Although the hardware component needed to view the new Blu-ray 3D movies has been available since about may of 2010, the most important part has been missing: Blu-ray 3D movies.
Some manufacturers, such as Panasonic and Samsung, have bundled 3D movies with a basic package of other required components, such as LC shutter glasses, but their bundles are designed to work with their brands of 3D HDTVs. Panasonic includes Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Coraline in their bundle, and Samsung includes Monsters vs. Aliens. The latest rumor says that Panasonic has signed an exclusive deal for Avatar and that blockbuster 3D movie will only be available to purchasers of a Panasonic 3D Viera plasma TV for an undisclosed period of time.
The situation is extremely frustrating for avid 3D movie fans who invested a fairly large sum of money in new gear just so that they could watch 3D movies. Although many of the numerous 3D movies that hit the theaters during 2010 have yet to be announced for Blu-ray 3D, there are a number that are scheduled for release in the last quarter of 2010 and can be pre-ordered through Amazon and other online merchants.
The list of Blu-ray 3D movies recently announced for release before the end of 2010 includes Polar Express (a real nice Tom Hanks Christmas story), Despicable Me and six IMAX 3D movies.
While the list is welcomed by 3D fans, it does fall far short of the approximately 50 3D movies that were supposed to be released before the end of 2010. Nonetheless, the movies that will be available with thrill most 3D enthusiasts.