First let me say that I think the whole 3-D argument gets old. 3-D is innocent. It’s a tool. A gimmick, but one when used well is fantastic and fun. Yes, Clash of the Titans is a better movie in 2-D than 3-D and yes post conversion of 2-D films to 3-D is oftentimes a muddy mess. But there’s something that just works about sitting in a theater with the glasses and the heightened reality that follows. And when one of those rare marriages of a 3-D movie and content that serves it well happens, it’s pure and defies the inherently C-Grade history of 3-D movies.

Piranha 3-D is so much better in 3-D it isn’t funny. I saw the midnight showing on Thursday and was surprised how much I loved the 3-D aspect of it. It wasn’t too dark. It was appropriately cheesy at times and surprisingly mood-enhancing at times. There are some really beautifully shot moments in the movie and there’s something amazing about underwater photography that’s shot well and presented in the format. It all works towards a better moviegoing experience. Last night I saw the late showing of the movie in 2-D and while it was still a lot of fun (plus I was with Jerry O’Connell’s biggest fan Justin Waddell), the lack of 3-D hurt.

The more I thought about it the more sense it made. This is the ideal movie for 3-D because there’s no integrity to worry about with a killer piranha [PREHISTORIC piranhas no less] movie. There’s no real affinity for the original film that makes it hallowed ground, though this could be a sequel, a remake, a re-imagining, or whatever else without affecting the Dante and Cameron movies. Plus, the Richard Dreyfus introduction rules out any attempts to maintain a semblance of class. The movie is effective and gory and funny and arousing, which is a nice combination in any situation.

Don’t see Piranha in 2-D is what I’m saying. It’s still fun but it’s not magical.

And don’t be so hard on 3-D. It’s still in its infancy in this modern age of filmmaking. It’s here to stay and I can’t think of many advances in entertainment that weren’t marred by bumpy patches, mistakes, and learning experiences.

But 3-D ain’t bad in and of itself. And neither is Piranha.