November 4, 2010 17:16

James Cameron blasts 3D conversion movie trend

'Avatar' director says only classic movies should be converted to the format

James Cameron has blasted the current trend for converting new films into 3D, insisting the process should be reserved for classic movies such as Jaws and Titanic. The director, who was responsible for changing Hollywood's stance on 3D following the success of Avatar, has been dismayed that studio bosses have since attempted to rush 3D conversions for the likes of Clash Of The Titans and the final two Harry Potter films.

The 3D conversion of Clash Of The Titans was savaged by critics, while Warner Bros have since announced that they could not make the conversion in time, and to the quality required, for Deathly Hallows: Part 1's release date later this month.

Cameron is hoping that the audience reaction will force new films to shoot in 3D rather than add the conversion in post-production.

The director told USAtoday.com, "I maintain you can't do a good conversion of a two-hour movie with high quality in a few weeks like they tried to do with Clash Of The Titans. I don't mean to throw that movie under the bus because my buddy [Avatar lead Sam Worthington] is in it, but I think everybody realised that this was a point at which people had gone too far."

He added: "You see another stumble with the most recent Harry Potter movie from the same studio making the same mistake – except really getting spanked for it now because they didn't get the film done. They announced it in 3D – threw a bunch of money trying to convert it to 3D in post-production and it simply didn't work. They just didn't get it done."

Cameron, along with other critics of the conversion process, believes that unless a huge amount of time is spent on it is far inferior to shooting in 3D.

"My personal philosophy is that post-conversion should be used for one thing and one thing only, which is to take library titles that are favourites, that are proven, and convert them into 3D – whether it's Jaws or ET or Indiana Jones, Close Encounters… or Titanic," he explained.

"Unless you have a time machine to go back and shoot it in 3D, you have no other choice. The best alternative is if you want to release a movie in 3D – make it in 3D."