Are 3-D Movies Ready for Their Closeup?

For some of the world's top filmmakers, digital 3-D is the future of movies. Adjust your glasses

Art Streiber for TIME

Cameron, center, revolutionized the 3-D business with his Fusion high-definition video cameras.

Correction Appended: March 20, 2009

The lights dim in the screening room. Suddenly, the doomed Titanic fills the screen--but not the way I remember in the movie. The luxury liner is nearly vertical, starting its slide into the black Atlantic, and Leonardo DiCaprio is hanging on for life, just like always. But this time, I am too. The camera pans to the icy water far below, pulling me into the scene--the sensation reminds me of jerking awake from a dream--and I grip the sides of my seat to keep from falling into the drink.

Most of us have seen the top-grossing film...

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