Large Format/"Premium" Theaters (IMAX 15/70, Digital IMAX, XD, ETX, RPX, etc.)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Not only was the IMAX laser version superior in showing more vertical visual information and framing, the 12-channel mix was much more vigorous and expansive to the weak Dolby Atmos mix

IMAX turns their system up to "11" a lot, much to my ears' dismay.

Vigorous is louder in this case. The Atmos was not weak in my theater.

[Riddhi2011]

This was (probably) my last ever visit to a screening on celluloid film. I went to Kolkata Science City solely for the purpose of catching a 10/70mm screening of the MacGilliveray brothers' documentary 'America Wild: National Parks Adventure.' The screen as you can see from the photos below, is an OMNIMAX Dome and the largest Space Theatre in India. I learned that Come February 2017, the film projector will be replaced with a digital one (2K or 4K, I don't know). But this was very bittersweet for me for two reasons:

-This was my first film screening in seven years. I did watch 'Avatar,' 'Half Blood Prince' and 'TDKR' in 15/70, last. But it was mainly all those memories of watching movies on 35mm that came pouring in as I saw the picture shake slightly while passing through the film gate, and the whirring sound of the film projector (I was sitting right beside it).
-It's incredibly sad that I or any Calcuttan/film lover won't ever get to experience film projection in the future.

That said, the image focus wasn't sharp. That's probably due to negligence on part of the projectionist. Though, I also saw how the projected image was very soothing to the eyes unlike with modern digital projection. Long Live Film!

Omnimax Dome.jpg

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Here's the projection booth and the IMAX film reel after being rolled back at the end of the screening. I saw it roll back, yes.

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Sorry for the image quality. It's a very low end phone.

Look here for more photos from inside the Kolkata Science City Space Theatre (incl projected images) -

http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail...re-id107732395

[ITDEFX101]

How the hell do you watch a full 2 hr movie in a dome???

[Creed]

Reminder:

[Poya]

Originally Posted by creed123

Reminder:

Didn't make Ghostbusters any better. I'm watching this on 70mm.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

How the hell do you watch a full 2 hr movie in a dome???

I didn't. I've mentioned in the post above that it was the IMAX documentary 'America Wild: National Parks Adventure.' I have seen Avatar, HP6 and TDKR on 15/70 on other IMAX screens, all of which used to be 1.43:1 but now they have folded down to 2.39:1. The dome only shows 45 minute documentaries shot for IMAX, not feature films.

Originally Posted by Poya

I'm watching this on 70mm.

'Fantastic Beasts' was shot digitally and not on film. So, I don't know what benefits will be gained from watching a 5/70 print. Also, from the trailers, the image looks like a typical clean, polished and glossy digitally graded image. there's nothing filmic about it. Will the film out help it look more like celluloid, I don't know.

As for the screen break on IMAX, I hate this sort of gimmick as it draws too much attention to the black bars. The movie was shot with anamorphic lenses and going by tradition of the HP movies, none of them were opened up to a taller aspect ratio on IMAX, despite being shot on Super 35, spherical. So, even if they shot VFX plates on a larger sensor with a spherical lens, I don't see them opening up the framing, which would've been actually more immersive, to me at least. IMDB states 1.85:1 for some scenes, but the site has often got it wrong regarding specs.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

IMAX turns their system up to "11" a lot, much to my ears' dismay.

Vigorous is louder in this case. The Atmos was not weak in my theater.

it wasn't ear bleed loud, but I heard many more audio cues in the surrounds and overhead than I heard in the Atmos mix --- it's actually more in reverse for me, but this was one of the rare mixes were the 12-channel mix was superior in creating an immersive auditory experience.

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

I didn't. I've mentioned in the post above that it was the IMAX documentary 'America Wild: National Parks Adventure.' I have seen Avatar, HP6 and TDKR on 15/70 on other IMAX screens, all of which used to be 1.43:1 but now they have folded down to 2.39:1. The dome only shows 45 minute documentaries shot for IMAX, not feature films.



'Fantastic Beasts' was shot digitally and not on film. So, I don't know what benefits will be gained from watching a 5/70 print. Also, from the trailers, the image looks like a typical clean, polished and glossy digitally graded image. there's nothing filmic about it. Will the film out help it look more like celluloid, I don't know.

As for the screen break on IMAX, I hate this sort of gimmick as it draws too much attention to the black bars. The movie was shot with anamorphic lenses and going by tradition of the HP movies, none of them were opened up to a taller aspect ratio on IMAX, despite being shot on Super 35, spherical. So, even if they shot VFX plates on a larger sensor with a spherical lens, I don't see them opening up the framing, which would've been actually more immersive, to me at least. IMDB states 1.85:1 for some scenes, but the site has often got it wrong regarding specs.

I saw it in 70MM here in NYC on Thursday night, looked really good

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

I saw it in 70MM here in NYC on Thursday night, looked really good

Did it fill the entire 2.20:1 70mm aspect screen or was it standard 2.39:1 with black bars on top and bottom for the unused space above and below?

