Immersion: IMAX

Welcome back for Part 2.



IMAX


I'm sure everyone has heard this term thrown around.
But what exactly is this IMAX you speak of?
Sounds like an expensive Japanese speaker brand.


Well IMAX is a little hard to describe in words, as it turns out. 
What I can tell you is that to see a movie partially filmed with IMAX cameras is an experience that you will not soon forget. 


Like 3D, IMAX theaters have been around for a while, the 1970's actually. 
Back then, it was undoubtedly a revolutionary format and an incredible way to experience cinema, 
but it was used only for documentaries that never exceeded 40 minutes in length. 
It wasn't until the year 2000 that the studios started converting their movies to play in IMAX theaters. 


Okay, IMAX is a different way to see movies, but what makes it different than seeing a movie at my local movie theater?


-The standard full IMAX screen is about two and a half times the size of an average movie theater screen.
-The screen goes all the way to the floor, and all the way to the ceiling, completely immersing you. 
-The projector used to screen the film is about the size of a Volkswagen Bug. 
-The IMAX cameras are able to capture a much higher resolution than normal, so the super-massive image
appears much sharper.
-The film size used is 70mm, compared to the standard 35mm size used to project film, (click HERE).
-The increase in resolution allows the audience to be much closer to the screen. 
-The rows of seats are at a very steep angle (up to 30 degrees), allowing every person to be facing the screen directly. 
-IMAX theaters place speakers both directly behind the screen and around the theater to create a three-dimensional effect, so the "laser-aligned" sound experience is unparalleled in quality. 


That's right, you just got nerded on. 




So this amazing, one-of-a-kind experience can be seen simply by walking down to my local IMAX theater any time that I want to?


Not Exactly.


Let's start at the beginning. 



The first IMAX movie that I chose to see was 'Spider-Man 3' back in May 2007.
It was undoubtedly a cool experience but this was before I knew the true power of the IMAX experience. 


I walked out of the theater thinking that what I saw was pretty cool, but I wouldn't see every movie this way, 
especially because to see a movie with "The IMAX Experience" costs $8 to $10 more than a normal movie. 
Also, what I saw didn't fill the whole screen, so I felt like I was a little cheated. 


That all changed in July 2008. 


Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) is my favorite director. 
And if you read my top ten list, you'll know that Batman Begins is one of my favorite movies. 
So naturally, I was very excited for the release of The Dark Knight that summer. 


But when I heard that Christopher Nolan was using IMAX cameras to film part of The Dark Knight, 
I was very, very intrigued. 


Alright, stay with me here. 


Now, IMAX documentaries (which are actually filmed with IMAX cameras) are only about 45 minutes long because the length of film needs to be about three times longer than a normal film because...well it's a little too complicated to briefly explain. 


But 45 minutes is about as much real IMAX footage as one can currently include in an IMAX release.
So when people are paying to see an IMAX documentary (which up until 2008 was all you can see in true IMAX) they are paying $18 for a 45-minute movie. 


So, The Dark Knight was estimated that 25 minutes of its running time was in true IMAX.


This had never been done before. 


So as I mentioned above, I was very very intrigued. 


So as I made my way to my seat, (first in line naturally, cause that's how I roll) in the Regal IMAX in Dublin, 
a lot of thoughts were going through my head. 


I wasn't expecting to be amazed, I just faith in Christopher Nolan that he knew what he was doing. 


The lights went down, the Warner Brothers logo flashed, at this point the black bars appeared on the top and bottom of the screen (like they do on a Widescreen DVD), and the image filled about half of the screen.


And then...


BOOM.


I'm flying over Gotham City, completely immersed in the film, like I had never been before. 
The screen was way past my feet, past my sides and above my head, 
completely filling my peripheral vision. 
Giving me the sense that I was IN the movie. 


I'm telling you, in those first moments of The Dark Knight, 
I literally felt like I was going to fall out of my chair. 


What a rush. 


The first nine seven minutes were IMAX, followed by many other memorable scenes throughout the film. 
Also whenever the camera pans over Gotham, IMAX cameras are utilized.


Now I know that simply telling you about the experience is nothing like actually experiencing it for yourself, but that's what I want you to do!


You can hear what Christopher Nolan has to say about the IMAX format by clicking on THIS article.


Everyone in the world needs to experience true IMAX for themselves, at least once in their lives. 


Now IMAX cameras are very loud, so they're hard to use in scenes that take place indoors.
IMAX cameras are incredibly expensive (500,000 dollars per camera).
The cameras are very large and awkward, and they require constant changing of film and attention. 


Suffice it to say, IMAX cameras are somewhat of a pain to use. 


But when they are used, the experience is completely amazing. 


But there's a catch.


See, it is a rarity that a film is actually FILMED with IMAX cameras.
So that means that the vast majority of movies that you see advertised in IMAX, are not actually true IMAX, and will not fill the whole screen all the way. 
It will also not be as high of resolution as a film that utilizes IMAX cameras. 


But that's not to say that it's still not a cool experience. 


Because it definitely is, 
I just believe that there really is nothing like experiencing a TRUE IMAX film. 


Now so far there have technically only been three films that have utilized IMAX cameras:


-The Dark Knight (25 minutes)
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (10 minutes)
-Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (25 minutes)


I've seen all three of these films on an IMAX screen and they were all great. 


Although it wasn't the complete IMAX ratio, TRON: Legacy featured scenes that were "vertically enhanced" using HD IMAX to enhance 40 minutes of the film to fill the screen almost entirely. 


This was a great experience in IMAX 3D.


The next film to be released in "True IMAX" is Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises which he claims will feature twice as much time in IMAX, amounting to an estimated 60 minutes in IMAX!


Hopefully I'll be first in line for that midnight show. 


Now, some IMAX theaters have converted to digital projectors now. 
Which is actually a problem if you want to experience "true IMAX". 
The digital projectors don't have the capability to fill the screen entirely, 
even with a movie that is FILMED in IMAX. 


So, I've provided you with a list of IMAX theaters that still have film projectors, 
so when you see The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX (because you should!!),
you'll be getting your money's worth, and the best experience possible.
Check out the list HERE.


The next film after The Dark Knight Rises to feature "true IMAX" will be J.J. Abrams' sequel 
Star Trek 2 (which hits theaters May 17th, 2013).






And there you have it. 


The two most popular ways to be immersed in cinema as of 2012. 


Whatever format you prefer, I highly recommend that you try both in their full glory!


Both 3D and IMAX have the ability to make your movie-going experience much more than just a simple ordinary experience. 


But enough talking, get out there and Experience it!


Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises (true IMAX) hits theaters on July 20th. 


Ridley Scott's Prometheus (true 3D) hits theaters on June 8th.