Bigger doesn’t always mean better.

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I have seen movies in both IMAX 2D and IMAX 3D, and I still wouldn't say that 3D is the automatic upgrade. When a movie gives all that added depth something to do, it can be much more immersive. I felt that again when I recently watched Spider-Man: Brand New Day in IMAX 3D. The extra depth was appropriate for a film that was all about speed, height, and objects constantly whizzing through the frame. But I also found the image to be darker.

This time, there was another adjustment to deal with. I recently began wearing prescription glasses, which meant I had to put the IMAX 3D pair on top of them. It worked, but there was a learning curve, and it's hard to forget that you're wearing one pair of glasses on top of another for a couple of hours. None of that spoiled the experience for me, but it did confirm a rule I've been slowly working up to: 3D has to earn the glasses.

There is one simple distinction to clear up first. IMAX and 3D aren't rival formats.…