IMAX Enhanced

[Geoff D]

Precisely why I don't go to see anything in IMAX unless it's shot and projected on 15/70 (honourable exception to the 15/70 print of Rogue One, but even that had the "true IMAX" Dunkirk prologue attached to it). Everything else is just someone else's digital camera with an IMAX sticker slapped on it (if that) with the mattes opened up. I don't live anywhere near an IMAX nowadays, true enough, but even when I did I didn't go and see everything just because I could. Of the 20 times I've visited the BFI IMAX 20% were 2K digital and they weren't even "IMAX" presentations, I went because it was a means to see a favourite movie on da big screen (Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, Raiders, Phantom Menace).

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

Outside of Nolan's use in his movies the IMAX name carries no weight with me. Half of all "IMAX" movies seem to be either badly processed or not even shot on IMAX film in the first place, and let's not forget DMR. Went to a screening of A Beautiful Planet not too long ago, looked awful.

I remember hearing people complain that he Infinity War Bluray and 4k release had the black bars and wanted the IMAX ratio (home theater ratio) because it was all shot with IMAX cameras. Was that movie shot with Legit IMAX cameras like Nolan does or were people wanting what IMAX advertises now and days at the theater? 20% more picture, no bars, even though no IMAX cameras were used?

[Geoff D]

They used the ARRI Alexa 65 with an IMAX label on it. Also some RED Helium for aerials I think. You don't need an IMAX camera to shoot/show a movie in a constant 1.90 ratio like IW.

[gemcgee64]

Just give me the movie without the black bars!!! That is all I ask.

I hate the black bars.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by gemcgee64

Just give me the movie without the black bars!!! That is all I ask.

I hate the black bars.

You can stretch the 2.39:1, 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 frames on your TV to fill the entire screen, but the image will be distorted, which is something you don't want to do. So it's best to view the movie in its original aspect ratio, the way it was meant to be seen by the filmmaker.

[Nitroboy]

Originally Posted by slimdude

You can stretch the 2.39:1, 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 frames on your TV to fill the entire screen, but the image will be distorted, which is something you don't want to do. So it's best to view the movie in its original aspect ratio, the way it was meant to be seen by the filmmaker.

A lot of films are cropped to a 2.4:1 AR in post production. Because cinematic.
Open matte fan edits open up a whole can of worms, and different formats from throughout the ages.

[BozQ]

Shooting with the Alexa 65 IMAX don't determine the aspect ratio of the film. Rogue One was shot with the same camera, but it never had a 1.90:1 version. Only 2.39:1

Similarly, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 and 2, Black Panther were never shot with any IMAX branded cameras, but it has variable aspect ratio for IMAX.

So it is definitely possible that filmmakers use the Alexa 65 and yet compose their shots for 2.39:1 scope. The reason why is because of the way larger sensors captures visual information compared to regular cameras. If you know photography, you'd know how crop and full frame sensors capture images quite differently using the same lens.

[Geoff D]

Nor were Doctor Strange or Thor Ragnarok or Ant-Man & The Wasp for that matter, they were shot on the regular Alexa 65 minus the all-important IMAX sticker.

[BozQ]

I usually group them as the same camera. They all share the same 65mm sensor. My point about shooting with a larger camera sensor still stands, and that how the choice of camera don't determine the aspect ratio.



You know what really irritates me was when someone on a Facebook group remarked why The Avengers (2012) was shot in IMAX because it was fullscreen on Blu-ray, but Age of Ultron was not because it's widescreen. It's remarkable how we've come to a point where there are people who don't realise 1.85:1 is one of two common ratios used in cinemas.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by BozQ

I usually group them as the same camera. They all share the same 65mm sensor. My point about shooting with a larger camera sensor still stands, and that how the choice of camera don't determine the aspect ratio.



You know what really irritates me was when someone on a Facebook group remarked why The Avengers (2012) was shot in IMAX because it was fullscreen on Blu-ray, but Age of Ultron was not because it's widescreen. It's remarkable how we've come to a point where there are people who don't realise 1.85:1 is one of two common ratios used in cinemas.

its also because of IMAX's new marketing thing to get people to see films in IMAX. They show that what more you're getting by removing black bars. So when it comes to Blurry or 4k, its "black bars??? it was shot in IMAX? I'll wait"

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BozQ

I usually group them as the same camera. They all share the same 65mm sensor. My point about shooting with a larger camera sensor still stands, and that how the choice of camera don't determine the aspect ratio.

So do I, I'm just making the point to those who aren't aware that other Marvel movies were shot with the exact same camera as Infinity War (minus sticker) so there was literally nothing stopping those movies from being embiggened from start to finish but they weren't, just in case people think that the "IMAX" cameras have something to do with it....they don't.

