I have now seen “The Avengers” twice. Once in 2D, once in 3D. And it has glaringly shown me that we need to stop making movies in 3D. I know there is a huge argument about this fact, and it has weirdly become polarizing. But my opinion on this will probably also help illuminate another issue floating around today: we all have differing opinions -- and that’s okay.

   I love 3D as much as the next guy (assuming that the next guy likes 3D). But the 3D I love is the one that makes you swat in front of your face for fear of being bitten by a flying creature. I loved 3D as a kid because it made you question your reality. It made you forget for a moment that things weren’t real. I loved “Fright Night” (the original) and other such movies where the 3D was an added layer to the movie, making it more than worth the price of admission. But it has weirdly become something that just adds “depth” to a film. You know what else adds depth to a film? Making it a better film. How about we concentrate on that aspect of filmmaking, instead of pretending that a higher admission ticket price is justifiable because we want to feel like that tree over there is closer than that other tree over there. Admittedly, I’ll see every movie out there because I love them. I’m in love with films. And I’ll even see movies in 3D because I am holding out this weird childlike hope that it’ll be worth it again. But it’s not. Aside from “Avatar”, it hasn’t been worth the higher price in years. Each time I find myself leaving the theater feeling bamboozled. Like a kid whose parents promised them a trip to Disneyland when, in fact, they were just going to Anaheim for visit family. I’ll pay whatever you want me to pay, I’ll save up for ages to invest in an experience, but that experience has to be worth it. But at the moment, 3D is simply a tool adding the thinnest of layers to that experience. It’s like asking me to pay more for my ticket because the movie has surround-sound. (The difference being that surround sounds actually DOES make the movie better. Who DOESN’T like to freak out when they hear a T-Rex behind their right ear?)

   “Avengers” helps make this point for me. I loved the movie. Loved, loved, loved it. And it was even better in the second viewing. But when I decided to see that second viewing in 3D, I expected a little extra something. Anything. A quick moment of “oh crap, here comes an alien” or “ooooooo, Hulk is all up in my grill.” It wasn’t there. Not even once. In fact, I think the expectation somehow REMOVED a layer of the enjoyment from me. And I think that’s where the explanation of my opinion lies. You know where amazing 3D exists that adds layers to my experience? Real life. That’s right folks, the most-expensive 3D that there is. The world. If I want to look out and see that “one building is closer to me than that other building”, I’ll look out my damned window. And it’ll be just as exciting. Films, for me, are an escape. And I’ll always pay for that escape -- that feeling when the lights go down and silence settles in. That feeling will always capture my imagination, both as an actor and as a fan. It separates me from the world I live in and allows my imagination to explore. I will willingly suspend my disbelief for any amount of time, but don’t take that belief for granted. Concentrate on the content, and you will have me heart, body and soul. But focus on wooing me with your bells and whistles, and we, my friend, are at an impasse. Maybe I’m old-school, then. And that’s fine. I guess I view 3D like I view a cameo. It’s a gimmick that might give me a brief “oh cool” moment. But that’s it. If the cameo is spread through the entire movie, he’s just an actor in the film. He’s not making a cameo. And 3D has become just another actor in the movie. And I’m not paying extra for him... because he has waned in his later years and I’m not a fan of his performances anymore.

   And that brings me to my final rant. We live in a wonderful world where we can finally express our opinions. Yay! Yippee! Technology! Ooooooo! But first we need to all agree on a little caveat to this wonderful privilege: all opinions are valid. We might not like this idea. We can even hate it. (But that’s an opinion, isn’t it?) If we want the freedom to express our opinions, we need to accept that not all of us agree. Hell, sometimes, a lot of people are just plain wrong. And that’s OKAY. (This is where the wonderful concept of “ignoring” can come in handy. If someone disagrees with you, or holds a differing opinion? MOVE. THE. F. ON. Life continues.) If an idea or an opinion doesn’t hurt someone else, than I accept it. Even if I think you’re a gigantic tool for having said opinion, I will at least acknowledge your right to hold it. You exist, and your neurons fire in this certain way. You like “Whitney”? Okay, fine. I question your taste, but I will allow it. Live your life. Be free. Watch crappy television. Because you’ve earned that right by not murdering people or getting caught with illegal drugs. If you’re kind enough to let me go on liking “Vampire Diaries” then I’ll return the favor. Because we’re both human. And if we’re stuck bickering over whether or not Daniel Craig is a good James Bond, the aliens will find our destruction that much simpler. Let’s focus on making our world a better place. Ending hunger. Securing equality. Finding a way to clone Megan Fox. Things that evolve us as a species.

    We’re transitioning into an interesting time in civilization and will most likely discover new and exciting ways to share our opinions. And that means more and more people will have access to mediums with which to share that opinion. But until we find a way to accept each other, warts and all, we’re really only finding new ways to hate each other. And that’s never turned out well for us, has it?