Brace yourself for a surge of 3D movies in 2010 since James Cameron's juggernaut "Avatar" managed to sink his own movie "Titanic" at the box office to become the world's highest-grossing film of all time, thanks to the 3D ticket sales. As a result, Hollywood has jumped into the 3D bandwagon because studios can charge higher ticket prices for the experience. However, quite a number of them have taken a different route by choosing to convert a film to 3D in post-production rather than shoot them in genuine 3D. As the pioneer of modern 3D, Cameron has been more than vocal against shoddy imitation 3D and this time it's Michael Bay voicing out at 3D conversion, which he says "kind of sucks" - I couldn't agree more.

Whether or not you're into the 3D craze, here's a list of 3D films slated for 2010 release in Malaysia.


Alice In Wonderland (11 March) [more]

It boasts a 3-in-1 deal you can't miss: Burton working on a Lewis Carroll classic, Johnny Depp brilliantly guised as the Mad Hatter and a 3D feature to bring it life. Converted into 3D, the film broke the record set by "Avatar" to chalk up the largest opening ever for a 3D movie, when it earned US$116 million (RM371 million) on its US weekend debut. According to Walt Disney Pictures Malaysia, it also holds the highest 3D opening weekend on record nationwide. Click HERE for a comparison with Disney's 1951 cartoon characters.


How To Train Your Dragon (25 March) [more]

Envisioned as a 3D movie, you will be impressed with the high-flying dragon rides in this tale of Vikings and dragons. Although it had a relatively low gross for an animated feature with 3D presentation, it managed to reduce its box office declines due to positive reviews and word of mouth. Interestingly, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg was reported as protesting Warner Bros.' decision to convert "Clash Of The Titans" from 2D to 3D and to release it one week after "How To Train Your Dragon." It was speculated that the lack of 3D screen availability could hurt Katzenberg's prospects as the 3D release schedule around March seemed like a "traffic jam".



Clash Of The Titans (1 April) [more]

Shot in anamorphic film as a 2D release, Warner Bros. later opted for 3D and converted it within 10 weeks in order to meet its release date - a decision reportedly costing around US$4.5 million. French director Louis Leterrier said, "It was the success of 'Avatar' and the new technology called View-D (convert 2D into 3D) developed by Prime Focus" that helped pushed the 3D idea forward.


Toy Story 1 & 2 (22 April) [more]

Disney/Pixar will re-release "Toy Story" (1995) & "Toy Story 2" (1999) as a double feature in digital 3D for a limited engagement of two weeks! Recap the previous "Toy Story" adventures back-to-back for the price of one movie ticket (which will foresee a price hike up). Both films take us back through the eyes of two rival toys – Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger.


Shrek Forever After (20 May) [more]

Touted as the franchise finale, the 3D converted fourth instalment spins a nightmare in which the ogre was never born, never met his friends and never married the love of his life. Although this marks as the final film, one of its characters may live on – Puss. Antonio Banderas is currently working on a spinoff film starring the swashbuckling kitty in "Puss In Boots", placing focus on Puss' childhood. As Dreamworks Animation prepares for the release of "Shrek Forever After," the studio is converting the first three movies to the stereo format for a 3D Blu-ray Disc release.


Toy Story 3 (17 June) [more]

The playthings of "Toy Story 3" face their own nightmare - the prospect of winding up in storage in the attic or worse, discarded - now that their kid is off to college. Serving as Pixar's second 3D release following 2009's "Up", Buzz, Woody and the gang face new adventures coming their way together with over 14 new toys! See new characters HERE.


Despicable Me (8 July) [more]

Showcasing childish, midget-sized minions in one of their many teaser trailers, the story has Steve Carell voicing Gru, an aspiring supervillian whose scheme to steal the moon is interrupted by three orphan girls aiming to adopt him as their dad. Designed and shot in 3D, writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul promises that a roller-coaster scene in the film will take audiences on a wacky 3D ride!


Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore (2 September) [more]

In the age-old battle between cats and dogs, one crazed feline has taken things a paw too far. Kitty Galore, formerly an agent for cat spy organisation MEOWS, has gone rogue and hatched a diabolical plan to not only bring her canine enemies to heel, but take down her former kitty comrades and make the world her scratching post.


The Last Airbender (5 August) [more]

Adam Sevani ("Step Up 2") and Alyson Stoner ("The Suite Life of Zack and Cody") will be twinkling their toes in this one as Disney's Touchstone promises to at least keep the adults busy with some dazzling 3D effects.


Piranha 3-D (2 September) [more]

A remake of Joe Dante's 1978 film "Piranha", director Alexandre Aja ("The Hills Have Eyes") was confident with the 3D element where he said: "We are completely going for the payoff of what's coming out of the screen. And it's going to be only about that." Get ready for lots of blood as 20,000 college kids on spring break are going to be attacked by an angry school of prehistoric man-eating fish!


