Imax vs Imax "lite"

[Bizdady]

Originally Posted by toefer

So when they say Star Trek set the new IMAX record, we have these Lite versions to thank? So it's not that more people went to the real IMAX's, and instead more of these fake ones popped up, and got included in the IMAX count.

Dark Knight started it with the whole Imax craze. Damn you DK!! lol

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by 4Dblu

funny, i laugh hard when i hear people say they saw a movie in IMAX. first, and foremost none and i mean no existing movie theater will spend the money to build a IMAX screen let alone a IMAX projector. i do maintenance on IMAX projectors and its taller than me and the projector can not run a movie longer than 1hr 20mins. no studio on this planet will spend the money to put a major film on IMAX print. you think u spend alot now to go to the movies. imagine how much u spend if it was real IMAX film!!!

I wondered about that, back in 2003 (I think) Star Wars EP II came to IMAX in select theaters (That was a real IMAX), and they had to cut it back to 1 hr 20 min. That explains it. I guess that is the only "real" IMAX film I have ever seen.

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by DVDave

Still disappointed they never showed Revenge of the Sith in Imax.

+1

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by DVDave

It will be letterboxed on an Imax screen because of the aspect ratio it was shot in. If you saw The Dark Knight on Imax, you would see the variable aspect ratio between the scenes that were shot in full 1:78:1 Imax scope and the regular 2:40:1 35mm footage.

IMAX isn't 1:78:1. That is the Blu-ray aspect of the IMAX footage, which was cropped down for widescreen TV's. The IMAX footage of TDK is actually closer to a 4:3 aspect than 1:78:1 or any other widescreen aspect.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by Bizdady

Dark Knight started it with the whole Imax craze. Damn you DK!! lol

LOL, don't blame Nolan. He went the legit route and filmed parts of the movie in IMAX, making it impossible for these ripoff IMAX theaters to even run it through their crappy 2k digital projectors.

And yes, Star Trek's "record" is a load of crap. TDK had IMAX shows sold out at 3 AM on Saturday night/Sunday morning and yet Star Trek ends up with the record because of all these fake IMAX screens that have been built in the last year. IMAX has sold their soul. It sucks though because consumers are getting screwed in the process.

[RiseDarthVader]

Well the IMAX I go to is still better then all you guys.

The IMAX Theatre Sydney in Darling Harbour is home to the world's largest cinema screen at 29.42m high by 35.73m wide – covering an area of more than 1,015 square metres.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

Well the IMAX I go to is still better then all you guys.

Did you get to see TDK on that monster?

[RiseDarthVader]

Yes I did, saw it on the first day and first session too. Can't wait for Transformers: Revenge of the fallen now!

[krazeyeyez]

whats the average size of a normal theatre screen, and what's the average size of an imax screen?

[drago3451]

I also have a true IMAX theater in Hooksett, NH at the Cinemagic 15. On top of the IMAX they have all digital projection in every theater. I have seen three movies at this IMAX. (TDK, Speed Racer and Watchmen.) The screen is huge and it looks like they have two projectors running at the same time to throw the image. It is only worth the extra money for the bigger movies. I would not want to spend the extra money on a comedy..

[Bizdady]

Google maps has this pretty neat map of Real Imax vs the Lite ones

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...6c5915161c3667

[wafi]

Originally Posted by Bizdady

Google maps has this pretty neat map of Real Imax vs the Lite ones

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...6c5915161c3667

I love the map! Thx Bizd!

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by groove93

I always wondered about these Imax Light theaters. I was planning to take my son to Augusta, GA to see "Monsters and Aliens" in 3d Imax. But when I read about these lite theaters, I became hesitent. The Imax theater in Augusta is 70 miles away and I found no information pertaining to the dimensions of the auditorium and the screen. I said, "Screw it" and drove 3 hours to Atlanta to the Mall of Georgia. This was our first IMAX experience and the screen was huge. Who cares if the aspect ration didn't fit the screen. The 3D experience alone was enough to keep you into the film.

Are there any websites that have actual screen sizes of each Imax theater?

I went there to see the Watchmen. The screen size is small. But the picture was really sharp and the sound was booming. Even from the previews.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Bizdady

Google maps has this pretty neat map of Real Imax vs the Lite ones

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...6c5915161c3667

I think almost all of the IMAX theater's wih the HUGE SCREENS are independently owned. Like the the one on that map in St. Augustine, FL. The theater is at the World Golf Hall of Fame. And it's only $8!!!! a ticket


Somebody in one of the Watchmen threads said he went to one that was in a furniture store.

[RiseDarthVader]

The only IMAX that is not owned by the IMAX corporation that I know of is the IMAX Sydney one.

[BlackLightShark009]

I prefer the real IMAX. Been goin to those since i was a kid and am now 30. To me a lite can not replace it. So it's either goto a real one or just a regular theater.

[PCiAM]

I'm glad I read these articles before I went.... I had already purchased an IMAX-lite ticket beforehand. If I had read the articles before I went, I would have been pissed. Like another poster said, the picture is crystal clear and the sound is amazing, but the screen is just a little bigger than a normal screen and doesn't faithfully represent the immersive nature of real IMAX. It's definitely not worth the extra price of admission.

[Bizdady]

Originally Posted by PCiAM

I'm glad I read these articles before I went.... I had already purchased an IMAX-lite ticket beforehand. If I had read the articles before I went, I would have been pissed. Like another poster said, the picture is crystal clear and the sound is amazing, but the screen is just a little bigger than a normal screen and doesn't faithfully represent the immersive nature of real IMAX. It's definitely not worth the extra price of admission.

I think Im head over to watch Star Trek in one of these, I want to see first had if the extra price is warranted.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

...so much wrong with the "IMAX EXPERIENCE".

1st - the issue with screen size. there's the true Imax screen size, and there's the -barely- larger than a regular theater screen garbage. Cinemas don't advertise which screen size they use either...

2nd - Flat vs Dome.. This is truly a joke. I recommend NEVER going to a "dome" Imax theater. this means that the screen is actually curved to a large degree, and usually over your head even. Whereas the "Flat" screen is your standard screen shape without any curves.

The DOME makes me SIIIIIIIIIIIICK!

I've always been dissapointed with every Imax movie i've gone to, thus far.

[PCiAM]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

...so much wrong with the "IMAX EXPERIENCE".

1st - the issue with screen size. there's the true Imax screen size, and there's the -barely- larger than a regular theater screen garbage. Cinemas don't advertise which screen size they use either...

2nd - Flat vs Dome.. This is truly a joke. I recommend NEVER going to a "dome" Imax theater. this means that the screen is actually curved to a large degree, and usually over your head even. Whereas the "Flat" screen is your standard screen shape without any curves.

The DOME makes me SIIIIIIIIIIIICK!

I've always been dissapointed with every Imax movie i've gone to, thus far.

Yeah, The Dome can be rather disappointing. I saw the Dark Knight at my local muesuem here in Charlotte, and the picture was rather blurry. During fast action sequences, you could hardly make out what was going on, which is why I was excited to hear that a 'new' Imax had been built at a local theater here... so I went and saw Star Trek, and of course it was one of the IMAX-lites we've been discussing, and I was very underwhelmed. Good picture and sound but definitely not Imax and not worth $15.