IMAX Enhanced

[Robert Zohn]

Thanks for ^ correcting that. I don't have a list of 70mm titles and other methods of IMAX film capture and though most if not all IMAX was created on 70mm stock and 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

I don't want to get into a dispute when all I am trying to say is all audio and video enhancements and fixes are welcome and appreciated.

[Geoff D]

I think you and everyone else think the same thing Robert but the amount of "IMAX" feature-length movies that actually use IMAX film and were shown in the 1.44 aspect barely reaches double figures, I kid you not. Most special IMAX versions are using whatever digital camera was used on the production and simply open up the widescreen mattes to a taller aspect, e.g. Blade Runner 2049 was shot flat on regular Alexa (not even the large format version) and was composed for a 2.39 aspect but was opened up to 1.90 for IMAX. It's quite literally a case of "fill my screen!" for the movie crowd, now transplanted into the home thanks to the "IMAX Enhanced" brand.

[Fendergopher]

I always took it for granted that there were black bars whenever I watched films, even as a kid watching Star Wars on a mediocre CRT. Never understood the need to fill out the whole screen at any cost.

[Robert Zohn]

Here's IMAX Enhanced new website.

[Agent Kay]

It does say there "expanded ratio on select movies"
Not on all movies...

[Dubstar]

So maybe there is hope Sony will release Alpha IMAX enhanced ??

[Robert Zohn]

Would be a great move on Sony and IMAX's part.

Once IMAX Enhanced BDs come out I'll compare them against the standard UHD/HDR disc of the same title on two like Sony TVs; and if possible I'll also have them set-up with multi channel audio systems just so we can see and hear the differences.

[Pieter V]

‏@SteveMay_UK
Just experienced the first demo of an IMAX Enhanced encoded 4K Blu-ray in the @awe_europe reference cinema. 400w per channel. Holy crap, it was awesome!

.

[Kris Deering]

Originally Posted by Pieter V

.

That's great but unless you do a direct A/B with the non "IMAX" version, it is hard to say how much better or worse it will be. I'm not expecting any difference in video except aspect ratio (please do NOT DMR these!!!) but I could see them juicing up audio presentations. Maybe this will be the remedy for everyone unhappy with the Disney Atmos mixes??

[Geoff D]

They've talked up their grain reduction becuz HDR though Kris, I'd be surprised if any of these discs ended up looking anything like as grainy as they could/should be. As long as they don't look like over-sharpened DNR disasters then I'll be happy enough I guess.

[HDMan72]

So in theory Paramount could re-release Mission Impossible Rogue Nation with IMAX enhanced aspect ratio along with an immersive audio mix? This program also reminds me of Sony's Superbit DVD releases years ago.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HDMan72

So in theory Paramount could re-release Mission Impossible Rogue Nation with IMAX enhanced aspect ratio along with an immersive audio mix? This program also reminds me of Sony's Superbit DVD releases years ago.

Not Rogue Nation, Ghost Protocol. Hopefully it happens, along with Transformers 2.

[HDMan72]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Not Rogue Nation, Ghost Protocol. Hopefully it happens, along with Transformers 2.

Thats right, I meant GP.

[Lion]

First 4K BLU-RAY Enhanced IMAX screening?:

https://twitter.com/SteveMay_UK/stat...431257600?s=19

Doesn't say what the disc was ��

Edit: wonder if it was these two?
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=310800

[BozQ]

Son of a biscuit. It really is HDR10+!
I was just throwing a wild guess earlier and now it really happens.

[Dubstar]

IMAX Enhanced movies are set to appear on streaming platforms and 4K Blu-rays. It’s unclear at this point if there will be separate IMAX Enhanced and ‘regular’ 4K Blu-rays - though IMAX states that if you play an IMAX Enhanced movie on a non-IMAX TV, ‘you will still get the best possible version of the content, but it will not be optimized to deliver the same level of experience as watching or listening to it on an IMAX Enhanced device.' I can imagine a few film fans, though, liking the idea of a new IMAX Enhanced release for Avengers: Infinity War on 4K Blu-ray if Disney decides to sign up to the Program.
~
with Disney claiming to be in the Dolby camp, I honestly don't expect them to do an about face and go with DTS-X processing. And if they were, I don't think they'll like outside folk suddenly reauthorizing discs with image and sound that would make their prior UHD editions look inferior.

[Lion]

I don't really understand what IMAX Enhanced is. It's obvious got some technical data influence, not just a standard for quality production (like THX), as components in the AV chain need a firmware update to use it, so is it like Dolby Vision where additional metadata is used to extract the best capabilities of the AV components to display IMAX images?

I also notice that even though my TV is slated as getting the Enhanced IMAX capability (Sony A1) there is a minimum screen size of 65inch, so looks like my 55inch won't be compatible.

[TM2-Megatron]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

It’s unclear at this point if there will be separate IMAX Enhanced and ‘regular’ 4K Blu-rays

I hope that doesn't happen. I don't think the market for physical media is quite big enough these days to support two distinct 4K releases of all, or most, films that played theatrically in IMAX theatres. That sounds like overkill to me, and I think it would irritate a lot of consumers.

If this IMAX Enhanced thing is more limited, perhaps to legitimately IMAX-filmed features like these two upcoming UHD releases from Mill Creek, I think that may be a better use for it.

[CBCstillmatic]

Originally Posted by Lion

I don't really understand what IMAX Enhanced is. It's obvious got some technical data influence, not just a standard for quality production (like THX), as components in the AV chain need a firmware update to use it, so is it like Dolby Vision where additional metadata is used to extract the best capabilities of the AV components to display IMAX images?

I also notice that even though my TV is slated as getting the Enhanced IMAX capability (Sony A1) there is a minimum screen size of 65inch, so looks like my 55inch won't be compatible.

I posted this in the thread on the 2 movies but I basically feel the same way. The little we learn just raises more questions.

My first thought is Sony and HDR10+. Does this mean all of their TVs slated to support IMAX will in turn now support HDR10+?! I mean why would their TVs need to be updated to be IMAX Enhanced if they aren't gonna support HDR10+ and only play the HDR10 info? Maybe they will have the first universal HDR TV's.

Previous IMAX info had no mention of HDR10+, only DTS X, so I wonder if this means all IMAX discs will be HDR10+ or will IMAX come in different flavors of HDR?

Interesting. Still no mention on UHD players needed though but obviously a Samsung or Panasonic will do. Wonder if the X700 will also be updated to support HDR10+. It's still all way to confusing. Take Denon's new IMAX Enhanced receivers, will obviously pass HDR10+ then but assuming other receivers will without an update what is so special? If you have a Samsung TV, Samsung UHD player and DTS X capable receiver you essentially have IMAX with these discs no? Or will there be some coding that forces everything into a special IMAX mode?

[Canada]

The first HDR 10+ discs
A Beautiful Planet features a DTS X mix
Journey to the South Pacific features a DTS X mix