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

[Gacivory]

I watched Roses for the first time at the end of a trilogy on opening night. I don’t think it helped, I thought it made it worse. That’s just me. On rewatches it’s better, but still a let down. It feels like two movies crammed into one.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I watched Roses for the first time at the end of a trilogy on opening night. I don’t think it helped, I thought it made it worse. That’s just me. On rewatches it’s better, but still a let down. It feels like two movies crammed into one.

It kinda is, I've said before that it feels like a bastardised attempt at combining the more comic-booky feel of Begins with the Mann-esque realism of TDK, it doesn't quite work but I still enjoy it a lot.

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by BlueRagtop

Yesterday was The Dark Knight Trilogy Event at the Universal Cinema IMAX in Los Angeles.

Warner Bros did a terrific job coordinating the event, with dedicated staff and a check-in table. Upon arrival, we were given a badge/lanyard, which served as our ticket for the remainder of the day.



Batman Begins started a few minutes after noon. I hadn't seen it on film and on the big screen since it's original release, and -- wow! -- it really knocked my socks off. Considering the plethora of "superhero origin stories" we've had since its debut, it remains nonpareil. (Everyone I talked to afterwards had much the same opinion. TDK may be larger and grander, but Begins is just as epic in its own way.)

There was a long break (~1:30) after Begins. When TDK started and that first gigantic IMAX image appeared on the screen, the audience erupted in applause. (Speaking of the audience, throughout the whole event, they were as rapt, attentive, and appreciative as one could hope for.) Having recently seen TDK in 70MM IMAX, it was less a revelation than Begins -- but it's still the only way to watch that film. (Maybe I should just sell my Blu-ray...?)

A shorter break (~:45) occurred after TDK, but that was because it was time for the man himself, Christopher Nolan. When he walked into the theater, the audience rose in a standing ovation, of course. What followed was a moderated, half-hour-long discussion. He is so articulate and his comments were unfailingly intelligent and interesting. Since he's undoubtedly done a gazillion interviews about these films over the years, I don't know how much was "new", but I think most people were fascinated to hear what he had to say, regardless. (I, for example, didn't know that, while Christian Bale was the first person Nolan tested for Batman, when Cillian Murphy came in, his test for Bruce Wayne/Batman was so strong, that he won the role of the Scarecrow. I guess there are worse "consolation prizes.")

At the end of the Q&A, Nolan left -- to another Standing O -- and Rises began. It gains a lot from being seen in the company of its predecessors. Flashbacks to the earlier films, appearances by Liam Neeson or Linus Roache, the final "reveal", etc., have a lot more resonance when seen in this context. That said, it's the weakest of the 3 films. There's far too much stuff to get through -- the Wayne Enterprises intrigues, the missing congressman, the orphan boys' home, the Stock Exchange attack -- before the story really kicks in. But the ending is terrific and an apt conclusion to the trilogy.

As we left the theater (11:00pm), we were gifted with two other items. The first was a thick paperback of the screenplays --



-- inside of which was a "bookmark" containing a random strip of 70MM film, inside a plastic sleeve.

Mine is of the opening scene of Rises and features Aidan Gillen (aka Littlefinger on Game of Thrones). Pretty cool.



Note: The photo was taken against a window, which accounts for the specks of dirt and the beige tint (due to the building in the background).

All-in-all, it was a great day with the Dark Knight.

Sounds like a really cool experience! What were your thoughts on the Dark Knight IMAX presentation? When I saw it in 70mm in NYC last Labor Day weekend, I was rather disappointed. The IMAX stuff looked great, but the the 35mm footage was pretty bad. It looked like the old Blu-ray blown up on a 100 foot wide screen - waxy faces and ringing - probably part of the 2008 IMAX DMR process. How did it look at your screening?

[BlueRagtop]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It kinda is, I've said before that it feels like a bastardised attempt at combining the more comic-booky feel of Begins with the Mann-esque realism of TDK, it doesn't quite work but I still enjoy it a lot.

During the Q&A, Nolan said that they intentionally changed the genre influences of the 3 movies. Begins was the "origin story/Hero's Journey", TDK was the "crime/heist" flick (and he specifically referenced Mann at another point in the discussion), and Rises was the "war" movie. That comment made me see it with different eyes. It seems so obvious now.

Originally Posted by Rizor

Sounds like a really cool experience! What were your thoughts on the Dark Knight IMAX presentation? When I saw it in 70mm in NYC last Labor Day weekend, I was rather disappointed. The IMAX stuff looked great, but the the 35mm footage was pretty bad. It looked like the old Blu-ray blown up on a 100 foot wide screen - waxy faces and ringing - probably part of the 2008 IMAX DMR process. How did it look at your screening?

