SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - With a steady stream of 3D features cascading into the box office, Yellowknife's Capitol Theatre is getting on board.

Chris Wood, general manager of Capitol Theatre, puts on the new lens that will bring 3D films to Yellowknife. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photo

Its first feature in three dimensions - the family-oriented film Yogi Bear - debuts this evening.

The theatre is renting a special lens that uses one red lens and one green lens to create stereoscopic movies.

And, unlike the paper 3D glasses of yesteryear, the modern glasses are reusable with glass lenses and specially formed plastic. They will be handed out at the beginning of the film and collected at the end. A special washing machine will then sterilize them for the next patrons. This will save in the costs of shipping up new glasses every month plus the waste involved, according to Chris Wood, the theatre's general manager.

Wood has put on the glasses and previewed the 3D experience.

"I'm very impressed with it and I think people will be, too," he said.

The theatre is only renting the Panavision theatre lens because it still has plans to move over to a digital system, which does not involve bulky film.

Most films weigh around 35 kilograms and shipping them to Yellowknife from Edmonton and back costs around $200. With a digital system there is little-to-no shipping involved.

"This is an interim step to get us into (digital) 3D," said Wood, who would not reveal the cost of renting the special lens or converting to a digital system.

Right now Wood has the lens set up in Cinema 1, the largest of the three amphitheatres, which seats 233 people.

The choice of Yogi Bear to kick off the new 3D feature doesn't sit well with some movie-goers.

"Wow. That's unfortunate," said Kyle Rentmeister, who is known to friends as a movie critic. His family has always been into cinema and since he was a child he's been critiquing all kinds of films.

He saw Avatar in 3D in Edmonton and loved the experience and says he is looking forward to being able to see 3D movies here.

He sees most movies, including animations, but Rentmeister said he most likely won't go to Yogi Bear and is not feeling any excitement about the next 3D film in the queue for Yellowknife: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.

"I feel terrible. That's the worst way to showcase 3D movies," he groaned.

Movies in 3D won't necessarily be shown every week - only occasionally, when they are available - according to Wood.

Rentmeister may have a while to wait until what he considers to be a "good" 3D flick hits town, but he's still happy 3D is finally here.

"At least we're getting it," he said.

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