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

[Merkur]

GotG is the only Marvel movie I've seen and the cinematography was stunning.

I was curious to see how this movie will look like since it was shot entirely with digital IMAX cameras (almost identical to the Alexa 65 so it is not that big of a deal lol).

And man I gotta say, it doesn't look good at all. It just looks flat in terms of lighting and color. I'm just not a fan of the look they're going for with these movies.

Doctor Strange, Black Panther, GotG Vol.2 all look incredible (and I've only seen trailers).

Justice League with it many problems looks incredible - I'm talking about the sequences that Snyder shot in camera. I absolutely hated the red/orange look in the third act. Some scenes that we re-shot looked terrible and the green screen is very obvious. But if I'm going to make a judgment based on visuals alone and based on the trailers I'd choose JL (specifically the first two trailers).

Another reminder that it isn't the camera, but the person behind it.

[Scorpion Soldier]

Weirdly enough I have to say, I think the 2.39:1 version looks a little bit better.

Here's a comparison vid of the two versions (color correction aside, which is just an issue with IMAX's upload):

Avengers Infinity War IMAX vs Theatrical Aspect Ratio. - YouTube

You can definitely tell Opaloch (the DP) framed it with scope in mind since most (if not all) shots seem to be the exact middle of the IMAX frame. Not to say it doesn't look good, it does, but it's an interesting note.

[testmon112]

**Warning Gif heavy**

[Show spoiler]

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Weirdly enough I have to say, I think the 2.39:1 version looks a little bit better.

Here's a comparison vid of the two versions (color correction aside, which is just an issue with IMAX's upload):
Avengers Infinity War IMAX vs Theatrical Aspect Ratio. - YouTube

You can definitely tell Opaloch (the DP) framed it with scope in mind since most (if not all) shots seem to be the exact middle of the IMAX frame. Not to say it doesn't look good, it does, but it's an interesting note.

I think they both look great. That shot where Thor is being grabbed by Thanos appears to be cropped from scope though, which I find strange.

I slightly prefer the IMAX aspect ratio, mostly because the Russo brothers are really pushing for the massive scope (and it's really paying off). I'm definitely planning to see this in one of the Smithsonian exhibits when the pre-order tickets there go live.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Weirdly enough I have to say, I think the 2.39:1 version looks a little bit better.

Here's a comparison vid of the two versions (color correction aside, which is just an issue with IMAX's upload):
Avengers Infinity War IMAX vs Theatrical Aspect Ratio. - YouTube

You can definitely tell Opaloch (the DP) framed it with scope in mind since most (if not all) shots seem to be the exact middle of the IMAX frame. Not to say it doesn't look good, it does, but it's an interesting note.

ugh...that means that scoped will look better than the IMAX version. :|

[Elbie]

Originally Posted by testmon112

WTF couldn't JL look as epic as this? sad

I finally watched JL and the beginning of it looks so great and then here comes the unnatural stuff to just ruin it. [emoji23]

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by John1701D

Getting ready to buy Infinity War tickets and hoping for theater advice in the D/FW area. I've pretty much always made the Cinemark Imax my first choice but does anyone have any better ideas? I want to see this one on the best screen possible. ��

The Cinemark is the biggest IMAX screen in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, though sadly still using the old 2K projectors. For a bigger, better screen you'd need to go all the way down to Austin.

[ITDEFX101]

So what would you prefer? 20 some percent more image OR better color image? If the final IMAX image is going to look like that, I think I am going to stick with Scoped in the long run.

[John1701D]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

The Cinemark is the biggest IMAX screen in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, though sadly still using the old 2K projectors. For a bigger, better screen you'd need to go all the way down to Austin.

Thank you.

[molnizzle]

So... I just bought my Infinity War tickets for the Cinemark XD near my home. I was under the impression that I'd be getting the same aspect ratio as digital IMAX.

Is that not the case? I just want to see the 1:9:1 in 2D. Do I need to purchase an actual "IMAX" branded ticket?

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by molnizzle

So... I just bought my Infinity War tickets for the Cinemark XD near my home. I was under the impression that I'd be getting the same aspect ratio as digital IMAX.

Is that not the case? I just want to see the 1:9:1 in 2D. Do I need to purchase an actual "IMAX" branded ticket?

Only actual IMAX-branded theaters will have the 1.90:1 presentation.

[molnizzle]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Only actual IMAX-branded theaters will have the 1.90:1 presentation.

Damn it.

Only have one of those nearby, and they're only doing 3D showings on Thursday.

Guess I have to get tickets for Friday like a chump.

[xbs2034]

IMDB has updated their tech specs to remove any reference to a 1.9 IMAX version for Ready Player One and now just lists the scope ratio, as I figured that was wrong info.

I wouldn't be surprised if the film prints are cropped slightly to 2.2 though, but at the moment nothing is listed for that.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Weirdly enough I have to say, I think the 2.39:1 version looks a little bit better.

