more tv’s. 🙂
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I’m glad it finally worked for you, MBC. It must have freaked you out the first time. Did you duck? 🙂
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Ha ha…..I did indeed move a little bit. It could be called ‘ducking’ and ‘weaving’. 🙂
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Oh, shoot! I forgot to say, I loved Shalene Woodley in her television series, Secrets of a Teenager and also, in the tear jerker, “The Fault in Our Stars.” Excellent pair of actors, both were in this and Insurgent series.
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“The Fault in Our Stars” was one of my favorite movies of 2013, so I totally agree with you about her and Elgort in that one, Robin. And she is Woodley is very good in “Insurgent,” too. 🙂
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You look great in this black and white photo and Karen did a wonderful job. Mark, I found the 3D effects when I saw Johnny Depp and others in “Alice in Wonderland” to be like a bad drug experience. Tea cups floated towards me and other things drifted by me. I almost think I should write a crooked poem about this. It was very existential and bizarre. But I have had narrow eyed glaucoma surgery on both eyes, have a hole under my pupil ‘drilled’ by a laser beam on both eyes. So, maybe this is why I had such a psychedelic experience. It has been years since I smoked any wacky tobacky. ha ha!
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Please write a post about this psychedelic 3D movie experience, Robin. It would be a winner! No wacky tobacky for me in years, either. 🙂
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We are looking forward to seeing the movie, although my hubby has an issue with 3D movies….so either A) I’ll never get to see one or B) I have to suck it up and go alone. Needless to say, a 3D television is not in our future!
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Tell hubby that bad-eye Mark had no trouble with the Real 3D version. Maybe that will calm his fears, Katie! Nevertheless, I wouldn’t get the TV, either. 🙂
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We saw the “Last Air Bender” in 3-D. It felt like we were living “Vertigo”. We’ve decided to remain on the safe road of 2-D. I believe your vision may be a gift in this instance. 🙂
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2-D is good enough for me, Fannie, but now that MDW Karen has had her first taste of 3D …
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first of all, i have one bad eye too, so i know of what you speak. i’m not really into the divergent series, but i have seen a 3-d and was a bit worried too. kind of makes me dizzy and wouldn’t want to it often but it’s probably better now. hopefully. and i like karen’s shot a lot.
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My bad one is the right, the passenger side, so to speak, Beth. Is your’s the opposite? We could have one good pair between us if so! Ha. Maybe they’ve advanced the technology since the last time you went because I had no sign of a headache or dizziness. I’ll tell Karen you liked her shot.
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mine is on the right too, mark. glad to hear the 3-d tech has improved, i need all the help i can get )
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Same side. No perfect pair between our four eyes, Beth. Drats. 🙂
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I really liked the Divergent series so I might go see this, though don’t know who’d want to go with me. Maybe i’ll make it my first solo movie viewing experience!
As for 3D movies, I do not prefer them and will always choose to see a movie in “regular” D as they call it now. I feel with 3D movies it’s hard to see the action because your eyes automatically focus on what is sticking out in your face and you miss what’s happening around and to to the sides of it.
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Doing the review thing, I go solo when my dear wife Karen says meh on the movie I pick, which is about half the time. It’s no biggie, Cheney. I like the regular D better because of the eye thing. And it’s cheaper. I also like your point of view about the experience, too.
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We actually have a 3 D TV and never use that feature. It isn’t very effective on things that weren’t meant to be in 3-D and even on things that were, it’s not great and just kind of weird. After having the TV for a couple of years, I think we kind of forgot it even has that feature.
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I always wondered if it worked, Marissa. Now I know that 3D TV is one of those bells and whistles I do not need. Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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Hi Mark! I saw “Divergent” and liked it, and will probably see “Insurgent” as well. My kids see more movies in 3D than I do, but I have seen them. I think it’s sweet how you refer to your wife as MDW, BTW. The most recent movie I saw, off topic, I’m sorry, was “The Theory of Everything.” I cried, no I sobbed, almost through the whole thing. It’s pathetic how emotional I can get. I am a big fan of the dystopian genre though, in books and films, and usually like movies in that category. “Blade Runner” is one of my all time favs, as well as “The Matrix” films. Love “The Hunger Games” as well.
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When it’s Monday and Thurday, my two film days when I link to my Syracuse New Times blogs, any comments about movies are never off-topic, Kelly. Fair game! Just so you know the playing field is wide open for you. As for that one, heck, I almost cried when he accepted the best actor award at the Oscars! … You are a fan of Dystopia, huh? Better you than me. I’ll take pre-desolation, any day. 😉
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Ha! Yes, he deserved that Oscar. Amazing performance. The great thing about dystopia is you get to see (usually) the undying spirit and strength to overcome by the humans. I like chick flicks too, though. 🙂
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I prefer the undying spirit and strength to overcome in chick flicks, Kelly. 😉 You know?
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Yes I guess that would make for a good movie. But there wouldn’t be any androids!
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There coud be with the right plot, Kelly. Think out of the box!
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Dystopian is depressing. Why would I EVER want to see a dark and dismal place full of challenges and misery? I could drive to the east side if I needed that. No, thank you. But as for you, cyclops, glad you were able to watch successfully. We see some kid flicks if they are offered in 3D. A couple have given me headaches, but mostly they are worth the money. Wouldn’t buy the 3D TV since every major purchase is obsolete two meals later. I have seen Shailene making the talk show circuits, talking about how almonds excite her and eating clean. I preferred her with long hair because I am shallow and think most ladies can’t pull off that short of a cut unless you are Halle Berry.
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I guess I have to wait for the 3D monocle, Kerbey. … Yes, dystopia is so popular in these novels for young adults, read, teens and tweeners. Why, oh, why?
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I don’t know! Why can’t they just disappear into the back of wardrobes?
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Yes. Go away, dystopians, to the future for which you are destined.
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