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Cinematographer Wally Pfister Skeptical About Batman 3 in 3D

by Alex Billington
April 20, 2010

We already know that since Batman 3 hasn't been officially announced yet (more on that below) this is all purely skeptical, simply because it's way too early to state anything as fact. That said, some new quotes from cinematographer Wally Pfister (who has worked on almost all of Chris Nolan's movies) regarding 3D and their plans moving forward on Batman 3 are interesting enough to point out today anyway. Todd Gilchrist of Cinematical talked with Pfister in Dallas where he received the Star Award from the Dallas Film Festival. "What Chris and I have talked about is doing something cool and something interesting," Pfister stated.

"Brad Bird was [saying] 'you've got to shoot the whole thing in IMAX!' I was like, yeah, I've talked to Chris about that." Well okay, but does that mean it will happen? Not necessarily. He still knows that it'll be very hard to shoot an entire movie that way and isn't too keen on 3D either, because both he and Chris Nolan love to shoot on film (not digital). "I know one thing about the film that Chris is adamant about is that he wants to shoot on film. He doesn't want to shoot on video, and I'm the same way." However, they actually shot one sequence of The Dark Knight in 3D just to try it - but like Nolan, he's not really that big into 3D.

"I think Chris is game for doing something interesting like that, Lord knows that the 3-D fad might pass by the time that summer comes around." Whoa, I don't know, maybe if Avatar had never existed, he might still be allowed to say that, but right now I think the 3D fad is actually picking up. Warner Brothers did just announce at ShoWest that all of their tentpole movies will be in 3D. I guess we'll have to wait and find out.

Speaking of which, Batman on Film got an interesting little scoop earlier today related to Batman 3 as well. Apparently they've heard that, just like with The Dark Knight, Warner Bros is currently planning to make a big announcement in July right around Comic-Con. TDK was announced just after Comic-Con in 2006 and WB revealed the title, that Nolan was back, Heath Ledger was going to be The Joker, and that it would be a summer 2008 release. Maybe if everything goes as planned, we will finally get an official announcement for Batman 3 in 2012 sometime this summer, maybe at Comic-Con. As always, stay tuned for any updates!

Filed under Movie News, Rumors, TDKR

From around the web:

one

3D is a fad and will fade, total gimmick. Great movies and great directors, especially ones like Nolan won't go 3D because they know what it is, a joke. You can't enjoy Batman in 3D. You don't want to be IN that world, you want to WATCH it and get swept away. Avatar wasn't even that amazing- seeing as its a remake of about 7 movies.
jake the snake

thank you! I am so sick of 3D. I don't care if it's filmed in 3D or not, I don't want it!
Sammy Jankis

im sick of 3d, all it seems to do is push release dates back as films that dont need it are hastily turned into a 3d movie. sure avatar worked but thats cause alot of time was put into it. and the 3d looks were definitely its only good point. Christopher's stories have always been about creating solid, fantastic tales, and i just cant see him getting into this fad. a film shot entirely in imax would be awesome like some of the rumours about this, but 3d will only lessen its quality. and while im here im going to say i want joseph gordon levitt in number 3 haha
DMAN

waste of money
Xerxex

Batman 3 in 3-D would spell the end of Nolan's career, Imax is the better than wasting money and time on a fad, Bale and the Nolan bros. need to stear clear of 3-D.
People's Champ

I can put this simple: Please No!
Cody w

I know it wont be in 3-D, because 3-D is part of the death of cinema and Nolan is part of the rebirth. I am very glad to hear "Nolan, he's not really that big into 3D". I do however like the whole movie shot in IMAX idea that would be epic for the last in the trilogy. O yeah and Nolan just doesnt make mistakes and he shoots gold from his finger tips.
Ben

Nolan may not want to shoot in 3D, but that won't stop Warner Brothers converting it to 3D for cinema release... just like they did with Crap of the Titans.
LC

i disagree #8. I don't think Warner Bros is that stupid on converting it to 3D. Clash of the Titans is not the same as the Dark Knight. Shooting some scenes in IMAX will be wonderful, but who knows what Nolan plans to do
Ben

#9 - it may not be the same, but it is still converting it to 3D despite the fact it wasn't filmed in 3D. I don't know about you, but I've never seen a film in 3D that was actually worthwhile when it was coverted.
last son

