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

[bigalpha]

Hi, I've scanned through this thread and done a bunch of searching but cannot find a definitive answer to my question:

Is there a graphical representation of each of the screen sizes? I've found them for IMAX vs IMAX digital. But what about Cinemark XD vs IMAX digital vs. 35mm vs 70mm (non-IMAX)?

[Panemlights]

Originally Posted by bigalpha

Hi, I've scanned through this thread and done a bunch of searching but cannot find a definitive answer to my question:

Is there a graphical representation of each of the screen sizes? I've found them for IMAX vs IMAX digital. But what about Cinemark XD vs IMAX digital vs. 35mm vs 70mm (non-IMAX)?

Screen sizes varies per theater so you can't really know

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Panemlights

Screen sizes varies per theater so you can't really know

Yup.

The only really useful thing is, bar a few laser locations in the UK, France, the UAE and Russia, all IMAX 70mm and Laser screens are among the world's largest.

Seeing Dunkirk in IMAX 70mm tonight, will report back

[bigalpha]

Originally Posted by antovolk

Yup.

The only really useful thing is, bar a few laser locations in the UK, France, the UAE and Russia, all IMAX 70mm and Laser screens are among the world's largest.

Seeing Dunkirk in IMAX 70mm tonight, will report back

Thanks! Am I correct in my understanding that the PLF theaters (e.g. Cinemark XD) is the competitor to the IMAX digital?

We have a theater in town that plays 70mm (is not an IMAX), so we were debating on seeing it there or going to the new XD theater. So I tried to research on this and came up empty handed.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by bigalpha

Thanks! Am I correct in my understanding that the PLF theaters (e.g. Cinemark XD) is the competitor to the IMAX digital?

We have a theater in town that plays 70mm (is not an IMAX), so we were debating on seeing it there or going to the new XD theater. So I tried to research on this and came up empty handed.

Yes. Only that, obviously, the other PLFs won't have the extra height (with the IMAX footage presented 1.90:1 in IMAX digital)

Go for the 70mm regular I'd say.

[bigalpha]

Originally Posted by antovolk

Yes. Only that, obviously, the other PLFs won't have the extra height (with the IMAX footage presented 1.90:1)

Go for the 70mm regular I'd say.

Right, I know that the 70mm will be shorter. I've never seen a movie on 70mm, so Dunkirk seems like a great film to see it on.

There's a real IMAX about 2 hours away, do you think real IMAX movies are worth the extra effort? I've never seen a mainstream film in IMAX so unsure if it's something I should check out.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by bigalpha

Right, I know that the 70mm will be shorter. I've never seen a movie on 70mm, so Dunkirk seems like a great film to see it on.

There's a real IMAX about 2 hours away, do you think real IMAX movies are worth the extra effort? I've never seen a mainstream film in IMAX so unsure if it's something I should check out.

well yeah, 70mm screens may not be as tall but actual active image wise it's gonna be identical to the PLF. So while at a PLF you'll likely see it letterboxed (as PLF screens tend to be 1.85:1 as opposed to 2.40:1), at a 70mm location you'll have it properly masked and stuff - not to mention better quality off it bring projected on 70mm film as opposed to 2K/4K digital.

Dude. It's a Nolan film. 75% is shot on IMAX cameras - so in those theatres (provided it's showing it in 70mm IMAX film or IMAX Laser), the image will fill those screens top to bottom. If there's one film you should seek a 'real IMAX' out for, it's this. Check the list here: https://www.imax.com/news/experience...and-imax-laser

[bigalpha]

I really appreciate your help! That's where my questioning was going to next: quality. Are PLF theaters usually 2K/4K digital projectors? So they are less quality than 70mm film, but how do they compare against 'regular' movies?

Maybe easier to ask, is there a hierarchy of movie quality/"goodness"? Should I stop going to see the XD movies and stick to the regular theater?

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by bigalpha

I really appreciate your help! That's where my questioning was going to next: quality. Are PLF theaters usually 2K/4K digital projectors? So they are less quality than 70mm film, but how do they compare against 'regular' movies?

Maybe easier to ask, is there a hierarchy of movie quality/"goodness"? Should I stop going to see the XD movies and stick to the regular theater?

most regular films are finished in 2K, and the PLF projectors are 4K so you get the benefit of the upscale.

From my Round 2 thoughts in the main film thread: obviously it goes without saying, for me IMAX 70mm was the superior experience. But truth is, if anything they are *different* experiences. With IMAX you get what's essentially the 'missing piece' which is the viscerality of it all. Every shot, every shelling, every tick, every wave crash, every explosion - you feel it here. Dialogue is harder to hear - obviously intentional, given the regular 70mm DTS mix has it clearer and more pronounced - but that's in service to the viscerality.

