What's Special About IMAX?
- Thread starter Frontier
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IMAX is a lot more fun. The screen is - as said above - huge in comparison to a theatre and it is more wrap around than anything. This can be a lot of fun because you feel like your a part of what you're seeing, but for some others it can be a little disconcerting. For example when IMAX first came to my area my dad and I went to see a documentary. Part of it had scenes where you went over a cliff into a waterfall. It felt real (I swear they even sprinkled water on us from the ceiling). When a friend went with me to see Superman Returns during one of the 3-D portions he had to leave the room though because he got sick from the film's visuals. In each of the films I've seen somewhere in the theatre someone always falls out of their chair in one of these scenes. It happened so often that one of the ushers said that it literally happens all the time.
Personally I prefer it.
Personally I prefer it.
It's a lot of fun, and worth experiencing at least once or twice. I saw Lion King in IMAX and the stampede scene was amazing. I also saw Night at the Museum in IMAX and that was pretty neat as well.
I saw Beowolf in IMAX 3D and felt like I was in the movie, but I think that's more a product of using 3D.
Just make sure it's an IMAX screen, not an IMAX dome.
The dome isn't as majestic, and you can usually see the seams in the dome so it looks like a gigantic soccer ball.
--Ted
The dome isn't as majestic, and you can usually see the seams in the dome so it looks like a gigantic soccer ball.
--Ted
Portions of 'The Dark Knight' have actually been filmed in IMAX. Those of us who got to see 'I Am Legend' in fact saw one of these scenes already and it was amazing. The resolution and screen detail is a hundred times better. I wish all movies were shot in IMAX.
I think your choice is clear. IMAX all the way.
I think your choice is clear. IMAX all the way.
Well, unless it's a film that was done specially for a dome with the correct camera. In which case, they look incredible, though these are specially made movies.
You still see the screen seams, and it's really distracting. Also the rake of the house (audience seats) is way too steep in the domes.
--Ted
Maybe it depends on the theater, but I never remember being distracted by (or even noticing) the seams at LSC in NJ. Nor do I consider the seats to be too steep, it's pretty much necessary given that part of the ethos of Omnimax is that you can actually look around and that includes looking down. With a shallower angle, the heads of the people in front of you will prevent that. You just have to, you know, not sit on the bottom
My problem with having these Hollywood movies in IMAX theaters is that I think IMAX is at its best when the editing pace is very slow.
Everything looks so real and alive that the best IMAX movies have long camera moves with cuts coming every 10-15 seconds. A good IMAX film is one of the best things out there because you feel like you're really there.
But Hollywood films (action movies especially) are much more fast paced. In fact, aren't the Batman scenes that were shot in IMAX the action scenes themselves?
To me, it seems wasted. You get a nice big screen and then they put a film on it that doesn't play to its strengths.
Ok, it's bigger, and I'm glad people enjoy these things, but to me it feels more like a gimmick than anything. Go see a real IMAX movie in the IMAX theater. I think you'll be much more impressed.
EDIT: Ok, I'm approaching this from the point of view of the theater. What about the real question: Where to see Batman? If you like bigger, sure, go for it. For me, it's more important to see the full widescreen image that was shot in all the non-IMAX scenes, which is the majority of the film. So that's what matters to me which is why I won't be going to an IMAX theater for Batman. If that doesn't matter to you then the IMAX theater should be lots of fun.
Everything looks so real and alive that the best IMAX movies have long camera moves with cuts coming every 10-15 seconds. A good IMAX film is one of the best things out there because you feel like you're really there.
But Hollywood films (action movies especially) are much more fast paced. In fact, aren't the Batman scenes that were shot in IMAX the action scenes themselves?
To me, it seems wasted. You get a nice big screen and then they put a film on it that doesn't play to its strengths.
Ok, it's bigger, and I'm glad people enjoy these things, but to me it feels more like a gimmick than anything. Go see a real IMAX movie in the IMAX theater. I think you'll be much more impressed.
EDIT: Ok, I'm approaching this from the point of view of the theater. What about the real question: Where to see Batman? If you like bigger, sure, go for it. For me, it's more important to see the full widescreen image that was shot in all the non-IMAX scenes, which is the majority of the film. So that's what matters to me which is why I won't be going to an IMAX theater for Batman. If that doesn't matter to you then the IMAX theater should be lots of fun.
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You definitely don't see the seams at the Ontario Science Centre's OMNIMAX theatre...
My favorite IMAX movies were among the first ones -- the space program. Hail, Columbia!, The Dream Is Alive and the others were simply stunning to watch. No effects, no explosions, no car chases -- just the natural wonder of the universe (with moving music and people like Walter Cronkite narrating)
--Ted
--Ted
At the Museum of Science Boston, you only notice the seams if you *really* look for them. Or when that area of the screen is dark. It isn't really a problem.
And I always loved the steep seating angle as a kid----for once, I didn't have problems seeing over heads.
And I always loved the steep seating angle as a kid----for once, I didn't have problems seeing over heads.
Yeah, I remember losing track of the seams, then noticing them, then losing them again.
Plus there was that awesome opening bit with Leonard Nimoy...
You will notice the clarity. With regular film, you can see the picture degrade over time... that's one of the reasons why it's typically better to watch the movie earlier rather than later.
I was impressed with Imax... problem is, there's only one Imax theatre in Toronto and it's always full. Ugh.
I was impressed with Imax... problem is, there's only one Imax theatre in Toronto and it's always full. Ugh.
My local IMAX only shows educational films. 
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