NationStates Jolt Archive

It seems that IMAX is becoming increasingly popular for major studio releases.

On the plus side, you get amazing sound and great picture quality, as well as a picture that fills your field of view. On the down side, you pay a higher price.

So, are there any IMAX screens in your area? What have you seen on them? Do you think they are worth it? Have you never been to one? Have you never heard of it?


I used to see the documentaries at the science museum on field trips, but that was it. Finally, one opened in CT in time for me to catch 300. Then, I moved to Boston where (of all things) Jordan's Furniture has opened two different IMAX theaters within their stores, where I saw The Dark Knight. In my opinion, it is completly worth the few extra bucks (it worked out to be about 5 dollars more with the higher initial cost and the service fee to get tickets in advance). The bass rattles the chairs, and the image is much improved over standard screens. the difference is akin to watching a movie on my 18" TV vs. a standard screen. My roommate appearently looked over at me, and said I wasn't blinking because I was so into the movie (granted, I love batman, but still. I usually blink)

Regular IMAX is cool and all.

You need to check out Rangos Omnimax theaters, they blow iMax theaters out of the water.

Oddly enough Omnimax is also known as " IMAX DOME "

Projecting onto a dome rules.

I watch a handful of movies on Imax. Mostly because a friend is really into it. I watched Dark Knight in Imax, overall worth it I guess.

So, are there any IMAX screens in your area? What have you seen on them? Do you think they are worth it? Have you never been to one? Have you never heard of it?

If you mean one of those dome-like thingies where you sit tilted back and stuff, then I have seen a couple of wild-life and space documentaries in one (we only have two IMAX theatres in the entire country, they haven't caught on). It was cool and all, but I didn't like the experience all that much since I got nauseated.

I've only ever seen an IMAX production once (a nature documentary), and that was a long time ago in Canada (in Toronto, iirc). I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was cool and all, but I didn't like the experience all that much since I got nauseated.
That was my brother's experience with it, too. I wonder if it's more to do with the reclined seats than the content, since he also had the same reaction at the London Planetarium when he was a young boy (with rather messy consequences).

i don't know where my nearest imax would be (in the UK)... according to the imax.com website there's one in Manchester, which is quite a way for me. if there were one in london i might consider going to it occasionally, if its worth the effort of course.

i don't know where my nearest imax would be (in the UK)... according to the imax.com website there's one in Manchester, which is quite a way for me. if there were one in london i might consider going to it occasionally, if its worth the effort of course.

The BFI IMAX is by Waterloo, in a very impressive circular building.

They just built an IMAX in my town. I don't want to go to it, however, because I'm kinda scared of the scariness of the movies in IMAX, if that makes sense. Basically, I'm not going to see Dark Knight because I'm scared.

I did go to that dome thing in Toronto a while back to see one of the Journey to the Center of the Earth. Very... in your face.

The BFI IMAX is by Waterloo, in a very impressive circular building.

ooh waterloo is my station when i'm going up to london. might check it out for the new batman... thanks! :)

I watch a handful of movies on Imax. Mostly because a friend is really into it. I watched Dark Knight in Imax, overall worth it I guess.I'm one of those people like your friends. I have one friend who claims it doesn't matter if you see it on the big screen or on your TV and doesn't get why there are some movies I demand to see in theaters.

Then again, he wants to see Batman in IMAX...strange kid, he is.

If you mean one of those dome-like thingies where you sit tilted back and stuff, then I have seen a couple of wild-life and space documentaries in one (we only have two IMAX theatres in the entire country, they haven't caught on). It was cool and all, but I didn't like the experience all that much since I got nauseated.

That one is the IMAX Dome/ Omnimax. I can definatly understand getting motionsick on that. The regular IMAX is like a normal movie theater, but the screen is usually 16 meters high by 22 meters wide (but can be bigger)

They're just catching on now, and really, only with Warner Brothers. Motion sickness is the only complaint I've heard, and only from a few people. Definatly more frequent with Omni

I've only ever seen an IMAX production once (a nature documentary), and that was a long time ago in Canada (in Toronto, iirc). I thoroughly enjoyed it.


