I noted in my "Monsters vs. Aliens" review how much I liked the 3D format. I usually don’t like 3D movies and find them distracting, but I thought it worked really well for that movie.

Meanwhile, Roger Ebert dissed the format in his review of the movie. It’s a big discussion in the movie biz right, with DreamWorks pushing its slate of 3D movies. I think it works for some, but not all, movies.

My friends at Cinema Blend caught up with Michael Bay at ShoWest and posted a a great piece about his thoughts on the matter. When asked if would consider making a "Transformers" movies in 3D, he said "I don’t know … I might be old school … I think it might be a gimmick." For more of his thoughts, watch the video below.

Well, this news isn’t good. I just read in Variety that DreamWorks Animation’s net income fell 45% last quarter to $52 million, from $94 million the year before.

Even though sales of “Kung Fu Panda” DVDs generated $102 million during the quarter, revenue still fell 31% to about $200 million, down from $290 million.

Hmmm, this is a little different report than I posted earlier this month. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be one sad puppy if this company, which helmed films like “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Over the Hedge,” and “Flushed Away” takes a dive.

CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement that he thinks 2009 will be driven by more “Madagascar,” as well as “Monsters vs. Aliens,” the company’s first 3D release which opens in theaters March 27, 2009.

“We believe that Monsters vs. Aliens will reset the bar for what moviegoers should expect from a CG animated film,” Katzenberg said.

I hope so. I’m pulling for you, DreamWorks!

Image: Paramount/DreamWorks Animation

Wow, what a cast! I got pretty excited when I saw that Robert Downey Jr., Tina Fey and Ben Stiller were in talks to star in a movie together. Then a little let down to find out their VOICES would be in an animated movie together. But still a little excited at the prospect.

They’re in negotiations for DreamWorks’ "Master Mind," about a superhero villain who loses his reason to live after accidentally killing his good-guy nemesis.

They’re looking at a Nov. 5, 2010 release date. Stiller is also producing via his Red Hour Films.

Eh, maybe I’ll get more excited as the movie gets closer. I imagine doing voice work is a lot less work than doing live-action. Maybe that’s why so many actors end up doing animated movies. Or maybe they’re just fun to do.

Image: Tropic Thunder, Dreamworks SKG, 2008

Check out the new poster for “Monsters vs. Aliens,” in theaters March 27, 2009. The DreamWorks movie is about a young girl who turns into a monster after being hit by a meteorite from outer space. She’s then taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. Features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Keifer Sutherland, Hugh Laurie, and others.

It looks a lot like “Monsters, Inc.,” doesn’t it?

Image: Monsters vs. Aliens, DreamWorks Animation, 2009