The SpongeBob Movie Search for Square Pants 3D Movie Review

December 21, 2025 by adolph vega in 3-D Cinema, 3-D Films, 3-D Movies, 3D or 2D, Spongebob, Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob 2025, animated movies, 3D films, 2025, 3D Movies

The SpongeBob Movie Search for Square Pants

3D Movie Review

Written By: Jacob Scarberry

SpongeBob search for squarepants movie 2025 poster

3D

Ahoy, yer mateys! Welcome aboard the SOS 3D, where the depth is everything and the pop-outs don’t matter.

From the get-go, we’re treated to a beautiful 3D conversion — from the clever, SpongeBob-ified Paramount logo all the way to the end credits — and it’s clear we’re in for a visual treat for fans new and old alike. Depth is the (Patrick) star here, beautifully displaying tremendous use of layers, with backgrounds that feel seemingly endless and foregrounds perpetually right within reach of your hands.

The underground scenes are the best examples of this, showing off the depth in a way that makes it feel genuinely dimensional. Even simple shots in and around Bikini Bottom feel properly extended and natural to the human eye.

Pop-outs do happen on occasion, with faces coming toward the viewer without really breaking the barrier — with the exception of a nose poking out here or the unnaturally pointed hair of the live-action Flying Dutchman sticking out toward the audience. Most of these moments are blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, though. Even scenes of the Dutchman’s ship charging toward the camera chicken out, with the bow always turning away at the exact moment things were about to get good.

The best example of pop-out perfection comes during a transition involving a skull head. Later, when SpongeBob and Patrick enter the air ducts, you get a nice effect of SpongeBob’s body (which is also his face) coming toward the viewer, along with Patrick’s belly poking out of the vents as well.

The movie has some live action footage. Most of the live-action scenes are unimpressive and feel like an afterthought, with the climactic roller-coaster finale being the best of the bunch. Overall, this is an impressive 3D movie for the most part, but with pop-outs kept to a minimum, it never quite reaches its full swashbuckling potential.

Final 3D Score: 8/10

Movie

Are ya ready, millennials?

Nay, nay, Captain!

I can’t hear you?!

Nay, nay, Captain!

I still can’t hear you! I’m an aging millennial!

SpongeBob SquarePants has been in my life since its debut in May of 1999 — a mere 26 (!) years ago — and is still airing brand-new episodes to this very day. With three theatrical feature films, two spin-off shows, a glut of video games, and enough merchandise to last until the end of time, it’s safe to say SpongeBob is one of the most recognizable and popular characters ever created. Now, five years after the COVID-affected release of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, we arrive at the latest entry in the series.

It’s another day in Bikini Bottom, and SpongeBob is excited that he’s grown another half-clam in height — finally tall enough to ride the scariest roller coaster in town. Alas, he chickens out at the last minute when Patrick joins him and concocts a story that he promised Mr. Krabs he’d ride it with him, but now has to work instead. Mr. Krabs plays along… while also belittling SpongeBob, boasting that he would never be afraid of such a ride, having once been a certified swashbuckler who served with the infamous Flying Dutchman.

The cursed ghost sets his sights on SpongeBob, whose pure heart can release him from his curse, and plans to use him for his own nefarious deeds. With SpongeBob and Patrick tricked into completing dangerous trials to become swashbucklers, Mr. Krabs, Gary, and Squidward set sail on an adventure deep into the Underworld to save them from eternal doom.

SpongeBob SquarePants has undeniably gone downhill over the years — after more than a quarter century, that’s bound to happen. However, the movies tend to maintain a higher level of quality, with stronger writing and ideas that help them feel fresher than the show’s modern episodes. Thankfully, that trend mostly holds true here. This is the best SpongeBob has been in quite some time (though, having not seen the third film as of this writing, I can’t say how it compares to Sponge on the Run).

There are fun visual gags and jokes that feel reminiscent of older episodes — maybe a weaker post-2004 episode — not great, but better than most current installments of the TV series.

The classic voice cast — Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Roger Bumpass — are all at their usual best. Mark Hamill does a solid job replacing Brian Doyle-Murray as the Flying Dutchman, though he can’t quite match Doyle-Murray’s classic performance. I also missed the inclusion of more supporting characters, as we mostly get minor voice cameos at best. This makes the whole endeavor feel smaller in scope — like it should’ve been a direct-to-Paramount+ release, which it originally was meant to be.

It feels more substantial than a typical episode and definitely beefier than the SpongeBob TV specials of old, but as a larger-than-life, big-screen adventure, it falls short. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — but it could’ve used a rewrite to make things feel more epic, or at least included more familiar characters.

