The jury is still out over 3D content, whether it really is the next phase in the evolution of television viewing.
On one hand, who wouldn’t want to empathize with the race of aliens in James Cameron’s Avatar for a few hours, seeing the blueness of their skins jumping out of the screen?
On the other hand, how cool can you really feel wearing those ridiculous-looking 3D glasses?
Also, most 3D TV sets out in the market command a six-digit price range. Anyone who makes that P100,000 leap forward risks getting rich’s man guilt.
This is where the LG 42-inch Cinema 3D LED (light-emitting diode) television set comes into the picture.
A 42-inch screen is impressive by most people’s standards. But a 42-inch LED screen, especially compared with run-of-the-mill liquid crystal display (LCD) screens in the market today, is an absolute revelation.
Coupled with LG’s P30,000 HB806 Blu Ray player, which still has several glitches but allows you to network with your home computer, the LG TV delivers a home-entertainment experience like no other—so much so that everyone should skip LCD television sets and go straight to LED by the time they get their Christmas bonuses this December.
While images appear so life-like on LED screens, how much better can it really get with 3D?
The 3D component makes the LG TV about twice as expensive as its non-3D counterparts. And how many times could you really enjoy the 3D feature that the extra P50,000 brought you?
The answer is not very often.
Most Hollywood blockbusters today are released in 3D format. But that doesn’t mean they are all best viewed on 3D.
Famed Los Angeles film critic Roger Ebert even proclaimed that 3D “adds nothing essential to the movie-going experience. For some, it is an annoying distraction. For others, it creates nausea and headaches.”
Sure, it will work with films like Avatar and (questionably) Harry Potter, but Colin Firth didn’t have to be in 3D to win the Academy Award, and for The King’s Speech to win Best Picture.
It’s the classic case of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
So should you? The answer is a definitive yes.
The fact is, 3D Cinema TV was never meant for those on a budget. If you already have P100,000 burning a hole in your pocket, and have nothing better to spend it on, yes, a 3D TV should do just fine.
And the great thing is, you won’t need to justify it. Everything about LG’s new TV already screams excess.
It’s from a top-notch brand, featuring state-of-the-art technology, in a sleek and slim package, all designed to get you away from less entertaining activities like “exercise” and “socializing.”
Sure, your friends will tell you that their non-3D TVs are just as good. But you know better. You already spent what’s the equivalent of a few months of some of your colleagues’ salaries on a single gadget.
Don’t worry. You deserve it.