The use of 3D techonology in films can be a good thing. After all, 3D is just a tool that can help tell a story. The movie Avatar used 3D to create a beautiful world that the audience could feel they were actually taking part in. Toy Story 3 used the tool to make toys that you could almost reach out and grab. However, over the last few years the trend has become a sloppy money-making device. Movies shot in 2D are then modified after the fact, leading to blurry, shadowy products. Also, now that George Lucas has announced the release of Star Wars 3D in February of 2012, the whole business has gone entirely too far.

The main problem with 3D movies is that producers seem to think that CGI technology and big explosions make up for a poorly-shot, badly-written story. The movie might be three-dimensional, but unfortunately, the characters are not. Potential exposition, dialogue and honest interaction between characters get cut because they aren’t exciting or startling enough to live up to the 3D hype.

With the rerelease of Star Wars, George Lucas is making the same mistake he made when he released the prequels. He thinks that the lastest and greatest in technology makes for a better movie. What he’s forgotten is that the world loved Star Wars even though it was made on a shoe-string budget. It had a fantastical world, fun characters and compelling relationships. No one liked the Special Edition releases because the CGI was completely beside the point. Similarly, the 3D process will only taint the masterpiece that amazed us when we were children. 3D technology is a wonderful tool, but it isn’t right for everything, and it certainly isn’t right as an addition to films that are great the way they are.