I was amazed and glad my wife had me spend the extra money on the 3-D.The special effects aren't overdone, and despite its length, there really aren't any slow spots; the movie just sucks you in. We both thought it was one of the best movies we've ever seen. The plot was actually pretty good even if most of the elements can be found in bits and pieces elsewhere. This is one I would say you have to see in the theater to truly appreciate its splendor (even if you have an HD tv - I do).