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

[nrocket3]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

It's a good deal larger than 5/65mm in all respects. 5/65mm will look noticeably better than 35mm, though.
]

Did the 35mm scenes not look good in for example Interstellar? I never have been to a non dome IMAX showing.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

Did the 35mm scenes not look good in for example Interstellar? I never have been to a non dome IMAX showing.

I went to an Interstellar 15/70 non-dome showing, and the 35mm scenes didn't look too bad; just not as detailed or as bright as the IMAX ones.

[nrocket3]

So basically Dunkirk has possibilities to be the best theater experience seen in a long time.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

So basically Dunkirk has possibilities to be the best theater experience seen in a long time.

Dude, Interstellar in 15/70 was a religious experience, so I have no doubt Dunkirk in 15/70 will be spectacular. The Smithsonian theaters (minus probably the one in the Museum of Natural History) seem to have already phased out the 15/70 projectors in favor of the laser projectors, but I'm still looking forward to that showing even if it's not projected on good ol' film.

My first laser showing was in the Airbus IMAX Theater for Batman v Superman, and aside from the IMAX scenes, there seemed to be a bit of noise from the 35mm scenes. Also, the "expanded color gradient" wasn't too dramatic in my opinion (then again, I was watching a Zack Snyder movie). Hopefully, Dunkirk in Laser changes my mind.

[nrocket3]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

Dude, Interstellar in 15/70 was a religious experience, so I have no doubt Dunkirk in 15/70 will be spectacular. The Smithsonian theaters (minus probably the one in the Museum of Natural History) seem to have already phased out the 15/70 projectors in favor of the laser projectors, but I'm still looking forward to that showing even if it's not projected on good ol' film.

My first laser showing was in the Airbus IMAX Theater for Batman v Superman, and aside from the IMAX scenes, there seemed to be a bit of noise from the 35mm scenes. Also, the "expanded color gradient" wasn't too dramatic in my opinion (then again, I was watching a Zack Snyder movie). Hopefully, Dunkirk in Laser changes my mind.

SO there will still be ways to see it in film correct? Also with Laser, is it the same presentation as far as aspect ratio goes but just digital? If not, I'm wondering what the point would be to have laser on the 15/70 sized screens? I know some Liemax theaters are upgrading to Laser.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

SO there will still be ways to see it in film correct? Also with Laser, is it the same presentation as far as aspect ratio goes but just digital? If not, I'm wondering what the point would be to have laser on the 15/70 sized screens? I know some Liemax theaters are upgrading to Laser.

Yes.

[nrocket3]

I know I'm asking a ton of questions here but if Laser IMAX is presented the same way as 15/70 film, then why exactly would there be an issue? I know that the pure film being projected will bring a higher resolution to the image than the 4K image of Laser, but is it really that noticeable of a difference? I also know that film projection has other issues like blurriness, noise, and image brightness. It seems to me that Digital scans and projection could alleviate this. For someone who has viewed both formats what are the differences?

[Will.]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

I know I'm asking a ton of questions here but if Laser IMAX is presented the same way as 15/70 film, then why exactly would there be an issue? I know that the pure film being projected will bring a higher resolution to the image than the 4K image of Laser, but is it really that noticeable of a difference? I also know that film projection has other issues like blurriness, noise, and image brightness. It seems to me that Digital scans and projection could alleviate this. For someone who has viewed both formats what are the differences?

70mm Imax projected on film......you just know. It looks staggeringly good. And you could argue that overall laser is more reliable and dependable, but it just doesn't have that feeling of hyper-reality and clarity. Not a huge difference (it's subtle, but it's there). Ultimately it's just a matter of personal taste, since they both have drawbacks.

[Dubstar]

The one advantage of laser over 15/70 in respect to 3D movies is that there is no ghosting. My impression of the Airbus Imax laser system and notably the IMAX shot scenes in 'Batman vs Superman' was that those scenes had a dramatic jump in sharpness and smoothness which would yes display greater differences to the 35mm shot sequences

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

I know I'm asking a ton of questions here but if Laser IMAX is presented the same way as 15/70 film, then why exactly would there be an issue? I know that the pure film being projected will bring a higher resolution to the image than the 4K image of Laser, but is it really that noticeable of a difference? I also know that film projection has other issues like blurriness, noise, and image brightness. It seems to me that Digital scans and projection could alleviate this. For someone who has viewed both formats what are the differences?

I think Laser captures the color, contrast, and clarity of a film print but with every benefit you just mentioned that digital brings. Film has a classic charm, but I'd take Laser any day.

[nrocket3]

My main excitement is how fantastic the 70mm formats look when even transferred on blu-ray. I would argue the IMAX scenes in Dark Knght Rises and Interstellar are some of the best on blu-ray. That along with how good Hateful 8 looks with the Ultra Panavision 70mm gets me very excited for Dunkirk. Plus it's a Nolan movie in WW2 with Hans Zimmer composing and Tom Hardy as the main actor. So yeah.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

My main excitement is how fantastic the 70mm formats look when even transferred on blu-ray. I would argue the IMAX scenes in Dark Knght Rises and Interstellar are some of the best on blu-ray. That along with how good Hateful 8 looks with the Ultra Panavision 70mm gets me very excited for Dunkirk. Plus it's a Nolan movie in WW2 with Hans Zimmer composing and Tom Hardy as the main actor. So yeah.