Which then brings me to - what do you then lose, exactly in a regular theatre presentation (be it 70mm, 35mm or DCP)? Truth is, you don't lose anything at all. It's impressive looking back how the 2.20 crop was achieved on IMAX footage that uses way more of the actual height of the frame than Nolan's previous films, yet in the crop you don't lose vital info. The only thing you lose is that viscerality I mentioned. Whether or not this is vital to your experience of the film is down to you. For people who didn't connect with the story structure/lack of fleshed out characters, this may be the missing piece because it puts *you* into it. To expand on Nolan's VR analogy - IMAX 70mm is essentially wearing the headset, the 2.20 version is that YouTube 360 video you watch on your browser. You're watching the events through a window in 2.20, in 1.43 on a giant IMAX you're all but physically there. Now, and I should emphasize this, it's still a fantastic film when viewed in non IMAX formats. I connected to everything Nolan was trying to attempt. The structure, the story, comes under more scrutiny without that visceral factor and not everyone in the general audience will connect to it as some reactions I see suggest. But more nuances viewers likely won't need the IMAX to enjoy and be blown away by this.

On the projection - there's a reason those IMAX GT 70mm projectors are the best. On a beautifully fresh print, the *stability*, the colours, the detail. It's like watching digital if digital was 18K - zero qualms with the presentation. Regular 70mm offers a bit of unpredictability - the colours are a tad different, there's a bit more judder....it's more romantic, if that makes sense. I sensed it when seeing Interstellar in the format (and The Lost City Of Z in 35mm) and was kinda blown away by how 'imperfect' it was, and those imperfections have a charm. But IMAX 70mm - Solid. As. A. Rock. It's film projection at its absolute finest.

[GLaDOS]

It'll be interesting to see how the Blu-ray releases stack up against one another: 4K Blu-ray with HDR vs regular Blu-ray, both I assume will come with variable aspect ratios. I can imagine the 4K Blu-ray capturing the same color/detail stability of the 15/70 presentation with the 1.78:1 image thanks to HDR, with the regular Blu-ray release being probably comparable to an IMAX Xenon presentation.

I'm very interested in seeing how Nolan plans to make use of 4K Blu-rays, considering his recent support for the format and especially with the IMAX footage we have in TDK, TDKR, and Interstellar.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

It'll be interesting to see how the Blu-ray releases stack up against one another: 4K Blu-ray with HDR vs regular Blu-ray, both I assume will come with variable aspect ratios. I can imagine the 4K Blu-ray capturing the same color/detail stability of the 15/70 presentation with the 1.78:1 image thanks to HDR, with the regular Blu-ray release being probably comparable to an IMAX Xenon presentation.

I'm very interested in seeing how Nolan plans to make use of 4K Blu-rays, considering his recent support for the format and especially with the IMAX footage we have in TDK, TDKR, and Interstellar.

A 4K HDR Blu-ray gets close to the color gamut of a regular theatrical DCP. A standard Blu-ray will not be touching the fidelity and color accuracy of an IMAX Xenon DCP.

[bigalpha]

Originally Posted by antovolk

most regular films are finished in 2K, and the PLF projectors are 4K so you get the benefit of the upscale.

From my Round 2 thoughts in the main film thread: obviously it goes without saying, for me IMAX 70mm was the superior experience. But truth is, if anything they are *different* experiences. With IMAX you get what's essentially the 'missing piece' which is the viscerality of it all. Every shot, every shelling, every tick, every wave crash, every explosion - you feel it here. Dialogue is harder to hear - obviously intentional, given the regular 70mm DTS mix has it clearer and more pronounced - but that's in service to the viscerality.

Which then brings me to - what do you then lose, exactly in a regular theatre presentation (be it 70mm, 35mm or DCP)? Truth is, you don't lose anything at all. It's impressive looking back how the 2.20 crop was achieved on IMAX footage that uses way more of the actual height of the frame than Nolan's previous films, yet in the crop you don't lose vital info. The only thing you lose is that viscerality I mentioned. Whether or not this is vital to your experience of the film is down to you. For people who didn't connect with the story structure/lack of fleshed out characters, this may be the missing piece because it puts *you* into it. To expand on Nolan's VR analogy - IMAX 70mm is essentially wearing the headset, the 2.20 version is that YouTube 360 video you watch on your browser. You're watching the events through a window in 2.20, in 1.43 on a giant IMAX you're all but physically there. Now, and I should emphasize this, it's still a fantastic film when viewed in non IMAX formats. I connected to everything Nolan was trying to attempt. The structure, the story, comes under more scrutiny without that visceral factor and not everyone in the general audience will connect to it as some reactions I see suggest. But more nuances viewers likely won't need the IMAX to enjoy and be blown away by this.

On the projection - there's a reason those IMAX GT 70mm projectors are the best. On a beautifully fresh print, the *stability*, the colours, the detail. It's like watching digital if digital was 18K - zero qualms with the presentation. Regular 70mm offers a bit of unpredictability - the colours are a tad different, there's a bit more judder....it's more romantic, if that makes sense. I sensed it when seeing Interstellar in the format (and The Lost City Of Z in 35mm) and was kinda blown away by how 'imperfect' it was, and those imperfections have a charm. But IMAX 70mm - Solid. As. A. Rock. It's film projection at its absolute finest.

