Director Martin Scorsese has shared his apprehensions regarding immersive and 3D screenings, as he fears that the utilization of such elements may distract from a movie’s quality. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Oscar-winning director asked if films that use immersive formats like 4DX could still hold up without those specific elements. Scorsese pondered on how a film would look like without a moving chair, certain scents used in theatres or more technical elements beside the projection itself. He raised the question if it would still qualify as a movie as major elements would be missing.
While in 2011 Scorsese processed 3D for Hugo and stated that it was a “liberating” experience, today he questions its value, arguing that movies that include 3D may not be as effective for viewers who don’t watch them in that format, as there is a significant area of information missing. Furthermore, flat and 3D films don’t necessarily have the same effect. Even though he experimented with 3D before, Scorsese remains skeptical about the technology’s effect on a film’s overall quality.
Modern cinema has been a recent topic of concern for Scorsese, who in 2019 provoked a debate about the artistic value of blockbusters by comparing Marvel movies to theme parks. The director is nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor, for his latest film, Killers Of The Flower Moon. With nine Best Director nods throughout his career, Scorsese is now the most Oscar-nominated living director, overtaking Steven Spielberg.
The acclaimed director is not the first to question whether 3D visuals and immersive formats detract from the overall quality of a film. Some viewers expressed similar concerns about James Cameron’s Avatar, which heavily relied on visual effects and 3D technology. Scorsese’s preference for traditional filmmaking pales in comparison to modern-day technological advancements, but his apprehension has nevertheless put into focus what constitutes a film moving forward
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