Oh, yeah. Even if we're not shown the 1.43:1 image, the expanded aspect ratios really accentuate the extra details in the IMAX scenes, giving that extra oomph for those reference quality scenes. It's a shame we're not given that same treatment on Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and the most recent BvS on Blu-ray.

Come to think of it, I think Dunkirk will look amazing in Laser given the fact that it's all shot in 65mm. I'm still gonna miss the traditional 15/70 projection; watching Interstellar on 15/70 remains my best theatrical experience, hands down.

Anyways, anyone planning to see Sully in IMAX? I think it's interesting they're using IMAX cameras on a film that's a lot smaller in scale compared to the other films partially shot on the format, even if they're just using the modified Alexa 65s.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

Anyways, anyone planning to see Sully in IMAX? I think it's interesting they're using IMAX cameras on a film that's a lot smaller in scale compared to the other films partially shot on the format, even if they're just using the modified Alexa 65s.

They aren't even modified. They were shot on regular 65s and then midway into production they signed a deal with IMAX since the door was opened by Arri allowing IMAX to slap their stickers on some of the 65s to claim something was "filmed in IMAX".

But yeah, there's zero difference between an Alexa 65 and an Alexa 65 IMAX camera beyond the blue sticker they throw on it.

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

My main excitement is how fantastic the 70mm formats look when even transferred on blu-ray. I would argue the IMAX scenes in Dark Knght Rises and Interstellar are some of the best on blu-ray. That along with how good Hateful 8 looks with the Ultra Panavision 70mm gets me very excited for Dunkirk. Plus it's a Nolan movie in WW2 with Hans Zimmer composing and Tom Hardy as the main actor. So yeah.

I'm pretty sure Hardy isn't the lead. I know it's got some big names in it like his, Rylance, Murphy and Branagh but from what I heard in early pre-production notes, Nolan was looking for young unknowns to play the lead.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

They aren't even modified. They were shot on regular 65s and then midway into production they signed a deal with IMAX since the door was opened by Arri allowing IMAX to slap their stickers on some of the 65s to claim something was "filmed in IMAX".

But yeah, there's zero difference between an Alexa 65 and an Alexa 65 IMAX camera beyond the blue sticker they throw on it.

Well one notable difference between it and regular Alexa 65 films is it will have the expanded aspect ratio in IMAX.
Confirmed by IMAX's chief marketing officer, and sounds like it may be the entire film with no shifts https://mobile.twitter.com/eileenati...51590825189376

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Well one notable difference between it and regular Alexa 65 films is it will have the expanded aspect ratio in IMAX.
Confirmed by IMAX's chief marketing officer, and sounds like it may be the entire film with no shifts https://mobile.twitter.com/eileenati...51590825189376

It's 1.9, not 1.43. It's less "expanded" than your HD TV.

[nrocket3]

I wonder how the "IMAX" scenes in CA: Civil War will look on bluray?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

They aren't even modified. They were shot on regular 65s and then midway into production they signed a deal with IMAX since the door was opened by Arri allowing IMAX to slap their stickers on some of the 65s to claim something was "filmed in IMAX".

But yeah, there's zero difference between an Alexa 65 and an Alexa 65 IMAX camera beyond the blue sticker they throw on it.

On the Airbus 4:3 IMAX screen though it looked like "Sully" was widened vertically to encompass more of the screen .

I'm curious in knowing what the AR of Dunkirk will be since traditional 70mm presentations are 2.20:1 if the standard theatrical AR will be similar to "Jurassic World's" AR (which had select scenes shot in 65mm for FX work)

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

On the Airbus 4:3 IMAX screen though it looked like "Sully" was widened vertically to encompass more of the screen .

I'm curious in knowing what the AR of Dunkirk will be since traditional 70mm presentations are 2.20:1 if the standard theatrical AR will be similar to "Jurassic World's" AR (which had select scenes shot in 65mm for FX work)

My guess is Dunkirk's regular engagements will either be 2.20 (probably within a flat DCP a la Tomorrowland) or recomposed to 2.35 (the trailer with Suicide Squad did it this way). The 2.00 Jurassic World AR (which actually seems to be catching on a bit) is so similar to digital IMAX, and I imagine IMAX insists on a more dramatic expansion for digital IMAX when they advertise a film being shot with their cameras.

BTW, rumor is 15/70 will actually be the dominant format to Dunkirk, with over 100 minutes of native IMAX footage (and due to 15/70 platter size, the running time probably has to be not much longer than Interstellar). Though this far out, seems unlikely they can really pinpoint that figure, but would be great if indeed more than half the film was shot in IMAX.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

BTW, rumor is 15/70 will actually be the dominant format to Dunkirk, with over 100 minutes of native IMAX footage (and due to 15/70 platter size, the running time probably has to be not much longer than Interstellar). Though this far out, seems unlikely they can really pinpoint that figure, but would be great if indeed more than half the film was shot in IMAX.

Hot f*ckin damn if that's true about the native IMAX footage part.

HIGHLY doubt about the 15/70 format being the dominant exhibition. Then again, I dunno the rate in which IMAX theaters are converting to Laser, and whether or not the 1.43:1 screens upgraded to Laser will bring back the 15/70 projectors. If so, they're gonna have a ball with that.

I wish for IMAX to update their Alexa 65 variants so that they can support full 1.4. 1.9:1 isn't true IMAX, and it irks me that they're still marketing that as true IMAX.