The pileup was created in part because studios want to capture some of the excitement surrounding "Avatar," the James Cameron epic released in December. At $2.4 billion in global ticket sales, it is the highest-grossing film ever. In addition to the novelty or richer experience that might drive more people to see a 3-D movie, tickets to 3-D movies also cost a few dollars more.
Around the time "Avatar" came out, Warner Bros. decided to convert a remake of "Clash of the Titans" from 2-D to 3-D and push its release back a week, to April 2.
That will be the third 3-D movie to hit the market in a short span. DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.'s "How to Train Your Dragon" comes out a week earlier, and The Walt Disney Co.'s "Alice in Wonderland" hits theaters March 5. and "Avatar" might still be playing in some places too.
But a limited number of theaters can show these movies in 3-D, because not all theater owners have bought new digital projectors and undertaken other upgrades necessary to show movies in the format. About 3,900 to 4,000 3-D-ready screens are expected to be available in the U.S. and Canada by the end of March. Typically a movie in wide release might be shown on 3,000 to 10,000 screens in North America.
In the past, a smaller number of 3-D-capable screens was adequate when one major film at a time was being released in 3-D in addition to 2-D. Each movie had a longer run, and moviegoers who wanted to see it in 3-D could pick a convenient time to go.
With three out at once, each will get less exposure because some theaters with only one or two 3-D screens will have to choose which movies to show in 3-D.
"One or all three are going to suffer in some way," said Patrick Corcoran, director of media and research for the National Association of Theatre Owners. "It makes it a much harder decision on exhibitors on what to keep or what to drop or what to add and probably should have been avoided."
c newsom on 26 Mar 09From the site: "An English curate and the author of several books on religious subjects, Edward Topsell is best remembered for The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes and The Historie of Serpents. Born in 1572, Topsell attended Cambridge before becoming a clergyman in the Church of England. He published The Reward of Religion in 1596, and Time's Lamentation in 1599. In 1604 Topsell became curate of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, a position he held until his death. In 1607, Topsell published his magnificent illustrated work Historie of Foure-footed Beastes, Describing the True and Lively Figure of Every Beast. The book was closely based on the Historiae Animalium of Swiss author Conrad Gesner. In 1608 he followed it with The Historie of Serpents; Or the Second Booke of Living Creatures, which also drew on Gesner's Historiae. The woodcuts for both of Topsell's books came directly from Gesner's pages. Topsell authored one more religious work in 1610 called The Householder. He served as vicar and chaplain in various areas of England until his death in about 1638."
