Imax vs Imax "lite"

[Bizdady]

My local AMC Currently decided to do this, they made their biggest screen into an "Imax" Its not even close to Imax size yet they charge you an extra $5. I know the theater in this article because I go to this theater often, Ive even sat in this theater before they changed it to the "Lite" Version. Man I would be pissed to though If I went in expecting Imax and got a regular theater though.

http://consumerist.com/5250698/does-...just-imax-lite


edit:

Gizmodo did a followup piece with more detailed information.

http://gizmodo.com/5250625/cineplexe...-or-conspiracy

[fatediesel]

Link?

I did read about this and Imax is just selling out it's name to make more money. There is nothing Imax about these theaters. They're just a little bigger than normal but since they use the Imax name they think they can charge more.

[Bizdady]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Link?

I did read about this and Imax is just selling out it's name to make more money. There is nothing Imax about these theaters. They're just a little bigger than normal but since they use the Imax name they think they can charge more.

Oops I knew I forgot something lol ok adding LInk my bad

[Rantlers]

I was so psyched when I heard they were releasing an IMAX theater at my local AMC which is only 5min from where I live. Sadly, it turned out to be one of these "Lite" things, so I still have to drive 25-30min out to get my real IMAX fix in.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Yeah, what a ripoff.

[Bizdady]

Its funny, the guy that wrote the blog is an Actor. Ive actually seen him on scrubs and that new show in nbc with Amy Poehler about Parks & Recreations.

[CptGreedle]

That is awful. It is no where close to the size of an IMAX screen! I wouldn't pay $5 more for that!
I hope the local AMC here doesn't do this too.

It would honestly be worth more if they didn't charge a full $5, they called it something else, and they kept the width of the screen at the proper width of an IMAX screen and the height at the correct ratio for the movie so it fills in the width.
in other words, make it a shorter screen for these widescreen movies since IMAX is mostly square, but keep everything else the same and charge less.

[VinnAY]

MY local AMC has this Imax-lite as you're calling it. I knew it wasn't the "real" Imax as I know something has to be filmed in Imax if I'm not mistaken.
But still, better than the other screens in this theater, which are all good. So in my book it's an improvement over their current offerings.

[Porkchop Express]

I think all AMCs that claim to have imax, actually have "imax lites", the screen is bigger but not $5 extra bigger.

[deckardp]

The AMC 5 minutes from me has the new "Lite" version. I saw "Watchmen" there and noticed they had louder sound and more bass as oppose to their other auditoriums. Thought it was overpowering to the point of just being a booming mess. The size wasn't much bigger of a screen then what was there in the first place. Plus the fact that the movie ended up being letterboxed..... WTF!

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

MY local AMC has this Imax-lite as you're calling it. I knew it wasn't the "real" Imax as I know something has to be filmed in Imax if I'm not mistaken. - But still, better than the other screens in this theater, which are all good. So in my book it's an improvement over their current offerings.

Movies don't Have to be filmed in IMAX - they can be of course which is the normal way. But most recent Major releases (TKD, Watchmen, Day the Earth Stood Still, STAR TREK), were filmed with normal cameras (& yes, some "Scenes" shot in IMAX Cameras), but they are then just re-formatted to fit the Massive Size of the IMAX Screens. I hope that is clear.

Basically an IMAX movie doesn't need to be filmed in Imax -- an "Imax" camera that is - to be shown at their theater. Most major Hollywood BIG Event movies sometimes add scenes shot that way, some don't -- & then are re-formatted for the larger Imax screen.

BTW - "STAR TREK" on a Real IMAX screen... Amazing!!!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Movies don't Have to be filmed in IMAX - they can be of course which is the normal way. But most recent Major releases (TKD, Watchmen, Day the Earth Stood Still, STAR TREK), were filmed with normal cameras (& yes, some "Scenes" shot in IMAX Cameras), but they are then just re-formatted to fit the Massive Size of the IMAX Screens. I hope that is clear.

Basically an IMAX movie doesn't need to be filmed in Imax -- an "Imax" camera that is - to be shown at their theater. Most major Hollywood BIG Event movies sometimes add scenes shot that way, some don't -- & then are re-formatted for the larger Imax screen.

BTW - "STAR TREK" on a Real IMAX screen... Amazing!!!!

No...its not very clear. What do you mean by "reformatted"?.

[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.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by PCiAM

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.

The actual IMAX footage (30-40 minutes) in TDK is crystal clear, unless of course the projectionist screwed up at your theater.