ENOUGH WITH 3D ALREADY!!!!

That's it I can't take it anymore I have to say this: I HATE THE 3D TREND!

There I've got that off my chest. Let's move on.

Look I know that we all go to the movies to be entertained and that a part of that entertainment involves being connected to the film. In certain cases I think 3D can even be beneficial. For example I strongly believe that Avatar in 3D really made the movie come alive. It immersed oneself in the world of Pandora.

But like all trends in popular culture, whether it be vampires or Brett Favre's endless comebacks, the media has taken 3D and run farther and faster with it than a Usain Bolt track session. Between 2009 and 2010 the number of 3D releases has jumped from 12 to 24. Next year it's set to jump to 30. Why?? Why do need to enhance all movie experiences with 3D? Is it because our attention span has widened so much that only an image that reaches for our head can garner any response? Probably.

However, the other obvious reason is money. On average 3D movies are about three bucks higher and you don't even get to keep the glasses! Even the 3D quality is not necessarily good. Look at this year's Clash of the Titans. In a rush to capitalize on 3D's success the producers chose to hastily convert the movie to 3D. It failed miserably. Despite setbacks though, Hollywood has managed through careful marketing to dupe the American public into thinking that 3D movies are better. And it's working. People are opening their wallets quicker and more often than Lindsey Lohan enters rehab.

3D has become so prevalent it's bordering on the ridiculous. Now we've got 3D televisions for outrageous prices. Martin Scorcese, one of the greatest and most respected directors of all time actually said that Precious, yes Precious should have been in 3D. What?! Are you kidding me. The intense urban drama about the struggle and abuse of a black woman should be in 3D? That makes less sense than the upcoming Syfy original film coming up called Gatoroid starring Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. (I can't make that up by the way. It's true.)

Cinema above all should be about the basics: plot, story, acting, editing, cinematography; not about gimmicks. 3D has it's place. That place involves science-fiction and fantasy films along with Pixar movies and possibly horror. (Even I don't always want it in those genres either but I can accept it.) Keep it away from dramas and comedies. I don't like seeing Rob Schneider in 2D why would I want to see the man who made two Deuce Bigelow films in an extra dimension?

And for goodness sake please please leave us the option of choosing film versions in the theater that aren't 3D! Kudos to directors like Christopher Nolan and Peter Jackson who don't want their upcoming features to be converted to 3D. Shockingly they want their films to stand up on their own merit.

Sadly I know I'm one of the few voices in the wilderness imploring Hollywood to stop the madness. While the execs at major studios will be laughing all the way to the bank maybe I'll do something novel and pick up a book. Thank goodness no one has found a way to put those in 3D yet.