Is Digital 3D really the future (and savior) of movie theaters and moviegoing? Or is it, like theatrical releases in general, merely a preview of what's to come out soon on home video? As much as I have championed the new technology -- with some exception -- and touted it as a sort of new hope for the exhibition industry, I have had some minor doubts that I've been trying to hide away and ignore. But it may finally be the time to acknowledge and address the facts: Digital 3D is not here to save cinemas and it isn't exclusively the future of movie going. It's the future of movie watching as a whole. And since we're already prone to choosing our living rooms to auditoriums, it's mostly the future of home viewing.

There have been 3D processors available for your home theater for years, courtesy of Sensio, which I actually wrote about way back in 2006. However, the expenses required to equip your home with the technology were enough that it didn't seem too threatening. And such products aren't exactly that well known, probably for that reason that they aren't reasonable for the masses. Meanwhile, the new 3D technology for cinemas has since been given a whole lot of exposure, mainly because they are available or are becoming available all over the globe. 3D movies are also more expensive than regular movies, but they're still relatively affordable to just about anyone. So, obviously in the last two years, it has been easy to forget about Sensio and go on being excited about Real D and the other companies making Digital 3D equipment for movie theaters.

Here's some great news for all those who felt left out of the Beowulf IMAX 3D experience: 100 new IMAX screens will be installed in cinemas throughout the U.S. over the next three years. According to the Hollywood Reporter, IMAX made a deal with AMC Entertainment to put its digital projection systems in 33 of the theater chain's locations. The first 50 will begin installation next July, with 25 more installed in 2009 and a final 25 installed in 2010. Apparently this will double the amount of IMAX 3D screens in the country. Had this happened prior to the release of Beowulf, the movie could have been twice as popular -- and twice as big a hit (currently it is just barely a success).

This is a big deal, considering I always just imagined IMAX screens were a luxury. Now more people will be able to see the IMAX 3D versions of Monsters vs.Aliens and Avatar if they are available in the format (I don't see why they wouldn't be). I didn't even really like my recent experience with IMAX 3D, yet I did promise to give it another shot. Unfortunately, it seems IMAX is more interested in broadening its reach rather than concentrating on my own satisfaction. Yeah, I'd be pretty stupid if I thought they'd spend money on fixing the problems I alone have with the format, but I will optimistically imagine the company will at least try to make the new locations as close to perfect as possible. Since AMC will be in charge of reconstructing its existing auditoriums, I hope that they fix the usual seating arrangement so all viewers have the same optimal experience.

Whoah! Hold your horses, cinema chains. You might want to hold off on installing that Real D hardware to your theaters. Sure, Monster House is a big hit on your existing Digital 3D screens, which probably use Real D's technology, but now there is apparently a cheaper solution. Dolby Labs, who you may remember from such hits as Dolby Stereo and Dolby Digital, is developing its own 3D projection systems in a partnership with Infitec GmbH.

Dolby's system will be less costly than Real D because it will not need a special silver-based screen. This saves theaters on some of the installation process and charges. Of course, there are other systems that can currently be shown on a regular, old white screen, but their glasses are more expensive and require batteries. Dolby says their system will use the same type of glasses currently used for Real D's system. Well, I guess they're just absolutely perfect. (Let's just hope they don't blind us with their science, har har.)

The best thing is that Dolby figured out the need to develop their own system after aiding in the installment of Real D technology to theaters for the debut of Chicken Little. They saw the drawbacks and then worked out solutions ... for themselves. I guess any company thinking about working with Dolby in the future should think again. The company is planning to be ready with the system by next spring. I hope so. Cinemas need to prepare for Star Wars 3D already.