I am optimistic about Arthur Christmas. Not only because of its strong British cast, and favourable reviews, but also because it is one of a small minority of 3D films with an original screenplay. In fact, of the forty 3D films released in 2011, only five are feature films that aren’t sequels, remakes or adaptations. Even when you discount the thirty adapted screenplays and the five 3D stage shows, the remaining five original films include Drive Angry, Sanctum and Shark Night, which have all received rotten reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Why is it then that only two original films, Arthur Christmas and Rio, have impressed when released in 3D? Some will say that obviously 3D films cost more and make more than their 2D counterparts. Audiences have to pay more to see them, and studios aren’t going to risk huge losses by bankrolling new and radical films for 3D release. But why the lack of original screenplays? Have movie-going audiences become so asinine and docile that they can only handle characters and situations they’ve seen before? This year has seen more film sequels released than any other, with original concept films becoming an increasing rarity.
I dread a future where a screenwriter’s job is to simply adapt old material. I would implore you to only go and see 3D films with original screenplays, but I’m not so naïve as to think that Rio 2 isn’t already in pre-production. No, the only option for the original film lover is to spend your money watching fresh and original 2D releases - boycotting the 3D monster entirely. Don’t feed it your ticket stubs because it will not be sated until 90-year old Jack Sparrow is staggering about fighting the Jigsaw killer in Pirates Of The Caribbean 21: The Final Destination of Kung Fu Piranha’s Fast Cars Transformer 3D.
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