That was my brother's experience with it, too. I wonder if it's more to do with the reclined seats than the content, since he also had the same reaction at the London Planetarium when he was a young boy (with rather messy consequences).
The motion sickness comes from mixed signals in the brain. Your body doesn't sense that you are moving (inner ear is stable and all that), but your eyes and even ears are telling you that you are moving quickly.
They just built an IMAX in my town. I don't want to go to it, however, because I'm kinda scared of the scariness of the movies in IMAX, if that makes sense. Basically, I'm not going to see Dark Knight because I'm scared.

I did go to that dome thing in Toronto a while back to see one of the Journey to the Center of the Earth. Very... in your face.
haha...suck up the fear and go. It's entirely worth it.

I'm one of those people like your friends. I have one friend who claims it doesn't matter if you see it on the big screen or on your TV and doesn't get why there are some movies I demand to see in theaters.

Then again, he wants to see Batman in IMAX...strange kid, he is.

I'm half way. No matter how cool your home theater gets, it's not a movie theater, at least not to my tastes. You just can't replace going to the theater for me.

However, I don't need the biggest screen in the house, necessarily. Usually I have to know that Imax was used for a reason. I know that Nolan filmed certain sequences in Imax and wanted to do the whole thing in Imax, so I went to see it the way he filmed it. I was stunned that it was still selling out the entire day all the way to Tuesday.

But generally I'm just as happy watching a postage stamp screen in a creaky theater, usually because if that's the case I'm watching something different. (not a guarantee that it's actually good, but neither is the huge screen...)

I'm half way. No matter how cool your home theater gets, it's not a movie theater, at least not to my tastes. You just can't replace going to the theater for me.

However, I don't need the biggest screen in the house, necessarily. Usually I have to know that Imax was used for a reason. I know that Nolan filmed certain sequences in Imax and wanted to do the whole thing in Imax, so I went to see it the way he filmed it. I was stunned that it was still selling out the entire day all the way to Tuesday.

But generally I'm just as happy watching a postage stamp screen in a creaky theater, usually because if that's the case I'm watching something different. (not a guarantee that it's actually good, but neither is the huge screen...)

True. I sadly missed Fantasia 2000, which was made for IMAX specifically and released to regular theaters later.

There was something about seeing 300 as well, even if it wasn't necessarily intended to be IMAX. It does somewhat depend on the movie, but I do enjoy being fully absorbed into the screen rather than "hey...there's something on the wall over there. What is it?"

Our arthouse theater actually is pretty modern, so I haven't been stuck with too many mini screens.


I wonder how prominent IMAX will become. So far, it really does just seem to be WB that has picked up on it. I like how Mass got theirs built...rather than the big movie chains doing it, it was a furniture sales place (mind you, this place is like Disney with sectional sofas with things like this (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2340/2210515349_3f88de55bf.jpg?v=0), this (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/4697315_3d18d81c23.jpg?v=0), and this (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1288/1368456127_730be880e4.jpg?v=0) all in their stores) that uses them to pull people in, with a sponsorship through Verizon FiOS. It gives us theaters that show movies rather than documentaries, as well as making it a wholly unique experience rather than just another trip to the movies. Mind you, the escalator up to the ticket sales area is themed to a red carpet, with dozens of flash bulbs going off and the sounds of a crowd of paparazi


And home theaters will never win out over the real thing in my mind. I go to movies alone sometimes, and even then, I like the interaction with other people and all that.

I'm one of those people like your friends. I have one friend who claims it doesn't matter if you see it on the big screen or on your TV and doesn't get why there are some movies I demand to see in theaters.


It depends for me. There are some movies that I just can't watch outside of theatres and there are some where the difference is minimal.

In any case, the theatre is your best bet but there are some films where it's more about a kind of theme park type experience and it's here that the power of the sound and pace and size of the visuals really tell. And with comedies, I'll always laugh more in the theatre (although you could argue that says something about how secure I am).