[antovolk]

BFI IMAX scored a 70mm print for select R1 shows too https://www.facebook.com/bfiimax/pho...%3A%22R1%22%7D

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

Did it fill the entire 2.20:1 70mm aspect screen or was it standard 2.39:1 with black bars on top and bottom for the unused space above and below?

entire screen. I saw it at a City Cinemas theater, they're a really good chain here in NY that usually have common height screens and proper masking, so it was a pleasant experience for sure.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

I saw it in 70MM here in NYC on Thursday night, looked really good

Glad to hear it. People seem to be very puzzled by the 70mm release but I see it as no different from a 70mm blow-up from days gone by: a means of creating a premium viewing experience. Various peeps at the film-tech forum insist that it was finished in 4K but the DCP is indeed 2K, so if the 70mm was created from the 4K source then it'd actually have a leg-up over the 2K DCP. As for it being shot on digital, again I say "so what?".

Originally Posted by antovolk

BFI IMAX scored a 70mm print for select R1 shows too https://www.facebook.com/bfiimax/pho...%3A%22R1%22%7D

So they get the 15/70 print for the Star Wars movie which doesn't embiggen, and missed out on 15/70 for the one that did. I guess they learned their lesson from that debacle, but it smacks of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted to me.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Glad to hear it. People seem to be very puzzled by the 70mm release but I see it as no different from a 70mm blow-up from days gone by: a means of creating a premium viewing experience. Various peeps at the film-tech forum insist that it was finished in 4K but the DCP is indeed 2K, so if the 70mm was created from the 4K source then it'd actually have a leg-up over the 2K DCP. As for it being shot on digital, again I say "so what?".


So they get the 15/70 print for the Star Wars movie which doesn't embiggen, and missed out on 15/70 for the one that did. I guess they learned their lesson from that debacle, but it smacks of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted to me.

I think the good thing from this is - there's an IMAX 2D option available, especially on opening night/midnight. Was going to go for the laser at the Leicester Sq but then BFI announce this...

I realise in the US Disney did do Civil War in IMAX 2D for some shows and there's a chance they may do the same here, but outside the US all digital screenings, laser or otherwise, are almost definitely gonna be 3D only. SO a 2D option here, especially projected off 70mm as opposed to the Xenon system, is fantastic.

They better not screw up on VIII though!

[Geoff D]

Sure, but for me it's more that 15/70 is kinda pointless without any embiggening of the image. A blowup to 5/70 is one thing but the IMAX DMR process isn't the greatest so if there's not any height expansion to make up for it then the 15/70 is a waste IMO, as stretching 4/35 out to that format pushes the source beyond its capabilities.

Still, IF Rogue One was properly finished at 4K (seeing as it was shot large format) then it should up-rez to 15/70 better than most of the IMAX blowups I've seen.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sure, but for me it's more that 15/70 is kinda pointless without any embiggening of the image. A blowup to 5/70 is one thing but the IMAX DMR process isn't the greatest so if there's not any height expansion to make up for it then the 15/70 is a waste IMO, as stretching 4/35 out to that format pushes the source beyond its capabilities.

Still, IF Rogue One was properly finished at 4K (seeing as it was shot large format) then it should up-rez to 15/70 better than most of the IMAX blowups I've seen.

Yeah, one would hope that is indeed the case.

[ITDEFX101]

Well I am not seeing many ads saying see it in IMAX or filmed with IMAX cameras.......*sigh*

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Well I am not seeing many ads saying see it in IMAX or filmed with IMAX cameras.......*sigh*

Probably because it wasn't filmed with IMAX cameras.

[Riddhi2011]

Is there really any point in seeing Rogue One in 15/70 2D IMAX film?
It was shot gigitally on Alexa65 with Ultra panavision anamorphic lenses, the same ones used for Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight." There will be no aspect ratio shifts or large aspect ratios possible, unless they crop, which I'm pretty sure the won't. Which means Rogue One will just be 2.39:1 on a 1.43:1 screen. Apart from the sound, I see very little reason to watch it on IMAX.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

Is there really any point in seeing Rogue One in 15/70 2D IMAX film?
It was shot gigitally on Alexa65 with Ultra panavision anamorphic lenses, the same ones used for Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight." There will be no aspect ratio shifts or large aspect ratios possible, unless they crop, which I'm pretty sure the won't. Which means Rogue One will just be 2.39:1 on a 1.43:1 screen. Apart from the sound, I see very little reason to watch it on IMAX.

As with TFA, it seems as if the prints were created primarily for the non-digital/laser equipped IMAX venues just so they're able to show the movie. I think the BFI have snagged one just for the sake of it.

I'd love to see RO on 'regular' 70mm though.

[ITDEFX101]

Question, how expensive would it be to film the entire movie in IMAX? I am assuming this movie is going to make at least 1 billion total. I find it hard to believe that Marketing for a movie could cost just as much as the actual movie production.

That beach battle with the ATCTs could look impressive in IMAX with those being so huge.