These days, more and more people are either pirating movies or watching them at home. Dreamworks Animation head honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg is mad as hell about it, and he's not going to take it anymore!

This afternoon I was invited to a special presentation for Dreamworks' upcoming animated film "Monsters vs. Aliens".

The purpose of this screening was for Katzenberg to make like the Wizard of Oz and pull back the curtain to give us a peak at his cinematic revolution. "Revolution"? Yep, Katzenberg is comparing 3D cinema to the advent of sound and color.

However, is this really a big deal if 3D cinema has already arrived? And I'm not talking about the traditional cardboard glasses 3D, I'm referring to the new crystal-clear 3D. I'm talking Theme Park 3D. This kind of 3D debuted in 2004 when Warner Brothers released Robert Zemeckis' "The Polar Express" in 3D on IMAX. Since then many films have followed suit, including "Chicken Little", "Beowulf", "Hannah Montana", "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Bolt".

But to what effect? None of these 3D films has been a home run, critically or financially. In fact the most successful release is still "The Polar Express", with only 25% of its box office coming from the 3D/IMAX prints whereas the rest came from traditional 2D prints.

Katzenberg, though, was part of the 25% who saw the 3D/IMAX version of "The Polar Express". And he was sold! He immediately decided to make the move to 3D animation - starting with "Monsters vs. Aliens", all Dreamworks Animation films will be released in 3D. Audiences will still have the option to see 2D versions, but - and this is what Katzenberg's excited about - the filmmakers will be making these new movies with a 3D frame of mind instead of just running their 2D version through the computer to create a supplemental 3D version. This means that if you want to see a Dreamworks Animation film as it was intended, you've got to see it in 3D.

And it will cost you extra.

Based on how many people complain about current ticket prices, will they really be willing to shell out an extra five bucks for the 3D experience? Especially when I regret to inform you that Katzenberg isn't exactly giving you much bang for you buck, at least with "Monsters vs. Aliens".

The footage we were shown at the screening had no "gotcha" moments where things flew out at the audience. Instead, as Katzenberg pointed out afterwards, Dreamworks Animation is going for subtle. In Katzenberg's mind 3D means that audiences get to step into the movie but, based on what I saw, he only has you stepping in ever so slightly. You are by no means in the middle of the action.

Uh, since when has progress ever been "subtle"?

A few weeks ago I covered the release of Disney's "Bolt" for BEYOND THE TRAILER. That movie is also in 3D and, as you can see from the episode, audiences weren't impressed as they felt the movie would have been just as good in 2D:

Part of what's driving this move to 3D, beyond the creative aspects, is business - which is no real surprise as Hollywood is an industry selling a product, not a museum showcasing fine works of art. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, Hollywood has quite a piracy problem and the advancement of home theater systems is a serious threat.

But not for long thanks to Hollywood's new best friend/secret weapon, 3D cinema!

In the case of piracy, you can't videotape a 3D movie in the theater because you need to have special glasses to pull the image into focus. Anyone who tries to videotape the movie will simply get a fuzzy picture. (Although I encourage Hollywood not to underestimate people's eagerness to save money. I'm confident a lot of people would happily watch a free fuzzy movie.)

As for home theater systems, the 3D experience is only available at your local multiplex. Once again, going out to the movies becomes a unique experience. Katzenberg has even been talking to a glasses company about manufacturing special sunglasses you can buy that, when you go into a movie theater, turn into 3D glasses. (But having your own pair of 3D glasses won't bring down the price of the ticket.)

So at second glance, that surcharge is also a security fee which you pay to keep Hollywood safe.

But the fate of 3D movies is far from decided and any single movie could be a game-changer. In addition to Katzenberg's initiative, James Cameron's upcoming action movie "Avatar" will also be in 3D. In fact, in a rare example of studios working together, Katzenberg and Cameron's team have been comparing 3D notes - although I bet you Cameron's 3D film will be far from subtle.

Either way, though, it'll be you and not Hollywood who decides if 3D movies are just a gimmick or the future of film.

So are you excited about the 3D cinematic revolution?

Will you pay extra to experience it?

Do you want in-your-face 3D or do you appreciate subtle 3D?

And how about those sunglasses that double as 3D movie glasses? Interested?