Avatar - 3D or not 3D? That is the question. Having just read that Avatar will be presented in two different aspect ratios, (2D will be Scope and 3D will be 1.85) at James Cameron's insistance, I'm left wondering which format should I choose to be my first viewing.

I ask this as I firmly believe that first viewings of films matter. Imagine your favourite film. Got it? Okay, now imagine that when you first saw it, it was out of focus and/or the print had an annoying green emulsion scratch down the middle of the frame. Chances are your favourite film would not be your favourite film as that first experience of it would have been compromised and spoiled.

My concern with Avatar is that should I watch it first in standard 2D (Scope), letting the story and characters stand on their own and then  follow it up by seeing it in 3D for the 'spectacle' of it? Do I want the 3D experience to distract me from the story by seeing it in 3D first? Or do I say, to hell with that, and have my first viewing be in 3D?

I know there are bigger problems in the world right now and this is not a 'real' issue but reading the article on the aspect ratio's did get me thinking about this?

What do you all think?

Scope 2D or 1.85 3D?

I say you watch it in 2D/scope first. If you watch a film in 3D, the 'spectacle' of watching it in 3D sometimes makes it feel like it's a better film than what it is. If you see it in 2D first, you know how good or bad you thought it was and you can then determine from that wheter or not you want to see it again, in 3D.

I want to see it in 3D but this is a film that will predominantly (in the short term at least) be seen (in cinemas and the home) in 2D and will have to stand on the merits of the story not on how it looks in 3D.

Seeing it in it's 3D glory will be fantastic I'm sure but we will have to get used to it in it's 2D form for the majority our viewings until 3D technology in the home becomes affordable to the masses.

I think it's an interesting dilemma and one that we've not had to think about for a film of this scale and expectation.

2D. I'm not paying £1.50 extra every time "for the experience" when the whole thing was thought up to stop piracy.