This kind of sounds like I think of the benefits of the theater as being purely about entertainment but I think the communal experience is at its most valuable in the great films. I love the idea of someone whose friends only want to go and see the latest Will Ferrell movie going into a screening of Annie Hall and getting a sense of comfort out of finding people who get a kick out of the Kafka-esque line too and getting to share that kick despite the fact he may never know the people sitting around him. But I've got to say the difference is less pronounced for certan films - I could watch Casablanca on a tiny tv from an old VHS tape and be perfectly happy but many actions films that I enjoyed at the theater would become inane and joyless. And yeah, Wild Stawberries has great cinematography a La Dolce Vita is by no means not a visual experience but I'll watch them on DVD and get pretty much everything I want out of it.

And having said that, when I see a movie for the first time it has to be at the cinema. Those great moments as a movie watcher come at the theater when you've forgotten where you are, you're lost in the moment and you're overcome with the beauty or the sorrow or the humor; when you're hit by a profound realisation or a sudden doubt; when you're seeing something you never thought you would. And when you see Antonio and Bruni disappear into the crowd, you want to be with people and you want that image to be huge because that's taking whatever you're feeling and adding fucking dynamite.

I'd equate it to listening to an album vs seeing a band live. Some bands might be better live than others, but those great moments that you cherish are ten times more likely to come when you're standing in a crowd than when you're sitting in your car. You wouldn't want to listen live all the time (and nor could you afford to) but it gives you something special you can't find anywhere else.

Edit: Way to get my American and British English mixed up. Not that I'm going to correct it.

I'll be more impressed after i see the 3-D marathon, probably.
And smell-o-vision.

The regular IMAX is like a normal movie theater, but the screen is usually 16 meters high by 22 meters wide (but can be bigger

But if it's no domed, I fail to see the point. Then it's just a bigger screen, and I only have so much peripheral vision...

But if it's no domed, I fail to see the point. Then it's just a bigger screen, and I only have so much peripheral vision...

Rather than a screen that is just a small part of your view, the IMAX screen fills the entire field of vision.

For me, it eliminates the distractions of non-screen things, and also gives some sense of motion (car chase scenes and the like). The image is also sharper and sound quality much better, which is nice (explosions shake the seats, rather than just sounding loud)


For some people, like my friend, it does nothing. For me, it adds to the movie and pulls me in much closer to the story.

I wonder how prominent IMAX will become. So far, it really does just seem to be WB that has picked up on it. I like how Mass got theirs built...rather than the big movie chains doing it, it was a furniture sales place (mind you, this place is like Disney with sectional sofas with things like this, this, and this all in their stores) that uses them to pull people in, with a sponsorship through Verizon FiOS. It gives us theaters that show movies rather than documentaries, as well as making it a wholly unique experience rather than just another trip to the movies. Mind you, the escalator up to the ticket sales area is themed to a red carpet, with dozens of flash bulbs going off and the sounds of a crowd of paparazi

If Imax manages to switch everything to digital projection like they want to (which Batman might have given them a huge push), Imax will be huge. Going to digital will drop the cost of producing Imax movies 90%. I don't mean it goes down to 90% of what it was, I mean it goes down to 10% of what it was.
The only problem will be upgrading theatres.

No IMAX here.

I don't like them, they make me nervous for some reason, so it's no loss. Don't really like any theaters actually. Too many assholes.

*hugs his DVD player*

I don't like them, they make me nervous for some reason, so it's no loss. Don't really like any theaters actually. Too many assholes.

The trick is to bring your own unpopped popcorn and butter, swish it around in your mouth, and spit it out into the audience to make yourself feel better. Or just use the dregs of the bag you buy at the counter, whatever works. Leave your own sticky mess on the floor of *whatever*.

For some people, like my friend, it does nothing. For me, it adds to the movie and pulls me in much closer to the story.

Heh, I just heard the MST3K theme in my head as I read that. "Tell yourseld it's just a show, and you really should relax".

Heh, I just heard the MST3K theme in my head as I read that. "Tell yourseld it's just a show, and you really should relax".
Is it sad that people have said similar to me before?

There have been many people who have managed to make me jump just because I get really in to a scene and kinda forget about what is going on around me. My roommate claimed I stopped blinking during Batman.