I thought it looked terrific throughout. The IMAX scenes, of course, were spectacular, but the 35mm really wasn't that far behind. Same with Begins and Rises. Nolan said that it was working with the IMAX DMR people on Begins that began his relationship with IMAX, and the reason he decided to use it significantly from there on.

[Mobe1969]

I read an article on the even and it seems like they didn't show it on film, even though they advertised it as such.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/he...begins-1198421

Basically they said in Rises, speakers started blasting noise, so they stopped and "rewound", which is apparently impossible with 70mm, then went non imax ratio, plus a green line. Anyhow, possibly they switched after the first issue.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by BlueRagtop

Yesterday was The Dark Knight Trilogy Event at the Universal Cinema IMAX in Los Angeles.

What the heck. How do you even find out about events like this?

Honestly, for that I probably would have flown out there.

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

What the heck. How do you even find out about events like this?

Honestly, for that I probably would have flown out there.

The news made the rounds a few weeks ago. Think there's a screening in NYC in a few weeks as well but sold out.

[testmon112]

[testmon112]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

They thought it should be executed in "full IMAX" so they picked the Alexa 65 and then used lenses that forced them to crop off 28% of the image even for the "expanded" version just to fill non-full-height IMAX screens

lol okay

The Arri65 matches the IMAX GSM in resolving detail. And using the GSM cameras would be impractical for such a VFX heavy production with dialogue heavy scenes as well. I even mentioned to Geoff that I wouldn't mind seeing a Nolan type production with digital scope mixed in with 15 perf / 70mm but it might to too much hassle for Marvel's wheelhouse.

[PeterTHX]

Lotta dead space on the top & bottom there.

[puddy77]

Last week, THX put out a press release saying they're getting into the premium theater market, partnering with Cinionic/Barco: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-r...e-Theater.html

[Geoff D]

Great. So there'll be IMAX, Dolby Cinema, various non-branded 'PLF' auditoria, Samsung's Cinema LED, Sony Digital Cinema, and now a THX one as well.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Lotta dead space on the top & bottom there.

My man! Tarantino must love IMAX, all that extra footroom as well as headroom. MOAR FEETZ PLS fap fap fap

I am however going to download the Russian quasi-open matte version of Infinity War, strictly in the service of science of course

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Great. So there'll be IMAX, Dolby Cinema, various non-branded 'PLF' auditoria, Samsung's Cinema LED, Sony Digital Cinema, and now a THX one as well.

THX already certified Cinemark's XD theaters so this one might not be any different

https://www.cinemark.com/xd

[Dubstar]

Alamo Drafthouse launches VerticalVision™ next-gen theater experience.

VerticalVision

[cheez avenger]

It's been quite a while since THX was relevant.

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by testmon112

The Arri65 matches the IMAX GSM in resolving detail. And using the GSM cameras would be impractical for such a VFX heavy production with dialogue heavy scenes as well. I even mentioned to Geoff that I wouldn't mind seeing a Nolan type production with digital scope mixed in with 15 perf / 70mm but it might to too much hassle for Marvel's wheelhouse.

I'm well aware of that (though shooting through anamorphic glass tends to create a bit of softness). I meant it was a pretty misleading statement when not only is it not shot in a format that can fill a traditional IMAX screen, but it wasn't even shot to take advantage of the full frame area/resolution of the Alexa 65.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

It's been quite a while since THX was relevant.

It's still included in high end products, like Panasonic TV's and UHD players, which are considered some of the best A/V products out there

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

THX already certified Cinemark's XD theaters so this one might not be any different

https://www.cinemark.com/xd

You misunderstand: this isn't certification, this is them releasing their own dedicated 'cinema experience' brand with its own special sauce for picture, sound etc. Pretty much everyone's trying to cash in on the craze for them 'premium' theatrical dollars at the moment.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Alamo Drafthouse launches VerticalVision™ next-gen theater experience.

VerticalVision

I imagine that that's an April Fool but it reminds me of that short-lived Barco Escape format, albeit horizontally rather than vertically in that case. It may be a joke but it's not far from the truth, as I said it seems like everyone's buying a ticket in the hope of striking dat 'premium format' jackpot.

[Riddhi2011]

The aspect ratio of the human eye is 5:3, so is the Golden ratio. This 1:1 Mobile Phone format is not natural looking and is stressful. 4:3 is narrow enough (and also beautiful) as it is. Vertical Vision can work for Video art installations as it does, but for cinema, it's just too uncomfortable, I think.