It was just a couple years ago that Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park got a 3D overhaul and arrived in theaters in surprisingly spectacular fashion… but today we’re dealing with a whole new chapter of the adventure franchise. This Friday, Colin Trevorrow will be sending new genetically altered dinosaurs into theaters with Jurassic World, and the movie will be coming with an option whether or not to see it in 3D. So the big question is, do you spend the extra money on the ticket?
While we won’t be evaluating the quality of the film itself, we will be telling you if you should seek out your nearest 2D screening, or if you should shill out some extra dough to get an extra dimension in your Jurassic World experience. So hop in your Jeep and get ready for us to score the film’s 3D worthiness!
Fit Score
5/5
In many ways, the advancement of the 3D trend in Hollywood has been because of movies like Jurassic World. The extra dimension has always worked best when there’s a lot of action and business on the big screen, and you can be sure that this new movie provides much of that. Not only is this the exact kind of movie that should be made in 3D, but also one that is made to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Planning & Effort Score
4/5
While there were early reports that said that Jurassic World was going to be filmed in native 3D, it seems that never actually played out, as the company Stereo D is credited with the 3D conversion of the film. That knocks a point off the score, but the reality is that this blockbuster has always been planned for both 3D and 2D release, and was made accordingly.
Before the Window Score
2/5
Often classified as the more gimmicky aspect of the three-dimensional experience, "Before The Window" looks at the elements of the movie that look like they’re actually coming right at the audience. You’d think that with all the explosive action, tail-whipping, and snout-poking that this would be a bigger deal in Jurassic World, but the sad reality is that it’s not. There are a couple moments where it looks like the movie has entered into the theater, but there is a much greater focus on the other side of 3D...
Beyond the Window Score
5/5
Jurassic World may not make much of an effort when it comes to making it look like dinosaurs are gonna take a chomp out of the audience, but the movie most definitely creates a wonderful sense of depth – especially in IMAX. Colin Trevorrow uses a lot of wide shots of the expansive park and its large open areas, and the sense is delivered that you really could run into the screen and not stop for miles. As a bonus, though, even the claustrophobic forest-based scenes manage to create the illusion of a much bigger space (one that a dinosaur can jump out of at any moment).
Brightness Score
5/5
Brightness will be an issue with 3D films so long as audiences must keep wearing shaded glasses in theaters – but Jurassic World has the cure for that. Much like normal theme parks, the movie operates mostly in the day time, and shiny, natural light is a helpful antidote against the tint of the glasses. Of course, there are scenes that take place indoors, and the sun does eventually set, but even in those moments I didn’t feel as though the screen looked muddied.
Glasses Off Score
5/5
When it comes to 3D films, the extra-dimensional effect is created because two separate images are being combined though the specialty lenses you wear - and removing the lenses reveals the way that the 3D has been layered on the screen to create the special effect. During my experience watching Jurassic World, I occasionally lifted my glasses to see what was going on with the image, and I was rather shocked. The movie was absolutely unwatchable this way, as practically every scene was made up of multiple layers of 3D to enhance the visual depth of the feature. It’s not often that the Glasses-Off Test is as effective.
Audience Health Score
5/5
This is admittedly a rather subjective area, as everyone has different responses to the 3D experience. Some people never have an issue with it, while others sometimes get struck by headaches and nausea. That being said, filmmakers can make efforts to try and reduce these negative effects by creating strong focal points that prevent your eyes from wandering, thus creating a sense of motion sickness. I’m happy to report that I went in and left my screening of Jurassic World feeling just peachy health-wise (something I very recently couldn’t say about San Andreas).
3D SCORES RECAP
3D Fit
5
P & E
4
Before The Window
2
Beyond The Window
5
Brightness
5
Glasses Off Test
5
Audience Health
5
Total Score
31/35
Final Verdict: In case the score wasn’t enough of an indication, Jurassic World is a movie that’s worth seeking out in its 3D format. It obviously isn’t perfect, especially when it comes to the regularly-under-utilized aspect of Before The Window, but overall the movie meshes extremely well with the extra dimension.
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