3-D for the home has failed.  The latest TVs and Blu-ray players do not include it.  Some movies are still shown in the theaters in 3D.

At this point, many films made in 3D are not being released on US Blu-ray discs in 3D.  However, you can find foreign 3D discs that are region 0 or all regions that will play on US players.  They’re available on eBay.

3D also failed in the 1950s.  However, many of those films have been released on 3D Blu-ray discs. Dial M for Murder (1954) was made in 3D but not shown that way until 1980.  It’s available on a 3D Blu-ray.

Here’s a history of 3D movies.

3-D Space is a non-profit devoted to stereoscopic imaging.

Recent films in 3D are usually animated movies or superhero films.  For 3D effects, I recommend Doctor Strange, Pacific Rim and Inside Out.

This article discusses a tribute to Miyagawa who shot some of Japan’s great films.  They include:

Rashomon

Yojimbo

Floating Weeds

Ugetsu

They are all available through the Criterion Collection.

Czech director Milos Forman died on April 13, 2018.  He is best known for two American films that earned him Academy Awards – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus.

I would like to mention two of his earlier films.  The Fireman’s Ball, his last film made in Czechoslovakia is available on DVD from the Criterion Collection.

Taking Off was his first American film.  It has never been available on home video in the US.  I haven’t seen it since the early 1970’s.  I think there are issues related to obtaining the music rights.

Hong Kong film director Johnnie To‘s birthday was April 22nd.  To is versatile but best known for his action and crime movies.  US versions of some are available on the Well Go USA label.  I have purchase Asian versions of other Blu-rays and DVDs on eBay.

Where to start?

I would begin with some of these:

Drug War

Three

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Election and Election 2

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Raising Arizona is a great film.  Along with The Man Who Wasn’t There, it’s one of the most underrated Coen Brothers films.

This excellent column notes that of the 1,50 drama titles on Netflix, only 97 were from before 2000.  This ignores the rich history of film which goes back over a century.  Since Netflix has such wide distribution, it could help educate its viewers about older films.  They’re not in widescreen, color, or have extensive CGI effects.  Many aren’t even in English.  However, many great films were released in the 1900s.

The Criterion Collection has done an outstanding job of creating Blu-ray/DVD discs of films from all time periods and countries.  Their discs are expensive but worth it – great transfers and extensive supplements.  They go on sale once or twice a year at Barnes & Noble; Criterion’s online site has occasional 50% off flash sales too.

Here are some ideas for discs they could make.

• Films directed by Miklos Jancso such as Red Psalm
• The Magnificent Ambersons directed by Orson Welles
• Silent films – Greed, The Wind, The Crowd
• Viva Riva! (2010), a great Congolese crime thriller film directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga
• Luis Bunuel’s Mexican films prior to The Exterminating Angel. I recommend Nazarin and El.
• Dawn of the Dead directed by George Romero. I don’t think this is in print in the US.  Criterion just released the original Night of the Living Dead.
• More films by Robert Bresson such as Une Femme Douce and Quatre Nuits d’un Reveur.
• Wanda directed by Barbara Loden

Update:  The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek directed by Preston Sturges.  A great 1940s comedy that has been released twice on DVD but is out of print now.  Criterion has already released two Sturges films on Blu-ray but I think this is best one.

The British Film Institute (BFI) is an excellent source of information about films from all eras and countries.

Every decade, they conduct a poll on the top films of all time.  Here’s a link to their latest poll (2012) which named Vertigo as the greatest film of all time.

They also have lists on specific people, countries, and subjects.  I recommend the lists of 10 great South Korean action films and 10 great silent romances.  There are many other fine lists to pick from.