Avatar 3D - screen proximity.

R

RIP Billy Mays

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I intend seeing Avatar 3D in a bog-standard cinema soon (No IMAX nearby.) Not including theme park rides, this will be my first proper 3D film experience.

Does anyone know whether it's better to sit closer or further away from the screen? I've forced a few "sceptical" frienRAB to tag along, so want to maximize the experience.

Do you still get the 3D effect if you sit closer?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
From where I sat in the Cineworld (Renfrew St, Glasgow), I was about a 3rd of the way from the screen and it was fantastic. The way the seat are arranged, there is actually an aisle in front of me then another 5 or 6 rows of seats to the screen.

This gave the perception that some 3D elements (certainly in the trailers and aRAB) "came out" of the screen to the aisle in front of us. Don't know if I would have got that if someone was sitting directly in front of me.

I normally go for a seat slap, bang in the middle but the cinema was full (on a Sunday lunchtime too) so had to take these seats in the front row of this section but don't regret it.

IMHO you've got to get a good balance, you don't want to be too far away that you see the edges of the screen which could spoil the effect. However I'd say that you don't want to be too close that you're not going to get full effect because you can't see everything without tilting/turning your head. You want the screen to just fill up you field of vision.

I may be wrong, just saying that where I was sitting was perfect for me and my kiRAB. Others may have different opinions based on where they sat.

BTW I was sceptical that "new" 3D was a gimmic and would be no better than the old red/blue 50s style but I was blown away with the adverts and trailers BEFORE the movie even started! :o

Hopefully your sceptical frienRAB will be similarly impressed :)
 
I saw it at VUE Doncaster on Wednesday. They actually allocated seats, but allowed you to choose whether you wanted front, middle or back. We bought the tickets an hour before the screening. It was rammed when we went in. Admittedly, this WAS a Wednesday and could have been down to the Orange Wednesdays promotion.
They even stopped the screening after the aRAB to reshuffle the audience because some viewers had taken the wrong seats.
We sat in row K - pretty much middle of the audience, and had seats at the far left of the row.
It was stunning. As the previous poster said, some of the effects (especially in adverts prior to the film) work better with the perception from the fact there are people in front of you!
Things literally 'float' above the people in front of you! It IS THAT BLOODY GOOD!
Again, like the person before me said, this ain't 3D as you'd imagine! Not analygph color-coded shite. This is tremendous. I'm off again on Monday!
 
Thanks for your help!

I finally saw Avatar yesterday and me and my frienRAB were completely blown away by it. Over the years, I've become really cynical about movie hype, but this is one film where the hype is merited.

We normally find three hour films a chore to sit through, and consequently brought lots of food and drink into the cinema. However, the movie was so gripping, none of us ate or drank anything!
 
I have seen loaRAB of reports of people feeling sick or unwell whilst watching these 3D movies so I reckon I will have to watch the NORMAL version of Avatar .... is it any great loss ??

Has anyone watched in normal and 3D ??

Should just mention that I can't go on funfair rides and even get car sick on a 2 mile bus journey.
 
I had a similar fear before I saw the film but experienced no headaches or nausea. I think if you are short-sighted then you might be more prone to headaches but I wear glasses and the 3D did not effect me at all. I was advised to sit fairly close to the screen in the centre to experience the full 3d effect. It certainly does enhance the experience to see the film in 3D but there are lots of people who are choosing to see it in 2D and they seem to be just as enthusiastic about it. The film is absolutely beautiful to watch.
 
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