I think normal 3D itself will fade away but Jim Cameron's 3D Fusion is here to stay for awhile at least. If filmmakers incorporate his 3D technology it might be worth while to watch these films at the cinema in 3D. But if 3D is just going to added like the way Warner Bros added 3D to Clash Of The Titans than I will only be seeing the 2D versions instead.
Georgie

JGL as Bale's villain in Batman 3 would be brilliant!Thank God they are making this movie!
tra la la la la di da

SOrry Alex, it's a fad and Avatar means little in the way of it becoming more. While it'd be cool for it it to be totally in IMAX, I'm down for film. I love that they respect that kind of work although I'd love to see Kodak go out of business. I'm tired of that company. Sorry...independent rant.
PhoenixWright

He's mostly right, I think, as far as digital goes. I think 3D can be more than a fad if it is used correctly by artists rather than the computer programmers that spoiled Clash Of The Titans. It's a delicate period in getting everyone on board, so rushed, converted 3D is only going to harm its future. I can't wait to see what Scorsese and Dante have done/will do with it...
WB Exec

Do it in IMAX. Concentrate on the story and acting, leave the gimmicks alone. However done right a sequence in 3D with Nolan's touch may be interesting.
SlashBeast

I really hope WB don't force this 3D fad onto Nolan and I'm disappointed that they've gone that route of having studio mandates for 3D. Nolan's pushing IMAX instead and I hope he continues to with the next Batman film.
Governor

Forcing filmmakers to adopt 3D instead of letting it remain the filmmaker's choice is counter-productive and I lost a lot of respect for WB when they announced they were doing that.
DiR3cT

We can all take a deep breath and remember that 3D will be rotting in hell along with Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Pinocet, Hitler, Himler, Dubya and Cromwell.
KY In the SKY

Batman 3 is the movie I've been patiently waiting for. I'm hoping it comes out soon!
Rashad

People hating on 3-d are nuts. If you film it in 3-d like Cameron did and make it visually wonderfully and immersible there's no problem. But if you post-convert it then it's shit and deserves criticisms.
SasQ

If you want 3D to work, you have to rethink all of cinema to have the 3rd dimension in the technical in aesthetic aspects of the thing. Composition, coloring, the plans, etc, everything changes with 3d. If you film 3D like if you were filming 2D, you're doing something wrong in my opinion. So yes, right now, 3D is being done wrong. I already shared my opinion on how I disliked Avatar, and that 3D didn't change anything. It's only being filmed (or even worse, for some movies it's modified in studios) that way to sell the tickets 5$ more.
http://www.flicksandbits.com ozzie memz

can't wait til i hear more news about Batman 3, I'm sure it won't dissapoint. Inception is going to wet my appetite even more so.
Rashad

#20 If 3-D didn't change anything for you in Avatar then we saw two different movies.
MMH

NO WAY THEY SHOULD FILM BATMAN IN 3D. I Trust Chris Nolan, but if he shoots that in 3D. I will seriously have a heart attack and die. IMAX yes, 3D, HELL NO!!!!!!!
Al

I have to disagree Alex, 3D could easily be seen as a fad. Most the people I talk to (friends, coworkers, acquaintances, people from blogs/forums) actually don't like 3D but find that they are given less and less of a choice. Especially with Alice In Wonderland, my theater had no 2D showings. People think when 3D films do well its because of the 3D, and not the fact that most of these films had audiences coming to them anyway. Batman -2D (please)
Colt

Fuck 3d
Joker Rules

Batman 3, whatever they shoot it in, is going to bomb....without the Joker, or more to the point, the Joker as played by Heath Ledger, there is nothing further of interest in the Batman series...TDK's brightest moments were all scenes in which the Joker appeared...made Batman a bore by comparison...this one will go straight to DVD if it gets filmed at all....
jake the snake

haha what an idiot that dude is.
Brian

I don't care what fad is out there, they make Batman in 3D; they'll just have to start them all over again. It would suck, big time!
Kyle A. Koyote

3d is totally a fad. I have never seen a 3d film and he absolutely no desire to watch one. All it does is encourage the Micheal Bay portion of the film watching public to spend more money. Explosions. Explosions. Explosions. Michael Bay. Yes we get it. Now can we have a good plot...please? 3d is just a lame excuse to ignore everything about good film making.
Al

27, Even if it does worse than the other 2 Nolan Batman flicks, it wont go straight to dvd. thats a little much.
1-7

#27 - Joker Rules Mutilate your genitals.