Here's a comparison vid of the two versions (color correction aside, which is just an issue with IMAX's upload):
Avengers Infinity War IMAX vs Theatrical Aspect Ratio. - YouTube

You can definitely tell Opaloch (the DP) framed it with scope in mind since most (if not all) shots seem to be the exact middle of the IMAX frame. Not to say it doesn't look good, it does, but it's an interesting note.

When watching it on a proper-sized IMAX screen then the composition becomes less important to the immersiveness offered by the size of the image, but viewed like this (and I didn't 'side-by-side' them, just watched one after the other) it's blatantly obvious to me that this is clearly framed for 'scope and the rest is just so much dead space.

This is why I don't get my panties in a wad about the lack of IMAX ratios on most new movies released to Blu/4K, it's basically just a fancy name for "open matte" and I've never been a great fan of that. Do I dig this embiggening when it's used well, when it's used for proper impact? Absotively, because it then translates well enough into the home environment. But would I want a constant 1.90 version of Skyfall or BR2049 or Infinity War to watch at home? Not on your wife.

[ITDEFX101]

I guess you could say that seeing 1.90 of TDK is only worth it if you tv is 58 inches or bigger? Just watching TF:TLK kinda was wow when it it switched to the VAR that was done during the filming process. What I don't like is when 1.90 is faked...meaning instead of a scene shot in 1.90 with a real imax camera, the scene is fully computer generated. Totally will accepted if a 1.90 scene is filmed and * enhanced * with CG (for example a cityscape view of NY with Tony's old tower and the alien ship in the sky added in. To have a scene fully CG in 1.90 is not what IMAX is all about. Seeing Tony's suit in the IMAX scenes just before the airport battle made it look even more fake as you could tell some parts looked very CG where as the scoped presentation made it look less obvious.

What do you guys think? Do you want a fully computer generated 1.90 scene in an IMAX movie or an on location scene shot with a real imax camera?

[Geoff D]

Speaking solely to my experience of TLK, that movie is a complete cluster**** with regard to the VAR. I didn't see it in VAR in the cinema (they cropped it to 'scope) and boy do I wish that the home versions were like that too, it's so random that I stop noticing after a certain amount of time. But Transformers 2? Now THAT was some good IMAX'in, the forest fight alone is awesome and was shot to TRUE 15-perf IMAX, none of this Alexa 65 shit. Not that I don't think it's a wonderful camera, but it ain't 15-perf 65mm.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Speaking solely to my experience of TLK, that movie is a complete cluster**** with regard to the VAR. I didn't see it in VAR in the cinema (they cropped it to 'scope) and boy do I wish that the home versions were like that too, it's so random that I stop noticing after a certain amount of time. But Transformers 2? Now THAT was some good IMAX'in, the forest fight alone is awesome and was shot to TRUE 15-perf IMAX, none of this Alexa 65 shit. Not that I don't think it's a wonderful camera, but it ain't 15-perf 65mm.

I saw it in both Regal D-IMAX and at Udvar IMAX. Compared to my memory of the constant VAR from AOE, the VAR was less noticeable and more stable, meaning that scenes in one AR stayed at that for more than 30 seconds in TLK.
Never saw TF2 in IMAX. Now I do recall seeing TF1 at Udvar IMAX and it was very impressive....but cannot recall which scenes were expanded for IMAX. The only way I could see TF2 Forrest Battle IMAX was on of course the walmart *big screen* edition.

I really don't know what's going on with IMAX or studios these days. They really push for IMAX yet the final product doesn't wow you as much as it should. I say for the last 10 movies I have seen in an IMAX theater fake or other wise...maybe 2 I thought were impressive when it opened up..and yes TLK was one of them.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Speaking solely to my experience of TLK, that movie is a complete cluster**** with regard to the VAR. I didn't see it in VAR in the cinema (they cropped it to 'scope) and boy do I wish that the home versions were like that too, it's so random that I stop noticing after a certain amount of time. But Transformers 2? Now THAT was some good IMAX'in, the forest fight alone is awesome and was shot to TRUE 15-perf IMAX, none of this Alexa 65 shit. Not that I don't think it's a wonderful camera, but it ain't 15-perf 65mm.

Yeah, I saw The Last Knight in scope as well (digital IMAX) and it works very well that way, since up till a few months before release they were still touting IMAX exclusive expanded ratio I bet it was filmed with scope extraction in mind.

I was happy to have the VAR version for home for comparison sake, and the extra image was nice in some shots, but I rarely recall seeing more than 3 shots go by without an AR change, which is just crazy.

[ITDEFX101]

Looks like Udvar in Chantilly is getting Pacific Rim Uprising tomorrow in 2d/3d!!!!!!!!!

I will be seeing it in my local digital IMAX tomorrow night and will report if there is VAR..but I doubt it....hopefully the sound will make up for it.

[shovel415]

I’m debating on seeing Pacific Rim: Uprising tomorrow in IMAX 3D or just going the next day to regular IMAX. Any opinions on either way to go?