The animation style is a major departure from the hand-drawn 2D look fans are used to, but it manages to retain the show’s charm with an added dimension. Still, if we ever get a SpongeBob 5, I’d love to see a return to a fully hand-drawn look — or at least a SpongeBob 2-style hybrid of 2D and 3D. That said, it’s a good-looking movie with some creative animation and designs.

Another major complaint is the live-action sequences, which are clearly shot on sets with heavy green-screen use, making them look as cheap as a typical Nickelodeon live-action TV series. Flat, artificial, and seemingly produced on Mr. Krabs’ commercial budget, they feel shoehorned in simply because the previous films had live-action elements — and those movies did them better. The climax absolutely could (and should) have remained animated for a more satisfying finale.

All things considered, the film is pretty decent — not offensive, but also not daring. There are solid gags, faithful animation, and strong vocal performances, but it lacks scope and wastes its live-action potential. Still, it’ll entertain the Generation Alpha whipper-snappers, and parents and grandparents will likely stay awake. Here’s hoping SpongeBob SquarePants: The Today Sponge does even better next time.

Final Movie Score: 6/10

Learn more about how we rate 3D content via the link below:

https://www.3dor2d.com/3d-or-2d-ratingssystem/

Official Website :

https://www.spongebobmovie.com

Zootopia 2 3D Movie Review

November 27, 2025 by Jacob Scarberry in zootopia 2, zootopia 2 3d, zootopia 2 3-D, zootopia, Disney , Disney, 2025, 3-D Cinema, 3-D Films, 3-D Movies, 3D Movies, 3D films, 3D or 2D, 3D Worth It, animated movies, zootopia 2 3d review

Zootopia 2 3D Movie Review

Written By: Jacob Scarberry

3D

Stunning. Breath-taking. All the positive adjectives — I can bear-ly put into words how fantastic this 3D presentation was for Zootopia 2. Honestly, I couldn’t even think of what to say at first, because it’s that good.

The depth in Zootopia 2 is incredible — wide, clean, and consistently layered. There are constant pop-outs, including one tranquilizer dart in slow motion that had me literally duck for cover. Cityscapes stretch endlessly, the rainforest district feels almost tactile, and the snow regions look so good they practically made me feel cold. Action scenes are staged with clarity and purpose, with snouts, tails, tools, and debris regularly extending toward the audience.

Zootopia 2’s 3D presentation had zero ghosting, no dimming, and no artifact issues whatsoever — just bright, clean, reference-quality 3D visuals. You can tell the filmmakers planned for the format from the beginning, and the result is Disney’s strongest 3D effort in years.

Go see Zootopia 2 in 3D — you will not regret it!

Final 3D Verdict: 10/10 And Editor’s Choice Award

Movie

Nine years ago, with Zootopia, we got an amazing animated film about bias and racial stigma disguised as a buddy-cop comedy. Now we have Zootopia 2, a solid animated buddy-cop comedy with twice the puns, twice the pop-culture references, and far less emphasis on sociopolitical commentary — maybe a little too light for the times we live in. While it’s fun, Zootopia: The “Squeak-quel” isn’t exactly the sequel I was hoping for.

The plot of Zootopia 2 takes place one week after the duo solved a major conspiracy, with Officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) now rookie partners who immediately overstep Chief Bogo’s (Idris Elba, in a glorified cameo) orders. Their mistake causes major destruction and lands them in mandatory therapy for mismatched partners or else be split up. Naturally, they ignore the warnings and jump into a new case: a reptile land-rights conspiracy tied to a century-old murder that drove an entire species into hiding. The duo goes on the run to protect a misunderstood population on the brink of extinction.

Do you like animals? Do you like puns? Do you like both glued together? Because Zootopia 2 has them by the bushel. Some puns land well, others… well, “Nitrous Oinkside” exists. The film also packs in a surprising number of pop-culture references, including nods to R-rated horror movies that’ll fly right over kids’ heads — not always as clever as the movie thinks.

What works, though, are the characters and their chemistry. Bateman and Goodwin still have excellent rapport, and whenever Zootopia 2 focuses on the inner workings of their partnership, it’s touching, genuine, and funny. The voice cast is strong across the board — Fortune Feimster’s conspiracy-podcast host Nibbles is a standout, and Ke Huy Quan is delightful as Gary De’Snake. Hopefully both return.