Thank you for your detailed insight. So it sounds like IMAX 70mm is going to be the way to go for films, if possible. Generally, I don't have the ability to spend a whole day for one movie (drive time + run time) unfortunately. I've been seeing all recent movies in the new XD theater that was just built in my town (Tucson) and have been enjoying it. I wanted to change it up and see Dunkirk in 70mm, because I heard so many good things about other movies in regular 70mm.

So, correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to be that the general order of movie screen/type preference should be:
1. IMAX 15/70
2. 70mm regular
3. PLF
4. other 35mm types

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

It'll be interesting to see how the Blu-ray releases stack up against one another: 4K Blu-ray with HDR vs regular Blu-ray, both I assume will come with variable aspect ratios. I can imagine the 4K Blu-ray capturing the same color/detail stability of the 15/70 presentation with the 1.78:1 image thanks to HDR, with the regular Blu-ray release being probably comparable to an IMAX Xenon presentation.

I'm very interested in seeing how Nolan plans to make use of 4K Blu-rays, considering his recent support for the format and especially with the IMAX footage we have in TDK, TDKR, and Interstellar.

It will probably be presented a lot better than the rapid changing AR in Bay's AOE.

[Riddhi2011]

No IMAX 70mm or Laser theatre in my country. Is going to LieMax worth it, or should I just stick to regular 2K DCP (4K not available either).
Only those who've seen it in Liemax 1.89:1, tell me, please. Thanks in advance.

[The Debts]

With all of this chatter for the film's IMAX presentation, what about it being presented in Dolby Vision? Think we'll have anyone share their thoughts on that?

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

No IMAX 70mm or Laser theatre in my country. Is going to LieMax worth it, or should I just stick to regular 2K DCP (4K not available either).
Only those who've seen it in Liemax 1.89:1, tell me, please. Thanks in advance.

I'd say LieMAX is worth it compared to regular 2k showing. You get the extra aspect ratio for 75% of the movie and it should be a larger screen than your typical 2k auditorium.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by antovolk

Which then brings me to - what do you then lose, exactly in a regular theatre presentation (be it 70mm, 35mm or DCP)? Truth is, you don't lose anything at all. It's impressive looking back how the 2.20 crop was achieved on IMAX footage that uses way more of the actual height of the frame than Nolan's previous films, yet in the crop you don't lose vital info. The only thing you lose is that viscerality I mentioned. Whether or not this is vital to your experience of the film is down to you. For people who didn't connect with the story structure/lack of fleshed out characters, this may be the missing piece because it puts *you* into it. To expand on Nolan's VR analogy - IMAX 70mm is essentially wearing the headset, the 2.20 version is that YouTube 360 video you watch on your browser. You're watching the events through a window in 2.20, in 1.43 on a giant IMAX you're all but physically there. Now, and I should emphasize this, it's still a fantastic film when viewed in non IMAX formats. I connected to everything Nolan was trying to attempt. The structure, the story, comes under more scrutiny without that visceral factor and not everyone in the general audience will connect to it as some reactions I see suggest. But more nuances viewers likely won't need the IMAX to enjoy and be blown away by this.

Very well said sir and it's why I keep going on and on about Nolan's widescreen extractions as I do. I can see from the stills that there's more height being used in his 1.44 here, fair enough, but they're always keeping an eye on the extraction (they likely had 2.20 ground glass done for the IMAX viewfinders) and while that "viscerality" of the embiggened version is gone you're actually given a more intimate snapshot of the scene in some respects, so things like story and dialogue and narrative are brought into clearer focus - for better or worse. I found the exact same thing to be true of Interstellar when I viewed it the second time in 2K digital, first being 15/70.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by Blu-Malibu2009

I'd say LieMAX is worth it compared to regular 2k showing. You get the extra aspect ratio for 75% of the movie and it should be a larger screen than your typical 2k auditorium.

The only big issue is that Liemax lies about 1,463 kilometres away and takes 24 hour train journey to reach. About Rs 5000 on train tickets for a movie ticket of Rs 425.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

The only big issue is that Liemax lies about 1,463 kilometres away and takes 24 hour train journey to reach.

Not worth it then. The only screen worth that kind of journey would be a 60 foot tall, 1.43:1 ratio 70mm IMAX or Laser IMAX location.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by Blu-Malibu2009

Not worth it then. The only screen worth that kind of journey would be a 60 foot tall, 1.43:1 ratio 70mm IMAX or Laser IMAX location.

I might still go because a friend stays there and it's a beautiful city of historic importance that I've never explored.

I had made that kind of journey for watching The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX 15/70 in a different city. I wasn't as blown away by the choice of IMAX framing as I hoped. Maybe I chose the wrong seat. The theatre does not screen IMAX films anymore, not even liemax. They could not afford the cost of conversion.

I stayed in a hotel room for 3 days and just explored the beautiful localities, places of historic interest like ruined forts, gateways etc.
I had my Nikon with me, so.... But when you start earning, you realise the value of money.