Do not see a movie in IMAX unless it was made for it.

[Poya]

Unless it's a film like Interstellar, do not watch any film, shot digitally or on film, in IMAX. Here's why:

1. If you go to your nearest IMAX theater, it's probably not a real IMAX but instead one of the smaller, digital ones. They use two 2K projectors overlapping each other to "improve" the experience, but it's no different than your average 2K presentation. It's especially jarring in an AMC theater since all of the normal screens are outfitted with a 4K projector, which looks far better. Even worse, even if you find a real IMAX theater, they plan to replace their film projectors with a lousy 4K laser projector that will no doubt be highly inferior to the 70mm prints. If you are interested in 3D, the Real D experience is far better because of its newer tech instead of the outdated 3D tech of the IMAX.

2. Even if you are lucky to find a real IMAX theater, with a 15/70mm projector and a 7 story screen, it is pointless because in order for a film not made for IMAX to be presented on the screen, they go through a digital noise reduction process that removes the grain and detail and robs the picture of its natural colors, and that's not to mention the haloing and other problems. They do this in order to make it "as good as" a film actually shot in IMAX. It's a lie and an embarrassment to the company.

3. A lot of films nowadays are now mixed to have 7.1 surround sound instead of the typical 5.1 surround sound. There are theaters out there that can play those films with that kind of sound mix. There even are other theaters out there equipped with a state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos feature, meaning 64 channels of sound. Some films are made specifically for the sound format and it sounds incredible. IMAX is still stuck on the old 5.1 surround that only sounds "better" because it's louder and a lot more bass.

If you want to see a normal movie at its best, go see it on a cheaper but far better premium screen, like the AMC ETX (and the upcoming AMC Prime) or the Regal RPX. They have 4K projectors, very large screens, even larger than the smaller IMAX screens now out there, and they don't ruin the image of the picture. Some of them are even equipped with Dolby Atmos for optimum audio experience. Save your money from what IMAX has become, unless it's Interstellar, a film that will use IMAX cameras.

[spanky87]

I've only seen Inception and The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by spanky87

I've only seen Inception and The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX.

Inception wasn't made for IMAX. It has some scenes in 65mm, but it also went through a DMR process.

[JavaJulien]

I saw Desolation of Smaug in Imax 3D. It was at an AMC instead of a dome so I'm not sure if that counts.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by Poya

Inception wasn't made for IMAX. It has some scenes in 65mm, but it also went through a DMR process.

I never got any Disney movie rewards at my screening.

[BaerGriggs]

AMC Prime is absolutely incredible, and I believe they're planning to update more ETX screens to Prime soon. Blew away almost anything I've ever seen in IMAX by far, and the seat transducers were amazing too.

[Jacob Anderson]

The past couple of years i have only seen Pacific Rim, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (partially for long Star Trek Into Darkness preview), The Dark Knight Rises & Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (mostly for long DKR preview) in IMAX.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Poya

1. If you go to your nearest IMAX theater, it's probably not a real IMAX but instead one of the smaller, digital ones. They use two 2K projectors overlapping each other to "improve" the experience, but it's no different than your average 2K presentation. It's especially jarring in an AMC theater since all of the normal screens are outfitted with a 4K projector, which looks far better. Even worse, even if you find a real IMAX theater, they plan to replace their film projectors with a lousy 4K laser projector that will no doubt be highly inferior to the 70mm prints. If you are interested in 3D, the Real D experience is far better because of its newer tech instead of the outdated 3D tech of the IMAX.

I've found many regular AMC screens to be unacceptably dim. (I believe this is due to that Sony projector 3D lens issue). While it wouldn't be my first choice to see any kind of movie, at least IMAX 3D is consistent.

Calling the IMAX 4K projectors "lousy" seems rather unfounded. 4K is a lot of resolution.

[GLaDOS]

Only movie shot with IMAX cameras I saw in an IMAX theater was Star Trek Into Darkness.

Planning to see Interstellar in IMAX though. It's gonna be one hell of a birthday present.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by 42041

I've found many regular AMC screens to be unacceptably dim. (I believe this is due to that Sony projector 3D lens issue). While it wouldn't be my first choice to see any kind of movie, at least IMAX 3D is consistent.

Calling the IMAX 4K projectors "lousy" seems rather unfounded. 4K is a lot of resolution.

4K is nothing compared to 70mm. It's nothing compared to 35mm, even. Theoretically, you can get an 8K scan out of a 35mm frame. It may lose some theoretical resolution when it's projected but it's still superior.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I'll see whatever I want to in whatever theatre and format that I want to. Don't tell me to not do something!

[Kamelot]

I used to live by that rule.
Now I think the normally less than an hour of IMAX footage is not worth the sacrifice of the PQ of the rest of the movie and its sound. I was a fan of LIEMAX for the screen was indeed bigger than the regular ones and the lossless audio indeed sounded better than the regular Dolby track. But ever since I found out AMC's ETX screen was the same size as its LIEMAX one, it lost this patron.
Dolby Atmos is light years ahead of IMAX audio in terms of quality and concept. The DMR blow-up process actually creates problems to decrease picture quality. Well, I think I'm pretty much done with LIEMAX.

[BaerGriggs]

Originally Posted by Kamelot

Dolby Atmos is light years ahead of IMAX audio in terms of quality and concept.

So true. All IMAX does is make everything so loud that the average moviegoer thinks its automatically better. The AMC Prime theater in Kansas City used Dolby Atmos and has at least 60 speakers with transducers. Desolation of Smaug was incredible with that.

[LegacyCosts]

I saw Pacific Rim 3d "IMAX" at AMC. The picture was stellar but the sound was ear piercingly loud and just annoying. IMAX at AMC is not worth the price upgrade.

[chris_sc77]

I paid for IMAX one time (Skyfall). Never will again. A few times I have snuck into IMAX but the prices are absolutely horrifying . I honestly dont know people can afford going to Imax.
The sound can be a bit too much as well. Oblivion had great sound but I dont know If I really needed it so loud that it gave me a headache.

[JavaJulien]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

I paid for IMAX one time (Skyfall). Never will again. A few times I have snuck into IMAX but the prices are absolutely horrifying . I honestly dont know people can afford going to Imax.
The sound can be a bit too much as well. Oblivion had great sound but I dont know If I really needed it so loud that it gave me a headache.

Are you trying to bait the internet lynch mob?

[tezster]

Some of you must have really crap local IMAX theaters where you live... although there's a price premium, there's simply no comparison between the increased immersion of a (much) larger screen, better seats, and overall better presentation afforded in a quality IMAX theater. I've seen Gravity, the Hobbit: DoS recently, and the experience was immensely satisfying.

The only thing a traditional non-IMAX theater has going for it is the capability for playing a Dolby:Atmos mix.

[JavaJulien]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

I saw Pacific Rim 3d "IMAX" at AMC. The picture was stellar but the sound was ear piercingly loud and just annoying. IMAX at AMC is not worth the price upgrade.

I agree, the picture quality was great but the sound was overbearing.

[BluBonnet]

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet