The first wave of full HD 3D Blu-rays to appear in the UK were all brand-exclusives; to get your mitts on Monsters Vs Aliens you had to purchase Samsung 3D hardware, while to get copies of Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Coraline and you had to shell out for Panasonic kit.
Yet the situation is improving with Walt Disney and Sony Pictures both allowing titles to go straight to retailers. At present, these are Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Monster House (both Sony) and A Christmas Carol (Walt Disney).
Confusion may arise from the fact that, while Sony Pictures adamantly won't allow any of its films to be tied into hardware, the consumer electronics wing of Sony has woken up to the idea of following Samsung and Panasonic down that route, but has had to turn to Walt Disney for material.
So while Walt Disney is releasing A Christmas Carol direct to shops, its films Bolt and Alice in Wonderland are being bundled with Sony 3D kit. The good news is that the exclusivity period for these titles is only 60 days, so they should be available to buy before Christmas.
In our list below, Piranha 3D is schedule for December 27. Beware that, for reasons known only to complete idiots, this is also being released as an anaglyph title in the UK, and distributor Entertainment in Video hasn't yet confirmed whether there'll be a full HD 3D version. So make sure you know exactly what you're buying if you go for it, or you might end up bitten.
Full HD 3D completists should check out online auction sites such as eBay, where some people are selling on discs such as Ice Age 3. But be prepared to pay over £40 for a 3D BD…
Online retailer, Amazon has listings for a range of IMAX 3D titles distributed in the UK by a little-known company called Cornerstone Media International. Many of them are listed as coming in 2011, but three titles should be available to buy now (although, as these three have already had their release dates amended once before, we wouldn't be surprised if the situation has changed by the time you read this....).
Across the pond It won't surprise many home cinema enthusiasts to know that the situation in the US is better than in the UK, with more titles available for 3D freaks to wrap their eyes around. Again, though, there are some exclusivity deals.
Of most interest is the initial run of Warner 3D titles that hit stores on November 16, which included Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Clash of the Titans and The Polar Express, plus various IMAX docs. As Warner typically makes all its discs region-free, these may be worth importing (no announcements have been made for UK releases). Double-check the region code, though, before you get your credit card out.
One US 3D title that is definitely region-free is Lionsgate's My Bloody Valentine 3D, but it's only available in Best Buy stores, so you may have more trouble importing a copy. Again, eBay might be your best bet.
Another region-free platter in the US is The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D. Whether or not you'd want it is another matter – it runs for only 64 minutes, is presented in 720p, and England were useless in the tournament anyway.
Insatiable fans of 3D should also keep a regular eye on the German software market (poke your browser at www.amazon.de). Our European cousins often get tastier BD releases than we do, and the same appears to be true when it comes to 3D. They've been enjoying the three-dimensional fun of Clash of the Titans since August, and were able to buy Street Dance 3D before UK consumers, too (even though it's a BBC Film co-production).
Put simply, there are probably more full HD 3D titles available than you may have realised, you just need to know where to look for 'em...
Software stock-take A complete list of the 3D Blu-rays confirmed for release UK 3D BD: Out now…
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Panasonic Exclusive)
Coraline (Panasonic Exclusive)
Bolt 3D (60-day Sony Exclusive)
A Christmas Carol: Super Play (60-day Sony Exclusive)
IMAX Van Gogh: Brush with Genius 3D
IMAX Dinosaurs Alive! 3D
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UK 3D Blu-rays: Coming soon…
Alice in Wonderland 3D (Dec 6)
IMAX Volcanoes of the Deep Sea 3D (Dec 6)
Piranha 3D (Dec 27)
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US 3D Blu-ray: Out now…
Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D (AIX Records)
Samsung Presents: IMAX 3D Triple Feature: Galapagos/Into the Deep/Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (Samsung Exclusive)
Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D
Clash of the Titans 3D
IMAX: Under the Sea 3D
The Polar Express 3D
The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D
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US 3D Blu-ray: Coming Soon…
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Germany 3D Blu-ray: Out now…
Clash of the Titans 3D
Street Dance 3D
Schock Labyrinth Dragster 3D
IMAX: Wild Ocean 3D
The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D
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Germany 3D Blu-ray: Coming soon…
Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D (Dec 13)
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2011 3D Blu-ray discs on the radar for next year...
Tron Legacy
Walt Disney's sci-fi sequel should look and sound great on 3D Blu-ray
Avatar
Exclusive to Panasonic at first, but someone will flog their copy on eBay
Toy Story 3D
Already out in 2D, we expect a 3D version to follow in 2011
Saw 3D
Argggh! Splat! Shriek! Gurgle...
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