Resident Evil: Afterlife (9 September) [more]

Shot in 3D, Milla Jovovich reclaims her role as Alice who continues her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety in a world ravaged by an infectious virus and victims are turned into the undead. As a deadly battle escalates, she is helped by an old friend Claire Redfield played by Ali Larter (of "Heroes" fame). According to Sony Pictures, it will be the first movie after "Avatar" to use James Cameron & Vincent Pace's patented Fusion Camera System, the world's most advanced 3D technology.


Legend Of The Guardians (23 September) [more]

Zack Snyder, the director of "300" and "Watchmen", goes fully CGI with this feature based on the children's book series "Guardians of Ga'Hoole," about an orphaned owl (Jim Sturgess) who is brainwashed into becoming soldiers by the owls of St. Aggie's.


Amphibious (7 October) [more]

Filmed in Indonesia and shot in stereoscopic 3D, America-based Filipino director Brian Yuzna's creature feature delivers a new underwater killer - giant sea scorpions! We've seen sharks, killer whales, anacondas, crocodiles, snack on us humans, but not nearly enough of killer crustaceans, let alone in 3D. Starring Michael Paré, a marine research expedition to the exotic Sumatran Sea turns treacherous as it encounters a supernatural prehistoric creature resurfacing with a vengeance.

Deemed as the first Asian digital 3D horror film, the Pang brothers ("The Eye") ensured that the 3D feature will compliment their jump-out-of-your-seat shock tactic and spooky style. Starring cutesy actress Rainie Yang, it tells of six stranded Hong Kong travellers during the shutdown of the Bangkok airport in the November 2008 anti-government protest and their supernatural encounters in an aged, shabby hotel. The twins also will be introducing a monster in the film!

Megamind (11 November) [more]

DreamWorks' third 3D animated feature of the year after "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek," this flick features an all-star voice cast including Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill in a story about a supervillain's existential crisis.


Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows (18 November) [more]

The magical realm will come to life in digital 3D as Warner Bros. have decided to up-convert it. Producer David Heyman didn't shoot in 3D as he said, "I think it was just impractical and it would have taken much, much too long as shooting in 3D is slower." Bless his soul for that decision as the franchise is taking ages to end! However, reports say that the film will be using the same software to convert as "Clash Of The Titans" (which resulted in a less than satisfying effect). We see Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint battle against Lord Voldemort for the umpteenth time in this part 1 of the two-part finale.


The Hole (28 October) [more]

Such a title is destined to stir up a few jokes – even director Joe Dante himself said he hopes the name will change in time for release, stating "I don't want people calling this Joe Dante's Hole". The "family horror" explores the fears and secrets buried deep in the human mind, when a pair of brothers stumble upon a mysterious, bottomless hole in their basement that leads to the darkest corridors of their fears and nightmares.


Rapunzel (25 November) [more]

Titled as "Tangled" in the United States, singer Mandy Moore voices Rapunzel in this comedic re-imagining of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. A princess stolen from her parents' castle as a baby, Rapunzel is locked in a hidden tower longing for adventure. Now an imaginative and determined teenager, she takes off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade with the help of a dashing bandit (Zachary Levi).


Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage (2 December) [more]

Distributed by GSC, the film took on a new title from "Around The World In 50 Years" to "Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage" - probably due to the latter sounding catchier bearing the words 'adventures' and 'secret'. The animation centres on the life of a sea turtle hatched in 1959 that spends the next 50 years travelling the world, slowly being affected by global warming. Brace yourself for an educational version of "Finding Nemo" (2003).


The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (9 December) [more]

The Michael Apted-directed third instalment of the "Narnia" franchise, after "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian", was announced in March to be converted into 3D. Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship. Together with royal friend Caspian X and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they must face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk.


Tron Legacy (16 December) [more]

It was a three-year process to produce sci-fi action flick "Tron Legacy" - the second instalment to 1982 "Tron". And just like "Avatar", the movie was shot entirely in 3D, allowing an immersive experience into the digital world. It tells of a tech savvy 27-year-old (Garrett Hedlund), who finds himself sucked into the digital world of Tron, where his father (Jeff Bridges) has been living for 25 years. Confidently enough, writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have already begun to work on the follow-up, "Tron 3"!


Yogi Bear (17 December) [more]

Featuring live action characters, it looks like our favourite bear is back to steal some pic-a-nic baskets in 3D! No screenshots revealed yet, but the voice talent looks solid as they have secured Dan Aykroyd (Yogi Bear), Justin Timberlake (Boo-Boo), Tom Cavanagh, and Anna Faris.


Gulliver's Travels (23 December) [more]

Jack Black steps into the title role of this latest adaptation of Jonathan Swift's 18th-century satire. Shot as a 2D film, 20th Century Fox confirmed that the adventure flick will be converted to 3D. Not sure if this is a wise choice, but is anyone willing to watch Mr. Black in digital 3D?