For whatever reason I was thinking about Gravity today. I saw it in theaters and loved it, even though the only showing available was 3D: I generally dislike 3D, just never did much more than distract me.

Weirdly, Gravity is the ONE 3D movie I've seen where it *worked* for me, and as I'm thinking about it, I recall why: instead of the content "coming at" me, it was more like it was going the other way. The screen felt like a giant window to scenes that had exterior depth, instead of a portal with stuff attacking me.
Aside from a couple of obligatory "hand reaching toward me" scenes, it felt like the 3D plane started at the screen and went *back*.

So my question is, is that a thing? Like what makes that kinda difference? It *really* worked for me, the "screen as window" instead of "screen as portal" visual. I think I'd be more into 3D if that was the norm.