My roommate claimed I stopped blinking during Batman.
Is it because of his outfit, his being Christian Bale, or Heath Ledger, having been in Brokeback Mountain? :p

Is it because of his outfit, his being Christian Bale, or Heath Ledger, having been in Brokeback Mountain? :p

haha...What can I say? With the first name "Bruce", one has to love Batman.

Is it sad that people have said similar to me before?

Not sad for you, sad for us for being so unoriginal.

There have been many people who have managed to make me jump just because I get really in to a scene and kinda forget about what is going on around me. My roommate claimed I stopped blinking during Batman.

We have a word for people like you: "inlevelsemänniska". It means person who manages to get so absorbed in the experiences of others, that (s)he 'lives in' ("inleva") them.

Is it because of his outfit, his being Christian Bale, or Heath Ledger, having been in Brokeback Mountain? :p

Please can the homophobic innuendo. It's getting irksome and never was anything but unfunny. You may want to try it in the '50s.

We have a word for people like you: "inlevelsemänniska". It means person who manages to get so absorbed in the experiences of others, that (s)he 'lives in' ("inleva") them.

I like that. You Swedes think of everything.

Incidentally, how "in to" a movie I become has become a way that my friends describe movies, ranging from a movie I would talk during to a movie they could scare me during.

Please can the homophobic innuendo. It's getting irksome and never was anything but unfunny. You may want to try it in the '50s.Right, like everything evolves around you or something. Just because i don't lick out at Sark in francais doesn't mean i don't already have an established relationship with him that just happens to span a longer amount of time than yours. Pity party. :p

It seems that IMAX is becoming increasingly popular for major studio releases.

On the plus side, you get amazing sound and great picture quality, as well as a picture that fills your field of view. On the down side, you pay a higher price.

So, are there any IMAX screens in your area? What have you seen on them? Do you think they are worth it? Have you never been to one? Have you never heard of it?


I used to see the documentaries at the science museum on field trips, but that was it. Finally, one opened in CT in time for me to catch 300. Then, I moved to Boston where (of all things) Jordan's Furniture has opened two different IMAX theaters within their stores, where I saw The Dark Knight. In my opinion, it is completly worth the few extra bucks (it worked out to be about 5 dollars more with the higher initial cost and the service fee to get tickets in advance). The bass rattles the chairs, and the image is much improved over standard screens. the difference is akin to watching a movie on my 18" TV vs. a standard screen. My roommate appearently looked over at me, and said I wasn't blinking because I was so into the movie (granted, I love batman, but still. I usually blink)

The Science Museum has a mega IMAX theatre (dome like) I saw Ring Of Fire which was awesome (in the biblical sense) But even more intense was the film that they intro all the films called Learning to Fly...You could feel everyone in the entire theatre cringe during the last scene (but I wont ruin it) I completely recomend it!!!

I like that. You Swedes think of everything.

Beacon on a hill, and all that.

Incidentally, how "in to" a movie I become has become a way that my friends describe movies, ranging from a movie I would talk during to a movie they could scare me during.

How would the Sarkhaan-index be orientated? Would a low index mean you are not absorbed, or would it mean that you are low in your resistance to it?

The Science Museum has a mega IMAX theatre (dome like) I saw Ring Of Fire which was awesome (in the biblical sense) But even more intense was the film that they intro all the films called Learning to Fly...You could feel everyone in the entire theatre cringe during the last scene (but I wont ruin it) I completely recomend it!!!

You're from Boston, correct?

Right, like everything evolves around you or something. Just because i don't lick out at Sark in francais doesn't mean i don't already have an established relationship with him that just happens to span a longer amount of time than yours. Pity party. :p

All that means is he has had even more time than I of growing bored of your incessant school-yard-esque "haha, fags!" comments. So indeed, pity party, but for poor old Sarkhaan, not for little you.

How would the Sarkhaan-index be orientated? Would a low index mean you are not absorbed, or would it mean that you are low in your resistance to it?

You know, I've never really figured it out myself. A great drama or action movie will fully absorb me, but even the best comedies just don't engage me on that level. Office Space, one of my favorite movies, would rank very low on the scale, yet ranks high on my list.