You know what really irritates me was when someone on a Facebook group remarked why The Avengers (2012) was shot in IMAX because it was fullscreen on Blu-ray, but Age of Ultron was not because it's widescreen. It's remarkable how we've come to a point where there are people who don't realise 1.85:1 is one of two common ratios used in cinemas.

Shows you how powerful the marketing sizzle is these days, and also how ignorant some people are about aspect ratios in general (I don't mean that as a pejorative, some folks just got other shit to worry about in their lives). People still hate black bars too and what doesn't help is that the younger folks are literally growing up in a time when the film industry via IMAX has started to celebrate being rid of those dastardly bars. Who cares about composition? FIL MAH SCRENE, DAGNAMMIT!!

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

So do I, I'm just making the point to those who aren't aware that other Marvel movies were shot with the exact same camera as Infinity War (minus sticker) so there was literally nothing stopping those movies from being embiggened from start to finish but they weren't, just in case people think that the "IMAX" cameras have something to do with it....they don't.


Shows you how powerful the marketing sizzle is these days, and also how ignorant some people are about aspect ratios in general (I don't mean that as a pejorative, some folks just got other shit to worry about in their lives). People still hate black bars too and what doesn't help is that the younger folks are literally growing up in a time when the film industry via IMAX has started to celebrate being rid of those dastardly bars. Who cares about composition? FIL MAH SCRENE, DAGNAMMIT!!

You're so eloquent sometimes.

[JohnAV]

Sound and Vision authored this 10/30 article entitled IMAX Enhanced Home Theater Certification: What We Know So Far

Will IMAX Enhanced prove to be a real plus, or simply part of the passing parade of new formats that ultimately either failed (the jury is still out on high frame rate movies) or faded into the background noise? THX is still with us, but is rarely mentioned in today’s product promotions. And 3D may soon be gone, at least until it’s resurrected yet again in 2050.

[LordoftheRings]

3D IMAX resurrection in 2050? They need to adjust their calibration displays.
2020 with Avatar 2 is the next 3D resurrection year. Sound & Vision are thirty years off track.

[sapiendut]

This is the worst non-feature I’ve read for quite sometime. At least with THX there is calibration guidance. With this is very wishy washy. Even HDR10+ is not a must.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

3D IMAX resurrection in 2050? They need to adjust their calibration displays.
2020 with Avatar 2 is the next 3D resurrection year. Sound & Vision are thirty years off track.

[Kris Deering]

I was talking about this with a friend the other day. I had a 16x9 screen in my room before and my friend commented on how I liked movies that were released on disc that "opened up" for the IMAX sequences, but now I generally watch them cropped for scope (if safe) instead since I now have a scope screen. I mentioned the fact that I think most ignore though, I didn't like films that open up in aspect because they filled my screen, I liked them because they LOOKED AMAZING since most of the early ones were actually shot with IMAX 15/70. With films like Infinity War and most of the others that are just an open matte version from a digital camera, the added area adds nothing to me because I am already getting the same picture quality throughout and most of these are just crops so they are already safe.

VERY few of the open matte versions really added much for me in terms of composition. MI:4 is probably the only real standout, other than a few shots in TDK and Interstellar. But those make a far more profound impact in an actual IMAX theater than they did even when I had a 120" 16x9 screen. Looking at my 65" OLED, the difference in experience is almost a joke.

[LordoftheRings]

And this in scope? ❇ https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/IMAX-.../21232/#Review

[Geoff D]

Sure:



Looks pretty badass to me, makes the shuttle much more imposing in the frame.

[LordoftheRings]

I too thought of cropping that first screenshot.
Looking @ both I prefer the first one; it shows the way...towards the sky, with more elevation.

I agree that the majority of films are in the wider aspect ratio ... 2.35:1 / 2.40:1
And that's the size we should have with our TVs and front projectors.

For open mattes like IMAX @ 1.43:1 and 1.78:1, another two displays are best.
So, just one display is not enough; three is best. ...Including IMAX 3D, of course.

* Chris mentioned some of the bests in films shot with IMAX cameras, including The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, M:I - Ghost Protocol, Interstellar, Dunkirk, etc.
It's an acquired field of view, an experience, an exploration in preference, a taste in setups, a vision, a lifestyle in cinema.
We are not condemned to one restricted field, we can freely expand it as filmmakers do with the various cameras they use...Michael Bay, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, ...and gang.

Lawrence of Arabia, Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssey , The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Samsara, Planet Earth ll, Casablanca, Blade Runner 2049, IMAX: Hubble 3D, PIXAR UP, ... tra-la-la all cinema various scopes.