The visual and technical aspects of Zootopia 2 are outstanding. Disney Animation delivers gorgeous work: expressive faces, fluid body movements, beautiful weather effects, and stellar rendering of physical materials (water, sand, dust, etc.) I also appreciated that the film credits the entire animation studio, not just department heads. Michael Giacchino’s score is charming, though some cues reminded me a bit of The Bad Guys. Sound mixing and editing are top-notch and deserve a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X setup — sadly, my theater only had 7.1.

Besides the uneven puns, the heavy-handed references, and a third act that drags long enough to make you check your watch, Zootopia 2 is a delightful film. It’s not as good as the original, but it is entertaining, visually excellent, and full of heart. The movie could have leaned harder into deeper societal themes — racism, bias, and the reptile community’s oppression — but the character work is strong enough to make it worth your while.

Final Movie Verdict: 7/10

Check out our review of the original Zootopia movie via the link below:

https://www.3dor2d.com/reviews/zootopia

Official Website:

https://movies.disney.com/zootopia-2

ParaNorman 3D Movie Review ( Remastered 2025 Edition )

October 26, 2025 by Jacob Scarberry in 3-D Cinema, 3-D Films, 3-D Movies, 3D or 2D, ParaNorman, animated movies

ParaNorman 3D Movie Review

( Remastered 2025 Edition )

By Jacob Scarberry

3D

Another year, another Laika 3D remaster. Last year’s remaster of Coraline was fantastic (even from the neck-breaking front row I was stuck in) — a real treat for the spooky season. I had high hopes for this 3D remaster, but sadly, it was a bit of a disappointment.

The biggest issue is the lack of consistent pop-outs, despite so many opportunities — from particles and storm effects to limbs and objects entering the 4th wall, and the ghastly wraiths haunting the world of ParaNorman. When pop-outs did occur, they were a lot of fun: the zombies’ first appearance as they charge straight toward Norman, the climax with sharp tree spikes bursting from the ground, and a few other scattered (bugs flying out) moments throughout.

The strongest aspect of the 3D is its excellent sense of depth — the environments look fantastic and immersive. Unfortunately, noticeable ghosting appears in several scenes, which knocks the overall experience down a notch.

It’s still an enjoyable 3D presentation overall, but mild compared to Coraline’s remaster — and on its own merits, the 3D in ParaNorman feels fairly weak.

Final 3D Score: 6/10

Movie

What do you get when you mix The Sixth Sense, The Goonies, Hocus Pocus, The Monster Squad, and Romero’s Deadtrilogy? You get a wonderfully entertaining stop-motion animated classic that may not reach the heights of Laika’s previous film Coraline but stands tall as a classic in its own right.

The story follows misunderstood Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee), an outcast who can see the ghosts of Blithe Hollow’s former residents. Even his family doesn’t fully understand him — except for his dearly departed grandmother, who still spends time with him — and his friend and fellow outcast Neil (Tucker Albrizzi). Things take a dark turn when Norman begins seeing terrifying visions of the town’s past, which leads to a major freak-out during the annual school play about the town’s witch-hunting history.

Norman’s estranged uncle, Mr. Prenderghast (John Goodman, in an all-too-brief role), warns him about a yearly ritual meant to quell the witch’s curse. Norman must perform it before sundown — or the town will face the witch’s wrath. Joined by a ragtag group of family and friends, Norman sets out to end the three-century-old curse once and for all.

When I think of animated horror films for families, I usually think of Hotel Transylvania — fun, but completely safe. ParaNorman, on the other hand, isn’t afraid to mix humor with real menace and emotional weight. Though ParaNorman first hit theaters back in 2012, it’s aged like a fine wine — its themes, humor, and craftsmanship feel just as sharp and relevant today as they did over a decade ago. Kids need more films like this — ones that balance scares, laughs, and meaningful themes without talking down to their audience.

The animation is stunning. Laika’s stop-motion craftsmanship is second to none: every frame is packed with intricate details in the sets, costumes, and expressive character animation. The cinematography beautifully captures the autumnal New England atmosphere, with warm lighting and even subtle touches like sunlight glowing through the characters’ translucent skin. The script is sharp and funny, and directors Sam Fell and Chris Butler handle the material with confidence and heart.

If there’s one flaw, it’s that the movie takes a little while to get going — but once it does, it’s a nonstop festival of frights and delights. It deserves a permanent place in your annual Halloween rotation for generations to come.

Final Movie Score: 8/10

Learn more about how we rate 3D content via the link below:

https://www.3dor2d.com/3d-or-2d-ratingssystem/

Official Website :

https://www.laika.com/our-films/paranorman