I'll have to get them to explain it one day...

Right, like everything evolves around you or something. Just because i don't lick out at Sark in francais doesn't mean i don't already have an established relationship with him that just happens to span a longer amount of time than yours. Pity party. :p

All that means is he has had even more time than I of growing bored of your incessant school-yard-esque "haha, fags!" comments. So indeed, pity party, but for poor old Sarkhaan, not for little you.


Do I need to seperate you two? ;)

Do I need to seperate you two? ;)

No need to protect your dull, little lackey. As long as he is in your grace, for whatever inexplicable reason, I will respect that your tutelage may be of more positive reinforcement than my venom would be.

You know, I've never really figured it out myself. A great drama or action movie will fully absorb me, but even the best comedies just don't engage me on that level. Office Space, one of my favorite movies, would rank very low on the scale, yet ranks high on my list.

Complexity and paradoxes. You mensch, you!

You're from Boston, correct?

From Boston, yes, but I am currently living in southern/northern Vermont...

Do I need to seperate you two? ;)No, put us together. One of us forgot what a learning curve is, obviously. Like what the meaning of the word, "never" is, regardless of what their incoherent, embarrassing rants might otherwise represent. :)

The guys( that invented IMAX went to the same high school I went to. I got to meet them because I was filming them for a reunion thing, they are pretty nice guys. I've seen about 3 IMAX shows, I can't remember which ones because it's been awhile. Yay for Canadian inventions!

your incessant school-yard-esque "haha, fags!" comments.Shows what you "know". I'll task you to back it up. I've got .... oh, not so much like "never", since i know you mightn't ever correctly summate that either.
Either way, you didn't understand the why of the post. I guess i should've dumbed it down a bit ... if only it ever involved you in the first place? What happened to "don't include Fass"? Conveniently out the window when you want to pity party yourself.
I do not inflict anything secretly and not-so-secretly desired. I am considerate, that way.It would appear your statement is a lie. Big surprise there. Consider this the end of your lecturing credibility. Clue: No secret that your input isn't desired, one way or another.
So indeed, pity party, but for poor old Sarkhaan, not for little you.Again substantiating a predator mentality. :)

As long as he is in your grace, for whatever inexplicable reason, I will respect that your tutelage may be of more positive reinforcement than my venom would be.Said it yourself.
venom
Like a predator. :)

The guys( that invented IMAX went to the same high school I went to. I got to meet them because I was filming them for a reunion thing, they are pretty nice guys. I've seen about 3 IMAX shows, I can't remember which ones because it's been awhile. Yay for Canadian inventions!

Hockey, IMAX, and poutine...seems you guys are batting 1000 right now...

I watch a handful of movies on Imax. Mostly because a friend is really into it. I watched Dark Knight in Imax, overall worth it I guess.

Saw the same ... add to it that you can buy beer there and it makes for a great night :)

Saw the same ... add to it that you can buy beer there and it makes for a great night :)

Well, you can't buy beer at the Metreon, but the trade off is that you have to be an ass to get busted smoking weed in San Francisco, so it balances out...(of course if I could light up in the theater...one of these days I'm going to develop a vaporizer that looks like a soda cup...

There are a few IMAX screens around. I've only ever seen documentaries on them I think--I saw Everest and something about sharks. It would be cool to see something like The Dark Knight on there, to be really immersed in it, but IMAX screens also kind of make me nauseous. :(

Well, you can't buy beer at the Metreon, but the trade off is that you have to be an ass to get busted smoking weed in San Francisco, so it balances out...(of course if I could light up in the theater...one of these days I'm going to develop a vaporizer that looks like a soda cup...

I feel certain something could be done using an oversized carton of popcorn.

I feel certain something could be done using an oversized carton of popcorn.

The straw, though, provides the ideal delivery. Now one would suspect...

I think I've seen documentaries and such on the domed IMAX screen at MOSI in Tampa, during field trips I think. A little bit nauseating though. Oh, cool, that's right by USF where I'm going to study next year, maybe I can go see stuff there.