IMAX: what's the big deal?

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Geektastic

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#239834 7-Aug-2018 09:24

I've seen two films in IMAX this year. Mission Impossible and Jurassic Park.

Neither impressed me in terms of the IMAX presentation any more than a good 4k movie theatre with Atmos etc.

So, what's the big deal about IMAX and have advances in more conventional theatre projection and sound reduced any advantage it would have had?

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#2069125 7-Aug-2018 09:35

as always, bigger screen is better, but not when you are seating on first 5 rows.

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old3eyes

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#2069127 7-Aug-2018 09:38

When I lived in Auckland I would always try to see movies in IMAX. Big screen and great sound system from about the mid point of the theater.

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keepitwarm

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#2069152 7-Aug-2018 09:48

The best film i saw at the IMAX and 3D ( and normally i avoid 3D) was Gravity visually i thought it was amze balls. I was going to go and see the new Mission Impossible at the IMAX, until i saw it was 3D. I cant really justify the cost either most of the time, but i did enjoy Mad max fury road which i saw twice in IMAX, and Godzilla there. I think its really good for certain types of films.

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simple logic.

Geektastic

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#2069158 7-Aug-2018 09:57

keepitwarm:

The best film i saw at the IMAX and 3D ( and normally i avoid 3D) was Gravity visually i thought it was amze balls. I was going to go and see the new Mission Impossible at the IMAX, until i saw it was 3D. I cant really justify the cost either most of the time, but i did enjoy Mad max fury road which i saw twice in IMAX, and Godzilla there. I think its really good for certain types of films.

MI is showing in both 3D and 2D at the IMAX. I saw it in 2D as I am not really big on 3D and it usually gives me a headache!

Geektastic

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#2069159 7-Aug-2018 09:59

old3eyes:

When I lived in Auckland I would always try to see movies in IMAX. Big screen and great sound system from about the mid point of the theater.

I get that. However, I wonder if a new 4K projection and Dolby Atmos sound has closed that gap to the point that IMAX has lost some of its raison d'être?

tchart

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#2069207 7-Aug-2018 11:20

Geektastic:
old3eyes:

When I lived in Auckland I would always try to see movies in IMAX. Big screen and great sound system from about the mid point of the theater.

I get that. However, I wonder if a new 4K projection and Dolby Atmos sound has closed that gap to the point that IMAX has lost some of its raison d'être?

AFAIK IMAX is more immersive (screen isn't flat?) and the aspect ratio is different.

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SpartanVXL

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#2069211 7-Aug-2018 11:28

Last time I went to IMAX I needed to pop out and buy earplugs, sound levels were dangerously high. Screen viewing was good, but sound volume != sound quality

gehenna

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#2069215 7-Aug-2018 11:40

Depends if any of the movie is filmed with IMAX cameras or not. If not, it's just a movie playing on a very big screen. If it's filmed in IMAX then there's much more visible space displayed in the shot. Usually another 25%ish on the top and bottom. You can see the difference if you watch The Dark Knight or similar on Blu-ray. At certain times the picture will expand to fill the whole screen from its usual letterboxed display. Those scenes are filmed with IMAX cameras.

Taubin

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#2069217 7-Aug-2018 11:40

IMAX always makes my wife nauseous. I get a little lightheaded as well, no matter where we sit. Not sure what causes it.

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#2069232 7-Aug-2018 12:03

I went in and watched Mission Impossible Fallout assuming it was shot in IMAX camera - Sounds like it is not https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/8zeijc/was_mission_impossible_fallout_filmed_in_imax/.

There is no real difference watching in IMAX (apart from seeing the move in a big screen) if it was not shot in IMAX camera or DMRd.

If you watched Dark Night or MI - Burj scene then you will notice the difference of IMAX.
The camera is expensive and inconvenient to use - so most of the films only use it for special sequence.

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#2069233 7-Aug-2018 12:10

IMAX was a big deal many years ago when theatres generally showed movies on smaller screens lacking the HD they show now. The sound was also very average.

Along came IMAX and really began the evolution we have now, plus technology of course.

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#2069235 7-Aug-2018 12:13

I have really enjoyed my IMAX experiences. I find it really immersive. Much more so than other cinemas. Sound is excellent too, bar being too loud usually.

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#2069238 7-Aug-2018 12:24

networkn:
I have really enjoyed my IMAX experiences. I find it really immersive. Much more so than other cinemas. Sound is excellent too, bar being too loud usually.

It was crushingly loud, I must agree.

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#2069253 7-Aug-2018 12:54

gehenna:

Depends if any of the movie is filmed with IMAX cameras or not. If not, it's just a movie playing on a very big screen. If it's filmed in IMAX then there's much more visible space displayed in the shot. Usually another 25%ish on the top and bottom. You can see the difference if you watch The Dark Knight or similar on Blu-ray. At certain times the picture will expand to fill the whole screen from its usual letterboxed display. Those scenes are filmed with IMAX cameras.

This!... Anything else is just a normal movie blownup, or worse cropped. Actually I don't know whats worse, a 16x9 movie screen showing a 2.40:1 movie with visible black bars, or a cropped movie...

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old3eyes

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#2069298 7-Aug-2018 14:12

tchart:
Geektastic:

old3eyes:

When I lived in Auckland I would always try to see movies in IMAX. Big screen and great sound system from about the mid point of the theater.

I get that. However, I wonder if a new 4K projection and Dolby Atmos sound has closed that gap to the point that IMAX has lost some of its raison d'être?

AFAIK IMAX is more immersive (screen isn't flat?) and the aspect ratio is different.

There is a slight curve a bit like the 70mm theaters of old. i.e. The Embassy in Auckland comes to mind.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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