IMAX vs 3D

These days, one of the top ways to get you to the theater and paying more for the (semi-)privilege is by offering premium viewing experiences like 3D or IMAX. While there are examples of both formats being crappy (cheap post-converted 3D, stretched IMAX prints), even at their best there's still a question of whether or not movies need these extra bells and whistles - and 2012 will offer plenty of opportunities to answer it.

With movies like Amazing Spider-Man, Prometheus, and The Avengers sporting 3D, while The Dark Knight Rises follows Mission Impossible 4's example of trying to stun audiences with IMAX grandeur, movie geeks will surely be debating the superiority of one format over the other, all year long.

Meanwhile, films like Underworld 4 will (literally) go for the gold on both fronts, with 3D IMAX prints. That should be fun. And dizzying.

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